"Man, he's a thumper," right tackle Austin Howard said. "He's fast and he's agile, but he's got that 'thump' to him."

From dragging players to powering through tackle attempts, Ivory is one tough guy to bring down. His average of 3.1 yards after contact leads the league among running backs, according to the statistics-based site ProFootballFocus.com.

"I just pride myself in making explosive plays," Ivory said. "I just try to make plays when there's not really anything there. When you make a play, I think that's big, when you turn something out of nothing."

Ivory has been doing that for most of this season, his first with the Jets after three years with the Saints. Healthy after dealing with hamstring issues during training camp and early in the season, Ivory has a team-best 639 yards rushing and is averaging 4.4 yards per carry.

He's also a dangerous blocker. Raiders linebacker Sio Moore left last week's game after his blitz was thwarted by a bone-rattling pop from Ivory.

He's not exactly Earl Campbell or Christian Okoye, who always ran over or through defenders. But the 6-foot, 222-pound Ivory certainly makes defensive players earn every tackle on him.

"He really loves contact," Howard said. "He starts off behind me, but more often than not, he ends up in front of me. He's a guy that on a short-yardage run play, he can break it for a huge gainer. That's not typical, you know?"

Ivory will face a stiff test Sunday against the Panthers' top-ranked run defense. If the Jets (6-7) are to keep pace in the AFC playoff race, a lot of it will depend on whether Ivery can pound the front seven for extra yards.


RODGERS STILL OUT


While saying Aaron Rodgers feels ready to play, coach Mike McCarthy it was tough to break the news to him that he wouldn't be taking snaps on Sunday.

"Hey, it's not the easiest thing to sit there and tell your franchise quarterback he can't play in the game when he wants to play in the game," McCarthy said after practice Friday. "This is clearly a decision that's made in the best interest of Aaron Rodgers."

Rodgers has been sidelined since he broke collarbone early in Green Bay's loss to the Chicago Bears on Nov. 4.

Rodgers practiced on a limited basis this week and even took some reps with the first-string offense in team drills Wednesday and Thursday.

But still not enough to apparently sway the decision to have him play in a critical game for the Packers. This will be the sixth straight game Rodgers misses.


PETERSON OPTIMISTIC


Adrian Peterson is again proving his amazing recuperative powers.

Peterson returned to practice Friday for the Minnesota Vikings with a sprained right foot, but his status for Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles is questionable.

Peterson practiced after being held out on Wednesday and Thursday. The league's second-leading rusher with 1,221 yards spent the earlier part of the week in a walking boot and was restricted to work in a pool before Friday.

"Like our medical people mentioned to me on Monday, he's so different than everybody else when it comes to recovering from injuries," Minnesota coach Leslie Frazier said. "We've been in situations in the past where you thought he wouldn't make it and then he made it. It was always in the back of my mind there was a chance he'd make it. He's amazing."

Frazier and Peterson wouldn't say for sure if the MVP running back would play Sunday, but both appeared optimistic after his work in practice on Friday.


OTHER WEEK 15 ACHES


Injuries reports are out, and so are a number of starters this weekend.

— A struggling Chicago Bears defense will wait at least one more week to get seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs back after fracturing his left shoulder. Bears coach Marc Trestman on Friday ruled Briggs out for Sunday's game at Cleveland, but added chances look better for a return in the Dec. 22 game at Philadelphia.

— The Falcons ruled out safety Thomas DeCoud and running back Antone Smith for Sunday's game against the Redskins. DeCoud left last week's game at Green Bay with a concussion. Rookie Zeke Motta is expected to make his first start against the Redskins. Smith is nursing a knee injury.

— The Jaguars will likely be without starting running back Maurice Jones-Drew and strong safety Johnathan Cyprien against the Bills. Both players were listed as doubtful Friday, Jones-Drew with a strained hamstring and Cyprien with a thigh injury. Cyprien, a rookie from Florida International, has been in on every defensive snap this season. Jaguars coach Gus Bradley held out a slight hope that one or both players might be ready.

Cecil Shorts III, the team's receiving leader, is plagued by a groin injury that will require offseason surgery. He practiced for the first time this week Friday, but on a limited basis. He was listed as questionable. Shorts confirmed after practice Friday that he would need surgery once the season was over.

— The Chiefs will be missing their starting left tackle, top tight end, leading pass rusher and now potentially their most dangerous punt returner Sunday at Oakland. Dexter McCluster is questionable after a small cut on his ankle became infected. An MRI exam and X-rays on McCluster's ankle showed no structural damage. But swabs taken at the infection site needed to be tested for MRSA, a potentially deadly strain of staph infection. The Chiefs were already preparing to play without left tackle Branden Albert (hyperextended knee), tight end Anthony Fasano (concussion) and linebacker Justin Houston (dislocated elbow).

— Rookie wide receiver Tavon Austin was in a walking boot at practice and is questionable for the Rams' game against the Saints. Cornerback Janoris Jenkins (back), guard Harvey Dahl (knee) and running back Daryl Richardson (thigh) also are questionable. Austin injured his left ankle at the end of a 56-yard run that set up the Rams' touchdown last week at Arizona. Fellow rookie Stedman Bailey, Austin's teammate at West Virginia, could get increased playing time if Austin can't go.


PAY UP


Broncos linebacker Von Miller is in hot water with the NFL again. The NFL fined him $25,000 for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Titans quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick last Sunday.

Miller popped Fitzpatrick in the helmet with his facemask, resulting in a penalty that led to a touchdown for the Titans in Tennessee's 51-28 loss. The league announced the fine Friday.

Also fined:

— Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall, $15,000 for wearing non-approved orange cleats.

— Cowboys defensive back Orlando Scandrick, $21,000 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Marshall.

— Cowboys defensive lineman George Selvie, $15,750 for roughing the passer.


PEOPLE STABBED AT GAME


Investigators say the stabbing of at least three people in a parking lot at the Denver Broncos' stadium after Thursday night's game stemmed from a fight over a near fender-bender.

Police spokesman Steve Warneke said officers were called to a "very chaotic" scene just before 10 p.m. and found three people suffering from non-life-threatening stab wounds. A fourth may have been stabbed, but that person left the area by the time officers arrived.

Justin Lee Manzanares, 29, is being held for investigation of assault charges, Warneke said. Two others were taken into custody but were released pending further investigation.

"It doesn't appear that this was related to the outcome of the game. It doesn't appear that this was Broncos versus Chargers," Warneke said.

Contributors: Ray Slover, Jason O. Boyd, The Associated Press

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