NFL News & Rumors: Thursday 10/17

NFL

• Free agent S Tom Zbikowski‘s four-week suspension is over. (Aaron Wilson)

49ers

• 49ers waived WR Chris Harper.

Bills

• RB C.J. Spiller mentioned that his sprained ankle is “definitely” healing. (BuffaloBills.com)
• RB C.J. Spiller put in a limited practice on Thursday.
• QB Thad Lewis put in a full practice on Thursday.
• WR Stevie Johnson put in a full practice on Thursday.

Browns

• RB Willis McGahee did not practice on Thursday due to an undisclosed injury. (Associated Press)

Buccaneers

• Bucs KR/RB Jeff Demps underwent groin surgery Thursday. (Rick Stroud)

Cardinals

• DE Calais Campbell will play against the Seahawks Thursday night. (Adam Schefter)

Chargers

• WR Eddie Royal was held out of Thursday’s practice. (Michael Gehlken)

Colts

• ILB Jerrell Freeman returned to practice on Thursday. (Mike Chappell)

Cowboys

• RBs DeMarco Murray and Lance Dunbar did not practice on Thursday. (Calvin Watkins)

Eagles

• QB Michael Vick has been ruled out for Week 7. (Geoff Mosher)
• OT Jason Peters will return to practice on Thursday. (Rueben Frank)

Falcons

• RB Steven Jackson and WR Roddy White did not practice on Thursday. (Vaughn McClure)
• LB Sean Weatherspoon is still in a walking boot. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Giants

• HC Tom Coughlin told reporters that he hasn’t even considered the idea of benching QB Eli Manning. (New York Daily News)
• Coughlin mentioned that they will be “very careful” with RB David Wilson‘s neck injury. (New York Daily News)
• RB Brandon Jacobs practiced on Thursday. (Ralph Vacchiano)
• RB Andre Brown is practicing this week, but will be out until Week 10. (Ralph Vacchiano)
• Giants have already ruled out RB David Wilson for Week 7. (Ralph Vacchiano)

Jaguars

• WR Cecil Shorts mentioned that he’s “more optimistic” about playing on Sunday than he was on Wednesday. (John Oehser)
• WR Stephen Burton has been cleared to resume practicing. (Ryan O’Halloran)

Jets

• WR Santonio Holmes did not practice on Thursday. (Manish Mehta)
• CB Kyle Wilson is questionable for Week 7. (ESPN New York)

Lions

• WR Calvin Johnson practiced on Thursday. (Tim Twentyman)
• RB Joique Bell put in a limited practice on Thursday.
• Lions released RB Steven Miller from their practice squad.
• Lions signed CB Chris Greenwood to their practice squad.

Packers

• WR James Jones did not practice on Thursday. (Rob Demovsky)

Panthers

• TE Greg Olsen returned to practice on Thursday. (Joe Person)

Patriots

• TE Rob Gronkowski‘s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, mentioned that we won’t know his client’s status until later this week. (Ben Volin)
• TE Rob Gronkowski put in a limited practice on Thursday.
• WR Danny Amendola and CB Aqib Talib did not practice on Thursday. (Jeff Howe)
• RB Shane Vereen is no longer in need of his hard cast to protect his wrist. (Jeff Howe)
• WR Julian Edelman put in a limited practice on Thursday.
• G Dan Connolly returned to practice on Thursday. (Jeff Howe)
• RB Brandon Bolden put in a limited practice on Thursday.

Redskins

• HC Mike Shanahan and QB Robert Griffin III have agreed that RGIII “needs to run more” this season if their going to start winning more games. (Washington Times)

Seahawks

• WR Percy Harvin will resume practicing next week. (Ian Rapoport)

Steelers

• Rookie OLB Jarvis Jones has been diagnosed with a concussion. (Burt Lauten)
• ILB Sean Spence returned to practice on Wednesday. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

Texans

• The Texans will start Case Keenum against the Chiefs. (NFLTR)
• The Texans have already ruled out QB Matt Schaub for Week 7.
• RB Arian Foster was held out of Thursday’s practice, but “will play” in Week 7. (John McClain)
• Texans will start rookie S D.J. Swearinger over Shiloh Keo this weekend. (Tania Ganguli)

Titans

• The Titans haven’t ruled out QB Jake Locker playing in Week 7. (Jim Wyatt)
• Titans have benched C Rob Turner in favor of rookie Brian Schwenke. (Nashville Tennessean)

Vikings

• S Harrison Smith may need season-ending surgery on his turf toe injury. (NFLTR)
• QB Christian Ponder has not requested a trade out of Minnesota. (NFLTR)
• Vikings signed WR Rodney Smith to their active roster.