Thumb Injury Could Keep McNair on Titan Sideline

Tennessee Titan quarterback Steve McNair missed practice Friday for the second day in a row because of a sprained thumb and is questionable for Sunday’s game at Jacksonville.

Coach Jeff Fisher said McNair’s status will be a game-time decision.

“If he can throw the ball in warmups, he’ll play,” Fisher said.

Backup Neil O’Donnell has been taking snaps with the first team.

The injury occurred on the last play of Wednesday’s practice when McNair banged his throwing hand into the helmet of running back Mike Green. His nail was crushed.

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Running back Jerome Bettis returned to practice and pronounced himself ready for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ game at Cincinnati on Sunday.

Bettis was held out of practice for two days because of a contusion on his lower left leg. He went through a full workout Friday and said he was fine.

“We were trying to get the swelling down and that’s why I didn’t practice for a couple of days,” he said.

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Elvis Grbac’s sore right index finger kept him out of practice again and all signs are pointing at Warren Moon to be Kansas City’s starter Sunday at San Diego against the winless Chargers.

Moon, 44, has been Grbac’s backup these past two seasons and has not started since Nov. 22, 1998, when he was with Seattle.

Coach Gunther Cunningham said he hadn’t made a decision.

“I still have my options open,” Cunningham said. “If Warren starts, he will be effective. He can still throw the ball.”

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Charlie Batch, who led the Detroit Lions to victory over New England despite bruised ribs, will start next week when the Lions play at NFC Central-leading Minnesota, Coach Gary Moeller said. . . . Running back Sammy Morris, who leads the Buffalo Bills with five touchdowns, will sit out his second consecutive game because of a sprained ankle. . . . Denver Bronco running back Terrell Davis’ playing status was downgraded to “doubtful” for Sunday’s game at Seattle. . . . The Kansas City Chiefs signed defensive tackle Norris McCleary to a three-year contract and put Andre O’Neal on injured reserve. . . . Running back Thomas Hamner signed a two-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, filling the spot created after running back Amp Lee was released. . . . The NFL has surpassed the one-million mark in paid attendance two weeks in a row for the first time in its 80-year history.