Colts’ Jackson banned 4 games

Colts linebacker

D’Qwell Jackson was suspended for four games for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, the league announced Tuesday.

Jackson will be eligible to return to the Colts’ active roster on Jan. 2, a day after the team’s regular-season finale against the Jaguars. Jackson also will miss games against the Titans, Vikings and Raiders.

The Colts (6-6) are tied for first place in the AFC South with the Texans and Titans.

Jackson leads the team with 78 tackles and has one sack this season. Salaam found dead: Former first-round pick Rashaan Salaam was found dead Monday night in a Boulder, Colo., park. He was 42.

The Boulder County coroner’s office was still investigating the cause of the death. Salaam’s body was found at Eben G. Fine Park in Boulder. Police say foul play was not suspected.

The Heisman winner was picked by the Bears No. 21 overall in 1995. He rushed for 1,074 yards and 10 touchdowns in winning NFC Rookie of the Year honors.

Injuries cut short his career. He only scored three rushing TDs in the next two years with the Bears and played his last league game with the Browns in 1999. Salaam played for the Memphis Maniax of the defunct XFL and attempted one last comeback in the NFL before retiring.

Jets planned shuffle: Jets coach Todd Bowles said he decided a few weeks ago to play Bryce Petty at quarterback for the team’s final four games to get an extended look at the second-year player.

Bowles announced after the Jets’ 41-10 loss to the Colts on Monday night that Petty would start the rest of the season, sending Ryan

Fitzpatrick to the sideline. Bowles acknowledged that he never directly told Fitzpatrick of the decision after he “got tied up with a few things.” Pennel accepts ban: Packers DT Mike Pennel accepted the charges and was suspended for the last four games of the regular season for violating the league’s substance-abuse policy. Pennel started the season with a four-game ban for the same reason.

Pennel will be eligible to return if the Packers (6-6) make the playoffs. The team said it wouldn’t comment further. Extra points: The Lions signed RB Joique Bell, bringing him back for another stint with the team. Bell played 60 games for the Lions from 2012-15. He played four games for the Bears this season before being released Oct. 24. …The Buccaneers promoted WR Josh Huff to the active roster. Huff was waived by the Eagles Nov. 3 following an arrest for gun and marijuana charges. … 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick will keep his starting job despite getting benched in favor of Blaine Gabbert during the second half of Sunday’s 26-6 loss to the Bears, offensive coordinator Curtis Modkins said. … Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said he is optimistic QB Trevor Siemian (foot) can return to the lineup this weekend against the Titans.