Leftwich hurts ankle in Falcons’ practice

Just as Byron Leftwich was celebrating his increased practice time with the Atlanta Falcons, the quarterback left the field Thursday after twisting his right ankle.

Leftwich sat out 15 games with injuries the last two years with the Jacksonville Jaguars, including 10 games with a bad ankle.

The good news for Leftwich this time: The injury is not serious, and it’s not the same ankle that shut down his 2006 season.

“It’s OK. It’s a minor sprain,” Leftwich said, adding the Falcons’ medical staff “didn’t want me to do anything further to it.”

The quarterback is hopeful of playing Monday night against the New York Giants.

Dallas Cowboys quarterbacks coach Wade Wilson is back at work after completing his five-game NFL suspension for buying and using performance-enhancing substances that he said were to try to “improve the quality” of his life after living with diabetes for more than 20 years.

His first game is Sunday’s hyped matchup of 5-0 teams against the New England Patriots and Coach Bill Belichick, who didn’t sit out a game when he got in trouble for something that could have affected the outcome of a game.

Belichick was fined $500,000 -- five times more than Wilson was fined -- but wasn’t suspended for violating a league rule that prohibits clubs from using video cameras on the sideline for any purpose.

“I have my personal thoughts, but I don’t think they really mean too much,” Wilson said. “The commissioner made his decision. . . . Personally, I thought I was treated pretty harshly.”

California’s high court said it would consider whether the San Francisco 49ers’ policy to pat down fans before they enter a home game is an invasion of privacy. The justice’s decision follows a 2-1 ruling in July by a lower court allowing the searches. Two season-ticket holders sued the team in 2005 for privacy invasion after the 49ers instituted the policy as part of the NFL’s anti-terrorism security efforts.

David Carr, listed as Carolina’s No. 1 quarterback with Jake Delhomme set to undergo season-ending elbow surgery, did not practice for a second day in a row because of a sore back.

Vinny Testaverde, signed on Wednesday, and the undrafted Matt Moore, signed just over a month ago, took all the snaps for the second consecutive day. Coach John Fox wouldn’t say which player he’d use if Carr can’t play.

Miami quarterback Trent Green returned to South Florida after undergoing tests in Kansas City for a concussion, his second in 13 months, but the Dolphins are awaiting additional results from specialists before determining his status.

Minnesota Vikings defensive end Erasmus James was listed on the team’s injury report with a shoulder injury, one day after reportedly getting into a fight with teammate Chester Taylor in the locker room.

Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth did not practice for the second day in a row because of a sore ankle.