PHILADELPHIA — The NFL says Terrell Suggs’ hit on Sam Bradford’s knees on Saturday night wasn’t illegal and shouldn’t have been a penalty.

Chip Kelly disagrees.

Suggs was called for roughing the passer after a low hit on Bradford in the first quarter of Philadelphia’s 40-17 win over Baltimore. He argued the quarterback is fair game on zone-read plays. Dean Blandino, the league’s vice president of officiating, agreed.

“Because the quarterback has an option, he’s considered a runner until he either clearly doesn’t have the football or he re-establishes himself as a passer,” Blandino said Monday.

“So it’s not a foul by rule. It’s something that we’ll make sure that we cover with our game officials because the defensive end coming off the edge, he doesn’t know if the quarterback is going to keep it, he doesn’t know if he’s going to take off and run or drop back and so we treat the quarterback in that instance as a runner until he clearly re-establishes as a passer or he clearly doesn’t have the football. The referee felt it was late so we’ll clarify that and make sure everyone is on the same page.”

But Kelly said the play was a simple handoff out of a shotgun formation. Replays show Bradford didn’t attempt to carry out a fake.

LIONS: Former Detroit offensive lineman Rob Sims has announced his retirement.

Sims made his announcement to TV station WJBK in Detroit on Sunday, and Lions coach Jim Caldwell said Monday that Sims was a leader who did a great job of setting examples for younger players.

PANTHERS: Carolina plans to be cautious with center Ryan Kalil after the four-time Pro Bowl selection sprained his left knee in a preseason game Saturday night against the Miami Dolphins.

CHARGERS: Josh Lambo, who was drafted eighth overall in Major League Soccer in 2008, hopes to make the San Diego roster as a place kicker.

Lambo kicked a game-winning field goal of 47 yards as time expired at Arizona, as well as kicks of 53 and 43 yards. He also showed a strong leg on kickoffs, which the Chargers need.

RAMS: Rookie running back Todd Gurley has been cleared to practice, but the 10th overall pick in the draft still won’t play in the preseason.

BEARS: The NFL suspended Chicago defensive lineman Jeremiah Ratliff without pay for the first three games of the season, saying he violated its substance-abuse policy.

JETS: Quarterback Geno Smith was back at the practice field for the first time since being sidelined with a broken jaw after a teammate punched him nearly two weeks ago.

Smith, unlikely to participate in any drills for the next few weeks, was on the field Monday with his red no-contact No. 7 jersey and no helmet.

TEXANS: Brian Hoyer has been named Houston’s starting quarterback.

Hoyer had been competing with Ryan Mallett for the job.

Coach Bill O’Brien announced the decision on Monday, saying Hoyer won the job because of his composure and consistency.

MONDAY’S GAME

BUCCANEERS 25, BENGALS 11: It’s only preseason, but Tampa Bay’s Jameis Winston is clearly making strides as an NFL quarterback.

The first overall pick in this year’s draft scored a 1-yard touchdown run after he was nearly flawless on the first drive of the game as the Buccaneers beat Cincinnati in Tampa, Florida.