A special glove designed to increase blood flow to the injury and reduce swelling may have helped get him back on the field quickly.

“Everyone says I look like Michael Jackson,’’ Bradford joked. “I’m not really sure what it does. They say it works and obviously my hand feels better, so I trust them.’’

Bradford said although there was some soreness, the finger felt “10 times better’’ than it did on Monday, the day after the Rams’ opening 31-13 loss to the Eagles. The original plan didn’t call for him to do any throwing before today, and Bradford hadn’t been that optimistic.

“I wouldn’t have come out of the game if it wasn’t serious,’’ Bradford said. “I couldn’t feel it, I couldn’t move it, I really was concerned.’’

Now he’s hopeful his right hand will be 100 percent by Monday night when the Rams play at the Giants. For anyone watching or on the receiving end, it’s already close enough.

“I couldn’t tell a bit,’’ wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker said. “He looked great to me.’’

On the Giants side, leading receiver Hakeem Nicks apparently only has a bone bruise on his left knee and is hopeful that he will be able to play on Monday night.

The Giants took out an insurance policy yesterday in case Nicks cannot play, agreeing to terms with veteran receiver Brandon Stokley.

Retirees file suit Twenty-eight former players have filed a class-action federal lawsuit against the Players Association, seeking at least $5 million in damages. They’re alleging current players interfered with negotiations on the new collective bargaining agreement and kept money from the retirees. Attorney Shawn Stuckey said the group includes 25 Pro Football Hall of Famers and a player from every decade since the 1940s. Former Vikings defensive end Carl Eller, an outspoken proponent of better retiree benefits, leads the list . . . 49ers receiver Braylon Edwards has filed a $14 million slander lawsuit, claiming allegations that he was directly involved in an Aug. 1 fight at a suburban Detroit restaurant cost him a big guaranteed contract from another team. Edwards accuses the South restaurant and bar and three of its employees of slander, extortion, and malicious prosecution. Edwards claims he had an offer from an NFL team with $15 million guaranteed. Last month, Edwards signed a $3.5 million, one-year contract with San Francisco with $1 million guaranteed.

Foster at practice Texans running back Arian Foster returned to practice after missing the season opener because of a left hamstring injury. Foster, who ran for 1,616 yards last season to lead the league, has been bothered with the injury for a month. He believes the time off has helped, but wasn’t prepared to say he’d definitely be ready to play Sunday . . . The Chiefs officially put Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry on injured reserve after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the first quarter of Sunday’s season-opening loss to Buffalo . . . Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher left the team following the unexpected death of his mother, and it is unclear whether he will be back for practice or in time for Sunday’s game at New Orleans . . . Green Bay cornerback Charles Woodson was fined $10,000 for throwing a punch at New Orleans tight end David Thomas in the Packers’ opener against the Saints . . . Veteran cornerback Will Allen re-signed with the Dolphins after they allowed a franchise-worst 517 passing yards to the Patriots on Monday.