NFL roundup: Broncos activate LB Miller

The Denver Broncos activated linebacker Von Miller, the team announced Saturday.

To make room for Miller on the 53-man roster, Denver waived wide receiver Tavarres King.

Miller, 24, returned to practice this week after serving a six-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy.

Coach John Fox said Friday he expects Miller to make an immediate impact Sunday night when the Broncos take on the host Indianapolis Colts.

"I think it's probably fair to say he's going to start," Fox said. "We're probably not going to announce the starting lineup but I wager he's going to start."

The 2011 NFL defensive rookie of the year has 30 sacks in his first two seasons, including a franchise-record 18 1/2 last season.

King, a fifth-round draft pick this year out of Georgia, spent six weeks on Denver's practice squad and one week on the club's active roster. He caught five passes for 64 yards during the preseason.

---New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski traveled with the team for Sunday's game at the New York Jets, but cornerback Aqib Talib did not make the trip, according to the Boston Herald.

Gronkowski was finally cleared to play this week after having offseason back and forearm surgeries. Gronkowski had complications in recovering from a broken forearm, which included four operations. He has practiced with the team since the beginning of the regular season but was just cleared for game action Friday. He is listed as questionable on the team's injury report.

Talib was listed as doubtful with a hip flexor injury.

---Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is listed on the team's injury report as probable for Monday night's game against the New York Giants.

Peterson practiced Saturday but was limited this week with hamstring tightness. Still, coach Leslie Frazier said he expects him to play.

Left tackle Matt Kalil is questionable with back tightness. He missed practice Friday and Saturday but Frazier also said he should play.

Also, backup cornerback A.J. Jefferson was listed as doubtful with an ankle injury. Frazier said cornerback Jacob Lacey will be activated for the game.

---New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs and defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul missed practice Saturday and are questionable for Monday's game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Jacobs has a hamstring injury and Pierre-Paul has an illness.

If Jacobs does not play, Peyton Hillis and Michael Cox are the only healthy tailbacks for the Giants. David Wilson (neck) and Andre Brown (leg) are out.

Pierre-Paul has 15 tackles and one sack this season.

Also, cornerback Jayron Hosley (hamstring) is out, tight end Adrien Robinson (foot) and safety Cooper Taylor (shoulder) are questionable, and center David Baas (neck) and cornerback Terrell Thomas (knee) are probable.

---The Baltimore Ravens announced Saturday that they activated inside linebacker Jameel McClain from the physically unable to perform list.

To make room for McClain on the 53-man roster, the Ravens cut tight end Billy Bajema.

McClain is listed on the team's injury report as probable Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers. McClain has been out since December when he bruised his spinal cord in a game against the Washington Redskins.

Doctors told McClain at the time that the injury would end his career but he was later given a more encouraging diagnosis.

McClain returned to practice Wednesday. He had 79 tackles in 13 games last season before the injury, and was a starter the last three years.

---Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker will start against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, according to multiple reports.

Locker sprained his right hip and knee against the New York Jets on Sept. 29 and missed the last two games.

Ryan Fitzpatrick started the last two games for the Titans.

Coach Mike Munchak said Friday he was not ready to name a starter for Sunday's game.

Locker completed 62.2 percent of his passes for 721 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions in his first four games.

---The San Francisco 49ers activated defensive tackle Quinton Dial from the reserve/non-football injury list Saturday.

Dial, a fifth round draft pick this year out of Alabama, was placed on the reserve/NFI list since Aug. 27. He returned to practice Wednesday.

---Former Houston Oilers and New Orleans Saints coach Bum Phillips died Friday. He was 90.

His death was confirmed by son Wade Phillips, the Houston Texans' defensive coordinator, via Twitter.

"Bum is gone to Heaven -- loved and will be missed by all -- great Dad, Coach, and Christian," he wrote.

Phillips was best known for turning the Houston Oilers into an AFC contender in the late 1970s. He coached the Oilers from 1975-80 and the Saints from 1981-85. He had a career NFL record of 86-80.

Phillips usually wore a cowboy hat on the sideline during outdoor games and was known for his folksy manner. He said he did not wear his cowboy hat for dome games because his mother told him not ever to wear hats while he was indoors.

"Mama always said that if it can't rain on you, you're indoors," he said.

Phillips coached in a high school and college from 1954-66. From 1967-70, Phillips worked under Sid Gillman as defensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers, had a one-year stint at Oklahoma State in 1973 and returned to the NFL in 1974 as the Oilers' defensive coordinator.

Phillips took over as coach of the Oilers in 1975 and guided them to three straight playoff appearances. He was fired by owner Bud Adams in 1980. He then coached the Saints for the next five seasons.

On coaching, Phillips said, "There's two kinds of coaches, them that's fired and them that's gonna be fired."

The Oilers moved to Tennessee in 1997 and became the Titans in 1999, and are still owned by Adams. In a statement, Adams said, "We are very sad to hear of the passing of Bum Phillips. He meant a great deal to this franchise, the NFL and the city of Houston, and he was instrumental to the Oilers during the 'Luv Ya Blue' era. Growing up in Texas and working his way up through the Texas football ranks, he was a natural match for our team. Those were such magical years, and his leadership and personality helped our team rise to the top. He became an iconic figure on our sideline. Our thoughts are with his family, and we know he will be missed."

Phillips worked as an NFL analyst for TV and radio before retiring to his ranch in Goliad, Texas. He had health problems in recent years, including having triple bypass surgery in 2005.

He is survived by his second wife, Debbie, and six children from his first marriage along with almost two dozen grandchildren.