Pro football: Broncos' Bailey back on the field

Associated Press

DENVER - Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey, who hasn't missed a game in his seven-year NFL career, practiced in pads Thursday and said he expects to keep the streak going Sunday against San Diego despite a dislocated shoulder.

"If I'm in pads during the week, I'm probably going to play," Bailey said. "So, there's no doubt that I'll probably be out there. As long as I don't have any setbacks, I'll be fine."

Bailey has started all 97 regular-season games since he entered the league in 1999. Last week against Miami, he dislocated his left shoulder making a tackle in the third quarter.

He was listed as questionable and coach Mike Shanahan said he figured Bailey might miss a week or two.

But after checking with trainers early Thursday, Bailey decided to put on pads and practice with his arm in a harness to support the injured shoulder.

"They always give you the things that could happen, the risks you take," Bailey said. "At the same time, I'm aware of that and I don't really care. I just want to play football and help us win."

Shanahan said Bailey "looked pretty good" on the practice field and that he was surprised the All-Pro cornerback could return so quickly.

"It gives you an idea of how tough he is," Shanahan said.

Nobody was as surprised as Bailey himself.

"I was a little shocked with the recovery I made so fast," Bailey said. "I didn't think I'd be able to do anything today. I thought maybe tomorrow, but not today."

Running back Mike Anderson, who left last week's game with a rib injury, attended a funeral Thursday and did not practice. He was listed as questionable and will return to practice Friday.

Mathis out for season

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - This week can't end soon enough for Atlanta Falcons cornerback Kevin Mathis.

The NFL fined Mathis and Philadelphia linebacker Jeremiah Trotter $5,000 each Thursday for their roles in a pregame fight between both teams Monday night. Both players were ejected before kickoff, but Mathis suffered a far worse setback on Wednesday.

Working in a one-on-one drill, Mathis landed awkwardly on his left knee and tore his anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments. The ninth-year veteran also sustained damage to another part of his knee and hamstring.

The injuries are considered career-threatening, but strong safety Keion Carpenter believes Mathis, who turns 32 in April, will return next season.

"I know with all my heart that Kevin will do everything he can to return from this and be just as good a player as he was," said Carpenter, who missed all of 2004 after tearing his ACL in a summer drill. "Kevin Mathis can still help this team on the field and in the film room. He just can't do it on the field."

Atlanta placed Mathis on the season-ending injured reserve list and signed Christian Morton off Washington's practice squad. Coach Jim Mora indicated Mathis will undergo reconstructive surgery early next week.

Allen Rossum is the top candidate to take Mathis' spot as the No. 3 cornerback and work in nickel and dime situations. Rossum, however, hobbled off the field at the end of practice Wednesday with a tight hamstring.

Rossum, who did not practice Thursday, is listed as questionable. Mora indicated the team might wait until Sunday before deciding who will dress against the Seahawks.

Billick: Boller still the starter

OWINGS MILLS, Md. - The toe injury that forced Kyle Boller out of Sunday's game against Tennessee will not cost him his job as Baltimore Ravens quarterback.

Eager to clarify his remark Wednesday that Anthony Wright "will be our starting quarterback until circumstances change," coach Brian Billick emphasized Thursday that his confidence in Boller has not waned.

"Kyle Boller is our starting quarterback," he said. "If Kyle is able to return in the two- to three-week prognosis that we currently have, he will be our starting quarterback."

Boller could be available to face the New York Jets on Oct. 2, which follows the Ravens' bye week.

"Anthony Wright is the starter for an undetermined period right now due to injury," Billick said. "Kyle Boller is our starting quarterback. If I left it open to interpretation, if I left that in a way that led to speculation that we did not have the faith in Kyle, that our faith is wavering, that was not my intent."

McNabb: 'No doubt' I'll play

PHILADELPHIA - Donovan McNabb had no pass rush to elude, no threats to his bruised chest.

Philadelphia's five-time Pro Bowl quarterback had all the time he needed to hit Terrell Owens on a nice sideline pattern and Greg Lewis on a deep route during a routine practice.

While Thursday's practice was a fine first test for McNabb, the true measure of his condition will come in the next few days when he finds out how ready he really is for the Eagles home opener against San Francisco on Sunday.

"It's a slow process," McNabb said. "I wanted to get out there and test it out to see actually how it would feel. It will be interesting to see the reaction after tomorrow, how the body will react to it."

McNabb practiced for the first time since he suffered a crushing hit from Atlanta's Chad Lavalais that sent him wincing to the sideline. McNabb remained in the game and didn't miss any plays, but he struggled the rest of the game against the Falcons.

McNabb, who was injured in the first quarter in the Eagles' 14-10 season-opening loss at Atlanta on Monday night, looked fine running drills and the injury didn't seem to give him any discomfort.

McNabb said he felt a little sore, though he reiterated the injury won't keep him out against the 49ers.

"If you ask me, there's no doubt about it. I'll be out there," McNabb said. "It's just being able to see how your body reacts to an up-tempo practice."

McNair offers advice

PHILADELPHIA - Philadel-phia's Donovan McNabb was a little reluctant to reach out to Steve McNair to ask for advice on how to handle his chest injury.

Turns out, the Titans quarterback was more than happy to offer some rehab recommendations. McNair even made the first call.

McNabb suffered a bruised chest in the first quarter in the Eagles' 14-10 season-opening loss at Atlanta on Monday night. He practiced for the first time Thursday and reiterated the injury won't keep him out for Philadelphia's home opener against San Francisco on Sunday.

Last year, McNair missed eight games with a sternum injury that eventually required surgery. He called McNabb and offered some tips on how to play with the injury.

"It was just ways of treating it, ways of rehabbing it," McNabb said. "Patience and rest are key. Just knowing how your body feels. You're the only person that knows how your body feels."

While the injuries are slightly different, McNabb appreciated the gesture because he said he was reluctant to call McNair.

"You never want to call anybody on an injury. Maybe they don't want to think about the injury anymore," McNabb said. "That kind of shows the person he is and the character he has of just picking up the phone and calling me."

McNair had doctors take a sliver of bone from his right hip to repair the sternum last December. He was glad to offer McNabb some advice.

"Everybody's been talking about it," McNair said. "I talked to him (Tuesday) night. He's just sore. ... It just hurt to laugh, hurt to do anything. I just told him, 'Don't rush it. Take your time and just heal. As long as you go out there and aggravate it, it's going to continue to get worse."

McNabb said he was amazed McNair was able to play last year without participating in many practices.

"It's hard to keep a true competitor off the field and Steve and I are very similar in wanting to do whatever it takes in order to help our team win," he said. "We feel when we're out there on the field, we have a great chance of winning."