AROUND THE NFL \ News and notes

Lions: Jeff Garcia is still the starting quarterback of the Detroit Lions. That doesn't mean he's going to play Sunday in Dallas. Coach Steve Mariucci said Monday that Garcia is still Detroit's No. 1 quarterback, even after Joey Harrington's three-touchdown performance in Sunday's 29-21 victory over Arizona. "We named Jeff our starter a few weeks ago, and since then, I haven't changed my mind," Mariucci said. "Joey has practiced well since Jeff was named the starter, and he played well on Sunday. But we need to see if Jeff freshens up this week or not." Garcia missed the first five games after breaking his leg in the final exhibition game. He started twice -- winning in Cleveland and losing to Chicago -- but has missed the last two games with soreness in the leg, and he didn't sound optimistic Monday. "I don't feel any different," he said. "I haven't really seen myself make the kind of progress that I want. It has been discouraging." Mariucci, though, hopes to have Garcia on the field against the Cowboys. "He's getting close," he said. "We'll just have to wait and see what happens."
Bears: Offensive tackle Fred Miller and center Olin Kreutz acknowledged Monday they were in a fight last week in which Kreutz broke Miller's jaw. "We realize it was something very stupid on both of our parts and it's not going to happen again," Miller said in the locker room as he apologized to his family, his teammates and Kreutz. Details of the fight were not clear, and neither Kreutz or Miller would provide them. Miller needed surgery last week after initially saying he hurt his jaw in a fall at his home. He missed Sunday's game against the 49ers, ending a stretch of 110 straight starts dating back to 1998. He will also be sidelined this Sunday when Carolina visits Soldier Field. Kreutz, a four-time Pro Bowl center, said he didn't know if he could be punished by the team or the league for the fight. "Things got out of hand. Something happened and it just got out of hand," he said.
Bills: Kelly Holcomb was still having headaches Monday, the day after suffering a concussion in Buffalo's 14-3 win over Kansas City. Coach Mike Mularkey said he hasn't determined whether Holcomb or J.P. Losman will start in San Diego on Sunday. Mularkey said that Holcomb's health and how much he can practice this week will factor into his decision. Making his fifth consecutive start since replacing Losman at quarterback, Holcomb did not return after he was hurt in the second quarter when he was sacked by the Chiefs' Jared Allen. Losman took over, making his first appearance since losing his job, and threw two touchdown passes as Buffalo (4-5) stayed a game behind the AFC East-leading New England Patriots. The Bills also lost veteran free safety Troy Vincent, who did not return after hurting his left shoulder. Mularkey said Vincent's status also is uncertain.
Giants: Defensive tackle William Joseph has a dislocated elbow and will miss at least four weeks. Joseph was hurt in the fourth quarter of New York's 24-21 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. The third-year player, a first-round draft choice in 2003 out of Miami, started eight games this season after starting a total of four games in the previous two seasons. He has 19 tackles and two sacks.
Colts: Safety Bob Sanders has no ligament or structural damage in the knee he injured in Sunday's win over Houston. Sanders, who has 60 tackles and one interception this season, hurt his knee during the first half of the 31-17 victory over Houston. "We'll have to see how he is," coach Tony Dungy said of the possibility Sanders could miss the next game at Cincinnati. "It's still probably too early to tell. Hopefully, it's just bruising." Sanders played the past few weeks with wrist and biceps injuries, and Dungy was reluctant to say whether Sanders could play through the latest injury this week.
Cardinals: The sinking Cardinals lost another offensive lineman, starting left guard Reggie Wells (broken left ankle), the latest in a long line of injuries that have plagued the club this season. But standout wide receiver Anquan Boldin (bruised right knee) could be back for Sunday's game at St. Louis. "Your body will tell you when you're ready to go," Boldin said on Monday, "and I think I'm at that point right now." As welcome as Boldin's return would be, especially with Bryant Johnson's shoulder injury, it would not solve the Cardinals' biggest problem on offense -- a woeful running game. While Kurt Warner threw for 359 yards and Larry Fitzgerald caught nine passes for 141 yards and a touchdown, Arizona rushed for 36 yards in 18 carries. The offensive line, depleted by injuries, has had trouble on run blocking all season. The loss of Wells, who started every game at left guard, is the latest blow. The Cardinals have had 23 players miss at least one game due to injury.
Jets: Tackle Jason Fabini was placed on injured reserve after tearing a pectoral muscle. He joins starting center Kevin Mawae (triceps) as members of the offensive line lost this season. To replace Fabini, an eight-year veteran who has started every game he has played as a pro, including 114 regular-season games, the Jets signed rookie tackle Isaac Snell from the practice squad. The Jets have 10 players on injured reserve.
Associated Press
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