Boston had nine catches for 137 yards in last Sunday's loss to the Giants, tying Rob Moore's 1997 franchise record of four consecutive 100-yard games. Boston has 55 catches for an NFC-high 864 yards and is on pace to set franchise records for catches (101 by Larry Centers in 1995) and yardage (1,584 by Moore in 1997).

However, Sunday's loss left the Cardinals with a 2-6 record at the season's midpoint for a third straight season. And despite a decent effort by the team's defense, the offense came up short -- again.

The Cards finished the game with a meager 207 yards of total offense, and Jake Plummer's four completions to receivers other than Boston gained a total of 35 yards. "The Snake" lost nearly that much on a 32-yard sack in the second quarter.

"We're very much a start-and-stop type of offense right now," head coach Dave McGinnis said Monday. "We don't have any consistency to us."

McGinnis has increased the length of team meetings and practice sessions, hoping to find the formula to getting more production from Plummer and the offensive line -- players he believes are as good as anyone's.

"These are the right people," he said. "We've just got to get it done. They're not in a desperation mode; there's a sense of frustration, but it's not desperation, believe me."

Maybe bewilderment is more to the point.

Frank Sanders, who had back-to-back seasons with more than 1,000 yards receiving in 1997-98, was at a loss to explain how an offense with backs Michael Pittman and Thomas Jones, high draft picks Leonard Davis, L.J. Shelton and Anthony Clement on the line and strong receivers could score 20 points in three weeks.

"If I could, I'd tell you," Sanders said. "Actually, I'd tell (coordinator) Rich Olson."

Other items of interest this week. ...

Moore and tight end Terry Hardy have been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Lions at Sun Devil Stadium. ... Hardy

One last note out of Tempe this week: Moore, who has missed all of this season with a hamstring injury, is schedule to start running this week. "We'll see how it goes," McGinnis said.

RB: M. Pittman, T. Jones, M. Shipp

FB: J. Makovicka, D. McKinley

WR: D. Boston, F. Sanders, M.T. Jenkins, A. Jackson, R. Moore (Out; hamstring)

TE: T. Mitchell, S. Bush, T. Hardy (Out; shoulder)

PK: B. Gramatica

But Chandler made it through Wednesday's practice without difficulty and according to head coach Dan Reeves, the veteran looked like he was throwing the ball well and should be ready to play this Sunday.

When asked about his condition, Chandler seemed optimistic.

"It feels a lot better than last week," Chandler said. "I've been trying out different flak-jackets and pads in practice, but hopefully by Sunday I won't really need much."

Reeves was pleased to see Chandler take his usual number of snaps. Though he remains questionable, Chandler likely will be upgraded to probable after practice Thursday.

"I didn't think he had any trouble, and he said he felt good," Reeves said at the end of Wednesday's practice. "It's very positive. Barring something unforeseen, I think he would be ready."

Chandler served as the No. 3 emergency backup in the Falcons' 20-13 win over Dallas last week. He was injured when New England sacked him for the sixth and final time in a 24-10 loss two weeks ago.

It would be nice if the Falcons could provide Chandler, whose 91.5 quarterback rating is fifth in the NFC, with better protection. The Falcons, who last year ranked second in the league with 61 sacks allowed, are tied for sixth with 28 this season. They're allowing a sack every 10.85 plays.

"It's no secret we've got a lot to work on in that area," running back Maurice Smith said. "I know I need to be more consistent."

Smith set the tone against the Cowboys by rushing for a career-high 148 yards. His play overshadowed shaky performances from rookie QB Michael Vick and backup Doug Johnson, who combined for 55 yards passing, two fumbles and a 2-for-11-conversion ratio on third down.

Vick lost a fumble in the second quarter that led to the Cowboys' touchdown and gave Dallas a 13-7 lead. Johnson fumbled early in the fourth quarter after getting sacked for a seven-yard loss but was bailed out when center Todd McClure fell on the ball at the Dallas 23.

Vick and Johnson each threw a short touchdown pass.

Other notes of interest. ...

The Falcons suffered several injuries against the Dallas Cowboys with the most serious to tight end Reggie Kelly, who left the game in the first half and did not return with a knee injury. Kelly, who was unable to practice Wednesday, is listed as doubtful on this week's injury report. ...

Smith is listed as probable on this week's injury report due to a bruised shin, but the second-year man practiced without difficulty Wednesday after playing through the same injury without much trouble last Sunday. ... WR Terance Mathis, who suffered a dislocated finger last Sunday, should start and play as usual this week. The veteran wide out wasn't included on Wednesday's injury report. ...

And finally. ... Despite their less-than-impressive performance, Falcons insider Charles Odum pointed out that the surprising platoon system that had Vick and Johnson swapping plays seemed to give both men time to think about his next play and might have helped the duo cut down on mistakes. ... The two combined for no interceptions and one lost fumble -- by Vick, who still tends to hold the ball with one hand when he is in traffic. Vick's second fumble was negated by a penalty.

Odum added that the platoon did not mask the fact that Vick still has much to learn. He threw a lot of short passes that could have been completed with better touch. After completing 4 of 12 passes, Vick is 6-for-21 in the last two games.

RB: M. Smith (Probable; shin), R. Thomas, T. Jervey

FB: B. Christian, G. Layne

WR: T. Mathis, T. Martin, S. Jefferson, B. Finneran, Q. McCord

TE: A. Crumpler, B. Kozlowski, R. Kelly (Doubtful; knee)

PK: J. Feely

But like last season, they can always be counted on for a big play.

The Ravens' offense had netted 96 yards before the last play from scrimmage in the third quarter, when Qadry Ismail rambled 57 yards with a catch for their only touchdown.

Up to that point, the Titans had totally befuddled an offense that had Elvis Grbac under center for the first time in three weeks.

"Give credit to their defense," Grbac said. "They played unbelievable. With the amount of pressure they had in the first half, we tried to establish the run in the second half. We were able to do that. We're just scratching and clawing to get everything we can offensively.

"It just shows the character of our guys. We always feel we can come back. It is really a good feeling on the sideline, because there is no panic. A lot of teams, when it is close in the fourth quarter, there could be a lot of panic and doubt, and you just don't see that here."

The Ravens' 238 yards were not a season low, as they had just 183 last week at Pittsburgh.

Other notes of interest. ...

Grbac, coming off chest and rib injuries, threw for 192 yards and a touchdown against the Titans, but was also intercepted once. ... Veteran running back Terry Allen will be sidelined four to six weeks after breaking a bone in his left hand on his only carry of the game Monday night. ... Jason Brookins will start in his absence.

RB: J. Brookins, M. Williams, T. Allen (Out; hand)

FB: S. Gash, O. Ayanbadejo

WR: Q. Ismail, T. Taylor, B. Stokely, J. Lewis, P. Johnson (Out; clavicle)

TE: S. Sharpe, T. Heap, J. Jones (Questionable; leg)

PK: M. Stover

He admits to still answering to "The Pill," short for the Pillsbury Doughboy, the chubby cartoon character he once resembled.

"I still get 'The Pill,' all the time," the Buffalo quarterback said Wednesday. "It's a nickname that has stuck."

Here's another one Van Pelt hopes will one day fit -- starter.

In his eighth NFL season -- the last six with the Bills -- as a perennial backup, Van Pelt gets his first true shot at showing what he can do beginning with this Sunday's game against Seattle.

He takes over for Rob Johnson, who will miss up to five weeks after breaking his collarbone against New England last weekend.

"It feels good. This is obviously a position that I tried to put myself in," Van Pelt said. "I haven't had this kind of opportunity yet, and it's something I'm really, truly looking forward to. I'm expecting good things."

So are the Bills (1-7), off to their worst start in 16 years and in need of something to revive a sputtering offense that has scored two or more touchdowns three times this season.

"Each time he's gotten the opportunity to play, whether in practice, preseason or the regular season, he's put good numbers up," coach Gregg Williams said. "Our team is excited about rallying around Alex. I'm excited about it."

Despite his lack of experience, Van Pelt's proven to be a capable backup, appearing in parts of four games already this season.

His most significant performance came in rallying the Bills from a 28-9 deficit in a 42-36 loss to the New York Jets last month. It was a career-best effort in which he went 23-for-41 for 268 yards passing, three touchdowns and one interception.

The knock against Van Pelt has been his once-pudgy physique.

While he's slimmed down to 218 pounds, he'll admit that he's not the fittest, most mobile or strong-armed quarterback around.

He makes up for it with sound instincts and knowing his limits.

"Everybody goes with the prototypical quarterback," receiver Eric Moulds said. "You've got to be 6-foot-5, 6-foot-6. You've got to be Drew Bledsoe-size."

"And yet this guy," Moulds said, referring to Van Pelt, "he just wins ball games. That's all you want a quarterback to do. Forget all the prototypical stuff. You just have to be able to play football."

It's to Van Pelt's benefit that the Bills have switched to the West Coast style offense this season.

It's the same one he played in college at Pittsburgh, where he broke many of Dan Marino's school passing records.

"This is an offense that I love to run," Van Pelt said. "To pick an offense to have some starts in, this is my choice."

Van Pelt has appeared more comfortable than Johnson in grasping the aggressive, quick passing scheme.

"I don't know if I see things better, but that's one thing in this offense that I do have experience in it and can anticipate some things," Van Pelt said.

Other items of interest this week. ...

As Buffalo News beat reporter Allen Wilson wrote on Tuesday, the Bills aren't paying Moulds $40 million for three-catch, seven-yard performances. Moulds had a tough time shaking Patriots Pro Bowl cornerback Ty Law. ... Peerless Price had a 33-yard catch on the opening drive but wasn't seen again until catching a 17-yard touchdown late in the game. ... Tight end Jay Riemersma had a 36-yard catch but was called for holding to wipe out a Price touchdown catch. ...

Offensive coordinator Mike Sheppard acknowledged this week that he needs to simplify things. ... According to Wilson, Sheppard should try featuring running back Travis Henry and the running game more. Henry, who rushed for 51 yards last week, had only two of his 16 carries in the second half. ...

The team signed quarterback Scott Dreisbach to the practice squad Wednesday to bolster their depth with Johnson sidelined. The Bills were down quarterbacks -- Van Pelt and third-stringer Travis Brown -- before adding Dreisbach, who spent two seasons with the Raiders and is familiar with Buffalo's West Coast scheme. ... Head coach Gregg Williams said Dreisbach will be evaluated to see if he will be placed on the active roster for Sunday's game against Seattle. ...

One last note out of Buffalo this week: After spending last Sunday on the inactive list, No. 3 receiver Jeremy McDaniel hasn't seen any action since suffering a high ankle sprain on Sept. 30.

