AROUND THE NFL

Just when it couldn’t get any worse for the woeful Cleveland Browns, it got worse.

The team has been sacked by flu.

On Wednesday, 12 players, including Pro Bowl nose tackle Shaun Rogers and five other starters, missed practice with flu-like symptoms as the team began installing the game plan for Sunday’s matchup against the Green Bay Packers.

Coach Eric Mangini scaled back the workout in hopes of keeping his healthy players from getting sick. He’s also emphasizing preventive measures to stop the virus from spreading deeper through the team. If players are showing any symptoms, the Browns are sending them home.

Mangini implied the sick players had not been tested for H1N1 virus. He said some of the cases were new, and he might not be able to reveal any test results because of medical privacy laws.

The Browns’ sick players are: Rogers, running back Jerome Harrison, center Alex Mack, cornerback Anthony Madison, safety Brodney Pool, tight end Robert Royal, wide receiver Chansi Stuckey, linebacker Jason Trusnik, defensive end Brian Schaefering, fullback Lawrence Vickers, defensive end Corey Williams and linebacker Kamerion Wimbley.

The NFL has roster provisions to protect teams overwhelmed by swine flu.

Sanders is close to playing

Indianapolis Colts safety Bob Sanders hopes to make his season debut Sunday at St. Louis.

The 2007 NFL defensive player of the year, who has not played in a game since January, is expected to participate in most of the team’s practice work this week.

Bills look at backup quarterback

Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards missed practice days after sustaining a concussion, making backup Ryan Fitzpatrick the likely starter at Carolina this weekend.

Though Dick Jauron didn’t rule out Edwards, the coach Wednesday said the quarterback was recuperating at home and did not attend team meetings.

Green goes back

Ahman Green is back with the Packers, taking a reduced role to get the chance to write a new ending to what had been a standout career until he left Green Bay as a free agent in 2007. Green has been out of football since the Houston Texans cut him in February.

Bengals’ Smith practices

First-round draft pick Andre Smith wasn’t allowed to bump into anybody during his first in-uniform practice with the Cincinnati Bengals, an indication that he’s still a long way from playing regularly.

Smith missed most of training camp in a holdout and then broke his left foot during practice two days after signing.

Etc.

Arizona wide receiver Anquan Boldin sat out practice with a sprained ankle. . . . Minnesota cornerback Antoine Winfield did not practice because of a sprained right foot.