Cardinals’ defense fighting injuries

The Arizona Cardinals had their Thursday practice without safety Antrel Rolle, but with wide receivers Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston, cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and tight end Stephen Spach. All of the names are mentioned because of injuries.

Rolle missed the practice for the second day because of a sore right foot. He was hurt when his interception was clinched in Sunday night’s 24-17 victory over the New York Giants. And his status for this Sunday’s home game against the Carolina Panthers is still uncertain. But other injured players showed good signs of returning. Very likely we will see them wearing Cardinals jerseys playing against the Panthers.

Boldin took a limited part in practice although a sore ankle continued bothering him; Breaston also practiced on a limited basis while taking care of his knee; also limited in practice was Spach, who missed the game against Giants with an ankle injury; and Rodgers-Cromartie was in much better condition than all of others- he has been a full participant in practice for all the week after spraining his ankle while playing against the Giants.

Jets WR Cotchery will miss second straight game with injured hamstring

The New York Jets Coach Rex Ryan said Friday that wide receivers Jerricho Cotchery and Brad Smith as well as cornerback Lito Sheppard will miss Sunday’s game against the Oakland Raiders because of injuries. And the game is the second straight Cotchery has missed since injuring his left hamstring.

“I was hoping Jerricho would be able to do it,” Ryan said. “We’re going to make that trip all the way out there and we feel it’s best if he stays back and rehabs. That’s what we’re going to do and hopefully get him back at 100 percent for next week.”

The first game Cotchery missed was the loss to the Buffalo Bills last Sunday. He was injured in practice two weeks ago, but was able to play in the loss at Miami on Oct. 12 and had one catch for 4 yards. However, he was not active for the next game in case of worsening the injury and he did not participate in team drills this week.

Ryan is expecting that Cotchery, the team’s leading receiver with 24 catches for 360 yards and a touchdown, will be ready to wear back his Jets jersey and play against Miami next week. But he is not sure if Smith, who was injured in the loss to the Dolphins and hasn’t played since, will be able to play next week, so as to Sheppard, who injured his right quadriceps in victory over the New England Patriots and returned last Sunday but injured himself again.

Bills MLB Posluszny and safety Whitner are likely to play against Jets

The Buffalo Bills will play against the New York Jets this Sunday. To Bills fans’ gladness, staring middle linebacker Paul Posluszny and starting safety Donte Whitner will both probably wear back Bills jersey and play in the game.

Both starters have missed games with injuries. Posluszny has missed the past four games because of a broken forearm, while Whitner missed his second straight game last Sunday because of a thumb injury. Both of them have been able to take part in full practice since Thursday.

Starters also probable for Sunday game include starting cornerback Terrence McGee. But starting safety Bryant Scott and starting right tackle Jonathan Scott are both out for the game both with ankle injuries. Starting linebacker Keith Ellison’s status is questionable.