Fox sticking with Tim Tebow - for now

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Tim Tebow wasn't sacked Monday.

One day after giving his embattled young quarterback a less than ringing endorsement following a humiliating 45-10 loss at home to the Lions, Broncos coach John Fox said he's sticking with Tebow.

"For this week, yes," Fox said.

Tebow said he doesn't feel as though he's on a week-to-week basis but that he's not one to fret about the future anyway.

"It's just take it one day at a time, consistently trying to get better and not focusing too far in the future," Tebow told The Associated Press. "Today's the day I've got to improve and that's kind of the focus."

By not committing to him beyond Sunday's game at Oakland, Fox made it clear that Tebow has to quickly improve as a pocket passer to retain his starting status in Denver.

"I think at the end of the day, we've got to see if he can improve and get better in the passing game," Fox said.

Since supplanting Kyle Orton at halftime against San Diego on Oct. 9, Tebow has completed 46 percent of his passes (35 for 76) and been sacked 13 times.

• 49ers doing all the little things right to be 6-1: Joe Staley relished his shining moment after the offensive lineman caught a 17-yard pass and celebrated madly with a two-handed point downfield to signal the first down. Nose tackle and part-time fullback Isaac Sopoaga got into the action with a key 18-yard reception in the second half.

"I have one opportunity to score and do a dance and I had to show off my moves," Staley said.

The San Francisco 49ers know they're going well when the big boys are catching meaningful balls to move the chains. They realize all is right when a flat second half still leads to a 10-point victory, as happened in Sunday's 20-10 win over Cleveland. And, when, before October is over, the team already holds a commanding four-game cushion in the NFC West.

Jim Harbaugh has become creative with his play-calling, spending the past two months learning who might be able to deliver in given situations even if it's an unconventional choice - such as the former tight end, Staley, and ex-rugby player, Sopoaga.

Staley, the talented left tackle and leader of the offensive line, made the most of his opportunity in the spotlight. Quarterback Alex Smith called his post-catch display "Prima donnaish" for someone at his position.

• Arizona's Kolb in walking boot with turf toe: Arizona quarterback Kevin Kolb had his right foot in a walking boot on Monday to protect a turf toe injury and said he had "no idea" whether he would be able to play in next Sunday's home game against the St. Louis Rams.

Kolb was injured early in Sunday's 30-27 loss at Baltimore but stayed in the game.

"I did some things to help with the pain a little bit," he said, "then just tried to gut it out and try to come up with a victory."

If Kolb can't go, second-year pro John Skelton probably would get the start. Skelton started four games late last season. A turf toe occurs when the toe is jammed severely, stretching the ligaments.

Kolb said he has had the injury before but not "near this severe."

Kolb said his initial plans are to work to reduce the swelling and pain, "then as the week goes on give it more and more movement and see what my body allows me to do."

Kolb, who ran for a first down late in the game, said the injury didn't affect his mobility so much as it did the velocity of his passes, since he pushes off with his right foot.

• Ravens endure the rigors of an up-and-down season: It's almost impossible to get an accurate read on the Baltimore Ravens, whose fluctuation from exceptional to awful is now happening on a half-to-half basis.

The Ravens (5-2) have routed the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets and Houston Texans. They've also lost to Tennessee and Jacksonville, team's with a combined 6-9 record.

Baltimore's strange Jekyll and Hyde personality came to the forefront on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. After falling behind by 21 points in the second quarter, the Ravens scrambled to pull out a 30-27 win over a team that has now lost six straight.

Coach John Harbaugh said Monday there's no mystery to the Ravens.

"When we play good fundamental football, we're a good football team. It comes down to that," he said. "It's technique, it's attention to detail, it's getting a little momentum. That sure helps you on offense, when you get get the chains moving and make a couple first downs."

The Ravens had none of that last Monday in Jacksonville, when they failed to get a first down before halftime and lost 12-7. Against the Cardinals, Baltimore's six first-half possessions were: punt, field goal, turnover, punt, turnover, field goal.

Seattle hosts the Ravens on Nov. 13.

• Bradford might return for Rams, Johnson for Texans: The injury situation is looking better for the Rams and the Texans this week, with star players from each team showing signs of being ready to return.

St. Louis quarterback Sam Bradford is no longer wearing a protective boot on his left ankle and began to exercise Monday, while Houston wide receiver Andre Johnson could be cleared to play after missing four games with a right hamstring injury.

However, Texans linebacker Darryl Sharpton will have surgery this week after tearing a tendon in his right quadriceps in Sunday's win against Jacksonville.

Coach Gary Kubiak said he'll wait to see how Johnson practices before clearing him to play against Cleveland.

Bradford, recovering from a high ankle sprain, has missed the past two games, including the Rams' first win - 31-21 over New Orleans on Sunday.

"He did some strengthening exercises this morning," Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo said. "He's moving around a little bit. I don't know that we'll get him on Wednesday (for practice), but we'll slowly work him in there. He's about the same right now. He'll be day to day and we'll see where we are after Wednesday."

A person familiar with the status of Miami Dolphins center Mike Pouncey says medical tests show no damage to the rookie's neck, and he might be able to return to practice this week.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Monday because the Dolphins hadn't commented on the test results.

Pouncey left Sunday's game against the New York Giants in the second half with a neck injury after taking a blow to the head. He said that he briefly couldn't feel his legs, but that he felt fine after the game.

Arizona quarterback Kevin Kolb had his right foot in a walking boot on Monday to protect a turf toe injury and said he had "no idea" whether he would be able to play in Sunday's home game against St. Louis.

Kolb was injured early in Sunday's 30-27 loss at Baltimore but stayed in the game and, in his words, "just tried to gut it out." He was sacked a season-high six times in the Cardinals' sixth consecutive loss.

• Chiefs 23, Chargers 20, OT: Philip Rivers fumbled a snap with 48 seconds left in regulation, costing visiting San Diego (4-2) a chance to kick a winning field goal and sending their game against Kansas City (3-3) to overtime.

In overtime, Matt Cassel hit Jonathan Baldwin for 17 yards to convert a long third down on the Chiefs' first drive, and Dwayne Bowe for 26 more on another third-and-long to set up Ryan Succop's 36-yard field goal.