NFL ROUNDUP \ News and notes

Eagles: One by one, players trudged from the locker room, down the hall, through a rotunda and into the auditorium for a rare Monday team meeting. Had the practice facility been a football field, the Eagles would have stopped a few feet shy of actually entering the auditorium and stood around. Philadelphia has been moderately successful at moving ball between the 20-yard lines. But once the Eagles get the ball inside the red zone, they fall into a funk and their disjointed offense fails to get a touchdown. The red zone may as well be a red light for the Eagles: 20 possessions have yielded only six touchdowns and 10 field goals. The Eagles (2-4) failed on their first three attempts against Chicago before Donovan McNabb connected with Matt Schobel for a TD late in their 19-16 loss, and they were 0-for-4 a week earlier against the Jets. Toss out a 4-for-5 effort against Detroit, and the Eagles have two touchdowns in 15 trips inside the 20. No wonder their season is slipping away with each blown chance to score six. “There’s always the chance that you’re trying a little too hard,” coach Andy Reid said. “At the same time, you’ve got to bank on the way we’ve done things in the past down there. We’ve been very good in the red zone. Sometimes these things go in cycles. We’re not the only team that’s been in this situation and turned things around and had a successful season. When things seem a little bit down, you find out who loves to play the game and who’s willing to step up and rise to the occasion. I think I’ve got those kind of guys on this football team and we will get better.”

Falcons: The most pressing concern is the status of quarterback Byron Leftwich, who went down with what appeared to be a high right ankle sprain in his first start for the Falcons. He underwent an MRI Monday, but coach Bobby Petrino wasn’t sure how long Leftwich might be out. “I’m hoping Byron’s on a timetable that he’s back at some point,” Petrino said. Leftwich played well, completing 15 of 23 passes for 145 yards and a touchdown. He also led a pair of scoring drives that ended with field goals by Morten Andersen, giving the Falcons a 13-7 halftime lead. The Falcons also lost starting left tackle Renardo Foster to a knee injury late in their 22-16 loss to New Orleans on Sunday. “Neither one looked good on film,” said Petrino, who sounded more pessimistic about Foster’s chances of playing again in 2007. The Falcons have played the last two games without either of their No. 1 tackles. Todd Weiner underwent arthroscopic surgery that will keep him out as long as six weeks. “If Renardo is out for the year, we’ll have to bring somebody else in,” Petrino said. “Hopefully we’ll get Weiner back at some point.”

Titans: Fullback Ahmard Hall had surgery on a broken left arm Monday and could miss four weeks. Hall broke his arm on Houston’s first onside kick attempt in Sunday’s 38-36 win by the Titans. Hall had gone in for Donnie Nickey, who had hurt an ankle. Coach Jeff Fisher said they had worried Hall’s injury might be season-ending. “It is not, which is good news. The doctor was very pleased with the results. We may have him available to play once again for us after about four weeks,” Fisher said. The coach said he also expects Vince Young to practice Wednesday. Young sat out Sunday’s game because of a strained right quadriceps but was dressed and active if needed. Young still is receiving treatment for his right thigh. Fisher said it was an easy decision not to risk further injury. But he now expects Young to have healed enough so that he can play Sunday when the Titans (4-2) play host to the Raiders (2-4.) “We’re going to be wise about it, and we’ll get him back on the practice field and work him into it. I think two weeks will be sufficient from a healing standpoint to where he won’t re-injure it,” Fisher said.

Broncos: Playing without their two best players, cornerback Champ Bailey and wide receiver Javon Walker, the Broncos beat the Steelers for their first win in more than a month. It took a replacement effort few thought would happen. Domonique Foxworth replaced Bailey, who was out with a nagging left quadriceps injury, and Brandon Stokley took over for Walker, who is out indefinitely following surgery on his right knee. Both Foxworth and Stokley played like the men they were replacing. “Once they get their chance, they take advantage of the opportunity,” coach Mike Shanahan said. “Some people embrace it. Some people can’t handle the pressure. It’s always nice to see guys step up.” Stokley came to Denver in the offseason with a chip on his shoulder. Neglected and unwanted by many other teams in the league, Stokley joined the Broncos and picked up where he left off with the Indianapolis Colts before an Achilles’ injury ruined his 2006 season. Stokley had his best game since Sunday night with five catches for 70 yards and touchdown. Foxworth has played well since entering the league in 2005, but had seen most of his time as the team’s nickel back. “I think Foxy did a great job,” Shanahan said. “He was ready to play, he got all the practice reps during the week. I think he was looking forward to the opportunity to go out there and play.”

Lions: When he explains his defensive scheme, Rod Marinelli can make football sound like nuclear physics. Normally, though, he thinks it is a simple sport. “The one thing that always jumps out at you is the turnover/takeaway battle,” Marinelli said Monday. “That’s always a key.” On Sunday, the Lions forced two turnovers, didn’t commit any, and walked away with a 23-16 victory over Tampa Bay. “That’s the direction you want it to go in,” Marinelli said. “We’re leading the league in points off turnovers: 62 points. We’re cashing in on what we get.”

Rams: RB Steven Jackson could return this week after being out a month with a torn groin. Whether he can make any difference on a beat-up, underachieving, winless team is another story. Coach Scott Linehan’s second season has been a disaster, torpedoed by missed opportunities before collapsing under the weight of injuries. The 0-7 start is the worst in franchise history, taking a 1962 team that finished 1-12-1 off the hook. Linehan, who coached the Rams to an 8-8 record last year, is finding it tougher to be optimistic. His options coming off a lackluster 33-6 loss at Seattle: a home game against Cleveland followed by a bye. “There’s not a lot of things to be too happy about,” Linehan said. “If we put on a good performance at home, we can salvage some things this season.”

Bills: DE Chris Kelsay has a sore left ankle and requires further tests to determine whether he can play at the Jets. Coach Dick Jauron was optimistic the injury was minor. Kelsay limped off the field on his own late in the second quarter of Buffalo’s 19-14 win over Baltimore on Sunday. Kelsay returned to play a portion of the second half. Jauron said he was not optimistic about reserve defensive end Ryan Denney’s chances of returning this weekend. Denney has been out since breaking his left foot in a preseason game against Atlanta on Aug. 17.

Associated Press