NFL notebook: Steelers WR Brown misses practice again

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown missed practice for the second straight time on Thursday but this time it was due to a knee issue. On Wednesday, Brown's absence was listed as a coaches' decision but when Thursday's practice report was released the sore knee was listed as the reason. Brown is not expected to miss Sunday's season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals and his absence is viewed as precautionary similar to fellow wideout JuJu Schuster-Smith's absence last week ahead of the game against New Orleans. Brown has been among the league's most prolific wideouts with 104 receptions, 1,297 yards and a league-leading 15 touchdowns. Last week, Brown finished with 14 receptions for 185 yards and two touchdowns. While Brown was kept out of practice, the Steelers potentially received some good news when running back James Conner practiced for the second consecutive day. Conner has missed the last three contests with a high ankle sprain and said his condition is improving. Conner has 12 rushing touchdowns on 201 carries for 909 yards. He also has 52 receptions for 467 yards and a touchdown. The Steelers (8-6-1) have lost four of their past five games, and all four losses were by seven points or fewer. To reach postseason, they must beat Cincinnati and rely on outside help. Besides winning, Pittsburgh will reach postseason if one of two things happen -- either the Cleveland Browns beat the Baltimore Ravens or the Indianapolis Colts tie with the Tennessee Titans. --In an NFL Films video featuring his family, veteran New Orleans Saints tight end Benjamin Watson said Thursday he will retire at the conclusion of this season. Flanked by his wife Kirsten and five children, Watson said in the video: "It's time. It's time to be done. I'm going to finish strong." Watson's career will end with the conclusion to his second stint with the Saints, whom he also played for from 2013 to 2015. He returned to New Orleans on a one-year deal and this season he has 33 catches for 371 yards and two touchdowns (including Drew Brees' 500th career TD pass) in 15 games. "You hope you get to exit on your own terms, you hope you get to exit with a great win, and it's been great to be a part of this team and have this sort of winning at this point of my career," Watson said. Watson turned 38 on Dec. 18 and has 528 receptions for 5,856 yards and 44 TDs in 194 regular-season games with the New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens. Watson entered the league as a first-round pick of the Patriots in 2004 and won a Super Bowl in his rookie season, though he was on injured reserve as the Patriots won the third of their five Super Bowl titles. Watson spent his first six seasons with New England before joining Cleveland for three seasons. In 2015, Watson set career bests with 74 receptions and 825 yards in 2015. --Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota returned to practice on a limited basis Thursday and was throwing the ball during the individual portion of practice. Mariota was listed as a limited participant Thursday after sitting out Wednesday's practice with foot and neck injuries. In the portion of practice, the media is allowed to watch, Mariota was throwing the ball through rainy and windy conditions during Tennessee's second practice for Sunday night's home game against the Indianapolis Colts. "He did some stuff just to make sure that we are progressing along. I think that's the most important thing," Titans coach Mike Vrabel said. "He didn't take reps that he would normally take, but he took enough to feel like we can move on to tomorrow." Mariota's neck ailment is officially classified as a stinger. There is not a correlation to a prior injury that limited his use of his thumb and pointer finger. In another sign of progress, Mariota was able to lace up his cleats in the locker room before heading to the practice field. It was something he could not do after injuring his elbow in the season opener against the Miami Dolphins. Mariota was injured late in the first half of Saturday's 25-16 win over the Washington Redskins and did not return. Blaine Gabbert replaced Mariota and completed 7-of-11 passes for 101 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown to MyCole Pruitt. "I am doing everything I can, day and night, to try and make sure that I can be ready," Mariota said on Wednesday. "This is for everything. There is no timetable. If I can go and it is Sunday at 5 o'clock, by all means. We're just taking it one day at a time and I am going to do my best to be available." The Titans enter Week 17 on a four-game winning streak and need a victory to reach the postseason for the second straight season.