Jets’ Martin to keep playing with pain
Curtis Martin has one thought when it comes to playing through injuries: The pain is only temporary.
How else to explain his amazing ability to miss just four games in 11 seasons while taking a constant pounding? The Jets running back will do it again Sunday against Jacksonville when he plays with a bruised right knee.
Martin practiced Thursday and was upgraded to probable on the injury report. Coach Herman Edwards said Martin did everything in practice and will play.
“My main thought is all pain is temporary,” Martin said. “It can’t last forever. You can get through it for three hours in a game and then you can suffer and cry and everything afterward.”
McNabb, Owens back in practice
Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens both practiced for the Philadelphia Eagles after sitting out a day with injuries.
McNabb, who sat out one practice last week with a bruised chest, hurt his groin right before halftime against San Francisco. Owens has a nagging abdominal/groin injury.
Also, kicker David Akers, who was limited in practice Wednesday because of a hamstring injury, booted a field goal of about 55 yards.
“Michael Vick returned to practice for the first time since twice leaving the Atlanta Falcons’ loss last week at Seattle with a tweaked left hamstring. Coach Jim Mora listed Vick as probable for Sunday’s game at Buffalo.
“Jacksonville quarterback Byron Leftwich returned to practice and remained optimistic he would play against the Jets.
Leftwich injured his groin last week at Indianapolis and was listed as questionable on the injury report.
“Wide receivers Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne are both expected to be in the starting lineup Sunday when the Indianapolis Colts host the Cleveland Browns.
Harrison sat out practice after hurting his wrist in Wednesday’s workout.
He was treated for the injury and should be able to play against the Browns, the team said.
Wayne, meanwhile, dislocated a finger on his right hand during a seven-on-seven drill. After receiving treatment on the field, he was able to return to practice.
Patriots’ secondary wears thin
New England could be fortunate that the Pittsburgh Steelers are a running team.
The Patriots already are low on healthy defensive backs for their game Sunday.
Just two games into the season, the Patriots have five of them listed as questionable, leaving just five not on their injury report.
Last season, the health of the secondary got so bad that wide receiver Troy Brown filled in at cornerback.
“Well,” coach Bill Belichick said, “we know that if we have to put him over there that is an option. That is an emergency measure. Just like last year, we hope that we don’t get to that.”
Around the league
Arizona placed tight end John Bronson on injured reserve, ending his season. The Cardinals also promoted cornerback Lamont Reid from the practice squad. … Tight end Eric Johnson, the San Francisco 49ers’ leading receiver last season, was placed on injured reserve with a torn muscle in his left foot. … Carolina safety Mike Minter returned to practice and is confident his strained right calf won’t prevent him from playing against the Miami Dolphins. Cornerback Ken Lucas missed his second straight day of practice with a shoulder injury and said he doesn’t know if he will play Sunday in Miami. … The Washington Redskins placed defensive tackle Brandon Noble on injured reserve after he underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.