NFL News & Rumors: Thursday 11/21

NFLTR

• NFL Cap Space
• NFL Pro Bowl Voting Leaders
• Here’s the 25 semifinalists for the 2014 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class. (NFLTR)

49ers

• The 49ers will add WR Michael Crabtree to their 53-man roster next week, but he won’t be rushed back. (CSN Bay Area)
• CB Tarell Brown’s rib injury isn’t believed to be season-ending. (Matt Maiocco)

Bears

• QB Jay Cutler is no longer sporting a hard cast on his sprained left ankle. (Chicago Tribune)

Bengals

• LB Rey Maualuga is expected to see a reduced role upon returning from a knee injury. (NFLTR)

Broncos

• QB Peyton Manning returned to practice on Thursday. (Lindsay Jones)
• WR Wes Welker returned to practice on Thursday. (Mike Klis)
• TE Julius Thomas returned to practice Thursday, but was “very limited.” (Lindsay Jones)

Buccaneers

• CB Darrelle Revis is expected to shadow Calvin Johnson this weekend. (Detroit Free Press)

Cardinals

• WR Michael Floyd put in a limited practice on Thursday. (Darren Urban)
• Cowboys signed LB Orie Lemon off the Cardinals’ practice squad. (Adam Schefter)

Chargers

• OLB Jarret Johnson underwent surgery on his left hand earlier this week. (Union-Tribune San Diego)
• WR Eddie Royal did not practice on Thursday. (Michael Gehlken)
• WR Vincent Brown put in a limited practice on Thursday. (Michael Gehlken)

Colts

• RB Trent Richardson put in a limited practice on Thursday. (Colts.com)

Cowboys

• Owner Jerry Jones guaranteed that HC Jason Garrett will be back in 2014. (NFLTR)
• Cowboys signed LB Orie Lemon off the Cardinals’ practice squad. (Adam Schefter)

Falcons

• HC Mike Smith confirmed that TE Tony Gonzalez is fully expected to play Thursday night. (ESPN.com)

Giants

• The Giants don’t consider WR Hakeem Nicks‘ groin injury to be serious. (Ralph Vacchiano)
• WR Hakeem Nicks returned to practice on Thursday. (Ebenezer Samuel)
• WR Hakeem Nicks mentioned that he expects to play in Week 12. (Conor Orr)
• RB Brandon Jacobs returned to practice on Thursday. (Ebenezer Samuel)

Jaguars

• QB Chad Henne mentioned that he expects WR Cecil Shorts to be a focal point of their offense in Week 12. (Florida Times Union)
• WR Cecil Shorts put in a limited practice on Thursday. (John Oehser)
• WR Mike Brown did not practice on Thursday. (Ryan O’Halloran)
• WR Stephen Burton still hasn’t been cleared to practice. (Ryan O’Halloran)

Jets

• WR Santonio Holmes put in a limited practice on Thursday. (Rich Cimini)

Lions

• WR Calvin Johnson returned to practice on Thursday. (Chris McCosky)
• RB Joique Bell returned to practice on Thursday. (Chris McCosky)
• S Glover Quin returned to practice on Thursday. (Chris McCosky)
• TE Brandon Pettigrew put in a limited practice on Thursday. (Tim Twentyman)

Packers

• WR Randall Cobb mentioned he’s not sure if he will be able to play again this season. (Green Bay Press-Gazette)
• WR James Jones admitted that he has been playing through pain since returning from a PCL sprain in Week 9. (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

Panthers

• LB Chase Blackburn is targeting a Week 13 return. (Charlotte Observer)

Patriots

• QB Tom Brady referred to RB Shane Vereen as a “hugely important part of our offense.” (Boston Globe)

Raiders

• QB Terrelle Pryor could be active as Matt McGloin‘s backup this weekend. (CSN Bay Area)
• LT Jared Veldheer is expected to return in Week 13. (Steve Corkran)
• HC Dennis Allen mentioned on Wednesday that RB Darren McFadden is “definitely getting closer” to returning. (Steve Corkran)
• WR Andre Holmes is expected to start in place of Denarius Moore if he is unable to play in Week 12. (CSN Bay Area)
• WR Denarius Moore did not practice on Thursday. (Vittorio Tafur)
• RB Darren McFadden did not practice on Thursday. (Scott Bair)

Ravens

• TE Dennis Pitta mentioned that he is “going to take it slow” reacclimating himself to the Raven’s offense. (ESPN.com)

Redskins

• WR Josh Morgan is expected to return to the starting lineup now that Leonard Hankerson is done for the season. (ESPN.com)
• Redskins placed WR Leonard Hankerson on season-ending injured reserve.
• The Redskins announced that WR Leonard Hankerson also has a torn ACL in his knee.
• TE Jordan Reed did not practice on Thursday. (Chris Russell)
• Redskins signed WR Lance Lewis to their active roster. (Grant Paulsen)

Steelers

• TE Matt Spaeth has resumed practicing and is expected to be activated from injured reserve in the coming weeks. (Scott Brown)

Titans

• LB Moise Fokou returned to practice on Thursday and will be active for Week 12. (Nashville Tennessean)

Vikings

• HC Leslie Frazier mentioned on Wednesday that he is “cautiously optimistic” that RB Adrian Peterson will play in Week 12. (St. Paul Pioneer Press)
• WR Greg Jennings returned to practice on Thursday. (St. Paul Pioneer Press)