NFL notebook: Chiefs' Ware thrust into spotlight

The stunning departure of star running back Kareem Hunt left the Kansas City Chiefs less than 36 hours to formulate a backup plan to replace a key cog in their offense. Hunt was released by the Chiefs on Friday night after a video surfaced earlier in the day that showed him pushing and kicking a woman in a Cleveland hotel in February. The swift turn of events -- Hunt was placed on the Commissioner Exempt List by the NFL earlier Friday after TMZ published the video and was released soon afterward -- came two days before the Chiefs are scheduled to visit the Oakland Raiders on Sunday afternoon. Kansas City, which is coming off its bye week, owns the best record in the AFC at 9-2 and has the inside track for the top overall seed and home-field advantage in the playoffs. The Chiefs have ample options in the passing game for quarterback Patrick Mahomes in wide receiver Tyreek Hill and tight end Travis Kelce. The first option to fill the void left by Hunt is backup running back Spencer Ware, who is expected to get the start against the Raiders (2-9). Ware, in a twist of fate, was projected to be the starting running back in 2017 but suffered a season-ending knee injury late in the preseason to open the door for Hunt. --The Baltimore Ravens shuffled their backfield, placing running back Alex Collins on injured reserve and activating Kenneth Dixon to the 53-man roster, the team announced Saturday. Collins has been hobbled by a foot injury for the past few weeks and lost his starting job to undrafted free agent Gus Edwards last week. Although he led the Ravens in rushing (411 yards) and touchdowns (eight), Collins was averaging only 3.6 yards per carry and eclipsed 60 rushing yards in only one game this season. --Former NFL defensive tackle Nick Fairley was arrested Friday and charged with menacing. Fairley was arrested Friday afternoon in Mobile, Ala., for allegedly threatening someone with a gun. He was charged with two counts of menacing, Al.com reported, and faces a January court date. A first-round pick (No. 13 overall) of the Detroit Lions in the 2011 NFL Draft, Fairley was released by the New Orleans Saints on Feb. 5 because of a heart issue that forced him to sit out the 2017 season.