Heitmann injured neck in 'Nutcracker' drill, 49ers teammate says

Eric Heitmann might miss a second consecutive NFL season because of another serious injury, and teammate Joe Staley believes he knows how this one happened.

Staley, the 49ers' starting left tackle, told the San Francisco Chronicle that Heitmann, the team's former starting center, injured his neck last year during former coach Mike Singletary's infamous "Nutcracker" drill, which requires two players to line up across from each other and violently hit in an effort to push back an opponent.

Singletary, a Hall of Fame linebacker known for his hits and toughness, wouldn't comment on Staley's claim when asked by Comcast SportsNet Bay Area.

"I don't know what Eric's prior situation was, so I'm not going to respond to that," said Singletary, who was fired by the 49ers toward the end of last season and now is the Minnesota Vikings' linebacker coach.

According to The Sacramento Bee, Singletary called the drill "pretty foolproof" at the start of 2009 training camp and said it taught players about the importance of leverage. Singletary also said he didn't believe any players would be injured during the drill, but it left linebacker Patrick Willis (ankle), cornerback Tarell Brown (toe) and center David Baas (broken foot) with injuries, according to the report.

Singletary then changed to what he said was a safer version of the drill for 2010 camp, but Heitmann and linebacker Derek Walker were also injured.

According to Staley, Heitmann felt a neck tweak after one of the drills at last year's camp but continued to practice with it. Misfortune struck Heitmann the next day, when he broke his left leg, ending his 2010 season. But he felt numbness and pain in his neck until last month, when he had surgery that could cost him the 2011 season.

Heitmann's agent, Kenny Zuckerman, told CSN Bay Area on Wednesday that it normally takes about six months to recover from the surgery, which repaired a ruptured disk. That would make it late November or early December before his client might be ready to return. Heitmann's contract expires after the 2011 season.

Heitmann, 31, has started 114 games since the 49ers selected him out of Stanford in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL Draft. Until last season, had missed just two starts in six seasons.

David Baas, who replaced Heitmann as the starting center last season, isn't under contract. According to the Chronicle, unsigned Tony Wragge, rookies Mike Person and Daniel Kilgore, and veteran Adam Snyder are candidates to play center.

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Redskins DE Daniels headed to injured reserve, Shanahan says

Washington Redskins defensive end Phillip Daniels will be placed on injured reserved after aggravating an abdomen injury during Sunday's loss to the Dallas Cowboys, coach Mike Shanahan said via The Washington Post on Monday.

Daniels, a 14-year veteran who was making his first start of the season, initially sustained the injury a week earlier against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Shanahan said he didn't know if Daniels, 37, would need surgery.

In addition to Daniels, the Redskins defense could be missing several other key members for Sunday's game at Jacksonville.

Linebacker Brian Orakpo has a groin/hamstring injury that has his status in doubt. Saftey Reed Doughty (concussion) and linebacker Rocky McIntosh (hamstring) also left the Dallas game due. Defensive end Kedric Golston (groin/elbow) did not play against the Cowboys.

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Bengals place leading receiver Owens on injured reserve

The Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday announced they have placed wide receiver Terrell Owens on injured reserve, officially ending his first season with the team.

Owens, 37, had surgery on his left knee Monday in Birmingham, Ala., after being examined by Dr. James Andrews.

The receiver tore cartilage in his left knee two weeks ago, but kept playing. He aggravated the injury while making a cut on the opening series of a 19-17 win over Cleveland on Sunday, forcing him to hobble off the field.

Owens signed a one-year deal with a $2 million base salary at the start of training camp, when the Bengals were one of the few teams interested. He proved he could still play, leading the team with 72 catches for 983 yards and nine touchdowns.

He ranked among the NFL's top six receivers in yards and catches heading into the game against Cleveland. He's a free agent after the season, and he has said he hopes to play for two or three more years.

Despite Owens' big numbers, the Bengals (3-11) had one of their worst seasons. The victory over Cleveland ended a 10-game losing streak that matched the longest in club history for one season.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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With Peterson injured, runs by Favre and Gerhart seal win over Redskins

LANDOVER, Md. -- Brett Favre's voice was a raspy whisper and he rattled a lozenge around in his mouth as he spoke about the 10-yard scramble his creaky legs managed to carve out Sunday, helping seal his Minnesota Vikings' 17-13 victory over the Washington Redskins.

