Bill Polian will remain at ESPN rather than taking a prominent position in the Buffalo Bills’ front office.

Polian informed owner Terry Pegula that he would keep his job as a television analyst instead of joining the Bills, a franchise he helped build during the unprecedented run of four consecutive AFC championships in the 1990s.

Polian was widely reported to be on the cusp of taking the Bills’ personnel position on Wednesday when head coach Doug Marrone exercised an opt-out clause in his contract and left the team.

—New York Jets owner Woody Johnson said he plans to phone Doug Marrone to gauge the interest of the former Buffalo Bills’ coach in replacing Rex Ryan.

The Jets also are expected to interview Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Dan Quinn. Johnson and consultants Ron Wolf and Charley Casserly were headed to Seattle on Thursday to meet with Quinn and Seahawks assistant head coach/offensive line coach Tom Cable this weekend about the head coaching vacancy.

Ryan was fired Monday along with general manager John Idzik. Marrone exercised an opt-out clause in his contract and resigned as head coach of the Bills on Friday.

While in Seattle, the Jets’ contingent also will speak with Seahawks director of pro personnel Trent Kirchner about the GM opening.

—For the first time since Oct. 26, Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley was a practice participant and worked with the first team in Thursday’s workout at Allen Park, Mich.

Fairley was not placed on injured reserve with what coach Jim Caldwell continued to refer to as a “significant” knee injury. Fairley forms a fearsome interior tandem alongside Ndamukong Suh, who was cleared to play Sunday at Dallas after winning the appeal of his one-game suspension for standing on the leg of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Fairley practiced Thursday with the starters, ahead of C.J. Moseley, but Caldwell would not commit to Fairley being a starter after missing nine weeks.

—Head coach Chip Kelly and general manager Howie Roseman are wrestling for control of the Philadelphia Eagles.

The first signs of a struggle were apparent last season but not until Kelly-endorsed vice president of player personnel Tom Gamble was fired Wednesday did the team expose outward evidence of the internal strife.

According to Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, Roseman’s job is secure. But parties on Roseman’s behalf reached out to the New York Jets about their general manager opening this week, according to multiple reports. The Jets did not show interest in hiring Roseman, according to the New York Daily News.

—Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green returned to practice Thursday after sitting out Wednesday because of a concussion.

Green suffered the injury in the fourth quarter of a 27-17 loss at Pittsburgh on Sunday night. Green was hurt on a hit delivered by Steelers cornerback cornerback Antwon Blake and moments later by safety Mike Mitchell. He was alreadly playing with a deep biceps bruise that coach Marvin Lewis said could limit Green, who had eight catches against the Steelers.

—Ryan Lindley will start his third consecutive game at quarterback on Sunday when the Arizona Cardinals play the Carolina Panthers in an NFC wild-card matchup, coach Bruce Arians confirmed Thursday.

Arians ruled out quarterback Drew Stanton because of a sprained knee that has kept him out of the Cardinals’ final three games of the regular season. The knee underwent an arthroscopic procedure last week after Stanton developed an infection.

Lindley started for the Cardinals in losses to the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers to end the regular season. He pased for 316 yards and two touchdowns last Sunday against the 49ers but threw three interceptions.

—Longtime Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne and veteran backup quarterback Matt Hasselbeck both expect to play again next season.

The 36-year-old Wayne said Wednesday that at this point he plans to be back for a 15th year in 2015. He faces offseason surgery on a torn triceps and also has been hampered by knee, elbow and groin injuries season. Wayne has 64 catches for 779 yards and two touchdowns in 15 games this season.

“If I had to answer that question right now, (the answer) would be ‘I will be back,'” Wayne said on WNDE Indianapolis. “If the Colts want me. Because I’m not playing for nobody else.”

The 39-year-old Hasselbeck hopes to play a 17th season. His two-year contract with the Colts ends in March and the subject of returning to the team has yet to be discussed.

—Recently fired New York Jets coach Rex Ryan is scheduled to interview on Sunday with the San Francisco 49ers for their head coaching vacancy, according to reports.

The 49ers are looking to fill the opening created when Jim Harbaugh left the team after Sunday’s season finale and ended up as the head coach at Michigan. Ryan and general manager John Idzik were ousted by the Jets this week. Ryan spent six seasons as Jets coach and compiled a 46-50 record. In his final season, the Jets finished with a 4-12 record and missed the playoffs for the fourth year in a row.

Among the candidates who already interviewed in San Francisco are 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase.

—The Indianapolis Colts announced Thursday that Sunday’s AFC wild-card playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals is sold out, avoiding a local television blackout.

The Colts met the NFL’s 72-hour deadline for all tickets to be sold. Last year, the league allowed ticket sales to be extended beyond the deadline to prevent local TV blackouts.