Peterson and Ponder both up in the air for this week's game

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on December 8, 2011, 3:08 PM EST

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Vikings running back Adrian Peterson returned to practice on Thursday for the first time since suffering a high ankle sprain against the Raiders nearly three weeks ago.

That’s a great sign for Peterson’s status and for Minnesota’s chances of avoiding their fifth straight loss.

Then again, the Vikings may be forced to start their third quarterback of the year this week. Christian Ponder missed his second straight practice on Thursday with a hip pointer. Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave admitted he didn’t know if Ponder would play and expressed concern about his status, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

“He didn’t look too good walking [Wednesday],” Musgrave said.

At this point, Joe Webb appears to have a good chance to start for the Vikings. It’s rare for a rookie quarterback like Ponder to miss two full practices early in the week and wind up playing.

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Lance Briggs will be "pissed" if they lose to Tebow

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on December 8, 2011, 1:53 PM EST

AP

The Bears just lost to Tyler Palko at home. If they lose to Tim Tebow on the road, Lance Briggs will really go off.

Asked Thursday if he’d be embarrassed if the Bears lost to Tebow in Denver: “No, I will be frickin’ pissed.”

The Bears gave good soundbite on Thursday.  A sampling:

Briggs: “[Tebow] is one heck of a football player and we’re going to have to stop that crap.”

Brian Urlacher on Tebow’s athleticism via the Chicago Tribune: “He’s not Michael Vick.”

Briggs: “Cam Newton’s a better athlete, faster.”

Laurent Robinson shoulder injury could be more serious than thought

Laurent Robinson - WR - Cowboys

Laurent Robinson (shoulder) had a "difficult time putting on his pullover sweatshirt" Wednesday, according to ESPN Dallas.

Perhaps Robinson's shoulder issue is more serious than we thought. Although he is guaranteeing he'll be ready for Sunday night's game against the Giants, there's a big down arrow next to his name. Miles Austin is back and Robinson is clearly at less than 100 percent.

Source: ESPN Dallas

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Justin Blackmon says he will enter the NFL Draft

Posted by Michael David Smith on December 8, 2011, 8:20 AM EST

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Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon says he’ll be done with college football after the Fiesta Bowl.

Blackmon, who’s widely regarded as the top receiver prospect in the 2012 NFL draft, confirmed to ESPN.com that he expects to declare for the draft in January.

“I think it’s just time,” Blackmon said. “It’s that time to go. I came back last year to win a Big 12 championship, set us up for a BCS bowl and I think we did that.”

Blackmon, who had 113 catches for 1,337 yards and 15 touchdowns this season, is one of two Top 10 talents who have declared that the Fiesta Bowl will be their last game. Oklahoma State’s opponent is Stanford, whose quarterback Andrew Luck also said this week that he’s going pro.

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12/8 Thursday morning one-liners

Posted by Evan Silva on December 8, 2011, 8:00 AM EST

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If the season ended today, the Bills would have the 13th overall draft pick.

Dolphins OT Marc Colombo is showing signs of improvement.

Jets DE Mike DeVito (knee) is not expected to play Sunday.

The Patriots are eight-point favorites at Washington.

The Ravens are using S Tom Zbikowski in a limited role.

The Bengals’ run defense has been slacking recently.

NFL Network’s Mike Mayock breaks down Browns QB Colt McCoy’s situation.

Mike Martz says Bears will be more aggressive with Caleb Hanie

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on December 8, 2011, 8:46 AM EST

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Conventional wisdom would suggest the Bears would dial back their aggression after Caleb Hanie’s six interceptions in the last two weeks.  Hanie was sacked seven times last week.

Mike Martz has no use for conventional wisdom.

“He did a lot of good things in that game [against the Chiefs],” Martz said via the Chicago Tribune. “We all – and coaches – all of us participated in that thing. . . . . We’ve got to get [Hanie] into the game a little bit earlier, probably a little bit still too conservative with him. He’s capable of probably more than what we’re doing with him. So, we’ll be a little bit more aggressive with him.”

