Ravens' Lewis fined $25,000 by league

The NFL fined Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis $25,000 on Friday for two separate plays, including a helmet-to-helmet hit on Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ochocinco .

Lewis will appeal the fine.

Both plays occurred during the fourth quarter of Baltimore's 17-14 loss on Sunday. The league deemed that Lewis "unnecessarily kicked the opponent" and later "unnecessarily struck a defenseless receiver."

During the latter play, Lewis hit Ochocinco after a pass from Carson Palmer sailed incomplete, and the 15-yard penalty for unnecessary roughness helped set up the winning touchdown with 22 seconds remaining.

After the game, Ochocinco used his Twitter account to ask NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for leniency.

LIONS: Quarterback Matthew Stafford and top receiver Calvin Johnson are questionable for Sunday's game at Green Bay.

Stafford has missed four of five practices this week, including Friday's, with a right knee injury suffered Oct. 8 at Chicago. Coach Jim Schwartz says he won't decide until Sunday whether he will play.

Johnson is also recovering from a right knee injury.

STEELERS: Running back Rashard Mendenhall is expected to start against the Cleveland Browns after returning to practice following a day off with flu-like symptoms.

Mendenhall went through a full practice Friday.

Steelers safety Troy Polamalu also will start Sunday. He practiced all week after missing four games with a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee.

VIKINGS: Rookie wide receiver and return man Percy Harvin is questionable for Sunday's game against Baltimore with an injured left shoulder. Harvin says it will be a gametime decision. He missed practice Wednesday and worked out on a limited basis Thursday and Friday.

JETS: Wide receivers Jerricho Cotchery and Brad Smith are doubtful to play against Buffalo after missing a third consecutive day of practice Friday because of injuries.

Cornerback Lito Sheppard (right quad) is probable, and will start opposite Darrelle Revis after missing the past three games.

OBITUARY: Cullen Bryant , who played for 11 seasons with the Los Angeles Rams and was a running back on its 1980 Super Bowl team, died Tuesday at age 58, his sister-in law said.