Coach Jim Caldwell says Painter played well enough in Monday night’s loss at Tampa Bay to earn the job. Earlier this week, Caldwell implied Painter would start unless Kerry Collins was cleared to play after suffering a concussion against Pittsburgh. Collins has not been cleared.

Caldwell also says it is unlikely right guard Ryan Diem will play against the Chiefs (1-3) but that the Colts (0-4) had not ruled him out.

Diem has missed the last two games with a sprained left ankle and could move back to his old spot, right tackle, with the Colts’ top two left tackles out this week.

Johnson out 2 weeks Texans star receiver Andre Johnson expects to be out a couple of weeks after a minor procedure to repair a right hamstring injury. Johnson said he is scheduled to get the stitches from two incisions removed early next week. The five-time Pro Bowl selection says he has felt great since Tuesday’s procedure and is confident he will be back soon. He described himself as a fast healer . . . Seahawks starting wide receiver Mike Williams (concussion) has been ruled out of tomorrow’s game against the Giants. Williams, who was injured last week against the Falcons, did not pass the required physical. Ben Obomanu is expected to start for Williams, and Golden Tate is likely to see an increased work load . . . Giants running back Brandon Jacobs is doubtful for tomorrow’s game with a sprained left MCL. DJ Ware, the Giants’ third running back behind Jacobs and starter Ahmad Bradshaw, has been moved into Bradshaw’s primary backup spot . . . Packers right tackle Bryan Bulaga (knee) will not play at Atlanta.

Long extension The Vikings signed long snapper Cullen Loeffler to a three-year extension, ensuring that the league’s longest-tenured kicking trio will remain intact. Loeffler has spent his eight-year career with the Vikings after signing as a rookie free agent out of Texas in 2004. Loeffler, punter Chris Kluwe, and kicker Ryan Longwell have played in Minnesota for the past six years. That’s longer than any other active trio in the league, according to STATS, LLC . . . Baltimore All-Pro defensive tackle Haloti Ngata was fined $15,000 for lowering his helmet into the back of Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez last Sunday. Washington linebackers Rob Jackson and Perry Riley were also disciplined. Jackson was fined for driving Rams quarterback Sam Bradford to the ground. Perry was docked for striking a defenseless player fielding a punt.