Still experiencing pain in his right shoulder, San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Alex Smith might be close to resolving the issue of how best to treat the injury, and that could include the possibility of not playing again in 2007. Smith told Bay Area reporters on Thursday that, even after nearly two weeks of rest, he still can't raise his right arm above his shoulder without discomfort. He will visit early next week with an orthopedist, and surgery remains a viable option for the top overall selection from the 2005 draft.

Kellen Clemens might be without his top two targets when the New York Jets take on the winless Miami Dolphins. Jerricho Cotchery has missed practice all week with an injured right index finger, while Laveranues Coles has been limited by an ankle injury that caused him to miss New York's game against Dallas on Thanksgiving. "We'll look at all those guys and evaluate at the end of the week and see how it is," coach Eric Mangini said Thursday. Mangini revealed that Cotchery's injury occurred Monday during practice but wouldn't go into specifics, as is the Jets' policy. In fact, it was a bit surprising Mangini acknowledged which finger was injured; it was weeks before he revealed which knee linebacker Jonathan Vilma needed season-ending surgery on earlier this month.

San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Alex Smith, who has struggled with shoulder and forearm problems since suffering a Grade III separation of his right shoulder on Sept. 30, will likely need at least two more weeks of rest and rehabilitation, and even then might still require surgery to repair the damage. The first overall choice in the 2005 draft, Smith was examined on Tuesday by noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. Sources close to Smith said Andrews apprised the third-year veteran that the shoulder separation was not significantly improved and might actually be worse in some ways than when he initially viewed the original MRI of the injury three weeks ago. A 49ers spokesman said the team's medical staff had not received the Andrews report.

Minnesota Vikings' rookie running back Adrian Peterson will have an MRI exam today after injuring his right knee during Sunday's loss in Green Bay. Peterson, who set a National Football League record with 296 rushing yards in the Vikings' previous game, left in the third quarter yesterday after getting hit in the knee by Packers' cornerback Al Harris. Peterson, 22, told reporters afterwards that he's "banking it's a sprained knee." Peterson finished with 45 yards on 11 carries in the 34-0 loss, and the injury might hurt his chances to break Eric Dickerson's rookie and all-time records for rushing yards in a season. Peterson has 1,081 through nine games.

Chad Johnson winced when he got up from his locker Monday and walked stiffly into the trainer's room, showing the effects of a strained neck suffered during the Cincinnati Bengals' latest loss. Coach Marvin Lewis said the Pro Bowl receiver could play Sunday in Baltimore, assuming the neck continues to heal. "He's fine," Lewis said.

Marvin Harrison missed practice Thursday, making his availability for the Indianapolis Colts' Sunday showdown with the New England Patriots uncertain. The team's eight-time Pro Bowl receiver has missed two of the past three games and gone through only one full practice since bruising his left knee Sept. 30 against Denver. The plan was for him to return to practice Thursday, but he didn't. Before Thursday's practice, coach Tony Dungy said, "If he doesn't practice today, I'd say it's doubtful for him playing. "He's looking forward to it, we're looking forward to it, so we'll see what happens.''

Denver Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith, the franchise leader in every major receiving category, will not return to the field in 2007, the team decided on Thursday, and his future in the game is now uncertain. Smith spent the first six weeks of the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, but returned to practice on Oct. 24 for the first time since undergoing extensive hip surgery more than eight months ago. At times during his rehabilitation, the 13-year veteran publicly expressed some doubts about when, or even if, he would be able to come back and play at all in 2007. "He's a warrior," coach Mike Shanahan said on Thursday afternoon. "If he can't get back, then something is seriously wrong."

Todd McClure has endured some tough times with the Falcons. As the team's starting center since October 2000, McClure has snapped the ball for Chris Chandler, Michael Vick, Doug Johnson, Matt Schaub, Joey Harrington and Byron Leftwich. McClure can't imagine that any of his quarterbacks would have handled this season's difficulties better than Harrington. After spending one game as the No. 2 quarterback, Harrington will start again when the Falcons host San Francisco on Sunday.

Rejuvenated after resting his banged-up body, Ravens quarterback Steve McNair plans to be back under center Monday for the first time in nearly a month. Since missing two starts and recuperating from back and groin injuries during Baltimore's bye week, McNair is preparing to start Monday night against the Steelers for his first action since an Oct. 7 victory over the 49ers.