FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Wide receiver Brian Tyms, who played in 11 games last season with New England, was placed on injured reserve by the team Tuesday with a foot injury.

Tyms, 26, had five receptions for 82 yards last season – his first with New England after stints with San Francisco, Cleveland and Miami.

Ryan Mallett is unhappy and letting everyone know it after learning he won’t be the starting quarterback for the Houston Texans, who chose Brian Hoyer instead. The Associated Press

Also, the Patriots released fullback Eric Kettani, 28, who was signed earlier this month after stints on the practice squad in 2011 and 2012. Kettani, who played at Navy, also has been on practice squads with Washington, Kansas City and Jacksonville.

GIANTS: Receiver Victor Cruz hopes to be ready for the regular-season opener against Dallas despite not playing in the first two games of the preseason.

Cruz, who is coming back from his second knee surgery in two years, missed practice again with a calf injury that has sidelined him for a week.

STEELERS: Pittsburgh signed quarterback Michael Vick, a four-time Pro Bowler, to a one-year deal, hopeful there’s enough left in the 35-year-old’s legs to provide insurance should something happen to Ben Roethlisberger.

“There’s not a throw on the field he can’t make from an arm strength standpoint,” Coach Mike Tomlin said. “He’s a very experienced guy at what he does at this point in his career and the mobility is still unique even at 35.”

VIKINGS: Center John Sullivan has been dealing with a back injury for the past week. Coach Mike Zimmer said the team is “just being cautious with him.”

Sullivan has been off the field for the last seven days, including the exhibition game Saturday. Joe Berger started instead against Tampa Bay.

BRONCOS: Evan Mathis, a two-time Pro Bowl guard, agreed to a one-year deal that could be worth up to $4 million.

The Broncos are high on rookie left guard Max Garcia but they already have two starters – left tackle Ty Sambrailo and center Matt Paradis – who are NFL novices.

WASHINGTON: Tight end Jordan Reed, who missed the team’s first two preseason games with a strained hamstring, said he expects to play against Baltimore.

Coach Jay Gruden said he’s hopeful Reed returns to the lineup for Saturday’s game.

DOLPHINS: Left tackle Branden Albert has been cleared to practice wire to wire for the first time since being sidelined in Week 10 last season with a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee.

Albert declined to say how soon he expects to play in a game, but while he’s unlikely to suit up for Saturday’s exhibition against Atlanta, he appears on schedule to make the season opener Sept. 13.

• Safety Louis Delmas was placed on the season-ending injured reserve list because of a torn ACL in his right knee.

COLTS: Linebacker Robert Mathis returned to the practice field after spending all of training camp on the physically unable to perform list as he continued to rehab from a torn Achilles tendon suffered last year.

His return comes just as Indianapolis is trying to find answers for its struggling defense.

FALCONS: Rex Grossman, 35, who hasn’t taken a snap in an NFL game since 2011, could soon join the competition to be the backup for quarterback Matt Ryan.

Coach Dan Quinn said he’s happy with backup quarterbacks T.J. Yates and Sean Renfree but always looks for ways to improve.

BENGALS: The team released quarterback Josh Johnson, making A.J. McCarron the backup to Andy Dalton.

McCarron impressed Monday night during a 25-11 preseason loss at Tampa Bay, going 11 of 15 for 97 yards. He led an 80-yard touchdown drive.

TEXANS: Quarterback Ryan Mallett was still seething a day after Brian Hoyer beat him out to earn the starting job.

Mallett said: “Am I disappointed? Yeah. Angry? Little bit. Thought I did enough to deserve the job. But it was not seen that way so I’ll do what’s best for the team.”

PANTHERS: Coach Ron Rivera said he expects starting defensive tackle Star Lotulelei – who has had a right foot injury – to be back on the field for the Sept. 13 regular-season opener against Jacksonville.

Related Stories