"Did I expect to run for a first down? I haven't expected to run for a first down in quite a while," Favre said, smiling. "It was 10 yards? Really? It felt like 50. But we needed that win."

With Adrian Peterson sidelined since the second quarter with a right ankle injury, and Favre's receivers well-covered as he moved to his right on a bootleg on third-and-8, the 41-year-old QB ambled his way to the key first down right before the two-minute warning. Favre hadn't gained more than 4 yards on a run since 2008.

"He looked younger," Peterson observed. "He looked like he was 38 on that run."

And Favre looked about 28 afterward, popping up from the turf with one of his shoulder pads flapping around, then leaping on teammates for celebratory hugs -- no signs there of any problems with the foot, ankle and shoulder injuries he's had, nor the head and chest illness bothering him.

Moments later, after taking a knee to run out the clock, Favre went over to new coach Leslie Frazier and handed him the football.

The Vikings (4-7) ended a nine-game road losing streak less than a week after firing coach Brad Childress and promoting defensive coordinator Frazier, perhaps hoping for the sort of immediate bump the Dallas Cowboys got when they went from Wade Phillips to replacement Jason Garrett.

Frazier called Sunday's victory "hopefully the start of great things to come" and said he presented a game ball to team ownership -- and wanted to give one to every player.

"He's well-respected. It felt like when he talks, guys' ears are pinned up; they listen to everything that's coming out of his mouth," Peterson said about Frazier. "It's just a feeling that I really can't explain, a feeling of just being sure about the words that are coming out of his mouth and trusting them."

It was a rare enjoyable afternoon for Favre amidst a season filled with angst, injuries and interceptions. Aside from his NFL-worst 17 picks and all the losses, Favre is awaiting a ruling from the NFL about inappropriate messages he allegedly sent a woman working for the New York Jets when he played for that team.

Against the Redskins (5-6), Favre went 3 for 3 on Minnesota's opening possession, which ended with Peterson's 5-yard touchdown run. Favre then was 5 for 5 on the first drive of the second half, capped by a 5-yard TD from rookie Toby Gerhart, who took over after Peterson left.

Favre finished 15 for 23 for 172 yards -- and for only the second game this season, he did not throw an interception. Gerhart, a second-round pick in April's draft, carried 22 times for a career-high 76 yards and a score; his NFL total was 86 yards rushing coming into this game.

"Is Toby an explosive player like Adrian? I don't think anyone is," Favre said. "But he's pretty darn good."

The Redskins, meanwhile, ran for only 29 yards. Clinton Portis went on season-ending injured reserve during the week, and his top replacement, Ryan Torain, was inactive with a hurt hamstring, leaving running duties to Keiland Williams and James Davis.

After a successful start -- Donovan McNabb was 8 for 8 on an 83-yard drive that ended with his 10-yard TD toss to Fred Davis -- Washington's next seven possessions went like this: punt, punt, punt, end of half, punt, punt, interception.

McNabb finished 21 for 35 for 211 yards, with his career-worst-tying 13th interception of the season. It came on a throw that bounced off receiver Santana Moss and was corralled by linebacker E.J. Henderson, giving Minnesota the ball at Washington's 9. That set up Ryan Longwell's 31-yard field goal, putting the Vikings ahead 17-7.

"It hit me in the face," Moss said.

Earlier, Frazier pulled Henderson aside for a talking-to. Otherwise, Frazier generally was stoic, standing with his arms folded across the chest of his bright purple Vikings jacket with yellow piping.

His defense totaled four sacks of McNabb, who said: "A lot of times we were expecting blitzes, they didn't come."

A 65-yard kickoff return by Brandon Banks put Washington at Minnesota's 28, and Graham Gano's 40-yard field goal made it 17-10. Gano's 42-yard kick on Washington's next drive got it within 17-13. But Banks later had an apparent 77-yard punt return for a touchdown wiped out because of a blocking penalty on Perry Riley.

"It's disappointing when that happens, especially when you don't think it had anything to do with the play," Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said. "But a block in the back is a block in the back."

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Late in the first quarter, Peterson topped 1,000 yards for the season, something he's done in each of his four years in the NFL. But about five minutes into the second quarter, he was helped off, hobbling, with his helmet in hand, after getting crunched by tacklers on a 1-yard gain.

Peterson never returned. Instead it was Favre who gained the important yards at the end.

