August 2009 4for4 Player News Articles

Whether or not reports are true of a cracked rib, Brett Favre didn't appear to be slowed down against the Texans. He completed 13 of 18 passes for 142 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown pass to RB Chester Taylor. If Favre is hurt, he sure didn't show it.

Matt Schaub has been trying to shake the injury bug since being named the Texans' starting QB two seasons ago -- he has missed five games in each of the last two seasons -- but sprained his left ankle on a scramble in the second quarter. The good news for the Texans is Schaub returned for the last series of the half on the injured wheel and managed to lead the Texans into the end zone.

Texans FB Vonta Leach has an injured left knee and is being taken in for tests.

Update:
Texans FB Vonta Leach's knee injury is not considered serious, and he is expected to return in the second half

After the Texans fell behind 17-7 on Chester Taylor's touchdown, Matt Schaub returned despite the sprained ankle that got taped up.

Patriots QB Tom Brady practices Monday and expectes to play in season opener vs. Buffalo.

Tom Brady, who injured his shoulder in New England's preseason game against Washington last week, said Monday that he expects to play "this week, if Coach lets me."

The Browns cut TE Nate Jackson.

The Chargers signed WR Demetrius Byrd to a four-year contract.

On Monday, Browns coach Eric Mangini said he has not yet settled on Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson as his starter. Mangini repeated for the umpteenth time this summer that he has no timetable for a decision and will continue to examine his two quarterbacks as the Browns inch toward their Sept. 13 regular-season opener against the Minnesota Vikings.

The clock is ticking. The coach is taking his time.

"No real change," Mangini said. "No decision yet. We're going to go through the whole process and then we'll make a decision."

Mangini also reiterated that rotating Quinn, who threw a touchdown pass in a win over Tennessee, and Anderson from week to week during the regular season is not an option.

Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer (ankle) joined the other quarterbacks throwing routes to a line of receivers, and he looked to be dropping back with at least the three-quarters speed he hoped for Monday. And he looked sharp, hitting Chris Henry on a deep out pattern to the sidelines and hitting Chad Ochocinco in stride on a downfield bomb.

Then when J.t. O'sullivan took over the first team about 30 minutes in, Palmer left the field and went indoors to rehab.

Brodie Croyle kept getting hurt and Tyler Thigpen seemed ill-suited for an NFL offense, so the Kansas City Chiefs traded for Matt Cassel and gave him a guaranteed $28 million contract before the first snap.

Now Cassel is hurt, Croyle is healthy and Thigpen is probably still ill-suited. But either he or Croyle could start against the tough defense of the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 13 in the season opener.

Cassel injured his knee in Saturday night's preseason loss to Seattle and the Chiefs may be down to Croyle and Thigpen, who between them are 1-18 as NFL starters.

The decision will be up to head coach Todd Haley, who stirred his team's murky waters even further on Monday by firing Chan Gailey as offensive coordinator and assuming the role himself, just 13 days before opening his first season as a head coach.

"It's almost unheard of that you have something like that happen right now," Thigpen said. "We've got to take responsibility."

Haley refused to breathe a word about the status of Cassel or any of his other injured starters. But Yahoo! Sports, citing a source in the organization, reported he sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee and could miss two to four weeks.

The players indicated they had no inkling how long Cassel might be gone.

"It's unfortunate for Matt," Croyle said. "Who knows the timetable when he'll be back? If it comes time to go, I'll just have to be ready."

The St. Louis Rams plan on holding Marc Bulger out of the preseason finale on Thursday to lessen the chance of the quarterback aggravating his broken right pinkie.
Bulger threw for the second straight day on Monday, but has yet to take a snap from center. So backup Kyle Boller will get his third straight start against the Kansas City Chiefs in the annual Governor's Cup game in St. Louis.

The Patriots made three roster moves today:

Rookie ILB Tyrone McKenzie (knee) has been placed on season-ending injured reserve.


OT Mark LeVoir (shoulder) has been placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list.


Rookie WR Brandon Tate (knee) has been placed on the reserve/non-football injury list.


The move with McKenzie was expected after he tore his ACL in rookie minicamp. Now that LeVoir and Tate are moved to reserve lists, which was expected as well, they will not be eligible to play until Week 7 at the earliest.

Browns RB Jerome Harrison returned to action wearing a brace on his left knee and also participated in 11-on-11s. Harrison has been mostly idle the past three weeks but played sparingly in the Green Bay game Aug. 15.

Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee and could miss the Chiefs' season opener and beyond, Yahoo! Sports reported on Monday.

Cassel
Citing a source within the organization, Yahoo! Sports reported Cassel could miss two to four weeks. He was hurt Saturday night when sacked on the third play of a 14-10 preseason loss to Seattle.

The Chiefs open the regular season Sept. 13 at Baltimore.

Head coach Todd Haley refused to comment Monday on the status of Cassel.

"I'm only going to talk about the players who are on the field," Haley said.

Jets rookie running back Shonn Greene, who missed Saturday's preseason game against the Giants due to cartilage damage in his ribs, looked fine in the 40-minute portion of practice open to the media Monday morning. Greene was injured during the Monday night loss in Baltimore in the second preseason game. Two weeks ago, Ryan said that Greene would miss the remainder of the preseason due to the rib injury. Monday afternoon after practice, the coach left the door open for Greene to get some playing time.

"We'll see," Ryan said. "I thought for sure that he was out, and I watched him out there today and he looks pretty good."

Calling Thursday's preseason finale against the Eagles "vanilla football," Rex Ryan said his starters will play "maybe just one series" in the final tuneup before the regular season opener.

"Don't expect a whole lot of blitzing," Ryan said after practice Monday."It's just going to be line up and let's see who can play."

Chansi Stuckey appears to have locked up the team's No. 2 wide reciever spot opposite Jerricho Cotchery after his 4-catch, 69-yard performance against the Giants last week.

"I think it's still a position that's still by committee," Ryan said. "But I think he's the guy you throw out there first."

Panthers HC Fox referred to CB Sherrod Martin as having a knee sprain. He said Saturday night he had hyperextended it, but that's too close a parse to quibble with Fox's interpretation.

Also out Monday were RB Decori Birmingham (head), CB Dante Wesley (head), S Nate Salley (knee), RB Jonathan Stewart (excused, personal), FS Charles Godfrey (hand) and LB Jon Beason (knee). Now that I've typed it, that list looks horribly out of order.

The Panthers made four of the five moves they needed before Tuesday's deadline, with a mild surprise among the early ones.
WR Ryne Robinson, their fourth-round pick in 2007, was released, along with T Gerald Cadogan and DT Lorenzo Williams. They also place rookie G C.J. Davis on injured reserve. He suffered an ankle injury early in camp and wasn't able to show much, and apparently wasn't going to be well in time to cut Saturday.
Panthers coach John Fox said it had more to do with giving Robinson a chance to latch on elsewhere than any residual effect of last year's knee injury.

Chan Gailey has been relieved of his duties as Chiefs offensive coordinator, although it was unclear Monday morning whether he would remain with the team in some other capacity.

Coach Todd Haley, who was the Arizona Cardinals’ offensive coordinator before coming to the Chiefs, appeared unhappy with the play-calling Saturday night in the Chiefs’ 14-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks at Arrowhead Stadium. At Monday morning’s practice, Haley was directing the offense, while Gailey was nowhere to be seen.

Receiver Anquan Boldin (hamstring) sat out practice but went through a rigorous workout on the side.

Cardinals backup quarterback Matt Leinart was limited in practice because or soreness in his left shoulder, his throwing arm. The soreness was a result of a hit taken last week against the Packers. The injury is not serious, Whisenhunt said.

Cardinals WR Early Doucet suffered fractured ribs in last Friday's game against Green Bay and is likely to miss at least a couple of weeks of action, coach Ken Whisenhunt said.

The injury is high on the rib cage, and another hit in the area could result in a punctured lung, the coach said. If the injury were lower, the recovery time would be quicker.

The Bucs top two wideouts were back at practice Monday, but it's unlikely they'll play in the team's final exhibition game Friday against Houston.

Bucs coach Raheem Morris said he's not sure how close Antonio Bryant (knee) and Michael Clayton (hamstring) are to being 100 percent, but he's confident both will be ready for the start of the season.

Morris isn't quite as sure about PK Matt Bryant, whom he met with Monday. Bryant has been struggling with a hamstring strain and is in danger of losing his job to Mike Nugent.

Morris suggested he will follow traditional lines for the Bucs final exhibition game, which means fans will see little of the team's starters and a lot of young players trying to make the team,

When asked what his quarterback rotation would be for the game Morris said he was still unsure, though he does expect fans to get "a heavy dose of the young guys,'' Josh Freeman and Josh Johnson.

The Lions have just released this statement from the club: "Detroit Lions QB Daunte Culpepper sustained a minor cut to his toe at his home Saturday evening.

The injury, which required eight stitches, is not considered serious. Culpepper will not practice today and his status for Thursday's game will be determined later this week,''

The Lions close our their preseason schedule Thursday in Buffalo against the Bills. The Lions open the regular season Sept. 13 against the New Orleans Saints.

Culpepper and rookie Matthew Stafford are in a battle for the starting quarterback position. How this injury will affect that decision is unknown.

Brett Favre told ESPN before the Minnesota Vikings' game on Monday that he suspects he may have a cracked rib.

Favre hasn't had an official diagnosis, but he says taking a deep breath causes discomfort. The 39-year-old quarterback isn't listed on the injury report and no other other Vikings official mentioned the injury pregame.

The three-time MVP says he has no plans to wear any kinds of special padding, saying "the damage is done." Favre is expected to play the entire first half against the Houston Texans.

Favre, who signed a $25 million deal with the Vikings on Aug. 18, completed just one pass for four yards over two series in his Minnesota debut just days later.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution hints RB Jerious Norwood's injury
is not that bad, saying "He didn’t return as a precautionary measure. If he’d torn something he would not have been allowed to return to the sideline with that plastic airbag contraption on around his left knee."

The Bengals have officially ended the season for tight ends Ben Utecht and Matt Sherry, according to a press release from the team.

Utecht, who suffered a concussion on Aug. 5 in training camp, has been put on the Reserve/Injured list. Sherry injured his shoulder in camp Aug. 10 and has been released via the waived/injured category.

If Sherry clears waivers Tuesday, Sept. 1, he will revert to the Bengals’ Reserve/Injured list. The moves reduce the Bengals roster to 75 players, in advance of the league-mandated cut to 75 on Sept. 1.

The Bengals’ top tight ends on the roster now are rookie Chase Coffman and third-year player Daniel Coats.

After missing three weeks nursing a sprained toe, Bills WR Terrell Owens returned to practice Monday, raising hopes that his presence might spark a lifeless offense.

Though the start of practice was closed to the media, the Bills announced that Owens was back on the field and would address reporters afterward. The receiver has been out since jamming his toe in the Hall of Fame game on Aug. 9, and returns as Buffalo prepares to close the preseason hosting Detroit on Thursday.

Patriots running back Sammy Morris, wearing a red non-contract jersey, appeared at practice for the first time since Aug. 11.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is present for the start of today’s practice, colleague Christopher L. Gasper reports.

The Patriots are currently working out on the upper fields behind Gillette Stadium. Reporters primarily saw Brady, who suffered what the team termed a "sore shoulder" against Washington on Friday night, handing the ball off. There was no throwing.

Per Patriots policy, reporters are allowed to attend the start of practice, which includes individual drills and stretching. Once more rigorous team drills begin, reporters leave the field. The policy adds important context when considering Brady's status, as players could potentially leave the field when reporters depart, or have their work limited.

Yet Brady's presence, regardless of his workload, has to be considered a positive sign.

Two Jaguars receivers who missed the first three preseason games, Mike Sims-Walker and rookie Mike Thomas, returned to the practice field Sunday.

But is it too late for Sims-Walker, who sprained an ankle in a scrimmage three weeks ago, and Thomas, who's had a nagging hamstring injury, to have an impact early this year?

All coach Jack Del Rio knows right now is that having two receivers in the mix who haven't played much in the preseason will complicate the final cuts.

"Unfortunately, we've had a couple of guys we were excited about in the spring that haven't played a lot," Del Rio said. "I think that, probably more than anything, makes it difficult, so we'll have to do our best."

Four Jaguars' who didn't play in Philadelphia, tight end Zach Miller, running back Montell Owens, defensive tackle Rob Meier and cornerback Don Carey, remained sidelined.

Carey will probably be heading to the injured-reserve list with a shoulder injury. Miller might be a candidate for the list because he hasn't played since the first preseason game because of a knee injury.

Owens' status is up in the air. He's missed all three games with a knee injury.

The new players who were sidelined were safety Marlon McCree, who had a taped thigh, wide receiver Nate Hughes, who suffered a concussion in Philadelphia, and linebacker Adam Seward. Receiver Torry Holt was riding a bike at the start of practice.

Colts injuries: DE Rudolph Hardie injured his left knee on the opening series of the game and tight end Tom Santi injured his left ankle in the fourth quarter. Neither player returned, and Santi was taken to the locker room on a cart. Caldwell was unable to discuss the severity of either injury after the game.

Colts backup quarterback Jim Sorgi, who missed the first two preseason games with a hamstring injury, was in uniform but did not play. He's expected to play Thursday night against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Other Packers injuries: The sprained left ankle that running back Brandon Jackson sustained against the Cardinals was worse than originally thought, meaning he’s unlikely to play on Thursday and could be unavailable for the regular-season opener.

Also, Will Blackmon’s quad contusion is “more serious than we initially thought, so he’s questionable to doubtful I would say for this week against Tennessee,” McCarthy said.

Defensive end Michael Montgomery will need a club-like cast on his broken left hand but is expected to play against the Titans.

After sustaining a concussion in the first quarter against the Cardinals, Packers WR Greg Jennings was held out of practice on Sunday and won’t play against the Titans.

“I think he’ll be fine for (Week 1 against) Chicago,” McCarthy said.

Jennings went through the brief stretching period on Sunday but watched the remainder of practice while standing off the side. He was knocked out briefly after getting sandwiched by a pair of Cardinals’ defensive backs.

Packers QB Matt Flynn didn't throw anything more than short, dump-off passes on Sunday, but there's a decent chance the Green Bay Packers' backup quarterback could return from his bruised shoulder and play in Thursday's preseason finale at Tennessee.

Broncos WR Jabar Gaffney's injury, which could keep him out a couple of weeks, kicked off a rash of injuries.

Right guard Chris Kuper left the game in the first quarter with a right ankle injury. He was followed to the training room by quarterback Kyle Orton with his bloody index finger. Royal briefly left the game to have his hand examined, but he was able to return. In the locker room after the game, safety Josh Barrett had his right shoulder heavily wrapped.

"That's the way it is in the NFL with injuries, " said Stokley, who had only one catch for 8 yards. "Guys stepped up, but as a whole, we've got a lot of work to do. We'll be fine. We'll have enough out there."

For a team that so often runs a spread-style, four-wide receiver offense, the Broncos are starting to run quite low on bodies.

First, the team suspended Brandon Marshall on Friday.

Later that afternoon, Jabar Gaffney, the savvy veteran who was to replace Marshall as the starter, broke his thumb, creating some lineup challenges for the Broncos in Sunday night's game against Chicago.

The team opened the game with just two receivers — Eddie Royal and Chad Jackson. Brandon Stokley did not start, but he played his normal role as the third receiver.

Of the receivers who played with the starters in the 27-17 loss, only Royal had more than one catch — five for 44 yards, including a 24-yard catch-and-run on a button hook on Denver's first scoring drive. Rookie Kenny Mckinley had plenty of playing time in the second half, catching four passes for 75 yards.

Cowboys HC Phillips said wide receivers Roy Williams (bruised shoulder) and Sam Hurd (bruised quad) should be ready for the regular-season opener Sept. 13 at Tampa Bay.

“Roy said he was OK,” Phillips said. “I don't know for sure, but I think he probably could have played (against San Francisco).”

