Simms is out for the year

Tampa Bay quarterback Chris Simms was put on injured reserve Friday, and the Buccaneers activated third-year backup Luke McCown from the physically-unable-to-perform list.

Simms has been sidelined since his spleen was removed after he took several hard hits during a loss to Carolina on Sept. 24. He was hopeful of playing again this season until doctors told him last week that the earliest he might be able to return would be late December.

McCown partially tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during a workout in June. He was put on the physically-unable-to-perform list during training camp and had to sit out at least the first six weeks of the season.

With Simms out for the season, rookie Bruce Gradkowski is the starter. Tim Rattay is the other backup.

*

New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress, who has not practiced since before last Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay, sat out again because of back spasms.

Burress was downgraded from probable to questionable on the team’s official injury report and will be a game-time decision, according to Coach Tom Coughlin.

Defensive end Osi Umenyiora (hip) and cornerback Sam Madison (hamstring), both starters, did not practice and are listed as questionable. Umenyiora and Madison did not participate in any team drills this week.

*

Oakland left guard Barry Sims will not play at Seattle on Monday night because of an abdominal strain, ending his streak of 68 consecutive starts.

Sims, injured last week against Pittsburgh, will be replaced in the lineup by Corey Hulsey, Raiders Coach Art Shell said.

Running backs Justin Fargas (shoulder) and Zack Crockett (knee) did not practice, and Shell said it would be a game-time decision on whether either of them will be ready to play against the Seahawks.

*

Washington Redskins receiver Santana Moss sat out his sixth consecutive practice because of an injured left hamstring and isn’t expected to play Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys.

On Washington’s official injury report, he was downgraded from questionable to doubtful.

Asked whether he’d ruled out Moss for Sunday’s game, Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs said: “Yeah. Looks more and more like it will be hard to have him go.”

*

The Indianapolis Colts may have to stop New England’s strong running game without safety Bob Sanders, who sat out practice after his surgically repaired right knee stiffened, the second consecutive week he’s had a setback.

Sanders practiced Oct. 25 but returned the next day with a swollen, sore knee that forced him to be sit out the rest of the week and the Denver game.

Sanders could be facing a similar scenario this week, because Coach Tony Dungy said it was doubtful Sanders would play.

*

Cornerback Charles Woodson, who has been nursing a bruised left knee, may play Sunday when the Green Bay Packers play at Buffalo. He practiced for the first time this week. Afterward, the team upgraded the four-time Pro Bowler from doubtful to questionable on the injury report.

*

Minnesota Vikings middle linebacker Napoleon Harris, who has a dislocated wrist, will not play in Sunday’s game at San Francisco.

Harris was downgraded to out on the injury report along with receiver Marcus Robinson (bruised lower back), who also sat out Monday night’s game against New England. Dontarrious Thomas will start in Harris’ place.

*

Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens downplayed a report that he falls asleep during team meetings. He said in Friday’s editions of the Dallas Morning News that he informed the Cowboys about a sleeping problem before he signed with them.

“It’s nothing new for me to fall asleep in a meeting,” he said, adding that the problem dates to the first stop of his career in San Francisco.