MANNING BACK TO PRACTICE
ENGLEWOOD(AP) – Peyton Manning returned to practice Thursday after the Denver Broncos held him out a day earlier because of a minor ankle injury. Joining Manning on the practice field was right tackle Orlando Franklin, who missed last week’s game with a sprained left ankle. Manning would certainly welcome the return of Franklin to the lineup against Washington on Sunday. He was knocked down 10 times at Indianapolis last week, when he was sacked a season-high four times with backup tackles Chris Clark and Louis Vasquez unable to hold the edge consistently against the likes of Robert Mathis (two sacks). Manning was one of eight starters who skipped Wednesday’s workout, most of whom returned Thursday.
BRONCOS LINEBACKER RETURNING TO LINEUP
ENGLEWOOD (AP) – Champ Bailey’s return didn’t do the trick. Neither did Von Miller’s. Maybe Wesley Woodyard’s comeback will revive Denver’s defense. The Broncos (6-1) plan to welcome back their middle linebacker and co-captain Sunday when they face the Washington Redskins (2-4). Woodyard went out with a shoulder stinger in the first half against Dallas earlier this month and in the 10 quarters since, the Broncos have surrendered a whopping 86 points – more than AFC West rival Kansas City (81) has allowed all season. Woodyard said his injury is “something that I’m going to have to stay on top of the whole season, but I feel good and I feel healthy.”
BOSTON (AP) – Game 2 of the World Series gets underway within the hour at Fenway Park. The Boston Red Sox own a 1-0 series lead following last night’s 8-1 pounding of the St. Louis Cardinals. John Lackey goes to the mound for the Red Sox this evening against Cardinals rookie Michael Wacha (WAH’-kah).
BOSTON (AP) – Carlos Beltran is in the Cardinals’ lineup tonight, batting second and playing right field. Beltran was hurt robbing David Ortiz of a grand slam last night and was taken to a hospital for tests after slamming into the outfield wall. X-rays and a CT scan were negative.
BOSTON (AP) – Red Sox pitcher Jon Lester says there was no Vaseline or other illegal substance in his glove when he shut out St. Louis for 7 2/3 innings last night. Lester says his glove contained only rosin, a legal substance found on pitcher’s mounds. A Cardinals minor leaguer posted a screen shot on Twitter showing a green substance on Lester’s glove and wrote: “Jon Lester using a little Vaseline inside the glove tonight?”
ST. LOUIS (AP) – St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher has declined to address reports he tried to lure Brett Favre (fahrv) out of retirement to replace Sam Bradford, who is out for the season with a knee injury. Fisher said today he wouldn’t discuss players contacted after Bradford tore his left ACL on Sunday at Carolina, although he confirmed Tyler Thigpen also worked out.
NEW YORK (AP) – Phoenix Suns forward Markieff (mahr-KEEF’) Morris has been suspended for one game without pay by the NBA for elbowing Oklahoma City’s Serge Ibaka (surj ih-BAH’-kah) in the face. Morris will sit out the Suns’ regular-season opener Wednesday night against Portland.
