Father: Griffin 'doing great,' hopes to start

The father of Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III told USA Today that his son will start on Sunday against the Browns despite a sprained right knee.

Griffin injured the knee in the fourth quarter of Sunday's overtime win over the Ravens, which brought Washington's record to 7-6, one game behind both the NFC East-leading Giants and the wild-card leaders.

The team has diagnosed the injury as a Grade 1, mild sprain, but coach Mike Shanahan has yet to reveal publicly whether Griffin or rookie backup Kirk Cousins will start on Sunday.

But Robert Griffin II says his son has already informed him that his condition has improved enough for him to be ready.

"He's doing great," Robert Griffin II told the paper. "He definitely said he plans to start. I haven't seen him [the last two days]. But he told me everything has gone well."

"After some mild swelling, the knee has responded.

"He's doing rehabilitation as far as the impact pain working with that," Griffin's father said.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have suspended running back Rashard Mendenhall for conduct detrimental to the team.

Mendenhall has been inactive for the last two games after fumbling in a 20-14 loss to Cleveland on Nov. 25. He was third on the depth chart behind Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman when the team released its updated chart on Tuesday.

The New England Patriots have placed wide receiver Donte' Stallworth on injured reserve with an ankle injury.

The move ended his season after just one game, a 42-14 win over the Houston Texans on Monday night in which he scored on his only reception, a 63-yarder from Tom Brady. The Patriots, who had released Stallworth following training camp, re-signed him on Dec. 4 after wide receiver Julian Edelman went on injured reserve with a foot injury.

Braylon Edwards is back with the New York Jets - a week after bashing them.

The veteran wide receiver was awarded to New York off waivers from Seattle as the Jets try to bolster their injured receiving corps with a familiar face. Edwards, waived by Seattle on Monday, developed a good rapport with Sanchez in helping New York to consecutive trips to the AFC title game in 2009 and 2010.

Edwards reiterated his feelings for Sanchez last week when he took to Twitter and criticized the Jets organization.

To most people, Wednesday will just be a quirky date: Dec. 12, 2012, or 12-12-12. But to Packers fans, the number 12 carries special meaning.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers wears No. 12. So earlier this year, the state Legislature designated the day Aaron Rodgers Day in honor of the Super Bowl winner and last year's MVP.

Some public and private businesses are encouraging their employees to wear Rodgers jerseys Wednesday.