Manuel, not Tuel, will start Sunday

It turns out Buffalo rookie quarterback EJ Manuel will be ready to open the season against New England, after all.

Following weeks of attempting to address the quarterback position, coach Doug Marrone announced Wednesday that Manuel will start Sunday.

Manuel’s status had been in question after he had what the team called a “minor procedure” on his left knee on Aug. 18.

Had Manuel not been ready, the Bills would have started undrafted rookie Jeff Tuel.

Smith to start at QB for New York Jets

Geno Smith will start at quarterback for the New York Jets in the season opener Sunday at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The team announced its decision through its Twitter feed Wednesday, finally confirming what had been expected since Mark Sanchez injured his right shoulder in a preseason game against the Giants on Aug. 24.

Goodell: Settlement ‘significant amount’

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell took issue with the notion that the league’s $765 million settlement with former players is a paltry sum compared to the sport’s revenues.

“This is a significant amount of money,” he said. “The plaintiffs also agreed it was an appropriate amount. The mediator felt it was an appropriate amount.”

Some former players questioned the size of the concussion settlement, considering it stretches over 20 years and will be divided among thousands of people.

Niners’ Aldon Smith named in lawsuit

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith was 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 his former teammate Delanie Walker fired weapons illegally during the party at Smith’s San Jose home in June 2012.

Esporlas said he was shot twice in the crossfire between two groups after Walker allegedly fired more shots in the driveway. Neither Walker nor Smith has been charged.

Around the league

Denver cornerback Champ Bailey won’t play in the Broncos’ opener tonight against the Baltimore Ravens because of a sprained left foot. … The New York Giants placed running back Andre Brown on the injured reserve-designated to return list. Brown broke his left leg in New York’s preseason finale. … Jacksonville tight end Marcedes Lewis left practice early after re-injuring his left calf. … The St. Louis Rams waived outside linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar rather than wait for the second-leading tackler from last season to serve a four-game suspension to open the season.