Weatherspoon, Samuel sidelined

Atlanta Falcons defensive starters Sean Weatherspoon (right ankle) and Asante Samuel (shoulder) missed practice Thursday, while star receiver Julio Jones returned on a limited basis.

Weatherspoon returned in a limited role Wednesday for the first time since spraining his right ankle four weeks ago at Philadelphia. The same injury, along with an undisclosed illness, sidelined him Thursday.

Samuel left last week’s game agaisnt Arizona with a shoulder injury and hasn’t practiced since.

A sore right ankle has bothered Jones since the Falcons’ loss at New Orleans two weeks ago. He missed practice last week but started in the home win over Arizona.

Porter will travel

Denver cornerback Tracy Porter practiced fully and will travel to Kansas City, Mo., with the team for Sunday’s game.

Porter hasn’t played since Oct. 7, as doctors have tried to regulate medication he needs after experiencing similar symptoms to those he felt before having a seizure over the summer.

Porter said he has felt fine for two-plus weeks.

Game blacked out

The San Diego Chargers say Sunday’s home game against the Baltimore Ravens will be blacked out in Southern California because more than 9,000 general admission tickets remained unsold 72 hours before kickoff.

It will be the second blackout this season for the Chargers, whose home game against Atlanta on Sept. 23 was blacked out.

Big Ben’s child born

Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and his wife, Ashley, are giving thanks for their new bundle of joy.

Benjamin Roethlisberger Jr. arrived Wednesday at a Pittsburgh hospital according to the athlete’s website. The QB posted Thursday that mother and baby boy were doing well.

Foles will start

With Michael Vick still unable to practice, Nick Foles will get another chance to prove he is the Philadelphia Eagles’ future Monday night against the Carolina Panthers.

Foles completed 21 of 46 passes for 204 yards against the Redskins, but could not complete a touchdown drive.