ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Buffalo Bills running back LeSean McCoy says he's making progress with his right ankle injury but his status is uncertain for Sunday's AFC wild-card playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
McCoy spoke to the media on Thursday for the first time since suffering the injury in Sunday's 22-16 win over the Miami Dolphins. He has yet to practice this week, but did participate in stretches Thursday before leaving the field with a trainer.
"I'm definitely happy with how things are working out so far, but there is a lot more room for improvement, especially with where I want to be," McCoy said. "I know my body, I know myself, especially the way I play is more cutting and running.
"It's been feeling a lot better. I'm out of the boot and I can walk around without any pain. So that's a plus."
McCoy has been Buffalo's most explosive and most consistent playmaker, finishing the year with 1,138 rushing yards and six touchdowns. His absence would leave a hole in Buffalo's offensive attack; the Bills finished the regular season with the 31st-ranked passing attack in the league.
"I just want to be able to cut well enough where I don't have a lot of pain when I'm cutting," McCoy said. "I just want to be close or the best as far as 100 percent as I can get. But the type of game like this, you've got to lay it all on the line. If I can't get 100 percent, as long as I'm out there and I can run effective enough I'll do it. So we'll just see" (see full story).
Titans: Murray out, Spain questionable
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee running back DeMarco Murray will miss his second straight game with the Titans ruling him out against the Kansas City Chiefs in their AFC wild-card game Saturday.
NFL
Coach Mike Mularkey had refused to rule the veteran running back out until Thursday.
Murray hurt his right knee late in a loss Dec. 24 to the Los Angeles Rams and has not practiced since. Murray finished the season with a career-worst 659 yards rushing, but he ran for six touchdowns. He also caught 39 passes for 266 yards with another TD.
Mularkey says starting left guard Quinton Spain is questionable for the Titans (9-7) against the Chiefs (10-6) because of his back.
Both tight end Jonnu Smith and cornerback Kalan Reed were cleared from the concussion protocol.
Steelers: Haley says bar incident ‘non-issue’
PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley says the team told him an incident at a restaurant last weekend near Heinz Field is a "non-issue."
Haley's wife Christine was involved in what Pittsburgh police described as a minor altercation at Tequila Cowboy on Sunday night a few hours after the Steelers wrapped up the regular season with a victory over the Cleveland Browns. Haley himself was not involved in the incident, though he did sustain a minor injury at some point during the night.
Haley said Thursday the situation was "not of my doing," adding the team has assured him it is not concerned about it going forward. No charges were filed.
Haley says his "sole focus" is on the AFC North champions preparing for the playoffs. Pittsburgh will play a to-be-determined opponent in the divisional round on Jan. 14.
Ravens: Harbaugh retains coaches
OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Forced to assess the 2017 season far sooner than anticipated, Ravens coach John Harbaugh acknowledged changes must be made for Baltimore to snap its three-year run missing the playoffs.
He will not, however, shuffle the coaching staff.
Harbaugh will fill the void left by the retirement of defensive coordinator Dean Pees, but said Thursday he will bring back offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg and attempt to keep the rest of the staff intact unless "guys get opportunities to go somewhere and do some different things."
Pees announced his retirement Monday, less than 24 hours after the Ravens (9-7) were bounced from the playoff chase with a 31-27 loss to Cincinnati.
The in-house contender for the coordinator job is Ravens linebackers coach Don Martindale. Chuck Pagano, fired as head coach of the Indianapolis Colts on Monday and Baltimore's defensive coordinator in 2011, is also among those being considered.
Asked to describe what he's looking for from Pees' successor, Harbaugh replied: "Definitely continuity. I'm a believer in this system. I think this system has been something that's been developed over a long period of time, and we have worked really hard every single year to make it better. We've evolved it and grown it, and I think you see the results" (see full story).