ENGLEWOOD, Colo. Casey Hayward Packers Jersey . -- Fantasy football owners and Denver Broncos fans can rest easy: Peyton Manning is back. Manning returned to practice Thursday after the Broncos held him out a day earlier because of a minor ankle injury he sustained in Denvers loss at Indianapolis last weekend. It was his first skipped practice since joining the Broncos 19 months ago, the result of the pounding he took in his homecoming at Indianapolis last weekend along with the coaches desire to give him a days rest as the midpoint of the season approaches. "Yeah, I thought he looked fine," coach John Fox said after Thursdays practice. "He was good, he was his normal self," offensive co-ordinator Adam Gase concurred. Joining Manning on the practice field, at least on a limited basis, was right tackle Orlando Franklin, who missed last weeks game with a sprained left ankle. With Franklin sidelined, Louis Vasquez made his first career start at right tackle, but he and fellow fill-in tackle Chris Clark were unable to hold the edge consistently against the likes of Robert Mathis. Manning was knocked down 10 times and sacked a season-high four times. Manning had only been sacked twice in the previous five games with Clark filling in admirably for All-Pro left tackle Ryan Clady, who went on season-ending IR with a foot injury in Week 2. Chris Kuper filled in at right guard last week but hes missed practice all week with a sore ankle, so the Broncos (6-1) will likely juggle their O-line again Sunday when they host the Redskins (2-4). One possibility is moving Vasquez back to right guard and inserting eighth-year pro Winston Justice at right tackle and helping him out with two tight-end sets. Manning was one of eight starters who skipped Wednesdays workout, most of whom returned Thursday. Gase said he had "very little concern" about Manning missing practice and was pleased at how backup quarterback Brock Osweiler performed in his place. Everyone was glad to see Manning back under centre, however. Wide receiver Eric Decker (toe), who also returned to practice Thursday, said the day of rest was a welcome break from the grind of the season. "Being able to recharge and get ready for game week is huge," Decker said. Notes: CB Champ Bailey (foot) sat out practice again Thursday. Fox, who usually says injured players are "day-to-day," said Bailey is "week-to-week" after aggravating his sprained left foot Sunday night. He missed the first five games after getting hurt in the preseason. Nick Perry Packers Jersey . Panthers general manager Dale Tallon confirmed the list of finalists to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger at the general manger meetings in New York on Wednesday. Packers #50 Jersey . Youll find all sorts of celebrities and interesting people from Barack Obama to Bill Murray answering real questions in real time in a smart and entertaining way.OAKLAND, Calif. -- One game. After a season featuring more losses than wins, thats all that separates the New York Knicks and the final post-season spot in the weak Eastern Conference standings. J.R. Smith scored 21 points, Carmelo Anthony added 19 points and nine rebounds and the Knicks moved closer to a playoff seed by beating the undermanned Golden State Warriors 89-84 on Sunday night. "We cant worry about Cleveland, Atlanta, Charlotte -- none of them guys. We control our own thing," Anthony said. "If we play like tonight and just play hard and really lock in and focus on what we have to focus on, I think well be all right." The Knicks outscored Golden State 34-12 in the second quarter to go ahead 56-44 at the half, and then held off a furious rally by Stephen Curry and the Warriors in the closing minutes. Curry scored 32 points, including a tying 3-pointer with 2:42 remaining. But he missed his last two shots from long range and also had a pass stolen on Golden States final possession. New York (31-43) is a game behind fast-fading Atlanta, which has lost six straight, for the final playoff seed. And the Knicks can credit their defence for the latest victory, holding the streaky Warriors to 35.4 per cent shooting. "Our defence finally stepped up," Knicks coach Mike Woodson said. With big men Andrew Bogut and David Lee sidelined with injuries, Curry tried to keep the Warriors close. Curry connected on consecutive 3-pointers to slice New Yorks lead to 74-72 early in the fourth quarter, riling up the announced sellout crowd of 19,596 for the finishing stretch. After the Knicks went ahead 81-75, Curry & Co. roared back again. The All-Star point guard capped a 6-0 spurt with a corner 3-pointer, dancing in place after tying the score with 2:42 to play. Curry missed from long range his next time down, chasing the rebound but then forcing an errant shot while trying to draw a foul. Jermaine ONeal fouled Amare Stoudemire, who made a pair of throws to put the Knicks in front. New York forced Andre Iguodala into a miss before Anthonys pull-up jumper. Klay Thompson came back with a 3-pointer to bring the Warriors within one. Anthony hit two free throws to put the Knicks up 87-84 with 45.4 seconds left. Currys 3-point attempt over Anthony rimmed in-and-out, the Knicks grabbed the rebound but weree called for a shot-clock violation. Packers #29 Jersey. Raymond Felton closed out fast on the final possession against Curry, who double-clutched and tried to pass in the air -- only to have Shannon Brown steal the ball, make two free throws and seal a big victory for the Knicks. "If I could do it over, I probably wouldve just tried to find a way to just shoot it regardless," said Curry, who shot 10-of-21 from the floor, including 6-of-12 from 3-point range. Warriors coach Mark Jacksons team is suddenly looking like a tired and banged-up bunch at the most pivotal point of the season. Thompson finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, and Iguodala added 12 points and five rebounds for the Warriors (45-28), who are in sixth place in the tight Western Conference race. Golden State is two games behind fifth-place Portland, but only two games ahead of ninth-place Dallas -- and being out of the playoff picture entirely. Home losses to teams with losing records are piling up as fast as injuries. Bogut (bruised groin/pelvic) also is expected to miss Tuesdays game at Dallas and Wednesdays game at San Antonio -- and possibly more. The Warriors are hopeful Lee (strained right hamstring) could return during the trip after missing his second consecutive game, though the injury has kept him from even practicing lately. "We are developing and we certainly own the fact that we have lost some games that we shouldve won," Jackson said. "When you look on that floor that is a more than capable New York team that has underachieved this year, but they have talent." The game still started Golden States way. Thompson and Curry each made two 3-pointers to help the Warriors go ahead by 12 points in the opening minutes. But the Knicks outscored Golden State 34-12 in the second quarter, including a 15-0 run with Anthony on the bench to go up 56-44 at the half. It tied Golden States lowest-scoring quarter of the season. Hardaway finished with 15 points and Stoudemire had 15 points and 13 rebounds for the Knicks, who are 2-2 on their five-game road trip, which ends Monday at Utah. NOTES: The teams split the season series 1-1. ... New York hasnt won a season series over Golden State since 2000-01. ... Warriors co-owner Joe Lacob sat in a courtside seat next to rapper and Oakland native MC Hammer, who was celebrating his 52nd birthday. ' ' '
