Bucs WR Brown ruled out for Sunday with knee issue

Tampa Bay wide receiver Antonio Brown (knee) was ruled out for Sunday, when defensive tackle Vita Vea (ankle) will be activated from injured reserve, coach Bruce Arians said. Brown led the Buccaneers in targets over the regular season’s final five weeks. Vea had been sidelined since Week 6.

■ Texans: Quarterback Josh Mccown interviewed for the team’s coaching vacancy. The 41-year-old signed a twoyear deal Nov. 4 from Philadelphia’s practice squad. He initially retired in 2019 after 17 seasons to coach his high school sons.

■ Bills: Gabriel Davis (ankle) is questionable for Sunday after returning to practice on a limited basis. Fellow wide receivers Stefon Diggs (oblique) and Cole Beasley (knee) practiced fully after being limited earlier in the week.

■ Patriots: Matt Patricia, fired as Detroit coach Nov. 28, is returning to New England’s staff, where he was an assistant from 2004 to 2017, the Boston Globe reported. The 46-year-old went 13-29-1 with the Lions.

■ Bears: Safeties coach Sean Desai was promoted to defensive coordinator, making the 37-year-old the first person of Indian descent to be an NFL coordinator. He has been with Chicago since 2013.

■ Steelers: Tight end Vance Mcdonald retired after eight NFL seasons with Pittsburgh and San Francisco. The 30-year-old totaled 181 catches for 2,036 yards and 15 TDS in 101 games.

■ Obit: Tony Jones, a 13-year offensive tackle with three teams who started for Denver’s 1997 and 1998 Super Bowlwinning teams, died Friday of undisclosed causes. He was 54.