NFL Roundup: Chiefs list RB Charles as day to day

Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles is day-to-day with a mild strain of his outer right foot.

Trainer Rick Burkholder said Tuesday that two orthopedic surgeons gave independent opinions, ruling out a Lisfranc mid-foot injury or structural issues in the leg or ankle.

"His ankle ligaments were fine," said Burkholder, who came with coach Andy Reid from Philadelphia. "He had some pain on the outside bone of his foot. We did an X-ray. That was negative. There's a tendon that attaches right at that spot and that's what is sore right now. That's why we call it a strain."

Charles was carted off the field during practice Monday. X-rays taken an hour later were negative. He didn't practice Tuesday and his status for Friday night's preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers is not certain, but Reid told NFL.com, "If he is ready to go, he'll play."

---Denver Broncos offensive lineman Chris Kuper unexpectedly returned to practice Tuesday, armed with a restructured contract and prepared for a battle to reclaim a regular role on a reshaped line.

Kuper was placed on the physically unable to perform list as he continues to recover from offseason surgery to help heal the ankle that he fractured on Jan. 1, 2012, and reinjured 10 months later in the season finale at Cincinnati. Kuper's longtime spot at right guard now belongs to free agent signee Louis Vasquez.

His first practice Tuesday might be an indication of where Kuper fits into the team's plans. The Broncos shuffled their offensive line because of injuries to J.D. Walton and Dan Koppen, signing Ryan Lilja out of retirement to help fill the void at the interior line spots.

---San Diego Chargers wide receiver Malcom Floyd avoided a major knee injury in a collision in Monday's practice, and the team believes he'll be ready in time for the regular-season opener. However, head coach Mike McCoy declined to put a timetable on Floyd's return.

The San Diego Chargers already lost Danario Alexander to a season-ending injury, and rookie Keenan Allen sat out Tuesday's practice with what McCoy termed "wear and tear." The team feared Floyd may have suffered a torn ACL, but an MRI revealed it to be a sprain.

Floyd, 31, led the Chargers last season with 56 receptions for 814 yards. He is projected as one of the team's starting wide receivers.

---Plaxico Burress won't experience a triumphant return to the Pittsburgh Steelers, landing on season-ending injured reserve Tuesday after undergoing surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder.

Burress was hurt in practice Thursday. He attempted to catch a pass between two defensive backs, and he came down hard on his arm. The 12-year veteran was competing for a roster spot in his second stint with the team.

Burress, who turned 36 Monday, had three catches for 42 yards in four games with the Steelers last season. He has 553 career receptions for 8,499 yards and 64 touchdowns in 147 games.

---Don't call Arizona Cardinals rookie safety Tyrann Mathieu the Honey Badger, but you can call him a starter. Mathieu, the controversial former LSU defensive back, replaced Rashad Johnson with the first-team defense in Tuesday's practice and will start this week's preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys because of Johnson's knee injury.

Johnson has a sprained ankle and a sprained medial collateral ligament.

---Inside linebacker Pat Angerer and running back Ahmad Bradshaw were activated from the physically unable to perform list by the Indianapolis Colts.

Angerer was cleared to return to practice, ending his stint on the active/physically unable to perform list that spanned most of training camp. Bradshaw will not play in Sunday night's game against the New York Giants, his former team, and his schedule is to be determined, coach Chuck Pagano said. The Colts were forced to activate Bradshaw by the NFL because he participated in a team walkthrough.

Angerer, 26, was out with foot and knee injuries. He made only three starts in 11 games last season after starting 27 games in his first two seasons. Kavell Conner, another fourth-year veteran, has assumed Angerer's role in the 3-4 defense. Conner has 36 career starts, including 12 last season.

---Houston's offensive line problems multiplied Tuesday when mainstay left guard Wade Smith underwent knee surgery that will keep him off the field for the Texans for an uncertain length of time.

Smith, who has 47 starts between Texans Pro Bowl blockers Duane Brown and Chris Myers, is likely to be replaced by Ben Jones. Jones was displaced as the Texans' starting right guard by Brandon Brooks. Brown, the team's $56 million left tackle, entered training camp with a slight ankle injury and the right side of the offensive line has been a lingering concern.

---Backup punter Brian Stahovich was released by the Buffalo Bills, signaling the starting job of Shawn Powell is secure for the start of the 2013 season.

Powell stepped in when Brian Moorman was released last season.

---Washington Redskins rookie safety Phillip Thomas will likely not play a down this season after suffering a foot injury in the preseason opener. Thomas, a fourth-round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft out of Fresno State, faces season-ending surgery to repair a torn Lisfranc ligament in his left foot, Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said Tuesday. Thomas was hurt in the Redskins' 22-21 exhibition victory over the Tennessee Titans last Thursday.

The Redskins placed Thomas on injured reserve. The expected recovery time is four to five months.