Stock down for Panthers QB Jake Delhomme: He didn’t see a wide open Steve Smith on a pass early in the game that would have been a touchdown. That’s ironic because Delhomme is always looking in Smith’s direction. Delhomme hasn’t looked all that sharp, although he did play better in the third quarter vs. the Ravens.

Stock up for Panthers WR Kenny Moore: He has all but solidified a spot on the roster. In fact, I’m not so sure Moore won’t move ahead of Dwayne Jarrett into the No. 3 receiver role. At this point, Moore has shown more speed and big-play ability than Jarrett.

Stock is up for Panthers RB Mike Goodson: With a strong effort Saturday night, it’s pretty clear the Panthers will need to find ways to get him the football. He appears to have sewn up the kickoff return spot and if Jonathan Stewart can’t get on the field he’ll be the No. 2 running back. He still needs work on blitz pickups, however.

Tedy Bruschi still had a place on the Patriots. He wasn’t in danger of being slashed with roster cutdowns on tap this week. But that won’t stop the veteran linebacker from announcing his retirement in a press conference at Gillette Stadium this morning.

According to a source familiar with the situation, Bruschi just knew it was time to let go. He knew at age 36, already having suffered a stroke, with 13 pro seasons under his belt, he couldn’t contribute to the team in a matter that was suitable to him.

So he met with coach Bill Belichick late yesterday afternoon and went out on his own terms.

49ers HC Mike Singletary said today that for now Josh Morgan would remain one of the starters at wide receiver, but he left open the possibility that Arnaz Battle could unseat him. Singletary said earlier in training camp that Morgan had to work on being more consistent. Today he echoed that. "He's still learning how to be a pro," he said. "At some point, the light's going to go on and he's going to take off." Asked whether Battle could overtake Morgan, Singletary said he'll "continue to watch the film and continue to look at the possibilities. But right now it is what it is." ... Left unsaid is the fact that Michael Crabtree also could replace Morgan when/if he signs. Crabtree has been earmarked for the split-end spot opposite Isaac Bruce.

Pats QB Tom Brady on if his shoulder will allow him to play in the opener: “I’m certainly expecting that.”

Tom Brady just finished up his weekly interview with WEEI Radio, and this Monday’s edition was a little more action-pacted. Plenty of issues to discuss, including his ailing shoulder, his status for the Bills game, Tedy Bruschi’s impending retirement, and Kevin O’Connell being released.

But first, the guys from the Dennis & Callahan Show asked him about the opener and if he believes he’ll play.

“I’m certainly expecting that,” Brady said. “It was fun to be out there last Friday night against a very talented team. The team palyed well in some aspects and in some ways, we still have plenty of room for improvement. As for my shoulder, I just fell awkwardly. Anytime a 350 pound man lands on you, most people would be a bit sore, which I was. A lot of players on the team have bumps and bruises and I have bumps and bruises. But I’m expecting to be out there.”

By releasing WR Dexter Jackson, the Bucs reached the league-mandated 75-man roster limit before Tuesday's deadline.

The Bucs reached for Jackson because Jon Gruden wanted a speedy kick return speciliast. Unfortunately, it's not a role that Jackson had even excelled at during his career at Appalachian State.

Jackson played in just seven regular season games and averaged 23.4 yards per kickoff and only 4.9 yards per punt return.

Jackson was replaced in that role by Clifton Smith, an undrafted free agent from Fresno State who parlayed the opportunity into a trip to the Pro Bowl after returning a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns. He averaged 27.6 yards per kickoff and 14.1 yards per punt return.

Jackson had not played since suffering an ankle injury in the preseason opener at Tennessee.

According to LeRoy Butler, former Green Bay Packer on local radio, he heard from Donald Driver – Brandon Marshall to GB for Donald Driver & Donald Lee. Supposedly, the reason it isn't done is the Packers won't give an extension to Marshall. Let’s flag this as speculation and watch.

Rams Guard Richie Incognito sat out practice with what Spagnuolo termed "a little mild knee sprain." Fullback Mike Karney left early because his ankle, which kept him out for two weeks earlier in camp, "started to bother him a little bit," Spagnuolo said.

Defensive end Leonard Little (knee) did limited work and remains day-to-day.

Rams QB Marc Bulger threw for the first time Sunday since breaking the pinky finger on his right (passing) hand two weeks ago. After 21 tosses, Bulger reported that "it felt OK," coach Steve Spagnuolo said. "The plan is to see what it feels like (Monday) morning, then we'll go from there."

With Orton's backup, Chris Simms, sidelined by a high ankle sprain that could keep him out another month, the Broncos had to turn to rookie Tom Brandstater, who went 8 for 10 for 110 yards and an interception on a tipped pass.
The Broncos might have to start Brandstater in their preseason finale Thursday against Arizona.
"Look, we'll play with who we can play with," McDaniels said. "Life goes on sometimes in this league and you play with who you have."

The Patriots opting to cut young quarterback Kevin O’Connell on Sunday caught many by surprise, but New England is one of several teams looking at veteran options at the position.

The Patriots are among the many teams to express an interest in Philadelphia’s A.j. Feeley. Some execs believe New England is where Feeley will end up, but, according to a source, the Eagles do not plan on parting with Feeley until they know how long Michael Vick will have to sit out.

The wait for Vick to be reinstated could range from one to six games, and Feeley is the only other experienced backup on the team, with Kevin Kolb still unproven and largely untested in the regular season.

St. Louis could also be a potential landing spot for Feeley.

The Seahawks WR competition continues for the last couple slots. The team traditionally kept six receivers while Mike Holmgren was coach, but new OC Greg Knapp has run more two-tight-end sets during the preseason and not as many three- or four-receiver sets, so the Seahawks could get by with keeping just five wideouts.

So far, T.j. Houshmandzadeh, Nate Burleson, Deion Branch and Deon Butler are likely in, with Courtney Taylor, Ben Obomanu and Jordan Kent fighting for the last couple of spots.

Or perhaps Branch could be on his way out.

The veteran will make $5 million this season to be Seattle’s third receive r and the Seahawks have a lot of depth at the position. So they may live with five receivers and let Branch go to keep a player at a different position.

In the battle between Seahawks PK Olindo Mare and Brandon Coutu, neither distinguished himself on Saturday. Mare missed field goal attempts from 51 and 27 yards, and Coutu, who had been 11-for-11 in exhibition field-goal attempts the past two years, missed badly from 51 yards.

“That wasn’t a real positive for us,” Mora said about the kicking game against Kansas City. “The field goals were disappointing. But no, we’re not (close to making a decision) unfortunately.”

Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel has a strained medial collateral ligament in his left knee and could miss the Chiefs' season opener and beyond, Yahoo Sports! reported on Monday.

Citing a source within the organization, Yahoo Sports! reported Cassel could miss two to four weeks. He was hurt Saturday night when sacked on the third play of a 14-10 preseason loss to Seattle.

The Chiefs open the regular season Sept. 13 at Baltimore. They return to practice Monday and are expected to have injury updates on Cassel and others, including wide receiver Devard Darling (leg).

Tyler Thigpen is Cassel's primary backup.

Last night, Jay Cutler was very sharp completing 15 of 21 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown, getting the ball to tight ends Greg Olsen and Desmond Clark along with RB Matt Forte. Devin Hester had three receptions. So while the team might not have the classic No. 1 receiver, Cutler certainly has the targets to be successful.

Several national sources estimate the latest on the Chiefs Matt Cassel is he could miss two to four weeks with a strained MCL in his right knee and a sore ankle. However, the team has yet to confirm these reports.

On the more conservative side, both Yahoo and NBC indicate that Cassell could miss week #1 against Baltimore. In that case, Tyler Thigpen would be expected to start.

Per a league source, Chiefs WR Devard Darling "likely" suffered a torn ACL on Saturday night against the Seahawks.

Under the watchful eye of Broncos’ longtime trainer Steve “Greek”" Antonopulos, Broncos rookie running back Knowshon Moreno was testing his injured right knee prior to the preseason game here tonight against the Bears at Invesco Field at Mile High.

At Invesco tonight, Moreno was attached to a bungee cord that was secured around the base of the goal post near the south end zone. Working against the bungee resistence, Moreno went through a series of backpedals, crossovers and lateral moves.

The Patriots are among the many teams to express an interest in Philadelphia’s A.j. Feeley. Some execs believe New England is where Feeley will end up, but, according to a source, the Eagles do not plan on parting with Feeley until they know how long Michael Vick will have to sit out.

Already thin at wide receiver because of Brandon Marshall’s suspension, the Broncos took another hit when Jabar Gaffney suffered a fractured thumb.

Gaffney suffered the injury during Friday’s practice and was taken for X-rays following the workout with his hand heavily wrapped.

It would mean Gaffney would be out several weeks as the hand heals.

The Philadelphia Eagles are changing their starting middle linebacker two weeks before the start of the regular season.

Omar Gaither is taking over for Joe Mays. Mays had replaced Stewart Bradley, who is out for the season with a torn ACL. Gaither was the starter in 2007.

Gaither had been bothered by a sore knee throughout training camp, but returned to practice on a limited basis last week and was out with the starting unit at practice Sunday. He will remain in that role leading up to the season opener Sept. 13 at Carolina.

"I'm here to stay," he said. "I'm not coming out this time."

Though the Chiefs haven't commented (and, until they have to submit their initial injury report, likely won't comment) on the injury suffered Saturday night by quarterback Matt Cassel, the initial scuttlebutt on the prognosis is that he has both a sprained MCL and a sprained ankle.

49ers release WR Mark Bradford, WR Chris Francies, CB Carlos Thomas, CB Jahi Word-Daniels and K Alex Romero to get to 75-man limit.

Jim Zorn said Clinton Portis would not play in the final preseason game Thursday night in Jacksonville. Portis has a bruised rib. Again, the situation is not supposed to be serious, but Portis's preseason work is done. He will, however, travel with the team to Florida.

The Patriots have released quarterback Kevin O'connell. This cements Andrew Walter as the backup to Tom Brady unless New England has plans to bring in someone else.

Offensive tackle Andre Smith signed a contract Sunday with the Cincinnati Bengals, ending an impasse that dragged on a month into the preseason.

Steve Wyche reports it’s a four-year, $26 million deal that includes $21 million guaranteed, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. The Bengals have an option to extend the contract after the 2010 season, which would make the deal a six-year, $42 million contract with $29.5 million guaranteed. Smith also has incentives that could increase the maximum value of a six-year deal to $50 million.

The Bengals originally planned to have Smith start at right tackle, but he has missed all three preseason games. He was in Cincinnati and agreed to the deal shortly before the start of a late afternoon practice.

Ravens star linebacker Ray Lewis had his forearm and elbow wrapped to start the second half of Saturday night's game against the Panthers. Lewis and safety Ed Reed were on the sidelines while the rest of the starting defense started the third quarter.

Was Lewis hurt?

"Hurt? Me?," responded Lewis to the question. "Nah, my club was a little sore after I used it to go across somebody's head in the first half. It was just the club getting some rest."

At the conclusion of a competitive camp battle, kicker Dan Carpenter was declared the winner Saturday courtesy of Connor Barth's release.

According to Carpenter, whom this coaching staff has often praised for his even keel temperament, the competition had nothing to with him straightening out his issues.

"If competition [is a motivator] then it's getting to you," said Carpenter, who converted 21 of 25 field goals last season. "Even though [Barth] is gone, nothing is going to change. I'm still going to work to get better. I'm still going to do what I was doing before he was here, while he was here. And I'm going to continue to do it now that he's gone."

Don't worry about WR Roy Williams' bruised left shoulder. The Cowboys aren't.

In fact, had this game counted, Williams might have started 48 hours after suffering the injury.

"Roy said he was OK," Wade Phillips said. "I don't know for sure, but I think he probably could have played."

That doesn't mean Williams will play next week in Minnesota. Most starters typically sit out the preseason finale as a precautionary measure.

But there's no reason to wonder about Williams' availability for the Sept. 13 season opener at Tampa Bay.

Jets WR Chansi Stuckey likely locked up the No. 2 WR spot with four catches for 69 yards in the first half, including a 31-yard TD.

Titans' Injuries: Defensive end Jevon Kearse, cornerback Ryan Mouton, linebacker Josh Stamer, tackle David Stewart, receiver Nate Washington, defensive tackle Jason Jones and Harper did not play because of injuries.

Titans return man Mark Jones, who missed the first three games because of a hamstring injury, didn't have much room to run on most of his chances.

But he also fumbled a kickoff return in the third quarter, the Browns recovered on the Tennessee 34 and scored moments later.

Titans rookie tight end Jared Cook left the stadium with a protective boot on his right foot, but Coach Jeff Fisher downplayed the injury.

Cook was seen walking to the dressing room during the second half, his right shoe and sock off.

"He came out because we took him out,'' Fisher said. "He may have (an injury), but I think he could've played (longer).''

In the locker room, Cook was walking with a limp. He said he rolled his ankle and also injured his shin.

"I think I'll be all right,'' he said.

Cook, the team's leading receiver this preseason, had another good game: five catches for 39 yards.

"He was open, and you know he's a guy we'd like to get the ball,'' quarterback Kerry Collins said.

Steve Hauschka failed to finish off the Ravens' kicking battle.

The favorite after two preseason games, Hauschka missed wide right on a 27-yard field goal on the Ravens' first drive Saturday night. It marked his first miss after making his first three attempts of the preseason.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said the Ravens were ready to announce the winner after the game, but he now will wait until Thursday's preseason finale at Atlanta.

"It was a little bit disappointing," said Harbaugh, who noted that he was displeased with Hauschka's kickoffs as well. "I was hoping that he would come out and grab the job. Right now, I don't think he grabbed the job. He kicked OK, but he's better than that."

Patriots TE Benjamin Watson made his preseason debut Friday night but did not see a lot of action. Watson was on the field late in the fourth quarter, playing behind Baker and David Thomas and seeing less playing time than Alex Smith. “Benjamin missed a little bit of time the previous week from a practice standpoint, so he hadn’t gotten quite the number of reps that the other three [tight ends] had gotten,’’ said Belichick. “That played into it a little bit too, as far as the way we broke that up.’’ .

Shoulder not seen as major concern.


While the Patriots and coach Bill Belichick offered scant information about the status of quarterback Tom Brady’s right shoulder yesterday, a source close to the team said “there is no need for hysteria’’ and that the shoulder, which absorbed the brunt of a blow from Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth Friday, is sore but that it appears Brady will be fine.

The source said there shouldn’t be a lot of angst about Brady’s health because “there are not any concerns’’ at this time.

Bucs HC Morris decided to give his team a day off by canceling today's practice.

The extra day off might help WR Michael Clayton (hamstring), WR Dexter Jackson (ankle) and K Matt Bryant (hamstring). They did not participate in Saturday's practice.

"(We will) get off our feet a little bit, get home, see our family and get around guys," Morris said. "Some guys will come in for treatment. Some guys will get in here and lift."

Bucs coach Raheem Morris may have the same love for quarterbacks as his mentor Jon Gruden.

After originally saying he would only keep three quarterbacks on Tampa Bay's roster this season, Morris is now indicating Byron Leftwich, Luke Mccown, Josh Freeman and Josh Johnson could make the team.

"I'm going to keep the best 53 - I've said that from the beginning," Morris said. "Josh Johnson has shown a lot of savvy, a lot of the poise that you want. If Freeman's going to be the leader of your football team, you want to have a young guy like Josh around - a guy who's smart, savvy, can go into a game and get you through it, a guy that's poised, athletic, makes good decisions, a guy who doesn't need many reps to go through it, as we've seen here in these games.

"Is he one of my best 53? Probably."

Even with an injured right shoulder, Tom Brady [stats] wanted to return for the third quarter of Friday night’s 27-24 win over the Redskins, Patriots [team stats] coach Bill Belichick said yesterday.

Brady didn’t come back because of what Belichick called “a football decision to play other players.” The coach did not otherwise provide any substantial updates on Brady’s ailment.

