NFL notes

Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray (foreground) runs drills during practice Wednesday in Irving, Texas. Murray is recovering from surgery to repair a broken bone in his left hand.
Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray (foreground) runs drills during practice Wednesday in Irving, Texas. Murray is recovering from surgery to repair a broken bone in his left hand.

COWBOYS

Murray closer to play

Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray took a step closer towards playing in Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts by participating in practice Thursday -- albeit on a limited basis.

It was Murray's first official work with the team since undergoing surgery on Monday to repair a broken bone in his left hand. He had a metal plate and screws inserted to repair a fractured fourth metacarpal, suffered in the fourth quarter of last Sunday's victory against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Murray did some individual work on Wednesday but didn't officially participate in practice.

On Thursday, he did individual work and got some team reps as the Cowboys gauged his ability to function following the surgery. That he was able to grip the ball was a key part of the equation and Murray seemed to do that just fine in practice.

Practice squad running back Ryan Williams said Murray looked good and there's no doubt in his mind that he is playing.

Owner Jerry Jones said he's encouraged by what he saw Murray do in practice.

"Well, I am by the fact he's so aggressive in his thinking about playing," Jones said. "At the end of the day, whenever you talk to doctors or trainers, when you get right down to it, the player has to tell us whether he feels about playing or not. I'm glad to know there is not a lot of risk of extending injury time or exacerbating the injury, which is a good thing. If he can feel comfortable and tolerate and execute, then he will play."

In other injury news, quarterback Tony Romo (back) and linebacker Rolando McClain (knee) both returned to practice after sitting out on Wednesday.

BRONCOS

Manning on mend

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Peyton Manning is over his illness but not his injury.

Denver's quarterback was limited Thursday when the Broncos reconvened for their first practice since their 22-10 victory at San Diego on Sunday. Manning fought through the flu in that game and strained his right thigh in the first half, which he blamed on dehydration.

Manning participated in the walkthrough but retreated to the Broncos' facility after the team stretch.

Manning didn't appear in any discomfort afterward. He had his coloring back in his face and even jokingly referenced Bill Belichick three times when he answered reporters' questions with a "We're onto Cincinnati" mantra.

That's something the Patriots coach did five times a day after their 41-14 drubbing at Kansas City on Sept. 29.

TE Jones re-signed

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos have re-signed tight end Dominique Jones to their active roster and added offensive tackle DeMarcus Love to their practice squad.

The Broncos signed Jones 48 hours after waiving him. He played four snaps in the Broncos' 22-10 victory at San Diego last weekend after being brought up from Denver's practice squad because of injuries at his position.

That marked his 13th game in his three-year NFL career that includes stops in Indianapolis and Kansas City.

Love is a fourth-year pro who has spent time with the Vikings (2011-13) and Jaguars (2013) in addition to competing on the practice squads of the Giants and Saints this season.

BEARS

QB Cutler benched

LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chicago Bears Coach Marc Trestman says quarterback Jay Cutler is being benched in favor of Jimmy Clausen.

Trestman was announced the move on Thursday. He says Cutler will be active and serve as the backup for Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field.

Cutler leads the league in interceptions (18) and turnovers (24). He signed a massive seven-year deal with the Bears after last season.

49ERS

Harbaugh silent on move

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- San Francisco 49ers Coach Jim Harbaugh is declining to respond to reports that he is weighing an offer from Michigan to become the new football coach at his alma mater.

Harbaugh has one season remaining on the $25 million, five-year contract he signed in January 2011. Several media outlets, including ESPN and the NFL Network, have reported Harbaugh has a six-year offer on the table from the Wolverines.

San Francisco general manager Trent Baalke said this week that a decision on Harbaugh's future would come after the season. The Niners (7-7) were eliminated from playoff contention in last Sunday's 17-7 loss at Seattle, giving them their first three-game losing streak under Harbaugh. San Francisco had reached three consecutive NFC championship games, losing the Super Bowl after the 2012 season.

TEXANS

Johnson cleared to play

HOUSTON -- Houston Texans receiver Andre Johnson expects to play on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens after missing last week's game because of a concussion.

Johnson says he finished the league's concussion protocol and has been cleared to return. He was injured after being hit in the head by Jaguars linebacker Telvin Smith on Dec. 7.

Johnson thinks he may have lost consciousness for a few seconds after the hit, but says that the helmet-to-helmet blow didn't scare him.

"I think it was more scary for other people than it was for me," he said. "I talked about it like nothing happened. Everybody else who saw it said it was a scary moment for them. I watched the play. Even after it happened, I didn't feel nervous or anything."

PANTHERS

Newton 'probable'

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Panthers Coach Ron Rivera says Cam Newton will "probably" start Sunday against the Cleveland Browns barring any physical setbacks this week.

The Panthers increased the fourth-year quarterback's workload on Thursday and Rivera says Newton seemed to handle it well. However, Rivera was hesitant on naming Newton the starter in case he begins to experience soreness in his back.

Rivera says, "I would say he is on target. He had a good day and took the reps he was supposed to."

Newton says he's pain-free.

He was a full participant in practice, nine days after he was involved in a two-vehicle crash that left him hospitalized for one night with two fractures in his lower back.

Newton says, "If I can play, we all know I want to play."

SEAHAWKS

Wright signs extension

RENTON, Wash. -- The Seattle Seahawks have signed linebacker K.J. Wright to a four-year contract extension, keeping one of their key defensive players from reaching free agency.

Seattle announced the extension Thursday. No financial terms were immediately available.

Wright has been a versatile piece of Seattle's linebacker corps since his arrival as a fourth-round pick in 2011. Wright has started at multiple linebacker positions, but Seattle has found his best spot is as the weakside linebacker.

Wright is leading Seattle with 96 tackles this season, already a career-high, has two sacks and forced three fumbles. He's started all 14 games, including three at middle linebacker when Bobby Wagner was out with a foot injury.

TITANS

McCluster on IR

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Titans have placed running back Dexter McCluster on injured reserve with a knee injury, their 15th player put on the list this season.

The Titans announced the move Thursday before playing in Jacksonville.

McCluster hurt his knee last week in a 16-11 loss to the Jets and had been listed as being out against the Jaguars (2-12). But the Titans placed him on injured reserve Thursday and replaced him on the roster by promoting wide receiver Rico Richardson from the practice squad.

With 15 players now on injured reserve, that's the second-highest number for this franchise since 1990 behind only 2012 when the Titans had 16 on injured reserve, not counting any players later waived or removed after reaching injury settlements.

Sports on 12/19/2014

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