Faulk Might Play Sunday After Injury Found to Be Less Serious

Marshall Faulk hasn’t been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the New York Jets despite a bruised right knee.

“He really could possibly play this week,” St. Louis Ram Coach Mike Martz said Monday. “We’re not going to rule the possibility of him playing completely out.

“At this point, he’s listed as out. We’ll just see where he is.”

Minutes after the Rams’ 15-14 victory over the Giants on Sunday, Martz said that Faulk, the NFL’s MVP last year, probably would miss three to four weeks. But that was because the team believed he had strained a ligament, which has had two operations since last November.

An MRI test after the game showed a bruise and no ligament or cartilage damage. Martz said he’ll probably have to talk Faulk into sitting this one out.

Martz said Faulk can’t further damage the knee, but that it would be an issue of pain tolerance.

“It’s going to be hard to restrain Marshall,” Martz said. “It’ll be very difficult to hold on to him and try to convince him that he needs to rest this thing a little bit.”

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Jacksonville Jaguar left tackle Tony Boselli had successful surgery on his right shoulder and is expected to miss the rest of the season.

The Jaguars have not put Boselli on injured reserve yet, but with a four-month rehabilitation period, he would not be ready to play until February. The Jaguars said a decision on his roster spot is expected in the next few days.

Last week, the Jaguars signed Todd Fordham, who is scheduled to start at left tackle Thursday when Jacksonville plays Buffalo.

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Oakland Raider running back Tyrone Wheatley, the team’s leading rusher last season, hurt his right knee during Sunday night’s game against the Indianapolis Colts.

Wheatley was expected to have an MRI on Monday, Coach Jon Gruden said.

“He did miss some time early in the game. I believe it happened early in the first quarter, when he missed a couple series and came back to play,” Gruden said.

Guard Mo Collins, who missed his second consecutive game, also was scheduled to have an MRI on his right calf. Collins also has had trouble with hamstring tendinitis this season.

Safety Marquez Pope was nursing a sore hamstring.

“I think the bye week is coming at a good time for some of these players,” Gruden said.

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Denver Bronco quarterback Brian Griese is questionable for Sunday’s game against the San Diego Chargers, although tests showed no structural damage in his right shoulder, an injury he aggravated Sunday against the Seahawks.

“We’re all very happy there’s no structural damage,” Coach Mike Shanahan said. “The question is, ‘How long will it take him to get back?’ I don’t know that answer.”

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Tennessee Titan receiver Justin McCareins will have a pin inserted in his broken ankle and miss from six to eight weeks. The Titan receiving corps took another hit with rookie Eddie Berlin having a separated shoulder that could keep him out up to a month. ... Matt Hasselbeck is the probably starter at quarterback for the Seahawks’ next game on Oct. 28 despite Trent Dilfer’s 2-0 record this season and 13-game winning streak as a starter, Coach Mike Holmgren said. ... After an NFL record 1,187 punts, Lee Johnson was cut by the New England Patriots, six weeks before his 40th birthday. Johnson said he wouldn’t rule out going to a fifth team in his 17th season, but “I don’t think anybody would pick me up right now.” ... Cincinnati Bengal receiver Chad Johnson will miss about six weeks because of a broken collarbone. The injury to starting cornerback Rodney Heath is much more severe. He tore his left hamstring and might need surgery. ... Minnesota Viking wide receiver Randy Moss is listed as questionable for this week’s game against Green Bay because of an ankle injury. ... Carolina linebacker Kory Minor, coming off his first career start, will miss four weeks with a sprained knee. ... Linebacker coach Jim Vechiarella, who made the play calls while defensive coordinator Joe Pascale was out, resigned from the San Diego Chargers.