NFL Wire Notes | Huard takes over for K.C.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — For five high-flying years, Trent Green was the Kansas City Chiefs' Mr. Reliable.

But now, for the first time in 82 games, somebody else will be quarterbacking Kansas City. When the Chiefs take the field in Denver on Sunday, their leader will be recuperating from a severe concussion caused when a hit by Cincinnati's Robert Geathers slammed Green's head violently onto the turf and knocked him unconscious.

In his place will be Damon Huard, the former Washington Husky. Until last week, when he rushed onto the field as Green was rushed to the hospital, Huard had not completed an NFL pass since Christmas Eve 2000.

"It's been awhile, but I've been in this role before," Huard said. "I'll just step out there and try to pick up where Trent left off. I've got a great group of guys around me, future Hall of Famers. We should be good to go by Sunday."

It's unsure how long Green will be out. After the Denver game, the Chiefs get an early season bye that could work in their favor by giving him another week to heal.

In the meantime, if Huard goes down, Brodie Croyle will play. He's a rookie who played little in the exhibition season and didn't look very impressive when he did.

All week long the Chiefs have tried to put up a brave front, adopting a business-as-usual approach to an unfamiliar and unsettling scene. As they point out, Huard is not new to the offense. He was the Chiefs' No. 3 quarterback for two years before ascending to No. 2 when Todd Collins left via free agency.

"As a backup, you've always got to be ready," he said. "You always know your number could be called, any Sunday, any day of the week. That's your job."

As a starter in Miami in 1999 and 2000, he was 5-1. And the Chiefs did move the ball when he came in late in the third quarter. He went 12 for 20 for 140 yards, including a 9-yard touchdown toss to Tony Gonzalez.

Nevertheless, the Chiefs will doubtlessly tone down their attack without Green under center.

"We'll find out Sunday," said coach Herm Edwards. "I don't want to reveal that right now. I don't think that's fair to us. I don't want to give Denver any more of an edge. They've already got one playing at home."

One thing Huard will have to do is not think about the sight of Green unconscious on the turf last week.

"You can't think about it. If you do, you're going to get hurt," he said. "You have to put it behind you and play the game."

The game was delayed almost 12 minutes while Green was strapped to a gurney and wheeled away.

"I've never experienced or seen that in all my years in football," Huard said. "But it's encouraging to know he's back on his feet, smiling and talking. But it was scary, man.

"I haven't played a whole lot in recent years," Huard added. "To get out there and play the game, sure, it's an opportunity. But the circumstances aren't that great. I'd feel better if I was going in for Trent because he'd rolled his ankle."

Koren Robinson expects to play

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Koren Robinson plans to play Sunday for the Packers, and believes it will be the start of something big in Green Bay.

A talented wide receiver and kick returner who was cut by the Minnesota Vikings after a drunken-driving charge last month, Robinson signed with the Packers earlier this week. The team began working him into the offense and special teams in practice Wednesday and Thursday.

"I might get a couple of snaps, I might not," said Robinson, a former first-round draft pick of the Seahawks. "I might just cheer my team on from the sideline. But like I said, I'm in the playbook, trying to learn it, so I can come out there next Sunday, this Sunday, and do what I can do."

Robinson is likely to face court hearings in two states next month: for his most recent drunken-driving charges in Minnesota, and in Washington to determine whether he has violated probation after pleading guilty to DUI in 2005.

"I'm not a cancer or nothing like that to the locker room," Robinson said. "[I'm] a good guy, like to laugh, have fun, you know, joke around. And like I said, I already know some of these guys."

Notes

• Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith (hamstring) sat out another practice.

• Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis (shoulder) did not practice but remains confident he'll play Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys.

• Tampa Bay running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams (back spasms) sat out practice, but the Buccaneers expect him to play Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.

• Bills linebacker Takeo Spikes missed his second day of practice with a pulled right hamstring, leaving his status in doubt for Buffalo's game at Miami on Sunday.

• The Jacksonville Jaguars could be without three defensive starters Monday night against defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh. Linebacker Mike Peterson (knee), tackle Marcus Stroud (ankle) and end Paul Spicer (groin) missed practice and were listed as questionable.

• The New Orleans Saints claimed former Green Bay Packers fullback Vonta Leach off of waivers.

• San Diego prosecutors say they suspect Chargers linebacker Steve Foley was on steroids when he was shot three times by an off-duty police officer. "His history of aggressive and even violent contact with law enforcement indicates the possibility of more than mere alcohol involvement," wrote criminal investigator Dan Nordell in an affidavit for a search warrant.

• Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Brian Williams has pleaded no contest to drunken-driving charges, opening himself up to possible sanctions from the NFL.

• Former NFL running back Lawrence Phillips attempted to run over a group of boys with his car because he was upset about losing a pickup game, a Los Angeles prosecutor told jurors. Phillips, 31, faces seven counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

• Gene Upshaw, the head of the NFL Players Association, told the New York Daily News he will inform NFL commissioner Roger Goodell that he's willing to increase the number of players randomly tested for steroids each week during the regular season as a means to strengthen the program.

• Former Kansas City Chiefs tackle Willie Roaf, who retired before training camp, reiterated that he is done playing professional football. He made the statement to dispel rumors he might return next season.