Packers activate safety Bigby, who could play vs. Cowboys

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Packers announced Saturday that they have activated safety Atari Bigby from the physically unable to perform list, making him available to play in Sunday night's game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Bigby has been sidelined since having ankle surgery at the beginning of training camp. Cornerback Al Harris remains on the PUP list.

Bigby has played in 42 games with 33 starts in his first five years with the Packers and posted 10 interceptions over the past three seasons.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Mangini has no qualms starting rookie McCoy vs. Patriots

Browns coach Eric Mangini has no qualms starting third-string, rookie quarterback Colt McCoy against the AFC-leading New England Patriots on Sunday in Cleveland.

"He's been in a couple of tough arenas -- going into Pittsburgh for his first game, that's about as tough as it gets," Mangini said.

Billick: Browns should play McCoy It’s time for the Browns to go with Colt McCoy and find out how good he can be," writes Brian Billick. "I’ve always believed the only way to learn is to play." More ...

McCoy will get the call because neither Jake Delhomme nor Seneca Wallace was able to practice all week as they recover from high ankle sprains.

Mangini left open the possibility that Wallace could be active for the Patriots game.

"I think Seneca has a shot this week (to be active), but it's an outside shot," Mangini said.

This will be McCoy's first start at home. He's 1-1 with a loss to the Steelers and a win over the New Orleans Saints, who fell for several trick plays during a 30-17 loss to the Browns two weeks ago.

The Browns had hoped to have Wallace back this week, but he has not yet been cleared by doctors.

Wallace hasn't played since injuring his ankle Oct. 10 against the Atlanta Falcons, his fourth consecutive start filling in for Delhomme, who rolled his ankle in the season opener at Tampa Bay. High-ankle sprains typically take four to six weeks to heal, and Wallace is just one month into recovery.

Starting tackle John St. Clair (ankle) also didn't practice Friday. Mangini held out hope that all three injured players could return soon.

"We just follow what the trainers and doctors say," Mangini said. "The week he (Wallace), John and Jake had was the best they've had in terms of movement."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Harvin 'extremely limited' in practice, has words with Childress

Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin is listed as questionable for Sunday's home game against the Arizona Cardinals, leaving Minnesota with just three healthy receivers.

Harvin sprained his left ankle last weekend against the New England Patriots, but he remained in the game and finished with five catches for 65 yards. He missed practice Wednesday and Thursday. Vikings coach Brad Childress said Harvin practiced "on an extremely limited" basis Friday.

Harvin, who also has played after battling migraine headaches, was unavailable for comment Friday.

"You know, he's a tough guy. Let's face it," Childress said. "He injured that foot on his first catch of the game and still was very productive. I would just say that he's tough. Different things respond different ways. Everything goes through your foot and your ankle, so he's got to have his faculties for the game the way he plays it."

Despite that praise, the Star Tribune reported Friday that Harvin and Childress got into a heated argument when the coach questioned the receiver's effort during the practice.

Receiver Sidney Rice came off the physically unable to perform list Wednesday, but Childress said playing next week at Chicago is a "more viable" scenario.

That leaves Brett Favre with just three healthy receivers -- Greg Camarillo, Greg Lewis and Bernard Berrian -- after the Vikings released Randy Moss on Monday. Favre has 10 stitches in his chin and was limited this week with ankle and elbow injuries, but he was listed as probable and is expected to make his 293rd consecutive regular-season start Sunday.

The only other Vikings player listed as questionable is cornerback Frank Walker with a hamstring injury.

The decision to cut Moss, and the way it was handled, has made it another difficult week in Minnesota. Owner Zygi Wilf was in town and spoke to several players, and Childress was short when asked if he still feels he has the support of ownership.

"My sense doesn't make any difference," Childress said. "You'd have to speak to him on that. We've always communicated very well, and I haven't seen any change on that."

