The Oakland Raiders will release Rolando McClain by the end of Thursday.

McClain was the eighth overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

McClain was kicked out of practice on Wednesday. 

McClain has dealt with injuries and an assault arrest in 2011.

The New England Patriots have activated Aquib Talib and promoted Greg Salas from the practice squad while releasing Deion Branch and Malcolm Williams.

The Patriots had a roster exemption for Talib.

Branch played his best game of the season last week, catching four balls for 30 yards.

The New York Jets have cut linebacker Aaron Maybin, according to a source.

Maybin was a high draft pick in 2009 by the Buffalo Bills, but was cut last season.

With the Jets, Maybin had six sacks, four forced fumbles and 11 tackles in 2011.

The Atlanta Falcons released defensive end Ray Edwards on Monday.

Edwards was signed to a five-year, $27.5 million contract last year. This season, he was scheduled to earn $3 million in base salary, with $2 million of that guaranteed. 

Edwards never produced the way the Falcons had hoped.

The Bears signed QB Josh McCown and waived TE Brody Eldridge on Tuesday.

McCown has started 33 of 50 games played in nine NFL seasons with the Cardinals (2002-05), Lions (2006), Raiders (2007), Panthers (2008-09) and Bears (2011) after entering the league as a third round selection (81^st overall) by Arizona in the 2002 Draft. 

In three games (two starts) for the Bears last season, McCown completed 35 of 55 (63.6 percent) passes for 414 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions, including 470 total yards (402 passing and 68 rushing) in his two starts.

The Kansas City Chiefs have cut Stanford Routt.

Routt started at cornerback for the Chiefs and was signed in the offseason as the replacement for Brandon Carr.