The Denver Broncos improved to 8-1 with a win on Sunday, but there was some concern around the team following the game. Peyton Manning took a couple of low hits against the Chargers and was scheduled to undergo a MRI on Monday. The Broncos and Denver fans let out a sigh of relief Monday afternoon with the word that Manning didn't suffer any new damage to his high ankle sprain and would be able to play this week against Kansas City.
NFL news: Peyton Manning OK, Gary Kubiak returns to Texans
The Broncos dodged an injury scare while Houston coach Gary Kubiak returned to work. That and more in the latest NFL news roundup.
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The Broncos are one of the deepest teams in the league, but losing Manning would quickly derail their Super Bowl aspirations. Second-year quarterback Brock Osweiler is Manning's backup and he's only attempted seven regular season passes during his career. The timing of Manning's latest ailment is less than ideal with a huge matchup with the 9-0 Chiefs on the horizon, but Manning has played through a variety of injuries during his career and will apparently do so again on Sunday.
A little a more than a week after suffering a mini-stroke during Houston’s Week 9 game, Gary Kubiak returned to work on Monday. Kubiak suffered a transient ischemic attack (TIA) while walking into the locker room at halftime. He was taken to the hospital where he remained overnight for testing.
Wade Phillips filled in as the interim head coach, but Kubiak will be back on the sidelines on Sunday. He’s easing back into his role and was scheduled to work a half day on Monday. Battle Red Blog said it will be good to have Kubiak back:
Regardless of how you feel about the ongoing horror that is the Texans' 2013 campaign, it'll be great to see Kubes back on the sidelines on Sunday. I have no doubt the crowd at Reliant Stadium will give him a warm welcome back.
After leaving the team due to alleged harassment from teammates, Jonathan Martin is unlikely to return to the team this season. According to a report, Martin said he would like to play again, but feels he can't return to the team. If that is indeed the case, Martin will likely sit out the rest of the season unless the team decides to release him.
Several Miami players have publicly supported Richie Incognito throughout the situation, with some even criticizing Martin for the way he's handled the situation. The lack of support could make the situation even more difficult for Martin if he did choose to return. The NFL, at the request of the Dolphins, is currently investigating the situation, as Kevin Nogle of The Phinsider wrote.
The Bears will once again be without starting quarterback Jay Cutler after he suffered an ankle injury on Sunday. Cutler, playing in his first game since Week 7, left the game late in the fourth quarter and will miss at least Week 11. Josh McCown will start in his place. Head coach Marc Trestman said Cutler is week-to-week.
Chicago will also be forced to play the rest of the regular season without Charles Tillman after the cornerback was placed on injured reserve with a torn triceps. Tillman was given the designation to return, but will be out at least eight weeks. He could return in the playoffs, if Chicago qualifies and advances. With Tillman scheduled to become a free agent after the season, Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. of Windy City Gridiron wrote Tillman may have played his last game for the Bears:
The Bears placed him on the injured reserve with a designation to return, but the earliest he could return is in eight weeks. His regular season is over, and as a free agent to be, so too could his Bears career.
Tennessee's playoff chances took a major hit on Sunday with the Titans' loss to Jacksonville, but the team will likely be forced to play the rest of the season without starting quarterback Jake Locker. Locker suffered what is believed to be a Lisfranc foot injury and will almost certainly be out for the year.
While Locker wasn’t exactly playing at a Pro Bowl level, he was improving and is a significant upgrade over backup Ryan Fitzpatrick. Fitzpatrick struggled in relief work earlier in the season. Without Locker, Jimmy Morris of Music City Miracles said the Titans have no shot of making the playoffs and now the future of head coach Mike Munchak is in question.
Seattle turned in one of its best performances of the season on Sunday, but the Seahawks lost cornerback Brandon Browner to a groin injury in the process. Browner limped off the field early in the game and did not return. Head coach Pete Carroll said the team still doesn't know how extensive the injury is, but Browner could be out "quite a while."
Walter Thurmond came on to replace Browner with Byron Maxwell playing outside when the Seahawks had their nickel defense on the field. Seattle has some depth at cornerback with Jeremy Lane also on the depth chart. Rookie Tharold Simon is currently on the physically unable to perform list and could be activated.
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