DENVER (AP) – Broncos safety John Lynch will be sidelined at least two weeks and perhaps for a month with a fractured tailbone.

Signed as a free agent after Tampa Bay let him go, Lynch has been a steadying influence on the Denver defense. But the Broncos struggled in a 41-28 loss to Atlanta on Sunday and Lynch went down after being hit in the side by receiver Brian Finneran.

Angry about the hit, Lynch walked toward the Atlanta huddle and started yelling at the Falcons before leaving the game.

He wasn’t available after the game, but several Broncos said Lynch felt Finneran’s block was a cheap shot.

Denver coach Mike Shanahan said the block appeared legal, “but it was one of those blindside shots that kind of catches you off-guard.”

Nick Ferguson will start for Lynch next Sunday against Houston and then the Broncos have a bye.

Vikings

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) – Randy Moss might miss his first career game because of a lingering right hamstring strain that isn’t getting much better.

The Vikings will decide later this week whether they should rest the All-Pro receiver next Monday night at Indianapolis.

Since being hurt before halftime at New Orleans on Oct. 17, Moss has been limited to 11 snaps over the last 10 quarters. Though he leads the team with eight touchdown catches and his consecutive games streak is alive at 103, he’s gone the last two games without a reception.

“Can we get him back at full speed sooner if we just sit him?” coach Mike Tice said. “Or is he going to be back at full speed the same length of time if we just play him in a limited role – based on the fact that in two weeks he didn’t take a step back?

“We have to do what’s best for the team to achieve our goals, which are to win the division and win the world championship. We can’t do what’s best for a streak, or anything of that nature.”

Lions

DETROIT (AP) – Robert Porcher retired Monday, ending a 13-year career as Detroit’s career leader in sacks.

“I’ve thought about this day for a lot of the last three years,” Porcher said. “We all think we can play forever, and I was no different, but now the time has come to step aside.”

Porcher, who has 951/2 sacks, already had announced this would be his last season, but he ended his career early after being inactive for Detroit’s first seven games.

“These last seven weeks have been tough,” he said. “I had always been proud of being part of the solution, not part of the problem.”

Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) – Brett Favre’s injured right thumb is just sprained and not broken, a relief to the Green Bay quarterback who played most of last season with a fractured thumb on his throwing hand.

Coach Mike Sherman said Monday he doesn’t anticipate Favre’s sprained thumb or swollen right hand “being an issue for the Minnesota game” on Nov. 14. The Packers (4-4) have a bye next weekend.

Favre has played this season with a loose left shoulder, a concussion, a softball-sized bruise on his left hamstring, a sprained right hand, a sprained right thumb and a heavy heart over the death of his 24-year-old brother-in-law and the breast cancer diagnosis of his wife, Deanna, last month.

“It seems like every year I say, The bye week couldn’t come at a better time.’ But physically, emotionally, it’s coming at a good time,” Favre said.

Favre has led the Packers to three straight wins.

Panthers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – The team is evaluating linebacker Dan Morgan to see if he suffered a concussion against the Seahawks.

Morgan was plagued by postconcussion syndrome last year, missing five games and parts of four others. Once completely healed, Morgan acknowledged he suffered dizziness and fatigue while trying to play.

So the Panthers are taking it slow this time with Morgan, who left Sunday’s loss in the first half.

Coach John Fox said it’s possible Morgan might not play this week against Oakland.

“You always err on the side of caution when you are dealing with a concussion,” Fox said.

Titans

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Defensive end Carlos Hall had surgery on his right knee Monday after the Titans gave him a week of rest, hoping he would heal.

Hall couldn’t start Sunday in the Titans’ 27-20 victory over Cincinnati and was replaced by rookie Travis LaBoy.

“It still bothered him, so we just went in there and did a routine scope to just kind of clean it out. The doctor said there was nothing significant in there other than wear and tear creating problems for him,” coach Jeff Fisher said.

Backup quarterback Billy Volek, who started in place of Steve McNair, suffered a mild concussion and has a sore knee. Cornerback Andre Dyson has a sore shoulder, and cornerback Samari Rolle has a sore foot.

The Titans (3-5) have the advantage of a bye this week to rest up.

Giants

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) – Kurt Warner doesn’t want to compare the Giants to some of the playoff and Super Bowl teams from his days with the Rams.

There are different players, coaches and teams, and Warner doesn’t want to say too much with more than half a season to go.

Nevertheless, Warner is excited about the possibilities for the Giants (5-2) after their stunning 34-13 win in Minnesota on Sunday.

“I still don’t think we have played near our best football in all three phases in any game,” Warner said Monday. “I think we have seen spurts of it. To play the way we have and to still be 5-2 despite all that, it’s a good feeling.”

Offensively, Warner and the offense fixed its red zone problem for at least a week. They scored touchdowns on four of five possessions inside the Minnesota 20.

Bengals

CINCINNATI (AP) – A 27-20 loss in Tennessee left Cincinnati (2-5), the NFL’s most downtrodden franchise, stuck in last place in the AFC North, headed in the wrong direction.

The loss wiped away a smidgen of hope sparked by a solid Monday night win over Denver, revealing the Bengals for what they are: a team that rises to the occasion only on rare occasions.

The NFL’s worst run defense was at it again Sunday, giving up 163 yards. A unit already missing middle linebacker Nate Webster struggled mightily in its first game without lineman Tony Williams, out for the season with a broken ankle.

Coach Marvin Lewis, who coordinated the defense that led Baltimore to a Super Bowl championship in the 2000 season, hasn’t been able to get this unit in sync. He thinks the biggest problem is veterans making mistakes because they’re trying to cover for the rookies.

“It’s not because they’re not trying,” Lewis said. “They’re trying to do too much and they’re trying to compensate. And when you compensate, you get beat.”

Ravens

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) – After going 1-1 during the two-game suspension of All-Pro running back Jamal Lewis, the Ravens are ready to make a legitimate move in pursuit of a playoff berth.

Lewis, their main offensive weapon, served his punishment for violating the NFL substance abuse policy. During his absence, Baltimore handily beat the Bills before falling 15-10 on the road against the unbeaten Eagles.

That left the Ravens (4-3) two games behind the surprising Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North.

“Now we’re going to go forward and see what we’re going to make happen over the next few weeks,” coach Brian Billick said Monday. “We clearly have to be better in order to re-establish ourselves as a team that has playoff and Super Bowl aspirations.”

The return of Lewis should help. Chester Taylor and Musa Smith filled in capably, totaling 100 yards rushing against the Bills and 103 versus Philadelphia, but neither can match the credentials of a bruising back who last year ran for 2,066 yards.

With Lewis back, Billick expects the Ravens to crank up their offensive production, beginning this Sunday night against the Cleveland Browns.

“Taking nothing away from Chester and Musa, you’d probably think so,” Billick said. “Jamal Lewis is a special back. He has proven that. You’ve got to believe he would make a difference.”

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