Status of Hawks’ punter up in air
Tom Rouen returned to practice Friday but didn’t perform well enough to persuade Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren that the veteran punter will be healthy enough for Sunday’s game at New England.
Rouen strained his right hamstring in last weekend’s loss to St. Louis.
Holmgren had hoped to make a decision by Friday on whether to let place-kicker Josh Brown handle the punting or to bring rookie punter Donnie Jones off the practice squad. Rouen didn’t make the decision any easier.
“He punted and didn’t punt very well,” Holmgren said. “So we’ll see how he feels tomorrow. If he can’t go, I’ve got to sleep on the decision. Do we bring Donnie up or let Josh do both?”
If Rouen doesn’t make the trip, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will take over as holder on field goals and PATs.
Fiedler to start against Bills
Miami Dolphins quarterback Jay Fiedler said he’ll start Sunday at Buffalo despite missing practice time this week with a cracked rib.
“I’m playing and I’m good to go,” he said.
Fiedler aggravated the injury last Sunday in a 24-10 loss to New England and sat out the end of the game. He missed practice Wednesday but returned Thursday.
Sammy Morris will become the fourth player to start at running back this season for the winless Dolphins, replacing Leonard Henry. Morris, slowed by an ankle injury and a concussion, has been limited to 8 yards in five carries this season.
Bulger good to go for Rams
Rams quarterback Marc Bulger practiced, having mostly recovered from the bruised shoulder he hurt in last week’s overtime victory over the Seahawks.
Bulger, who threw for 325 yards and produced 17 points in the final six minutes of regulation, was listed as probable. Coach Mike Martz said he didn’t know Bulger had been hurt until the day after the game.
“He needed to throw yesterday and he said he felt great today,” Martz said. “He’s back to normal. I was very concerned originally but there’s no effect at all — he had all the zip.”
Defensive tackle Tyoka Jackson has not practiced all week because of a pulled left hamstring and said his chance of playing against the Bucs on Monday night was “less than 10 percent.”
“Tommy Kalmanir, a starting halfback on the 1951 Los Angeles Rams championship team and former Oakland Raiders assistant coach, has died. He was 78.
Kalmanir died Tuesday of pneumonia in Fresno, Calif.
Jaguars lose another lineman
The Jacksonville Jaguars have lost both starting defensive ends for the season.
The Jags placed Lionel Barnes on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. Barnes hurt his shoulder Sept. 19 against Denver. He missed one game but returned to the starting lineup two weeks ago against Indianapolis. He did not play last week at San Diego.
Paul Spicer, who started the first two games opposite Barnes, was lost for the season with a knee injury.
The Jags have tried to solidify their defensive line as they prepare to host Kansas City on Sunday.
They claimed defensive end Elton Patterson off Cincinnati’s practice squad and signed him to a contract.
The Jaguars also re-signed defensive lineman Derrick Ransom, who they cut Sept. 5.
Arrington, Hall out for Redskins
Washington Redskins linebacker LaVar Arrington and kicker John Hall were ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears.
Arrington will miss his fourth consecutive game since having knee surgery on Sept. 22.
Hall strained his groin during practice on Thursday.