SAINTS S Frederick signed
METAIRIE, La. - The Saints signed safety Terrence Frederick off of Cleveland’s practice squad Wednesday.
The team also placed safety Kenny Vaccaro on injured reserve, officially ending his season. Vaccaro broke his left ankle Sunday in New Orleans’s 17-13 loss at Carolina.
The 23-year-old Frederick is a second-year pro out of Texas A&M. He played in two games with the New York Giants in 2012 and was credited with two tackles.
PACKERS LB Matthews out
GREEN BAY, Wis. - Packers linebacker Clay Matthews will miss Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears for the NFC North title after aggravating a right thumb injury.
Green Bay didn’t practice Wednesday but issued an injury report as if it did. Matthews was listed as out.
Matthews got hurt during a sack in Sunday’s 38-31 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Matthews missed four games earlier this season after breaking a thumb in Week 5 in October.
Matthews looked to be in extreme pain on the sideline Sunday after the sack. Coach Mike McCarthy has described it as a “repeat injury.”
The Packers had Christmas day off. They return to practice today, when the team is also expected to announce if quarterback Aaron Rodgers is ready to return from a left collarbone injury.
BRONCOS Welker returns
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Wes Welker returned to the Denver Broncos practice field on Christmas Day for the first time since suffering his second concussion on Dec. 12.
He was allowed to participate on a limited basis according to the league’s concussion protocol.
Also returning to practice was defensive end Derek Wolfe, who hadn’t practiced since having a seizure-like episode on the team bus trip to the airport on Nov. 29.
And rookie cornerback Kayvon Webster practiced for the first time since undergoing surgery on his right thumb on Dec. 13 after breaking it in the first half against San Diego the night before.
The only player who didn’t practice was backup center Steve Vallos, who sustained a concussion during Denver’s 37-13 victory at Houston on Sunday.
LIONS TE Pettigrew on IR
ALLEN PARK, Mich. - The Detroit Lions have placed tight end Brandon Pettigrew on injured reserve, ending his season.
The five-year veteran injured an ankle late in a Nov. 16 loss to Baltimore and has not practiced or played since. He finished the season with 41 receptions for 416 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The Lions practiced Wednesday with just two tight ends, Joseph Fauria and practice squad player Matt Veldman. Dorin Dickerson suffered a concussion in Sunday’s loss to the New York Giants and has not yet been cleared to return.
PATRIOTS Belichick blames rules
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - New England Patriots Coach Bill Belichick is blaming recently instituted NFL rules shortening off season practice time for what he claims to be an increasing number of player injuries.
Speaking during a conference call with Buffalo-area reporters this week, Belichick said players are more vulnerable to being hurt because they’re less prepared. And he called the new rules limiting off season workouts - including training camp - as being “the wrong approach.”
What’s in question is whether injuries are, in fact, on the rise since the new rules were put in place in 2011. NFL spokesman Michael Signora disputed Belichick, saying the league has no evidence to back up his assertions.
The NFL closely monitors injury data, but declined to release its numbers.
GIANTS S Taylor on IR
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The New York Giants have placed safety Cooper Taylor on injured reserve, about two weeks after he injured his hamstring.
The Giants announced the move Wednesday. They also signed guard Eric Herman from their practice squad to replace Taylor on the active roster, and signed defensive back Travis Howard to the practice squad.
Taylor, a fifth-round selection from Richmond last April, appeared in 10 games. He mostly played on special teams and ran back a blocked punt for a touchdown in the Nov. 10 win over Oakland.
Taylor was hurt in the Dec. 8 loss to San Diego and was inactive the last two weeks. He missed three games earlier this season with a shoulder injury.
Sports, Pages 25 on 12/26/2013