James may play Sunday
Running back Edgerrin James, sidelined two days with a strained hamstring, returned to practice Thursday and could be ready to play when the Indianapolis Colts host the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
James, who strained his left hamstring on a late touchdown run last week against Tennessee, took part in individual and team drills before sitting out the final half-hour of Thursday’s practice.
“Edgerrin actually did well, surprisingly well,” coach Tony Dungy said. “Based on what I saw today, he could probably play. So if he comes back (Friday) and doesn’t have any side effects and is able to do just what he did today, then I would think he’d probably play.”
If he does play, however, his carries probably will be limited, Dungy said.
Steelers-Dolphins game could be moved
The Miami Dolphins and Pittsburgh Steelers were investigating the possibility of moving their game up one day to Saturday because of the looming Hurricane Jeanne.
The Steelers will fly to South Florida today, one day ahead of their typical travel schedule.
Hurricane Jeanne may hit Florida’s east coast this weekend.
Coliseum GM optimistic about attracting NFL team
The general manager of the Los Angeles Coliseum expressed optimism concerning the possibility of an NFL franchise playing there in four years.
The NFL has expressed its desire to have a franchise in this area in 2008 or 2009, with the Coliseum a candidate along with the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and sites in Anaheim, Carson and perhaps El Toro where stadiums would have to be built.
“The NFL is really intent on getting something done in Los Angeles,” Pat Lynch said.
The Los Angeles area has been without an NFL franchise since the Raiders left the Coliseum to return to Oakland and the Rams moved from Anaheim to St. Louis before the 1995 season.
Arrington out two to four weeks after knee surgery
Washington Redskins linebacker LaVar Arrington is expected to miss two to four weeks, including Monday night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys, after a sudden flare-up forced him to have surgery on his right knee.
Arrington missed practice Thursday to fly to Birmingham, Ala., to see a team doctor, who repaired torn cartilage in the knee that has been bothering the three-time Pro Bowl linebacker since the opening-week victory over Tampa Bay.
Andersen about to break Blanda’s games-played mark
Well in his 40s, Morten Andersen still loves football.
When he sets up for his next kick, Andersen will play in his 341st NFL game, passing Hall of Famer George Blanda’s mark for career appearances. That should come Sunday when the Minnesota Vikings host the Chicago Bears.
Blanda also was a quarterback, so Andersen, who has kicked for dome teams in 20 of his 23 seasons, realizes his predecessor’s longevity was a little more impressive. It’s still a special record to break, and Andersen believes he isn’t close to being finished.
Cut by the Kansas City Chiefs a week before the opener, Andersen vowed to leave the game on his terms.
“I didn’t want that to be the epitaph, if you will,” he said.