Quarterback Derek Anderson has been benched by the Cleveland Browns, who will start popular backup Brady Quinn on Thursday night against the Denver Broncos.

The switch was confirmed Monday by the team, just hours after coach Romeo Crennel said he had no plans to make a change.

Anderson, who has been inconsistent this season, threw a costly interception that was returned for a touchdown in the final minutes of Sunday’s 37-27 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

New England running backs Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan are inactive for Sunday night’s game against the Indianapolis Colts.

Morris is out due to a bad knee, and Jordan is out with a calf injury.

Morris hurt his knee during New England’s 41-7 win over the Denver Broncos on Oct. 20 and sat out last week’s win over St. Louis. Jordan will miss his fourth straight game. Kevin Faulk and BenJarvus Green-Ellis will serve as the team’s running backs.

Jay Cutler declared the dinged-up index finger on his throwing hand is feeling fine.

The Denver Broncos’ quarterback effortlessly validated the point, winging a pass nearly 60 yards downfield in practice Wednesday.

“It feels pretty good,” he said. “Got lucky.”

Lucky that he didn’t suffer a similar fate as Tony Romo, who’s been sidelined since breaking the pinkie finger on his throwing hand on Oct. 12.

New England safety Rodney Harrison was carted off the field after suffering a knee injury on the final play of the third quarter against the Denver Broncos on Monday night.

Patriots running back Sammy Morris also hurt his knee in the first half after rushing for a career-high 138 yards and was not expected to return.

Boss and Champ Bailey, brothers on the Broncos’ starting defense, suffered injuries in the first half that were expected to sideline them for the rest of the game.

The New England Patriots have put running back Laurence Maroney on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, ending his season.

The team also activated offensive lineman Stephen Neal before Monday night’s game against the Denver Broncos and signed cornerback Mike Richardson from the practice squad. To make room, the Patriots released offensive lineman Dan Connolly.

Maroney was a first-round draft pick in 2006 who ran for 835 yards last season, but has struggled so far this season.

Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter and Denver Broncos cornerback Dre’ Bly were each fined $20,000 by the NFL on Friday for inappropriate comments about officials.

Porter was critical of beleaguered referee Ed Hochuli and his crew in last Sunday’s loss against the Houston Texans.

On the first play of the Texans’ drive for the winning touchdown late in the game, Porter stripped quarterback Matt Schaub.