Green Bay Packers 12/14/2007 9:05 AMThe Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports if Green Bay Packers TE Bubba Franks can get back on the playing field this week, the timing would be pretty good. The Packers will be facing a high-risk St. Louis Rams defense Sunday, and the option of keeping Franks in the backfield to help protect QB Brett Favre, or to serve as a safety valve receiver, is something they'd like to have. Franks is close to returning from a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee that has sidelined him for seven games. He has been gone so long, it's hard to remember he was ever a part of the Packers' high-powered offense.Read more
Minnesota Vikings 12/14/2007 9:02 AMThe Pioneer Press reports his headache problems behind him, WR Troy Williamson returned to the practice field for the Vikings on Thursday. As to whether he'll be playing for them Monday night or next season, that has yet to be determined. Cleared to return to practice after a Tuesday visit to the Mayo Clinic, Williamson has been inactive for the past two games since suffering a concussion in the Vikings' Nov. 25 victory over the New York Giants. "I'm good. I feel healthy," he said Thursday. "And I'm ready to go."Read more
Detroit Lions 12/14/2007 9:00 AMThe Detroit Free Press reports OL Damien Woody has been a revelation, if not a godsend, at right tackle the past two games for the Lions, which raises a question: Why didn't the coaches put him there long ago? Woody mostly played center for five seasons in New England and has been a guard in four seasons with the Lions. But a rib injury sidelined him early this season, and Stephen Peterman subsequently beat him out at right guard.Read more
Chicago Bears 12/14/2007 8:56 AMThe Chicago Sun-Times reports the playbook will be wide open for Bears QB Kyle Orton on Monday night at Minnesota, and it probably needs to be against the Vikings' top-ranked run defense. That wasn't the case for Orton as a rookie in 2005, when he won 10 games with offensive coordinator Ron Turner paring things down to the bare essentials. Everything is in play as Orton makes his first start since Jan. 1, 2006, at Minnesota.Read more
