New England tight end Rob Gronkowski will miss the Patriots’ game Sunday in San Francisco.

Gronkowski, who suffered a chest injury Sunday night in the Patriots’ loss to the Seattle Seahawks, was listed as out on the Patriots’ injury report, released Friday afternoon. Gronkowski was injured in the second quarter while attempting to catch a pass over the deep middle of the field. Seahawks safety Earl Thomas hit Gronkowski, sending the tight end crashing to the turf. Right after the hit, Gronkowski was visibly shaken and the Patriots training staff took him off the field. Gronkowski missed five plays before returning for the end of the offensive series.

Wide receiver Chris Hogan also has been ruled out. Hogan injured his back during practice last week and had no catches against Seattle.

PANTHERS: Middle linebacker Luke Kuechly has been placed in the NFL’s concussion protocol and his status for the team’s Nov. 27 game against Oakland is uncertain.

The 2013 NFL Defensive Player of the Year was carted off the field in an emotional moment during the fourth quarter of Carolina’s 23-20 win over the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night. Kuechly appeared to be gasping for breath as he was helped to the cart, and tears rolled down his face. Players from both sides came over to offer their well wishes to Kuechly.

Kuechly spent 34 days last season in the concussion protocol and missed three games.

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Panthers Coach Ron Rivera described Kuechly’s second known career concussion as “concerning,” but quickly added “I don’t want to get into the speculation of all of that. I’m not the expert.”

BROWNS: Quarterback Robert Griffin III will practice next week, and it remains possible he’ll play again this season.

Griffin has been sidelined because of a broken bone in his left shoulder since in the season opener at Philadelphia. He was cleared for non-contact drills this week, and Coach Hue Jackson said Griffin will return to practice in a larger capacity next week.

“There is another procedure that he needs to go through medically to see for sure if he is totally OK, if the bone is healed totally properly,” Jackson said as the winless Browns concluded a week of practice before hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. “But he will have the opportunity to start practicing next week and go out there with his teammates and perform and do what he can do.”

FINES: Tennessee left tackle Taylor Lewan and Atlanta rookie safety Keanu Neal drew hefty fines from the NFL for their actions last weekend.

Lewan was docked $30,387 for making contact with an official, a fine he says he will appeal. Neal was fined $24,309 for his helmet-to-helmet shot on Eagles wide receiver Jordan Matthews.

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A third-year tackle, Lewan was ejected from last Sunday’s 47-25 win over Green Bay. He took exception to Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion hitting quarterback Marcus Mariota on a play that drew Guion a penalty flag. Back judge Steve Freeman was trying to break up the players when Lewan brushed the official’s hands away.

PACKERS: Green Bay will be without two more starters Sunday against Washington after Coach Mike McCarthy said guard T.J. Lang and linebacker Jake Ryan would miss the game.

Lang has a foot injury and Ryan has an ankle injury. Both were hurt in last week’s 47-25 loss to the Tennessee Titans.

CHIEFS: Kansas City again will be without top wide receiver Jeremy Maclin when it plays Tampa Bay on Sunday, though it’s increasingly likely linebacker Justin Houston will make his season debut.

Maclin was listed as out on Friday’s final injury report because of a groin strain.

Houston has not played after surgery in February to repair the ACL in his left knee. The four-time Pro Bowl pass rusher has been practicing for several weeks, though, and Coach Andy Reid indicated that he could be active against the Buccaneers.

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RAMS: Defensive end Robert Quinn says he was dehydrated when he spent a night in the hospital earlier this week.

Quinn returned to practice Friday. The veteran pass-rusher hasn’t decided whether he’ll try to play against the Miami Dolphins (5-4) on Sunday.

DOLPHINS: Center Mike Pouncey is doubtful for Sunday’s game at the Rams because of a hip injury.

Pouncey left practice Wednesday and sat out Thursday’s drills. An injury to the same hip forced him to miss the first four games of the season.

The Dolphins are already without tackle Branden Albert because of a dislocated left wrist.

TITANS: Coach Mike Mularkey says left guard Quinton Spain will start Sunday at Indianapolis after missing two games because of a knee injury and serving as a backup last week.


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