ENGLEWOOD, Colo. Wily Peralta Jersey . -- Jack Del Rio had a big Thanksgiving Day surprise for his team. John Fox joined the players and coaches for their post-practice huddle on the football field Thursday. Amid hails, hugs and handshakes, he told them how thankful he was for his health, their hard work and his good friend Del Rio for running things while he was recovering from open-heart surgery. "I believe there couldnt have been a better message on a better day," safety David Bruton said. Of course, Fox also took the opportunity to do some coaching, imploring his players to focus on beating Kansas City this weekend so that when he officially returns to work Monday, hell have a first-place team awaiting him. It hasnt been determined whether Fox will coach from the sideline or the booth for his first game back, when the Broncos host the Tennessee Titans on Dec. 8. The team issued a statement Thursday saying that "while no formal restrictions will be placed on his workload upon his return, he will continue to be monitored by our medical staff as his well-being remains our No. 1 priority." Its been less than a month since Fox had his heart operation. Team owner Pat Bowlen sent his private jet to Charlotte, N.C., on Wednesday to bring Fox and his wife, Robin, back to Denver. Fox had been recuperating at his off-season home after aortic valve replacement surgery Nov. 4. Del Rio said he invited Fox to drop by the office Thanksgiving morning so that the entire team wouldnt have to show up at the Fox house for turkey dinner. "It was great to see (him) and very fitting on a day like today when were all kind of taking a pause and taking a break and giving thanks," Del Rio said. Fox will stay back in Denver when the Broncos visit Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday for an AFC West showdown between 9-2 teams that could go a long way in determining playoff positioning. Del Rio has gone 2-1 in Foxs absence. Fox has actually been back coaching for a while. He and Del Rio talk every day, and he even Skyped his players during a team meeting last week. He was breaking down plays upon his release from the hospital, and on Wednesday quarterback Peyton Manning said theyve communicated "a healthy amount" over the last three weeks. His return was first reported by Fox Sports. About a week after the surgery, Fox said on a conference call with reporters that he was born with a bicuspid aortic valve, one that has only two leaflets instead of the usual three. The aortic valve regulates blood flow from the heart into the aorta, the major blood vessel that brings blood into the body. He said it was discovered in 1997 when a murmur showed up in a physical while he was the Giants defensive co-ordinator. He was told earlier this year that surgery was necessary, but he had hoped to delay the operation until after the Super Bowl. That changed when he almost passed out Nov. 2 while golfing in Charlotte, two days after hed visited his cardiologist in Raleigh. Less than 48 hours later, he had surgery, and he was released from the hospital four days after that. He said the typical hospital stay for such surgeries is five to seven days. He also noted that he was "very, very healthy," saying his heart condition was more of a birth defect than the result of any poor lifestyle choices or too much stress. He pledged then get back to work by seasons end. Tight end Jacob Tamme called it a "pretty cool Thanksgiving treat to have him back and see how happy he was to be back." "I mean, its killing him (to be away)," Tamme said. "He loves it, man. He loves being around this group and we love having him here. So it was pretty awesome." Kansas City Royals Jerseys . Thornton emerged as one of the leagues best defensive ends against the run in 2013. The former undrafted free agent from Division II Southern Arkansas led Philadelphias linemen with 78 tackles and had one sack. Whit Merrifield Jersey . -- Jerome Williams glanced at Philadelphias schedule and realized he would be facing the Oakland Athletics yet again, with another new team. http://www.royalsteamproshop.com/Royals-Ian-Kennedy-Kids-Jersey/ .com) - Roosevelt Jones had 19 points, seven rebounds and seven assists to lead No. NASHVILLE -- This time, the shootout win went to the Nashville Predators. Craig Smith scored the only goal in the tiebreaker, leading the Predators to a 4-3 victory over the Washington Capitals on Sunday night. Patric Hornqvist scored two goals and Shea Weber added another for Nashville, which has won two of three. It was the Predators first shootout win since Jan. 16 at Philadelphia and their second of the season against eight losses. Troy Brouwer scored twice and Nicklas Backstrom had the other goal for Washington. The Capitals have lost three straight. "I thought we played better today than yesterday," Washington coach Adam Oates said. "There were moments where we didnt execute, but I thought that as we got into the game, we played better." Nashville goaltender Carter Hutton had 23 saves, and then denied all three Washington shooters in the tiebreaker. Weber gave Nashville a 3-2 lead at 8:23 of the third. Matt Cullen carried the puck into the Washington zone on the right side. Just across the blue line, he left a drop pass for Mike Fisher, who found Weber at the top of the right circle. The captain then ripped a slap shot high to the stick side of Capitals goaltender Jaroslav Halak for his team-leading 21st goal of the season. "The way (Weber) shoots the puck, it is pretty dangerous every time," Cullen said. Washington then used a power play to tie the game again with 7:40 to go. Backstroms snap shot from above the right circle beat Hutton for his 14th of the season. The Capitals went 2 for 4 with the man advantage. They began the day with the leagues best power play, clicking at a success rate of 23.8 per cent. "I thought we deserved the game," Nashviille coach Barry Trotz said. Jason Hammel Jersey. "I thought 5-on-5, we were much better than they were tonight. We managed the pucks well." Nashville did not get a power play in the game. Brouwer scored the games first goal at 4:17 of the opening period. From the left corner, Backstrom found Mike Green in the right circle. Green made a quick backdoor pass to Brouwer, who beat Hutton with a one-timer. Hornqvist responded at 5:55 of the first. Fisher won a faceoff at the right dot inside the Washington zone back to Weber, where his slap shot was stopped by Halak. On the left side, Hornqvist grabbed the rebound and put it past a fallen Halak for his 100th career NHL goal. "Hes been great for us all year," Hornqvist said of Weber. "Hes our leader. Hes our best defenceman on both sides of the puck and obviously he has a big shot. He showed it tonight." Hornqvist struck again at 18:30 of the first, when a Backstrom turnover at the Washington blue line sent him in on a breakaway. From in close, Hornqvist beat Halak just under the crossbar for his 17th of the season. Just seconds before Hornqvists goal, a sliding Weber knocked the puck away from Alex Ovechkin, who was skating down the right side of the Nashville zone, denying the leagues leading scorer of a solid chance. "There arent enough games left to be too positive about only getting one point," Washington defenceman John Carlson said. "Yeah, it is a point, but its only going to make our road harder." NOTES: Green played in his 500th career NHL game. He is the 10th defenceman in Capitals history to reach that mark with the team. ... Brouwer has points in his last three games. ... Fisher has six points in his last six games. ' ' '