Notes: Vikings DL Ray Edwards left in the first half with a left leg injury. ... Redskins CB Carlos Rogers injured his left hamstring in the second half.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Banged-up 'Skins beat Titans in OT; injured Young storms out after confrontation

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Vince Young is hurt and in trouble with coach Jeff Fisher for his latest meltdown. Meanwhile, Donovan McNabb is back in good standing with Mike Shanahan and the Washington Redskins.

McNabb was 30 of 50 for 376 yards with a touchdown pass, and Graham Gano kicked a 48-yard field goal, his fourth of the game, with 8:17 left in overtime as the Redskins beat the Tennessee Titans 19-16 in overtime Sunday.

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The win kept the injury-riddled Redskins' playoff hopes alive as they rebounded from an ugly home loss.

Washington (5-5) snapped a two-game skid and bounced back from a 59-28 loss to Philadelphia on Monday night.

They did it by taking advantage of the Titans self-destructing so badly on their home field that fans booed repeatedly.

But after Gano's game-winning kick, all the attention turned to Young who tossed his shoulder pads and No. 10 jersey up into the stands. Young talked with Fisher, dressed quickly and walked past reporters and even brushed off a teammate who tried to talk to him before he stormed out of the stadium.

Fisher said Young may need season-ending surgery for a torn flexor tendon in his right thumb. After three straight losses, Fisher selected rookie Rusty Smith to be his starting quarterback when the Titans (5-5) visit Houston on Sunday.

"He threw half his uniform in the stands. I think clearly that is no way to respond, and so we have some things that we have to sort out with him," Fisher said of Young. "He may need surgery. And if that's the case, he's done for the year."

Even if Young doesn't need surgery, he's not Fisher's starter anymore. Not after the latest actions of a quarterback who lost his job in 2008 following an injury in the season opener and a meltdown where he had family worried he might hurt himself a day later. Young got his job back last season after an 0-6 start.

"I am very disappointed. I think his teammates are disappointed," Fisher said. "You know, there is going to be frustration in losses. There is going to be times when you have to dig deep and fight and turn to one another. I don't think you run, and so I am disappointed."

No one knows if Young was upset over the injury, the loss or not returning to the game. He banged his hand on a helmet late in the third quarter on a 37-yard pass to Nate Washington. He went to the locker room, and trainers tried retaping his thumb several times and he even used a glove. He tossed the ball with Randy Moss, testing whether he could return.

One pass nearly hit the kicking net behind the bench.

Fisher said Young never came to him and told him he wanted to go back in.

"I was told he was obviously a little upset after," Fisher said.

Titans safety Michael Griffin, who played with Young in college at Texas, ran after the quarterback while wearing just his shorts with his ankles still taped. He returned to the locker room shaking his head. He refused to comment at first on Young.

"What's going on right now, that's between him and Coach Fisher. I'm behind him 110 percent. You know change has been made. That's up in the air. You never know what would've been the outcome. Rusty came in, threw a great deep ball," Griffin said.

"It doesn't matter who's playing. We all need to stick around and work together as a team."

Washington's win came on a day when at least seven Redskins went to the sideline with injuries, including Clinton Portis with a re-injured groin. The Redskins came in with three starters sidelined due to injuries, and Portis lasted only five carries before re-injuring his groin. At least seven Redskins were hurt, though some returned.

"I don't think I've ever had that many guys go down and a team stay together and keep on fighting and find a way to win," Shanahan said.

Washington wound up outgaining Tennessee 465-373. Shanahan joked he guessed they don't have to talk about McNabb's two-minute work anymore just two games after the veteran was benched at the end of a loss to Detroit.

"I think he did a great job at the half. Even though we missed (the field) goal, I think he did a heck of a job to get us into that position. He did a great job in both situations," Shanahan said.

Chris Johnson ran for 130 yards, and Young was 12 of 16 for 165 yards before he left. Fans weren't happy with the play-calling that seemed to ignore Randy Moss, the 13-year veteran making his debut on Tennessee's home field after the Titans picked him up off waivers on Nov. 3. Moss finished without a catch.

Fans booed the Titans often and heavily at times during the game. Young fumbled at the Tennessee 12 on the opening series, and the Titans settled for field goals on two other trips inside the Washington 20.

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But most of the boos seemed directed at the play-calling that targeted Moss only three times, not counting a pass interference where he pushed DeAngelo Hall to make a catch. Fans at one point chanted "Randy, Randy."

Young apparently thought the booing was directed at him late in the first half when the Titans went three-and-out after Will Witherspoon's interception. He waved his arms -- as if egging them on.

