Notes

PANTHERS Clausen back at practice

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Just as Jake Delhomme moved into position to possibly start against Carolina, his former team’s uncertain quarterback situation took a new turn.

There was some good news, some bad and the frightening prospect that behind rookie Jimmy Clausen could be a practice-squad quarterback signed this week.

Clausen practiced a day after being cleared following a concussion that knocked him out of Sunday’s loss to Baltimore. But Clausen was whisked into a meeting with doctors after the workout and must still make steady cognitive progress before getting the final clearance to play Sunday at Cleveland.

“I’m still going through evaluations,” Clausen said Wednesday. “I felt pretty good but there are still things that we need to do here for me to get cleared before I can play.”

If the doctors sign off, he’ll regain command of the NFL’s worst offensefor the league’s worst team.

“I think it would be safe to assume,” Coach John Fox said when asked if Clausen would start if healthy. “I thought he had a good practice.”

Good thing, because the Brian St. Pierre experiment has taken a detour.

St. Pierre is showing the effects of being a stay-at-home dad until the Panthers signed him 10 days before he started against the Ravens. Pierre could only hand the ball off in Wednesday’s practice, saying the level of pain in his throwing shoulder “on a scale of one to 10 is probably a seven.”

“On the long throw to David Gettis, I think that was the final straw,” St. Pierre said.

That 88-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter got the Panthers within a touchdown, but their hopes were dashed when the 30-year-old St. Pierre became the first NFL quarterback in seven years to throw interceptions returned for touchdowns on consecutive plays.

St. Pierre all but ruled himself out against the Browns.

“Right now the pain is telling me no way,” he said.

Behind him is rookie Tony Pike, the sixth-round draft pick who was limited in practice Wednesday with what Fox said was a sore throwing arm. Fox provided no details on how he got hurt without playing, and Pike didn’t speak to reporters.

That leaves Keith Null, signed to the practice squad Tuesday. Null started four games as a rookie for St. Louis late last season, throwing three touchdowns and nine interceptions.

“They haven’t said anything,” Null said about his prospects of being promoted to the 53-man roster. “As of right now I’m on the practice squad and I’m just out here doing what I can do and trying to get better.”REDSKINS Portis put on IR

ASHBURN, Va. - Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis was placed on injured reserve Thursday because of a torn muscle in his lower abdomen.

Portis returned from a groin injury Sunday against Tennessee, but lasted only five carries before getting hurt again. He will have surgery and require at least two months of rehabilitation, ending his season with a career-low 227 yards on 54 carries with two touchdowns.

Landry, Torain out

ASHBURN, Va. - Washington Redskins safety LaRon Landry and running back Ryan Torain have been ruled out for Sunday’s game again the Minnesota Vikings.

Coach Mike Shanahan said Thursday Landry will miss his second consecutive game with a left Achilles tendon injury. Torain is missing his third game in a row with an ailing hamstring.

Shanahan rearranged the schedule Thursday, holding an early practice so players could get home and celebrate Thanksgiving.

BILLS

McGee questionable

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Terrence McGee missed practice Thursday a day after aggravating a knee injury, leaving the Buffalo Bills cornerback questionable to play against the Pittsburgh Steelers this weekend.

On the bright side, rookie running back C.J. Spiller has a chance to play Sunday after practicing for the first time since hurting his right hamstring in a 14-12 win over Detroit on Nov. 14.

Coach Chan Gailey called Spiller’s progress “encouraging.” He was less optimistic about McGee playing, though he didn’t believe the injury to be long term.

McGee aggravated the injury early in practice Wednesday, when he limped off the field and climbed into a cart before being driven away for treatment. He had played as a backup the past two weeks after missing five games while recovering from surgery to repair a nerve problem behind his knee.

The Bills (2-8) are coming off two consecutive victories in hosting the Steelers (7-3), who sit tied with Baltimore atop the AFC North.

Spiller was cautious about his status.

“It’s slow progress, but we’re right on schedule,” he said, noting he was able to burst and cut during his few carries in practice. “My intention is to try to go. But I’ve got to come intomorrow and see how it feels.”

Spiller said he didn’t feel any stiffness, but hasn’t had an opportunity to test himself at game speed. Without Spiller in a 49-31 victory at Cincinnati last week, the Bills had Quinton Ganther and Jehuu Caulcrick backing up starter Fred Jackson.