Galloway getting closer to return

UPDATE, 5:33 p.m.: Coach Jon Gruden attempted to lower expectations after Thursday's practice when he said the following about Galloway's chances for returning this weekend:

"He's going to have to practice," Gruden said. "He's going to have to test it out a little bit. You can't just go through drills. You've got to go through an entire practice and try to simulate a game. We'll try to monitor his progress.

"You've got to be able to go out there and prove to yourself and every one that you have the ability to play a 60-minute game. Unfortunately, we can only dress (a certain) amount of players. If the injury isn't tested out and we're not all confident he can make it through a game, it really limits a lot of the things we can do."

So, either Gruden is blowing smoke or he honestly isn't confident about Galloway's return against Carolina.

STEPHEN F. HOLDER

POSTED 12:32 p.m.: Receiver Joey Galloway said he's begun running, cutting and catching footballs.

He did not practice Wednesday but says there still is a chance he could play Sunday against Carolina.

Galloway has missed the last three games with a right foot sprain he suffered Sept. 14 against the Atlanta Falcons. Since the middle of Dec. 2007, he has only played one complete game -- the season opener at New Orleans.

"It's tough to sit back and watch,'' Galloway said. "But like I said, finally I'm running. So at least I feel like I'm preparing myself to come back. That's exciting. When you're hurt, it's the little things that matter. That day you finally get to do some cutting and catch a football -- that kind of stuff.''

Galloway said he will be limited in practice today.

"There's always a chance," Galloway said. "To see the offense go through some struggles like we have the last couple weeks and not be able to help. . . I don't by any stretch of the imagination want to say I would've changed those games, but I do my part in this offense and right now I'm not there to do that. That's tough to sit there and watch.''