RB: T. Henry, S. Morris, S. Bryson

FB: L. Centers, P. Crosby

WR: E. Moulds, P. Price, J. McDaniel, R. Germany, A. Black

TE: J. Riemersma, S. Jackson, D. O'Leary (Questionable; wrist)

PK: J. Arians

Weinke split time throwing to the first unit with Matt Lytle, who made his first career start last week. Head coach George Seifert had them practice that way in case Weinke can't play Sunday against San Francisco.

"We wanted to split them up because we don't know how this is ultimately going to work out," Seifert said. "So we wanted to make sure that Matt was ready to go, too."

But Weinke thinks he might be ready to go, especially after watching the Panthers lose their eighth straight game last week.

All he could do was helplessly look on as Lytle struggled through the 48-14 loss to St. Louis, trying his best to pick up a few tips from observing someone else running the offense.

"You see the game from a different perspective," Weinke said. "You get to sit back and watch, and sometimes that's good, sometimes that can help you."

Weinke has struggled through his rookie season, completing 56 percent of his passes for 1,590 yards, six touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He's been sacked 11 times.

But Lytle fared no better in his fill-in time, going 15-for-25 for 126 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions against the Rams.

Although the Panthers want Weinke back on the field against the 49ers, Seifert said he wouldn't know if he'll be ready to go until the end of the week. Much will depend on how Weinke feels on Thursday, a day after throwing for the first time in seven days.

Weinke said he was encouraged just to be able to throw the football, but was waiting to see how he felt before making a prediction on his playing status.

"A week ago at this time I wasn't able to throw," he said. "So we'll just see how it goes. I haven't necessarily tested it, so I don't know if it will fatigue before the end of the week or not."

Other items of interest this week. ...

Starting halfback Richard Huntley was ineffective against the Rams, carrying the ball six times for seven yards and giving way to Nick Goings, who wound up taking most of the second-half snaps in Huntley's place. ... Of course, Goings wasn't much better than his teammate, finishing the game with nine carries for 13 yards. ...

Wide receiver Muhsin Muhammad, who pulled in six catches for 75 yards, was the team's most productive offensive skill player in St. Louis. But unless the team gets its situation at quarterback squared away, Muhammad is going to have a tough time producing with any consistency over the second half of the season.

RB: R. Huntley, N. Goings, B. Hoover

FB: C. Hetherington, B. Hoover

WR: M. Muhammad, D. Hayes, I. Byrd, P. Jeffers, K. Hankton, S. Smith

TE: W. Walls, K. Mangum, L. Broughton, C. Crawford

PK: J. Kasay

The team had success running to the Packers' weak side last Sunday, particularly behind left tackle Blake Brockermeyer, but was not able to sustain it, mostly because its deep passing game was too poor to command any respect from the safeties.

Rookie Anthony Thomas totaled 22 yards on his first two carries against the Packers last Sunday, and then struggled to pick up 23 more on his next 20 carries. Fortunately, Thomas added another 45 yards on five catches, but the Bears and Fantasy owners both need the former University of Michigan star to avoid inconsistency. ...

James Allen, who lost his starting job to Thomas last month, has reportedly handled his drop from the lineup well and he's still considered the best pass blocker and route runner among all the team's backs. ...

Other notes of interest. ...

With eight catches for 81 yards against the Packers last Sunday, Marty Booker continued to prove he's one of the most reliable and productive wide outs in the league right now. ...

According to Chicago Tribune beat writer John Mullen, tight end Fred Baxter's signing was a statement the team wanted more from an unproductive position. Baxter is a run blocker first -- a tough guy who prefers to deliver a pancake block on a five-yard gain by a back to catching a five-yard pass. ... But that hasn't kept Baxter from emerging as a legitimate receiving threat in recent weeks. ... The 265-pound former Jet is more than capable of using his tremendous strength to gain separation from defenders on red-zone routes. ...

The Bears waived fullback Scott Dragos Tuesday. ... Dragos appeared in the first six games of the season, mainly on special teams. He joined the team in 1999.

RB: A. Thomas, J. Allen, A. Denson, L. Johnson

FB: D. Shelton, S. Pritchard

WR: M. Booker, D. White, D. Terrell, D. Bates

TE: F. Baxter, J. Davis, D. Lyman

PK: P. Edinger

Offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski is being cautious after watching him practice Wednesday for the first time since Johnson broke his clavicle a month to the day against the Browns.

"Based on today, I'm not sure he's ready to go yet or not," Bratkowski said. "I think we have to look at him hard. We've got two more days to watch him, but after today I'm not sure."

Johnson is hoping he'll be ready to play at least on third downs. But trainer Paul Sparling, who has been saying it's a six-week injury, would also like to see more.

"He can't show favoritism and he has to use more than one arm to catch the ball," Sparling said. "Once he sees himself on film, he'll see what he needs to do."

Receivers coach Steve Mooshagian suffered a similar injury in college and thinks the battle is now mental because Johnson's left collarbone appears to be sound.

"You feel a little twinge and it's some scar tissue or some calcification and you have to fight through it," Mooshagian said. "Structurally, I think he's fine. It's going to come down to how he handles it mentally and he'll be good with it."

Johnson is vowing he'll pick up right where he left off. He broke his left collarbone on his career-high fifth catch, a sliding grab that converted a third down on the Bengals' clinching touchdown drive during the 24-14 victory over Cleveland.

"Nothing has changed," said Johnson before Wednesday's practice. "Put me in the fire a little bit."

With Darnay Scott also back after missing all but a handful of early plays last week with a concussion, the Bengals might have both of their top speed receivers for the first time since the team's Oct. 14 win over the Browns.

The Bengals' wideouts already have more catches of 20 yards or more than they had all last year. Even without Scott and Johnson against the Jaguars, they had five of what they call "Big Play" catches. That gives them 17, two better than last year and just four behind the 21 "Big Plays," put up by Scott, wide receiver Carl Pickens and quarterback Jeff Blake in 1999.

But they're still looking for that first 50-yard pass since Scott caught a 52-yard touchdown in Cinergy Field's last game in 1999, 27 games ago.

"I haven't gone vertical yet," said Johnson, whose longest catch is 20 yards. "I'm sure it's going to come. We haven't done it yet. It might have happened in the three games that I missed."

Other items of interest this week. ...

The Jaguars held Corey Dillon to 58 rushing yards, but he did score on a seven-yard TD run. Even if opponents limit Dillon's yardage numbers at times, it is difficult to stifle him completely. ...

Dillon's power running remains the focal point of the offense, but Peter Warrick holds the key to the passing game's success. Warrick has been a model of consistency with at least three catches in every game, but operating out of the slot is much too confining. If coordinator Bob Bratkowski wants to unleash Warrick, he must create more opportunities for him on the outside. ...

Rookie receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh was Cincinnati's leading receiver at Jacksonville, catching six passes for 62 yards. But it might be a little too early to add him to your roster -- especially with Johnson on the verge of returning. ...

According to Dayton Daily News reporter Chick Ludwig, fullback Lorenzo Neal is an unselfish player who thinks he never can do enough on a snap. His size (5-11, 240), strength and speed let him get excellent leverage as he sifts through the line of scrimmage and blasts into linebackers, creating holes for Dillon. Neal pays attention to detail and his technique.

Like all good blocking backs, he's at his best when he brings his feet, hips and contact all at the same time. But once in a while he'll overextend himself by getting his body too far out in front of his feet. In his eagerness to be aggressive, Neal will get his shoulders in front of his hips and launch himself at linebackers instead of staying perfectly balanced. ...

It's probably worth noting that fullback Nick Williams returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since ripping up his anterior cruciate knee ligament in a May 6 mini-camp workout and couldn't be happier. ... Williams planned to do only individual drills, but ended up running about 15 to 20 plays in the team sessions that included pass routes and runs. "The only thing that was really off is my timing and I expected that," Williams said. "But I've got no swelling, no pain. I was able to cut and I didn't get tired. If somebody went down, I could go in and play. I know could do that."

With Williams on the physically unable to perform list (PUP), the Bengals have three weeks from Wednesday to decide if they will put him on the 53-man roster or shelve him for the year on injured reserve. They could also cut him, but that won't happen.

RB: C. Dillon, B. Bennett, C. Keaton, R. Johnson

FB: L. Neal

WR: D. Scott, P. Warrick, R. Dugans, C. Johnson (Questionable; clavicle), D. Farmer, T.J. Houshmandzadeh

TE: T. McGee (Probable; knee), M. Battaglia, B. St. Louis

PK: N. Rackers

For months, the third-year wide receiver had been rumored to be going to more places than a Greyhound bus driver. The Browns weren't shopping him, but at least three teams showed interest.

In the weeks leading up to April's draft, the Eagles reportedly wanted to reunite Johnson with his former Syracuse teammate, quarterback Donovan McNabb.

Midway through training camp, the Saints called the Browns about Johnson because their star receiver, Joe Horn, was slow recovering from an injury.

Then, in mid-September, the Chiefs called and offered a fifth-round draft choice. The Browns, trying to stockpile draft picks for first-year coach Butch Davis, said it wasn't enough.

"I think whatever is in the best interest of the Browns should be done," quarterback Tim Couch said at that time. "And in my opinion, what's best for the Browns is keeping K.J. right here. He's going to have a breakout year in this offense."

Maybe Couch should start his own psychic hotline. Heading into Sunday's AFC Central showdown at Baltimore's PSInet Stadium, Johnson has 41 catches for 556 yards and five touchdowns and is on pace to set career highs in all three categories.

"You look at my stats from the first two years, and you wonder why they would think about trading me," Johnson says. "It was kind of surprising, but it makes you realize it's a business. That was my first exposure to the business part of it.

"Tim didn't have a clue either [about] what was going on. He told me, 'Go out and do what you can do and let your game speak for itself.'"

Johnson caught 66 passes for 986 yards and 8 touchdowns as a rookie in 1999 but dropped off to 57 catches for 669 yards and no touchdowns last season.

Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil concluded that Johnson wasn't playing up to his potential, which is why Vermeil wanted the receiver at a bargain price, but Davis could see what had happened. Couch missed the final nine games of the 2000 season because of a fractured right thumb. The quarterbacks who followed, Doug Pederson and Spergon Wynn, didn't have the same chemistry with Johnson -- or any other receiver, for that matter.

"Kevin has the best hands on the team," Davis says, flatly.

Former coach Chris Palmer rode Johnson hard during his first two seasons because he wanted to make sure the receiver got the most out of his skills. The 5-11, 195-pound Johnson isn't the fastest player on the roster, but he runs routes smoothly and is an excellent leaper with superb concentration. He demonstrated those skills in New Orleans in 1999 when his catch of a tipped ball in the end zone gave the Browns their first victory in the season the NFL returned to Cleveland.

