Przybilla to return to practice next week — possibly Sunday

Media reports say that Blazers center Joel Przybilla will return to practice Sunday, partaking in the first 45 minutes of full contact drills. Blazers spokesman Collin Romer did not confirm Sunday as the return date, but did say Przybilla will practice sometimes next week.

Przybilla averaged 3.7 points per game for Portland last year before rupturing his patella in late December, an injury that required surgery. He re-aggravated the knee after falling in the shower in March and once again needed surgery.

The return of the 7-foot-1 center is timely for the Blazers, who are temporarily without Greg Oden (knee injury) and who lost forward/center Jeff Pendergraph for the season to a torn ACL Thursday night. A strained groin, meanwhile, has starting center Marcus Camby at less than full strength.