Chiefs' Johnson out another week
November 13th, 2007
Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Kansas City running back Larry Johnson will not play against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
Chiefs president/general manager Carl Peterson announced that the swelling continues to subside in Johnson's injured right foot, but he will not be able to play when the Colts host the Chiefs.
Peterson said Johnson, who was on the sidelines without crutches for Sunday's 27-11 home loss to Denver, has been getting rehab treatments twice a day. Peterson said Johnson's condition will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis, and that the running back will see a foot specialist next Monday.
The two-time Pro Bowl back injured his right foot on a fourth-quarter play in the November 4 loss against Green Bay, and had to be helped off the field. With a little more than eight minutes left in the game, Johnson received a short pass from quarterback Damon Huard, and was tackled by Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk.
Johnson twisted awkwardly on the play, and didn't put any weight on the leg as he was assisted off the field.
Johnson has 158 carries for 559 yards and three scores this season, and 30 catches for 186 yards and a touchdown for the 4-5 Chiefs, who are a game behind first-place San Diego in the AFC West.
With Johnson out, Priest Holmes has carried the rushing load. He ran 20 times for 65 yards in the game against Denver.
Texans place Robinson on IR, sign Cox
November 13, 2007
HOUSTON (AP) -The Houston Texans placed cornerback Dunta Robinson on the injured reserve and signed safety Curome Cox on Tuesday.
Robinson tore his right anterior cruciate ligament and injured his hamstring making a tackle against Oakland.
Cox was released by Denver by Nov. 6 after playing for the Broncos since 2005. He appeared in seven games this season and had seven tackles and a fumble recovery.
Cox has 53 tackles and two interceptions in his three-year NFL career.
QB Losman will start again for Bills
November 13, 2007
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -Two days after leading the Bills to another come-from-behind win, quarterback J.P. Losman was selected as the starter for Buffalo's game against unbeaten New England on Sunday.
Coach Dick Jauron released a statement Tuesday on the quarterbacking situation.
Down 10-2 after three quarters, Losman guided the Bills to a 13-10 victory over the winless Miami Dolphins last Sunday, his second straight fourth-quarter comeback win and third of his career. He also manufactured a late-game rally for Buffalo two weeks ago over Cincinnati.
Losman completed just 12 of 23 passes for 157 yards and one interception against the Dolphins. He was also sacked twice and struggled during most of the first three quarters.
He's now led the team to three straight wins, including three weeks ago against the Jets in a relief appearance after rookie starter Trent Edwards sprained his wrist. Edwards was inactive against the Bengals, but was the backup against Miami.
The resurgent Bills (5-4) have won four straight after opening the season 0-3. Included in those three losses was a 38-7 defeat at New England in Week 3 when Losman lost his starting job to Edwards after spraining his left knee during the Bills' first offensive series.
As part of it its flex-scheduling system, the NFL moved this Sunday's game against the Patriots (9-0) to 8:15 p.m. EST. New England is coming off its bye week after using a fourth-quarter comeback of its own to defeat Indianapolis in Week 9.
Bertrand Berry's season ends early again
November 13, 2007
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -Arizona Cardinals defensive end Bertrand Berry will miss the rest of the season because of a torn left triceps.
An MRI exam Monday confirmed the extent of the injury, team spokesman Mark Dalton said on Tuesday. Berry was hurt in Sunday's 31-21 victory over Detroit.
It is the third year in a row Berry's season has ended prematurely.
He missed the final six games of last season with a torn right triceps and the last eight games in 2005 with a torn pectoral muscle. Berry made the Pro Bowl after leading the NFC in sacks in 2004, his first season with the Cardinals.
Coach Ken Whisenhunt said Monday that Joe Tafoya and Darryl Blackstock would share the job in Berry's absence.
Tafoya is in his second year with the Cardinals after signing as a free agent following two seasons with Seattle. Blackstock, a third-round draft pick out of Virginia in 2005, lost out to Calvin Pace in the competition for outside linebacker in training camp. That job became open when Chike Okeafor was lost for the season with a torn biceps tendon.
McNair out at least 2 to 3 weeks
Ravens QB sidelined with left shoulder injury; Boller to start against Cleveland
Steve McNair will be out at least two to three weeks with a shoulder injury, which means Kyle Boller will be the Ravens' starting quarterback Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.
McNair sustained a partial dislocation in his non-throwing shoulder late in Sunday's 21-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, coach Brian Billick announced on his weekly radio show tonight.
Boller, who was a three-year starter before the Ravens traded for McNair in June 2006, is 2-1 as the starter this season. In his three starts, Boller has averaged 186.7 yards passing, throwing three touchdowns and one interception.
