Colts look to benefit with bolstered lineup
The Indianapolis Colts figure to get a big boost Sunday against Tennessee with the expected returns of wide receiver Brandon Stokley, safety Bob Sanders and outside linebacker Gilbert Gardner.
The All-Pro Sanders has missed eight of the Colts last nine games with soreness and swelling in his right knee. He had arthroscopic surgery on the knee in September.
Stokley had been sidelined since Oct. 8, when he sprained his left knee in the fourth quarter of the Colts’ home game against the Titans.
Gardner (ribs) and safety Matt Giordano (strained calf) were both expected to play this week. Gardner missed the Eagles game last week, and Giordano has not played the last four weeks.
Tight end Dallas Clark, who injured his knee last week, won’t play, and offensive tackle Ryan Diem and safety Antoine Bethea will be game-time decisions, coach Tony Dungy said Friday.
Stokley said he feels better than he has in a while.
“Hopefully, I’ll be able to get out there and give it a show,” he said. “We’ll see how it does.”
Browns suffer another setback
Cleveland Browns starting right tackle Ryan Tucker is battling an undisclosed mental disorder and hopes to return to football next season, the team said.
The loss of Tucker is the latest setback for the banged-up Browns, whose shaky offensive line already is missing Pro Bowl center LeCharles Bentley, out all season with a knee injury suffered on the first day of training camp.
Tucker, one of the Browns’ captains, has been a steady leader for a rebuilding team. He was the team’s most productive lineman the past four seasons.
The Browns refused to disclose more details about Tucker’s illness, saying only that it was a common disorder not related to football.
Tucker, a 10-year veteran, hopes to return next season.
Around the league
As part of his fine for an obscene gesture made to fans, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick is giving $5,000 to the family of a firefighter who recently died. Another $5,000 will go to The Warrick Dunn Foundation, which helps single mothers become homeowners. … Buffalo Bills running back Willis McGahee missed practice because of an illness, but he should be ready to go on Sunday. … The New York Jets signed defensive end-linebacker Bryan Thomas to a contract extension. … Jacksonville Jaguars placed quarterback Byron Leftwich on injured reserve, officially ending his season 10 days after ankle surgery. … Washington Redskins linebacker Khary Campbell, the team’s leading tackler on special teams, will miss Sunday’s game against Atlanta with a hamstring injury.