Brandon McManus is back in the NFL after the Green Bay Packers signed him to replace struggling rookie kicker Brayden Narveson.

The Packers announced Wednesday they had signed McManus and had released Narveson, who had an NFL-high five missed field-goal attempts.

This move comes after the NFL said late last month it did not find sufficient evidence to support claims that McManus sexually assaulted two women who were working as flight attendants on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ trip to London last year. The league considers the case closed, paving the way for McManus to rejoin a team, though it could be reopened if new evidence emerged.

“Obviously, he wouldn’t be available right now if those accusations weren’t out there, but I think the league did a really thorough investigation, and we leaned on that as we went through it,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said.

The civil case remains active in Duval County Circuit Court in Florida. A message sent to attorneys representing the women was not immediately returned.

Gutekunst was asked if the team had done its own investigation into the allegations.

“Our investigation was really linked with that,” Gutekunst said, referring to the NFL’s investigation. “But at the same time, obviously, with every acquisition we make, we go through those things.”

Gutekunst said he also had spoken to McManus on Tuesday.

“We wanted to make sure that we did our due diligence,” Gutekunst said. “Again, we feel really good about that where we sit right now. We’re excited to get him out there.”

lions extend dt mcneill for $97M

The Detroit Lions have decided to make defensive tackle Alim McNeill their latest investment, retaining a key player with a long-term deal.

“Fired up for Mac, he earned that,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said Wednesday. “He’s a pivotal piece for us.”

McNeill signed a $97 million, four-year contract extension, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the terms had not been announced.

“The timing was crazy,” said McNeill, who wasn’t expecting a deal to get done this week.

Detroit (4-1) plays NFC North-leading Minnesota (5-0) on the road Sunday in a potentially pivotal game in the division race and for playoff positioning. The Lions won the NFC North last season, their first division title in three decades.

McNeill joined quarterback Jared Goff, wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and offensive tackle Penei Sewell as players to land a contract extension this year.

“He’s one of our pillars here,” Campbell said. “No different than the guys we signed back.”

Lions general manager Brad Holmes drafted McNeill in the third round — No. 72 overall — in 2021 out of N.C. State and he has become one of the league’s top defensive tackles.

McNeill matched a career high with two sacks in a 47-9 rout at Dallas on Sunday.

giants tackle thomas out for season

New York Giants left tackle Andrew Thomas will miss the rest of the season after having surgery on his right foot to repair a Lisfranc injury, coach Brian Daboll confirmed Wednesday.

Thomas, who signed a five-year, $117.5 million contract in 2023, was hurt late in a 17-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night. A Lisfranc injury occurs in the middle of the foot when at least one of the small bones is broken or sprained or the ligaments that support the foot in that area is torn.