Saints’ Brees in; Falcons’ Ryan out

NEW ORLEANS >> A person familiar with the situation says record-setting quarterback Drew Brees will start for the New Orleans Saints against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, beginning his comeback from thumb surgery that sidelined him for five games.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Saints have not announced their starter.

Brees practiced this week and was listed as questionable on the Saints’ final injury report of the week on Friday. Teddy Bridgewater has started the past five games, all victories.

Brees injured his thumb in the first half of New Orleans’ Week 2 loss to the Rams in Los Angeles when his hand jammed against the extended arm of defensive lineman Aaron Donald on the follow-through of a throw.

Surgery on Brees’ ulnar collateral ligament was performed in Los Angeles on Sept. 18 and he began throwing a regulation NFL football about two weeks ago.

Falcons’ Ryan won’t play

ATLANTA >>

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan won’t play Sunday against Seattle, ending his 10-year streak of consecutive starts.

Ryan sprained his right ankle last week in a loss to the Los Angeles Rams. He had limited participation in Friday’s practice and was listed as questionable on the team’s injury report.

The team announced Saturday that veteran Matt Schaub will start and Ryan won’t play against the Seahawks.

Ryan ran in Friday’s practice, raising hopes that he would be able to play. However, coach Dan Quinn said a key would be how Ryan responded on Saturday after “we pushed it really hard” on Friday.

Jets release Osemele a day after non-approved surgery

NEW YORK >> Kelechi Osemele is no longer a member of the New York Jets.

The veteran guard’s contentious standoff with the team, however, is far from over.

The Jets announced Saturday they released Osemele a day after he had surgery on his right shoulder in Boston to repair a torn labrum without the team’s approval. New York was made aware of Osemele’s plan to have surgery, but because he was not with the team and the surgery wasn’t authorized, it was considered an unexcused absence.

The Jets had been fining Osemele the maximum allowed under the collective bargaining agreement — $579,000 per week, the amount of each of his game checks — for not practicing, saying it was “conduct detrimental to the team.” Osemele had filed a grievance with the NFL Players Association against the team.

Osemele was making a fully guaranteed $9.85 million this season, so he is due about $5.2 million more over the final nine weeks.

Chargers elevate Okung to roster

COSTA MESA >> Russell Okung has been moved up to the Los Angeles Chargers’ active roster. The offensive tackle is expected to see his first action of the season Sunday against Chicago.

Okung had been on the non-football injury list since the start of the season after he suffered a pulmonary embolism during a June 1 offseason workout at the team facility.

Okung’s addition should help bolster an offensive line that has struggled all year. The Chargers have lost three straight and five of their last six.