Trubisky expects to return for Bears

Mitchell Trubisky is just about ready to return to the Chicago Bears' lineup.

Trubisky said he is "really close to 100 percent" and expects to play against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night after missing the past two games because of a right shoulder injury.

He went through a full practice on Wednesday. Assuming no setbacks, he figures to start when the NFC North leaders host the NFC West champions.

"I just gotta show coach that I can play," he said. "I'm feeling good about where I'm at. As long as I can show them that I can go out there every day and make all the throws and be the player that they know I am, I feel confident that I'll be able to go."

Nagy said he feels "strong that he will play," though he wouldn't quite commit to it.

"I got to see more," he said. "I feel good about it."

Trubisky was hurt sliding late in a win over Minnesota on Nov. 18. He was hit by the Vikings' Harrison Smith on the left side, resulting in his throwing shoulder getting driven into the ground.

Chase Daniel has started the past two games, a victory at Detroit on Thanksgiving and an overtime loss at the New York Giants.

Assuming he is cleared to return, Trubisky will face quite a task.

The league-leading Rams (11-1) became the first team to secure a playoff berth when they beat Detroit to clinch their second straight division title. A win over Chicago (8-4) would give them a first-round bye and move them another step closer to home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs, with a one-game lead over New Orleans.

While the Bears' defense will have to contain one of the NFL's most explosive offenses, Trubisky will have to contend with Aaron Donald and Ndamukong Suh. Donald leads the NFL with 16 1/2 sacks and at least two in each of the past three games.

Even so, getting Trubisky back naturally would be a boost. Daniel had two interceptions, got sacked five times and committed four fumbles against the Giants. And the Bears' five-game win streak came to an end.

"(Trubisky) has led us to this point now, to be No. 1 in our division," receiver Allen Robinson said. "It's really big for us."

The Bears took a slow approach with Trubisky, just as they did with star pass rusher Khalil Mack and Robinson. Both players missed two games because of injuries earlier this season.

Trubisky didn't resume throwing until Friday. He threw again prior to the game against the Giants and felt well enough to play pingpong on Monday, firing off some hard forehands against cornerback Prince Amukamara in an Instagram video posted by receiver Josh Bellamy.

"He's a fighter," Nagy said. "He doesn't care how hurt or injured he is. He wants to be there. So, I appreciate that. I like that about him. But we got to protect him and make sure we're smart."

The No. 2 overall pick in 2017, Trubisky has a 97.7 rating, 20 touchdown passes and nine interceptions in 10 games. It's a big improvement over his rookie season, when his rating was about 20 points lower and he threw for as many TDs as INTs (seven).

Trubisky will be going against another quarterback, Jared Goff, who had difficulties as a rookie and made big strides in Year 2 after the team hired a coach with an offensive background. The No. 1 pick in 2016, Goff made the Pro Bowl last season. The two got to know each other well in the offseason, working out together with the same quarterbacks coach and trainers.

Rams coach Sean McVay is impressed by Trubisky.

"I think he's throwing the deep ball extremely accurate, on time," he said. "You clearly see the athleticism, where if something's not there he can step up, he can make (you) pay with his legs. ... You can feel that the players believe in him and I think that's as big as anything else. He's got a nice play energy that exudes a confidence, and the players feed off of him.

"And then the play-making ability, whether it's (throwing) the ball down the field or creating on his own, it's certainly something that has to be accounted for."

Jets' Darnold fully practices

Sam Darnold is one step closer to returning from his foot injury.

The New York Jets rookie quarterback was a full participant at practice Wednesday, putting him on track to start at Buffalo against the Bills on Sunday.

"That's the goal," Darnold said. "I'm really excited about this week and where we're headed. I'm really excited about how I felt today, so as of right now, I'm really excited about hopefully getting a chance to play on Sunday."

Yes, he's really excited.

After all, Darnold has missed the past three games with a strained right foot. He was injured against Miami on Nov. 4 and hasn't played since. Despite Darnold fully participating and Josh McCown limited with a sore back, coach Todd Bowles wouldn't commit to the rookie starting this week.

"We'll see," Bowles said. "It's too early in the week."

Darnold certainly is preparing as though he'll be playing in the icy cold of Buffalo, where the temperature is expected to be right around freezing Sunday.

So, instead of hitting the practice field bundled up in layers Wednesday with the temps in the low-30s, the California kid wore a short-sleeved shirt.

"It was cold today, but I had a little wet suit underneath," Darnold said with a big grin. "So, I was really warm and felt like I didn't really need long sleeves. I just kind of went with it."

Added Bowles: "This is going to be about how it's going to be on Sunday, so I'll think he'll be fine. He's 21, he'll shake it quick."

Darnold returned to practice on a limited basis last week , but was not active last Sunday as McCown started in his place for the third straight game. Bowles said the No. 3 overall pick was working on shaking off the rust by getting his timing right.

"He looked fine," Bowles said of Darnold's performance Wednesday. "I mean, he threw the ball around pretty good, but it's Day 1, so we're trending."

Darnold acknowledged that there's occasional soreness as he works his way back from the foot injury, the details of which haven't been disclosed other than the team calling it a "strain." The quarterback was in a walking boot for a few days after the injury and has been gradually improving during the last four weeks.

"I knew it was three or four weeks, but for me it was really just depending on how I felt, if I felt ready to go, so hopefully this week," Darnold said. "So far after that last practice, I feel really good, so I'm really hoping to get back out there this Sunday."

The 39-year-old McCown had one touchdown pass and four interceptions filling in for Darnold, and the Jets went 0-3 in those games.

Raiders sign C.J. Anderson

Running back C.J. Anderson has signed with the Oakland Raiders and could be in their backfield for Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Raiders coach Jon Gruden said that the move is insurance in case Doug Martin isn't available. The Raiders primary running back since Marshawn Lynch went on injured reserve with a groin injury in mid-October, Martin is nursing a sore knee and his status is uncertain.