As for his resurgence this season, Johnson credits wide receivers coach Terry Robiskie with making him a complete player.

"He's done a lot of fundamental work with me, helping me get in and out of my routes better," Johnson says. "Him working with me has made me a better player. It's a shame Washington didn't keep him as their head coach.

"He tells you how to win. I think that's the best thing that's happened to me this year. Terry understands me as a player first. He knows what I can and can't do. For the first couple years, I was always short on deep balls. He taught me when to turn my head and how to body defenders up and run through the ball at times.

"I had a bad habit of turning back, looking too early on deep balls. He's worked with me a lot on that."

Johnson has enjoyed his success without the benefit of a solid number-two receiver on the other side. Rookie Quincy Morgan is currently the team's second leading receiver with 15 catches this season; second-year man JaJuan Dawson ranks third with 12 catches.

"Guys are working hard," Johnson says. "Quincy is making plays. Dennis Northcutt is coming back from his [clavicle] injury. JaJuan has made big catches and so has Jammi [German], so it's not one guy. Collectively, as a group, everyone is doing their job."

Johnson says he considered himself the leader of the Browns' receivers from the day he was drafted, even though veteran Leslie Shepherd was then on the team.

Other notes of interest this week. ...

As noted by Medina County Gazette beat writer Steve King this week, Morgan, who caught three passes for 28 yards against the Steelers, is beginning to make a comeback. Benched several weeks ago for mental mistakes, the youngster still has a long way to go, but he's getting better. ...

Dawson, on the other hand, has seen his opportunities shrink. A big receiver with good hands, he was a prize in former coach Chris Palmer's eyes, but he has not impressed Davis and the second-year man spent last week on the inactive list. ...

Tight end O.J. Santiago is making strides. He has been catching several hundred extra balls a day and it's starting to pay off. Couch is starting to look for Santiago when his favorite target -- Johnson -- is covered. ...

King also pointed out that H-back Mike Sellers, who was billed as a big asset before the season, has become a forgotten man in recent weeks. ... Sellers has been instrumental as a blocker, but he could add much more to the team as a receiver. There aren't many 275-pound players who are as fast as he is or have hands as good as his. His role as a receiver could expand as teammates learn the offense and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians can expand the team's schemes. ...

You don't suppose Davis forgot his preseason prediction that Sellers would catch 70 passes this year?

James Jackson left last week's game in the second quarter with an apparent injury to his left ankle. Jamel White took over until Jackson returned a short time later. ...

RB: J. Jackson, J. White, B. Gay

FB: M. Sellers, A. Shea

WR: K. Johnson, D. Northcutt, Q. Morgan, J. Dawson, J. German, A. King

TE: O.J. Santiago, A. Shea, R. Monroe

PK: P. Dawson

Emmitt Smith missed another practice with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee. Smith has not played the last two games, but Cowboys trainers said the running back had his best day of rehab on Wednesday.

"I think there's a chance he could practice here tomorrow," Cowboys head coach Dave Campo said of Smith. "Once again, it's day-to-day."

Smith's backup, Troy Hambrick, is also banged up, suffering from a right shoulder contusion. Hambrick, who finished with a career-high 127 yards against the Falcons on Sunday, did not practice Wednesday and could barely raise his right arm from his side.

But despite the intense pain, Campo said he expects Hambrick to play, regardless of Smith's situation.

"We need him," the coach firmly said. "He has to play."

If both players can't go, the Cowboys would go with Michael Wiley, who also had a career-high 85 yards rushing against the Falcons, including a 58-yard run. The Cowboys also will keep rookie Tony Taylor up on the 53-man roster until a decision can be made on Smith and/or Hambrick.

Other notes of interest this week. ...

The Cowboys placed kicker Tim Seder on injured reserve with a sprained right ankle Wednesday and signed kicker Jon Hilbert to replace him. The Cowboys also signed tight end Mike Solwold, whose primary duty will be handling the team's needs for a long snapper.

Seder, who's right-footed, was hurt in Sunday's 20-13 loss at Atlanta when he was tackled hard and his foot bent under him. Seder was chasing down an errant snap on a field-goal attempt.

The move to injured reserve means Seder, 11-for-17 on field goals and 12-for-12 on extra points, is finished for the season.

Hilbert signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent out of Louisville in April 2000, but was released before the team went to camp. He went to training camp with Buffalo in 2000 and with New Orleans this year, but didn't make either team.

Solwold signed with Minnesota as a rookie free agent out of Wisconsin, but was claimed off waivers by Dallas in August. He suited up for the Cowboys' last preseason game before being released. ...

Ryan Leaf, the No. 2 overall pick by San Diego in 1998, completed 14 of 22 passes for 114 yards and a TD in his first Cowboys start. It came a month after he joined the team. ... "My only expectation was to go out and get a win," said Leaf, now 4-15 as an NFL starter. "For me, the only positives you can take from it are educational -- the learning experience from what happened and then trying to get better as the week goes on and the next few games. ..."

And finally. ... Tight end Jackie Harris (right hamstring strain) and fullback Johnny Huggins (right shoulder bruise) are also among the walking wounded in Dallas this week.

RB: E. Smith (Questionable; knee), T. Hambrick (Probable; shoulder), M. Wiley

FB: T. Hambrick, J.J. Huggins

WR: J. Galloway, R. Ismail, R. Swinton, D. Chiaverini, K. Rambo, R. Williams

TE: J. Harris (Questionable; hamstring), M. Lucky, M. Solwold

PK: J. Hilbert

Davis is expected to miss Denver's next two games -- at home Sunday against Washington and at Dallas on Thanksgiving Day.

Davis, plagued by injuries the last three seasons, tore cartilage in his knee in the second quarter of last weekend's 26-16 win over San Diego. He played the rest of the game, rushing for 83 yards on 33 carries.

Davis was playing in his second straight game after missing six games following surgery on his right knee Sept. 20. Since becoming the NFL's MVP in 1998, Davis has missed 30 of Denver's last 38 games.

"I told him, 'Whatever you've been doing, don't do that any more, do something else because you've got some bad luck,"' head coach Mike Shanahan said. "I tried to get him to laugh a little bit."

Davis played for the second straight week after missing six games following surgery on his right knee. That operation was to help repair damage on the knee Davis hurt in October 1999, when he tore his ACL.

Since then, Davis has had a stress reaction in his lower left leg that caused him to miss most of the 2000 season. A 2,008-yard rusher in 1998, Davis has missed 30 of the Broncos' last 38 games.

"He's frustrated," Shanahan said. "But he understands the situation. He's tough-minded. He'll work through it and come back hopefully as strong as he has the last couple of weeks."

Mike Anderson, who started six games in Davis' absence, will return to the starting role. Olandis Gary becomes Anderson's backup. ...

Also of interest this week. ...

As reported by Associated Press sports writer John Mossman, after four days of controversy and conflicting statements, the Denver Broncos released wide receiver Eddie Kennison on Wednesday.

Saying it was in the best interest of the team, Shanahan reached the decision after meeting with his players and coaches earlier Wednesday.

The entire episode started last Saturday night, about 16 hours before Denver's divisional tilt against the Chargers, when Kennison told Shanahan he had lost his love of the game and was retiring.

The timing of the announcement -- after Kennison had taken all of the snaps in practice as a starting receiver during the week -- angered the Broncos and forced the coaches and backup receivers to make frantic adjustments for Sunday's game.

Shanahan ordered Kennison to leave the team hotel, and the receiver was listed as inactive for Sunday's game.

In a subsequent statement, Kennison said he wasn't retiring, noting that the illnesses of his wife and father and disappointment over his lack of productivity on the field led to his meeting with Shanahan.

Kennison contacted Shanahan on Monday and, according to the coach, said he was "unretiring."

Shanahan delayed a decision on Kennison's fate until consulting with his players and coaches.

Shanahan said Kennison insisted to him that family problems weren't part of his disillusionment and that he was considering retirement during mini-camps last spring and training camp last summer.

"He was very adamant about it not being his family, not being his wife and father," Shanahan said Wednesday. "He shared that with me and a few other people."

Kennison, 28, in his sixth NFL season and first with the Broncos, had 15 catches for 169 yards and a touchdown this season. He led New Orleans and Chicago in receiving in 1999 and 2000, respectively.

"As I told Eddie Saturday night, it was one thing if he came to me after the game and said he'd like to retire," Shanahan said. "But to take all the reps during the week as if he's going to be the guy and let your team down the night before, I told him it's something he couldn't be proud of and something the team wouldn't understand."

Last spring, Kennison signed a three-year, $6.9 million contract with the Broncos that included a $500,000 signing bonus.

Shanahan said the Broncos will go to arbitration in an attempt to recoup part of the signing bonus.

By the way. ... The team's situation at wide out went from bad to worse during Sunday's game when Scottie Montgomery was sidelined with a twisted left knee in the first half and Rod Smith, the league's leading receiver, went down with a sprained right ankle in the third quarter.

Montgomery might miss this week's game against the Redskins, but Smith was improved on Monday and expects to play. Rookie receiver Kevin Kasper also might be recovered from a sprained right ankle, and tight end Matt Dominguez will work this week at receiver. ...

Just for the record. ... Smith predicted Monday that he will be able to return from a sprained right ankle in time for Sunday's game against Washington. If he can't go, Keith Poole would become Denver's top receiving option, with Chris Cole also likely to play a more significant role in the team's offense.

Poole is already expected to replace Kennison as the team's second wide out.

RB: M. Anderson, O. Gary, T. Davis (Out; knee)

FB: P. Hape, T. Carter (Probable; knee), D. Smith

WR: R. Smith (Questionable; ankle), K. Poole, C. Cole, K. Kasper (Questionable; ankle), M. Dominguez, S. Montgomery (Doubtful; knee)

TE: D. Carswell, D. Clark, M. Dominguez

PK: J. Elam

According to Booth Newspapers reporter Tom Kowalski, several players were a little miffed after the loss to Tampa Bay because Mornhinweg tried to take the sting out of the defeat by applauding their valiant effort. The players didn't want to hear about it -- they're upset about losing. ...

The ankle sprain suffered by running back James Stewart could linger for another week or two, reducing the offense to an unbalanced passing attack. The club has tried to establish a running game with backups Reuben Droughns and Lamont Warren, but it hasn't worked. ...

Asked about Stewart's condition Wednesday, Mornhinweg said, "He's markedly better. He's been out so long I'd like to get him a little bit of practice time before he would play."

The official company line regarding Stewart's injury says the former Jaguar could miss anywhere from one to three more weeks due to this injury. ...

Other items of interest this week. ...

Tight end Pete Mitchell, who has been as big a disappointment as his team this season, was released Tuesday.

