NFL roundup: Packers' Rodgers will practice Wednesday
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers plans to practice Wednesday, and he said he feels closer to being ready to return after missing the last six games.
However, he didn't sound optimistic his next scan this week will reveal significant changes to the status of his injured collarbone.
"I think you can probably guess," Rodgers said on his weekly ESPN radio show Tuesday. "I have an idea what it's going to look like based on the previous one, the amount of days we have between scans, project that forward to a similar amount of days and have a pretty good idea and provide over-radiation."
Even though Rodgers will be on the practice field Wednesday, Matt Flynn will likely continue to see the bulk of the starter reps.
"My hope is that I practice tomorrow and experience no setbacks, mentally or physically, and then we'll go from there," Rodgers said.
Rodgers was asked how he felt last week when told he would be inactive for a sixth straight game.
"Sadness and frustration. But not anger," Rodgers said. "I have a ton of respect for (Dr.) Pat (McKenzie). He does an incredible job. Sometimes those guys need to save you from yourself."
Rodgers has been sidelined since suffering a fractured collarbone on his non-throwing left side early in the Nov. 4 loss to the Chicago Bears.
If Rodgers remains sidelined, Flynn will make his fourth consecutive start when the Packers host the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. Flynn engineered five second-half touchdown drives in Green Bay's dramatic Week 15 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
The Packers will win the NFC North with wins in their final two weeks, which includes the season finale against the Bears at Soldier Field.
--Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said that Pittsburgh will worry about Aaron Rodgers when the Green Bay Packers decide the quarterback's status for Sunday game.
Tomlin said the Packers are playing well with Matt Flynn in for Rodgers.
"We are not going to worry about (Rodgers) until we find out for sure," Tomlin said, adding that practices will focus on scheme, not one quarterback or the other.
--Cincinnati Bengals punter Kevin Huber will have surgery Friday to repair his broken jaw, the team announced.
Huber, who was placed on injured reserve, sustained a broken jaw and cracked vertebrae when popped by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Terence Garvin during a first-quarter punt return in Sunday night's 30-20 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
To take Huber's place, the Bengals signed former Bills punter Shawn Powell on Tuesday. Powell will also be expected to hold for kicks in Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Powell emerged from a tryout Tuesday. He opened the season with the Bills, but was cut in October.
--The Jacksonville Jaguars placed wide receiver Cecil Shorts and guard Will Rackley on injured reserve.
Shorts, who leads the Jaguars with 66 catches for 777 yards, battled a groin injury for much of the season. The third-year receiver managed it by not practicing on Wednesdays and being limited on Thursdays.
Rackley missed two games earlier this year with a concussion, and was a late addition to the injury report last week after reporting concussion-like symptoms. He started 11 games this season.
The Jaguars also activated second-year guard Drew Nowak from the practice squad and signed rookie center Patrick Lewis off the Cleveland Browns' practice squad.
--The Denver Broncos signed free agent defensive end Jeremy Mincey, who was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars last week for being late to a team meeting.
Mincey is expected to be on the practice field Wednesday.
Mincey (6-4, 265 pounds) is a sixth-year player. With the Jaguars, he played 64 regular-season games (40 starts) and totaled 276 tackles and 20 sacks.
The Broncos also waived center J.D. Walton on Tuesday.
--Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley has been ruled out to play Sunday against the Green Bay Packers because of an injured right calf.
Woodley also could also miss the regular-season final against the Cleveland Browns.
--Dallas Cowboys middle linebacker Sean Lee could miss the rest of the 2013 season with a sprained ligament in his neck.
Lee was injured at Chicago in the Cowboys' loss on Dec. 9 and practiced two days in preparation for Week 15 against the Green Bay Packers. But Friday he was ruled out with nagging discomfort.
Lee is expected to be evaluated further this week but surgery was not considered necessary.
Owner Jerry Jones said on his weekly radio show Tuesday that Lee might miss the rest of the season. Backups Bruce Carter (hamstring) and Justin Durant (hamstring) are also on the mend.
Jones also had the back of his quarterback.
Romo has taken some heat after throwing two fourth-quarter interceptions in Sunday's 37-36 loss to the Packers, who rallied from a 23-point halftime deficit.
Jones doesn't feel Romo has too much latitude regarding the offense.
"No I don't," Jones said on his radio show. "No, not at all."
Romo changed a run play to a pass before throwing an interception with 2:46 remaining in the game and was indirectly criticized by coach Jason Garrett for changing the play.
--Running back Shaun Draughn signed with the Indianapolis Colts, who placed inside linebacker Pat Angerer on injured reserve.
Angerer played in 11 games (nine starts) this season and totaled 87 tackles (48 solo), a half of a sack, two passes defensed and an interception.
Draughn appeared in 20 career games since entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Washington Redskins in 2011.
--Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco said his knee is fine and he expects to be ready to go Sunday.
Flacco took a hit on his left knee from linebacker DeAndre Levy of the Detroit Lions, but Levy was not penalized. A rule introduced before the 2013 season "The Brady Rule" calls for a flag on any hit to the leg of a quarterback during a pass attempt.
"It was more probably scary than anything, just from what I felt," Flacco said. "And also trying to get a couple yards out of (the hit). It feels fine. It feels strong."
