Falcon nears return

Atlanta Falcons running back Jerious Norwood practiced Friday for the second consecutive day after missing the team's past four games with a hip flexor.

The Falcons (5-4) hope Norwood, who is listed as questionable for Sunday, can help stabilize his position when they visit the New York Giants (5-4).

"I've been working pretty much every day this week trying to get the (hip) back to normal," Norwood said. "The main thing is it gets tight a lot. As long as I get it loose, it feels pretty good."

Pro Bowl running back Michael Turner is sidelined with a high ankle sprain and not expected to play. He did not practice this week and is listed as doubtful.

GIANTS: Linebacker Antonio Pierce is out indefinitely after an MRI exam on Friday surprisingly revealed a bulging disk in his neck.

SAINTS: Running back Reggie Bush was held out of practice for the third consecutive day and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Tampa Bay.

Bush came out of the St. Louis game with swelling and soreness in his left knee, which was surgically repaired twice in a three-month span a year ago.

Coach Sean Payton says Bush's knee is bruised and swollen.

- The death of the mother of New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees has been ruled a suicide.

Mina Brees , an attorney from Austin, Texas, died Aug. 7 while visiting Colorado. Grand County coroner Brenda Bock concluded this week that the 59-year-old Brees died of a prescription drug overdose and ruled the death a suicide.

BRONCOS: Quarterback Kyle Orton missed a third consecutive practice because of a sprained left ankle and has only an outside chance of playing Sunday when Denver and the San Diego Chargers meet with first place in the AFC West on the line.

Backup Chris Simms again took first-team practice repetitions, as he has all week in the absence of Orton, who was injured during last week's 27-17 loss at Washington.

REDSKINS: Running back Clinton Portis was at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center on Friday to have his concussion evaluated.

Portis saw the same doctors who examined Eagles back Brian Westbrook , who has suffered two concussions in the past month. Portis has been ruled out for Sunday's game at Dallas.

- Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth is questionable because of a sprained left ankle.

EAGLES: For the second consecutive week, Philadelphia will go with a different look at linebacker because of a knee injury to weakside starter Akeem Jordan .

Coach Andy Reid ruled out Jordan for Sunday night's game at Chicago. Will Witherspoon will again start at weakside LB.

RAVENS: Defensive end Dwan Edwards plans to appeal the $5,000 fine he received for a hit delivered to Cleveland Browns wide receiver Joshua Cribbs on Monday night.

SEAHAWKS: Josh Wilson is unlikely to play Sunday at Minnesota because of a concussion, leaving Seattle without a starting cornerback against Brett Favre and the high-flying Vikings.

Coach Jim Mora said after Wilson missed his third consecutive practice that there is only a slight chance he will play.

OPPOSED: The NFL Players Association opposes commissioner Roger Goodell 's call for players to tell their teams' medical staffs if they think a teammate shows symptoms of a concussion.

NFLPA assistant executive director George Atallah told The Associated Press on Friday that Goodell's suggestion is not an adequate solution.

Atallah says that instead of wanting players "to police each other," the league should make sure doctors keep a closer eye on players.