McNair set to start against Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Steve McNair will start Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals, but offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden will be out for the second consecutive week.

McNair sat out last week’s win over the New York Jets because of a groin pull.

“Steve seems to have gotten through the week OK, so hopefully it will show up that way on Sunday,” Ravens Coach Brian Billick said Friday. “It was just a matter of how he felt. He felt pretty good, so that was the key.”

Meanwhile, Ogden is definitely out because of a nagging turf toe injury and a sprained left foot.

“It won’t be this week, but he’s progressing,” Billick said.

Philadelphia Eagles tight end L.J. Smith underwent surgery for an injured groin and won’t play Sunday against the Detroit Lions. All-Pro safety Brian Dawkins sat out practice again because of a neck stinger and will be a game-time decision, and Pro Bowl cornerback Lito Sheppard probably will sit out his second consecutive game because of a knee injury.

Smith had off-season surgery for a sports hernia, then injured his groin early in training camp. He sat out the preseason and has four receptions for 26 yards in two games.

Miami Dolphins middle linebacker Zach Thomas will not play Sunday against the Jets after tests revealed he has a mild concussion. He might be available to play next week, Coach Cam Cameron said.

Thomas played every snap in Miami’s loss Sunday to Dallas but said he felt lightheaded in the locker room after the game. He complained of a migraine this week and sat out practice for the third day in a row Friday.

The game will be only the 14th Thomas has skipped in his 12-year career.

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle John Henderson sat out his third consecutive practice and was listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game at Denver.

Henderson, a two-time Pro Bowl selection who has not missed a game in his six-year career, suffered a concussion last week against the Atlanta Falcons.

He returned to the game later, then had to be helped to the locker room with what team officials called “heat-related issues.”

If Henderson does not play, Rob Meier probably will start alongside Marcus Stroud.

The San Francisco 49ers put Manny Lawson on injured reserve, ending the linebacker’s season two days after he tore a ligament in his left knee. Lawson, a second-year pro and a starter at outside linebacker in the 49ers’ 3-4 defense, was hurt while changing directions on a non-contact play during Wednesday’s practice

San Francisco replaced Lawson on its 53-man roster by signing fullback Zak Keasey from the practice squad before Sunday’s game at Pittsburgh.

Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett returned to his native Texas to be closer to his family for the next phase of his recovery from a life-threatening spinal cord injury.

Accompanied by his mother and girlfriend, Everett was transferred by private plane from Buffalo to Houston’s Memorial Hermann hospital, which provides medical rehabilitation for patients of catastrophic trauma such as brain or spinal-cord injuries.