Lions expected to hire Patriots’ DC Patricia as coach

The Detroit Lions are likely to hire New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia as their new coach, according to multiple reports Sunday.

Patricia, 43, was one of six candidates who were known to have interviewed for the Lions’ position. Patricia has a strong relationship with Detroit general manager Bob Quinn, the Patriots’ former director of pro scouting.

The Lions will have to wait until after New England’s playoff run before working on contract details with Patricia. The Patriots will host the AFC title game Sunday against Jacksonville.

■ Steelers: Pittsburgh is expected to use its franchise tag on running back Le’veon Bell for the second consecutive season, NFL Network reported, setting up another likely standoff with the star running back.

The tag would mean a one-year, $14.5 million deal for Bell, who made $12.1 million this season. He sat out most of this offseason after being tagged.

In other Steelers news, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who often has hinted at retirement, indicated Sunday he plans to play next season.

“I don’t know about contracts and who’s coming back, but I know the guys up front are, and that makes it good for me, so I look forward to next year with those guys,” Roethlisberger said.

Also, offensive coordinator Todd Haley’s future with the team is in doubt because his relationship with Roethlisberger has soured, NFL Network reported.

■ Bills: Buffalo hired former Alabama offensive coordinator Brian Daboll to fill that same role, the team said. This will be Daboll’s fourth stint as an NFL offensive coordinator, having previously worked for Cleveland (2009 and 2010), Miami (2011) and Kansas City (2012).

He also had two stints as an assistant coach for New England.

In other Bills news, wide receiver Zay Jones will undergo shoulder surgery this week to repair a torn labrum that plagued his rookie season, his father told Bills Wire.

■ Titans: Mike Mularkey is returning as Tennessee’s coach and is talking with the team about a contract extension that would keep him with the team beyond the 2018 season, NFL Network reported.

In other Titans news, right tackle Jack Conklin suffered a torn ACL in Saturday’s playoff loss at New England, Mularkey said. Mularkey said Conklin will have surgery in the next two weeks. Conklin’s length of recovery could extend to the start of the 2018 season, the coach added.