Signed as a free agent in the offseason, Mitchell has just five catches for 29 yards in six games this season and has been inactive in each of the last two contests.

David Sloan, a viable receiver and blocker, has seen the majority of work at tight end this season, catching 16 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns. ... Mitchell will be replaced by Stephen Trejo, an undrafted rookie who was signed as a fullback. ...

According to published reports, the Lions plan to continue giving rookie QB Mike McMahon limited action during upcoming games. ... Veteran wide out Bert Emanuel moved into the starting lineup last Sunday, replacing Larry Foster as the Lions' No. 2 receiver. ... Emanuel caught four passes for 35 yards against Tampa Bay. ...

RB: R. Droughns, L. Warren, J. Stewart (Questionable; foot),

FB: C. Schlesinger, B. Olivo, S. Trejo

WR: J. Morton, B. Emanuel, L. Foster, D. Howard, S. Anderson

TE: D. Sloan, S. Trejo, J. Waerig, B. Banta

PK: J. Hanson

His shortest catch of the day went for 17 yards and the three that didn't result in touchdowns were all good for first downs. His 41-yard touchdown, which came 45 seconds before halftime, ultimately turned out to be the turning point of the game.

And it's no coincidence that Green Bay's passing attack tailed off significantly with Schroeder watching the last two games from the sidelines. While the Packers split those two games, Favre failed to go over the 200-yard mark in both of them, and Green Bay averaged just 17 points.

Asked what Schroeder's presence meant to the Packer offense, Favre said, "He is so key to us. People sometimes take him for granted but, when he is out of the lineup, we're not as good a team. It's as simple as that. He really is a heck of a player and, if some people don't understand that, everyone in our (locker) room does. He played great but, then again, he usually does."

Counting last Sunday's appearance, the Packers have averaged 25.7 points in the six games Schroeder played. And if Schroeder doesn't always look like he's moving too quickly, his statistics after Sunday suggest otherwise, because now he is averaging a gaudy 21.1 yards a catch.

Almost as notable is that, with five touchdown receptions, Schroeder now is averaging a score every 4.4 catches.

"Having him back gave us a lot more options," said wide receiver Antonio Freeman, who had four catches for 68 yards, including a 9-yard touchdown grab. "Defenses have to play us differently when he's on the field. Until you play against him, you don't realize how fast he is. He really opens up a lot of stuff for us."

In fact, at 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, Schroeder is much faster than he appears. And there are a number of teams that already have earmarked him as a potential target if he hits the unrestricted free agent market next spring. New Orleans made overtures to the Packers before the trade deadline lapsed last month, and the Saints almost certainly will pursue Schroeder if Green Bay doesn't retain him.

To allow Schroeder to escape might be costly for the Packers, because Freeman has yet to justify his lucrative contract, and the young Green Bay wideouts continue to struggle. Every year, it seems the Packers feel like one of their youngsters -- Corey Bradford or Donald Driver or Charles Lee -- will emerge. Every year, Schroeder -- who's smart enough to understand where the holes are in zone coverage and fast enough to run past cornerbacks when they "squat" on his route too early -- manages to hold off the challenge.

Other notes of interest. ...

Schroeder reportedly aggravated his sprained right ankle when Antonio Freeman celebrated his teammate's touchdown catch by tackling him in the end zone. ... Schroeder stayed in the game, however, and is expected to start against the Falcons this week.

Ahman Green continued to prove he's one of the top Fantasy backs in the league by racking up 119 yards of total offense against a tough Chicago defense last Sunday. "He can make some people miss and run over some people," offensive line coach Larry Beightol said of the former Cornhusker. "As long as we keep feeding him the football, he can break a defense down. I think our whole offensive coaching staff believes that. ..."

RB: A. Green, D. Levens, R. Mealey, H. Goodman

FB: W. Henderson

WR: B. Schroeder, A. Freeman, C. Bradford, D. Driver (Questionable; quad), C. Lee, R. Ferguson

TE: B. Franks, D. Martin

PK: R. Longwell

Now, the Colts are doing what they can to keep two of their best players on the field.

The team announced Monday that James has now been diagnosed with ligament damage in his left knee and Manning is recovering from a hairline fracture in his jaw, but team president Bill Polian knows it could have been worse.

"If you understand it through my prism, in light of the Kerry Collins situation, it was scary," Polian said, referring to the quarterback he drafted in Carolina.

Collins missed four weeks after breaking his jaw during the 1997 preseason and struggled to regain his form.

While Manning's injury -- which bloodied his mouth and left him with a swollen and gauze-packed jaw Sunday -- rekindled some ugly memories for Polian, James' injury is worse.

James, the NFL's two-time rushing champ, has missed two straight games and now will miss at least two more. Polian said James will rest the knee for two to three weeks before any decision is made about the rest of the season.

The injury occurred late in a game Oct. 25 at Kansas City when the leg straightened as he was tackled. An MRI the next day showed a sprain, but a second MRI last week revealed ligament damage.

James was unavailable for comment Monday because, Polian said, he was driving to Miami for a second opinion.

"That being the case, our doctors felt it was appropriate to shut him down for two to three weeks, till the swelling receded," Polian said. "We'll give it another look then."

Even if the knee is healthy then, the Colts aren't sure if James will be in condition to play.

James and Manning have been among the most successful and durable players at their positions since entering the league.

Both have been to the last two Pro Bowls and neither had a major injury until this season.

James started 38 straight games before injuring the knee. He's rushed for 3,924 yards in his career and tied Jim Brown as the second-fastest running back to 3,500 yards, achieving that feat in 34 games earlier this season.

Manning, meanwhile, has not missed a start in four years, racking up the second-longest streak of consecutive starts among NFL quarterbacks. Only Green Bay's Brett Favre has started more consecutive games than Manning's 56.

That streak should continue this week after the former University of Tennessee star made it through a full workout Wednesday without experiencing any problems.

Nonetheless, it's been an uncharacteristic season for Manning.

It started when he sprained his right knee in the third preseason game. Then came nine interceptions in the team's first five games and now the jaw injury.

Manning was hurt when Miami defensive end Lorenzo Bromell hit him underneath the chinstrap.

Manning's fracture is on the part of the jaw that holds the teeth. His teeth were stabilized Monday with a splint similar to an orthodontic retainer.

"It's pretty sore," he said, struggling to talk. "I can't eat any solid food, just milkshakes, things like that. But I've got to try and maintain my diet with whatever I can."

Doctors told him a childhood retainer he wears behind his teeth probably prevented the injury from being more severe.

"If it hadn't been in there, it might have shattered it pretty good," Manning said. "I don't wear a mouthpiece, especially because of what we do here."

He said he was fitted Monday for a mouthpiece and intends to try it out at practice this week. If he's able to call plays and audible, he'll use it.

Other notes of interest this week. ...

James' replacement, Dominic Rhodes, left Sunday's game in the first quarter with a dislocated left shoulder. He was replaced by Kevin McDougal, and returned in the second quarter.

Rhodes, who will start in his place Sunday, went through Wednesday's practice wearing a shoulder harness similar to one he wore in college and in high school. He said the injury has occurred several times previously, and he always has played through it in the past. ...

Although he only caught two passes for 18 yards against the Dolphins last Sunday, head coach Jim Mora likes the progress of rookie receiver Reggie Wayne, who missed an extended period of time early this year due to a high ankle sprain. "Reggie is starting to come into his own," Mora said before Sunday's loss. "Over the last two games, I think we're beginning to see the real Reggie Wayne out there. ..."

RB: D. Rhodes (Probable; shoulder), K. McDougal (Probable; shoulder), S. Stith, E. James (Out; knee)

FB: J. Finn

WR: M. Harrison, J. Pathon (Probable; foot), R. Wayne, T. Wilkins, T. Insley

TE: K. Dilger, M. Pollard, J.D. Davenport, J. Snow

PK: M. Vanderjagt

"Taylor ran for a franchise-record 234 yards and scored four touchdowns last Nov. 19 at Pittsburgh, the same place the Jaguars (3-5) play this Sunday. The 234 yards were the most ever surrendered by the Steelers.

"'My comfort level was so high, my confidence was so high,' Taylor said. 'I'm sure I would feel the same way Sunday, if I could play.'

"That's the 'if' that has Taylor and the Jaguars on edge once again this week. Taylor has been listed as questionable with a groin injury. He was questionable last week, too, and didn't play in the team's 30-13 victory over Cincinnati.

"The fourth-year veteran has missed six straight games, the longest string of his injury-plagued career. His health has once again become a prime topic in Jacksonville.

"Through this injury, Taylor has stuck to his stance -- he's as frustrated as anyone, but there's no way he can rush his return.

"'I don't think there's one player in the NFL who likes to be sidelined,' Taylor said. 'But you have to put things in perspective. I got hurt. I guess my biggest challenge is to come back better. I'm not worried about what people are saying.'

"Part of the frustration with Taylor's injuries stems from the fact that, when healthy, he's as explosive a runner as there is in the NFL. If he returns at full health, the Jaguars become a different team.

"That point came shining through last year in the history-making 34-24 victory at Pittsburgh.

"Although Taylor doesn't like it when people call him a cutback runner, he was cutting against the grain against the Steelers with regularity, darting toward holes, and almost always picking the right ones.

"He had touchdown runs of 2, 25 and 26 yards, and caught a 16-yard touchdown pass.

"'It showed what he can do when he's healthy and sharp and his vision is good,' head coach Tom Coughlin said.

"But Coughlin was guarding against any thoughts of Taylor repeating his performance this week, if he plays at all. The Jaguars practiced in a steady rainstorm Wednesday -- no time to fully test Taylor's cutting ability.

"'We won't get a normal look at him with the wet field,' Coughlin said. 'But whatever feedback we get, we get. ...'"

Other notes of interest. ...

The Jaguars also held quarterback Mark Brunell out of practice Wednesday. The veteran signal caller is listed as probable with a strained leg muscle -- the same injury he played through last Sunday. ...

Stacey Mack might be getting another chance after going from starter to the bottom of the depth chart in a matter of weeks. ... Mack ran for 71 yards and two touchdowns Sunday to help the Jacksonville Jaguars snap a five-game losing streak with a 30-13 victory over Cincinnati.

Mack was Coughlin's choice to replace Taylor, but the second-year man's stock plummeted after he fumbled on his first run against Cleveland, lost a fumble the next week against Seattle, then ran the wrong pass pattern and tipped a ball that got intercepted on Jacksonville's final drive in a 13-10 loss to Buffalo.

Mack went from starter to third stringer behind rookie Elvis Joseph and Frank Moreau, a second-year veteran the Jaguars signed off waivers in September. "I didn't get down about the situation or lose my confidence," Mack said. "I just waited my turn. ..."

