Young will be a game-time decision

Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young took part in most of practice Friday but will be a game-time decision for Sunday’s AFC wild-card playoff game against the San Diego Chargers.

Coach Jeff Fisher said Young was better but did not go full speed because of a sore right quadriceps.

“I did say early he’s a quick healer,” Fisher said. “He’s been that way. He can overcome some difficult things rather quickly, so we’re very optimistic at this point.”

But the Titans still will test Young on Sunday to make sure he can run around and be close to full speed.

“Then we’ll make the decision,” Fisher said.

Enough tickets have been sold to lift the TV blackout and allow Southern California to watch the playoff game between the Chargers and Titans at Qualcomm Stadium. Kickoff is 1:30 p.m.

It will be televised in San Diego on Channel 8 and in Los Angeles and Orange County on Channel 2. Jim Nantz and Phil Simms will call the action.

A limited number of club level and other single seats are available at www.chargers.com, the Chargers’ ticket office at Qualcomm Stadium (Gate C) or by calling Ticketmaster at (619) 220-8497.

Linebacker Patrick Willis of the San Francisco 49ers won the Associated Press 2007 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award.

Willis’ dominant performance could have been overlooked because the 49ers went 5-11.

Instead, his league-leading 174 tackles and presence all over the field made him a runaway winner and the fifth consecutive linebacker to earn the honor.

Willis received 48 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the NFL. Only Carolina linebacker Jon Beason, with two, also received votes.

Safety Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers practiced and was expected to play in today’s AFC wild-card game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Polamalu, who hasn’t practiced in weeks, sat out four of Pittsburgh’s final six regular-season games because of a sprained knee.

He officially was listed as questionable on the team’s injury report

New England Patriots defensive lineman Vince Wilfork was fined $15,000 by the NFL for poking a finger inside the face mask of New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs during last Saturday night’s game.

League spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed the fine, the third this season for New England’s 2004 first-round draft pick.

Wilfork was not penalized on the play, which came with less than a minute to play in the first half of the Patriots’ 38-35 victory as several players from both teams jostled after the whistle.

Rob Ryan apparently will keep his job as the Oakland Raiders’ defensive coordinator despite recent reports that he would be fired after a disappointing season.

Coach Lane Kiffin said Monday he would evaluate Ryan’s status quickly. There were reports that Ryan would be fired, but team spokesman Mike Taylor said Friday that Ryan would return for a fifth season.

San Francisco 49ers Coach Mike Nolan and his staff will lead the South team in the Senior Bowl on Jan. 26 in Mobile, Ala.