Faulk Back in Lineup Against Redskins

Two weeks after arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, Marshall Faulk will be back in the St. Louis Rams’ starting lineup.

Coach Mike Martz said after Friday’s practice that the running back would play against the Washington Redskins on Monday night. Faulk had practiced for two days, with no swelling in the knee that was operated on Nov. 6 for loose cartilage and torn scar tissue.

“I’d anticipate that he plays for us as much as the knee will allow,” Martz said. “The only concern we would have is when you have that surgery, the knee’s not as strong as it was, so you have to be careful.”

Faulk hasn’t talked about the knee all week, and he had little to say Friday.

“My knee feels good,” Faulk said. “That’s it.”

Faulk has 1,326 yards rushing and receiving, fourth-best in the NFL. He was leading the league when he pulled himself out of the lineup Nov. 5 against the Carolina Panthers.

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Atlanta Falcon quarterback Chris Chandler will start Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers after sitting out last week’s game because of a concussion.

The 35-year-old quarterback, plagued by injuries throughout his career, had two concussions in 1997, his first season with the Falcons.

He started the first 10 games this year, though he was forced to leave a game against the New York Giants with severely bruised ribs.

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Linebacker Warrick Holdman, second in tackles for the Chicago Bears, might be out the remainder of the season because of a twisted left knee.

Holdman, a second-year pro from Texas A&M; who was injured in practice Thursday, won’t play Sunday against Tampa Bay. An MRI exam showed that the injury was serious enough to require arthroscopic surgery, which will be performed Monday.

Trainer Tim Bream indicated that the best the team could hope for was having Holdman back in 2-3 weeks.

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Carolina running back Tshimanga Biakabutuka sat out his third consecutive day of practice because of a toe injury.

Coach George Seifert said he is uncertain about Biakabutuka’s chances of playing Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.

“I’m still skeptical as to whether or not he’ll play. But I guess something could happen,” Seifert said.

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Green Bay Packer wide receiver Antonio Freeman was fined $10,000 by the NFL for improper conduct during last Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay, the league said.

Freeman was fined for knocking the ball out of head linesman Earnie Frantz’s hand after a third-down incompletion in the second quarter. He received a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the play.