Damon Jones re-injured his shoulder during Sunday's game, and even though an MRI performed Monday failed to reveal any structural damage, his status for Sunday's game remains uncertain.

RB: F. Taylor (Questionable; groin), S. Mack, E. Joseph, F. Moreau

FB: P. Washington

WR: J. Smith, K. McCardell, S. Dawkins, A. Whitted, D. Gibson

TE: K. Brady, D. Jones (Questionable; shoulder), R. Prince, J. Zelenka

PK: M. Hollis, J. Tarle

The offense has been transformed from one centering on a struggling passing game to one featuring open-field runs such as draws, sweeps and traps. Holmes split time as the feature back in the first two games with fullback Tony Richardson. Holmes didn't become the focal point of the running game until Richardson injured a shoulder in Washington in late September.

It took offensive coordinator Al Saunders and the offensive staff some time, but they've found ways to get Holmes the ball on plays that he can turn into big gains. The team is seeking a balance where it throws between 30 and 35 passes a game and runs roughly the same number. ...

Other notes of interest. ...

Teicher also noted that wide receiver Sylvester Morris won't play this season. Morris, who is on the physically-unable-to-perform list, missed the deadline by which he had to practice in order to play in a game this season. Morris, who tore knee ligaments in June, was hopeful of returning for a few late-season games. Morris is making progress, but not fast enough to realistically help by, say, early December. Even if he was, it's not worth rushing him back and risking further injury for the last few games of a lost season. ...

And finally. ... Derrick Alexander didn't play until the second half in New York. Alexander, who missed the last two games because of torn rib cartilage, said he was 100 percent. Head coach Dick Vermeil says he didn't bench Alexander but wants to be certain he's healthy before giving him a full role. Vermeil promises a healthy Alexander will start after this week's bye. ...

"There are several reasons. Because of four fumbles he had early in the season, he is more conscious of hanging on to the ball, taking away from his aggressiveness. Smith is at his best when his shoulders are square to the line of scrimmage, but he has had to make too many moves before he hits the hole.

"In addition to Smith's tentativeness, the offensive line is not getting as much push as it had been. Teams are stunting and twisting, ruining the timing of the combination blocks the club likes to use. Using more zone blocking might help, but that does not fit with this group.

"Smith does well when he works his way wide, picking the hole to cut back through, but the timing has been disrupted, and he's finding himself with more zero and minus-yard carries. ..."

In he meantime, rookie Travis Minor, who rushed for 71 yards -- including a 56-yard TD run -- against the Colts last Sunday, continues to impress. ...

Of course, Minor isn't the only rookie getting the job done in Miami this season. ... Through eight games, rookie wide out Chris Chambers has 21 catches for 443 yards, and nine of those catches have been for 25 yards or more.

Chambers is still a work in progress, but his size and strength clearly give defensive backs trouble. ...

Also of interest this week. ...

Veteran receiver O.J. McDuffie and tight end Alonzo Mayes returned to practice Wednesday after being taken off Miami's reserve/physically unable to perform list.

McDuffie, a nine-year veteran who ranks ninth on the team's career touchdown list, had a hurt left big toe. The same injury put him on the list last season and plagued him after he returned in October, only catching 14 passes for 143 yards.

Mayes had shoulder surgery in May. He was acquired in October from Chicago and has never played in a regular season game for Miami.

McDuffie and Mayes were put on the list in September, when the team cut its roster to 53 players. They must be activated by Dec. 4 or remain on the list for the rest of the season. ...

RB: L. Smith, T. Minor, J.J. Johnson

FB: R. Konrad, D. Dyer

WR: O. Gadsden, J. McKnight, C. Chambers, J. Ogden, D. Ward

TE: H. Goodwin, J. Weaver, E. Perry

PK: O. Mare

But because Bennett struggled before the injury, the team will probably keep running back Doug Chapman as the starter. Chapman's straight-ahead style fits with the linemen's abilities. Bennett is smaller and relies on running outside. The team's running game has been at its best with Chapman, not Bennett, handling the ball.

Still, Bennett is one of the fastest players in the league, and the Vikings won't bail on him any time soon. ...

Williamson also noted this week that compared with last year, quarterback Daunte Culpepper hasn't been as smooth this season, his second as a starter. He has thrown critical interceptions and lost some key fumbles. Still, he is very much a player on the rise. He has a strong arm and strong legs and can hurt opponents through the air and on the ground. Culpepper's size and speed make him one of the most dangerous running quarterbacks ever. Once he cleans up the mistakes, Culpepper will be one of the league's top players at this position. ...

Other items of interest. ...

An MRI revealed a small cartilage tear in starting tight end Byron Chamberlain's right knee, but the former Bronco won't need surgery to repair the injury. ... In fact, at this point, all signs point to Chamberlain playing against the Giants on Monday night. ...

Randy Moss, who caught seven passes for 95 yards and a TD at Philadelphia last Sunday, experienced some soreness in his tender ankle during the game, but coaches say their star receiver is fine and there's no apparent reason to expect him to miss any playing time.

For what it's worth, Moss padded his numbers well after the outcome of last week's game was decided and the former Marshall star is still looking for his first 100-yard receiving game this year.

RB: D. Chapman, M. Bennett (Probable; ankle), T. Prentice

FB: J. Kleinsasser, H. Morrow

WR: R. Moss (Probable; ankle), C. Carter, J. Reed, C. Walsh, T. Walters (Probable; knee), N. Jacquet

TE: B. Chamberlain (Questionable; knee), A. Jordan

PK: G. Anderson

Brady is 5-2 as a starter since taking over after Bledsoe was sidelined by a hit from New York Jets linebacker Mo Lewis on Sept. 23 that ruptured a blood vessel in Bledsoe's chest. The Patriots were 0-2 with Bledsoe starting.

"Anytime you lose your starting quarterback, that's not anything that's a positive," coach Bill Belichick said. "But Tom has taken advantage of the opportunity and has done a good job."

Belichick didn't say how long Brady would have the job, but said he would make a decision after this weekend.

The way I look at it, we're on the same team," said Brady, a second year pro. "We're in it together. This is about trying to get the New England Patriots to win football games."

Brady has completed 63.3 percent of his passes for 1,426 yards with 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. The team has averaged more than 26 points per game under Brady, compared to 10 points per game in two games under Bledsoe.

Bledsoe said Tuesday that he expected Brady to start if he performs better in practice. But Bledsoe said he intended "to make it very hard for Brady to stay on the field."

Brady said he welcomed the competition, and added it would be strange if Bledsoe didn't want his job back.

"Who doesn't want to play?" Brady said. "If you don't want that, then you're in the wrong line of work. You ought to be working at some shopping mall or something."

He said he and Bledsoe are friends and support each other.

"I'm confident that if I'm in the game, we're going to win," Brady said. "And I'm confident that if he's in the game, we're going to win."

Other notes of interest. ...

Terry Glenn, who hasn't practiced in over three weeks because of a hamstring injury, should be able to play Sunday -- if he hits the practice field this week. ...

Charles Johnson drew a rare starting assignment last Sunday when the Patriots opened up against the Bills in a two-back, two-tight end, one receiver set featuring the former Steeler and Eagle as the lone wide out. ...

Former Bill Antowain Smith rushed for 100 yards and two TDs against his former team. Look for coaches to continue to rely on Smith as a driving force over the second half of the season.

RB: A. Smith, K. Faulk, J.R. Redmond

FB: M. Edwards, P. Pass

WR: D. Patten, T. Brown, C. Johnson, T. Glenn (Questionable; leg)

TE: R. Rutledge, J. Wiggins

PK: A. Vinatieri

Brooks isn't nearly as sharp as a year ago, seems reluctant to get out of the pocket and improvise, and has made too many killer mistakes in the red zone. It doesn't appear the coaches will push the panic button, because they believe that Brooks is a burgeoning star.

"Here's the deal: They feel like Jeff could take us to the playoffs, but that it has to be Aaron if we're going to get to the Super Bowl," said one veteran. "Right now, though, the kid is killing us. I don't think the success (of last year) went to his head or anything, but he isn't the same player. We need him to play well to win. ..."

Which he did in San Francisco last Sunday. ... Brooks rebounded from his poor performance against the Jets in a big way against the Niners, hitting wide receivers Joe Horn and Willie Jackson seemingly at will on crossing patterns and hitch routes in front of San Francisco's young corners while throwing for 347 yards and two touchdowns.

Brooks' numbers might have been even better if not for a handful of drops. Still, a 108.7 passer rating should be good enough to win most games. ...

Other notes of interest. ...

The team finally is getting some mileage out of the offensive package that features running backs Ricky Williams and Deuce McAllister. The pair of first-round picks gained all but the final six yards of a 10-play, 89-yard touchdown drive in the third quarter against the 49ers. The drive took advantage of the receiving skills of both players. Williams had a 34-yard catch and McAllister a 17-yard reception. ...

According to published reports, Cam Cleeland won't be available for Sunday's game against Indianapolis. His high ankle sprain still hasn't healed sufficiently, so look for Eddie "Boo" Williams and Lamont Hall to get the majority of the playing time this weekend. ...

According to New Orleans Times-Picayune reporter Jeff Duncan, Albert Connell is back in the three-receiver rotation after spending two weeks in coach Jim Haslett's doghouse. The Saints weren't happy with Connell's practice and study habits that led to numerous breakdowns in games. The two-week demotion seemed to motivate Connell. ...

Veteran place-kicker John Carney continues to have Pro Bowl season. He has converted 21-of-22 field goal attempts to lead the NFC and has kept the team in contention during its 4-4 start. His only miss came on a deflected kick that occurred because of a protection breakdown. ...

RB: R. Williams, D. McAllister, F. McAfee

FB: T. Smith, M. Norris, K. Houser

WR: J. Horn, W. Jackson, A. Connell, R. Wilson (Questionable; finger), O. Ojo, W. McGarity

TE: L. Hall, E. Williams, C. Cleeland (Doubtful; ankle),

PK: J. Carney

Barber, who missed most of training camp with a broken hand and two regular-season games with a hamstring injury, had a season-best 118 yards rushing in Sunday's 17-10 win over the Cardinals in Arizona.

"Tiki looked to me like he was in top form," Giants coach Jim Fassel said Monday. "After the amount of time he missed, now he's back in a groove."

Barber's rushing total was more than double his previous best of 55 yards against Philadelphia on Oct. 22. It also was his first 100-yard game since gaining 144 against the Cardinals in the 2000 season opener.

It was the second 100-yard rushing game for the Giants this season. Ron Dayne gained 111 against New Orleans in late September.

"I feel healthy," Barber said after the Giants (5-4) won their second straight. "I feel like I'm in a rhythm now."

Barber felt the same way the previous week in a 27-24 overtime win over Dallas.

