Patriots Blount To Miss Remainder of Season, NFL News

New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount will miss the remainder of the season because of a left hip injury, according to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter and multiple reports.

Blount suffered the injury in Sunday's game against the Houston Texans, becoming New England's latest prominent player to go down with a season-ending injury.

Blount, 29, has rushed for a team-leading 703 yards and six touchdowns this season. He was a key contributor in New England's Super Bowl run last season, including his stellar performance in the AFC Championship Game, in which he ran for 148 yards and three touchdowns.

Without Blount, the Patriots have only four-year veteran Brandon Bolden and second-year rusher James White at the running back position on the 53-man roster.

Blount's injury sparked the Patriots' decision to sign third-year player Montee Ball, a 2013 second-round draft choice of the Denver Broncos, to the practice squad Tuesday.

New England also has undrafted rookie running back Trey Williams on the practice squad. The Patriots worked out rookie Alonzo Harris, who made the Green Bay Packers' roster as an undrafted free agent and was cut earlier this month, on Tuesday.

Peyton Manning Returns To Practice

After consulting with the team's medical staff and having discussions with quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler, Denver Broncos coach Gary Kubiak will keep Osweiler in the starting lineup this week and Manning will make his return to the practice field Wednesday.

Kubiak, who spoke to Manning and Osweiler on Tuesday before making his decision public, had not previously announced the team's starter for Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field.

Osweiler will make his fifth consecutive start. The Broncos are 3-1 in his previous four starts, with the first loss coming this past Sunday, 15-12 to the Oakland Raiders. Osweiler was sacked five times in the game and did not throw a touchdown pass, but he had his first career 300-yard passing game, finishing with 308.

Manning, who suffered a tear in the plantar fascia near his left heel in the Broncos' Nov. 8 loss in Indianapolis, has not participated in a full team practice since Nov. 13, two days before his 5-of-20 passing day with four interceptions in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Manning was removed in the third quarter of that game and has neither practiced nor played since.

Thursday, December 17 Schedule (Time Central)

Tampa Bay at St. Louis, 7:25 p.m.

Saturday, December 19 Schedule (Time Central)

New York at Dallas, 7:25 p.m.

Sunday, December 20 (All Times Central)

Chicago at Minnesota, noon

Atlanta at Jacksonville, noon

Houston at Indianapolis, noon

Carolina at New York, noon

Tennessee at New England, noon

Buffalo at Washington, noon

Kansas City at Baltimore, noon

Cleveland at Seattle, 3:05 p.m.

Green Bay at Oakland, 3:05 p.m.

Denver at Pittsburgh, 3:25 p.m.

Miami at San Diego, 3:25 p.m.

Cincinnati at San Francisco, 3:25 p.m.

Arizona at Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.

Monday, December 21 (Time Central)

Detroit at New Orleans, 7:30 p.m.