Somewhere the Denver Broncos are thinking: “Thank you.”

Denver’s defense seems easier to attack on the ground. Ryan Mathews rushed for 137 yards against them two weeks ago. Toby Gerhart of all people topped 130 yards from scrimmage last week.

The Bears did not bring in a quarterback to replace Hanie. This week, both Martz and Lovie Smith insisted they aren’t considering benching Hanie.

“I don’t have any qualms about Caleb,” Marz said. [Benching Hanie] has “truly has never crossed my mind.”

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Charles Woodson returned to practice

Posted by Mike Florio on December 7, 2011, 7:33 PM EST

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On Sunday, Packers cornerback Charles Woodson suffered a concussion late in Sunday’s win over the Giants.  To their credit, the Packers called it a concussion — not a neck injury or a jaw injury or “concussion-like symptoms.”

Woodson has been cleared to return to practice following the concussion, and he participated in Wednesday’s practice on a limited basis.  Woodson will have to be cleared separately to play on Sunday.

Missing practice on Wednesday for the Packers were running back James Starks(knee, ankle), linebacker A.J. Hawk (calf), and linebacker Desmond Bishop(calf).

The Packers go for their 13th win of the season on Sunday, at home against Woodson’s former team, the Raiders.

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Adrian Peterson still not practicing

Posted by Mike Florio on December 7, 2011, 7:20 PM EST

Reuters

More than two weeks ago, Vikings running back Adrian Peterson suffered a high ankle sprain, in a game against the Raiders.  He has missed the two games played since then.

He also missed practice again on Wednesday.

We reported on Sunday that Peterson is expected to miss at least one more game.  Peterson told KFAN on Tuesday that he’s atroughly 70 percent, via the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

But Peterson holds out hope of playing when the Vikings face the Lions in Detroit, even though he’s 30 percent away from 100 percent.  It would make much more sense for Peterson to wait until he’s fully healthy.  The Vikings are playing for nothing but pride at this point.

Then again, pride has helped make Peterson one of the best running backs the league has seen in the past 20 years.

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Von Miller practicing with cast on his hand

Posted by Mike Florio on December 8, 2011, 7:08 AM EST

AP

On Friday, Broncos linebacker Von Miller practiced with a cast on his hand following surgery to repair  torn ligaments in his thumb.  But Miller didn’t play against the Vikings.

On Wednesday, Miller again practiced with a cast on his hand.  And he hopes to face the Bears on Sunday.

Miller participated on a limited basis, according to the league’s official injury report.  Among those who missed practice was running back Willis McGahee, who suffered a knee injury late in Sunday’s win.   A candidate for comeback player of the year with six 100-yard games this season, McGahee said he plans to play Sunday.

With a win over Chicago, the Broncos could open a one-game lead over the Raiders, given that Oakland faces a likely defeat against the Big Green Cheese Machine.

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Raiders' Chris Johnson leaves team for family tragedy

Posted by Michael David Smith on December 7, 2011, 7:34 PM EST

AP

Oakland Raiders cornerback Chris Johnson has left the team to be with family after his sister was killed and his mother was wounded in a shooting in Fort Worth, Texas.

Raiders coach Hue Jackson said he expects Johnson to be with the team on Sunday but is giving Johnson the time he needs.

“This is a game of football,” Jackson said. “The thing he’s dealing with is a game of life. We’ll get him back here pretty soon. Very, very tough situation that he’s dealing with. But the organization supports him, I support him, he’ll get back here and be ready to go.”

According to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 46-year-old Eugene Esters has been charged with murder and attempted murder for killing Jennifer Johnson and wounding her mother, Della Johnson. Esters is the father of Jennifer Johnson’s 2-year-old daughter.

The 2-year-old daughter was not present when the shooting took place, nor was Jennifer Johnson’s other child. Della Johnson is expected to survive.

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