Broncos not ruling QB Orton out ... yet

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ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Kyle Orton missed a third consecutive practice Friday because of a sprained left ankle and has only an outside chance of playing Sunday when the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers meet with first place in the AFC West on the line.

Broncos backup Chris Simms again took first-team practice repetitions, as he has all week in the absence of Orton, who was injured in last week's 27-17 loss at Washington.

Simms is in line to make his first start since September 2006, when he suffered a life-threatening spleen injury while with Tampa Bay.

Listed as questionable, Orton will be put through a workout before Sunday's game and how he performs will determine whether he plays, coach Josh McDaniels said Friday.

"If Kyle is completely able to do what we're going to ask him to do in the game plan, and can do it at a level that allows us to be successful, then we could give him an opportunity to play," McDaniels said. "If he's not capable of playing at that level, or doing some of the things that we need him to be able to do, then you go with the guy who practiced."

McDaniels said Orton "absolutely" still has a chance to play, though he conceded playing him without the benefit of any practice during the week was much less than ideal.

In a somewhat similar scenario a week ago, Simms was thrust into the lineup in relief of the injured Orton with little or no preparation. The backup had a rough go, completing 3 of 13 passes for 13 yards and an interception. In the case of Simms, though, it was his first significant action since undergoing emergency surgery more than three years ago to remove a ruptured spleen.

• STEELERS SAFETY HURTING — Steelers safety Troy Polamalu did not practice all week because of a left knee injury and will not play Sunday in Kansas City. He may miss the Nov. 29 game at Baltimore as well.

Polamalu sat out the Steelers' second through fifth games with a ligament tear, only to injure the same knee during an 18-12 loss to Cincinnati on Sunday.

Polamalu's latest injury is to a different ligament. He wore a heavy brace as he watched practice this week.

• QUICK HITTERS — Saints running back Reggie Bush has been held out of practice for the third straight day, and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Tampa Bay. Bush came out of the St. Louis game with swelling and soreness in his left knee, which was surgically repaired twice in a three-month span a year ago. ... Bills linebacker Keith Ellison's season is over after he was placed on injured reserve with a quadriceps injury. ... Josh Wilson is unlikely to play Sunday at Minnesota because of a concussion, leaving the Seahawks without a starting cornerback against Brett Favre and the high-flying Vikings. ...

The death of the mother of Saints quarterback Drew Brees has been ruled a suicide. Mina Brees, an attorney from Austin, Texas, died Aug. 7 while visiting Colorado. Grand County coroner Brenda Bock concluded this week that the 59-year-old Brees died of a prescription drug overdose and ruled the death a suicide. ... The NFL has fined Cardinals defensive tackle Darnell Dockett $7,500 for his elbow to the throat of Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. ... Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis was at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center on Friday to have his concussion evaluated. ... Jets safety Jim Leonhard is questionable for the team's game at New England after being limited in practice Friday with a broken right thumb. ... Federal attorneys want a judge to declare that Steelers Hall of Famer Mel Blount owes more than $631,000 in back taxes, interest and penalties.