"Obviously, Kyle is cranked up and ready to go," Billick said.
McNair's injury raised some eyebrows because it comes at a point when the Ravens might have been ready to bench the well-respected, four-time Pro Bowl quarterback.
In six starts this season, McNair has struggled to a 2-4 record, throwing two touchdown passes and committing 11 turnovers (four interceptions and seven fumbles).
McNair was pulled from Sunday's loss with 7:33 left in the game after he failed to produce a scoring drive against a Bengals defense that had allowed 30.5 points a game. In the locker room, a sullen McNair indicated he had reached the "lowest point" of his career and said he would understand if the Ravens decided to bench him and start Boller.
A day later, the Ravens announced that McNair suddenly had a shoulder injury. Billick said tonight that McNair was injured on his last hit.
According to Billick, the shoulder keeps "popping in and out" of its joint, which will cause McNair to be sidelined a "minimum" of two to three weeks before he can begin practicing.
"Initially, it was one of those things where there's a numbness to it and then you wake up in morning and it's, 'Oh my God, what's going on here?'" Billick said.
Over the past four seasons, McNair has missed 13 starts. He has already sat out three starts this season with groin and back injuries.
According to Billick's timetable, Boller would start against the Browns and at the San Diego Chargers. The earliest McNair would return -- and that's presuming the Ravens would be willing to start him again -- would be the Dec. 3 game against the New England Patriots.
Boller, a 2003 first-round pick by the Ravens, brings a different style than McNair to a Ravens offense that has dropped to No. 23 overall and No. 28 in scoring.
There's a better chance of producing big plays with Boller because he looks downfield more often than McNair and has a stronger arm. Boller also has more mobility and can create more plays with his legs.
With Boller becoming the starter, rookie fifth-round pick Troy Smith now becomes the backup. Last season's Heisman Trophy winner has yet to take a snap during the regular season.
"That's going to be a fun challenge for Troy, because now he's been around enough," Billick said. "The focus and attention that he brings to [preparing] is heightened."
Because Smith is the second quarterback (the No. 3 essentially can't play the first three quarters unless the top two quarterbacks are injured), Billick speculated that Smith could be put into some specialty packages to take advantage of his athleticism.
"You don't want to tip your hand, but there are some things that you could do with Troy in that capacity because of his abilities to run the ball and do some of those things," Billick said.
At this point, the Ravens aren't considering signing another quarterback. But if McNair's injury lingers, the team might think about adding one for depth.
Said Billick: "Quite frankly, there's not a lot out there for us to consider."
www.baltsun.com
Eagles bench Kearse
Juqua Thomas will start at left defensive end.
It appears as if Jevon Kearse's reduced playing time is about to be reduced even more.
All indications yesterday were that the Eagles' highest-paid defensive lineman will not play Sunday when the Eagles face the winless Miami Dolphins at Lincoln Financial Field.
Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson did not hesitate when asked who would start at left defensive end against the Dolphins.
"Juqua Thomas," he said.
Johnson gave a far less definitive answer when asked about Kearse's role for Sunday's game.
"I haven't decided that yet," he said.
www.philly.com
Westbrook questionable for Dolphins game
November 16, 2007
Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Halfback Brian Westbrook missed practice for the second straight day with a knee injury and is questionable for the Eagles' game against Miami on Sunday.
"I think he'll be ready to go," coach Andy Reid said Friday. "It's not bad. There's a little swelling."
Westbrook missed one game earlier this season with an abdominal injury and often plays despite missing practice. He's eighth in the NFL with 701 yards rushing, and second among running backs and ninth overall with 54 catches for 518 yards. He has nine touchdowns combined, including three in a 33-25 win at Washington last Sunday.
Reid said Westbrook noticed some swelling in his knee after lifting weights following Wednesday's practice. He was held out of practice the next two days because the team practiced indoors on an artificial surface.
If Westbrook doesn't play, Correll Buckhalter would start.
AROUND THE NFL
Associated Press
November 17, 2007
Running back Shaun Alexander will not play for the Seattle Seahawks until he's healthy enough to practice full time.
"We had a talk, and I told him until he can practice the whole week, until he can have a normal week of practice I'm not going to put him on the field," Coach Mike Holmgren said after Friday's practice, which Alexander watched.
"I tried to explain that running backs . . . you need to be able to do what you do, and if you're worried about an injury or something is sore and you can't make your cuts, you're really open to more injury. I'm not going to put him on the field until he can do what he does. He appreciated that."
Holmgren wouldn't officially say Alexander is "out" for Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears, but he did say that backup Maurice Morris would start for the second week in a row.