However, he had only seven carries for 30 yards as New York was forced to throw after falling behind 24-7 at halftime.

"This week, we were able to stay regular," said Barber, who picked up two first downs in the closing minutes as the Giants nearly ran out the clock. "We were able to get 4 or 5 yards on first down, and that allowed me to get on the field and use my speed."

Other notes of interest this week. ...

Joe Jurevicius started in place of Ike Hilliard against the Cardinals, but Hilliard still managed to pulled in his third touchdown pass in as many games before the final whistle blew. ...

And finally. ... Unless the Vikings can find some backbone playing at home Monday night, the Giants could have a huge game. ... Minnesota has been outscored 89-31 in its last two road games, allowing 933 yards and 59 first downs. When the Eagles went ahead 31-3 in the second quarter of last Sunday's game, the Vikings had been out gained 269 yards to 26. ...

RB: T. Barber, R. Dayne, D. Washington

FB: G. Comella

WR: A. Toomer, J. Jurevicius, I. Hilliard, R. Dixon, T. Davis

TE: H. Cross, D. Campbell, M. Rivers

PK: M. Andersen, O. Pochman

But Testaverde's newfound accuracy has not come without a price to fantasy owners. He has thrown for over 200 yards only once this season, and that was a 202-yard effort against San Francisco. Offensive coordinator Paul Hackett's new offense has been more about establishing the run and short passing than throwing the ball deep and Testaverde's fantasy value has been hurt because of it.

To put Testaverde's passing yardage in perspective, look at how many 200-yard games quarterbacks inferior to Testaverde have had in 2001. Jay Fiedler has thrown for 200 yards seven times in eight games; Jon Kitna has done it on five occasions; Chris Weinke has four 200-yard games; heck, Kordell Stewart has thrown for over 200 yards twice this year -- and the Steelers only throw the ball in third-and-long situations.

The bottom line is this: If you have Testaverde in a league where interceptions count against you, you're probably more than satisfied with Vinny's performance this year. Those of you in leagues where interceptions are meaningless, however, are probably in a bit of a bind right now. ...

Other notes of interest this week. ...

Rookie Santana Moss is expected to make his season debut Sunday against Miami, where he grew up and played his college ball. The first-round draft pick, who underwent preseason knee surgery, is likely to see spot duty at best with coaches, not wanting to overwhelm the youngster, giving Moss a limited number of plays from which to operate.

Those who follow the team closely expect to see Moss come off the bench in certain three-receiver packages, with Wayne Chrebet moving into the slot. Moss, with his game-breaking speed, could provide a much-needed spark to the slumbering offense.

Moss won't return punts just yet. ... With Chad Morton doing well, there's no rush to use the rookie in that capacity.

RB: C. Martin, L. Jordan, C. Morton

FB: R. Anderson, J. Sowell

WR: W. Chrebet (Probable; shoulder), L. Coles, K. Swayne, S. Moss, M. Hatchette, C. Yeast

TE: A. Becht, J. Dearth, J. Moreland

PK: J. Hall

Charlie Garner and Tyrone Wheatley are accomplished running backs, but they aren't that effective against defenses that stack the line -- which most opponents are doing in light of the Raiders' league-leading rushing performance in 2000.

Gruden still prefers to run the ball as often as possible, but the Raiders are clearly less dependent on that area. ...

Other notes of interest this week. ...

The Pro Sports XChange correctly pointed out this week that Rich Gannon's passing stats would have been lauded (24-for-38 for 257, 2 touchdowns, no interceptions) had Oakland beat the Seahawks last Sunday.

As it was, it was a frantic effort and the Raider passing game is at its best when it is in control of the game. This was a score-and-be-scored-on game from the start. The Raiders only had three possessions in the first half.

Gannon now has 223 passes without a pick and both his TD passes last in Seattle were "jam-'em-in-there jobs" that left little room for error. ... Gannon didn't win the game, but that had more to do with the team's poor defensive performance than anything the veteran signal caller might have done.

For what it's worth. ... Tim Brown and Jerry Rice combined for 13 catches, 171 yards and a touchdown against the Hawks while tight end Roland Williams had his first scoring reception as a Raider.

And finally. ... Wheatley, expected to return to action this week against San Diego, missed practice Wednesday because of illness. ... Wheatley, who ran for over 1,000 yards for the first time in his career last season, has missed the last three games because of a sprained left knee. He was upgraded to probable earlier in the week.

RB: C. Garner, T. Wheatley (Probable; knee), R. Jordan, T. Kirby

FB: J. Ritchie (Probable; groin), Z. Crockett

WR: T. Brown, J. Rice, J. Porter, D. Dunn, M. Knight, J. Jett

TE: R. Williams, M. Fulcher, J. Brigham

PK: S. Janikowski

That's how Andy Reid envisioned his West Coast offense. It's exactly how the Philadelphia Eagles looked in a 48-17 rout over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday.

After struggling offensively for most of the season, the Eagles finally put it all together against the Vikings. The result was six touchdowns, 33 first downs and 487 yards, including 272 rushing.

The Eagles averaged just 13.6 points, 12 first downs and 247 yards in the previous three games.

"We were balanced," Reid said Monday. "You have to have that in this offense. We strive for that. We ended up coming out the way we wanted with it."

Though Minnesota's defense is ranked among the worst in the league, the Eagles are encouraged by the offense's production.

"It's a small sign of what we can do and we can only get better," said wide receiver James Thrash, who caught two touchdown passes for the second straight week and third time this season.

Duce Staley, starting his first game since injuring his right shoulder in Week 2, sparked the rushing attack. He had 146 yards on 17 carries, going over the 100-yard mark for the first time since running for 201 yards in the first game of the 2000 season.

Staley also had six catches for 85 yards. Donovan McNabb passed for 223 yards, three TDs and ran for one.

"We took big steps as a young offense," Staley said. "In the first drive we came out pretty aggressive. If you don't have penalties and don't shoot yourself in the foot, you are able to do things like we did and it showed."

Reid had been reluctant to use the run game in recent weeks. The running backs -- Staley, Correll Buckhalter, Brian Mitchell and fullback Cecil Martin -- carried the ball less than 30 percent of the team's total plays before Sunday.

The 35 rushes against the Vikings were the most this season, and just the third time the Eagles had more runs than passes.

"What it does is open up a lot of different things," McNabb said. "It opens up a lot of holes for the passing game and for us to move the ball around a little bit.

"We were in a position where we had everything going. The run game sets up the pass. When the pass is going well it sets up the run. Just looking back on it, I think we ran to establish the tempo. Whenever you're able to click on all cylinders, the run game and the pass game, the confidence level continues to rise."

Having Staley back healthy is a key to Philadelphia's success. Staley was a 1,000-yard rusher two straight years before a foot injury ended his season in Week 5 last year.

McNabb became the main weapon on offense during Staley's absence, and established himself as one of the top quarterbacks in the league. Staley returned this season, but injured his shoulder in the first half of the second game against Seattle and wasn't a factor until Sunday.

"Duce is a big part of the offense," Reid said. "It goes beyond just him carrying the football. There's the trust Donovan has in him as a receiver, a check-down receiver, knowing exactly where he's at. His leadership in the huddle also is a quality we overlook."

Other notes of interest this week. ...

As dangerous as McNabb is, the former Syracuse star is downright deadly when the Eagles are inside the red zone.

Philadelphia's offense has been inside the opposition's 20-yard line 24 times this season. They've scored each time, getting 17 touchdowns and seven field goals.

No other team is perfect inside the red zone and McNabb is the reason the Eagles have been so efficient

"Donovan is giving everybody an opportunity, including himself by running the ball, to make a play," Eagles coach Andy Reid said Wednesday. "That's a tough area to execute. The field is shorter. Everything is faster. You have to be sharp and Donovan has done that."

Twelve of McNabb's 15 TD passes and both of his TD runs have come inside the red zone. He's connected with five different receivers on those touchdowns, making it difficult for defenses to focus on one player. ...

Thrash, who had had five catches for 52 yards and two touchdowns in last Sunday's win over the Vikings, might finally be emerging as McNabb's "go-to" receiver. ... The former Redskin heads into Sunday's game against the Cowboys with three two-touchdown games this season. ... Thrash, who had 50 catches for 653 yards and two touchdowns with Washington last year, is on pace to catch 66 passes and score 14 TDs this season. ...

Asked about the chemistry between McNabb and Thrash, Reid said, "They were connecting during the mini-camp. ..." Thrash still isn't completely comfortable with the West Coast offense, but he's learning more each week. ... "I'm getting more confident with the offense and just knowing the plays," he said. "Obviously when I know the plays, I can just relax and go out there and be an athlete."

And finally. ... Freddie Mitchell has caught seven passes in two games since replacing Na Brown as the team's No. 3 receiver. Six of the catches have been for first downs. Mitchell sprained his shoulder Sunday but should play this week. ... According to Reid, "Freddie continues to improve every week. We're going to keep giving him a little bit more (of the offense) each game. ..."

RB: D. Staley, C. Buckhalter, B. Mitchell

FB: C. Martin, J. Reader

WR: J. Thrash, T. Pinkston, F. Mitchell (Probable; shoulder), N. Brown, G. Scott (Probable; ankle), D. Douglas (Probable; quad)

TE: C. Lewis (Probable; knee/quad), J. Thomason, T. Stewart, M. Bartrum

PK: D. Akers

In his ninth NFL season, "The Bus" has run for 10,670 career yards. ... By the way. ... Bettis can finish the season with a career-high 1,732 yards -- and move into 10th place on the NFL career list -- by matching the 866 yards he ran for over the first half of the season. ...

One reason Bettis is having such a good year is because his knees are healthy, unlike last season. This year, the 255-pound Bettis is feeling spry enough to cut back and make tacklers miss. That has allowed the team to call more misdirection and counter plays. ...

Other notes of interest this week. ...

Kordell Stewart played well against Cleveland, unfortunately his receivers failed to come through for him when it counted. ... There were four dropped passes, one by Plaxico Burress in the end zone and another by Troy Edwards inside the Cleveland ten-yard line. Amos Zereoue caught a pass and ran 62 yards with it but fell at the 2-yard line with no one near him. Stewart completed 18 of 32 passes for 188 yards but he should have had two TD passes and another 60 yards. He had no interceptions and was sacked once. ...

Place-kicker Kris Brown rebounded from his brutal Week 8 outing to hit five of six field goal attempts at Cleveland, including the game-winner from 32 yards.

FB Jon Witman may miss the game this week with a back injury. Witman took a helmet to the middle of his upper back and left the game in Cleveland in the fourth quarter. Dan Kreider, who started last year, replaced him. ...

