Dolphins’ Brown has surgery on broken hand

The Miami Dolphins’ resurgence might have to continue without running back Ronnie Brown, at least in the short term.

Brown underwent surgery Friday to stabilize a broken left hand. Other than saying the team’s leading rusher -- who happens to be left-handed -- and No. 2 overall pick in the 2005 draft will be “evaluated on an ongoing basis,” the Dolphins did not reveal any timetable for Brown’s return.

Brown suffered the injury Thursday as Miami (5-6) won its fourth game in a row, beating Detroit, 27-10, and climbing to within two games of the AFC’s wild-card slots.

If Brown cannot play Dec. 3 when Miami plays host to Jacksonville, then Sammy Morris probably will get the start in his place.

Brown was injured shortly after halftime, when Lions linebacker Ernie Sims’ helmet hit his hand during a tackle. Brown went in the locker room for X-rays, and returned to the sideline with a large bag of ice wrapped around his hand.

Also Friday, Dolphins cornerback Michael Lehan underwent surgery to repair a broken nose.

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Minnesota Vikings free safety Darren Sharper was fined $15,000 for bumping into an official during the third quarter of Sunday’s 24-20 loss to the Dolphins.

A league spokesman said the fine was for “impermissible physical contact with a game official. Specifically while pursuing a pass play, he ran directly toward the game official and shoved him to the ground.”

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Jacksonville receiver Ernest Wilford practiced for the second consecutive day and should be able to play Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.

Wilford sprained his right ankle Monday night against the New York Giants and wore a walking boot the next two days. He returned to practice Thursday and worked with the first-team offense again.

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Seattle center Robbie Tobeck, who has not played in the Seahawks’ last two games because of severe flu, is in a Seattle-area hospital indefinitely because of an abscess in his left hip.

Tobeck reported to practice Monday with pain in his left hip. That left him questionable because of what the team thought was a muscle pull or a tear.

A midweek MRI exam revealed the abscess.

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St. Louis Rams guard Adam Timmerman, listed as questionable a few days ago because of bruised ribs, said he’ll start Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.

Timmerman, held out of practice Wednesday, was upgraded to probable.

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Cleveland receiver Braylon Edwards, who on Wednesday questioned safety Brian Russell’s jolting hit to Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Johnson this season, expressed regret over his comments.

“The bottom line is you never want to have an article like that, that big, especially on Thanksgiving,” Edwards said.

“I didn’t know it was going to be that big of a deal. Things like that divide from within, and that’s something we don’t want to do.”

Russell’s hit knocked off Johnson’s helmet and split the receiver’s chin near the end of the Browns’ 34-17 loss on Sept. 17.

Russell, who was not penalized, said he talked to Edwards about his comments, but wouldn’t say whether Edwards apologized.

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The Carolina Panthers put center Justin Hartwig on injured reserve, ending his season.

Coach John Fox said Hartwig would undergo surgery to repair a groin injury that kept him out of all but two games.