Haynesworth may not play vs. Cowboys

ASHBURN - Washington Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth is listed as questionable for tomorrow's game at Dallas because of a sprained left ankle. A league source, however, told NFL.com that Haynesworth probably would not play.

Haynesworth was unable to practice this week but tested his ankle on a treadmill yesterday. Redskins coach Jim Zorn said Haynesworth remains a game-time decision.

Also, running back Clinton Portis visited the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to have his concussion evaluated.

Portis saw the same doctors who examined Eagles back Brian Westbrook, who has sustained two concussions in the past month. Portis was hurt two weeks ago against Atlanta. He did not play last week against Denver and has been ruled out for tomorrow's game.

Steelers' Polamalu out vs. Chiefs

PITTSBURGH - Steelers safety Troy Polamalu did not practice all week because of a left knee injury and will not play tomorrow at Kansas City. He may miss next week's game at Baltimore as well.

Polamalu sat out the Steelers' second through fifth games with a ligament tear, only to injure the same knee during a loss to Cincinnati on Sunday. Polamalu's latest injury is to a different ligament. He wore a heavy brace as he watched practice this week.

Defensive end Travis Kirschke will sit out his third consecutive game with a torn left calf muscle. He had been filling in for Aaron Smith, who is out for the season with a torn right rotator cuff.

Simms looks like starter for Broncos

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Denver quarterback Kyle Orton missed a third consecutive practice because of a sprained left ankle and has only an outside chance of playing tomorrow when the Broncos and San Diego meet with first place in the AFC West on the line.

Broncos backup Chris Simms again took first-team practice repetitions.

Simms is in line to make his first start since September 2006, when he suffered a life-threatening spleen injury while with Tampa Bay.

Listed as questionable, Orton will go through a workout before tomorrow's game and how he performs will determine whether he plays, coach Josh McDaniels said.

Ex-JMU star out again for Eagles

PHILADELPHIA - For the second consecutive week, the Eagles will go with a different look at linebacker because of a knee injury to weakside starter Akeem Jordan (James Madison), who won't play tomorrow at Chicago.

Will Witherspoon again will start at weakside LB, and second-year man Joe Mays will start in the middle. Chris Gocong, who started in the middle last week, will move back to his customary spot on the strong side. It's the sixth different set of linebackers the Eagles will start in their 10th game of the season.

Safety Quintin Demps (ankle) also won't play. He'll be replaced on kickoff returns by former Highland Springs High and Virginia Tech standout Victor Harris.

Falcons' Norwood feeling better

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - Atlanta running back Jerious Norwood practiced for the second straight day after missing the Falcons' past four games with a hip flexor.

Atlanta needs Norwood as Pro Bowl running back Michael Turner has a high ankle sprain and is unlikely to play vs. the New York Giants. Former L.C. Bird and U.Va. standout Jason Snelling is expected to start and carry the bulk of the load tomorrow.

Snelling has gained 222 total yards and scored one TD on 30 carries and receptions this season.

Depleted Bills defense suffers more losses

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Buffalo defensive tackle Marcus Stroud won't play tomorrow vs. Jacksonville, and linebacker Keith Ellison was placed on injured reserve, leaving the NFL's worst run defense further depleted.

Stroud was ruled out because of a knee injury suffered in a loss at Tennessee last weekend. His absence means the Bills could be down both starting defensive tackles against the Jaguars. Kyle Williams has missed three games because of a knee injury and is listed as questionable. That leaves Buffalo with only two other defensive tackles on its roster, Spencer Johnson and John McCargo (Randolph-Henry).

Ellison has been out since hurting his quadriceps in a 31-10 loss to Houston on Nov. 1. He becomes the 12th Bills player - and second starting linebacker, joining Kawika Mitchell (knee) - to be placed on IR this season.

Browns' Cribbs expects to play

BEREA, Ohio - Cleveland's Josh Cribbs (sprained neck) said he expects to play tomorrow at Detroit, six days after he was strapped to a backboard and wheeled into an ambulance following a loss to Baltimore on Monday.

Cribbs, one of the game's top return specialists, expects to handle all his regular duties vs. the Lions. Losing Cribbs on offense would have been another devastating blow to a team that has scored just five TDs in its past 15 games - the fewest in a 15-game span since 1950. Cleveland's drought is magnified by the fact no Browns receiver has scored since Nov. 2, 2008, and no running back has scored since Nov. 17 of last year.

Elsewhere

• New Orleans running back Reggie Bush was held out of practice for the third consecutive day and is listed as questionable for tomorrow at Tampa Bay.

• Seattle's Josh Wilson is unlikely to play at Minnesota because of a concussion, leaving the Seahawks without a starting cornerback against the Vikings. Marcus Trufant, the other starting corner, was diagnosed with a concussion in last week's game but has practiced the past two days and is expected to start.

• Miami center Jake Grove (Virginia Tech) left Thursday's game vs. Carolina because of an ankle injury early in the third quarter and did not return. The Dolphins did not provide an update on Grove's injury yesterday.

• The NFL has fined Arizona defensive tackle Darnell Dockett $7,500 for his elbow to the throat of Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck during last week's game.

• Safety Jim Leonhard (broken thumb) is questionable for the Jets' game at New England, and linebacker Vernon Gholston (hamstring) has been ruled out for the second consecutive week.

• Chicago placed backup running back Garrett Wolfe (lacerated kidney) on injured reserve. The Bears also listed tight end Desmond Clark (neck) and safety Kevin Payne (back) as doubtful for tomorrow's game against Philadelphia.