RB: J. Bettis, A. Zereoue (Questionable; shoulder), C. Fuamatu Ma'afala

FB: J. Witman (Questionable; back), D. Kreider

WR: H. Ward, P. Burress, T. Edwards, B. Shaw, L. Jackson

TE: M. Bruener (Probable; shoulder), J. Tuman, M. Cushing

PK: K. Brown

Martz did not say whether the move was prompted by nagging thumb problems on the quarterback's throwing hand.

Warner has not complained of arm soreness or weakness this season, and "the whole idea here is to keep that from happening," Martz said.

"I'd like him to go out and throw 1,000 balls each day and just work on timing and all that stuff, (but) he's just not going to hold up," Martz said. "We've got a lot of football ahead of us, and he's pretty well grounded in what we're doing."

The former Super Bowl MVP will take about 75 percent of the practice snaps, with Jamie Martin taking the rest.

Warner said his right thumb has not been painful or a burden, though he does not feel as much strength as usual.

"Whatever combination -- lots of prayers or (the treatments or) whatever it might have been -- it feels great right now," he said. "It'll be great to see how it responds to some action, getting out there and throwing and stuff."

Warner has thrown seven interceptions in the last two games. That's caused a bit of concern for the Rams (7-1) as they go into Sunday night's game against at New England (5-4).

Warner threw four interceptions in a 34-31 loss to New Orleans two weeks ago, and then tossed three more in Sunday's 48-14 blowout victory over Carolina. Afterward, he admitted being bothered by a sprained thumb since the season opener, especially on long throws where the ball appears to hang up.

Martz said earlier this week that team trainers have treated Warner's injury "very aggressively," a departure from previous weeks in which the thumb often was simply taped. On Wednesday, Martz called the treatment "very brief, and he's got the soreness out of that pretty much, the swelling has gone down."

"He's a lot better with that hand, and that's really not much of an issue," Martz said. "It's a sore thumb, that's what it is."

Martz has said Warner, who dropped from second to fourth in NFC passer rating after going 14-for-20 for 144 yards against the Panthers, has more trouble when he has to move around in the pocket.

Other notes of interest this week. ...

Marshall Faulk, the NFL's reigning MVP, has turned tutor, helping second-year backup Trung Canidate develop his running style.

"I try to enlighten him," Faulk said. "I try to teach him patience and letting your line work with you. Speed isn't what the game is all about. It helps you once you make your reads, but you've got to use more than just your speed.

"I just try to help him be more effective. That's all, just little things."

Together, Faulk and Canidate are coming up big as running partners of the St. Louis Rams' backfield.

After three weeks off with a bruised right knee, Faulk returned to the lineup last week against Carolina, rolling up 183 rushing yards and two touchdowns in just one half, averaging 12.2 yards on 15 carries. Canidate took over from there, finishing with 145 yards on 16 carries and a 23-yard scoring run.

The Rams (7-1) averaged 8.2 yards per carry and amassed 337 yards rushing -- third-best in franchise history -- in thrashing Carolina 48-14. The loss was the Panthers' franchise-worst eighth straight and, to coach George Seifert, "pretty humiliating."

Faulk and Canidate battered the Panthers, becoming the first Rams running backs with at least 100 yards on the ground in the same game since Lawrence Phillips and Harold Green each had 106 yards in a 59-16 victory over Atlanta on Nov. 10, 1996.

"Marshall was as good as he's ever been," Martz marveled about Faulk, sixth in the NFC in rushing (544 yards, averaging 5.8 yards a carry) and tied for sixth in receiving (40 catches, 331 yards). "And when he's like that, you've just got to keep handing him the ball. He's like that most of the time."

Canidate, the Rams' first-round pick last year, had an impressive starting debut Oct. 21, running for 195 yards -- the most by a back making his first start since Gerald Riggs in 1984 -- in a victory over the New York Jets. A week later, in a loss to New Orleans, Canidate again filled in for Faulk but had two key fumbles and ran for just 19 yards. But he caught 10 passes for 107 yards.

This season, Canidate has 406 rushing yards -- 12th in the NFC -- on 65 carries, scoring six times. His 17 catches have gone for 154 yards.

"He's starting to get a feel for it and coming into his own, and I'm happy to see him have success," Faulk said. ...

One last note out of St. Louis tonight. ... Ernie Conwell wasn't included on the team's injury report this week, but the veteran tight end has been bothered by a minor Achilles' strain this week. ...

RB: M. Faulk, T. Canidate, R. Holcombe

FB: J. Hodgins, J. Watson

WR: T. Holt, I. Bruce, A. Hakim, R. Proehl, Y. Murphy, D. Griffin

TE: E. Conwell, J. Robinson, B. Manumaleuna

PK: J. Wilkins

Tim Dwight opened the year as the Chargers' punt returner, but has been sidelined due to a collapsed lung suffered against Kansas City two weeks ago. Dwight was replaced by Reggie Jones at Denver last week. The Chargers released Jones, who muffed two punts and had just five yards on three returns against the Broncos, on Tuesday, so veteran receiver Jeff Graham has been called upon to handle the return duties this week.

Graham also handled the punt returns for the Chargers for a brief period last year. Earlier in his career, he returned punts for two years in Chicago (1994-95) and in Pittsburgh (1991). In all, Graham has returned 46 punts for 369 yards and one touchdown, a 61-yarder at Minnesota when he was playing for the Bears on Dec. 1, 1994.

Head Coach Mike Riley was not certain how long Dwight would be out, or how long Graham will be returning punts.

"Basically it is dependent on how Tim feels," said Riley.

On offense, Trevor Gaylor will fill the void at the third wide receiver spot, and Patrick Batteaux, who was signed off the practice squad on Wednesday, will be the Chargers' fourth wide receiver.

Gaylor caught 13 passes for 182 yards and one touchdown while starting two of the 14 games he played in as a rookie for the Chargers last year. Batteaux, who caught eight passes for 116 yards during the 2001 preseason for the Bolts, will be seeing his first regular-season NFL action.

Other notes of interest this week. ...

Riley was uncertain about the status of tight end Freddie Jones for Sunday. Jones was listed as questionable on Wednesday due to a lingering ankle injury and the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that he's been advised not to play this week.

Just for the record. ... Jones did play against the Broncos last Sunday, but Steve Heiden started the game in his place.

Asked if he thought Jones might be able to play against the Raiders this Sunday, Riley said: "He's an important part of our offense and a guy who has always made plays. So that's a factor. ..."

The coach added, however, "We have a lot of faith in Steve Heiden. Steve will go in there and play a very solid game. I believe that."

The Chargers list two rookie tight ends, Josh Whitman and Adam Young, who was signed on Wednesday off Chicago's practice squad, behind Jones and Heiden on the depth chart.

"We have been thin on our roster at the tight end, because of the nature of the position and because we play two tight ends a lot," said Riley. "I think it's very important that we have enough people to fill all those roles."

Jones, Dwight, RB Terrell Fletcher (ankle) and RB/KR Ronney Jenkins (neck/concussion) were all held out of Wednesday's practice. ...

RB: L. Tomlinson, T. Fletcher (Probable; ankle), R. Jenkins (Probable; neck/concussion)

FB: F. McCrary, D. Harris (Probable; hamstring)

WR: C. Conway, J. Graham, T. Gaylor, P. Batteaux, T. Dwight (Doubtful; collapsed lung)

TE: S. Heiden (Probable, hamstring), F. Jones (Questionable; ankle), J. Whitman, A. Young

PK: W. Richey

Head coach Steve Mariucci says Hearst probably is sorer during the week and requires more recovery time than in his prime. But it's hard to imagine him running much better. With Hearst breaking tackles and rookie Kevan Barlow providing a change of pace, the team suddenly has a dangerous rushing attack.

Hearst is adept at finding holes and creating lanes while Barlow is a power runner with enough speed to turn every touch into a solid gainer. ...

Other notes of interest. ...

Jeff Garcia made it through another game using a brace to protect his sprained knee, and had no problems afterwards and Mariucci is optimistic that Garcia will be able to play without the brace soon. ...

By the way. ... Garcia further established himself as one of the league's top Fantasy QBs by throwing for 252 yards and four touchdowns against the Saints.

Terrell Owens was overpowering as usual against the Saints, but also as usual, J.J. Stokes and Tai Streets didn't make much of an impact. ... On a more positive note, rookie tight end Eric Johnson had another touchdown reception and is fast developing into a legitimate threat.

RB: G. Hearst, K. Barlow (Probable; quad), P. Smith, J. Lewis (Out; groin)

FB: F. Beasley, T. Jackson

WR: T. Owens, J.J. Stokes, T. Streets, V. Sutherland (Probable; ribs), C. Wilson

TE: E. Johnson, J. Swift, B. Jennings, G. Clark (Out; hamstring)

PK: J. Cortez

According to Seattle Post-Intelligencer reporter Clare Farnsworth, one option would be to ease Watters back into action as the lone back in passing situations. It would allow him to get the ball in some space before having to slam into a defender. It also would relieve Alexander of receiving and pass-protection duties, his biggest weaknesses. ...

Two of the longest scoring plays by the offense this season came on what appeared to be the same play -- a simple pitch to Alexander, who broke one run for 60 yards against the Broncos and another for 41 yards against the Redskins. The 60-yarder went to the left, the 41-yarder to the right.

The one factor that is consistent, however, is that the success of each play hinges on Alexander making the first defender miss. With the linemen pulling, there always is one defender who is unblocked. It's up to Alexander to get past him and pick his hole to get upfield. ...

Other notes of interest this week. ...

QB Matt Hasselbeck has played well in two of the Seahawks' last three games, a good sign as Seattle heads into the second half of the season. Hasselbeck completed 65 percent of his passes en route to a passer rating of 103.7 against the Raiders last Sunday. ...

Five weeks earlier, Hasselbeck wasn't even able to finish the game during a 38-14 loss to the Raiders. That's progress. Hasselbeck is still prone to be up-and-down, but that's not surprising given his lack of experience. His job is made much easier when RB Shaun Alexander controls the clock with his running.

Pro Football Weekly reported last Monday that Holmgren has never been a big believer in the shotgun formation because of its potential for mistakes. He also believed that having the football in the hands of the quarterback right away and allowing for quick drops is the best way to operate his offense. But Holmgren has instituted the shotgun recently and used it against teams with a strong pass rush in hopes that it will give Hasselbeck more time in the pocket.

"I'm not so stubborn I'm not going to use something that I think will help the quarterback," Holmgren said.

Rookie wide out Koren Robinson caught four passes but managed only 35 yards against the Raiders. Robinson is still waiting for his first breakout game since entering the NFL as the ninth player chosen in the 2001 draft. To his credit, Robinson held onto the football after absorbing a jarring hit. But he was far from perfect; earlier, the youngster lost a potentially costly fumble in Seattle territory. Fortunately for Robinson, a teammate came up with the ball after he dropped it. ...

