Tampa Bay Buccaneers OG Carl Nicks (toe, foot) has visited with several doctors in the last few weeks and is planning to see a foot specialist to determine why he’s suffering from similar symptoms to those he had last year when he went on the Injured Reserve with a toe ailment. His issues aren’t related to a MRSA infection, though. Nicks may be dealing with nerve damage that has affected his strength and sensation in his foot. ‘I will just have to deal with it my whole life,’ Nicks said. ‘I would lie if I told you it didn’t affect me at all. It affects the way I walk, the way I stand around. I have to stand a certain kind of way. It is something I just have to deal with. I don’t want to get into taking painkillers and not knowing if it is hurting.’ He’s received mixed messages as to whether he will be able to play again.
Buccaneers | Carl Nicks’ career in jeopardy?

Green Bay Packers LB Clay Matthews (thumb) broke his thumb again in Week 16.
Packers | Clay Matthews reinjures thumb

Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano said OG Hugh Thornton (neck), DT Ricky Jean-Francois (foot) and FS Sergio Brown (groin) are close to returning to the field.
Colts | Several injured players close to returning

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said he does not think QB Joe Flacco’s (knee) injured knee is 100 percent at this point and that he had to fight through the injury during the team’s Week 16 game.
Ravens | Coach does not think Joe Flacco is 100 percent

Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said LB Clay Matthews (thumb) is still having his injured thumb examined. McCarthy said the trainers do not feel very good about the injury.
Packers | No update on Clay Matthews

Denver Broncos LB Von Miller (knee) will have surgery to fix the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his knee in two to three weeks, and he faces a recovery period of six to nine months, meaning he’ll miss the team’s offseason program and likely some of training camp next year. Miller might go for a second opinion on his knee. He wasn’t using crutches after the Week 16 game and said he didn’t have much pain in his knee. LB Nate Irving played in Miller’s spot after he was injured, but DE Robert Ayers also saw action opposite DE Shaun Phillips.
Broncos | Von Miller to have surgery

Detroit Lions TE Dorin Dickerson (head) and CB Bill Bentley (head) both suffered head injuries during the team’s Week 16 game.
Lions | Two suffered head injuries

The Arizona Cardinals have signed RB Robert Hughes to their practice squad and have released LB JoJo Dickson from the practice squad.
Cardinals | Make pair of practice squad moves

Carolina Panthers WR Ted Ginn Jr. will likely take WR Steve Smith’s (knee) place in the starting lineup in Week 17 against the Atlanta Falcons. Ginn would rotate with WR Domenik Hixon. ‘It’s time for other guys to step up, and they’re ready,’ offensive coordinator Mike Shula said.
Panthers | Ted Ginn likely to start