Michael Vick returned to practice Thursday for the first time since twice leaving the Atlanta Falcons’ loss last week at Seattle with a tweaked left hamstring.
Coach Jim Mora listed the quarterback as probable for Sunday’s game at Buffalo.
Vick, who walked without a limp, indicated his leg felt better as he strolled through the locker room after practice.
“I’m taking precautions, but at the same time I’m doing what I can to try to strengthen it,” Vick said.
Eagles: Quarterback Donovan McNabb and receiver Terrell Owens practiced after sitting out a day with injuries.
McNabb, who sat out one practice last week with a bruised chest, hurt his groin right before halftime against the San Francisco 49ers. Owens has a nagging abdominal/groin injury.
Also, kicker David Akers, who was limited in practice Wednesday because of a hamstring injury, looked fine and booted a field goal of about 55 yards.
Jets: Running back Curtis Martin, nursing a bruised right knee, practiced and was upgraded to probable for Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“My main thought is all pain is temporary,” Martin said. “It can’t last forever. You can get through it for three hours in a game, and then you can suffer and cry and everything afterward.”
49ers: Tight end Eric Johnson, San Francisco’s leading receiver last season, was placed on injured reserve because of a torn muscle in his left foot. Johnson, who hasn’t been healthy since before training camp, will miss his second full season in three years. He sat out 2003 after breaking his collarbone in the 49ers’ first exhibition game, but had 82 catches for 825 yards last season.
The 49ers used veteran Steve Bush and rookie Billy Bajema at tight end in the first two games, but waiver acquisition Trent Smith might get his first chance to play for the 49ers on Sunday.
Jaguars: Quarterback Byron Leftwich (groin) returned to practice and remained optimistic he would play against the Jets. He was listed as questionable on the injury report.
Panthers: Safety Mike Minter returned to practice and is confident his strained right calf won’t prevent him from playing against the Miami Dolphins.
“There’s no pain, that’s a great sign,” said Minter, who has played in 68 consecutive games. “I went full speed and I was able to break on the ball and do things I normally do. So I feel like I will play.”
Conversely, cornerback Ken Lucas missed his second consecutive day of practice with a shoulder injury and said he doesn’t know if he will play Sunday.
“Believe me, I want to be out there,” Lucas said. “But sometimes as a player you can put yourself in position where you hurt the team by being out there.”
Redskins: Defensive tackle Brandon Noble was placed on injured reserve. Noble, who missed the 2003 season after reconstructive surgery on his left knee, underwent surgery on the same knee last week.
The Redskins moved Aki Jones from the practice squad to take Noble’s roster spot.
