Philadelphia ? Rashard Cook, a backup safety and key special teams player who missed most of last season with a knee injury, signed a one-year contract Monday with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Cook has spent the last four seasons with the Eagles after being claimed off waivers from Chicago before the 1999 season. He has 82 tackles — 57 of them on special teams — two interceptions and three sacks in his career. He has appeared in 47 games for the Eagles, including three starts.

“He gives us a little depth at the safety spot,” coach Andy Reid said. “It has nothing to do with the younger players. They’re doing a nice job in there. This is a matter of taking the opportunity to sign a veteran safety that knows the system.”

Cook was drafted in the sixth round by the Bears in 2002 out of Southern Cal.

Meanwhile, Reid met with holdout running back Duce Staley’s agent for about 21/2 hours Sunday night. Staley participated by phone.

Neither side would elaborate on the details of the discussion.

“We’ll see how things go in the near future. It was a positive situation,” Reid said Monday.

Staley, who is entering his seventh NFL season, has one year left on his contract with the Eagles. Although he will make a base salary of $2.2 million this season, Staley would like an extension or some assurance from the team that he is part of its future plans.

Texans

Houston — The Texans absorbed expected bad news Monday when team doctors confirmed second-year fullback Jarrod Baxter would miss the season because of a severe sprain in the middle of his left foot.

Baxter was hurt during Friday night’s 34-6 loss at Dallas.

“This is certainly a loss,” Texans coach Dom Capers said. “Jarrod started for us all last year. He came back in with a great attitude and worked extremely hard during the offseason. He was showing significant progress, because last year was his first year playing fullback.”

Before word of Baxter’s injury, the day started oddly when coaches scrapped the first of two practice sessions scheduled for Monday, sending players to meetings instead.

Broncos

Denver — The Denver Broncos gave coach Mike Shanahan a three-year contract extension, tying him to the franchise through 2008. Shanahan, who had three years remaining on his previous deal, would be Denver’s head coach for 14 years if he serves out the remainder of his new contract.

Patriots

Foxboro, Mass. — The New England Patriots released veteran cornerback Otis Smith Monday, ending his second stint with the Super Bowl champions.

Smith has been injured since last December, when he hurt his shoulder in the fourth quarter of New England’s 24-7 loss to Tennessee.

Smith, 37, had started in 95 of 164 games during his 13-year NFL career.

Jets

Hempstead, N.Y. — The New York Jets waived defensive backs DeShaun Hill, Will Hunter and Kevin Knight along with kicker Danny Kight while signing receiver Cedric James.

The Jets also placed guard Tom Nutten on the reserve-retired list. Nutten told the Jets last week that he was retiring.

Browns

Berea, Ohio — Rookie running back Lee Suggs failed his physical and can not yet practice with the Cleveland Browns. Suggs, who signed a five-year contract last week, watched from the sideline Monday as the Browns prepared for Saturday’s exhibition game against the Detroit Lions.

Colts

Indianapolis — The Indianapolis Colts new practice field got its first test Monday and received high marks after a two-hour, 20-minute workout. Owner Jim Irsay replaced the artificial turf on the team’s indoor practice field this summer with Fieldturf, which looks and feels more like grass. Players like it because it’s spongy and could prevent injuries.

Saints

New Orleans — The New Orleans Saints, still looking for a backup running back in the last week of training camp, brought in former No. 1 draft pick Ki-Jana Carter Monday.

Carter, drafted first by Cincinnati in 1995 after three impressive seasons at Penn State, was on the field for Monday’s only practice and ran several plays with the offense.