Vikings/Lions
STREETS CLOSED: Streets around the Metrodome will be closed before, during and after Sunday's game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions. The streets will be closed for seven hours as police continue their heightened-alert status in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Police have been told to be on the highest alert, Inspector Rob Allen said.
Beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday, no traffic will be allowed on parts of Fourth and Fifth streets near the Metrodome.
Allen doesn't expect parking lots to be affected, but he said parking will not be allowed at some meters near the Dome. Charter buses that normally run on Fifth Street next to the Dome will be diverted to South Second Street between 12th Street and Fifth Avenue.
Allen said there were no plans to search vehicles, but police will be on the lookout for suspicious activity. The streets will reopen to traffic at 5 p.m.
Packers
HUNT ACTIVATED: The Green Bay Packers activated defensive tackle Cletidus Hunt from the NFL's suspended list Saturday in time for Sunday's game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Hunt, who has not played since the preseason finale Aug. 31, missed the first four games because he violated the league's substance abuse policy for a second time.
The Packers released tight end Bobby Collins to make room for Hunt. The Packers acquired Collins from Buffalo on Aug. 7.
Hunt, who joined the team in practice last week, started 11 games last season, seven at defensive end and four at defensive tackle.
Bears
BENJAMIN SIGNED: The Chicago Bears signed long snapper Ryan Benjamin on Saturday in case regular Pat Mannelly can't play and made room on the roster by releasing quarterback Shane Matthews — for one game.
Mannelly is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals because of an ankle injury. To make room for Benjamin on the roster, the team temporarily released Matthews but intends to re-sign him next week.
Benjamin signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent out of South Florida in 2001 but was waived prior to training camp. He was signed by the New England Patriots in mid-August but was released before the start of the regular season.
Titans
MITCHELL TO START: Cornerback Donald Mitchell will make the first start of his NFL career Sunday when the Tennessee Titans play Tampa Bay, while Pro Bowl running back Eddie George gave every indication Friday that he will not miss a start for the first time.
A third-year veteran who sat out all of 2000 with a knee injury, Mitchell will start in place of All-Pro Samari Rolle at right cornerback. Rolle is expected to miss up to a month because his spinal cord was bruised in Sunday's game at Baltimore.
Mitchell, who had seven tackles and one interception as a reserve during his rookie season, was chosen to start over veteran Michael Booker and second-round draft choice Andre Dyson, the only other healthy cornerbacks on the roster.