"Although we think he'll be ready to go we can't take any precautions," Gruden said Wednesday. "We have to be ready. We have four games left to play and the Steelers blitz almost every play, so we needed a back. Fortunately for us C.J. Anderson was available and we're happy to have him."

A Pro Bowl back with Denver in 2014 when he had nearly 1,200 all-purpose yards, Anderson was released by the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 12 and had tryouts with Kansas City and Detroit before signing a deal with the Raiders for the remainder of this season.

"Just getting acclimated with the playbook as much as I can," Anderson said. "The good thing is there's a lot of crossover from what I'm used to doing, what I did with (Peyton Manning), what I've done with (Gary Kubiak) and just a little bit with Norv (Turner). The good thing is I know it's a West Coast system. The terminology is different, so just heavily diving in the playbook."

Anderson's signing came amid a flurry of moves made by the Raiders this week.

Safety Reggie Nelson (shoulder), wide receiver Martavis Bryant (knee) and defensive end Shilique Calhoun (neck) were placed on injured reserve while defensive end Fadol Brown and offensive lineman Ian Silberman were released.

Oakland signed cornerback Bene Benwikere, defensive end Kony Ealy, defensive end Damontre Moore and offensive lineman Denzelle Good.

Additionally, the Raiders designated right tackle Donald Penn to return from injured reserve.

"We had a busy couple days here," Gruden said.

Anderson's signing was the most significant of Oakland's transactions.

The 27-year-old grew up in Vallejo, about 35 miles north of the Coliseum, and played in college at California in nearby Berkeley.

Although he went undrafted, Anderson spent five seasons with the Broncos and rushed for a career-best 1,007 yards in 2017 before signing with the Panthers in the offseason. Anderson expected to split time with Christian McCaffrey, but had only 24 carries for 104 yards when Carolina let him go on Nov. 12.

The situation might not be much different in Oakland, although Martin's health will be a big factor.

The Raiders could also be looking at Anderson as a potential fit in 2019. Martin and Lynch are both scheduled to be free agents next season and there is no guarantee that either will be back in Oakland.

"My resume speaks for myself," Anderson said. "If I would have sat out for the rest of this season, with other people setting the market as well, I would have found a job. It's all about timing."

Anderson has had several big moments in his career.

During his Pro Bowl season in 2014, Anderson had a pair of big games against the Raiders. He ran for 90 yards and had another 73 yards in receptions on Nov. 9, then rushed for 87 yards and three touchdowns two months later.

Anderson helped Denver to a 24-10 win over Carolina in Super Bowl 50 when he rushed for 90 yards and a touchdown.

Broncos WR Sanders hurt

Although the schedule gets easier for the Denver Broncos this month, the degree of difficulty in reaching the playoffs keeps going up.

The Broncos (6-6) lost leading wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders to a torn left Achilles tendon on Wednesday. He was hurt in a non-contact drill at the beginning of practice.

The Broncos quickly claimed wide receiver Andre Holmes off waivers from Buffalo, giving them a seventh-year veteran to go with their four remaining receivers, all of whom made their NFL debuts this season.

Sanders, who led the team with 71 catches for 868 yards and four touchdowns in a bounce-back year, was injured on a routine route. He sensed the gravity of the injury as he crumbled to the ground, tearing off his helmet and rolling it away as teammates and trainers rushed toward him.

"It didn't look good," coach Vance Joseph said, adding Sanders "was sore last week in his heel area and he felt great today."

Sanders' injury was the latest blow to a team that's lost seven starters from its opening-day lineup, including six on offense.

"It hurt, especially with an Achilles injury, that's a major injury," rookie receiver DaeSean Hamilton said. "He was our leader and he was a coach, too, so it was hard to watch."

Sanders' injury came three days after the Broncos lost star cornerback Chris Harris Jr . to a broken right lower leg, an injury that could sideline him for the rest of the regular season.

Sanders crumbled to the grass in an area of the field that has several brown patches and has led to several slips over the last few weeks, notably by rookie receiver Courtland Sutton.

Normally, the Broncos flip their two main practice fields from a north-south configuration to east-west at midseason, but they didn't do that this year. Nor did they rotate individual drills, leaving bare patches in several areas.

Asked if he thought field conditions played any role in Sanders' injury, Joseph said, "I don't, no. The fields are fine."

Sanders' injury amplifies odds the Broncos face in their quest to reach the playoffs for the first time in the post-Peyton Manning era. After surviving the league's most arduous schedule through November, the Broncos' next three opponents — 49ers, Browns and Raiders — are a combined 9-26-1. They finish the season in Denver against the Chargers, a team they beat last month.

"We can't cry about it," Joseph said. "We have to move on and go play a football game on Sunday."

Winners of three straight, the Broncos (6-6) visit San Francisco (2-10) this weekend.

The Broncos traded top receiver Demaryius Thomas to the Texans on Oct. 30 for financial reasons and to accelerate Sutton's growth by getting him into the starting lineup opposite Sanders. After flashing in training camp, Sutton has taken his lumps as a rookie. He has 28 receptions — but it's taken 59 targets — for 558 yards and three touchdowns.

Now, he'll face No. 1 cornerbacks beginning with Richard Sherman in San Francisco.

"I love it," Sutton said. "I look forward to it. It's going to be good."

Sanders developed a rapport with his new quarterback as soon as Case Keenum arrived in March, and the speedy receiver's leadership only grew in value when Thomas was traded.

Sanders helped bring along the young receivers simply by grabbing attention away from them, Keenum said, pointing to a 30-yard TD catch by Sutton in the Broncos' 24-10 win over the Bengals last weekend.