As a precaution, Brady is expected to sit out the final preseason game against the Giants, giving him 16 full days of rest before the season opener. That way, the coaches can evaluate his backups.

The quarterback, who missed almost all of last season because of a knee injury, was not available for interviews afterward. Belichick would not say whether Brady had X-rays or an MRI done, though it is believed that he did.

“I’m not comfortable getting into a public diagnosis of anything,” Belichick said. “Look, we played a physical game against a very physical team. I’m sure at the end of the game a lot of guys were sore and had bumps and bruises. That’s pretty normal after a game like that.”

Last night against the Lions, Joseph Addai rushed 7 times
for 22 yards (3.1/carry) with no scores. Rookie Donald Brown
was 5 for 16 rushing (3.2/carry) with 1 TD.

The Panthers didn't have their stellar running back tandem of
Deangelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart last night.
With Williams resting a sore knee and Stewart sidelined
with an Achilles' tendon injury, rookie Mike Goodson got the start.
Goodson tallied 78 total yards on 14 touches against the Ravens.

Lions WRs in preseason week three: Calvin Johnson, who missed the first two preseason games with a sprained thumb, had four catches for 67 yards and Bryant Johnson played for the first time since getting in an accident with a golf cart.

Daunte Culpepper and Matthew Stafford seemed to do enough Saturday to keep the Detroit Lions' quarterback competition wide open. "I feel great," said Culpepper, who was a Pro Bowl-caliber QB in Minnesota before a knee injury in 2005. "I honestly feel like I did before I got hurt." Stafford was 13 of 19 and threw an interception, which his coach blamed on Bryant Johnson for not being more aggressive.

Matt Cassel, who signed a lucrative contract after being acquired in an offseason trade with New England, was sacked by defensive tackle Brandon Mebane and walked off the field unassisted favoring his left leg in preseason week 3. He was taken in for x-rays, which came back negative.

QB Joe Flacco and defense carried the Ravens past the Panthers in preseason week 3. Flacco proved too much for the poor-tackling Panthers, throwing for 247 yards and one touchdown.
Derrick Mason caught six passes for 71 yards, and Kelley Washington moved to the front of Baltimore's crowded receivers race by catching three passes for 66 yards.

In preseason week 3 action, Falcons #2 RB Jerious Norwood hurt his left knee in the first half against SD and did not return. He was on the field for a little while in pain.

QB Matt Cassel was helped to the locker room after the Chiefs’ third offensive play during Saturday’s 14-10 loss against Seattle at Arrowhead Stadium. Seahawks defensive tackle Brandon Mebane sacked Cassel from behind, and Cassel fell to the turf grabbing his left leg. He got up slowly but rejoined the huddle before calling a timeout. He was then helped to the locker room and never returned to the Chiefs’ sideline.

The team announced that Cassel had suffered a leg injury and that his return was questionable.

KC WR Devard Darling had to be helped off in the second quarter of preseason week three, favoring his left leg.

Rookie WR Hakeem Nicks, playing mostly in the second half of preseason week 3, caught two touchdown passes from David Carr on consecutive drives in the fourth quarter, including a 71-yard catch-and-run. Nicks ended his day with six catches for 144 yards.

So much for that Achilles tendon injury. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger proved that the reported ailment will not hold him back, completing 15 of 19 passes for 168 yards in two quarters of efficient work in preseason week 3 action against the Bills.

The Browns might have scored with sixth-round pick James Davis, who was the 15th running back taken in the draft (195th overall). A down senior season at Clemson hurt Davis' draft stock, but his preseason efforts might earn the rookie a prominent role in the Browns' offense spelling starter Jamal Lewis, whose age (30) brings up potential durability concerns. Davis touched the ball nine times in preseason week 3 (five rushes, four receptions) and gained 55 yards. That effort came after Davis' 116-yard rushing game against the Lions last week.

Oakland Raiders stud CB Nnamdi Asomugha left the game tonight with a chip fracture in his left wrist, but Coach Cable said the Pro Bowler might not miss much time.

Tonight, Drew Brees completed his first eight passes, as he had receivers open all over the field. The return of last year's leading receiver, Lance Moore, from offseason shoulder surgery helped Brees' cause. Moore had four catches for 29 yards, including a 5-yarder in the back of the end zone on Brees' final pass.

"I felt great. I felt like I hadn't missed a lot," Moore said. "It was great being out there, getting hit and having fun in the game."

Moore's touchdown gave the Saints a 21-0 lead with 13:53 left in the half.

The Saints have outscored their opponents, 100-28, in the preseason.

While Cleveland's QBs were under the microscope, Tennessee Titans's Kerry Collins looked best.

Collins went 11-of-14 for 102 yards and threw a 6-yard TD pass to Justin Gage in the first quarter. The 36-year-old Collins can still throw it as hard and far as always and he showed soft touch on several balls.

"Kerry spread the ball around quite a bit," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. "We got some things accomplished that we didn't see last week. I was pleased with the drives. We gave up a couple of plays, but I thought we handled the run with the starters"

With Patrick Ramsey nursing sore ribs, Vince Young played three quarters and went 17-of-24 for 174 yards. He threw a 15-yard TD pass to tight end Matthew Mulligan but also threw an interception that was returned 11 yards for a TD by Browns linebacker Alex Hall.

Browns QB Brady Quinn threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Braylon Edwards and outplayed Derek Anderson in perhaps their final auditions for coach Eric Mangini to be Cleveland's starting quarterback, and the Browns beat the Tennessee Titans 23-17 in an exhibition game Saturday night.

Quinn and Anderson entered the third preseason game in a virtual dead heat. Earlier this week, Mangini described their summer-long competition as "very close" and it remains that way. They've posted similar stats with Quinn's TD pass -- the only one by a Cleveland QB in the preseason -- as the only thing separating the pair.

Mangini said he is no nearer to naming his starter for the Sept. 13 opener against Minnesota.

"I'll look at the tape tomorrow, talk to the coaches and continue to evaluate it," Mangini said. "When the decision is made, I'll let everyone know."

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger played a nearly flawless first half in his first game since injuring his right foot, James Farrior had a 22-yard interception return for a touchdown and Buffalo's starting offense struggled yet again as the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Bills 17-0 in a preseason game Saturday night.
Roethlisberger led two scoring drives while going 15 of 19 for 168 yards with a 103.5 passer rating before sitting out the second half -- showing why coach Mike Tomlin didn't seem all that worried when his quarterback bruised his foot during the final training camp practice Aug 20. Roethlisberger didn't play in a 17-13 loss to Washington two days later.
"You give him time in the pocket, and he'll usually make something happen," said left tackle Max Starks, who gave the Steelers a scare by falling on the quarterback's foot during camp.

As expected, Browns QB Brady Quinn got the starting nod against Tennessee tonight. It was his turn because Derek Anderson started against Detroit.
The start itself might not mean much in the overall quarterback competition. What happens in the first half against the Titans will mean more. Anderson is expected to get some playing time with the starters, too.

Cowboys: As expected, Roy Williams will not play tonight against San Franscisco after suffering a bruised left shoulder during Thursday's practice, and considering Wade Phillips' preseason history we won't see Williams again until the Sept. 13 season opener at Tampa Bay.

Phillips has not played his starters in the pre-season finale in his first two years. The Cowboys close the preseason Sept. 4 at Minnesota.

Miles Austin will start opposite Patrick Crayton.

Hurd is bothered by a bruised quadriceps and had not practiced since Monday. The coaches and trainers want to make sure he's 100 percent ready for the Buccaneers.

Browns scribbles at the half with Tennessee leading, 7-3.

Jerome Harrison (ankle) could be healthy. It would be interesting to see Harrison and rookie James Davis against the Titans. Early in the game, the Browns had trouble running the ball (12 yards in seven carries) and had to use screen passes to Jamal Lewis to take away some of the Titans' rush. On his 13-play, 75-yard drive chewing up 7:08 that ended with a field goal, Quinn was knocked down at least three times after throwing passes. And Tennessee didn't blitz that much. The offensive line had problems.

Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel (FSY) has left the field favoring his left leg after being sacked on the third play of Kansas City's game against Seattle.

Though not unexpected, offensive starters and stars Santonio Holmes and Willie Parker were among the Steelers who were scratched from tonight's exhibition game with Buffalo due to injuries.

Holmes, with a sore back, and Parker, with a achy hamstring, were earlier deemed by Coach Mike Tomlin as questionable to play tonight after missing the full week of practice. Limas Sweed started at receiver for Holmes, although the game opened with a two-tight-end set, and Rashard Mendenhall started at halfback for Parker.

Also missing were: No. 3 quarterback Dennis Dixon (shoulder), fullback Frank Summers (hamstring), tight end Sean Mchugh (knee), guard Darnell Stapleton (knee) and defensive linemen Nick Eason (calf) and Steve McLendon (elbow).

Jeff Reed (leg) was dressed in case of emergency, but Piotr Czech was expected to handle all duties normally handled by the Steelers' place kicker.

Giants: X-Rays on RB Brandon Jacobs' arm were negative (whew). His return is "probable". Looks like he got a pad put on his right arm.

Michael Vick will play in the Eagles' final preseason game, and might even take some snaps as a conventional quarterback.

How much Vick plays Thursday night against the New York Jets at the Meadowlands has yet to be determined.

The Dolphins are getting closer to their final roster. Receiver Anthony Armstrong and kicker Connor Barth were among four players waived by the Dolphins on Saturday.

Bengals QB Carson Palmer said Saturday that his sprained ankle is getting better every day but he's not sure if he'll practice Sunday or play in Thursday night's preseason finale against the Colts at Paul Brown Stadium.

"One day at a time," Palmer said. "I've got all my rehab stuff done today and I'll get here tomorrow and see what they want me to do."

Palmer has been grinding in both the weight room and training room, doing strengthening and balancing drills in one and therapy in the other.

"I'd love to play, but the training staff is going to decide what's best," Palmer said. "Whether it's get the reps or let it heal and not take a chance this weekend missing the next one."

The next one, of course, is the Sept. 13 opener against Denver, the one in which Palmer says he'll be ready and the one they may make sure he makes by shelving him until then. One telling scene from last week's Hard Knocks has trainer Paul Sparling telling him it's going to bother him for a long time.

"Hope not," Palmer said. "That's kind of what we're trying to (do). Nip the problem in the bud. Not come back too early. Not try to do too much too fast. Get it as good as it can possibly be by the 13th."

Patriots coach Bill Belichick says Tom Brady left Friday night's exhibition game so the coaches could look at the backup -- not because of injury.

The team had announced at the game that Brady had a sore right shoulder. Belichick said in a conference call Saturday it was a "football decision" to remove him.

Brady left the game against the Washington Redskins after he was crushed to the turf by defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth.

Patriots HC Belichick on QB Tom Brady


What is the update with Tom today?

“I don’t really have anything to add from last night.”

Did Tom require x-rays to get a closer look at his shoulder?

“I’m not comfortable getting into a public diagnosis of anything. Look, we played a physical game against a very physical team. I’m sure at the end of the game a lot of guys were sore and had bumps and bruises and all that. Everybody that played in the game would fall into that category. That’s pretty normal after a game like that.”

With Tom, are you saying that his shoulder is just the normal bumps and bruises from a physical game and there is nothing more than that?

“I’m saying that we made the decision to play other quarterbacks in the second half of the Washington game because we wanted to see them play. That will be the same situation going forward into the Giants game. Tom had a desire to play, but we made a football decision to play other players because I think we need to see them at that position, and make an evaluation there. That’s what I’m saying.”

Eagles FB Leonard Weaver (knee), tight end Tony Curtis (ankle) and cornerback Sheldon Brown (ribs) were back practicing after missing Thursday's preseason game against Jacksonville.

Wide receiver Kevin Curtis (knee), defensive end Darren Howard, linebacker Charleston Hughes (foot), guard Max Jean-Gilles (shoulder) and tight end Rob Myers (groin) sat out the light practice.

Reid said that Kevin Curtis' knee was just inflamed and that it wasn't serious; same with Jean-Gilles' strained shoulder. Myers was getting an MRI done.

Sometimes getting past season-ending injuries has more to do with the mind than the area of the body that was hurt.

That is the challenge for Dolphins receiver Greg Camarillo, who is 10 months into rehabilitating the left knee he injured in a Nov. 23 loss to the Patriots.

Camarillo has pushed the surgically repaired knee to its limit to get back onto the field, where he's working to regain his starting spot.

In one play during Thursday night's 10-6 exhibition victory over Tampa Bay, he showed off his toughness by turning an 8-yard out route into a 52-yard gain in the fourth quarter.

The run-after-catch moves proved to the former Stanford walk-on he's still in possession of the limited speed he did have, which helped him have 55 receptions for 613 yards and two touchdowns in 11 starts last season.

"My knee is not an excuse. The way I play is the way I play," Camarillo said. "The game of football I play is a representation of me 100%, and I won't make any excuses or back down."

Lions coach Jim Schwartz told Detroit media Friday that QB Daunte Culpepper will start at quarterback today against the Colts and play into the second quarter, with rookie Matthew Stafford playing into the third.

Eleven Colts' players are not expected to make the trip to Detroit because of injuries: defensive end Raheem Brock (hand), tight end Colin Cloherty (foot), cornerback Michael Coe (groin), wide receiver Sam Giguere (foot), safety Matt Giordano (groin), running back Mike Hart (ankle), cornerback Kelvin Hayden (hamstring), cornerback Jacob Lacey (undisclosed) and guard Ryan Lilja (shoulder). Safety Bob Sanders (knee) and place-kicker Adam Vinatieri (knee/hip) remain on the physically unable to perform list.

Texans linebacker Cato June was placed on injured reserve with a broken forearm and willl miss the entire season, the team said Friday.

Cowboys WR Roy Williams probably won't be sidelined long after suffering a left shoulder injury Thursday night.

Williams suffered a left shoulder contusion when he collided with cornerback Orlando Scandrick in the late stages of a practice at Cowboys Stadium in which the players did not wear shoulder pads.

The team did not set a specific timetable for Williams' return, stating in a press release that he will be evaluated on a day-to-day basis.

Don't expect Browns coach Eric Mangini to let the Vikings in on his little secret anytime soon, but you can bet the QB job will be clinched Saturday against the Titans.

Mangini has said that Saturday's game is "another piece of the puzzle," but if the puzzle were a map of the United States, this would be Texas.

Heading in, Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson are still neck-and-neck in the competition. They both looked solid on their opening drives in their respective starts, and both threw interceptions in their two-minute drills.

The Bengals cut three Saturday morning and still need to let go two more players by Tuesday's cut down to 75.

Nine-year cornerback Jamar Fletcher, who played in 11 games for the Bengals last season, was waived after he had been re-signed during the first couple of day of this training camp in the wake of David Jones' broken foot.

They also cut two rookie free agents with local ties who never got into a preseason game,
defensive tackle Pernell Phillips of Central State and Purdue wide receiver Greg Orton. Phillips, a product of Cincinnati's Taft High School, had been shelved with a muscle injury. Orton, out of Dayton, Ohio's Wayne High School, practiced but didn't play.

Ravens at Panthers:

Panthers Coach John Fox said Friday some regulars who have been limited by injuries this preseason – and who are unlikely to play tonight – could play next week against Pittsburgh in the Panthers' final exhibition. That last exhibition is one in which Fox plays starters sparingly (last season, in fact, they didn't play at all against the Steelers in the final exhibition). Receiver Steve Smith, linebacker Thomas Davis and running back Jonathan Stewart haven't played in the first two exhibitions. Fox wouldn't say whether they would play today. Stewart, who hasn't practiced in more than two weeks because of a sore Achilles, is a virtual certainty not to play against the Ravens.

Ravens INJURY REPORT: Starters not expected to play are linebacker- defensive end Terrell Suggs (heel), nose tackle Kelly Gregg (shoulder), wide receiver Mark Clayton (hamstring) and guard Chris Chester (calf). Others expected to be sidelined are tight end L.J. Smith (hamstring), linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (knee), and offensive tackle Stefan Rodgers ( leg). Gaither (undisclosed) and Oniel Cousins (ankle) are questionable.

