Redskins Get Duckett in Three-Team Deal

The Washington Redskins were desperate to acquire another running back. The Atlanta Falcons were eager to pick up another receiver. Both teams got their wish Tuesday with a deal involving two former first-round selections taken in consecutive picks in the 2002 draft.

The Falcons traded bruising runner T.J. Duckett to the Redskins and acquired holdout receiver Ashley Lelie from the Denver Broncos.

The Broncos received Washington’s third-round pick in the 2007 draft as part of the deal, according to two officials within the league who spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been officially announced.

Washington had been shopping for a running back since Clinton Portis partially dislocated his shoulder in the exhibition opener against Cincinnati. The Redskins are unsure if he will be ready for the start of the regular season.

The Falcons, meanwhile, were eager to land another receiver after losing Brian Finneran to a season-ending knee injury in the early days of training camp.

Lelie was the NFL’s leader in yards per catch in 2004, but he held out of training camp this year in hopes of forcing a trade.

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Indianapolis defensive tackle Corey Simon is likely to miss a couple of more weeks after having arthroscopic surgery on his injured left knee but was hopeful he could return for the Colts’ regular-season opener.

“It was just that, after the second opinion, we thought it was best to go that way,” he said. “So we took care of it.”

Simon hasn’t practiced since banging his knee Aug. 4.

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Oakland Raiders receiver Ronald Curry returned to the practice field for the first time since he suffered a torn Achilles’ tendon in his left leg in the second regular-season game last year.

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Chicago Bears running back Cedric Benson has been punished by Coach Lovie Smith for leaving the sidelines during Friday night’s exhibition victory over San Diego, and for missing a mandatory postgame meeting. Smith wasn’t specific about a fine or suspension for Benson.

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Carolina receiver Steve Smith missed practice because of an ingrown toenail. Receiver Keyshawn Johnson also missed practice for personal reasons.

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Pro Bowl receiver Hines Ward sat out the team’s afternoon workout because of a strained left hamstring.

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New York Giants linebacker LaVar Arrington returned to practice, a day after a swollen right knee forced him to leave a workout.