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Vikes hopeful Moss will return Sunday

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - Vikings receiver Randy Moss aced two of his tests in preparation for his return Sunday against the Jaguars.

On Monday morning, Moss passed two physical trials under the supervision of head trainer Chuck Barta. Moss hopped on each leg three times, and he ran three 40-yard dashes to gauge the progress of his strained right hamstring.

The answer to the third test will come this morning.

"The key is how he wakes up," coach Mike Tice said.

If he has swelling, Moss might sit out his third consecutive game, following two token appearances before that. If there is no swelling, he would be on schedule to play up to 25 plays Sunday against the Jaguars, even though he could be listed initially as doubtful. Tice has said that Moss would need to practice each day and have an MRI exam before playing again.

"He looked extremely good," Tice said of Moss' workout. "One hundred percent? No. But he did really well."

GRASS VALLEY, Calif. - Retired running back Ricky Williams has turned up in an unlikely spot - at a northern California school for holistic medicine.

Williams, 27, abruptly retired from the Dolphins during the summer because he disagreed with the NFL over a disputed drug test. Then, he dropped out of sight.

He resurfaced in Nevada County as a student of the ancient Indian medical system known as Ayurveda.

"I realized a while back that I have an innate ability to be compassionate," he told the San Francisco Chronicle , "and I saw that the strength of compassion is something that healers have and healers use."

Williams, about a month into a 17-month course at the school, gave up the $5-million he would have earned this season, which would have been his sixth in the NFL, amid reports that he faced a league suspension this year for substance abuse.

Williams' agent, Leigh Steinberg, and his attorney, David Cornwell, both think it's likely that he'll return to football next year. Steinberg calls Williams' departure "a sabbatical."

But Williams said, "I understand their wishful thinking. It's easy math. If I play, it puts more money in their pocket."

This time there should be no scrutiny for ABC and the NFL.

Last week, a furor arose after actress Nicollette Sheridan spoofed the ABC show Desperate Housewives ," in which she stars. Monday, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady came on the screen and announced it was 9 p.m. and said, "You know what that means."

After rapid-paced file shots of Kansas City and New England players making plays, the segment ended with Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez and quarterback Trent Green standing next to each other while Green tossed Gonzalez the ball and said, "Are you ready for some football?"

BROWNS COACH ON HOT SEAT: Butch Davis' days as coach seem to be dwindling with each loss. Davis was again confronted with questions about his shaky status as he discussed the Browns' 10-7 loss to the Jets.

For several weeks, there has been mounting evidence that Davis' fourth season with the Browns could be his last. But despite rumors that he's in his last days and an ESPN report that says he's on the verge of being fired by owner Randy Lerner, Davis said his only immediate concern is getting the Browns turned around. ... Right tackle Ryan Tucker is done for the season after tearing a left knee ligament during Sunday's loss to the Jets.

COWBOYS' HENSON HOPEFUL: Drew Henson finally got to play quarterback. Now he's waiting to find out if he'll start Thursday against the Bears. Bill Parcells said Vinny Testaverde was questionable with a sore shoulder and back, but the Cowboys coach wasn't ready to declare Henson his starter. Parcells said he was still gathering medical reports on Testaverde and said he could make a decision today.

COLTS: Safety Bob Sanders will miss three to six weeks with a knee injury suffered in a 41-10 win over Chicago. Sanders suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee.

JAGUARS: Byron Leftwich said he expects to return to the starting lineup Sunday when the Jaguars visit the Vikings. Coach Jack Del Rio, however, wasn't so sure. "We'll learn more as we get closer to Wednesday," Del Rio said.

JETS: Quarterback Chad Pennington will start throwing this week for the first time since straining his right rotator cuff, but his exact return to the lineup is uncertain.

RAVENS: Running back Jamal Lewis hurt his right ankle Sunday and could be lost for two weeks. Third-string running back Musa Smith broke his right leg and was lost for the season.

SEAHAWKS: As expected, receiver Koren Robinson was suspended without pay for the next four games for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy. ... Linebacker Chad Brown had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, correcting a problem that nagged the former Pro Bowl player since his return from a broken leg.

TITANS: Cornerback Andre Woolfolk had surgery to repair his dislocated right wrist, which doctors could not put back into place.