INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis Colts want Adam Vinatieri at full strength later this season, one to two months from now. Until then, they're content using another veteran kicker, Matt Stover.
Indianapolis signed Stover on Wednesday, one day after Vinatieri had arthroscopic surgery to remove a piece of cartilage in his right knee. To clear a roster spot, the Colts made a surprise move by waiving starting defensive tackle Ed Johnson.
Losing Vinatieri, the league's best clutch kicker, for four to eight weeks is one thing. He missed training camp after having surgery on his right hip and right knee this summer and though Vinatieri was still hurting last weekend, he managed to make a short field goal in the fourth quarter of Sunday night's 31-9 rout of Tennessee.
Cutting Johnson is an entirely different matter.
He has now been released twice in the past 13 months by the Colts, the first coming in September 2008 after Johnson was arrested on a drug possession charge. He re-signed with the Colts in May as the team tried to beef up its undersized defensive line, and the 6-foot-2, 296-pound third-year player won back his starting job in camp.
The difference from last season is staggering. A year ago, Indy finished among the bottom third of the league against the run. This year, the Colts are No. 14. Full story
Bills D gets healthier as Posluszny, Whitner return
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Things might finally be looking up for the Bills injury-riddled defense.
After losing one starter after another, the Bills were buoyed after safety Donte Whitner and linebacker Paul Posluszny returned to practice. Both have a chance to play Sunday, when Buffalo (1-4) plays the Jets (3-2).
Their additions would provide a much-needed lift for a defense that placed linebackers Kawika Mitchell and Marcus Buggs on injured reserve this week.
Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell got the news Tuesday after Posluszny and Whitner were medically cleared. "That was the only time I smiled," Fewell said.
Cotchery, three others miss Jets practice
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- New York Jets wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery missed practice because of a hamstring injury and his status for the team's game against Buffalo is uncertain.
Cotchery sat out two days of practice last week, but played at Miami on Monday night and had one catch for 4 yards. Coach Rex Ryan said he's concerned about the injury, and added that Cotchery likely wouldn't practice Thursday.
Wide receiver Brad Smith (quadriceps), right tackle Damien Woody (right foot) and defensive end Shaun Ellis (bruised knee) also didn't practice.
Cornerbacks Lito Sheppard (right quadriceps) and Donald Strickland (right ankle) both returned to practice, but were limited. Sheppard said he's ready to play Sunday against the Bills.
Cowboys give Rossum chance to go home
IRVING, Texas -- Dallas native Allen Rossum signed with the Cowboys only two days after being released from San Francisco. That surprising move by the 49ers, to make room on their roster for first-round pick Michael Crabtree, provided the chance for Rossum to finally play for his hometown team in his 12th NFL season.
"It's something I dreamed of as a young kid playing at Skyline High School. This is awesome," Rossum said before taking part in his first practice with the Cowboys. "I know my mom is smiling. She is excited. I'm excited. My entire family is excited. ... I finally got an opportunity to have a star on my helmet."
The Cowboys expect Rossum to be returning kickoffs and punts when they play their next game Oct. 25 at home against Atlanta, one of his five former teams. He was fielding kicks during the short portion of practice open to reporters.
Rossum, 33, is second in NFL history with 14,987 return yards. "I have a lot left in the tank. My body hasn't been beat on," Rossum said.
Vikings drop QB Booty, sign T Oldenburg
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings have dropped quarterback John David Booty from the practice squad to make room for a new offensive lineman.
The Vikings signed tackle Clint Oldenburg to the practice squad on Tuesday. Oldenburg was drafted by New England in 2007 and has also played for the New York Jets, St. Louis Rams and Denver Broncos.
Booty was a fifth-round draft pick out of USC last year. He spent his rookie season as the third quarterback, but became expendable when the Vikings signed Brett Favre in August. He was cut just before the season, but was re-signed to the practice squad.
Oldenburg will give the team a little more depth on the offensive line while starting right tackle Phil Loadholt tries to work through an ankle injury.
Vikings WR Harvin (shoulder) misses practice
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Minnesota Vikings receiver Percy Harvin has a shoulder injury.
Harvin was kept out of practice, standing to the side without his helmet while teammates went through drills.
The team won't say which shoulder he hurt, but Harvin appeared to hurt his left shoulder in Sunday's win at St. Louis.
Harvin's 233 yards receiving are tied for the most on the team. He also hurt his right shoulder while making a catch on the last day of training camp in August and missed the first preseason game.
Bills fans rent billboard to voice displeasure
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- It didn't take long for Ryan Abshagen to discover how many Buffalo Bills fans are unhappy with their team and want owner Ralph Wilson to make sweeping changes.
