Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich is no longer wearing a protective boot on his injured left foot and remains hopeful he will return this season.
Leftwich said Wednesday the boot was removed two days earlier after tests showed the broken bone in his ankle was healing without any setbacks.
But Leftwich remained on crutches and declined to put a timetable on his return.
"You really have no idea," he said. "I'm not trying to put a date on it. I don't know. I'm just going to try to rehab to the best of my ability and what happens, happens."
Leftwich vowed to try to return this season.
"If it's humanly possible, I'll be there," he said. "If it's humanly possible, I know my body will find a way to get there. But we'll see."
Leftwich injured his ankle Nov. 27 at Arizona. Instead of having season-ending surgery, he let the ankle heal in hopes of returning — most likely for the playoffs. The Jaguars (9-4) could secure a wild-card berth this weekend, but probably need to win two of their final three games to return to the postseason for the first time since 1999.
"There's not a lot of pain," Leftwich said. "There's still a lot of swelling. It's still broken. Bone doesn't heel in two weeks. You've got to understand that. It has some pain, some days more than others. It has its time when it just wants to ache for no reason."
SEAHAWKS' HUNTER SUSPENDED: The NFL suspended without pay Seattle Seahawks reserve offensive tackle Wayne Hunter for Sunday's game at Tennessee for violating the league's personal conduct policy.
A league statement issued Wednesday said Hunter was fined one additional game check. The punishment is related to a domestic dispute with his girlfriend in the summer of 2003.
Hunter's total loss is $44,705.88 — 2/17ths of his $380,000 base salary for this season.
The league had already suspended Hunter for the 2004 season opener because of the incident. The latest suspension and fines stem from subsequent procedures taken to settle the case.
NFL GIVING SAINTS BONUSES: New Orleans Saints players will get a $40,000 bonus from the NFL and the NFL Players Association for "performing under unusual and unanticipated conditions arising from the Hurricane Katrina tragedy."
The bonus applies to every Saints player who has been on the roster for the entire season, including inactive players, practice squad members and those on injured reserve, the team said Wednesday in a statement. Players on the roster for less than the full season will receive $2,350 for each week on the roster.
COLLINS GETS NOD FOR RAIDERS: Marques Tuiasosopo's chance to prove himself lasted just one week.
Tuiasosopo was sent back to the bench Wednesday when the Oakland Raiders made another quarterback change, moving Kerry Collins back into the starting role for Sunday's game against Cleveland.
Coach Norv Turner said last week he wanted to give Tuiasosopo an extended look to see if he could revive Oakland's listless offense. Both Collins and Tuiasosopo said it was their understanding after talking to Turner that the move was for the rest of the season.
HOLCOMB TO START FOR BILLS: Kelly Holcomb will start for the Buffalo Bills at quarterback against Denver on Saturday in place of the injured J.P. Losman.
Coach Mike Mularkey made the announcement Wednesday after Losman missed his second straight practice. He hurt his right shoulder and left leg in the 35-7 loss to New England last Sunday but continued playing.
The game Saturday is Buffalo's home finale. The Bills (4-9) are already out of playoff contention and face a Broncos team (10-3) that needs a win to clinch a playoff berth.
Losman watched the team practice inside Ralph Wilson Stadium in subfreezing temperatures. It's not clear when he was hurt against the Patriots, but he was sacked twice and knocked down numerous times by a blitz-happy Patriots defense.
Losman, the second of Buffalo's two first-round draft picks in 2004, was awarded the starting job in February, leading the Bills to release veteran Drew Bledsoe, now the starter in Dallas.
After leading Buffalo to a season-opening 22-7 win over Houston, Losman has lost seven consecutive starts. Benched after four starts this season, Losman regained his starting job after leading Buffalo to a 14-3 win over Kansas City on Nov. 13, filling in after Holcomb sustained a concussion in the second quarter.
The Bills are 2-2 when Holcomb starts and finishes a game this season. The 10-year journeyman backup is 86-of-127 for 815 yards, with six touchdowns and three interceptions.
Mularkey held out hope that Losman could at least serve as a backup against the Broncos. But he added that will depend whether he can practice on Thursday, the team's final full session before the game.
Mularkey said medical tests on Losman's shoulder Tuesday were negative.
MARTIN UNDERGOES KNEE SURGERY: New York Jets running back Curtis Martin underwent season-ending surgery Wednesday on his right knee.
The 32-year-old Martin, who won the NFL rushing title last season, was injured against the Miami Dolphins in Week 2 but continued to play. He sat out last week's 26-10 win over Oakland, breaking a streak of 119 straight regular-season games in which he played.
The Jets did not announce a timetable for recovery. Martin failed to become the first player in NFL history to start a career with 11 straight 1,000-yard seasons. He finished this season with 735 yards.
His career with the team also is up in the air. The Jets are almost certain to ask him to restructure his contract for next season if they want him to return.