New Orleans places Bryant on injured reserve

Dez Bryant’s season is over before it even began.

The New Orleans Saints placed the newly acquired Bryant on injured reserve Saturday, promoting receiver Keith Kirkwood from the practice squad to the active roster before Sunday’s game at Cincinnati.

Bryant was injured during his second practice with New Orleans on Friday. A person familiar with the situation said Bryant has a torn Achilles tendon.

The 30-year-old Bryant became a free agent in April after eight seasons with Dallas. He’d been looking for a new team until signing with New Orleans on Wednesday.

Fines issued: Saints receiver Michael Thomas was fined $30,000 by the NFL for using a phone as a prop for a touchdown celebration in last week’s victory over the Los Angeles Rams.

Thomas emulated former Saints wideout Joe Horn with his celebration, hiding the phone in the bottom of the goal post and pulling it out after scoring. He was fined for that and having a mobile device in the bench area.

Also fined was Carolina defensive tackle Vernon Butler, whose hit on Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick cost him a hefty $40,110.

Three players were docked $26,739: Baltimore Ravens safety Eric Weddle for a hit on a defenseless receiver; San Diego Chargers rookie safety Derwin James for unnecessary roughness; and Houston Texans safety Tyrann Mathieu (helmet-to-helmet hit).

A facemask penalty cost Miami Dolphins defensive end Andre Branch $20,054. Chargers defensive end Darius Philon was fined the same amount for a hit on Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.

Fined $10,026 were Rams tackle Rodger Saffold (unnecessary roughness) and former Green Bay Packers safety Jermaine Whitehead (unnecessary roughness; he was also ejected against New England).

Whitehead is now with the Cleveland Browns.

Bills tab Barkley: The Buffalo Bills are going with newly signed journeyman Matt Barkley as their starting quarterback, rather than provide turnover-prone Nathan Peterman another chance.

The Bills ruled out injured rookie Josh Allen on Saturday and announced Barkley is expected to start against the New York Jets on Sunday.

Barkley gets the nod ahead of Peterman despite having just two weeks of practice time.