Notes: Marc Mariani had an 87-yard punt return for a touchdown, the Titans' second-longest in franchise history. ... Rob Bironas kicked three field goals and set a franchise record by making a field goal in his 20th straight game. ... The Redskins beat an AFC South team for the first time since Week 4 of 2006. They had lost four straight to the AFC South. ... This was the Redskins' third overtime game this season, and they have won two such games for the second time in team history and first since 2007.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Giants place DE Kiwanuka on injured reserve with neck injury

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka's season is over, and there is a chance his career with the New York Giants could be at an end, too.

The Giants placed the five-year veteran on injured reserve Thursday with a herniated cervical disk after waiting more than a month to see if rest would fix his neck.

With Kiwanuka's contract up after this season, it's unknown if the Giants are willing to re-sign a player with a neck problem.

"It's painful for us to go this route with Kiwi, but we've exhausted all of our options," Giants general manager Jerry Reese said. "What's most important is for him to get healthy. We're praying and hopeful that by next fall he will be back at 100 percent and playing for the New York Giants."

Kiwanuka was having an outstanding season, with four sacks in the first three games. He was diagnosed with a cervical disk problem before the Giants played the Chicago Bears early this month and missed the past four games.

"We held out hope as long as we could," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "Finally, by consensus, the doctors came to this decision. You have to make the right choice, and the decision was made that he could not play again this season. My concern is for Mathias. He loves the game, he loves to play, he's proven his versatility this year beyond any question."

This is the second major injury for Kiwanuka, the Giants' first-round draft pick in 2006. He broke his left leg in November 2007, the season the Giants beat the previously New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl.

"Like I said before, I felt like, given enough time, I could've made it back this season, but it's the nature of the business," Kiwanuka said. "The Giants had to move on, and I had to be OK with it. Regardless of what happens to me as an individual, I'm definitely still going to work with the Giants' organization throughout the term of my contract. I know this team is going to be successful, so I'm excited to watch it."

Kiwanuka, who said he isn't in pain, hopes to avoid surgery.

"The consensus is that if I take the proper amount of time off, there is a very good chance that it'll heal on its own," he said. "That's what the goal is right now. If it doesn't happen, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. Regardless of whether or not it requires surgery, I'll still be back by the opening of training camp."

Defensive back and return specialist Will Blackmon was signed to take Kiwanuka's place on the roster. He spent the past four seasons with the Green Bay Packers.

Blackmon was Kiwanuka's roommate during their senior season at Boston College. The two had dinner Wednesday night.

"It's tough, because we were a couple of weeks away from playing together again," Kiwanuka said. "He got his papers from Green Bay, I was excited and heard there was a chance that he might come here, so I've been talking him up around the locker room. Man, he's a great player."

The Giants' return game has struggled this season with Darius Reynaud handling most of the kicks. Blackmon worked out for the team Wednesday.

"We expect him to get into the mix quickly on special teams," Reese said. "He has experience and production as a return specialist and cover specialist. He also has played both safety and corner, which gives us some flexibility there as well."

Blackmon played three games last season before suffering a season-ending knee injury Oct. 5 at Minnesota. He was in camp with the Packers this summer, but the sides reached an injury settlement Sept. 5.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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As 49ers arrive in London, QB Smith nurses injured shoulder

LONDON -- San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith spent Monday morning at a London hospital having his injured left shoulder examined, and he is still waiting to hear if he will be able to play Sunday against the Denver Broncos at Wembley Stadium.

The 49ers (1-6) flew to London from Charlotte, where they blew a late lead and lost to the Carolina Panthers 23-20. Smith was injured on a third-quarter sack and still had his non-throwing arm in a sling Monday afternoon.

"It's all right. Could be better," Smith said after arriving at the team's hotel outside London from the hospital.

Smith completed 9 of 19 passes for 129 yards with one touchdown and no turnovers. He was hurt when a mix-up on protection allowed Charles Johnson to come in and tackle him on the blind side, driving his shoulder into the turf.

Smith was still in pain and hadn't slept much since the team flew to London overnight. As far as playing against the Broncos, the quarterback said he had no idea.

"I'm still waiting to hear from the doctors," he said.

San Francisco coach Mike Singletary also was in the dark about Smith's status.

"I'm not a doctor, so we'll have to wait and see," he said.

