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The Carolina Panthers have signed former Appalachian State receiver Dexter Jackson to the practice squad.

Receiver Jason Chery was released Monday.

The speedy Jackson was taken by Tampa Bay in the second round of the 2008 draft. But he played in only seven games last season with limited success as a kickoff and punt returner. He eventually lost his return job last season and was slowed by an ankle injury in preseason this year. The Buccaneers cut him on Aug. 31.

Jackson could eventually get a chance as a returner in Carolina.

49ERS: Dre' Bly took Mike Singletary's usual spot at the podium in a team meeting room and apologized. Profusely. His coach watched the whole thing.

Bly embarrassed himself and the 49ers during Sunday's 45-10 home loss to the Atlanta Falcons when he intercepted a pass by Matt Ryan in the third quarter and struck a Deion Sanders-like pose with his right hand to his helmet and the ball unprotected in his left.

Problem was, Roddy White knocked the ball loose and Atlanta, leading 35-10 at the time, recovered. The Falcons marched downfield and quickly scored again.

Bly said he approached Singletary on Monday morning to apologize for the display, which also included him saying after the game that he'd done nothing wrong.

TITANS: Tennessee cornerback Nick Harper will be out up to six weeks after surgery on a broken right forearm.

He is the second defensive back the winless Titans have lost to a broken right forearm. The other is Vincent Fuller, who was injured Sept. 27 against the New York Jets. The Titans hope he might play Nov. 1 against Jacksonville.

Coach Jeff Fisher says the Titans will be stretched a bit thin for Sunday's game at New England and the team might have to make a roster move.

Tight end Craig Stevens was released from a hospital Monday with a concussion. He was knocked out of Sunday night's 31-9 loss to Indianapolis after a helmet-to-helmet collision with a teammate.

EAGLES: Michael Vick has this handing-off thing down. He's waiting to do more.

Two games into his return to the NFL, Vick hasn't been a factor for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Used primarily to run Philadelphia's version of the wildcat offense, Vick has come in for 17 plays in non-garbage time. He's lined up at quarterback 13 times and was split out as a wide receiver on four plays. His totals: two incomplete passes, one carry for 7 yards, no catches or intended passes, 10 handoffs.

Clearly, the Eagles brought Vick in to do more. But the Eagles are in no rush to show opposing defenses too much when they routed Kansas City 34-14 in Vick's debut in Week 3 and beat Tampa Bay 33-14 on Sunday.

PATRIOTS: The length of opponents' touchdown drives doesn't make a difference to New England coach Bill Belichick. He doesn't want his defense to allow any scores.

The Patriots gave up touchdown marches of 90 and 98 yards in Sunday's 20-17 overtime loss to the Broncos in Denver. The Patriots also let the Broncos move 58 yards on 11 plays to set up the winning field goal on the only possession of overtime.

The return of linebacker Jerod Mayo couldn't stop Denver on those drives. Last year's NFL defensive rookie of the year was back after missing three games with an injured right knee.

Belichick said Mayo made some good plays but he's sure Mayo will do better in the next game on Sunday against Tennessee.