BEREA, Ohio — Peyton Hillis burst through the line and pulled up suddenly after apparently hurting himself again. As his teammates looked on, Hillis slammed the ball to the ground and flung his orange helmet away in disgust.
A miserable, misguided season had taken another bizarre twist.
Hillis re-injured his left hamstring during practice Friday, the latest moment of drama for the Browns’ bruising back whose second year with Cleveland has been one misadventure after the next.
Hillis, who has missed Cleveland’s past two games with the injury, will likely sit out Sunday’s game at Houston — yet another setback for the 25-year-old, who rushed for nearly 1,200 yards last season, endeared himself to Cleveland fans with his bulldozing style and earned the cover of the “Madden NFL ’12” video game, a tribute some warned was a curse.
In Hillis’ case, it’s been just that.
Hillis had returned to practice Thursday for the first time since last week.
Brinkley practices.
Chargers backup running back Curtis Brinkley practiced, his first session since suffering a concussion Monday night at Kansas City.
That means San Diego has a back to spell starter Mike Tolbert when the struggling Chargers host the Packers on Sunday. Ryan Mathews did not practice Friday and missed the entire week with a groin strain. He is listed as questionable on the team’s injury report, but his chances of playing are minimal.
• Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley will not play Sunday night in the AFC North showdown against the Ravens because of a hamstring injury suffered in last week’s win over New England. Pittsburgh’s other former Pro Bowl outside linebacker, though, is expected to play for the first time in a month. James Harrison has missed the past four games with a broken orbital bone, but is probable and will play barring a setback in a doctor’s examination today. Also ruled out was wideout Emmanuel Sanders, who has a knee injury.
Bradshaw doubtful.
Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw does not need surgery to repair a broken bone in his right foot but is doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Patriots. Receiver Hakeem Nicks (hamstring) and center David Baas (knee) are doubtful.
• Arizona quarterback Kevin Kolb (turf toe) is doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Rams. That means second-year pro John Skelton probably will start.
• Quarterback Sam Bradford was active in practice for the Rams, who have listed him as questionable for Sunday’s game. Bradford, who has missed two games with a high left ankle sprain, worked in 7-on-7 drills as well as doing some individual work.
• Texans star receiver Andre Johnson will sit out Sunday’s game against Cleveland as he continues to nurse a right hamstring injury. He developed soreness after a hard workout Monday.
