Associated Press

Injured Houston Texans receiver Harry Williams will have surgery today to repair a neck vertebra he fractured during a preseason game Friday night.

Williams, 26, was hurt early in the Texans' 23-22 loss to the Dallas Cowboys when he collided with teammate Nick Ferguson while covering a kick return.

Williams was taken off the field on a stretcher and an ambulance took him to Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas. Team doctor Walter Lowe said early Saturday morning that Williams had regained feeling in his extremities and most of his normal neurological function.

Later in the day, Texans coach Gary Kubiak said Williams' condition hadn't changed and that family members had joined the receiver in Dallas and that the Texans would update Williams' condition today.

''He's in good spirits,'' Kubiak said.

Umenyiora injures knee

Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora was carted off the field in the second quarter of the New York Giants' annual preseason game against the New York Jets after his left knee ''locked up.''

X-rays were negative but further examinations are planned today, the team said.

Umenyiora, 26, could not put any weight on his leg. He was helped off the field with his arms wrapped around the shoulders of two trainers.

If Umenyiora is sidelined for any considerable time, the Giants could move strongside linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka back to defensive end. He was switched to linebacker last year so the team could put its best 11 players on the field.

Taylor leaves game

Washington Redskins defensive end Jason Taylor left the game against the Carolina Panthers with a sprained right knee.

The six-time Pro Bowl pick, acquired in a trade with the Miami Dolphins last month, was hurt when his leg bent awkwardly after he ended up in the middle of the pile following DeAngelo Williams' 5-yard run.

Taylor immediately screamed in pain and was attended to for several minutes on the field. He walked off the field on his own, but put little pressure on his right leg.

Palmer gets bloody

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer got roughed up again during a preseason game against the New Orleans Saints, leaving late in the first half with a bloody nose and a cut lip.

Palmer was sacked three times in the first half, the last on a safety blitz by Kevin Kaesviharn with 2 seconds left. He walked off the field with blood spilling down the front of his face, then headed to the locker room with a towel covering his head. He didn't return for the second half.

Illness delays start

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Troy Smith missed a scheduled start in the preseason game against the St. Louis Rams because of a viral illness.

Smith, the former Heisman Trophy winner, had been set to play as much as three quarters in the Ravens' third preseason game. Smith was back at the team hotel, the Ravens said. He's battling incumbent Kyle Boller for the starting spot.

Third-stringer Joe Flacco, a rookie from Delaware, got the start instead.

Vikings rest Jackson

The Minnesota Vikings held quarterback Tarvaris Jackson and his top two receivers, Bernard Berrian and Sidney Rice, out of the preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

NFL coaches emphasize the third exhibition game as the last real tuneup for the first-stringers before the regular season begins, but the Vikings need to be cautious with Jackson's sprained right knee. He was hurt last week against the Ravens.

Rice has fought a virus the last few weeks and has not practiced much. Berrian is bothered by a sore toe.

Bugel rejoins team

Redskins offensive line coach Joe Bugel worked the preseason game against the Panthers, two days after his daughter died from a rare form of bone cancer. Holly Bugel, 36, was diagnosed with cancer three years ago.