First-Round Pick to Start at Quarterback for the Bills Buffalo Coach Doug Marrone announced Wednesday that the rookie quarterback E. J. Manuel had fully recovered from a left knee injury and would start against New England on Sunday. Manuel, the 16th overall pick in April, was hurt scrambling during a preseason win over Minnesota on Aug. 16. Manuel took part in individual drills Sunday, his first practice since he had what the Bills called a minor procedure on Aug. 18. Manuel showed little sign of a limp despite wearing a small brace during Wednesday's practice. He said he had not determined whether he would wear the brace against the Patriots. 49ER NAMED IN LAWSUIT San Francisco linebacker Aldon Smith has been named in a lawsuit by a man who said he was shot during a party at Smith's house. In the suit, filed Tuesday in Santa Clara County Superior Court, Ronndale Esporlas said Smith and Smith's former teammate Delanie Walker illegally fired weapons during the party, in June 2012. Neither Walker nor Smith has been charged. Walker now plays for Tennessee. RAMS CUT LINEBACKER St. Louis waived outside linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar rather than wait for Dunbar, the Rams" second-leading tackler last season, to serve a four-game suspension to open the season. Still, Coach Jeff Fisher said after practice Wednesday that there was a chance the Rams could re-sign Dunbar. BENGALS TACKLE MAY NOT PLAY Cincinnati left tackle Andrew Whitworth has not fully recovered from an off-season operation on his left knee, jeopardizing his chances of playing in the Bengals" season opener, at Chicago. Whitworth has started 67 straight games for the Bengals, who drafted him in 2006. Quarterback Greg McElroy, who was recently waived with an injury settlement by the Jets, was added to the Bengals" practice squad. COLTS READY TO GO Indianapolis tight ends Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener, running back Ahmad Bradshaw and right guard Mike McGlynn practiced, and left tackle Anthony Castonzo was expected to return to practice Thursday. That means the Colts should presumably have all of their projected starters on the field Sunday against Oakland. The Colts may still face a surprise: Raiders Coach Dennis Allen is refusing to name his starting quarterback for "competitive" reasons, even though all signs point to Terrelle Pryor getting that call over Matt Flynn on Sunday in Indianapolis. GABBERT'S STATUS UP IN THE AIR Jacksonville Coach Gus Bradley said he might wait to decide on a quarterback until Sunday. Blaine Gabbert, who is returning from a broken thumb, was limited in practice Wednesday. Tight end Marcedes Lewis left practice after reinjuring his left calf. GOODELL DEFENDS SETTLEMENT N.F.L. Commissioner Roger Goodell took issue with the notion that the league's $765 million settlement with former players over concussions was a paltry sum compared with its revenue. "This is a significant amount of money," Goodell said in his first public comments since the settlement was announced last week. The plaintiffs also agreed it was an appropriate amount. The mediator felt it was an appropriate amount. AROUND THE LEAGUE Cornerback Champ Bailey will not play in Denver's opener, against Baltimore, on Thursday night because of a sprained left foot, but he plans to play against the Giants in Week 2. ... New England tight end Rob Gronkowski said he was making steady progress from forearm and back operations but would not say if he expected to play Sunday. ... Linebacker Brian Cushing signed a six-year, $55.6 million contract extension with Houston, with $21 million guaranteed.