Colts are worrying about long injury list

Last Sunday’s loss to the New York Jets was really a big strike to the Indianapolis Colts, who practiced Wednesday without as many as fourteen players, including five defensive linemen.


Safety Melvin Bullitt with shoulder injury and wide receiver Pierre Garcon with hand injury practiced but on limited basis. Pro Bowl defensive ends Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis both sat out the practice. Freeney was all right and was just having his normal rest day, but Mathis has already missed last week’s game because of a quadriceps injury, which may also keep him out of this Sunday’s season finale Buffalo Bills.

Other players who did not put on their Colts jerseys to practice included left tackle Charlie Johnson with foot, wide receiver Austin Collie on his rest day, cornerbacks Jerraud Powers and Jacob Lacey and linebacker Clint Session with knee injury.

Vikings NT Williams not to play against Bears

Nose tackle Pat Williams will not put on his Minnesota Vikings jersey to play Monday night’s game for the team against the Chicago Bears because of elbow injury, Jimmy Kennedy will start at the position as replacement to Williams.

At 37, the Vikings’ second-oldest player behind Brett Favre, Williams has 44 tackles and two sacks in 14 games.

But it seemed that the going-to-be rival Bears should worry more about injuries. The Bears wide receiver Devin Hester missed his third straight game with a strained left calf, and safeties Kevin Payne and Al Afalava were listed as inactive respectively because of ankle injury and knee injury. Punter Brad Maynard retuned to team after the Bears signed Richmond McGee to a two-year contract for insurance, but it remains questionable whether the left groin injury that made McGee questionable earlier would allow the punter to play full time. And defensive end Adewale Ogunleye would miss all the remaining games the Bears are going to play as he has been put on injured reserve because of a broken left leg.

Falcons RB Turner missed practice Wednesday but still wants to play

The Atlanta Falcons will play against the Philadelphia Eagles this weekend to battle for playoff spots in the NFC. Unfortunately, the Falcons may lose another key offensive player to injury after ruling out starting quarterback Matt Ryan because of toe injury. The latest one who may needs time to take care of injury before wearing back Falcons jersey is running back Michael Turner.


Turner suffered a high right ankle sprain in a Nov. 15 loss at Carolina and then missed the game against the New York Giants. Returning to play with his teammates against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday, the running back unluckily injured the same ankle in the third quarter when a defender fell on his ankle and he got pushed back under a pile of players.

But Turner still said he would suit up if at all possible, even though to heal high ankle sprains requires a lot of time because it leads to lingering problems if not allowed to fully heal. So the Falcons will play a hard game this Sunday, especially as right guard Harvey Dahl skipped practice Wednesday with ankle injury and left tackle Sam Baker practiced on limited base with elbow injury. What is even worse, receiver Michael Jenkins sat out the practice, too because of a previously unknown ankle problem.

Two Cardinals starting linebackers may miss Sunday game

The Arizona Cardinals starting linebackers Gerald Hayes and Chike Okeafor did not practice Friday after missing all previous workouts this week, indicating that they are unlikely to play this Sunday against NFC West foe the Seattle Seahawks.


If so, Hayes will miss two consecutive games since he got the injury. Ali Highsmith will start for the second time in Hayes’ place. The team will have Bertrand Berry start at Okeafor’s place if the latter will not play.

Backup left tackle Jeremy Bridges will probably get his chance to start, too. As starting left tackle Mike Gandy was struggling with a pelvis injury and listed as questionable for Sunday’s game after being limited in practice Friday. His absence will also break his 28-game streak of starting for the Cardinals at the same spot.

Several Panthers key players missed practice Wednesday

The Carolina Panthers practiced Wednesday with quite a few key players sidelined because of injuries, including running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart and fullback Brad Hoover. Some other injured players were limited in practice.


Williams missed the practice because of a sore knee. According to Coach John Fox, the running back tweaked it while playing in his Panthers jersey during Sunday’s loss to the New Orleans Saints, although he managed to rush for 149 yards and two touchdowns in the game. Steward’s absence from Wednesday workouts has been a routine since he had a sore Achilles’ tendon. Hoover was sidelined with a sprained ankle.

Defensive end Julius Peppers had a messed up right hand and took limited part in Wednesday’s practice, so did tight end Dante Rosario, who had knee injuries. Players returning to practice from injuries included backup fullback Tony Fiammetta and receiver Muhsin Muhammad.

Several Panthers key players missed practice Wednesday

The Carolina Panthers practiced Wednesday with quite a few key players sidelined because of injuries, including running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart and fullback Brad Hoover. Some other injured players were limited in practice.


Williams missed the practice because of a sore knee. According to Coach John Fox, the running back tweaked it while playing in his Panthers jersey during Sunday’s loss to the New Orleans Saints, although he managed to rush for 149 yards and two touchdowns in the game. Steward’s absence from Wednesday workouts has been a routine since he had a sore Achilles’ tendon. Hoover was sidelined with a sprained ankle.

Defensive end Julius Peppers had a messed up right hand and took limited part in Wednesday’s practice, so did tight end Dante Rosario, who had knee injuries. Players returning to practice from injuries included backup fullback Tony Fiammetta and receiver Muhsin Muhammad.

Vikings rookie WR Harvin questionable for Sunday game

An injured left shoulder may keep the Minnesota Vikings rookie receiver and return man Percy Harvin out of this Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens. The rookie has been listed questionable for the game, and his playing status will be decided by game time.


Harvin missed the team’s Wednesday practice and worked out on a limited basis both on Thursday and Friday. Having played five game in the Vikings jersey this season, Harvin is averaging 31.2 yards per kick return and has scored three touchdowns totally.

Other Vikings players questionable for Sunday game include right tackle Phil Loadholt, who sprained his ankle and missed last week’s game against the St. Louis Rams; and punt returner Darius Reynaud with a strained left hamstring.