The NFL and NFLPA agreed to push back Ray Rice’s appeal of his indefinite suspension on Wednesday after the union announced plans to conduct its own investigation.

The NFLPA hired former federal prosecutor Richard Craig Smith, the head of regulatory and governmental investigation at the firm of Norton Rose Fulbright, to conduct an investigation surrounding the “due process, discipline, facts and conduct” of the league office and the Baltimore Ravens that led to Rice’s indefinite suspension.

Rice was initially suspended for two games for violating the NFL personal-conduct policy for his domestic violence incident. But then Rice’s suspension was increased after a second video surfaced of him knocking out his then-fiancee, Janay Palmer, whom he later married, in the elevator of an Atlantic City casino in February. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wrote in a disciplinary letter that the second video constituted new evidence that didn’t mesh with the version of events Rice told him.

Rice will contend that he told the truth to the Ravens and the NFL in his meetings with them, according to the Baltimore Sun.

—Minnesota Vikings quarterback Matt Cassel’s season is over. He was placed on injured reserve with multiple fractures in his left foot on Wednesday.

Cassel was injured Sunday at New Orleans, when he left the field in the second quarter unknowingly passing the torch to rookie first-round pick Teddy Bridgewater, who is preparing for his first NFL start Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. He completed 12 of 20 passes for 150 yards last week.

It has been a tumultuous 10 days of turnover for head coach Mike Zimmer’s roster. Adrian Peterson was placed on the exempt list a week ago, before Cassel and tight end Kyle Rudolph (hernia surgery) went down with serious injuries in a 20-9 loss to the Saints.

In addition to the Cassel transaction, guard Brandon Fusco was placed on injured reserve. The Vikings signed tight end Chase Ford and offensive lineman Austin Wentworth to the active roster. Both players were on the practice squad.

—Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill said he has no doubts who will be the team’s starter this week, even though coach Joe Philbin has refused to confirm the decision.

Philbin has been noncommittal on the former first-rounder retaining his starting job against the Oakland Raiders in Sunday’s game in London. Tannehill admitted that the quarterback controversy has caused a distraction.

Several players have been told Tannehill will remain the starter this week, according to NFL.com.

—It’s bad enough that the Oakland Raiders lost 15 straight games in the Eastern time zone.

Now they crossed the Atlantic Ocean and their body clocks are out of whack by a full eight hours as they prepare to face the Miami Dolphins Sunday at Wembley Stadium. They arrived at London’s Heathrow Airport at 8 a.m. Tuesday, departing Providence, R.I., after a 16-9 loss to the New England Patriots.

Most players followed the advice of the training and medical staff — don’t sleep on the flight, get through the first day with minimal napping and try and get a full night’s sleep before waking on Tuesday.

—San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh continued his strong stance in support of quarterback Colin Kaepernick during his weekly Wednesday press conference at the team’s practice facility.

Kaepernick was fined $11,025 fine for using “inappropriate language,” now verified as being the “N” word by Chicago Bears defensive end Lamarr Houston, after a fourth-quarter interception in the 49ers’ 28-20 loss on Sept. 14.

Kaepernick has appealed the fine. He denied he said anything “racially derogatory” to Houston, who initially said he didn’t hear anything after the two appeared to jaw a bit following the interception. Asked Wednesday to comment on Houston’s insistence that a “racially derogatory” phase was directed at the defensive end, Kaepernick blurted, “I’ve addressed that and we’re on to (Sunday’s game against) the Eagles.”

—Dallas Cowboys cornerback Morris Claiborne, who skipped the team’s walk-through practice the day before and angrily left the training facility, rejoined the team Wednesday morning to participate in meetings.

Coach Jason Garrett confirmed that Claiborne left the club’s Valley Ranch training facility Tuesday after being informed that Orlando Scandrick was replacing him in the starting lineup.

“I think he understood that he made a mistake,” Garrett said Wednesday.

Garrett said Claiborne would be disciplined internally but will play against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday night.

—The Houston Texans placed defensive tackle Louis Nix on season-ending injured reserve with a knee injury.

The Texans signed veteran defensive lineman Ryan Pickett on Wednesday to replace the third-round pick.

Nix was inactive for the first three games. He underwent a scope on his left knee before training camp and never recovered. Pickett, 34, wasn’t re-signed by Green Bay this offseason, but is now back for his 14th year. He has 371 tackles and 9 1/2 sacks with the Packers (2006-13) and St. Louis Rams (2001-05).

The Texans also signed kicker Chris Boswell and cornerback Marcus Williams to the practice squad.

—Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan and Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck were named NFL offensive players the week for Week 3 on Wednesday.

Seattle Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor, who had an interception, one forced fumble, two passes defensed and nine tackles in the 26-20 overtime win over the Denver Broncos, won the NFC defensive award. Falcons return man Devin Hester, who set an NFL record with his 20th career return touchdown when he brought back a punt 62 yards for a score and added a 20-yard score on an end around, took the NFC special teams award.

San Diego Chargers defensive end Corey Liuget, who had six tackles, one sack and a forced fumble in Sunday’s win over the Buffalo Bills, won the AFC defensive award. Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, who converted all three field goals — including the game-winner — and both PATs in the 23-21 victory over the Cleveland Browns, took the AFC special teams award.

—The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed defensive end T.J. Fatinikun, linebacker Shayne Skov and fullback Ian Thompson to the practice squad on Wednesday.

Fatinikun and Thompson each spent the 2014 preseason with the Bucs before being waived prior to the final roster cuts.