BUFFALO, N.Y. — Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson interviewed for the Buffalo Bills’ head-coaching job on Wednesday. And former New York Jets coach Rex Ryan is on deck.

A person familiar with the team’s search revealed those two candidates – among a number of others – to The Associated Press on Wednesday.

There are at least 10 candidates on the list. Bills defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz has already been interviewed, as was Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Pat Shurmer, the person said.

A second person familiar with the process told the AP that the Bills were granted permission from the Browns to interview Cleveland offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan. He is the son of two-time Super Bowl-winning coach Mike Shanahan, who is also a candidate after being interviewed by the Bills in San Francisco last weekend.

The Bills are taking an exhaustive, wide-reaching approach to the search under new owners Terry and Kim Pegula.

PACKERS: Aaron Rodgers didn’t practice because of a calf injury, though Coach Mike McCarthy still expects his quarterback to be ready for Sunday’s playoff game against Dallas.

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McCarthy said the plan Wednesday for Rodgers was to stay exclusively in the training room. The team will evaluate him again on Thursday to determine if he can practice.

PANTHERS: Coach Ron Rivera said starting defensive tackle Star Lotulelei will miss Saturday’s game against Seattle with a broken bone in his foot. The 6-foot-2, 325-pound Lotulelei was critical to the team’s improved run defense down the stretch.

GIANTS: Odell Beckham Jr. was chosen to replace the injured Calvin Johnson of Detroit in the Pro Bowl. Beckham, who had 91 catches for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns in only 12 games, was a first alternate.

WASHINGTON: The team was close to an agreement with Scot McCloughan on Wednesday to bring the former 49ers and Seahawks executive on as general manager. The hiring would give Washington a traditional GM – a talent evaluator independent of the coach – for the first time under owner Dan Snyder.

JETS: The team interviewed Arizona defensive coordinator Todd Bowles and San Diego offensive coordinator Frank Reich for the team’s head coaching vacancy.

FALCONS: Assistant general manager Scott Pioli will take on pro and college scouting and will have new NFL draft responsibilities in Atlanta’s restructured player personnel department.

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The Falcons say Pioli will still report to general manager Thomas Dimitroff.

OBITUARY: Jethro Pugh, an unsung member of the “Doomsday Defense” that helped the Dallas Cowboys win two Super Bowls in the 1970s, has died. He was 70.

The team said Pugh died of natural causes Wednesday.

Pugh is fifth on the team’s career sack list with 99 1/2 sacks.


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