Atlanta Falcons Coach Bobby Petrino declined to say whether Byron Leftwich or Joey Harrington would start at quarterback against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers .
"I thought they both looked good," Petrino said. "Byron was moving around and had no ill effects from practice the last two days, so that was good to see."
Petrino did say he won't wait until Sunday to tell his players who will start.
With Leftwich able to practice three days in a row, he's likely to start. Petrino reiterated earlier this week that Leftwich is still No. 1 on the depth chart even though he sat out the last two games because of an ankle injury.
Miami Dolphins middle linebacker Zach Thomas won't play Sunday at Philadelphia, the fifth game he will have sat out since a concussion in September. The seven-time Pro Bowl player said earlier this week he hopes to return this season.
Thomas sat out two games in September. In October, he was involved in a car crash after a loss to the New England Patriots. He suffered whiplash and recurring migraines and has not played in Miami's last two games.
Houston Texans running back Ahman Green won't play Sunday against the New Orleans Saints because of a swollen left knee. Coach Gary Kubiak was optimistic early in the week that rest during the team's week off would allow Green to play. Kubiak said he wasn't sure how long Green would be out. Ron Dayne will start in his place.
Quarterback Vinny Testaverde will start Sunday for the Carolina Panthers against the Green Bay Packers. Coach John Fox chose the 44-year-old Testaverde over a healthy David Carr, but declined to name him the permanent starter for the Panthers. Both Carr and Testaverde are 1-2 this season as the starter.
New York Giants middle linebacker Antonio Pierce returned to practice after sitting out two days because of a mild concussion. He was listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions, as was wide receiver Plaxico Burress, who has been bothered by a sprained right ankle all season.
49ers' third-string QB Hill breaks finger
November 16th, 2007
Santa Clara, CA (Sports Network) - The San Francisco 49ers took another hit to their already ailing quarterbacks Friday, as it was learned that third- string QB Shaun Hill broke a finger on his throwing hand, and will likely miss at least two weeks.
Hill suffered the injury during Thursday's practice, when he banged his hand on a teammate's helmet. A Maryland product, Hill has played very sparingly over his six seasons -- four with the Vikings, the last two with the Niners -- and has yet to attempt a pass.
The 49ers announced Thursday that quarterback Trent Dilfer will start Sunday's game against the St. Louis Rams in place of starter Alex Smith.
Smith, who missed time earlier this season after suffering a separated shoulder in the first game of the season, said Wednesday he is not 100 percent recovered from the injury. Smith will suit up Sunday as the backup. It is unclear who will serve as the emergency QB against the Rams, although both running back Michael Robinson and wideout Arnaz Battle have collegiate experience under center.
Texans' Green out against Saints; Dayne in
November 16th, 2007
Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Houston Texans running back Ahman Green will not play in Sunday's game against New Orleans because of a nagging knee injury, head coach Gary Kubiak said Friday.
Green has played off-and-on since injuring his left knee early in the season, and has seen action in six games. He's rushed for 260 yards and two touchdowns.
The team had a bye week last weekend, which gave Green the opportunity for more rest. But Kubiak said Green's knee was swollen Friday morning, and made the decision to take him out of the lineup.
"He has not responded here over the course of the last couple of weeks in the rest we have given him," Kubiak said. "The knee swelled this morning, so he will be down and we'll work from there."
Kubiak also said Ron Dayne will start. Dayne has rushed for 348 yards and two touchdowns.
Colts' Harrison questionable, but Clark will return
November 16th, 2007
Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs, while tight end Dallas Clark has been cleared to play.
Harrison has missed the last three games due to a bruised left knee and did not participate in practice the entire week. He's suited up just once for the Colts since the end of September, missing a total of four games and playing sparingly in another because of the injury.
For the season Harrison has 20 catches for 247 yards and one touchdown.
Clark practiced the entire week after missing last Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers due to a concussion. He has 34 catches for 403 yards and six touchdowns this season.
Linebacker Freddie Keiaho, who is not on the injury report, should also return after missing three games with a concussion.
Broncos' Henry questionable
November 16th, 2007
Denver, CO (Sports Network) - Denver Broncos running back Travis Henry is questionable for Monday's game against his former team, the Tennessee Titans.
Henry missed the Broncos' 19-13 setback to the Packers on October 29 due to a rib injury. He returned the following week against Detroit, then missed last Sunday's 27-11 victory at Kansas City because of a left knee injury.
Henry, who has a slightly torn posterior cruciate ligament, practiced on a limited basis Thursday while wearing a brace on the knee. He did not participate on Friday.
He has run for 580 yards and one touchdown this season.
Running back Paul Smith had limited participation in practice Friday and is also listed as questionable on the team's injury report.