League Clears Shanahan for False Report

Coach Mike Shanahan of the Denver Broncos was cleared of any wrongdoing Thursday after explaining to league officials why he lied about Jake Plummer’s injury during last Sunday’s game against the San Diego Chargers.

“The key is we’re on the same page and moving forward, so the matter that occurred last Sunday is closed,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said. “We’re satisfied that it is resolved and that Mike understands the policy.”

The league started looking into the situation after Shanahan gave a false injury report to CBS during halftime.

Plummer was injured while diving for a first down midway through the second quarter, but Shanahan told the network that the quarterback sustained a concussion instead of a separated right shoulder.

Shanahan came clean after the game, saying he didn’t want the Chargers to have an advantage if backup Steve Beuerlein got hurt and Plummer had to return. The Broncos had only two quarterbacks at the time.

In practice Thursday, Plummer had few problems after testing his shoulder with some longer throws.

He still had some soreness after splitting time with Beuerlein on the first team, but the Broncos expect him to play Monday night against Oakland.

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Cornerback Fred Smoot of the Washington Redskins was briefly knocked unconscious and taken to a hospital because of a mild concussion after a collision during practice at Ashburn, Va.

Smoot took a hit to the head from safety Matt Bowen as they defended Rob Johnson’s pass to Cliff Russell.

Redskin trainer Dean Kleinschmidt said Smoot was unconscious for “less than a minute” and woke up with a headache and back pain before being placed on a board and loaded in an ambulance.

Smoot was released from the hospital in the afternoon. He will be reevaluated today before his status is determined for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants.

If Smoot can’t play, it would be a significant setback for the Redskins. He and Champ Bailey are one of the top corner tandems in the league, and backup Rashad Bauman pulled a hamstring during Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons.

Next in line would be undrafted rookie Ade Jimoh, who allowed a late touchdown filling in as the nickel back against the Falcons. Bauman said the hamstring is sore, but he participated in the full practice.

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Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair practiced Thursday and felt improvement with the dislocated ring finger on his throwing hand.

McNair injured the finger during Sunday’s 33-7 loss to Indianapolis when he caught his hand on Chad Bratzke’s equipment. The finger was more swollen and sore on Wednesday and limited him to only a few passes.

Coach Jeff Fisher said McNair threw well and even took several snaps from center with no problem.

McNair is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against New Orleans because of the finger and his left knee, which he sprained in the season opener against the Raiders.