NFL Notes: Bears’ Knox will have back surgery

Bears receiver Johnny Knox will have surgery to stabilize a vertebra in his lower to mid back after being taken from the field on a cart in the opening minutes of Sunday’s 38-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

The Bears said the injury is not career-threatening. The surgery is scheduled for today.

“He has total movement throughout his body, has total use of all his extremities, which is good,” coach Lovie Smith said. “We’re doing tests right now. He has total movement. He’s not paralyzed or anything.”

Knox had just caught a pass from Caleb Hanie about four minutes into Sunday’s game when Kam Chancellor poked the ball out of his hands. As Knox made a diving attempt to retrieve the ball, he was hit by Anthony Hargrove and got bent backward. He stayed down for close to 10 minutes while being tended to by medical personnel.

Knox was eventually placed on a stretcher and taken from the field on a cart, putting his hands over his face and wiggling his fingers as he left the field.

Colts’ Manning throws but won’t play

Minutes after the previously winless Indianapolis Colts got their first win, 27-13 over Tennessee, team vice chairman Bill Polian said four-time league MVP Peyton Manning will not play this season though he has begun throwing to teammates at the team complex.

“It was determined by the doctors that there was no chance (Manning) would play this year,” Polian said in a rare, five-paragraph postgame statement, referring to a Thursday meeting. “His rehabilitation has not come far enough to make it prudent for him to step on the field in game action.”

Polian confirmed that the four-time league MVP threw in pads and a helmet after Wednesday’s full practice ended.

Shockey won’t stand for anthem antics

Carolina Panthers tight end Jeremy Shockey criticized members of the Houston Texans for not putting their hands over their hearts during the national anthem.

Shockey says he saw “about 10 players” who didn’t do the traditional gesture when the anthem was played, and he told some of them how he felt during Carolina’s 28-13 victory.

“I was pretty upset in the way they weren’t showing respect to America during the national anthem,” Shockey said. “This is America and you should at least give respect to America.”