Donovan McNabb is making progress from thumb and ankle injuries that kept him out of Philadelphia's loss Sunday night to the Patriots, but coach Andy Reid said he wants his quarterback at 100 percent before deciding if he'll play against Seattle.
"We'll see how he does," Reid said yesterday. "We're trying to get him back to 100 percent before we stick him in the game."
A.J. Feeley ably filled in for McNabb in the Patriots' 31-28 win over Philadelphia.
Making his first start since December 2004 and the 14th of his career, Feeley completed 27 of 42 passes for 345 yards and three touchdowns, but he also had three interceptions.
Peterson on course
Vikings rookie running back Adrian Peterson is on track to return to the field this week, just in time for a pivotal NFC North game against Detroit.Peterson tore the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee three weeks ago against Green Bay.
He missed the last two victories over Oakland and the Giants, but he had an MRI yesterday that "shows excellent healing," coach Brad Childress said.
As long as everything goes as planned this week in practice, Childress said he would ease Peterson back against the Lions, splitting carries with veteran Chester Taylor.
Despite missing the past two games, Peterson still leads the NFL with 1,081 yards rushing.
Benson out for season
Bears running back Cedric Benson will miss the remainder of the season with an injury to his left ankle that will require surgery."A tough break," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "We'll miss him."
Benson, who took over this season as the Bears' starting tailback after the trade of Thomas Jones, broke free for a 21-yard run in Sunday's game against the Broncos.
But he was hurt as he landed while being tackled by Denver safety Hamza Abdullah and later had to be carted off the field following the second-quarter play.
Chicago rallied to win the game, 37-34, in overtime.
Packers off hook
Packers players no longer can offer teammates financial incentives for their on-field performance, but the NFL will not punish them for violating the league's "bounty rule.""The club has handled the matter with the players and the incentive pool has been discontinued," league spokesman Greg Aiello said via e-mail.
Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said the players would not be punished by the team.
"We've already addressed it," McCarthy said. "It's a dead issue, in my view. There's been no fines. It's been resolved with the league, and we have moved on."
Bills back to Edwards
Rookie Trent Edwards is back in at quarterback for the Bills.Edwards was named the team's starter by coach Dick Jauron, a day after J.P. Losman was ineffective in a 36-14 loss at Jacksonville. Jauron said he hopes Edwards can give the sputtering offense a spark against Washington Sunday.
The Bills could be down yet another starter, though, defensive end Chris Kelsay.
Kelsay is still wearing a boot on his injured left ankle and it might take several days to determine the severity of the injury.
Jauron also expressed concern that starting running back Marshawn Lynch could miss his third straight game because of a severely sprained left ankle.
Also, veteran backup running back Anthony Thomas hurt his calf Sunday and it's not clear whether he'll be able to play.
Garcia hopeful
Jeff Garcia's injured back was sore yesterday, but the Buccaneers remained hopeful their 37-year-old quarterback will be able to play this week against the Saints. Garcia was hurt on the first play of Sunday's 19-13 victory over Washington. He left two plays later and remained on the sideline until the Redskins trimmed a 16-point halftime deficit to 6 early in the fourth quarter. Coach Jon Gruden described the injury as a lower back bruise and said Garcia is day-to-day . . . Despite openings at several major college programs, Bobby Petrino said he intends to return in 2008 for his second year as coach of the Falcons. "I haven't given it one bit of thought," Petrino said. "I certainly don't want to get into any speculation and rumors and having to deal with that. I'm focused on our football team here and focused on playing the Rams this week." Petrino went 41-19 in four seasons at Louisville before signing a five-year, $24 million contract with the Falcons last January. Atlanta (3-8) was outscored, 62-20, in its last two home games against Indianapolis and Tampa Bay. The Falcons play at St. Louis (2-9) Sunday . . . Panthers coach John Fox said 44-year-old Vinny Testaverde, if healthy, will start next week at quarterback against San Francisco ahead of struggling David Carr and fan favorite rookie Matt Moore. Testaverde was supposed to start Sunday against the Saints, but was a late scratch because of a sore back.Crayton is back
Cowboys wide receiver Patrick Crayton was back at practice and expects to play in the NFC showdown against Green Bay after missing last week's game with a sprained left ankle . . . The Broncos might have to go into Oakland next week with fullback Cecil Sapp, their fifth option, in the backfield after Andre Hall suffered a high ankle sprain in the Broncos' loss at Chicago Sunday. Hall, a third-stringer making his first NFL start, was injured on his first carry but toughed it out and finished with 98 yards on 26 carries. When he couldn't go anymore in the fourth quarter, Mike Bell replaced him . . . The Lions put offensive tackle Jonathan Scott on injured reserve with a hamstring problem, ending his season. Former Patriot Damien Woody, who has NFL experience at guard and center, will be plugged in at tackle.Rivers explains
Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers didn't deny that he told booing fans to shut up early in Sunday's game against the Ravens. Rivers had just completed an 8-yard pass on third down to Legedu Naanee, which was a yard short of a first down on San Diego's first offensive series. The fans at
