Packers' fears confirmed: Nelson will miss season

Wide receiver Jordy Nelson will miss the rest of the season because of what the Green Bay Packers are calling "a significant knee injury."

The club on Monday did not confirm that Nelson tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, but the announcement is consistent with the NFL Network report from Sunday saying he did.

The unknown is whether Nelson suffered any additional damage such as a cartilage tear or medial collateral ligament tear. Either way, he will undergo surgery to repair the ACL sometime in the next month. If he also tore the MCL, no additional surgery would be needed.

Nelson, the seven-year veteran with 1,000-yard seasons three of the past four years, injured his right knee landing awkwardly after a catch on the first possession of the Packers' 24-19 exhibition loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

Rehab after surgery for a torn ACL usually takes eight to 12 months.

Patriots players are looking forward to having veteran wide receiver and former rival Reggie Wayne on their team.

"He's a good player. He's played at a high level for a long time," fellow receiver Danny Amendola said. "He played on some other good football teams. We're excited to have him."

There was no announcement by late afternoon Monday by the team, but Bill Belichick, making his weekly appearance on WEEI in Boston, said, "I think we've agreed. I've had several [conversations] with him. We'll see how it goes."

Wayne, who turns 37 in November, caught 64 catches for 779 yards in 2014, his poorest season.

• Brian Hoyer was named the Texans' starting quarterback. Hoyer had been competing with Ryan Mallett for the job. Coach Bill O'Brien said Hoyer won the job because of his composure and consistency.

• Rams rookie running back Todd Gurley has been cleared to practice, but the 10th overall draft pick in the draft still won't play in the preseason.

• Titans starting cornerback Jason McCourty had surgery to repair a groin injury, and coach Ken Whisenhunt is not ruling the veteran out of Tennessee's season opener.

• Bears defensive lineman Jeremiah Ratliff was suspended by the NFL for the first three games of the regular season without pay because of a guilty plea from a drunken-driving charge in 2013. Ratliff will not pursue an appeal.

Tampa Bay 25, Cincinnati 11: Top overall draft pick Jameis Winston draft scored a 1-yard touchdown run after he was nearly flawless on the first drive of the game, and the Buccaneers beat the visiting Bengals. Winston was 3-for-3 passing for 27 yards in leading an 80-yard scoring drive.

However, Winston appeared to tweak his right ankle when he was sacked early in the second quarter. He finished 8-for-13 for 90 yards.

Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton struggled, going 6-for-13 for 46 yards with two interceptions, one that Alterraun Verner returned 24 yards for a touchdown.