NFL notes: Dominic Raiola loses appeal for ankle shot

Lions center Dominic Raiola lost his appeal of a one-game suspension for stepping on Chicago Bears defensive tackle Ego Ferguson.

Appeals officer Derrick Brooks, the Hall of Fame linebacker appointed by the NFL and the players’ union, upheld the suspension Tuesday.

The punishment was handed down Monday by Merton Hanks, the NFL’s vice president of football operations. The league said this was Raiola’s sixth rules violation related to player safety since 2010.

Raiola stepped on Ferguson’s right ankle Sunday while the Chicago lineman was on the ground early in the third quarter. Raiola said after the game it was not intentional, and that he talked to Ferguson and apologized.

Raiola has been with the Lions for his entire 14-year career, playing every game of every season except 2008.

Detroit plays at Green Bay on Sunday for the NFC North title.

Gore eyes return

For weeks, Frank Gore has been pondering the reality he could be playing his final game with San Francisco on Sunday.

He briefly became quiet Tuesday just talking about it, saying he would like nothing more than to return to the 49ers next season. Especially after the way this year went, missing the playoffs following three straight trips to the NFC championship game and a Super Bowl near miss.

“Hopefully I’ll be back,” Gore said of the only team he has played for. “The organization, they love me and they respect me.”

San Francisco’s all-time leading rusher needs 38 yards Sunday against Arizona for his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season and eighth in his 10 NFL seasons. The Niners (7-8) need to beat the Cardinals to avoid their first losing season under embattled fourth-year coach Jim Harbaugh.

Ryan confident

Rex Ryan still believes he’ll be a championship-winning coach in the NFL. Whether he gets another chance with the New York Jets remains to be seen.

Ryan says he’s confident “one day” he’ll “definitely” win the Super Bowl as a head coach. He made the bold guarantee that the Jets would get one during his introductory news conference in 2009.

While owner Woody Johnson hasn’t made his intentions public, there’s a strong chance Ryan and perhaps general manager John Idzik could be fired after the season finale against the Dolphins in Miami on Sunday.

Around the league

Aaron Rodgers says he thinks he’ll be ready for the Packers’ showdown Sunday against the Lions for the NFC North title. Rodgers strained his left calf in last week’s win over Tampa Bay. He was already fighting an illness going into that game. … If Marqise Lee catches five passes against the Texans, the Jaguars (3-12) would become the first NFL team to have three rookie receivers with at least 40 receptions in the same season. Allen Robinson has 48 and Allen Hurns 49 receptions. … The Browns have signed veteran quarterback Tyler Thigpen to help them get through their season finale at Baltimore. With quarterbacks Johnny Manziel and Brian Hoyer injured, the Browns will likely start rookie Connor Shaw against the Ravens with Thigpen backing him up. Thigpen was in the Browns training camp this summer.