Harrison’s injury will keep him on bench

The undefeated Indianapolis Colts will play the Carolina Panthers today without wide receiver Marvin Harrison, who was downgraded to out by the team because of a bruised left knee, according to ESPN.com

The Colts will also be without starting weakside linebacker Freddy Keiaho, who is suffering from the effects of a concussion.

--

New York Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury, ending the one-time Pro Bowler’s season after seven games. Vilma, who was hurt in New York’s loss at Cincinnati last Sunday, missed practice all week and was listed as out on the team’s injury report Friday.

“This is a not a career-threatening injury and the doctors expect a full recovery,” said Mitch Frankel, one of Vilma’s representatives.

The loss of one of their defensive captains is the latest disappointing development in a season full of them as the Jets have struggled to a 1-6 start.

--

The New England Patriots activated five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Richard Seymour in time for today’s game against the Washington Redskins. Seymour spent the first seven games of the season on the physically unable to perform list because of a knee injury.

The seven-year veteran practiced for the first time this season Wednesday, but the team had up to three weeks before to either activate him or place him on season-ending injured reserve.

The 6-foot-6, 310-pound Seymour was the Patriots’ first round pick, sixth overall, in the 2001 draft out of Georgia.

He earned five consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 2002 to 2006. Seymour has earned three first-team All-Pro selections from the Associated Press and one AP All-Pro second team selection.

He has 367 tackles, 29.5 sacks and two interceptions, three forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in 87 career games.

In Seymour’s absence, Jarvis Green got more time playing on the defensive line.