Westbrook might play Sunday for Eagles

All-Pro running back Brian Westbrook practiced for the second straight day Thursday, and the injured Philadelphia Eagles appear to be getting a little healthier.

Westbrook again participated in a limited fashion after sitting out last week with an ankle injury sustained in a Week 3 win over Pittsburgh, but his coaches were encouraged with his progress. The Eagles host Washington in an NFC East matchup on Sunday.

"He looked better," offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said. "He went through the walk through this morning and looked better. He's day to day, and we'll see."

Tight end L.J. Smith has returned from a back injury that kept him out last week against Chicago, and receiver Kevin Curtis, who has not played since having surgery for a sports hernia during the preseason, continues to improve.

RUSSELL SURPRISED: Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell was caught off-guard by a claim by owner Al Davis earlier this week that former head coach Lane Kiffin was against drafting Russell last year.

Russell, the first overall pick in 2007, felt he had a strong relationship with Kiffin and said the two often joked with one another. They worked together closely during the offseason and into training camp, and would routinely exchange text messages after games.

But Davis, the Raiders' 79-year-old owner, accused Kiffin of not wanting to draft Russell, a charge Russell found surprising.

"It just kind of came out of nowhere," Russell said Thursday. "I really don't think myself or Coach Kiffin or anybody else were looking for that to come out that way."

Davis made the claim during a lengthy news conference Tuesday when the Raiders announced the firing of Kiffin "for cause" and promoted his replacement, offensive line coach Tom Cable.

REDSKINS' SPRINGS SIDELINED: The Washington Redskins likely will be without two defensive starters for Sunday's NFC East game against the Philadelphia Eagles: Shawn Springs and Jason Taylor.

Springs, a cornerback, didn't practice Thursday because of a strained calf muscle. He joined Taylor, a defensive end, as players receiving a pessimistic assessment from coach Jim Zorn.

"Just with his calf, it's not responding well yet," Zorn said. "The light is fading if we're expecting him to play on Sunday."

Springs contained Terrell Owens in last week's victory over the Cowboys before leaving in the second half. Carlos Rogers and Fred Smoot would be the starters if Springs can't play.

Zorn all but ruled out Taylor on Wednesday. Taylor, who underwent emergency surgery to drain blood near his ankle last week, had a checkup Thursday.

VIKINGS' HENDERSON OUT: The Minnesota Vikings will probably be without standout middle linebacker E.J. Henderson when they visit the New Orleans on Monday night.

The swelling in Henderson's two dislocated toes has not subsided since he suffered the injury to his left foot in Sunday's game against Tennessee. He is wearing a walking boot to immobilize his foot and was not at practice Thursday. Vikings medical staff can't properly assess his condition until the swelling goes down.

REDSKINS ORDERED TO ACCOMMODATE DEAF FANS: The Washington Redskins were ordered to provide deaf and hard-of-hearing fans with "equal access to aural content" in the team's stadium, such as music lyrics, ads and other broadcasts on the public-address system.

This week's court ruling is the first of its kind under the Americans with Disabilities Act and will likely affect other sports venues, said Joseph Espo, a lawyer for three Redskins fans who filed the lawsuit in 2006.

U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams said since the suit was filed, the Redskins have resolved the "vast majority of the issues" raised by the plaintiffs by captioning play-by-play, emergency information and other content.

The judge did not specify how FedEx Field should comply with the law. But the ruling noted that the plaintiffs in this case would not be helped by assisted listening devices, which patrons have long been provided at FedEx Field upon request.

BILLS RE-SIGN EVANS: Receiver Lee Evans signed a four-year contract extension worth $37.25 million on Thursday in a deal that prevents the Buffalo Bills' star from becoming a free agent after this season.

Evans, who is guaranteed to make $18.25 million in the new deal that runs through 2012, earned a significant raise over the base salary of $2.25 million he'll make this season, the final year of the rookie contract he signed after the Bills selected him 13th overall in the 2004 draft out Wisconsin.

Re-signing Evans was considered the Bills' top priority this year, and negotiations began in April.