Wilf has declined repeated interview requests. The Vikings (2-5) are off to a surprisingly poor start in a year in which they expected to contend for a Super Bowl, and the struggles have not helped Wilf in his pursuit of public funding for a new stadium.

Many fans are upset with Childress. If the team gets off to a slow start against the Cardinals (3-4), he could hear them voice their displeasure.

"I'm not crazy enough to think there won't be catcalls," Childress said. "That's part of the deal. That's every time I walk on and off a field. It's always interesting to hear what the people have to say. That's part of the audience participation thing."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Raiders likely without CB Asomugha, TE Miller against Chiefs

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Vikings owner Wilf discusses state of team with veterans

Team owner Zygi Wilf spent a second day at the Minnesota Vikings' practice facility Thursday, watching practice, talking with coach Brad Childress and several veteran players, and even eating lunch in the cafeteria.

The Star Tribune reported, according to NFL sources, that Wilf's discussions with quarterback Brett Favre, guard Steve Hutchinson and defensive linemen Jared Allen, Kevin Williams and Pat Williams included the topic of Childress.

Wilf declined interview requests, but the newspaper reported the owner was displeased with how Childress handled the release of Randy Moss -- not using team protocols -- but perhaps not with the decision to release the receiver, who skewered the Vikings' coaching staff during a postgame rant last Sunday.

Wilf could be seen talking with Childress during Thursday's practice, and the coach is aware the owner also has talked to a cross-section of players. What impact that has remains to be seen.

"You'd have to talk to those people," Childress said.

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Titans' Babin hit with $20K fine for illegal hit on Bolts QB Rivers

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Ankle injury likely to keep 'Hawks LT Okung off field vs. Giants

RENTON, Wash. -- Making his first NFL start, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Charlie Whitehurst had better be acutely aware of what's happening behind him come Sunday.

The Seahawks will start a completely new left side of the offensive line against the sack-happy New York Giants.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Friday that rookie left tackle Russell Okung is "as doubtful as you can get" as he continues to recover from a high ankle sprain sustained two weeks ago. Seattle also lost left guard Ben Hamilton for the season to a concussion last week.

That leaves the Seahawks having to move guard Chester Pitts to left tackle -- a position he hasn't started at since the 2005 season. Mike Gibson will start at left guard, while Tyler Polumbus, who started Seattle's first three games at left tackle, is questionable because of a knee injury.

Carroll said Polumbus would only play in a backup role, while Pitts missed practice Friday to attend a funeral.

"Russell is as doubtful as you can get, but you never know," Carroll said. "Tyler worked out here today and got some work done. So we'll have to figure it out, that'll be a game-time decision for us to see how (Polumbus) responds all the way to Sunday."

Because of injuries, Seattle could be down five starters between the offensive and defensive lines. The Seahawks are without defensive end Red Bryant, placed on injured reserve this week, and defensive tackle Colin Cole. Fellow tackle Brandon Mebane is questionable because of a lingering calf injury that has cost him the last three games.

About the only positive in Seattle's injury news was wide receiver Mike Williams' return to practice Friday. Williams has been bothered by a bruise just above his knee that limits his range of motion and doesn't allow him to completely bend his knee.

Williams knows there is some unknown with Whitehurst about to make his first start -- and throw his first pass in a regular-season game. But getting some time in practice Friday helped him adjust to some of the differences from Seattle starter Matt Hasselbeck, who's out this week with a concussion.

"To get out there today and get adjusted to his speed, it's different," Williams said about Whitehurst. "He's throwing the ball a little different. It's coming out faster, a lot more zip, almost will knock you over. ... We're excited for him, as an offense, I think as a team."

Williams had just one catch last week against Oakland, after catching 21 passes for more than 200 yards in the previous two games combined. He also dropped a potential touchdown midway through the third quarter that could have cut the Raiders' lead to 13-7.

"I couldn't imagine having to wait another week to get out there and get back on track," Williams said.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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