Carr Is Likely to Start Against Bengals

The Houston Texans upgraded David Carr to probable on their injury report Thursday, another sign he is likely to start Sunday at Cincinnati after sitting out a game because of a sprained right ankle.

Carr rested the ankle for 10 days after twisting it while being sacked at Indianapolis on Oct. 26. Tony Banks led Houston to a 14-10 victory over Carolina on Sunday as Carr watched from the sideline.

Carr had been listed as questionable but was upgraded after getting through practice Wednesday without complications. Coach Dom Capers said Carr would start unless he suffers a setback before Sunday.

*

Doug Flutie took the majority of snaps for the second consecutive day, but San Diego Charger Coach Marty Schottenheimer said he would wait until today to announce his starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against Minnesota.

Schottenheimer said Thursday that he wanted to keep the Vikings guessing as to whether they’ll have to face the scrambling Flutie or Drew Brees, a pocket passer.

“I thought they both did a nice job” Thursday, Schottenheimer said.

“Fortunately, I’m not in the situation where we have to make this decision immediately, and we’re not going to announce it until tomorrow.”

Flutie, 41, replaced the ineffective Brees on Sunday and led the Chargers (1-7) to their only score in a 20-7 loss at Chicago.

*

Denver Bronco linebacker John Mobley is out for the season because of a bruised spinal cord.

The Broncos put Mobley on injured reserve Thursday, making him ineligible for the remainder of the year.

Mobley won’t require surgery but will need six to nine months to heal, doctors said. His agent, Brian Mackler, said the seven-year veteran hopes to return by the start of training camp next season.

Mobley was injured in a collision with two other players during the Broncos’ game at Baltimore Oct. 26. He was temporarily paralyzed and spent the night in a Maryland hospital after being carried off the field.

He is fourth on the team with 46 tackles.

*

New York Jet linebacker Mo Lewis is listed as probable for Sunday’s game against the Oakland Raiders.

Jet Coach Herman Edwards said the 13-year veteran would start at linebacker after sitting out last week’s game because of a hip injury. Rookie Victor Hobson filled in for Lewis and had a team-high 11 tackles Sunday against the New York Giants.

*

Tennessee wildlife officials issued a warning to Tennessee Titan right tackle Fred Miller because his hunting license was expired when he killed a 12-point buck with a bow and arrow.

Miller also killed the deer on land where he didn’t have permission to hunt. He and a friend were hunting Oct. 27 on land near Radnor Lake State Natural Area in Nashville.

“It was a big mix-up,” Miller said. “We actually thought we were on the spot we had permission to hunt, but we weren’t.”