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Running back Reggie Bush returned to practice while four other New Orleans Saints starters sat out on Wednesday. Bush had 113 total yards in the Saints’ 31-10 win over San Francisco on Sunday in three quarters before leaving the game with bruised ribs. “I’m feeling good. It’s football. This is a physical sport,” Bush said.

Cleveland nose tackle Ted Washington’s season ended Wednesday when the Browns placed the massive 17-year veteran on injured reserve. Washington began the season as a starter, but was inactive for two games as Ethan Kelly started in the 39-year-old’s spot. The Browns said Washington has an injured left knee.

Terrell Owens expects nothing but affection from Philadelphia fans Sunday night. He just figures it will come disguised as boos. “They still love me, I don’t care what they say,” Owens said. “Those boos, they ain’t really boos, man. There’s a lot of love in those boos. They ain’t got no choice but to boo me because I’m on the other side.

John Lynch said he felt optimistic Wednesday that the stinger he suffered Monday night was unrelated to his 2004 neck surgery — but the concerned look on his face and the worry in his voice belied that brave front. “I’m feeling all right, obviously not too well when you’ve got to come out of a game.

Detroit Lions quarterback Jon Kitna and his wife dressed up as a naked man and a fast-food drive-through attendant at a teammate’s Halloween party, depicting an embarrassing moment for one of the team’s assistant coaches. Now Kitna is getting some flak on local TV and in a newspaper column. Kitna said he was just trying to have fun, but regrets the scrutiny the costumes created.

Jaguars defensive tackle Marcus Stroud practiced as usual Wednesday despite uncertainty about his future. A newspaper and a radio station reported that Stroud is facing a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s steroids and related substances policy. The Florida Times-Union and WJXL-AM in Jacksonville, citing anonymous sources, said Stroud tested positive for banned supplements.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Panthers quarterback Vinny Testaverde missed practice Wednesday, leaving David Carr the front-runner to start on Sunday at Tennessee.

The Jacksonville Jaguars signed defensive tackle Grady Jackson to a one-year contract Wednesday and placed defensive tackle Tony McDaniel on injured reserve. Jackson, a 6-foot-2, 350-pound run-stopper who led the league with 13 tackles for a loss last season, started the first seven games for Atlanta before his surprising release last week.

Jonathan Vilma, the Jets’ defensive captain, ended his weeklong silence regarding his season-ending injury Tuesday during a conference call, but cleared up next to nothing.

The National Football League absolved Cincinnati defensive end Robert Geathers yesterday for his hit on Kansas City quarterback Trent Green, emphasizing that quarterbacks are responsible for avoiding hits by sliding. Green sustained a serious concussion Sunday after being hit by Geathers. He will miss at least two games.

Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry received a two-game suspension from the N.F.L. on Friday for violating its conduct and substance-abuse policies.

Pete Kendall’s recent past and present will collide Sunday at the stadium he called home for the past three seasons when his new team, the Washington Redskins, visit the Jets.

The Giants are counting on key differences — physical health and mental maturity, mostly — to forge a different outcome in November and December than they had last season.

Is it ever better to be 3-4 instead of 4-3? Sometimes, if the Web site Coolstandings.com is to be believed.

When the Patriots lost to the Colts in the American Football Conference championship game last season, their top three wide receivers were Reche Caldwell, Jabar Gaffney and Troy Brown. When this season began, all three had been replaced — with Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Donte’ Stallworth — in what may turn out to be the biggest bargain in league history. The cost to New England? Nothing for Stallworth, who signed as a free agent. Moss was acquired from the Raiders for a fourth-round pick, whi…

DeShawn Wynn’s season is over, while Koren Robinson’s could begin Sunday at Kansas City. With their roster exemption from the NFL for Robinson expiring, the Green Bay Packers added the reinstated wide receiver Tuesday, making room for him on the 53-man roster by placing Wynn, their leading rusher, on season-ending injured reserve.