EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The NFL is expected to look at expanding the ban on launching and helmet hits.
Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay, the co-chairman of the league’s competition committee, believes it will be a topic for his group during the offseason, and changes could be presented to the owners next spring.
“I think the launch will be discussed more and more, and eventually we will see helmet hits modified in the open field,” McKay said.
The competition committee recommends rules changes to the owners, who then vote on them at the annual March meetings. McKay’s committee was influential in getting outlawed the technique of launching — when a player leaves his feet and leads with his head — against defenseless players.
McKay says the idea of potentially banning launching altogether was discussed last year.
“Coaches felt there were too many circumstances where players could be perceived as doing it and were not really,” he said. “It is a big step, not something I expect membership gets comfortable with over a year’s time.”
We won’t see Manning this season
INDIANAPOLIS — The Colts will have to win their last two games the same way they tried to win their first 14 — without Peyton Manning.
Minutes after the previously winless Colts got their first win, 27-13 over Tennessee, team vice chairman Bill Polian said the four-time league MVP will not play this season though he has begun throwing to teammates at the team complex.
“It was determined by the doctors that there was no chance (Manning) would play this year,” Polian said. “His rehabilitation has not come far enough to make it prudent for him to step on the field in game action.”
Surgery set for Bears’ Knox
CHICAGO— Bears receiver Johnny Knox will have surgery today to stabilize a vertebra in his lower to middle back after being taken from the field on a cart in the opening minutes of Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks.
The Bears said the injury is not career-threatening.
“He has total movement throughout his body, has total use of all his extremities, which is good,” coach Lovie Smith said.
Injury updates
Green Bay rookie offensive lineman Derek Sherrod broke his right leg when Kansas City linebacker Tamba Hali rolled into him in the fourth quarter. He had entered the game after starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga went down with a knee injury.
• Giants tight end Jake Ballard left the 23-10 loss to Washington with a right knee injury.
