NFL Notes: Chiefs' Alex Smith, Jeremy Maclin building rapport

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Alex Smith was familiar with Jeremy Maclin long before the wide receiver signed with Kansas City, first catching him on television and then studying him on film with the Eagles.

So once Maclin finally put on a Chiefs jersey, it didn't take long for him to begin building a rapport with Smith. In fact, by their third preseason game Friday night, they were already demonstrating just how in synch they were.

The two hooked up seven times for 65 yards and a touchdown in less than a half.

"It was good for us," Maclin said. "I felt like the first team was out there and we moved the ball every time we had the ball. One time we had a holding call down in the red zone that kind of pushed us out of there a little bit, but I thought we were pretty efficient tonight" (see full story).

Jets: Rookie Leonard Williams has muscle strain in knee
NEW YORK -- The New York Jets -- and their anxious fans -- can exhale.

An MRI exam Sunday revealed that rookie defensive lineman Leonard Williams has a muscle strain behind one of his knees, and the team avoided a potentially devastating injury to its first-round draft pick.

Williams got hurt in the first half of the Jets' 28-18 preseason victory over the Giants on Saturday night. The MRI showed no ligament damage to Williams' knee.

There was no immediate timetable on when Williams might return, but it isn't expected to be a long-term injury. The Jets open the regular season on Sept. 13 at home against Cleveland -- giving him two weeks to rest and heal (see full story)

Browns: Rookie running back Duke Johnson out with concussion
CLEVELAND -- Browns rookie running back Duke Johnson is following the NFL's protocol on head injuries after sustaining a concussion in Saturday's win over Tampa Bay.

Browns coach Mike Pettine said Sunday he does not know when Johnson will return. The team has big plans for the versatile Johnson, who was making his preseason debut after being out with a hamstring injury.

With Johnson out, Pettine said the Browns will consider signing another running back. Pettine wouldn't say if former Baltimore back Ray Rice is a possibility (see full story)

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