The 49ers and Broncos are playing in the fourth regular-season game in the British capital. The three previous games were sellouts, and this one is expected to be as well.

For Singletary, though, the trip is about making his struggling team better.

"For us, it's a nice chance to get away and regroup, rethink," Singletary said. "It really works to be a bonus for us. It really gives us a chance to kind of get away from the hustle and bustle of the NFL, to come over and kind of think through some things, look at maybe some changes we need to make."

Although Singletary wouldn't be specific on what changes were needed, the 49ers led by seven points until the Panthers tied the score with 1:59 to go. Less than a minute later, backup quarterback David Carr threw an interception that set up Carolina's winning field goal.

"We're going to figure it out this week. It's important for us to continue to try and put the pieces in place that gives us a chance to get over the edge," Singletary said. "We still have a chance to have a good season and accomplish some of the goals that we wanted to accomplish at the beginning of the season."

Linebacker Patrick Willis said the team still has a chance to win the NFC West, since the first-place Seattle Seahawks are just 4-2.

The first step toward that goal is to put Sunday's loss behind.

"Right now we still got to put closure to the game we played yesterday," Willis said. "Hopefully us coming over ahead of time will get us acclimated ... get our bodies ready to play a good football game."

The Broncos aren't due to arrive until Friday, giving them less time to get accustomed to the city and the surroundings.

"We know this a business trip, but at the same time, we have a younger football team, and I wanted our guys to come and get a taste of the culture, a little bit of that, and at the same time get a feel for the environment and the weather and the whole nine yards," Singletary said. "And just be settled by the time the game starts."

And be ready to play another team that has been struggling -- the Broncos fell to 2-5 after losing 59-14 to the visiting Oakland Raiders on Sunday.

"We can't let that loss (to the Panthers) get to us," 49ers tight end Vernon Davis said. "We have to keep moving forward, keep our heads up and do what we have to do."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Paramedics treat injured chain-crew member in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS -- Paramedics rushed to the aid of a member of the officiating sideline chain crew, giving him intravenous fluids and carting him off the field after he was knocked down during Sunday's game between the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints.

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The Saints identified the injured man as Al Nastaci.

New Orleans' Courtney Roby was running at full speed after a Saints punt when he was shoved out of bounds and collided with Nastaci, who appeared to be conscious but was not moving as he was taken from the field.

Nastaci's condition was not immediately available. The Saints said he was transported to Ochsner Hospital for further evaluation.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Jones-Drew rests injured hand, wrist, says he'll play Monday

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew sat out practice Thursday because of a sprained right hand and wrist.

Jones-Drew injured his hand and wrist on the second play of the fourth quarter in last week's 36-26 victory at Buffalo. He rolled around in pain, then returned for the next series before leaving the game for good. Tests revealed no bone or ligament damage.

Jones-Drew called it a "swollen hand," adding that it's "nothing serious, no structural damage. That's it." He insisted he would be fine when the Jaguars (3-2) play host to the AFC South rival Tennessee Titans (3-2) on Monday night.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Payton unsure if injured Saints DE Smith, RB Thomas will play

METAIRIE, La. -- New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton said Thursday that he still hasn't decided whether or not to play running back Pierre Thomas and defensive end Will Smith this weekend at Arizona.

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Payton said Smith, who has a groin pull, was able to participate in some individual work, but he sat out all of the team drills for a second consecutive day. Thomas also missed his second day of practice this week after sitting out last weekend's victory over the Carolina Panthers with a left ankle injury.

If Thomas cannot play, Ladell Betts and Chris Ivory will handle running back duties, as they did against the Panthers.

Payton said he doesn't want to discuss who might start at cornerback for the injured Tracy Porter. The coach said it could be Randall Gay, recently re-signed veteran Leigh Torrence or rookie Patrick Robinson.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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With Brown injured, Colts sign RB James to back up Addai

The Indianapolis Colts signed running back Javarris James to the active roster Thursday and dumped the contract of linebacker Tyjuan Hagler.

James is the cousin of the Colts' career rushing leader, Edgerrin James, and spent the entire preseason with the team. He was released Sept. 4 and joined the New England Patriots' practice squad two days later.

James was released by the Patriots on Tuesday night and was immediately signed to the Washington Redskins' practice squad. After James practiced with the Redskins on Wednesday, the Colts signed him to the active roster. That's three teams in three days.