RB: S. Alexander, J. Graham, C. Rogers (Probable; toe), R. Watters (Out; shoulder)

FB: M. Strong, H. Evans

WR: D. Jackson, K. Robinson, B. Engram (Probable; knee), J. Williams (Questionable; quad), A. Bannister, F. Bownes

TE: C. Fauria, I. Mili, R. Stewart

PK: R. Lindell

With 1:49 remaining in the contest and the Bucs clearly playing a team scratching and clawing for their first win, Johnson did what he does best: stay calm and relaxed, and make timely plays. The rest of the Bucs' offense followed their quarterbacks' lead as he completed 5-of-6 passes for 61 yards on the drive, leading to K Martin Gramatica's 35-yard game-winning field goal with four seconds remaining. This was not unfamiliar territory for Johnson, who rallied the Bucs in their season-opening 10-6 win at Dallas. Trailing 6-3 in the fourth quarter, Johnson completed 5-of-6 passes for 60 yards and then capped off the drive by diving in for a one-yard touchdown plunge.

In his first season as the Bucs' quarterback, Johnson has completed 172-of-278 passes for 1,752 yards (61.9%) with nine touchdowns and just four interceptions. He has tossed five touchdowns and has not thrown an interception in his last three contests. In addition, Johnson is on pace to set six individual passing records, which include yards passing, passing attempts, pass completions, completion percentage, lowest interception percentage and highest quarterback rating. ...

While the addition of Johnson finally seems to be paying off, the Bucs still rank 25th in offense and have struggled to get the ball in the end zone.

But head coach Tony Dungy said it would be a mistake to assess the state of the offense on statistics alone.

Johnson has delivered in the clutch, leading three fourth-quarter drives to win games, and the Bucs also have helped themselves stay in every game by committing a league-low eight turnovers.

"He's smart enough to understand that no matter what happens in the game, if we don't turn it over we're going to have a chance to win at the end. ... We've had a chance to win every game," Dungy said of his starting signal caller.

Other notes of interest. ...

So far this season, running back Warrick Dunn has been limited to just 224 rushing yards, 450 combined yards and four touchdowns, averaging just 2.9 yards per carry while missing two games in October -- Green Bay and Minnesota -- and failing to record more than 13 carries or 31 rushing yards in the three games surrounding those two contests. Dunn, who has dealt a hamstring strain at times, is currently bothered by a sore toe. But according to coaches, he's slowly rounding back into form, as evidenced by his 111 combined rushing and receiving yards last Sunday in Detroit.

"For my foot to heal, I'm going to have to stop playing for a month or two month, but that's definitely not a possibility," said Dunn. "I have the offseason for that. Actually, last week I was as close to the old form as possible. I'm getting better. It's just something where I'm going to have to play with the pain. That's going to be a part of my game. ..."

Jacquez Green, who has missed the last three games with groin and abdominal strains, returned to the practice field Wednesday and could play against the Bears this Sunday. His groin strain has healed and the speedy receiver is working on casting off his abdomen discomfort.

After watching the veteran receiver work out, head coach Tony Dungy told reporters, "Quez is better. He's still got some tenderness in his abdomen and still can't quite cut it loose 100 percent. He'll do a little bit more tomorrow, too, and hopefully we'll be able to make a decision by Friday. ..."

RB: W. Dunn (Probable; toe), A. Stecker, R. Abdullah

FB: M. Alstott, J. Cook

WR: K. Johnson, J. Green (Probable; abdomen), R. Anthony, F. Murphy, K. Williams, M. Wynn

TE: D. Moore, T. Yoder, S. McDermott

PK: M. Gramatica

McNair, who couldn't even hold a football on Tuesday, had X-rays and other tests performed on his right hand later that day and Fisher said the results were negative. But doctors found an apparent hairline break in McNair's thumb, which he originally hurt last season in practice.

Doctors placed McNair's sore thumb in a removable splint Wednesday.

"He could not grip a ball [Wednesday] and is in a splint that is very easy removable and the doctors can take him in and out of it to treat him a couple times a day," Fisher said after Wednesday's walk-through. "We are just going to have to see how he is tomorrow."

It's worth noting that McNair had the flu the past couple of days and was given fluids intravenously at halftime of Monday night's 16-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. ...

Just a reminder. ... No. 2 man Neil O'Donnell has owned the Bengals over the course of his career, posting a 105.6 passer rating in 11 games. ... When O'Donnell arrived for one season in Cincinnati in 1998, he had a 9-1 record against them as a starter with 20 touchdown passes and three interceptions. When he came off the bench last year in the Titans' 35-3 win in Nashville, he completed all six of his passes for 93 yards. ...

Other notes of interest this week. ...

Tight end Frank Wycheck sprained an ankle in that game and his status for next Sunday's game against the Bengals won't be known until later this week. ... Wycheck did not practice Wednesday and Fisher told reporters the veteran's ankle remains "very sore."

With Erron Kinney out the past two games with a strained calf muscle, and rookie Shad Meier nursing a broken thumb, rookie Brian Natkin is the only healthy tight end on the roster. Natkin was promoted from the practice squad last week. ...

Derrick Mason re-aggravated his high ankle sprain Monday night and Fisher told reporters Tuesday, "It's just not getting better, but you can see by his effort how much the game meant to him and how much he played through that pain. ..." It's also worth noting that Kevin Dyson pulled in six passes for 68 yards and a touchdown despite a sore toe. ... The injury won't keep him from starting and playing as usual against the Bengals this Sunday. ... And H-back Wes Ours hit the field Monday night after suffering back spasms during pregame warmups. ...

And finally. ... Justin McCareins won't play this Sunday, but doctors will remove the protective boot he's been wearing since breaking his ankle on Oct. 14 and the rookie receiver is expected to work out on a limited basis this week.

RB: E. George, M. Green, S. Hicks

HB: W. Ours, E. Kinney (Questionable; calf), S. Meier (Questionable; thumb)

WR: D. Mason, K. Dyson, D. Bennett, E. Berlin, C. Coleman, C. Sanders (Out; back), J. McCareins (Out; ankle)

TE: F. Wycheck (Questionable; ankle), B. Natkin, E. Kinney (Questionable; calf), S. Meier (Questionable; thumb)

PK: J. Nedney

Banks is eligible for unrestricted free agency next offseason. Other prospective unrestricted free agents include wide receiver Michael Westbrook and tight end Stephen Alexander. Head coach Marty Schottenheimer said last week the club intends to try to sign some its potential free agent candidates before season's end, provided any in-season contract negotiations do not become a distraction to the players involved.

"We'd like to explore that possibility with some of those people," said Schottenheimer, who also serves as the Redskins' director of football operations. "You have to draw a balance, given the possibility of distraction. We have some we'd like to target, and we may be able to do something. There are a number that fit into that category, but I'm not ready to say who at this point."

Asked about the possibility of negotiating a new deal with Banks, Schottenheimer said: "I think he's done a very good job. I'm very pleased with his progress."

Banks signed a one-year contract with the Redskins for the minimum veteran's salary -- $477,000 -- after being released by the Dallas Cowboys in August. He took over as the team's starting quarterback after Schottenheimer released Jeff George two games into the season and has been a central figure in the Redskins' three-game winning streak that has followed their five straight season-opening losses. Banks has completed 60 percent of his passes for 688 yards, with five touchdowns and two interceptions, during the three-game revival.

The Redskins are scouting college quarterbacks David Carr of Fresno State and Joey Harrington of Oregon as possible first-round draft choices next spring. But even if they draft one of those quarterbacks, they will need a veteran to play until the youngster is ready to take over. Banks is on his fourth team in six NFL seasons, but he is 28, and the market for veteran quarterbacks next offseason promises to be thin.

Banks said he is enjoying his time with the Redskins, but, because of his past experiences, he is not allowing himself to get his hopes up about a multiyear contract extension.

"That's really out of my control," Banks said. "I'm not expecting after three games that they're ready to sign me to a long-term deal yet. I'm not going to worry about that. I'm just going to keep playing and try to keep us winning. I'm not expecting anything. I've been in that position before where I've expected that, and it didn't happen. ... I want to be wherever I'm wanted. I'm trying to find a home."

By the way, Banks, who says he's in the best shape of his life, attributes his superior condition and increased flexibility to yoga, something he began doing in the offseason. It's helped his mobility, especially when rolling to the left.

Alexander, 26, reached the Pro Bowl last season but struggled early this season with nine catches in five games. He said he would like to remain with the Redskins beyond this season but has told the club he does not want to discuss a contract extension until the offseason.

"They actually wanted to do something earlier in the season, I think," Alexander said. "They mentioned they wanted to. But once the season started, I didn't want to deal with that stuff. After the season, we'll worry about it. I'd definitely like to be back. We'll leave it up to them. ..."

According to those who follow the team closely, Westbrook's chances of returning next season depend greatly on whether Schottenheimer returns as the team's head coach. ...

Other items of interest this week. ...

Alexander, who hasn't played since suffering a high ankle sprain suffered during the Redskins' Oct. 15 loss at Dallas, was unable to take part in team drills Wednesday, although he did run on his own and said he expected to play against the Broncos. However, The former University of Oklahoma star acknowledged that Schottenheimer would need to see concrete evidence of his improvement by Friday's practice, at the latest, before signing off on his return.

"I'm hoping I can do some more running tomorrow and hopefully practice by the end of the week just to show the coaches that I'm ready to do it," Alexander said. "I think their deal is, they don't want to hear it. They want to see it."

For the record, high ankle sprains can be lingering, debilitating injuries because they limit players' ability to push off on their toes. The injury is difficult to treat because it is not as localized as a typical ankle sprain as Alexander indicated when he told reporters, "It's not just one spot. They couldn't inject it with anything because it's up high, it's down low, it's behind the ankle. There are a lot of different spots of irritation. It's not just one spot where you can pinpoint it."

In an updated published last Monday, Pro Football Weekly stated that three young players who went undrafted out of college are beginning to contribute and could eventually play bigger roles on offense.

Tight end Zeron Flemister, fullback Bryan Johnson and wide receiver Derrius Thompson got their starts on special teams, where each has played well, but now they are getting some time on offense as well.

Flemister has gotten action while replacing injured Alexander and those who follow the team closely believe the talented youngster could take over as the full time starter next season if Alexander leaves as a free agent.

RB: S. Davis, K.J. Carter, M. Bates

FB: D. Bennett, B. Johnson

WR: R. Gardner, M. Westbrook, K. Lockett, D. Thompson, D. McCants, E. Metcalf

TE: S. Alexander (Questionable; ankle), W. Rasby, Z. Flemister

PK: B. Conway