All Television Blackouts Are Lifted For Only the Second Time in History

All 15 NFL games this weekend were sold out in advance of the local blackout deadline and will be televised in the home teams’ market area.

It was only the second time in the 27-year history of the policy that all games sold out in advance of the deadline, permitting the blackout to be lifted.

The only other time it happened was Sept. 6-7, 1998, the opening weekend of that season.

All NFL games have been televised in the visiting team’s market since 1962.

The sellouts kept NFL attendance on a record-setting pace. Paid attendance for the season’s first 10 weeks averaged 66,155 fans a game, up from last year’s record of 65,349.

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This is finally the week the St. Louis Rams take the wraps off their first-round pick.

Coach Mike Martz said running back Trung Canidate, who dressed but did not play last week, will see action in the first quarter Sunday against the New York Giants.

“I’m excited where he is right now,” Martz said Friday. “So I’m anxious to see him play a little bit.”

A little bit would be a lot for Canidate, who’s been dogged by injuries. He missed most of training camp with a high ankle sprain and has missed all but two games of the regular season with a sprained foot.

“This is looking like it, finally,” Canidate said.

“I’m not going to shoot the gun, but it’s looking like I’m going to be getting out there.”

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San Diego starting cornerback DeRon Jenkins sprained his right ankle during practice and his status for San Diego’s game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday is uncertain.

Jenkins was injured while covering wide receiver Trevor Gaylor. Jenkins, who sprained the same ankle earlier this season, left the trainer’s room walking with a noticeable limp.

“I can’t believe this happened,” Jenkins said. “It is just one of those freak things.”

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Indianapolis defensive tackle Ellis Johnson, on the mend from knee surgery, has reinjured himself.

Johnson was hurt during pass-rush drills and was unable to finish practice, Coach Jim Mora said.

“It doesn’t look real encouraging right now,” Mora said.

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The third week of jury selection in former NFL player Rae Carruth’s murder trial at Charlotte, N.C., ended with two alternate jurors still to be selected before opening statements and testimony can begin.

Carruth, 26, a former wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers, is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Cherica Adams, who was eight months pregnant with his child when she was shot last November.

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Seattle cornerback Willie Williams missed practice for the third consecutive day because of a neck stinger.

Coach Mike Holmgren listed Williams as probable for Sunday’s game at Jacksonville, meaning there is a 75% chance he will play.

If Williams is unavailable, Chris Canty will start in his place. Holmgren called Williams’ status a game-day decision.

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The Miami Dolphins waived third-string quarterback Mike Quinn and signed linebacker Tommy Hendricks off the practice squad.