Ravens Kicker Steve Hauschka might seal up the job with another solid performance. He has outplayed rookie Graham Gano, making three field goals this preseason. Gano has missed his past two attempts (from 28 yards and 46 yards).

During offseason minicamps, the Ravens' biggest question mark was at wide receiver. Throughout training camp, the doubts persisted with the team's receiving group.

Now, heading into tonight's preseason game at Carolina, the Ravens are demanding some answers. With the starters scheduled to receive their most playing time of the preseason, it's time for their unproven WRs - Demetrius Williams, Kelley Washington and Justin Harper - to prove something.

Their performances could determine whether the Ravens keep this group intact or add a veteran to upgrade it.

"This is a big game for these receivers," OC Cam Cameron said. "We're looking for production. The Ravens are about production and not potential. The good news is we've got talent. It's my job to bring out the production."

Besides Derrick Mason, the rest of the Ravens' WRs have yet to live up to that potential.

With Mark Clayton (hamstring) out for a third preseason game, none of the other wide-outs have seized the opportunity to catch the coaches' attention.

Bears injuries: Nick Roach (concussion) returned to practice for the first time in nearly two weeks. Israel Idonije (hamstring), Desmond Clark (ill), Henry Melton (ankle) and Jamar Williams (foot) sat out.

The Bucs released defensive end Jarriett Buie, defensive back DeAngelo Willingham and guard Julius Wilson. In addition, the team waived injured receiver Kelly Campbell.

Redskins kicking battle

As for the kickers, incumbent Shaun Suisham failed to put any distance between himself and newcomer Dave Rayner.

The Redskins have a clear-cut No. 1 wide receiver, Santana Moss, and a top-flight tight end, Chris Cooley.

Nothing dispelled that in the first half of Friday's preseason game against New England at FedEx Field. Facing the Patriots' regulars, Moss had five catches for 56 yards and Cooley had two receptions for 87 yards, including a 73-yard play.

The question is who will emerge as the No. 2 wideout. Moss is small, and the Redskins want more size at the position. They would love to see Malcolm Kelly or Devin Thomas, second-round draft picks in 2008 who struggled last season, step up and displace the experienced but undersized (5-foot-10, 185 pounds) Antwaan Randle el.

It's still up for grabs.

Titans vs. Browns

Where: Cleveland Browns Stadium.

When: 6:30 p.m. today

Titans injuries. Receiver Nate Washington (hamstring), defensive tackle Jason Jones (foot), cornerback Ryan Mouton (ankle) and tackle David Stewart (knee) have been ruled out. Linebacker Josh Stamer (groin), defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks (ankle), defensive end Jevon Kearse (hamstring), cornerback Nick Harper (rest), defensive back Tuff Harris (leg) and Ramsey (ribs) are questionable.

Browns injuries. Defensive tackle Shaun Rogers, linebacker David Bowens, receiver David Patten and running back Jerome Harrison are questionable.

As the regular season approaches, the Rams are getting progressively healthier. It appears that they came out of Thursday night’s game at Cincinnati with no major injuries, and several players who have been out for a while are getting close to a full return.

WR Tim Carter (groin) and RB Kenneth Darby (knee) played in the 24-21 victory over the Bengals despite not practicing all week. Wideout Donnie Avery (foot), DT Adam Carriker (ankle), guard Jacob Bell (concussion) and DE Leonard Little (knee) are expected to practice this week and could play Thursday night in the preseason finale vs. the Chiefs.

Also, coach Steve Spagnuolo reported that QB Marc Bulger (finger) will throw some this week, although he might not take snaps. Bulger probably will sit out Thursday.

The status of three players who were injured at Cincy — wideout Keenan Burton (knee), safety Craig Dahl (hamstring) and CB Justin King (thumb) — was not updated Friday. But none of the injuries is believed to be serious.

Edgerrin James has been shadowing incumbent Seahawks RB starter Julius Jones in his first two days with the team. After every play he's in the ear of Jones, third-string back Justin Forsett or fullback Justin Griffith trying to pick up the nuances of Knapp's offense. He spent 15 to 20 minutes after practice Thursday taking handoffs from backup quarterback Jeff Rowe.

"It's just of matter of being out here and hearing the calls. I don't want to be out there and embarrass myself," James said. "But it doesn't seem that complicated. I'll have it picked up in no time."

Knapp has vowed to turn around a Seahawks rushing attack that has foundered since their Super Bowl run in 2005. He thought he had his pieces in place with Jones, Forsett and T.j. Duckett as his running backs, but the Seahawks came to see Duckett as only a short-yardage role player and not the complement to Jones they were hoping for.

They hope that James can be effective in short-yardage situations while still adding another dimension that Duckett couldn't provide.

"Julius is going to be our workhorse, our lead dog, and to be able to get a guy of Edgerrin's caliber, and of his personality, and of his pedigree to come in here and do what he's going to do, it's really a bonus for us," head coach Jim Mora said Wednesday.

Knapp said that they told James that Jones would be their number one guy, but that he would still factor in heavily in the running game.

"We told him that Julius would be our number one back, but that we use two backs quite a bit," Knapp said. "Just look at our time in Oakland last year, we had three guys - Michael Bush, Justin Fargas and Darren Mcfadden - that we gave carries to. We want to keep everyone fresh so there will be plenty of carries to go around."

Steelers starting running back Willie Parker is questionable for tonight's game because of a hamstring injury. Even if Parker is able to play, coach Mike Tomlin said, Rashard Mendenhall will get plenty of work. Mendenhall, whom the Steelers are hoping can provide a legitimate complement to Parker this season, leads the team with 50 rushing yards on 14 carries through two preseason games. "This guy's had a good camp and a good preseason," Tomlin said. "We just ask that he does more of the same."

Dennis Dixon feared the worst after a hit to his throwing shoulder knocked him out of the Steelers' 17-13 loss to the Washington Redskins last Saturday. An MRI revealed no significant damage, though Dixon will be forced to watch tonight from the sidelines when the Steelers play the Buffalo Bills at Heinz Field. he mild separation of the A/C joint that Dixon sustained in his right shoulder halted the progress he had been making during the preseason. Dixon has completed 18 of 35 passes for 180 yards in two preseason games. Dixon, the Steelers' No. 3 quarterback, is probably a long shot to play Thursday in the preseason finale against the Carolina Panthers, but he could be cleared to return to practice by the beginning of next week.

Mark Sanchez won't have to do it all himself for the Jets to be successful.

The rookie quarterback's support staff is ready to help shoulder the load.

"I think he understands that he doesn't have to win it," right tackle Damien Woody said Thursday. "He shouldn't feel that way. We have enough good parts around us where all he really needs to do is not mess it up and make a couple of plays here and there, just grow on the job."

Coach Rex Ryan announced Wednesday that Sanchez won the starting job over Kellen Clemens with a solid training camp. While Sanchez has been hailed as the new face of the franchise, the pressure to win now won't be entirely on him.

"Having a young guy like Sanchez in there, having the O-line we've got and the Pro Bowl-caliber running backs we have in the backfield is a heck of a complement," running back Leon Washington said. "We look forward to helping him out, just like we look forward to him helping us out."

Sanchez, the fifth overall draft pick out of Southern California, is slated to make his regular-season debut at Houston on Sept. 13. He'll become the first rookie in Jets history to open a season under center, something not even Joe Namath accomplished.

Saints receiver Lance Moore will be back in action today at Oakland for the first time since recovering from shoulder surgery, and this will be his only chance to get some extended work with QB Drew Brees in the preseason. Moore is eager to remind Brees why he became his go-to receiver in 2008, as he tries to prove his breakout season was no fluke.

Cardinals HC Whisenhunt hasn't said it, but Matt Leinart has to be the backup quarterback. He's played three solid games, and Brian St. Pierre missed Friday's game with a sore back. Leinart played the entire second half and completed 24 of 38 for 360 yards and three touchdowns. He had an interception, however, and got away with a couple of other questioanble throws. But he looks comfortable in this offense, and this preseason has to have helped his confidence.

Cardinals RB Beanie Wells was impressive in his preseason debut. On his 20-yard touchdown run, he read his blocks well and made two nice cuts. "I had a lot of butterflies going," he said. "It was good to be out on the field." Wells said he's not 100 percent recovered from a sprained right ankle. "I have to get back out there Monday and get my timing right and get my ankle better," he said. "I felt like I didn't have a lot of burst tonight."

Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris informed his team this morning that Byron Leftwich beat out Luke Mccown for the starting quarterback job

Packers RB Brandon Jackson has a bruised shin.

Packers WR Greg Jennings said he sustained a concussion when he got sandwiched between Cardinals cornerback Bryant McFadden and safety Aaron Francisco on his first-quarter 25-yard reception.

“Got hit, got a concussion,” Jennings said on his way out of the locker room. “But I’m good now.”

Jennings said he got knocked unconscious briefly.

“Yeah for a second or two,” he said. “It’s part of football. I’m good now. Everything’s working normal. I called the wife and told her everything’s good, and I’m good to go.”

The Redskins are still waiting for another receiver to emerge: The Redskins desperately need another offensive weapon to compliment WR Santana Moss and TE Chris Cooley in the passing game. At 6-foot-4 and 227 pounds, second-year WR Malcolm Kelly could be that guy, but he failed to make a tough catch in the end zone and finished with one reception for 11 yards. Second-year WR Devin Thomas faired a little better with three catches for 36 yards.

The Patriots need to find a punt returner to spell Wes Welker: With Welker and Kevin Faulk inactive, the punt-returning duties fell to rookie safety Patrick Chung for a second straight week, and he again looked shaky. The rookie out of Oregon muffed the first punt return off his helmet, but he made up for it with his final return, a 33-yarder to the Redskins' 23 to set up Stephen Gostkowski's game-deciding field goal.

Tom Brady and Randy Moss appear to have their timing down: The Patriots' first-team offense failed to score a touchdown in the first two weeks of the preseason, but that all changed in the first half against the Redskins. Brady hooked up twice with Moss for touchdowns for the first time since the 2007 season. And after averaging just 2.2 yards per carry over the first two weeks, Laurence Maroney made a more productive start with seven carries for 19 yards and three receptions for 30 yards. While the first team came out to start the third quarter, Brady did not because he suffered what the team deemed a sore throwing shoulder -- the result of a hit from Redskins DT Albert Haynesworth.

RB Bernard Scott looks to be the Bengals second back.

Rams QB Marc Bulger will throw some this week as he recovers from a broken bone in the pinkie finger of his throwing hand. Coach Steve Spagnuolo said Bulger is unlikely to take any practice snaps, which is how he broke the finger.

Terrell Owens is tweeting that is toe is feeling better:

Yessss!! My toe is healed!! I'm sittin n charlotte airport on layover headed 2 dallas @ CPK! Tht's california pizza kitchen if u dn't kno!

Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye, competing to be the third quarterback on the roster, may not get much of a chance against the Saints. Jamarcus Russell will start and could play into the early third quarter before giving way to Jeff Garcia.

Javon Walker is showing signs of regaining at least some of his old form and earns $2.3 million in salary in each of the next two years after renegotiating his contract.

Raiders first-round pick Darrius Heyward-bey and fourth-round selection Louis Murphy were working with the first team and will start against New Orleans, a game which will most closely resemble what the Raiders do in the regular-season.

With Chaz Schilens out, that leaves Johnnie lee Higgins, last year’s leading receiver among Raiders wideouts with 22 receptions for 366 yards and four touchdowns, as the No. 3 receiver.

The Titans have released injured WR Chris Davis.

Houston Texans outside linebacker Cato June, who missed practice time in camp because of a knee injury, suffered a broken forearm against the Saints. June said on his Twitter page he will undergo surgery to have a plate inserted in his forearm.

Asked whether Vick would play against the Jets, Andy Reid said, "There's a chance."

Asked whether he wanted to play, Vick said: "Hopefully, whatever the plan is I have to go with it. I may be out there, maybe not. We’ll have to see.”

Vick put himself at 70 percent physically and said the better shape he gets in, the more he can help the team.

"Regardless of what we are doing, I will be able to make it work," he said. "If it’s at the quarterback position or the wildcat formation, regardless of what we are doing, if I am out there, I just want to be productive. That is why I go home and study every night, that’s why I prepare myself and that’s why I am spending that extra time after practice trying to get my body back to playing shape. I am almost there, about 70 percent there. So, right now I am just going off my natural ability. Once I get myself into top shape, the sky is the limit. I just want to use my abilities to help this team.”

The Lions have claimed WR Glenn Holt off waivers.

Vikings coach Brad Childress said receiver Bernard Berrian is coming along and could play Monday in Houston.

"He's progressing," Childress said. "To put a percentage on where he's at, you always have to be careful. Guys will tell you when they're ready to go back.

"He's pushing through."

Asked of his chances to play against the Texans, Childress said, "He's got a chance to get there.

"We've got a lot of time left."

Lions waived WR Billy Mcmullen.

Receiver Terrell Owens took a step forward at practice today, participating in the wide receiver individual drills during the first portion of the workout inside Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Owens ran routes and caught passes from Trent Edwards during roughly a 20-minute portion of practice. He looked to be going full speed on the sprained right toe that has kept him on the sideline. The previous two days, Owens worked out running routes on the side, not with the team. After the individual drills, Owens took his spikes off and put on running shoes and watched the rest of the 7 on 7 and 11 on 11 sessions of practice.

"Watching him, he looked like he moved well," said coach Dick Jauron. "It was a good sign. Now we’ll just see how he feels"

Rookie K Ryan Succop appears to have won the Chiefs' kicking job.

Denver RB Lamont Jordan will not play Saturday.

David Tyree will not play in the Giants preseason game Saturday.

Bucs coach Raheem Morris declined to name a starting quarterback Friday. "We'll have a decision here very soon,'' Morris said.

Lions rookie tight end Brandon Pettigrew, who missed the first three weeks of training camp with a thigh injury, will see his first preseason action against the Colts. Pettigrew was the 20th overall pick in the draft.

Daunte Culpepper will start for Lions on Saturday.

It is likely that Antonio Gates and Ladainian Tomlinson will not see any more preseason action.

The Jacksonville Jaguars remain interested in acquiring Kansas City quarterback Tyler Thigpen, and the Chiefs are certainly open to trading him. That mutual interest has not cooled and sources close to the situation maintain this trade could still occur.

Scott Pioli, who runs the Chiefs, is asking for a third-round pick for Thigpen, which is an awful lot for a third quarterback. However, with newly crowned — and compensated — starter Matt Cassel there, Thigpen isn’t getting the reps and having Thigpen around, should Cassel falter, could create a QB controvery, something the rebuilding club would not welcome.

Jacksonville first offered a sixth-round pick for Thigpen, then upped it to a fifth and they remain strong possibilities. Thursday night the Jags QBs went a combined 17-for-31 for 171 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT. David Garrard has been shaky as a starter for a while now, and they don’t have a dependable backup on the roster. Thigpen had been nursing a rib injury but is likely to play Saturday night. Other teams like Thigpen, too, but Pioli’s demand in this case is steep.

League sources continue to suggest that should Pioli be unable to get that third-round pick, Jacksonville is a prime candidate to pull something else, with a fourth-rounder possibly the happy medium in all of this.

Despite the penalty laps, the live tackling, the blaring music and the pop quizzes, Braylon Edwards said the Browns have bought into the Eric Mangini Way.

"We're in shape, that's first and foremost," Edwards said. "We've put the new system in, we got used to the coaches, we definitely got used to coach Mangini and his thought process, what his views are, his goals, his mission statement, the things he lives and dies by. We've memorized those and agreed to them. Now we're just ready to play football."

During an appearance on 105.3 The Fan, Jerry Jones did not commit to a
timetable for Williams' return but strongly hinted the receiver would
be available for the Sept. 13 season opener.

