NFL ROUNDUP News and notes

Rams: Joe Vitt, interim head coach with Mike Martz recovering from a heart ailment, underwent a heart procedure of his own Monday. The 51-year-old Vitt had a cardiac catheterization around 6 a.m. He was back to work at Rams Park by lunchtime. He held his regular 3 p.m. postgame news conference, making a handful of jokes about his health. Vitt told players about the procedure after Sunday's win over the Jaguars. Martz, 54, is being treated for endocarditis, an infection of the lining or the valves of the heart. He will miss the rest of the season. At least three starters are expected to return after the bye week. The exception could be wide receiver Isaac Bruce, who has already missed five games with turf toe. After missing two starts with a sprained shoulder, quarterback Marc Bulger said he'd be back without a doubt for the Nov. 13 game at Seattle. Bulger, injured against the Colts on Oct. 17, had a cortisone injection two weeks ago. Wide receiver Torry Holt (strained knee ligament) stopped short of a guarantee but was optimistic after testing his injury with some running drills. Defensive end Leonard Little, who has missed two games while grieving the shooting death of a younger brother, also is expected to return.
Buccaneers: Simeon Rice, sent home before the 15-10 loss at San Francisco, is likely to return to the lineup against Carolina this week. Although the Bucs didn't announce the reason Rice was deactivated Sunday, the team's sacks leader is believed to have missed a team meeting after the club arrived in California. Coach Jon Gruden said Rice was sent home Sunday morning after the coach met with other members of the coaching staff and general manager Bruce Allen.
49ers: Cody Pickett is likely to be the fourth starting quarterback in five games when San Francisco plays host to the Giants. Coach Mike Nolan believes Alex Smith and Ken Dorsey won't be ready to return from injuries in time to prepare for the game, leaving Pickett, a fourth-stringer just two weeks ago, as the only option. Smith missed San Francisco's victory over Tampa Bay with strained knee ligaments, and Dorsey sprained his left ankle in the fourth quarter. Tim Rattay, the 49ers' starter in the season's first four games, was traded to the Buccaneers two weeks ago.
Bears: Wide receiver Mark Bradley will miss the rest of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. The rookie from Oklahoma had five catches for 88 yards before being hurt late in the first half of Sunday's overtime victory at Detroit. Bradley landed awkwardly after hurdling Lions cornerback Andre Goodman on a 13-yard play. Bradley is second on the Bears to Muhsin Muhammad with 18 catches for 230 yards. The news on running back Thomas Jones was better. Jones missed the final two series of regulation and all of overtime after bruising his ribs, but coach Lovie Smith said, "He should be OK."
Jets: Quarterback Chad Pennington was placed on injured reserve Monday, along with starting center Kevin Mawae and linebacker Eric Barton. Pennington injured the rotator cuff in his right shoulder against Jacksonville on Sept. 25 and was kept on the 53-man roster even though he was declared out and underwent surgery. Barton injured his biceps and Mawae is out with a triceps injury.
Bengals: Cincinnati put safety Madieu Williams on injured reserve, ending his season a week after he had shoulder surgery. The second-year starter played in the first four games, then hurt his shoulder in practice Sept. 30. The Bengals activated guard Steven Vieira to take his roster spot. The undrafted rookie from UCLA sprained a foot in minicamp last April and was placed on the physically unable to perform list.
Eagles: Punter Dirk Johnson has what coach Andy Reid termed a "pretty significant" groin injury. He'll see another doctor today, and his status is uncertain. However, kicker David Akers could return this week against Washington after missing four games with a hamstring injury.
Lions: Two weeks after Jeff Garcia took the starting job from Joey Harrington, Garcia isn't sure he will be healthy enough to start Sunday's game in Minnesota. "Right now, it is tough to say what I'll be able to do," Garcia said Monday. Garcia broke his left leg in Detroit's final preseason game, forcing him to miss the first five games of the regular season, and the injury has not reacted well to game action. Garcia took several hard hits in the 19-13 overtime loss to Chicago. X-rays taken after the game were negative. Coach Steve Mariucci was noncommittal about playing time for wide receiver Charles Rogers, who returns this week after a four-game drug suspension.
Chiefs: Cornerback Patrick Surtain was one of five players undergoing MRI exams Monday, but is probably the only player whose availability for the next game might be in question. Surtain, who has been the Chiefs' only consistent cornerback, hurt his knee during their 28-20 loss at San Diego. Backup cornerback Dexter McCleon, who has been sidelined, could be ready for Sunday's game with Oakland. Also undergoing MRIs were guard Will Shields, defensive end Gary Stills, cornerback Eric Warfield and safety Jerome Woods.
Associated Press
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