e suffered a severe calf injury while working out last

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TORONTO - The Raptors organization and its fans can breathe a sigh of relief after receiving positive news regarding the status of injured point guard Kyle Lowry. Lowry will wear a splint on his non-shooting hand to protect an injured left ring finger tendon for approximately six weeks, however, he is still expected to participate in practices and play in games once the regular season begins next week, the team announced Thursday evening. The starting point guard sustained the injury during Wednesdays victory over Memphis when his finger popped out while reaching for a loose ball late in the third quarter. Attending a follow-up examination, Lowry was absent from practice Thursday morning and did not accompany the team to Milwaukee. He will miss Torontos final exhibition game against the Bucks on Friday but should be ready to go when the Raptors host Boston in the season opener on Oct. 30. The Raptors catch a lucky break as long as Lowry is active and in the lineup, even if hes playing at less than 100 per cent. Given the uncertainty off the bench at that position - neither D.J. Augustin nor rookie Dwight Buycks has stood out in the preseason - Lowry is expected to get the bulk of the playing time at the point this season. Coach Dwane Casey has hinted at a possible platoon with the back-up point guard role, depending on match-ups and who has the .... hand, alternating between Augustin and Buycks heading into the season. With Lowry sidelined for Fridays preseason finale, Casey should get a good look at his reserves. Julyan Stone, who is still battling for the final roster spot but has been used to spell Lowry at the point during camp, is also nursing an injury after taking a knee to his surgically repaired right hip on Wednesday. He was a non-participant in Thursdays practice and is consider day-to-day. Centre Jonas Valanciunas was limited in practice, able to participate in non-contact drills after taking an elbow to the face a couple minutes after Lowrys injury. Valanciunas needed three stitches to patch up a laceration to his chin and was still sore on Thursday but insisted he was feeling better and will also be good to go next week when the games count. "I feel not bad," he said. "[I] still need a couple days but Im feeling good so Im going to be ready for the first [regular] season game." Tyler Hansbrough, who tweaked his right thumb Wednesday, was a full-participant in practice. Raptors exercise team options on Valanciunas and Ross The Raptors also announced they have picked up third-year options on the rookie contracts of sophomores Valanciunas and Terrence Ross. Financial terms of the deals were not disclosed. The team had until Oct. 31 to exercise its option on both players. Valanciunas, 21, was named to the 2012-13 NBA All-Rookie Second Team after averaging 8.9 points and 6.0 rebounds in his first season with the Raptors. Ross, 22, averaged 6.4 points and 2.0 rebounds as a rookie last season, winning the 2013 Slam Dunk competition at All-Star weekend. Both of their contracts are now guaranteed through the 2014-15 season. RENTON, Wash. - The Seattle Seahawks will be without defensive tackle Jordan Hill for the post-season after he was placed on injured reserve Tuesday. He suffered a severe calf injury while working out last weekend.Seattle coach Pete Carroll announced Hills injury and the team placed him on IR later in the day. Hill suffered a knee sprain in the season finale against St. Louis, but was in the process of coming back when he injured his calf.Hill had been a late-season standout with 5 1/2 sacks in the final six games of the regular season. Hill also had a key interception in the regular-season finale against St. Louis.TThe Seahawks signed safety Steven Terrell off the practice squad to take Hills spot on the 53-man roster and added defensive tackle Jimmy Staten to the practice squad.ddddddddddddeattle will also be without backup safety Jeron Johnson against the Panthers. Johnson suffered a dislocated elbow in Week 17.The Seahawks are expecting centre Max Unger (ankle), wide receiver Jermaine Kearse (hamstring), defensive lineman Demarcus Dobbs (ankle), cornerback Tharold Simon (shoulder) and tight end Cooper Helfet (ribs) to be able to play this week.___AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL China Jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '