Philadelphia Eagles: A California company has sued Terrell Owens for $35 million, claiming he failed to follow through on an endorsement deal, the Philadelphia Daily News reported in Wednesday's editions.
Formulated Sciences Inc. of Laguna Hills, Calif., said in the suit that Owens signed deal in 1999 to promote a nutritional supplement and muscle-pain reliever.
Owens was given T-shirts and promotional items to wear on camera but never followed through, the company said in the lawsuit.
"We are taking this [lawsuit] very seriously, and we feel very strongly about our legal position," Owens' attorney, Jason Knight, told the paper.
Since Korey Stringer's death in 2001, Formulated Sciences has been on a list of companies banned by the NFL.
Rookie running back Thomas Tapeh was placed on injured reserve after dislocating his hip in Philadelphia's loss to St. Louis on Monday night.
Running back Eric McCoo was signed from the practice squad to take Tapeh's roster spot. Wide receiver Carlos Perez was added to the practice squad.
Tapeh, a former University of Minnesota standout, was injured in the final minute of the game against the Rams.
A fifth-round draft pick, Tapeh had 42 yards rushing in seven games. He also caught two passes.
McCoo led NFL Europe with 669 yards rushing and 1,037 total yards this past spring while playing for the World Bowl champion Berlin Thunder.
New England Patriots: Richard Seymour could be ready to play for the Patriots' first playoff game, the Boston Globe reports.
Seymour injured his knee Sunday against the Jets.
Ty Law, who has been out with a broken foot, might also return for the playoffs. Law worked out Sunday but did not play.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Chad Scott, who tore a quadriceps and and hasn't played since Oct. 17, could return Sunday, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Scott might replace Deshea Townsend at right cornerback, opposite of where he played before the injury. Scott has practiced the past two weeks.
"We moved him around at times," coach Bill Cowher told the paper. "He has been a guy that we have used in matchup situations. But he has been practicing over there."
Townsend broke his hand Sunday and had surgery Monday.
Seattle Seahawks: Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck returned to practice Wednesday but wasn't allowed to throw deep, saving his sore right elbow for this weekend's game against Atlanta.
"I'm not going to let him throw deep," coach Mike Holmgren said. "I've been told he can do everything else."
Hasselbeck, listed as probable, was hurt during a Dec. 19 loss to the Jets. He missed last weekend's game against Arizona, the second time this season Trent Dilfer has stepped in and won.
Safety Michael Boulware (foot) and fullback Mack Strong (quadriceps) are both probable, while tackle Walter Jones (ankle) is questionable. There were concerns earlier this week, but Holmgren said all are now expected to play.
"They'll practice all week. They'll come back in stages," he said.
Cornerback Bobby Taylor (knee) is questionable but could return after a six-game absence.
"I have my fingers crossed that he can play," Holmgren said.
Minnesota Vikings: Quarterback Daunte Culpepper, cornerback Antoine Winfield and tight end Jermaine Wiggins -- three of Minnesota's most important players -- were sent home to recover from a flu-like virus that has been circulating within the team for the past month.
Coach Mike Tice said Culpepper's condition was the worst, but Tice said the three-time Pro Bowler will play Sunday at Washington.
Minnesota (8-7) can clinch a wild-card playoff spot with a win or a loss by either Carolina or St. Louis.
Oakland Raiders: Jerry Porter figures if the Raiders wanted to re-sign him, he would have heard something by now.
"It's in their hands. It's Week 17 and they haven't even offered. I've got to get on with my life," Porter said Wednesday. "If they don't want to, I've got to move on. I figured I might have heard something by now, but what do you do? Play this last game out and fulfill my contractual obligations."
Porter said his stance hasn't changed much since he voiced his frustration in October about the number of passes being thrown his way, though he has become a much bigger part of the offense in the season's second half as Oakland's once-loaded receiving corps got hit by injuries.
But Porter wanted to be showcased during his contract year.
The Raiders' second-round draft pick in 2000 out of West Virginia, Porter voided the final year of his contract for next season, already having reached a playing-time clause that allows him to do so.
"I'm voiding, and I'll go from there," he said.
The 26-year-old Porter, who will become a free agent after the season, leads the Raiders (5-10) with 61 catches for 963 yards and nine touchdowns heading into their final game Sunday against Jacksonville. His receptions are a career high and he has scored three touchdowns in a game twice.
Cincinnati Bengals: Running back Chris Perry, Cincinnati's first-round draft pick, went on injured reserve after a
disappointing rookie season.
Rookie receiver Matt Cherry was signed off Jacksonville's practice squad to a three-year deal, taking Perry's roster spot.
Perry was the 26th overall pick in last April's draft after playing for Michigan but played in only two games because of injuries, carrying twice for 1 yard.
He strained a hamstring in the final preseason game and then strained abdominal muscles during practice on Oct. 20 and didn't play again. A specialist examined Perry last week and found he had a hernia.
He will have surgery on Jan. 6 and will need two or three months to heal.
Washington Redskins: Running back Clinton Portis and linebacker
LaVar Arrington were placed on injured reserve.
Cornerback Ade Jimoh also went on the injured list and four players were signed for the season finale against the Vikings.
Portis tore a chest muscle and Jimoh severely sprained an ankle in Sunday's loss to Dallas. Arrington has struggled to return from a knee injury, playing a limited role in two games after missing 11 following surgery in September.
The Redskins also released tight end Dan Goodspeed.
To fill the roster spots, the Redskins signed defensive end
Melvin Williams, tight end Kori Dickerson, running back Dahrran Diedrick and cornerback Rufus Brown.
Diedrick and Brown were on the team's practice squad.
Williams, a fifth-round pick from Kansas State by New Orleans last year, played in 15 games and started two as a rookie with New Orleans last year and had brief stints with San Francisco and Miami.
Dickerson had a brief stint with Philadelphia.
Indianapolis Colts: The Colts placed backup linebacker Jim Nelson on injured reserve Wednesday, ending his season, and activated quarterback Travis Brown from the practice squad.
Nelson broke his collarbone in Sunday's 34-31 overtime victory over San Diego.
To replace Brown on the practice squad, the Colts signed linebacker Andre Sommersell.
Cleveland Browns: Kelly Holcomb's white No. 10 game jersey hung all the way to Alex Sizemore's knees -- and it fit perfectly.
Standing off to the side in the Browns' indoor
practice field, 14-year-old Sizemore clutched the bright orange
helmet signed by players and given to him by the team.
Sizemore is undergoing chemotherapy for chronic myeloid leukemia. The disease is in its third recurrence after a bone marrow transplant in April 2003 failed to eradicate
it.
"He's given me inspiration," said Holcomb, the Browns quarterback who recently learned that he was Sizemore's favorite player. "I look at his mom and I couldn't even imagine what he's going through. I've got three kids of my own."
The Browns also invited Sizemore and his mother, Kim, to the Dec. 19 game against the Chargers, and Holcomb arranged for Sizemore to be on the sideline for pregame warmups.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.