"I'm not implying that we have a long-winded thing here," said Jerry,
who stated that the Cowboys will not consider signing a veteran
receiver. "Based on our review here, we're talking about a very short
timespan. I don't know that he'll go Saturday ... but he'll be out
there real quick."

Results of last night’s X-ray examination of Roy Williams’ shoulder revealed no fracture to the wide receiver’s left shoulder. He will continue to be treated for a shoulder contusion and will be evaluated on a day-to-day basis.

"Contusion" is simply another way of saying bruised shoulder.

Running back Rashard Mendenhall will get a long look from the coaching staff tomorrow night in the Steelers' third preseason game against the Buffalo Bills.

Mendenhall, the Steelers' first-round draft choice last year and the backup to Willie Parker, likely will get the start because Parker has not practiced all week due to a hamstring injury. Mendenhall has carried the ball 14 times for 50 yards in the first two preseason games, but this will be his first opportunity for extended play with the first-team offensive line should Parker not play.

The Denver Broncos have suspended wide receiver Brandon Marshall for conduct detrimental to the club.

The Broncos can only suspend Marshall for a maximum of four games. This certainly doesn't help Marshall's trade value if the Broncos are intent on dealing him.

Brandon Marshall is not staging a holdout. He is not about to be traded. And he has not been suspended.

So the drama behind his absence from the Broncos' practice Thursday may not have been all that dramatic, even as Marshall's display during practice Wednesday created another episode to "As Brandon's World Turns."

In a report aired by KMGH-7 from Wednesday's practice, Marshall was nonchalant during drills and was caught punting the ball away when the drill was finished.

Perhaps realizing the video of his behavior may not help him draw interest from other teams, Marshall quickly went into spin control during an interview late Thursday night on ESPN's "NFL Live" show.

"I'm not going to do whatever it takes
(to be traded)," Marshall said. "I'm not out there trying to be a distraction to the team. Unfortunately, (Wednesday) I kind of let my frustration get the best of me. I definitely want a fresh new start with everything that is going on, not just this year but in past years. It's been a lot. Unfortunately, I let my emotions get the best of me and I apologize to everyone for that."

Although Marshall did not practice Thursday, he was at the team's headquarters during the session. It appears Marshall was held out for punitive reasons for his conduct during practice Wednesday.

"Me punting the ball was definitely frustration," Marshall told ESPN. "It was an error in judgment. There was a lot of frustration yesterday coming out of a meeting."

After letting his strained lower back "settle down," Shaun Hill returned to practice Thursday and threw in individual drills while Damon Huard ran most of the plays with the starting offense in team sessions.

Hill said he expects to play in Saturday night's preseason game in Dallas "as far as I know."

"It feels good today," he said. "It was nice to be able to get out there and practice. It wasn't as bad as everyone thought. I knew it wasn't all that serious. It was smarter to let things settle down than to push through at this point in the year."

San Francisco's starters are expected to play the first half against the Cowboys, with some continuing on into the third quarter.

Coach Andy Reid revealed after last night's game against Jacksonville that left guard Todd Herremans will undergo surgery today to repair a stress fracture in his left foot.

The Eagles initially thought that the fifth-year offensive lineman had nothing more than a stress reaction and would be ready for the Sept. 13 opener against Carolina, but a magnetic resonance imaging test this week revealed the fractures.

"He'll miss a couple games here," Reid said. "We'll see how the surgery goes."

In his first game action with the Buccaneers since suffering a knee injury in Week 16 last season, "Cadillac" Carnell Williams displayed some of the explosiveness that made him the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2005. Williams started the game and totaled 54 yards on eight carries, including a 19-yard gain on his fourth run.

Raheem Morris has some tough decisions to make: The Bucs' first-year coach wanted another look at his quarterbacks before making a decision on a regular-season starter, and Byron Leftwich (9 of 17 for 100 yards) still appears to be the front-runner, despite the team's failures to get into the end zone. Neither Luke Mccown (5 of 11 for 38 yards) or Josh Freeman (6 of 16 for 50 yards) did little to distinguish themselves.

Carson Palmer and Marc Bulger are both hurt, which left the Bengals and Rams to each struggle on offense. Kyle Boller hit on 14 of 20 passes with one touchdown, but he managed just 96 yards for St Louis. J.t. O'sullivan completed 7 of 13 for 93 yards as Cincinnati's offense never got in sync.

For the third straight preseason game, Chris Henry caught a touchdown pass. After Henry scored twice all of last season, the Bengals are counting on much more out of him in 2009. So far, he has proven up to the task.

After having just two carries in his only game last season, Samkon Gado is trying to show the Rams he's worthy of a long look this season. He scored two touchdowns, bringing his preseason total to three, on six touches for 35 yards. St. Louis is set with Steven Jackson as the starting running back, but it never hurts to have depth in the backfield.

Asante Samuel is in midseason form: Samuel always has been known as a playmaker, and that hasn't changed during the preseason. The veteran cornerback forced a fumble on the Eagles' 1 in the second quarter, knocking out Jaguars WR Nate Hughes on the play (the Jaguars picked up the fumble for a touchdown, but Hughes left the game with a concussion). On the Jaguars' next drive, Samuel intercepted a David Garrard pass intended for Torry Holt.

The Eagles have big plans for Michael Vick: It was an encouraging debut for Vick, who entered the game on the Eagles' second play from scrimmage and completed a shuffle pass to RB Lesean Mccoy for 4 yards. Vick made four appearances in the Eagles' second drive, each with a different look. Vick lined up in the shotgun with QB Donovan Mcnabb wide right, as a receiver in the slot (McNabb faked a screen pass his way and handed off to the running back) and by himself in the shotgun (he completed a 13-yard pass to Hank Baskett). Vick also ran the ball once in a variation of the Wildcat formation, looking hesitant on a 1-yard gain.

Vick finished 4for4 for 19 yards passing. He had 1 rush for 1 yard.

Titans backup quarterback Patrick Ramsey missed practice for the second time in three days on Thursday (ribs).

From Pro Football Talk and noted here by scout Bob Harris:

--

A league source tells us that Cowboys receiver Roy Williams suffered a broken collarbone during his Thursday night collision with cornerback Orlando Scandrick.

Typically, a broken collarbone requires a healing period of six to eight weeks.

--

then:

--

UPDATE: Another source tells us that the X-rays were negative. Our original source insists that it's a break, and that Williams will miss 6-8 weeks.

SECOND UPDATE: Williams told multiple players it was broken. X-rays reveal otherwise. MRI coming tomorrow. Sorry for the confusion. It's one of the hazards of real-time reporting, and it's one we'd like to avoid.

New Orleans Saints running back Mike Bell received a ringing endorsement from quarterback Drew Brees on Thursday, words that might carry some weight when the coaching staff eventually pares the regular-season roster to 53.

Bell made a strong showing in Saturday night's 38-14 win against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium, rushing 10 times for 100 yards in the first half, including a 46-yard touchdown run.

"Mike's a guy, ever since he's gotten here, who's gotten better and better,'' Brees said. "He showed what he could do the other night. He ran extremely hard. He's had a great training camp. He's the guy who might be the MVP of training camp. I think he understands what we need from that third running back position. I see him playing a role in what we do if he continues to run like that.''

Lions released RB Allen Ervin.

Brian Westbrook did not play in tonight's preseason game.

Jaguars rookie WR Mike Thomas will miss Thursday's game with a hamstring injury.

Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall appears unlikely to make his preseason debut in Sunday night’s exhibition against the Chicago Bears after missing practice again.

Former 49ers cornerback and KPIX game analyst Eric Davis said that wide receiver Michael Crabtree is willing to sit out the season.

Speaking to Greg Papa of Chronicle Live on Wednesday, Davis said, "They feel as should they should get more than where they are slotted and that's going to be difficult to do. There's a certain system in place and the 49ers organization is going to stick to that system. It's going to be difficult to get anything worked out."

Davis said the player and team are about 7 million apart on the guaranteed money. Davis knows people in Crabtree's camp, which might be his old teammate Deion Sanders, who's close to Crabtree. Davis wasn't sure if the continued holdout was motivated by Crabtree or his agent, Eugene Parker, but he did say this:

"Eugene Parker is not the football player. Eugene Parker works for Michael Crabtree, the key phrase here is 'works for,'" Davis said. Also Davis believes Crabtree might go through with his holdout threats.

The Detroit Lions have released Allen Ervin.

The Buffalo Bills have opened talks with cornerback Terrence McGee on a contract extension, and they would like to try to get a deal done before the start of the regular season.

Rookie RB Shonn Greene (ribs) is likely to miss the remainder of the preseason, according to Rex Ryan. There are no fractures, Ryan said, but Greene has "cartilage issues." That certainly will impact the plans to use a three-headed backfield in the early portion of the season.

Raiders WR Javon Walker, who seemed to ease into his first session, got in some good work during his second practice, looking better that at any time during training camp a year ago, when he was called out by Lane Kiffin and talked of retiring and giving his bonus back.

Both Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson could play into the second half Saturday Night. We don't know which player will start.

Santonio Holmes and Willie Parker are questionable for Saturday night's preseason game against Buffalo.

Sean Payton addressed Pierre Thomas' situation after practice Thursday.
New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton said there is a chance that a lingering knee injury will sideline running back Pierre Thomas for the team's exhibition game against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 3 at the Superdome.

Thomas, who suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee against the Houston Texans, already has been ruled out of Saturday's exhibition game against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.

Payton addressed Thomas' situation after practice Thursday.

"I'm not as concerned other than the snaps he's missing,'' Payton said. "I think he's going to recover fully. So I don't think it's going to be an ongoing season problem for him. It's just going to take a week and a half here. We may or may not be able to play him against Miami but I'm confident of the type of injury he has that it's going to heal properly and not be something that drags on. So that's the good news.''

Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall is not present at the start of the team's practice. No reason has been given by the team yet. Marshall has expressed on many occasions he is not happy with the team. He did practice Wednesday, presumably making it through the entire session. He walked off the field with the rest of the team Wednesday and declined an interview request. Marshall said last week he doesn't know the playbook, and was held out of the second preseason game. Broncos coach Josh McDaniels wouldn't commit to Marshall playing in Sunday's preseason game against Chicago.

The Cowboys have waived tight end Rodney Hannah.

Brett Favre said today that he doesn’t know what schism means — definition is “a separation or division into factions” — but the veteran quarterback was clearly annoyed to have his name tied to that word in an ESPN report that was published on Wednesday. Speaking to a large group of reporters after the Vikings practiced, Favre discussed the word that caused a mini-controversy just over a week into his tenure with the team.

“I don’t even know what that means, I’ve got no reaction,” Favre said. “I’m just doing what I can do to hopefully help this team win and just trying to fit in. I’m not worried about that. That’s for you guys to have some fun with. Once again, I have no idea what that means. I’m assuming it’s controversial.”

Favre said he feels his reception in the locker room — which came two weeks after training camp opened — has been “fine” and admitted he’s still learning some of the names of his teammates. That doesn’t come as a surprise considering there are still 79 guys on the roster. ”Most of the guys I know,” he said. “I’m trying to get a comfort level. The plays for me are pretty familiar with what I’ve run in the past but how guys run them to me is the most important thing.

“Obviously, chemistry is maybe the most important factor in winning and losing and we have some work to do in that area. I’ve been here a little over a week and that’s the reason that there is work to do. The locker room has been fine. I don’t know what it was like before I got here. I wasn’t here. I know every guy in that room wants to win and we’re going to do everything we can do to try to see that that happens.”

Favre expressed his displeasure with this latest report by saying, “You guys have to keep stirring the pot I guess. Somebody has to make up a story like this. I can assure you, I don’t think any guy in the locker room, me included, would use that word. We’d probably come up with something a little different. You guys have to come up with something a little more locker-room related. I can’t even remember what it was.”

Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Jeff Reed has a slightly sprained ankle and may not play in Saturday's preseason game against Buffalo.

Four starters are questionable for the Detroit Lions' preseason game against the Indianpolis Colts on Saturday. Running game Kevin Smith (hip), linebacker Ernie Sims (ribs) and cornerbacks Phillip Buchanon (neck) and Anthony Henry (shoulder) didn't practice Thursday and will be a game-time decision on Saturday.

The Lions have a couple of other players who have already been ruled out - kicker Jason Hanson (knee) and running back Allen Ervin (ankle).

The Green Bay Packers are concerned enough about their backup quarterback spot that they could get involved in trade talks with Tampa Bay, which is shopping quarterbacks Byron Leftwich, Luke Mccown and Josh Johnson. A league source said the Packers are exploring backup quarterbacks around the league and another source said Green Bay has McCown as a possibility.

The Packers have been concerned about their backup quarterback situation for awhile and seriously considered acquiring Michael Vick, who signed with the Eagles, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. Second-year players Matt Flynn and Brian Brohm are the Packers’ current backups, with Flynn serving as the No. 2 to starter Aaron Rodgers. Flynn is currently nursing a shoulder injury, and Brohm has done little to take advantage in Flynn’s absence.

Vikings WR Bernard Berrian (hamstring) returned to practice today.

Giants LB Antonio Pierce (foot) will not play in Saturday's preseason game.

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton said he will make a game time decision on the playing status of running back Reggie Bush and free safety Darren Sharper.

Expect to see Michael Vick on the field in the first quarter of Thursday night's preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, according to sources with knowledge of the Eagles' game plan.

Coach Andy Reid does not want Vick -- or Eagles fans -- to wait very long for him to see his first action. Initially, Vick will be used as a quarterback, then in some Wildcat formations.

"Andy wants him to play quarterback -- run around on the field and see how he responds to the speed of the game," said one source who has talked to Vick about Thursday's plans.

Bankruptcy Judge Frank Santoro approved a plan Thursday for Vick to repay $20 million to his creditors and emerge from bankruptcy on the condition that Vick retain a personal financial planner to manage his fuure earning with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Santoro says while Vick is "at the pinnacle of his profession," he has proven unable in the past to manage his finances. The plan was overwhelmingly approved in a ballot by the creditors.

Vick, 29, hustled away from the courthouse with his fiancee, Kijafa Frink, to catch a flight back to Philadelphia and make his debut with the Eagles in a preseason game.

"I'm happy it's over. I can move on with my life," Vick said.

"I'm excited about the game," he said. Asked if he was nervous, he said, "Not at all."

Terrell Owens returned to practice Thursday.

Baltimore WR Mark Clayton will not play Saturday.

Darrius Heyward-bey came down with a tumbling catch in traffic, much to the delight of his teammates and coaches during practice Wednesday in Napa.

"He had a great day of catching the ball," coach Tom Cable said. "Right after he caught it, I said to him, 'Your mistake is you showed me you can do that and, so now, the expectation goes up. That's who you are. That's what you're capable of.' "

Shaun Hill update: 49ers have non-padded practice. Walk-through portion right now, and Hill is at QB w/ first team after light day Wed.

With just a handful of positions up for grabs entering training camp, Coach Jim Zorn has tabbed his starting right guard and his backup quarterback. While he still isn't certain who will be his No. 2 wide receiver, Friday night's game against the Patriots should yield the most clues to date.

While Devin Thomas began training camp with a slight edge over Malcolm Kelly, the consensus around Redskins Park is that Kelly is now the top candidate to line up opposite Santana Moss in the flanker spot.

When Eagles coach Andy Reid addressed the intersection between Thursday night's game against the Jaguars and quarterback Michael Vick's detour to Virginia for the confirmation hearing in his bankruptcy case, Reid expressed confidence that Vick will make it back to Philly with time to spare.

"He'll probably miss the one Thursday afternoon [meeting]," Reid said. "But he'll be here for the game."

A source with knowledge of Vick's travel plans tells us that Vick will take a commercial flight back to Philly, and that "it's gonna be tight." (It's good that Vick is going coach; the guys at The Dan Patrick Show were discussing the irony of taking a private jet . . . to bankruptcy court.)

“I opened up the Madden today, and I'm pretty (mad) about that game,” Roy Williams said. “They've got me at an 86 (out of 100) speed, 87 hands and like 84 overall or something like that.

