Jets running back Bell ruled out with illness

New York Jets running back Le’Veon Bell was ruled out for Sunday because of an illness.

The 27-year-old practiced fully Wednesday but sat out Thursday and Friday. He was listed as questionable Friday after being sent home to rest. This will mark the first game Bell will miss this season.

Signed to a four-year, $52 million deal in March, with $35 million guaranteed, Bell has averaged a career-low 3.2 yards per carry this season and hasn’t had a game in which he has run for more than 70 yards. The three-time Pro Bowl selection has run for 589 yards and three TDs and caught 55 passes for 403 yards and one score.

In Bell’s place, Bilal Powell and Ty Montgomery are expected to assume most of the Jets’ carries.

Powell, 31, the team’s longesttenured player, has run for 125 yards at an average of 3.9 per carry in limited action this season. A fourth-round draft pick in 2011, Powell is ninth on the Jets’ career rushing list with 3,571 yards and needs 19 yards to pass Bill Mathis for eighth.

■ Panthers: Linebacker Shaq Thompson signed a four-year extension through 2023 worth $54.2 million, with $28 million guaranteed and a $16 million signing bonus.

The 25-year-old was Carolina’s first-round draft pick in 2015. He has averaged more than eight tackles per game, with four doubledigit tackle games this season.

■ Lions: The team was fined $75,000 for violating the NFL’s injury report policy before quarterback Matthew Stafford missed Detroit’s Week 10 game.

The league said the Lions failed to properly update Stafford’s status. Coach Matt Patricia also was fined $25,000 and general manager Bob Quinn $10,000.

■ Falcons: Punter Matt Bosher was placed back on injured reserve after re-injuring his right groin. The 32-year-old had been activated from IR on Monday after being sidelined since Week 4.

■ Patriots: Kicker Nick Folk was re-signed a week after being released following an emergency appendectomy, and defensive end Albert Huggins was released.

■ Giants: Safety Jabrill Peppers (back) was placed on IR, and quarterback Daniel Jones (ankle) and tight end Evan Engram (foot) were ruled out for Monday.

■ Browns: Tight end David Njoku (wrist), sidelined since Week 3, was activated from IR.

Review-Journal wire services

Le’Veon Bell