The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS - When Kurt Warner showed up with his throwing hand wrapped in a plastic bag filled with ice Wednesday, it looked like more quarterback woes for the St. Louis Rams.

They already had lost Warner for five games because of a broken pinkie. Marc Bulger, who led the team to a 5-0 record in Warner's absence, has a sprained right index finger.

The day after the Rams' 20-17 loss to the Redskins, coach Mike Martz said Warner's hand looked like a "catcher's mitt."

But by Wednesday the swelling had gone down considerably, and the ice was more of a precaution.

Warner threw well in practice despite the sore hand. But he didn't take any snaps, to minimize jarring.

Martz said team doctors had expected soreness when Warner resumed throwing on a daily basis.

"They knew this was going to happen," Martz said. "Fortunately, it's not anything that's going to deter him from playing."

BRONCOS: Denver quarterback Brian Griese and tight end Shannon Sharpe made it through practice Wednesday without any setbacks, a good sign the injured players could be ready for Sunday's game against San Diego.

Griese, who sprained his left knee against Seattle Nov. 17, dropped back for a few passes and seemed to have little trouble moving around outside the pocket.

"He looked pretty good. I didn't talk to him afterward, but he did throw the ball well," coach Mike Shanahan said.

Sharpe was expected to be out up to a month after partially dislocating his right elbow against Oakland on Nov. 11, but he was catching passes in practice Wednesday.

JAGUARS: Richie Cunningham was signed as kicker. He spent the second half of '99 and part of 2000 with Carolina and is 83-for-104 on field goal attempts in his career

VIKINGS: Running back Michael Bennett was upgraded to probable on the injury report, meaning the ankle he sprained Sunday probably won't keep him out of this weekend's game with Atlanta.

DOLPHINS: Quarterback Jay Fiedler, who missed six weeks because of a broken thumb, returned to practice, but Ray Lucas will start Sunday at Buffalo. Barring a setback, Fiedler will be the No. 2 or No. 3 quarterback, coach Dave Wannstedt said. Receiver Cris Carter, who has missed three games because of a kidney problem, also practiced and is expected to rejoin the lineup Dec. 9 against Chicago.

PANTHERS: Rodney Peete, benched for the second half of Sunday's 41-0 loss to Atlanta, will start at quarterback against Cleveland. Whether Chris Weinke or rookie Randy Fasani will be Peete's backup will be a game-time decision, coach John Fox said.

PACKERS: The team re-signed offensive tackle Mark Tauscher through the 2008 season. Team negotiator Andrew Brandt said Tauscher agreed to tear up this year's contract to give the team salary cap space.

COWBOYS: Safety Darren Woodson was put on injured reserve because of an abdominal injury and won't play again this season. He was injured in the Cowboys' 20-3 loss to the Colts Nov. 17.

The Cowboys signed rookie Woody Dantzler off the practice squad, and he'll return kicks today against Washington today instead of Reggie Swinton. Coach Dave Campo said Swinton also will be replaced as punt returner by Antonio Bryant or Joey Galloway.

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