Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis following surgery on his broken left hand. Brown, injured Thursday during the third quarter of the Dolphins win at Detroit, had surgery Friday.

The Dolphins' resurgence may have to continue without Ronnie Brown, at least in the short term. Brown had surgery Friday to stabilize a broken left hand. Other than saying the team's leading rusher -- who happens to be left-handed -- and No. 2 overall pick in the 2005 draft will be "evaluated on an ongoing basis," the Dolphins did not reveal any timetable for Brown's return.

Miami Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown injured his left hand early in the third quarter against the Detroit Lions and did not return. He had 68 yards rushing on 15 carries. On his last carry, linebacker Ernie Sims' helmet hit Brown's hand. Brown shook his left hand as he headed up the tunnel toward Miami's locker room and returned to the sideline with his left hand heavily wrapped and his helmet off.

Joey Harrington's face was splashed across the video boards while Billy Joel's "Piano Man" played, a jab at the quarterback's piano playing. Harrington got the last laugh. He threw three touchdown passes Thursday to help the Dolphins erase a 10-point deficit and roll to a 27-10 victory over the Lions, who drafted him third overall in 2002 and gave up on him earlier this year.

Kevin Jones, Detroit's leading rusher and second-leading receiver, was inactive for the Thanksgiving Day game between the Lions and the Dolphins. Jones sprained his ankle in Sunday's loss at Arizona. He was replaced by Arlen Harris.

Ronnie Brown admitted he is ''a little more comfortable'' running behind a fullback. So he had to like that coordinator Mike Mularkey -- who often prefers a two tight-end set -- adjusted against Chicago, using fullback Darian Barnes for a season-high 24 snaps. Barnes, who opened several holes, said he had fewer than 10 snaps most games.

The agent for Ricky Williams confirmed Tuesday that his client intends to play for the Dolphins in 2007. "Ricky promised the Dolphins that he'd return," said agent Leigh Steinberg. Williams is playing in the Canadian Football League this season while serving a one-year NFL drug suspension. "The whole project of him signing with the [Toronto] Argonauts was predicated on him being released at the end of the year. Ricky is having a wonderful time in Canada. It's a less intrusive brand of football. But his [playing] status hasn't changed."

The 1972 Dolphins can breathe a little easier. And once again, they can thank a current Miami team for it. Although Dan Marino was nowhere to be found this time, the Dolphins once again upset Chicago to spoil the Bears' bid for a perfect season. Ronnie Brown rushed for a career-high 157 yards and Jason Taylor forced a fumble and returned an interception 20 yards for a touchdown, helping Miami beat Chicago 31-13 on Sunday.

Ricky Williams, who appears in his second career playoff game today when his Toronto Argonauts open the CFL postseason vs. Winnipeg, averaged 4.8 yards a carry this season. Agent Leigh Steinberg said Williams is teaching yoga classes in Toronto, eager to return to the Dolphins next season (he's due $670,000 in his contract's final year) and soon will co-author a book on his life.