Stillwater, Okla. — Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said Monday the school is backing the reinstatement of star receiver Dez Bryant, less than a week after declaring him ineligible for lying to the NCAA.

The school put the All-American on the sidelines last Wednesday for lying to the NCAA about his relationship with former NFL star Deion Sanders. Bryant sat out Saturday as No. 16 Oklahoma State won, 36-31, at Texas A&M.

The Cowboys (4-1, 1-0 Big 12) will host conference rival Missouri (4-1, 0-1) this Saturday.

Bryant played in Oklahoma State’s first three games this season while compliance officials were investigating his meeting with Sanders and another former NFL player, Omar Stoutmire, that Bryant later lied about to the NCAA.

Sanders said Sunday on the NFL Network that his longtime agent, Eugene Parker, was not present for his meeting with Bryant. Sanders also said he didn’t give Bryant any gifts and portrayed his relationship with Bryant as one of mentoring.

Bryant, his attorney and Oklahoma State compliance director Scott Williams are expected to meet today with NCAA officials in Indianapolis, but it’s unclear when the situation might be resolved.

“We have started the reinstatement process, which means we’re in support of him 100 percent,” Gundy said. “He made a mistake. He was untruthful and he’s admitted that. How long it’s going to take, I don’t know. Whether they’re going to reinstate him or not, I don’t know.”

Gundy said “there’s nothing out there that we were not aware of from day one” regarding Bryant’s relationship with Sanders but he wouldn’t elaborate. An Oklahoma State spokesman said the university was planning to release a copy of the letter it sent to the NCAA asking that Bryant be reinstated.

Gundy said that instead of having Bryant practice with the Cowboys, coaches want him to focus on the situation.

“Not that he’s a distraction,” Gundy said. “The players understand what’s going on, but it’s just not the time and the place right now until somebody says ‘OK, here’s what direction we’re going.’ When that’s going to happen, I’m not sure.”

College football

MU’s Gabbert probable

Columbia, Mo. — Despite suffering a sprained right ankle in Thursday’s loss to Nebraska, Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert should start in Saturday’s matchup at Oklahoma State.

Head coach Gary Pinkel said Monday that Gabbert and cornerback Carl Gettis have ankle sprains, but that they are “probable.”

Reserve linebacker Will Ebner, one of the Tigers biggest hitters, underwent arthroscopic knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus Monday, and could be ready to return to the lineup as soon as Oct. 24, when Mizzou takes on Texas.

Stoops: LG Simmons out

Norman, Okla. — Starting left guard Brian Simmons will miss No. 20 Oklahoma’s game against third-ranked Texas this Saturday with a right knee injury.

Simmons left in the third quarter of the Sooners’ 33-7 victory over Baylor last week, hopping toward the sideline before trainers met him and helped him the rest of the way off the field.

Coach Bob Stoops refused to say how long Simmons will be out.

However, Stoops says Ryan Broyles, the Sooners’ leading receiver, returned to practice and “there’s a chance he could play” Saturday in Dallas.

Broyles missed last week’s game because of a hairline fracture in his left shoulder blade the previous week in the Sooners’ 21-20 loss at Miami.

A&M WR Fuller returns

College Station, Texas — Texas A&M receiver Jeff Fuller will return to practice this week after sitting out three games with a broken right leg.

The 6-foot-4 sophomore broke his fibula in the Aggies’ 38-30 victory over Utah State on Sept. 19. Coach Mike Sherman said Monday that Fuller was cleared by doctors to return to practice.

Forcier likely to start

Ann Arbor, Mich. — Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said Monday that quarterback Tate Forcier had a concussion against Iowa. If the quarterback is cleared to play, he’ll keep his starting job.

Rodriguez expects Forcier to be OK, adding doctors and trainers will decide by Wednesday if Forcier can play Saturday at home against Delaware State.

Walk-on took own life

Union City, Tenn. — Tennessee police say an 18-year-old walk-on punter at the University of Southern Mississippi committed suicide.

Union City special police investigator Derrick Odell said Monday that Peter Wilkes died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Seminole TE out for year

Tallahassee, Fla. — Florida State has lost tight end Caz Piurowski for the season.

The 6-7, 270-pound senior from Land O’Lakes suffered torn ligaments in his right knee while blocking during Jermaine Thomas’ first quarter 3-yard touchdown run Saturday against Georgia Tech.

UK’s Hartline tears MCL

Lexington, Ky. — Kentucky coach Rich Brooks announced Monday that starting quarterback Mike Hartline suffered a complete tear of his medial collateral ligament during Saturday’s loss to South Carolina. Brooks says the MCL will not require surgery, but Hartline will possibly be out the rest of the season.

Miami loses LB

Coral Gables, Fla. — Miami linebacker Jordan Futch will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury.

NFL

Redskins LT to miss game

Ashburn, Va. — Washington Redskins left tackle Chris Samuels will miss next week’s game against Kansas City, another blow to an already fragile offensive line. The six-time Pro Bowler suffered a stinger early in Sunday’s loss to Carolina.

Colts: Manning’s knee OK

Indianapolis — Peyton Manning’s left knee may be sore, but it doesn’t appear to be a serious problem for the undefeated Colts.

One day after Manning led Indianapolis to a 31-9 victory at Tennessee, coach Jim Caldwell said he had not received a doctor’s report regarding the knee, something he would have expected had there been concerns.

Bills LBs injured

Orchard Park, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills coach Dick Jauron says middle linebackers Kawika Mitchell and Marcus Buggs will miss the rest of the season because of knee injuries.

49ers’ Bly apologizes

Santa Clara, Calif. — Dre’ Bly took Mike Singletary’s usual spot at the podium in a team meeting room and apologized. Profusely. His coach watched the whole thing.

Bly embarrassed himself and the 49ers during Sunday’s 45-10 home loss to the Atlanta Falcons when he intercepted a pass by Matt Ryan in the third quarter and struck a Deion Sanders-like pose with his right hand to his helmet and the ball unprotected in his left. Problem was, Roddy White knocked the ball loose and Atlanta, leading 35-10 at the time, recovered. The Falcons marched downfield and quickly scored again.

Titans’ Harper out

Nashville, Tenn. — Tennessee Titans cornerback Nick Harper will be out up to six weeks after surgery on a broken right forearm.

NFL investigating injury

Berea, Ohio — The NFL is investigating Cleveland Browns rookie running back James Davis’ season-ending shoulder injury.

On Sunday, ESPN.com reported that Davis was injured during a recent post-practice “opportunity period” when he was hit by a Browns linebacker. According to the report, witnesses said Davis was not wearing shoulder pads while the unidentified defender who hit him had them on.

NBA

Heat sign Arroyo

Miami — The Miami Heat have announced signing free agent guard Carlos Arroyo.

Baseball

Cubs file for Ch. 11

New York — The Chicago Cubs filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday, a step that will allow their owner to sell the baseball team in an $845 million deal.

The filing in Wilmington, Del., was anticipated and is expected to lead to a brief stay in Chapter 11 for the Cubs. A hearing was scheduled for today in front of the judge who has been handling the bankruptcy of the Cubs’ owner, Tribune Co.

Ex-pitcher Jansen dies

Verboort, Ore. — Larry Jansen, the winning pitcher for the New York Giants in the 1951 playoff game decided by Bobby Thomson’s “Shot Heard ‘Round the World,” has died. He was 89.