“I can't be mad because I didn't have a good year last year. They go off that year, but geez Louise, 86 speed? That's like tight-end speed, like I'm a slowpoke.”

The pressure is on Williams to prove his critics wrong as he attempts to replace Terrell Owens as Tony Romo's top wideout, a key hole to fill if the Cowboys are to return to the playoffs after a one-year absence.

“My expectation is to catch everything thrown to me,” Williams said. “A good receiver can make a quarterback look good.”

Titans WR Nate Washington may miss several games to start the season.

Vikings released WR Glenn Holt.

Chiefs QB Tyler Thigpen has been the second-team quarterback all week, so the Chiefs appear intent on giving him a good look against the Seahawks. Normally, the second-team duties rotate between Croyle and Thigpen, but Thigpen missed all of last week’s practice sessions and then the preseason game in Minnesota because of sore ribs.

The Jacksonville Jaguars offered the Chiefs a sixth-round pick and later sweetened the offer to a fifth-rounder in exchange for Thigpen.

Saints released WR Paris Warren.

From Carolina Panthers LB Jon Beason's blog:

I got my MRI results the other day and the doctors said it was an MCL sprain, no surgery required. Now I just have to deal with this and keep moving forward.

I’m going to attack it like I attack everything else in my life.

All my life I’ve healed fast and I don’t see why this time should be any different. I expect a speedy recovery. I think it starts in your mind; if you believe it in your mind, your body will follow. I think the guys who feel sorry for themselves take longer to come back from injury than the guys who are willing to do what it takes, listen to the medical staff and attack the rehab.

I’m feeling a lot better by the day, I’m encouraged by how I feel right now. For me it’s all about getting back on the field. The crazy part is, even though Week 1 isn’t the Super Bowl, or the playoffs, of a game for the division title, I want to play, and I’d be willing to suck it up.

Jets WR David Clowney practiced with the first-team offense. Clowney appears to be the front-runner for the No. 2 wide receiver spot.

Jets RB Shonn Green did not practice Wednesday (ribs).

Devin Hester should get the green light to return punts Sunday night at Denver.

At least two teams – the Ravens and the Jets – are keeping a close eye on the Eagles’ wide receiver situation.

The Eagles have an excess of wealth there right now. There’s a good chance they’ll deal one of their wide receivers – perhaps Reggie Brown – before the final roster cutdown.

Two days after the 49ers settled on Shaun Hill as their starting quarterback, Hill was on the sideline with a sore back while his understudies ran practice.

Coach Mike Singletary said Hill strained his lower back during Tuesday's practice by pushing himself too hard. Hill went through the early stages of Wednesday's session without a hitch. But after one throw in the team portion of the practice, he was finished for the day.

Though Hill gave a thumbs-up signal while jogging into the locker room and said he'd "definitely" play Saturday against the Dallas Cowboys, Singletary said he wasn't so sure. "It'll be day-to-day," Singletary said.

Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham drove home his message over and over again.

He screamed it to the players in loud and colorful language during meetings. He expressed it to reporters more calmly Wednesday. But even then, as he repeated it several times, his blood started to boil.

"I'm flat (ticked) off, if you want to know the truth," Cunningham said.

His message is simple.

"If you can't tackle, you can't play defense," Cunningham said, "and you definitely are not going to play here on defense."

Broncos RB Lamont Jordan, apparently banged up in the Seattle game, missed a second consecutive day of practice.

With backup Broncos QB Chris Simms hobbled by an ankle injury, the Denver Broncos moved to bolster their depth at quarterback Wednesday by signing free agent Ingle Martin.

Simms suffered a high ankle sprain when Seahawks pass rusher Nick Reed fell on his left ankle during the third quarter of Saturday's 27-13 loss at Seattle, and the Broncos have not said how long Simms is expected to be sidelined.

The loss of Simms left starter Kyle Orton and rookie Tom Brandstater as the only healthy quarterbacks on the Broncos roster.

Now that they’ve been separated for five months, Bears QB Jay Cutler has high praise for Broncos rookie coach Josh McDaniels, whom he’ll see in a preseason game at Invesco Field this weekend.

Cutler says in the brief time he spent with McDaniels he could tell Bill Belichick’s latest disciple was an offensive mastermind. Cutler said the Broncos are in good hands with McDaniels and QB Kyle Orton.

“He’s going to be a good coach,” Cutler told Denver reporters in a conference call Wednesday. “I think their offense is going to be fine. I think Kyle’s going to be fine. (McDaniels) is an offensive mind.

“Just the brief amount of time I was able to spend with him, he’s impressive. He knows a lot about offenses, he knows a lot about getting guys open and scoring points, as everyone’s seen when he was in New England, so I think they’re going to be fine.”

Vikings coach Brad Childress said he's aware of the two reports suggesting some of his players still support Tarvaris Jackson as the starter over Brett Favre.

"You know, I've seen the same reports that you've seen," Childress said.

"Those are opinion," Childress said later. "It's hard to shoot holes in an opinion. Opinions are just that, it's an opinion. I certainly don't see anything that looks close to that."

On Monday, during halftime of the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens game, ESPN reporter Adam Schefter said players still prefer Jackson over Favre.

Vikings Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson said he knew nothing of a faction in the locker room supporting Jackson.

"I'm not sensing nothing like that at all," Peterson said. "I don't know where that came from. That's news to me."

Seahawks coach Jim Mora and his newest running back, Edgerrin James, spoke with reporters following practice.

James' role. Mora repeatedly used the word "complementary" to describe James' anticipated role. He said Julius Jones would be the "workhorse" back. James said he was not here to "compete" with Jones. The two played catch for a while during practice. James said he was picking Jones' brain in an attempt to get up to speed.

Releasing Duckett. The Seahawks preferred James to T.j. Duckett, who was released, because the coaching staff determined Duckett was more of a role player at this point. The team felt as though James was better prepared to serve as a complementary back, not just a situational one.

The Cardinals are expected to have the services of rookie running back "Beanie" Chris Wells in the game against Green Bay on Friday night. Wells missed the first two preseason games with a sprained ankle.

The Cardinals might also be without wide receiver Steve Breaston, who has been sidelined with a bruised knee.

Arizona WR Anquan Boldin sat out practice with a sore right hamstring Wednesday and probably will miss the Cardinals' game against Green Bay on Friday night.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt says Boldin felt a problem with the hamstring late in practice on Tuesday but an MRI showed no serious injury.

Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin suffered a strained right hamstring in Tuesday's practice and missed Wednesday's workout.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt called it a tweak and wouldn't rule Boldin out of Friday's preseason game against the Packers. He did, however, say the Cardinals would be cautious in dealing with Boldin's injury.

That means Boldin probably won't play. Steve Breaston, the No. 3 receiver, isn't expected to play because of a knee injury. Jerheme Urban would start along with Larry Fitzgerald, with Lance Long, Early Doucet, Sean Morey and Onrea Jones getting more playing time.

Boldin suffered a left hamstring pull in the playoffs last season and missed the divisional game against Carolina.

The Kansas City Chiefs have been talking to the Jacksonville Jaguars about quarterback Tyler Thigpen, according to a league source, but have been unable to come to an agreement to this point. Thigpen is stuck behind starter Matt Cassel, and with fellow backup Brody Croyle coming off a decent preseason performance and with him also having a close relationship with offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, Croyle has been the favorite to win the No. 2 job.

Tailbacks Reggie Bush and Pierre Thomas were both held out of team drills in practice Wednesday. Thomas (knee) will not play in Saturday's preseason game at Oakland, and Bush (calf) is questionable.

Thomas, who sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee during last week's preseason game at Houston, said earlier this week that the injury was minor, and he expected to be back on the practice field within a day or two. But the pain has apparently lingered.

Payton said his goal is to get Thomas some snaps in the final preseason game against Miami next Thursday night to get him up to speed. Thomas' snaps were limited in the first two preseason games while the team spent more time evaluating backup tailbacks Lynell Hamilton, Mike Bell, Herb Donaldson and P.J. Hill.

Bush has been limited all week because of the calf strain he suffered during practice last Thursday in Houston. Payton said Bush is "making progress," but said the injury is "somewhat like a hamstring. You just have to be careful."

Bucs RB Cadillac Williams will make his long-awaited return to the field Thursday night when the Bucs host the Dolphins in their third preseason game — and he'll do so as a starter.

Titans WR Nate Washington vowed to treat his right hamstring injury with an aggressive rehabilitation schedule, but isn't sure when he'll be able to return to action.

"I'm not going to be complacent with this injury," he said on Tuesday.

An MRI on Washington's hamstring Monday night revealed no major damage, but he's expected to miss the final preseason games — Saturday at Cleveland and Sept. 3 against Green Bay.

As for the possibility of missing the regular season opener on Sept. 10 against the Steelers, the team he played for the past four seasons, Washington said: "I'd be very disappointed. It's something that I've worked very hard for. To miss that game would be big for me."

Cowboys WR Sam Hurd (quadricep) didn't practice for the second consecutive day. DE Marcus Spears returned to practice after sitting out yesterday due to a sore quad.

Cowboys TE Martellus Bennett and LB Bobby Carpenter were the new guys not practicing today.

Bennett was complaining about his tummy aching on Twitter yesterday. Not sure what might be ailing Carpenter.

Ravens defensive tackle Kelly Gregg and tight end "L.J." John Smith are questionable for the remainder of the preseason due to concerns over respective injuries.

Bengals starting QB Carson Palmer (ankle) will miss his second straight preseason game Thursday night against the St. Louis Rams, a source tells the AFC North blog.

The source also added that the team may also take extreme caution with Palmer's sprained ankle and is contemplating sitting him for the remainder of the preseason. Much of it will depend on how the ankle responds leading up to next week's exhibition game Sept. 3 against the Colts.

Palmer has missed a lot of practice time since suffering the injury Aug. 14 against the Saints. The QB did some light throwing in practice this week but didn't participate in team drills.

Without identifying the precise nature of his injury, Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger this afternoon described his right-foot ailment as a bruise that, when it first happened, scared both him and teammates about a potentially serious Achilles tendon injury.

"It was a pretty scary thing to have a ... heavy ... guy step around the back of your foot and your Achilles," the Steelers starting quarterback said in his first interview since he got caught in a tangle between 6-foot-8, 345-pound left tackle Max Starks and linebacker James Harrison toward the end of last Thursday's practice at St. Vincent College.

"Everyone thought they heard a pop, too. You didn't know what happened. Luckily, it was a bruise."

Roethlisberger, who didn't dress or play in last Saturday's preseason loss at Washington, declined to say whether an MRI or other tests were performed on his injury.

The Jaguars signed defensive tackle Jervonte Jackson; waived defensive lineman Jeremy Mincey.

The Patriots signed wide receiver Robert Ortiz.

Broncos backup quarterback Chris Simms suffered a high-ankle sprain, according to a team source, and could be out of action anywhere from two to four weeks.

This means that for the team's final two preseason games, Sunday night against the Bears and Sept. 3 against the Cardinals, the Broncos will have to lean heavily on starter Kyle Orton and rookie sixth-round pick Tom Brandstater.

Yet typically, teams like to rest many of their starters in the last preseason game, meaning Brandstater could be showcased against the Cardinals.

Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart missed his 14th straight practice with pain in his left Achilles tendon.

Panthers running back Deangelo Williams has missed practice with a sore knee. The injury doesn't appear serious and Williams was joking with his teammates as he rode a stationary bike Wednesday. Coach John Fox wouldn't say which knee it was or when he started experiencing pain.

The only players who did not appear to fully participate in practice Tuesday were WR Bernard Berrian and TE Jim Kleinsasser. Offensive lineman Artis Hicks was excused to tend to a family matter.

Berrian is slowly starting to work his way back. Sidelined since injuring his hamstring in the exhibition opener Aug. 14 in Indianapolis, Berrian has spent the past couple of days catching passes from Favre after practice.

"It was all right," Berrian said. "It wasn't anything really different. We've been doing this for a couple of days now.

"It's just trying to get back into the flow of things," he said, "and getting in and out of breaks and get my conditioning back."

Berrian estimated he's running at 40 to 50 percent. He said he's unsure whether he will play against the Texans. Asked if he would return to practice later this week, he said, "I have no idea."

Kleinsasser, who appears to have a splint or brace on his left hand, doesn't know when he will return, either.

"Any time you miss time, it's frustrating. Just annoying," said Kleinsasser, who suffered the injury in the exhibition opener against Indianapolis.

On Tuesday, the Vikings welcomed several key players back. Allen and quarterback Sage Rosenfels (ankle) returned to the practice field and are set to play against the Texans.

"I didn't know how my ankle was going to respond out here today, but everything felt great," Rosenfels said. "It was literally as if we had practiced yesterday and I had played in the game. I felt like there was really no rust today."

Rosenfels said he hasn't been informed how much or when he will play against his former team, the Texans. Vikings coach Brad Childress said only that starter Brett Favre will play the first half.

In a surprising turn of events, wide receiver Mark Clayton took part in practice at the Ravens’ training facility in Owings Mills this afternoon.

Clayton has not practiced since straining his left hamstring on Aug. 2, but he had been running on his own and making cuts last week during training camp. It’s unclear whether Clayton will be available for Saturday’s game against the Carolina Panthers.

Right guard Chris Chester was not present, and his strained right calf was heavily taped when he was in the locker room prior to practice.

Others who did not participate included linebackers Terrell Suggs (strained left Achilles tendon) and Dannell Ellerbe (right knee), offensive tackles Oniel Cousins (right ankle) and Stefan Rodgers (right foot), defensive tackle Kelly Gregg (shoulder), tight end L.J. Smith (pulled left hamstring) and wide receiver Biren Ealy (groin). Ellerbe was not wearing a brace on his right knee.

Eagles CB Sheldon Brown, who missed the Colts game with a rib strain and returned to practice on Saturday, only to aggravate the injury on Sunday, is out for the Jaguars game, Reid said.

Omar Gaither (knee), Leonard Weaver (knee), Shawn Andrews (back), Todd Herremans (foot), Darren Howard (groin), Charleston Hughes (foot), Tracy White (ribs) and Curtis (ankle) also won't play.

Kevin Curtis returned to practice after missing one day with knee swelling.

Terrell Owens worked out again on the side while his teammates practiced today in Orchard Park, and the veteran receiver looked pretty good running pass routes.
Owens worked out under the guidance of Bills trainer Shone Gipson in the fieldhouse, while the team practiced outside in the rain on the grass field. Owens looked like he was running pass routes at - or very close - to full speed. He was just running routes, not catching passes from a quarterback.
Owens will sit out a third straight exhibition game Saturday due to his sprained right toe. At this point, I'd be surprised if Dick Jauron risks him in the final preseason game since he is so critical to the Bills' offensive plans.

No coach likes to talk about injuries, particularly a nagging one that's bothering the QB you just named the starter. That's what happened Wednesday, with 49ers QB Shaun Hill throwing just one pass in practice because of a lower back strain that Mike Singletary said was a day-to-day issue.

Hill injured the back in yesterday's practice and "pushed through" according to Singletary. Hill wanted to do the same today, but Singletary told him to take it easy.

Asked if he found it unsettling that Hill might not be available Saturday night for the penultimate preseason game in Dallas, Singletary said, "It's not unsettling at all, not one bit. We're going to go to Dallas and play football, we're not going to worry about who's ready to go and all those things. We should execute just fine."

Singletary seemed more annoyed by the situation than anything else. Backup Alex Smith has already been ruled out of the game because of a sprained thumb sustained while tackling Raiders linebacker Ricky Brown in last Saturday night's game.

Titans WR Nate Washington will miss some time with a strained right hamstring. How much and whether that includes the NFL season opener for Tennessee's top receiver remains to be seen, because Titans coach Jeff Fisher isn't saying.

Fisher hasn't shared specific details on any injuries and won't until the first injury report is required with the start of the regular season. He said Tuesday that all the exams have been done and Washington's injury is not serious.

"We'll be day to day, week to week here. He's a quick healer, and we'll get aggressive with his treatment," Fisher said.

