Player Notes

NFL Team Report - Denver BroncosPLAYER NOTES --Tight End Jeff Heuerman was placed on injured reserve this week. He suffered a bruised lung and three broken ribs in the win over Pittsburgh on Nov. 25. --LB Brandon Marshall returned to practice this week after missing three games with a knee injury. His status for Sunday's game has not been announced. --LB Shaquil Barrett suffered a torn hip flexor ...

NFL Team Report - Denver Broncos--Denver cornerback Chris Harris Jr. needs just one interception to reach 20 for his career with Denver. The undrafted free-agent signee out of Kansas in 2011 would become the 12th player in franchise history to have at least 20 interceptions. He got his 19th against Pittsburgh on Nov. 25 while playing most of the game opposite Antonio Brown. "It was tough, we knew it ...

NFL Team Report - Denver BroncosBroncos staying alive in playoff chase There is budding optimism in Denver these days. After being left for dead in terms of their playoff chances, the Broncos (5-6) are a game out of the second AFC wild card with five games remaining following two straight wins. And they might just rally to reach the postseason after losing six of seven games. One of the biggest reasons ...

NFL Team Report - Green Bay PackersPLAYER NOTES --WR/KR Trevor Davis, who spent most of the season on injured reserve before being activated for the Week 11 game at Seattle, will miss this week's game after aggravating his hamstring on Sunday at Minnesota. Davis is hoping he'll be able to play again this season. He said, "It's understanding triggers before they happen, so I kind of saw it coming ...

NFL Team Report - Green Bay Packers--Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has come under rare criticism for Green Bay's offensive struggles, which are rooted in part by his 61.7 percent completion rate that is the seventh-worst in the league. "I'm a two-time all-USA Fundamental Team," Rodgers said. "I have the big helmets in my office. I don't think I need to respond about fundamentals. I mean, I drill the fundamentals. ...

NFL Team Report - Green Bay PackersSlumping Packers finally get some home cooking One look at the schedule in April, and it was easy to see the make-or-break stretch for the Green Bay Packers. After a Week 7 bye, the Packers were scheduled to play at the Rams and Patriots, home vs. the Dolphins, then at the Seahawks and Vikings. The Packers emerged broken from that five-game gauntlet. They lost ...

NFL Team Report - Chicago BearsPLAYER NOTES --QB Mitchell Trubisky (shoulder) practiced Wednesday only on a limited basis. Trubisky did not throw during his participation, in the individual portion of practice. He was only handing off or running. He'll likely be a game-time decision on Sunday. --DE Akiem Hicks (heel) did not practice Wednesday due to Achilles soreness. His status for Sunday's game ...

NFL Team Report - Chicago Bears--Safety Eddie Jackson continues to amaze with his two touchdown returns in successive weeks. "Eddie Jackson. Eddie Jackson, he'll make a play anywhere," defensive end Akiem Hicks said. "We've got guys like that all throughout every position room. Guys that will come up with that clutch play and guys that it means a lot to. I think that's what makes us special." Jackson, ...

NFL Team Report - Chicago BearsIf QB Daniel plays, he'll have practice this time Chase Daniel looks at his two-touchdown, 230-yard passing effort in last week's 23-16 win for the Chicago Bears over the Detroit Lions and sees room for improvement, even though he had no practice time. "I'm a perfectionist so what I try to do is look at the negatives of the game and try to improve on it," Daniel said. ...

NFL Team Report - Pittsburgh SteelersPLAYER NOTES --TE Vance McDonald injured his hip against Denver, AND did not practice Wednesday. --TE Xavier Grimble, who entered the concussion protocol after the Denver game, went through a full practice Wednesday. --OLB Bud Dupree suffered a pectoral injury against Denver and did not practice Wednesday. --DE Stephon Tuitt, who missed the past two games ...