JUDGE EXTENDS INJUNCTION IN DOPING CASE
MINNEAPOLIS — A federal judge extended his preliminary injunction against the NFL’s suspension of five players for violating the league’s anti-doping policy, a move their lawyer said will let them play the rest of the season.
In his ruling Thursday, U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson asked both parties to propose a schedule by Dec. 22 for further proceedings that would lead to an eventual hearing on the merits of the case, a process that could take months. The regular season ends Dec. 28.
Kevin Williams and Pat Williams of the Vikings and Charles Grant, Deuce McAllister and Will Smith of the Saints were suspended last week for four games each. They tested positive during training camp for a banned diuretic, bumetanide, in the dietary supplement StarCaps.
Bumetanide can be used as a masking agent for steroids.
• Vikings defensive end Jared Allen missed his second straight practice with a knee injury, and quarterback Gus Frerotte was held out with a bad back.
Tarvaris Jackson took all the snaps with the starters and is poised to make his first start in more than three months Sunday at Arizona.
Cassel returns to practice
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Quarterback Matt Cassel returned to practice with the Patriots after missing Wednesday’s workouts following his father’s death.
Although the Patriots made no announcement, Cassel seems likely to start Sunday against the Raiders.
“I think it’ll be good for Matt,” linebacker Mike Vrabel said. “I don’t think anybody can really relate to losing a parent, especially a father, but . . . we’ve got a support staff in there, and hopefully he can lean on his teammates.”
Jacobs, Hixon miss practice
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Giants running back Brandon Jacobs (knee) and receiver Domenik Hixon (ankle, foot) missed practice for the second straight day.
Coach Tom Coughlin said Jacobs is feeling better but was uncertain whether the running back would practice today. The coach said Hixon, who has taken over for the suspended Plaxico Burress, thought he could practice Thursday, but doctors told him to rest another day.
Footnotes.
49ers running back Frank Gore, who’s fifth in the NFL with 1,345 total yards from scrimmage, hasn’t ruled himself out of Sunday’s game against the Dolphins even after missing his second straight practice with a sprained ankle.
• Jaguars running back Fred Taylor was placed on injured reserve because of a thumb injury, ending his season with three games left and prompting questions about his future with the franchise.
• Cowboys running back Marion Barber (toe, calf) is a game-time decision for Sunday against the Giants.
• Jets wide receiver Brad Smith has a concussion as a result of a vicious hit he took from San Francisco’s Patrick Willis, and his status for Sunday’s game against Buffalo was uncertain.
• Bills defensive end Aaron Schobel was placed on injured reserve because of a nagging left foot injury, while backup quarterback J.P. Losman is expected to make his second start in a row Sunday against the Jets with Trent Edwards out with a groin injury. Denver Post wire services
