NFL Notebook: Williams 'questionable' for game against Falcons

■ Panthers: Running back DeAngelo Williams is questionable for Carolina's game against Atlanta on Sunday because of a sore left knee. He sat out practice yesterday for the second time in three days and was limited in Thursday's workout.

William ranks fifth in the NFL with 768 yards rushing, including 307 in the past two games.

Running back Jonathan Stewart (Achilles' tendon), receiver Muhsin Muhammad (knee), tight end Dante Rosario (knee) and fullback Tony Fiammetta (concussion) are also listed as questionable, but all four practiced yesterday.

Fullback Brad Hoover and safety Charles Godfrey are doubtful and haven't practiced all week (ankles), and defensive end Julius Peppers is probable (hand).

■ Browns: Coach Eric Mangini has defended his practices, one day after running back Jamal Lewis complained that players are being worked too hard.

Lewis asserted that Mangini was wearing out players during the week with 2½-to-3-hour workouts and that they had nothing left by kickoff on Sundays. Mangini, Cleveland's first-year coach, maintains his practices are not any longer or more physical than practices he has conducted in the past.

"I feel good about the way we practice, the time we practice," Mangini said. "Two hours of work on the field is a very reasonable time."

■ Bengals: Chad Ochocinco's pretend $1 bribe will cost him a lot more.

Ochocinco, a Cincinnati receiver, said he has been fined $20,000 for taking a dollar bill onto the field during an officials' review of one of his catches during a 17-7 win over Baltimore last weekend. Ochocinco held the dollar in his hand at his side but didn't give it to the official, who motioned for him to stay away.

Ray Anderson, the league's executive vice president of football operations, sent Ochocinco a letter that said: "The very appearance of impropriety is not acceptable. Your conduct was unprofessional and unbecoming an NFL player."

In response to the fine, Rock Software, Inc. -- which made Ochocinco's iPhone application -- says it will donate an additional $20,000 in the receiver's name to the Hillview Acres home for abused children in Chino, Calif.

■ Bills: Receiver Terrell Owens returned to practice yesterday and declared himself ready to play Sunday at Tennessee.

Owens said he fell asleep on his couch Monday night after practice and awoke feeling stiff the next morning. He was held out of practice Wednesday and Thursday, and the team said he had a strained hip.

■ Vikings: Cornerback Antoine Winfield of Minnesota says that his injured right foot still isn't quite ready and that he will not play against Detroit on Sunday. He has missed the last two games and was hoping to come back this weekend.

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Redskins: Running back Ladell Betts, who had been scheduled to start in place of injured Clinton Portis, has been listed as is questionable for Washington's game against Denver on Sunday. Coach Jim Zorn said yesterday that he thinks Betts will play despite a sprained ankle, but added that he's prepared to go with a running back by committee of Betts, Rock Cartwright and Quinton Ganther.

■ Eagles: Running back Brian Westbrook will be back on the field Sunday against the San Diego Chargers after missing two games because of a concussion.

Westbrook also has been bothered by a sore ankle, but practiced twice this week.

Late Thursday

49ers 10, Bears 6

Chicago 0 3 3 0 -- 6
San Francisco 0 7 0 3 -- 10

SF -- Gore 14 run (Nedney kick), 2:03 (2Q)

Chi -- FG Gould 50, :02 (2Q)

Chi -- FG Gould 38, 7:27 (3Q)

SF -- FG Nedney 21, 10:11 (4Q)

A -- 69,732.

TEAM STATISTICS Chi SF

First downs 19 12

Total Net Yards 350 216

Rushes-yards 21-43 28-110

Passing 307 106

Punt Returns 2-4 1-4

Kickoff Returns 3-42 3-54

Interceptions Ret. 1-0 5-90

Comp-Att-Int 29-52-5 16-23-1

Sacked-Yards Lost 0-0 2-12

Punts 4-44.0 5-38.2

Fumbles-Lost 1-0 1-0

Penalties-Yards 10-75 9-77

Time of Possession 28:27 31:33

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING -- Chicago, Forte 20-41, Cutler 1-2. San Francisco, Gore 25-104, Robinson 1-4, A.Smith 2-2.

PASSING -- Chicago, Cutler 29-52-5-307. San Francisco, A.Smith 16-23-1-118.

RECEIVING -- Chicago, Forte 8-120, Olsen 7-75, Hester 7-48, Bennett 3-27, Knox 2-20, Aromashodu 1-10, Clark 1-7. San Francisco, Crabtree 4-48, Gore 4-21, Morgan 3-24, V.Davis 3-16, J.Hill 1-5, Robinson 1-4.

MISSED FG ATTEMPTS -- San Francisco, Nedney 39 (WR).