NFL Notes: Eagles lose another Pro Bowler to injury

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles were crippled by another season-ending injury, when coach Andy Reid announced Friday that offensive tackle Tra Thomas has been placed on the injured reserve list with a lower back injury that will require surgery.

Thomas will have an operation on his lumbar disk in California at a date to be determined.

Thomas is the third Eagles Pro Bowl selection from last year who has been put on injured reserve this past week, joining quarterback Donovan McNabb (sports hernia) and cornerback Lito Sheppard (ankle).

"This past game he felt a little numbness and tingling in his legs, so we sent him to a specialist," Reid said Friday at a news conference at the Nova Care Complex.

Actually, the Eagles sent Thomas to two specialists. Both recommended that the 6-foot-7, 349-pounder have the procedure.

Thomas will be replaced by rookie Todd Herremans, the Eagles' fourth-round draft choice out of Saginaw Valley State.

Mariucci still

coach at Detroit

DETROIT — Steve Mariucci remained the Lions' coach, despite reports his firing could be imminent after Thursday's 27-7 Thanksgiving loss to Atlanta.

The team denied it had even discussed firing him.

Lions president Matt Millen was unavailable for interviews and did not respond to phone messages. A team official said the Lions decided to take a business-as-usual approach to the situation because they didn't want to dignify what they thought were unsubstantiated rumors.

Mariucci said he met Friday with Millen, but the meeting was routine.

Mariucci has a 15-28 record in Detroit.

Notes

• Pittsburgh Steelers left tackle Marvel Smith, who missed last Sunday's game with a sprained ankle, returns to face the Colts' Pro Bowl defensive end Dwight Freeney, who led the NFL last season with 16 sacks. The Steelers are 3-8 over the last three seasons in games in which Smith doesn't play. He left another game after one series, and the Steelers lost that one, too.

• Chargers tight end Antonio Gates practiced for the second day in a row and reported no setbacks with the sprained right foot that has him listed as questionable for Sunday's game with the Washington Redskins. Gates appeared to be moving well during the portion of practice open to the media.

• Orlando Pace missed practice for the second straight day with a hamstring injury, but the six-time Pro Bowl player was optimistic he wouldn't miss any playing time. Pace hurt his left hamstring on Wednesday when he said a teammate stepped on his foot.

• Bill Belichick returned to the practice field, after spending two days off to attend his father's funeral. He watched videotapes of Tuesday's and Wednesday's sessions and said it appeared to be a "normal week of practice." His father, Steve, died at his Maryland home last Saturday night of heart failure at the age of 86.

• Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Lional Dalton was jailed Friday after an alleged fight with his estranged wife. Dalton, 30, was released on $2,500 bond after being arrested for grabbing his estranged wife by the hair and pulling her down.

• The Cincinnati Bengals waived fourth-year cornerback Reggie Myles, replacing him with rookie Patrick Body.

• The Kansas City Chiefs activated linebacker Shawn Barber from the physically unable to perform list.