Running back Donald Brown is still struggling with a hamstring injury, according to The Indianapolis Star, leaving the Colts with just Joseph Addai and Mike Hart in front of James.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Redskins turn to Torain with injured RB Portis out 4 to 6 weeks

Clinton Portis will be out at least one month with a groin injury, putting the two-time Pro Bowl running back's future in doubt once again.

His injury leaves the Washington Redskins with a very inexperienced backfield, too.

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said Wednesday that Portis has a third degree separation of the left groin, with the muscle separated off the bone. Portis will not require surgery, and Shanahan estimated a recovery time of four to six weeks.

"That's disappointing," Shanahan said, "that working so hard, playing so well, that he's got that setback."

Portis said Sunday that he felt a "pop" in his groin before leaving a 17-12 road victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, when he already was starting to share more of the rushing load with Ryan Torain. Now the only two healthy tailbacks on the Redskins' roster are Torain and Chad Simpson, who have combined for 70 carries in their NFL careers entering this weekend's game against the Green Bay Packers.

"When you lose some players during the season, other guys have to step up," Shanahan said. "Ryan has got a little playing time, and we'll see what he can do."

Portis has run for just 195 yards on 49 carries this season.

Portis is 109 yards shy of 10,000 for his career and 680 away from breaking John Riggins' franchise rushing record. Both milestones seemed inevitable a year ago, but Portis missed the last eight games of last season after a suffering a severe concussion during a helmet-to-helmet hit.

The Redskins signed two rookie running backs Wednesday to provide depth: Keiland Williams, whom the team released Saturday to make room for wide receiver Brandon Banks, and Javarris James, released Tuesday from the New England Patriots' practice squad. James is the cousin of former NFL running back Edgerrin James.

Simpson, a third-year pro, signed with the Redskins on Sept. 22.

The Redskins brought in veterans Larry Johnson and Willie Parker to challenge Portis this season, but both were cut after he held them off for the starting job. Portis said he renewed his focus and dedication, something necessary for a well-worn 29-year-old back who would be expected to be in his declining years. But he's also in the final year of his contract and wouldn't appear to fit into the future of a team being remolded by Shanahan.

Shanahan now will do what he so often did when he was coach of the Denver Broncos: turn to a new face in the backfield to replace an established name. Backs were almost interchangeable for Shanahan's teams in Denver, from Terrell Davis to Reuben Droughns to Tatum Bell to Mike Anderson to Portis, because of a perennially solid offensive line.

Torain was drafted by Shanahan's Broncos in the fifth round in 2008, but the running back broke his left elbow in training camp, and he played in just two games before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Torain had another knee injury in training camp in 2009 and was released, saddled with the injury-prone label.

"Definitely got labeled that," Torain said. "I definitely felt like I had to get that bug off my shoulder and stay healthy. ... Luck wasn't on my side my rookie year."

Torain didn't make the Redskins' roster at the start of this season and was placed on the practice squad. He was promoted two weeks ago and has rushed for 116 yards on 25 carries in two games, including a 12-yard touchdown against the Eagles in which he bowled over safety Quintin Mikell on the way to the end zone. The play has become a league highlight this week.

"I watch it anytime I get an opportunity," Torain said.

Torain will start against the Packers, and Shanahan said the Redskins almost certainly will add a third running back to their roster before Sunday.

"Ryan has the ability to be a top back," Shanahan said, "and we'll find out in time if he can do that and stay healthy."

Notes: The Redskins are changing punters. Josh Bidwell is still bothered by a hip injury, so Hunter Smith will be signed Thursday. Smith punted in 13 games for Washington last season. ... Rookie LT Trent Williams is confident he can return after missing two games with knee and toe injuries. He was limited in practice Wednesday. ... The Redskins signed released LB Mike Balogun from the practice squad.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Titans put rookie Morgan on injured reserve, sign DT Gordon

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Titans have placed first-round draft pick Derrick Morgan on season-ending injured reserve and replaced the defensive end with defensive tackle Amon Gordon.

Titans coach Jeff Fisher announced Monday that Morgan, the 16th overall pick out of Georgia Tech in April, had torn his left anterior cruciate ligament. With defensive end Jacob Ford and tackle Sen'Derrick Marks also having injured knees, the Titans quickly signed Gordon on Tuesday.

Gordon played for the Titans in 2008, first on the practice squad in November and was active for the final two games of the season. He also has been with the Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns.

The Titans also added tight end-fullback Joel Gamble to their practice squad and released Jack Corcoran.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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