Asked if Washington will miss the Titans' opener Sept. 10 at Pittsburgh, Fisher would only rule out receiver for Saturday night's exhibition in Cleveland.

Most NFL teams keep five or six receivers, and the Bears are unlikely to go beyond six. Devin Hester and Earl Bennett are locks to start. Rookies Juaquin Iglesias and Johnny Knox also look secure. The Bears won't be able to hide them on the practice squad because Iglesias has a big name and reputation and Knox would be claimed purely for his 40 time.

Tall receivers Brandon Rideau and Devin Aromashodu have been Cutler's favorite targets during spots in training camp. Aromashodu made a spectacular diving catch Saturday to set up a touchdown pass to Desmond Clark. That will help him a ton, but it also begs the question of whether Rashied Davis, Rideau, Iglesias or Knox would have made the same play if given the chance.

Rashied Davis hasn't lost repetitions only to the taller guys. In some formations in practice, Hester and tight end Greg Olsen have been split wide with Bennett in the slot -- a natural position for Davis.

Halfway through the preseason, there are indications Steve Hauschka is close to winning the job over Gano. Hauschka has outplayed Gano, making all three of his field-goal tries. Gano has missed two of three.

Harbaugh acknowledged that the Ravens could determine their kicker after Saturday's preseason game at Carolina. "Like they always say, those guys will make that decision for us," he said, "and we'll see how it plays out."

So far, it has played out well for Hauschka, the Ravens' kickoff specialist last season. This preseason, he has converted field goals from 21, 37 and 42 yards.

Gano, an undrafted rookie out of Florida State, made his first field goal (a 39-yarder) before missing from 28 and 46 yards. A high snap led to his hitting the right upright in the preseason opener. On Monday, he missed badly on a long-range field-goal try, driving the ball 3 yards right of the upright.

Cardinals injured players not participating in full workouts included St. Pierre (back), receivers Steve Breaston (knee) and Michael Ray Garvin (knee), tackle Elliot Vallejo (knee) and linebacker Ali Highsmith (ankle).

Since missing much of camp with a shoulder injury, Cardinals WR Early Doucet has been practicing at full tilt lately and he couldn't be happier.

"Being able to go through the whole practice, do every drill and compete, and have contact and know my shoulder is finally healed feels great," he said.

"I was missing valuable time and I couldn't afford to keep doing that. It was getting to the point where if my shoulder was still hurting me, I would have tried to get back out there some kind of way, anyhow. But it's not bothering me at all."

Two weeks ago, Cardinals QB Kurt Warner said the pain in his surgically repaired hip was so intense it killed him just to stand and talk. This week, and after two preseason games, it doesn't seem to be hurting him nearly so much.

"I feel a lot better," he said. "I feel probably twice as good as I felt at any point since I injured my hip. It's exciting for me that I'm seeing strides being made. I'm feeling more comfortable and I don't have to worry about trying to manage the pain.

"I'm definitely feeling better than I have in a long time."

Cardinals HC Whisenhunt still isn't ready to formally announce who the backup quarterback will be to Kurt Warner this season, even though most people assume it again will be Matt Leinart.

Brian St. Pierre remains in contention, but when talking about Leinart on Tuesday, the Cardinals head coach sounded very impressed with what he's been seeing.

"I think at that position there's an evolution you have to go into and with what I've seen from Matt, I think it's maturity," Whisenhunt said.

"He understands what he has to do to be successful. A lot of times as a young player, you don't understand what it takes."

Encouraging injury news for Bills. X-rays on Fred Jackson's thumb negative. Deep bone and ligament bruise. More important, ready for opener.

The Eagles' newest tight end, Tony Curtis, won't be able to practice fully for a week or so because of a high-ankle sprain.

49ers WR Arnaz Battle returned to practice after missing a day with hamstring tightness. The only players who did not participate in practice were Alex Smith (right thumb), left guard David Baas (left guard), right tackle Adam Snyder (right knee) and receiver Brandon Jones (shoulder).

Despite a 10.1 passer rating in the first two games and the emergence of rookie Chase Daniel, QB Colt Brennan remains upbeat about making the team. Brennan was Mr. August last year but is only 4-for-12 for 43 yards and one interception this month.

"I'm not going to let that deter or discourage me at all," he said. "I have an opportunity the next two weeks to go out and do some good things. I'm excited to make something happen."

Zorn said Todd Collins has a firm grip on the No. 2 job, leaving Brennan and Daniel to play the final preseason game Sept. 3 at Jacksonville for the final roster spot.

"I've always said Colt's trying to battle for the No. 2 spot with Todd, but I think we saw that Todd was not willing to bow down and give that up, so the competition is for the No. 3 spot," Zorn said. "Chase is making a statement about that."

Redskins CB Carlos Rogers (left calf), fullback Mike Sellers (right knee) and right tackle Mike Williams (left ankle) sat out practice. Offensive lineman Devin Clark and running back Anthony Alridge returned after missing the Pittsburgh game.

After the game Rogers experienced swelling in the calf, which kept him out the first week of August, but he expects to play Friday against New England.

Jets RB Leon Washington's agent and the Jets are still haggling over that issue. The team is trying to sign Washington to a long-term contract extension, but "nothing is imminent," GM Mike Tannenbaum said Tuesday on WFAN radio.

It's believed the two sides haven't talked in about two weeks. The Jets have an offer on the table that includes $10 million in guarantees, sources said. Washington, entering the final year of his rookie contract, is due to make $535,000. Even though the talks have hit a standstill, it would be a surprise if negotiations don't resume before the start of the season.
Against the Ravens, Washington was in midseason form, compiling 176 all-purpose yards and a TD in the 24-23 loss. In the first half he had 10 of the team's 23 "touches" (8 rushes, 2 receptions), an indication that Rex Ryan is serious about expanding Washington's role on offense.
"He's even better than I thought," Ryan said. "He's a little stud."

At the beginning of training camp, Redskins HC Zorn acknowledged Devin Thomas was ahead of Malcolm Kelly in the competition for the starting flanker spot. After two preseason games, however, Kelly appears to have leaped over Thomas.

The other day, Zorn said both second-year wideouts and veteran Antwaan Randle el still are competing for the job. But Randle El is better suited to the slot-receiver role, so the battle to be the No. 2 wide receiver is between Thomas and Kelly.

Kelly has had impressive moments in each of the first two preseason games while Thomas has just kind of been on the field. And then there's rookie wideout Marko Mitchell, who was the offensive star of camp (rookie strong-side LB/DE Brian Orakpo had that distinction on defense) and scored the Redskins' first touchdown of the preseason.

The Bucs have an overcrowding problem at the quarterback slot and it's looking like the team is getting ready to trade either Luke Mccown(notes), Byron Leftwich(notes), or Josh Johnson(notes).

According to NFL.com, the team has been spending extra time gauging the trade value of all three guys. An official from another team tells the site that it seems as if Tampa Bay wants another team to make the decision for them as to which one of these guys will be their starter.

Of course the problem is that none of these quarterbacks have a ton of value. Otherwise, Tampa Bay would want them, right? Looks like it's going to be a long season in west central Florida.

Steelers HB Mewelde Moore (hamstring) returned to practice for the first time since Aug. 4. "It feels good to be out there doing what I love to do," Moore said. Could he be ready for Saturday? "Hey, man, one day at a time."

Steelers OT Jason Capizzi also was limited yesterday due to a shoulder injury. Missing were receiver Santonio Holmes (back), whom Tomlin expected "back soon," along with running back Willie Parker (hamstring); fullback Tank Summers (hamstring); offensive guard Darnell Stapleton (knee) and receiver Hines Ward, who got the day off as with any "simulated in-season Wednesday," Tomlin kidded.

Steelers HC Tomlin reported that tight end Sean Mchugh is scheduled for what he termed "clean-up surgery" this morning, with more details about McHugh's status determined from that arthroscopic procedure.

Steelers backup QB Dennis Dixon missed practice after sustaining a separated right (throwing) shoulder against the Redskins. Sources said Dixon's injury is not believed to be serious, so the Steelers do not plan to sign another quarterback for camp.

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger participated in a limited fashion in practice yesterday for the first time since injuring his right foot at the end of practice Thursday and missing the Steelers' 17-13 exhibition loss at Washington.

The Steelers expect Roethlisberger to start Saturday against Buffalo in the third preseason game and, like the rest of the starters, play "a significant amount of time. What that is at this point is to be determined," coach Mike Tomlin said.

"Ben participated in a limited capacity," Tomlin said of the starting quarterback, who stood and watched the final 10 minutes of practice while icing down the ailing foot. "We like where he is. We'll continue to move forward. ... He won't be limited in any form or fashion" for Saturday.

When the Rams stepped on the practice field on Tuesday afternoon, some familiar faces were back in the huddle. There were receivers Donnie Avery and Tim Carter running routes with the scout team and taking mental repetitions with the offense.

Seahawks RB Julius Jones, DE Lawrence Jackson, LB Aaron Curry, WR Nate Burleson, OL Grey Ruegamer all returned to practice Tuesday.

Dolphins QB Chad Pennington will start and play into the third quarter and Chad Henne will then finish the game when the Dolphins play their third pre-season contest Thursday at Tampa Bay, coach Tony Sparano said Tuesday.

As expected, Henne has gotten more work than Pennington in the first two games, but this game is typically the one when the starters have their final dress rehearsal before the season opener,

The Chiefs demoted WR Dwayne Bowe to third-team early in training camp because of what Coach Todd Haley believed was his often lackadaisical attitude.

Both situations have, at least to this point, resolved themselves to Haley’s satisfaction. Waters is having a strong camp and is clearly the Chiefs’ best offensive lineman.

“This is a player that has come in and done above and beyond what has been asked of him every day,” Haley said of Waters. “He can obviously play. He’s shown that. He got himself in very good condition, which I think he’s kind of seeing as an advantage.”

Meanwhile, Bowe returned to the starting lineup in practice Tuesday, joining Devard Darling as a starting wide receiver.

“That’s pretty obvious … that you’ve seen a progression from Dwayne that’s encouraging from the early days of camp to where he’s at now,” Haley said. “He’s made very good progress. Is he there? No. Does he need to make more plays? Yes.

The subdued Bengals TE Ben Utecht doesn't look close to returning and he admitted he still has to make the big decision to return to play at all. But since his symptoms are still lingering, he's not there yet.

On Monday, Utecht met with Dr. Robert Cantu, a renowned concussion expert based in Boston. Bengals trainer Paul Sparling said the club has already been giving its players baseline cognitive examinations for more a decade so that doctors know what that individual's normal brain function is after he suffered an injury. A few years ago at a concussion summit the NFL mandated that all players undergo those baseline exams.

The Bengals use a consultant to handle their concussion examinations, Cincinnati-based neuropsychologist Thomas Sullivan, and Utecht has made weekly visits to have his progress checked.

Utecht said all the doctors have told him basically the same thing: All but the most severe concussions heal. It's merely a matter of how long. He cut his first Christian CD back in the spring and he and his wife just had their first child about four months ago, so he's got a lot to ponder with a fifth concussion.

Bengals HC Marvin Lewis liked the way quarterback Carson Palmer (ankle) looked Tuesday and said he'll be ready to go when the club "begins practice again." Lewis wouldn't say if he meant Wednesday's walkthrough or Saturday's practice, but it sounded like Palmer will play in that Sept. 3 preseason finale.

Brandon Marshall may be back in the mix offensively at practice but it remains unclear whether the Broncos' disgruntled wideout will make his preseason debut in Denver's game Sunday against Chicago.

Denver coach Josh McDaniels said Marshall was fully involved in Tuesday's practice, the team's first workout since Saturday's 27-13 loss at Seattle. The practice, which was closed to the media, was cut short about 45 minutes because of bad weather.

"He did everything that we were doing there, he did our drills," McDaniels said. "We didn't get to finish practice obviously, but it was a nice crisp practice today."

Bills RB Fred Jackson left practice early on Tuesday after suffering an injury to his left hand. Bills coach Dick Jauron said Jackson was experiencing pain between his left thumb and wrist.

Jackson took a pitch during 11-on-11 drills and appeared to stumble over an offensive lineman who was already on the ground. He walked off the field, went into the training room and didn’t return to practice. Jackson’s thumb was already heavily wrapped.

Attorneys for Ben Roethlisberger have notified the attorney for the woman who claims she was sexually assaulted by the Steelers QB that they intend to seek sanctions against him for the "frivolous" lawsuit filed against the millionaire football player.

The attorneys notified Reno attorney Calvin Dunlap on Tuesday that he has 21 days to rectify what they call factual errors in the lawsuit before they seek sanctions against him in the Second Judicial District Court of Nevada where the suit was filed.

Dunlap is representing the Nevada resort worker who claims that Roethlisberger sexually assaulted her on July 11, 2008, at Harrah's Lake Tahoe Hotel and Casino, where she worked as a VIP concierge and he was attending a celebrity golf tournament.

Roethlisberger, 27, has denied assaulting the 31-year-old woman who has never gone to police. The Tribune-Review does not name alleged victims of sexual assault.

The Jets have seen enough of rookie Mark Sanchez and Kellen Clemens to determine a starter.

Coach Rex Ryan has informed the QBs this morning that Sanchez will be the starter, FOXSports.com has learned.

Despite a rough start against the Ravens in his last preseason game, Sanchez never lost his cool and battled back. The team has been impressed with his command of the huddle and the offense. Sources say the team has been impressed with how much he has not looked like a rookie.

The Lions tried out K Nick Novak on Tuesday.

Browns receiver David Patten made it through his second practice in a row after missing much of the past two weeks. Running back James Davis got a lot of work with the No. 1 offense.

Brandon Marshall is now officially listed as the Broncos #1 WR.

Lions have waived receiver Eric Fowler.

RB Lamont Jordan did not practice today. It is unknown if he's hurt or just resting.

Rams wide receiver Donnie Avery had been expected to miss up to the first two weeks of the season with a left foot stress fracture, but he was back on the practice field Tuesday.

"Like I tell my teammates, you know, I run fast, but I heal faster," Avery joked after the workout at Rams Park, where he appeared on his way to a quick recovery. Avery was hurt during an Aug. 7 night scrimmage when a defensive back landed on his foot.

Avery became the Rams' No. 1 receiver after Torry Holt left for the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency.

Ben Roethlisberger is practicing for the first time since injuring his right foot during the team's final training camp practice.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Roethlisberger will play in Saturday night's exhibition game against Buffalo and "won't be limited in any form or fashion."

Roethlisberger sat out last Saturday's preseason game against Washington, two days after left tackle Max Starks accidentally stepped on the quarterback's right foot minutes before Pittsburgh ended training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe.

During practice on Tuesday, Roethlisberger took part in individual drills but did not take any snaps until the last series of the day.

Lions kicker Swayze Waters had a tight hamstring and was held out of morning practice at training camp. So the Lions turned to veteran receiver Dane Looker, who has experience kicking in practice.

Looker wowed everyone. He converted all four attempts from at least 30 yards and closed by converting a 43-yarder into the wind that easily had enough distance.

“The players wanted to move him back,” coach Jim Schwartz said. “They said, ‘Move him back to 50 right there.’ But I said, ‘Let’s let him end on a make.’ “

Russ Hochstein's agent, Joe Linta, confirmed that his client has been traded by the Patriots to the Denver Broncos today.

A league source confirmed the deal was for a late-round pick.

Linta said Hochstein, who had been with the Patriots since 2002, was surprised by the news, but said that Denver was a great landing spot for Hochstein, who is from Hartington, Neb., because it is close to his home and he is familiar with Broncos coach Josh McDaniels, the Patriots former offensive coordinator.

"If Russ had to go anywhere it's Denver because it's close to his home and he is friendly with Josh and he has his buddies Lonie Paxton and Brandon Gorin there," said Linta. "If he had to go anywhere that's where he'd go. "Obviously, he had a great relationship with the whole Patriots organization. It's tough, but he has a good chance to extend his career out there."

