Michael Vick returns to practice, will play Sunday

Michael Vick, the NFC’s starting Pro Bowl quarterback a year ago, returned to practice Monday after sitting out three games because of two broken ribs, and will play Sunday when the last-place Philadelphia Eagles (4-8) face the Miami Dolphins (4-8).

“I’ll definitely be out there,” Vick said. “I feel like I’ve got to be accountable for my team. I want to be there. You know, I just want to get back to doing what I love to do, and that’s playing the game of football. There’s nothing in this world like the game. I put my heart and soul into it, man, and I just wish I could have been out there the last three weeks, but it just hasn’t panned out that way.”

The Eagles were 1-2 without Vick.

49ers linebacker Patrick Willis injured hamstring

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, has undergone an MRI exam on his injured right hamstring and his status for Sunday’s game at Arizona is unclear.

Coach Jim Harbaugh said he doesn’t know the severity of Willis’ injury or whether it could sideline him. Willis was injured when he landed awkwardly after missing a tackle against the St. Louis Rams.

Willis has 93 tackles, two sacks, a career-best four forced fumbles and an interception.

Vikings quarterback suffered a hip pointer

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder has a hip pointer after taking a hard hit early in Sunday’s game against Denver.

Ponder was seen favoring his left leg when he scrambled or walked back to the huddle and clutching his right side in discomfort during the game.

Coach Leslie Frazier said that Ponder’s injury was the one the Vikings are “most concerned about” this week but added that trainers told him the rookie “should be fine” for Sunday’s game against Detroit.

Running back Adrian Peterson could return from a two-game absence caused by a sprained left ankle. Frazier said the team thinks “he’s very close.”

Texans receiver Andre Johnson has hamstring injury

Andre Johnson has a mild left hamstring injury, but Houston Texans Coach Gary Kubiak said it’s too early to know whether the receiver will play at Cincinnati this weekend.

Johnson pulled up in the third quarter of the Texans’ 17-10 win over Atlanta on Sunday as he was chasing down a deep pass from rookie T.J. Yates, who was making his first NFL start. Johnson was playing his second game after sitting out the previous six because of a right hamstring injury that required minor surgery.

An MRI exam showed that Johnson’s latest hamstring issue was far less severe than the last one.

Also, Texans punter Brett Hartmann caught his left foot in the turf and tore a ligament in his left knee againist Atlanta.

Former players sue NFL

A lawsuit filed by 12 former players against the NFL about its concussion policies says there was widespread pregame use of an anti-inflammatory drug that could put someone with a head injury at increased risk.

Pro Bowl receiver Joe Horn is among the plaintiffs named in the complaint that was filed in federal court in New Jersey on Monday.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said that “any allegation that the NFL intentionally sought to mislead players has no merit.” He declined to address the issue of the pregame use of painkillers.