In a little more than a week, Abshagen, an unemployed 18-year-old from New Freedom, Pa., raised enough money -- $1,402 and counting -- through an Internet campaign to rent a billboard and advertise a message of discontent for everyone in Buffalo to see.
Starting early Monday and running for a week, the message will be flashed up to 3,000 times a day on a digital billboard overlooking Interstate 190 on the south side of the city, said Abshagen after signing a contract with an advertising company.
The display will feature a message that reads, "It's time to clean house, RALPH," referring to Wilson. Next to that will be a checklist of three names: Jauron; the team's chief college scout Tom Modrak; and vice president of pro personnel John Guy.
Chargers cut S Hart, sign DT Scott; DT Williams to IR
SAN DIEGO -- The Chargers have released starting strong safety Clinton Hart in order to sign defensive tackle Ian Scott.
The Chargers need depth on the defensive line due to the loss of tackle Jamal Williams, out for the season with a triceps injury.
Hart joined the Chargers in 2004 and has been a starting safety since 2007. Scott, a seven-year veteran, joined the Chargers last September and appeared in four games. He was released at the conclusion of training camp.
In their last game, the Chargers fell behind Pittsburgh 28-0 before losing 38-28. The Chargers allowed 497 yards of offense.
Theisman, Riggins together again ... to rip Redskins
ASHBURN, Va. -- The booing fans and critical talk-radio yakkers are hardly the only ones giving the reeling Washington Redskins a hard time lately.
Members of the "Redskins family" are piling on, too.
Yes, with Washington at 2-3 despite a soft-as-can-be schedule, everyone from former stars Joe Theismann and John Riggins to people writing for the team's official website are ripping the Redskins.
Don't think the current players aren't hearing the verbal shots being directed at them, at coach Jim Zorn, at front office chief Vinny Cerrato.
Bears rookie OL Louis faces assault charge
SAN DIEGO -- Chicago Bears rookie offensive lineman Lance Louis is facing a misdemeanor assault charge for an altercation that happened while he was playing at San Diego State.
The City Attorney's Office filed the charge against Louis, and his arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 23 in San Diego. Authorities say Louis assaulted SDSU teammate Nick Sandford in a team meeting room last fall. Sandford suffered a concussion, broken eardrum and fractured cheekbone.
The charge is punishable by up to a year in jail and a $10,000 fine.
The Bears have said they were aware of the incident before they drafted Louis in the seventh round.
Titans DE Kearse defends leaving early
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee veteran defensive end Jevon Kearse says he didn't stick around to watch the game against Indianapolis after being a healthy scratch, visiting with family instead.
And if deactivated again?
It was an obvious football move for a Tennessee team reeling from a winless start after posting the NFL's best mark at 13-3 in 2008 to replace a veteran whose production is down with a youthful player. Coach Jeff Fisher didn't fine Kearse and insists the issue is over.
Teammates declined to say how they would feel if scratched 90 minutes before kickoff, and several insisted the Titans remain committed and together despite being 0-5.
Dolphins LB Roth healthy, ready to practice
DAVIE, Fla. -- Linebacker Matt Roth said he is healthy and ready to resume practice after the Miami Dolphins' next game.
Roth has been sidelined by a groin injury since the start of training camp. He is on the reserve-non-football injury list and said he has been told he'll be back at practice after the Dolphins' game against New Orleans on Oct. 25.
Roth will return as a reserve after losing his starting job to six-time Pro Bowl selection Jason Taylor.
Miami signed running back Kory Sheets off the San Francisco 49ers' practice squad. Sheets took the roster spot of running back Patrick Cobbs, who was placed on injured reserve with an injury to his left knee.
Raiders bring back OL Walker
ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The Oakland Raiders re-signed offensive lineman Langston Walker and waived fullback Oren O'Neal with an injury.
Walker was a second-round pick by Oakland in 2002 and spent his first five seasons in the NFL with the Raiders. He left to sign a five-year, $25 million contract with Buffalo before the 2007 season and was cut by the Bills the week before this season started.
The Raiders need help on an offensive line that has been hurt by injuries to left guard Robert Gallery and right tackle Cornell Green.
O'Neal was a sixth-round pick by the Raiders in 2007. He was waived with an ankle injury. If no team claims him, he will be placed on Oakland's injured reserve list.
Lions sign DB Faggins, WR Standeford
ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions have signed defensive back Demarcus Faggins and wide receiver John Standeford.
Faggins played the previous seven seasons for the Houston Texans, who drafted him in the sixth round in 2002 with the 173rd overall pick. He has played in 82 games with 36 starts, recording five interceptions and three fumble recoveries.
Standeford played in nine games for Detroit in 2008, starting four. He had 15 receptions for 244 yards.
Also, the Lions released defensive tackle Chuck Darby, signed defensive end Robert Henderson to the practice squad and released defensive back Deandre Wright from the practice squad.
