Tank Johnson allowed to practice with Cowboys
Suspended defensive tackle Tank Johnson will be allowed to practice starting today, which will be his first team session with the Dallas Cowboys since they signed him last month.
Johnson, the former Bear, still has two games left on his eight-game NFL suspension for violating probation on a gun charge. Unless the suspension is reduced by Commissioner Roger Goodell, Johnson will be eligible to play Nov. 11, when the Cowboys face the New York Giants on the road.
Johnson, released by the Bears after his suspension, signed with the Cowboys last month. The Bears let him go after he was picked up for speeding at 3:30 a.m. shortly after he was suspended.
He has been able to work out individually at Valley Ranch and meet with the team's player assistance staff, headed by Calvin Hill. Until now, Johnson hasn't been able to work out with the team or work with the coaching staff.
"He's a gregarious kind of guy," coach Wade Phillips said. "He's ready to play, wants to play and seems excited about it. He's a pretty personable guy, so it's all positives as far as I'm concerned."
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Goodell had given Johnson permission to practice because the Cowboys have a bye week next week and won't practice much. Aiello emphasized that the suspension had not yet been lifted officially.
Walker out: Denver Broncos wide receiver Javon Walker needs another surgery on his right knee, the one he tore up in the 2005 opener for Green Bay that caused him to miss the entire season.
Walker will have an operation today in Houston and will be out "for a few weeks," coach Mike Shanahan said Thursday.
Shanahan didn't have a precise timetable for Walker's return and said he wasn't sure what the procedure entailed.
"Doctors don't think it's very serious, but serious enough to go in there and clean it out because he's been off of it for a few weeks and it hasn't gotten much better," Shanahan said.
Walker underwent surgery two years ago to repair a torn ACL and then needed a follow-up operation around the time he joined the Broncos in a draft-day trade in 2006.
Walker missed the Broncos' last two games because of swelling in his surgically repaired right knee but returned to practice this week following the team's bye.
Warner could go: Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner has settled on a combination of tape and a brace to hold his injured elbow in place and says he's feeling good about being able to play Sunday at Washington.
"I did a lot more, was more comfortable," he said after practice Thursday. "I had a little discomfort but not a whole bunch of pain. So I felt good. Again, it's just practice. You're still just throwing and handing it off, but I'm very optimistic."
Warner tore a ligament in his left -- nonthrowing -- elbow early in Sunday's loss to Carolina. With starter Matt Leinart out for the season with a broken collar bone, the Cardinals had to turn to Tim Rattay, who had been signed just a few days earlier.
This week Arizona added a third quarterback in Tim Hasselbeck.
"Obviously we have to prepare the two Tims, so the bulk of our practice was concerned with doing that," coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "Kurt did a little bit more today, but once again its going to come down to how he feels on game day."
If Warner can't go, the Cardinals again will turn to Rattay.