Players Association president Eric Winston criticized Cincinnati Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis for downplaying head injuries.

“Always good to see the NFL educating their HCs on health/safety. Glad they are taking the lead on serious issues like concussions. #sarcasm,” Winston wrote (@ericwinston) on Twitter.

Lewis was asked if he was concerned about middle linebacker Vontaze Burfict as a player and a person because of his history of head injuries and helmet-to-helmet hits.

“Again, I coached defense and linebackers for a long time and concussions didn’t linger,” Lewis said. “Now we’ve found that because of the media and things they seem to linger longer. There’s a lot of attention paid to it. I don’t know why they linger longer, but I don’t remember them lingering like they do now.”

Asked later to clarify, Lewis declined, saying he probably should not have spoken on the topic the first time.

–Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict will appeal his $25,000 fine for twisting the ankles of Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton and tight end Greg Olsen during last week’s game, ESPN reported.

Both Olson and Newton complained, saying that Burfict was intentionally trying to hurt them. Burfict can be seen twisting the ankles of Newton and Olsen after touchdown scores.

Panthers coach Ron Rivera sent tapes of the plays to the league office. A source said that the tapes reveal the ankle-twisting is more obvious on the Newton play than on the play Olsen was injured.

–The Cincinnati Bengals probably will be without wide receiver A.J. Green when they face the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

Green did not participate in practice and has an appointment on Friday with a foot specialist. At that time, the Bengals should have a better idea if Green will be able to play, but the prevailing thought is that he will be sidelined.

–Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson missed practice again on Thursday and likely will miss Week 7 with a high ankle sprain.

In fact, Johnson has said he doesn’t want to play if he is just going to be used as a decoy. He sat out last week’s win over the Minnesota Vikings.

The 29-year-old Johnson has compiled only 22 receptions and two touchdowns in this injury-marred season.

Coach Jim Caldwell has hinted that “Megatron” could sit out this week against the New Orleans Saints and the following week against the Atlanta Falcons. The Lions have a bye week after the Falcons game.

–The New England Patriots placed linebacker Jerod Mayo and running back Stevan Ridley on injured reserve and signed offensive lineman Chris Barker and running back Jonas Gray from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.

Mayo and Ridley suffered knee injuries on Sunday during the Patriots’ 37-22 win over the Buffalo Bills in Orchard Park, N.J.

For Mayo, it’s the second significant injury in the past two seasons. Last year, he injured a pectoral muscle in October that kept him off the playing field for the remainder of the 2013 season.

–A sexual assault claim filed by a woman in Oklahoma against Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones in September was dismissed. Both parties signed an agreed judgment that prohibits either side from discussing the case.

An attorney for Jones said in September that the suit was clearly a “shakedown.”

Jana Weckerly, a 27-year-old former stripper from Ardmore, Okla., accused Jones of sexual assault and was seeking $1 million in damages for an incident she alleged took place in May or June 2009.

Weckerly alleged in the suit that the Cowboys also threatened her to keep her from reporting the incident to police. She said through her attorney that she was forced to relocate out of “fears for her life.”

–The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fired player development director Isaiah Harris who was arrested and charged with driving under the influence earlier in the day.

Harris came to Tampa Bay along with coach Lovie Smith from the Chicago Bears, where he worked in the same capacity from 2008-2013.

According to the police report, Harris refused to have his blood-alcohol content tested after being stopped by the Tampa Police Department at 2:06 a.m. He was booked at 4:35 a.m. and released at 11:06 a.m. on a $500 bond.

–Carolina rookie wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin missed practice, his second straight of being sidelined because of a concussion suffered in Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Benjamin’s status for Sunday’s game at Green Bay is uncertain, but coach Ron Rivera said he will have a better idea on Friday if Benjamin will suit up.

Benjamin is scheduled to be examined by a team of independent doctors on Friday as part of the NFL’s protocol on treating concussions.

–Dallas quarterback Tony Romo, who missed practice Wednesday due to ankle and back injuries, returned to practice on a limited basis.

Romo’s left ankle was clearly taped. He was able to work on passing drills, but did not participate in drills that involved handing the ball off to running backs.

Romo underwent electric stimulator therapy on his ankle earlier in the week. He said he would be good to go against the New York Giants on Sunday.

Running back DeMarco Murray, the league’s leading rusher, and offensive lineman Tyron Smith also were back at practice on Thursday.

Murray sat out Wednesday with an unspecified illness.