Linta acknowlegded that the versatile Hochstein, who has played guard, center and even fullback for the Patriots, was caught up in a little bit of a numbers game because of the depth the Patriots have along the offensive line.

"They got several good linemen and somebody is not making it and somebody good besides him is not making it," said Linta. "I don't know that he wouldn't have made it, but if you can get something for someone on the bubble that is the whole idea of trades this time of year."

The Carolina Panthers signed veteran safety Kevin Kaesviharn on Monday after starting free safety Charles Godfrey needed surgery to repair a broken bone in his right hand.

To make room on the roster the Panthers cut wide receiver Jason Carter, one of the big surprises of last year's training camp before he tore up his knee in the third preseason game and landed on injured reserve.

By cutting Carter, the team’s No. 4 receiver spot remains up in the air between Kenny Moore, Ryne Robinson and a host of others.

Running back Cadillac Williams, mounting a second straight comeback from serious knee surgery, will start at running back for the Bucs in their preseason game against the Dolphins Thursday night.

In announcing that news, coach Raheem Morris also revealed how he intends to use his running back rotation throughout the season. As will be the case on Thursday, Morris said the starter will get two series, followed by another back playing the next two series and a third getting a single series.

Asked if that would remain the case throughout the season, Morris replied, "if it works, that's what I'd like to do. I want to go into it with that thought." Morris left open the possibility that the rotation could be altered based on a particular back having a hot hand.

Quarterback Sage Rosenfels (ankle) participated fully in practice for the first time since suffering his injury in the preseason opener.

Wide receiver Bernard Berrian (hamstring) said he did not do any work in team or individual drills. Berrian caught passes from Brett Favre after practice.

Bills RB Fred Jackon aggravated a thumb injury and was "escorted" off the practice field Tuesday.

Terrell Owens will miss his second straight preseason game this weekend.

The Browns have released WR Paul Raymond.

Ben Roethlisberger practiced Tuesday.

The Seattle Seahawks agreed to terms with veteran running back Edgerrin James on a one-year deal worth $2 million, a league source confirmed to NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi on Monday.

In conjunction with the move, NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora confirms published reports that the Seahawks have parted ways with RB T.j. Duckett.

Patriots quarterback Tom Brady met with the media this morning (11:15 a.m.) to discuss this week's exhibition game against the Redskins and his preparations for the 2009 season.

The subject of Brady's contract, which is set to expire following the 2010 season, also came up. Before that, though, Brady hinted that he's expecting extended playing time this week vs. Washington.

Lions Tight end Brandon Pettigrew, a first-round pick this year, returned to practice Monday.

Matt Maiocco just talked to Mike Martz on conference call and reports Martz said Alex Smith has a future but he "needs to find another team and start over."

The Jaguars have signed Ernest Wilford to play TE.

Adam Caplan Tweets that Brian Westbrook will play in the Eagles Thursday night preseason game.

Cowboys Rookie quarterback Stephen Mcgee said his preseason could be over. He sprained his right knee after he got it on the touchdown pass in the fourth quarter Friday night. He said he's not sure when he'll be released to play, but he might not be available for the remaining two preseason games.

Larry Johnson returned to practice Tuesday.

Philadelphia Eagles have signed TE Tony Curtis.

Given the numerous NFL scouts that attend preseason games, the Vikingscould see Tarvaris Jackson's success against the Chiefs as a bargaining chip in an attempt to get compensation for him.

Former Vikings receiver Cris Carter, who immediately and accurately announced on ESPN last Tuesday that Brett Favre would start against the Kansas City Chiefs, had another bold prediction.

On ESPN's SportsCenter and NFL Live Tuesday, Carter suggested that Vikings coach Brad Childress would open up his entire playbook to Favre, as opposed to limited versions with incumbents Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson.

"From what I know," Carter said, "through talking with people with the Vikings, Brad Childress only has probably 50 percent of the offense — maybe a little more than that — in with Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson.

"The reason why?" Carter said. "Because he thought 50 percent of it was all they could handle."

Ravens Tight end L.J. Smith suffered a minor hamstring injury Monday night.

At his news conference Tuesday, Andy Reid is expected to officially announce that quarterback Michael Vick will make his Eagles debut Thursday night against Jacksonville.

That was the gist of what Reid said on his WIP Radio show Monday evening, or what hosts Howard Eskin and Merrill Reese inferred, and Reid did not contradict them.

There was never any real doubt that Vick would play in the first game he is eligible to take the field for since being reinstated by commissioner Roger Goodell, but in remarks over the past week or so, Reid has hedged, perhaps not wanting the final tuneup for the Eagles' starters to be all about Vick.

From what Reid said on the radio show, expect Donovan Mcnabb to play the first half, followed by Kevin Kolb in the third quarter and Vick in the fourth.

Reid did not answer a question about how Vick will be used, but in the past, he has affirmed that Vick is a quarterback.

Sean Payton said Robert Meachem will return kicks in the team's third exhibition game Saturday at Oakland.

If Meachem shows the coaching staff that he also can return kicks, then that might eliminate several players who are viewed primarily as return specialists, most notably Skyler Green and Courtney Roby.

It appears the Ravens kicker will be Steve Hauschka.

Barring an unforeseen collapse, the second-year player has all but locked up Baltimore's kicking job by performing well through training camp and the first two preseason games. Hauschka created more distance between himself and rookie Graham Gano with a 42-yard field goal in the fourth quarter that proved to be the difference Monday in the Ravens' 24-23 victory over the New York Jets.

There is also the "Matt Stover factor." Perhaps as a ploy to motivate its kickers, Baltimore's coaching staff has not been shy to let the media know that the longtime Ravens kicker is always on call. Hauschka, so far, has handled the pressure well.

Jaguars RB Rashad Jennings returned to practice Monday.

Yesterday, in an interview with WEEI Radio, Belichick was asked, Would he ever use Patriots WR Julian Edelman in the Wildcat?

“I don’t know… that’s not why we drafted him,” Belichick said. “We drafted him to be a receiver, work as a returner, and we’ll see how all that turns out. He’s done a good job of things, and we’ll see how things go down the line. But I don’t think there’s too many plays where we’d want to take the ball out (Tom) Brady’s hands and give it to somebody else, unless it’s a running play. I’ll never say never, but that’s not at the top of my list right now.”

The NFL approved a request by Jaguars receiver Mike Walker on Monday to officially change his last name to Sims-Walker, in honor of his late father

After sitting out Saturday night's 38-14 exhibition victory over the Houston Texans with a strained calf muscle, Saints running back Reggie Bush said he is ready to return to action for this week's preseason game at Oakland.

And he expects to carry a heavy work load.

"It's just precautionary, taking it slow, building back to the season," Bush said of missing the Texans' game. "I'm sure I'll play quite a bit this game. I know I'm looking forward to it."

Bush strained a calf muscle in his right leg during post-practice conditioning drills Thursday morning, but he said the calf is fine. Bush suffered the injury while running pass patterns with quarterback Drew Brees following the Saints' two-hour workout against the Texans.

There's a sudden surge of talk that Deangelo Williams is one of the best running backs in the league. His production last year showed he's already there. But I think Williams will only enhance things this year. He won over the coaching staff with his play and the fact he's not a fumbler. That means a lot in Fox's eyes. Yes, Williams may be splitting carries with Jonathan Stewart, but Stewart's been banged up much of the preseason. Even if Stewart is healthy for the regular season, Williams still will get the bulk of the carries.

New York RB Shonn Greene got hit in the ribs, but Ryan said the injury was not serious.

Vying to become the Jets starter, Sanchez got off to a wretched start Monday night and finished with a flourish in a 24-23 preseason loss.

Starting for the first time, Sanchez handed off the ball on the game’s opening play from scrimmage. Then he forced a pass while being hit in the stomach by middle linebacker Ray Lewis. The ball was intercepted by Haloti Ngata, who rumbled 25 yards for a touchdown to make it 7-0 with 52 seconds elapsed.

“Not obviously the way you want to start. I thought I was doing the right thing; I felt Ray come free on the right side from the protection,” Sanchez said. “I was checking it down to the flat, perfect. Haloti just jumped right in front of the ball and made a really athletic play.”

Sanchez nearly had his second pass picked off, too. On his final play, however, the first-round draft pick threw his first NFL touchdown pass—a 19-yarder to running back Leon Washington(notes) with 5:50 left in the second quarter.

Drafted fifth overall out of Southern California, Sanchez went 3 for 8 for 43 yards. He didn’t experience success until the Ravens removed several players from the first-team defense, including Lewis and safety Ed Reed.

Kellen Clemens, who started New York’s other exhibition game, was 5 for 10 for 60 yards. Like Sanchez, he had an interception returned for a touchdown and threw a TD pass (a 28-yarder to David Clowney(notes) in the third quarter).

The Bucs kicking battle between Matt Bryant and Mike Nugent has not been much of a tussle.

Bryant has not been able to practice because of a hamstring injury, which should have given Nugent a chance to slam the door on his opposition.

Instead, Nugent has made two of four field goals (missing a 46- and 51-yarder), and has left the door open for Bryant.

"He missed one the other night I would have liked to see him make," Bucs coach Raheem Morris said. "It hit the upright. I would have liked to see him make that one, but he's been doing fine. He kicked the ball off. The kickoff the other night wasn't great, but he'll be fine. He has a powerful leg and that kind of is his strength.

Bucs LB Barrett Ruud is about to have a family guest who may not leave anytime soon.

The Bucs on Monday signed free-agent LB Bo Ruud, his younger brother, after placing Angelo Crowell on injured reserve. Tampa Bay also announced the signing of CB Darrell Hunter.

Bo Ruud was home in Lincoln, Neb., after being released by Cleveland this offseason before receiving a call from Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Tampa Bay has been without WRs Antonio Bryant (knee) and Michael Clayton (hamstring) for a few weeks, but Morris is not worried.

Morris said Bryant could practice next week, and could possibly even play, which has minimized any concerns about cohesiveness between his receivers and quarterbacks.

"The game has evolved a little bit, thanks to Marshall Faulk , and Brian Westbrook and even Brian Mitchell with the Redskins," said Maurice Drew. "The position [running back] is more about touches now than carries. Guys may not get those 330 to 400 carries, but I may get 330 to 350 touches. It's about catching ball, too, being versatile out of the backfield, get out in space and make plays. That's what we're doing here."

Maybe it's the obscurity of being in one of the NFL's smallest markets that makes a pair of Jaguars, Maurice Jones-Drew and Torry Holt, walk and talk with a dare-me style that is unshakable in their faith.

"I don't even think people realize I'm in Jacksonville now," laughed Holt, the former Ram and one of the most prolific receivers of his generation. "My goals haven't changed ... 90 catches, 1,300 yards, 10-plus touchdowns."

The Steelers will be short-handed at quarterback when they resume practice today at their South Side facility. No. 3 quarterback Dennis Dixon sustained a mild separation of the A/C joint in his right shoulder in the Steelers' 17-13 loss to the Redskins last Saturday. While the injury is not serious Dixon could miss up to the next two weeks of practice.

Starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger may also miss practice time as he is nursing a right foot injury. Roethlisberger got hurt during the final practice of training camp last week, and the Steelers held him out of the Redskins game as a precaution.

The injuries to Roethlisberger and Dixon leave Charlie Batch and rookie Mike Reilly, an undrafted free agent, as the only healthy quarterbacks on the roster.

Nate Washington was scheduled for an MRI on Monday night, when initial indications were the damage was mild. He's expected to miss the final two preseason games, but his status for the Sept. 10 season opener at Pittsburgh is unclear.

"I'll say it is not season-ending,'' Coach Jeff Fisher said. "With the information I have right now I haven't ruled him out for the opener. I don't know.

Giants CB Aaron Ross just crumpled to the ground grabbing his left hamstring. Let out a pretty loud yell, too. Trainers helped him off.

In an excerpt of an ESPN interview broadcast Monday night, the former New York Giants receiver said the shooting happened about five minutes after he entered the Latin Quarter night club in Manhattan.

"I take two or three steps and like my pants are wet," Burress said in the interview. "I had some Chuck Taylor's (Converse sneakers) and I looked down and the top of my shoe is red."

"My finger hit, like, right on the trigger," he said. "What are the odds on that happening?"

Burress, who alleged security staff knew he was carrying a gun upon entering the club, said he was wearing black jeans, not sweat pants as previously reported.

The Chiefs waived linebacker Vince Redd; acquired offensive linemen Andy Alleman and Ikechuku Ndukwe from the Miami Dolphins for an undisclosed selection in the 2010 NFL Draft; waived center Brian De La Puente.

The 49ers activated defensive end Ray McDonald from the Active-Physically Unable to Perform List.

The Bucs placed linebacker Angelo Crowell on injured reserve; signed cornerback Darrell Hunter and linebacker Bo Ruud.

Panthers LBJon Beason is likely out for the next few weeks, but the full extent of his injury is not yet known.
He suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee during Saturday's loss. The injury occurred in the first quarter, when he was blocked to the ground and a teammate fell on him.
He was on crutches and wearing a brace after the game, but said he didn't think the injury was too serious.
An MRI performed Sunday showed no further damage.

Shaun Hill will be the 49ers' starting quarterback for 2009.

Coach Mike Singletary made the announcement this afternoon shortly before the team gathered for an afternoon practice. He said he came to a decision on Sunday and explained his reasoning to both quarterbacks individually.

"We have decided Shaun Hill will be the quarterback," Singletary said. "They're both class guys. I talked to Shaun first and then I talked to Alex. This morning I brought them in together ... and had them understand why we made the decision, how important it is they continue to push each other."

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, who has thrown for more than 10,000 yards over the past three seasons, has agreed to a new contract extension with the club.

The extension is for six years and is worth $92 million, a source told ESPN.com. About $38-39 million is guaranteed. More importantly, the deal will keep Rivers off the free-agent market next spring, and will preclude the Chargers from having to exercise a franchise designation to retain him. The extension comes amid reports that the Chargers would have a difficult time reaching an extension accord with Rivers, a first-round choice in the 2004 draft.

Raiders WR Javon Walker is back at practice for the first time since undergoing an offseason knee operation.
Walker had the procedure in April and has been on the physically unable to perform list for all of training camp. Walker has not said what kind of operation he had, saying only it was revolutionary and done outside the United States.

The Raiders are counting on Walker this season because he is one of the only experienced receivers on the roster. Rookies Darrius Heyward-bey and Louis Murphy started the most recent exhibition game.

Walker had only 15 catches in his first year in Oakland, but has two 1,000-yard seasons in his other six years in the NFL.

The Titans had a somewhat eventful day as they head toward the conclusion of camp on Wednesday. The team released receiver Chris Davis and watched receiver Nate Washington go down hard.

Jeff Fisher said the move with Davis, recently charged with DUI, was more about his hamstring injury, which wouldn't allow the team any further time to evaluate him.

He said Washington's "got a little mild hamstring going, but we'll have to check it out."

Saints Head Coach Sean Payton injury statement:

"Just to go through the injury list: Jeff Charleston practiced, he has a thumb that he's working with; Scott Shanle practiced - he's better today; Pierre Thomas we sat - he has a medial collateral sprain. It's nothing significant but nonetheless we sat him. Scott Fujita was fine; Joey Harrington we held out today because of the concussion from the game. Billy Miller got work today. Pierson Prioleau got work today. Paul Spicer got work today. Zach Strief got work today. Of course, Stanley Arnoux is out. Jammal Brown was out. We held Reggie Bush with the calf strain. Anthony Davis has an elbow sprain; we held him - that was from the game. Darnell Dinkins is still working on the ankle and we held him. Charles Grant with the hamstring, we held him. Darren Sharper with the Achilles, we held him. Chip Vaughn of course and D'Juan Woods were held out."

Bills WR Terrell Owens continues to miss practice while nursing a sprained toe he injured in the Hall of Fame game against Tennessee on Aug. 9. Jauron said the injury is improving, but wouldn't provide a timetable on Owens' return.

Bills defensive end Aaron Schobel will miss at least a week with an injured left elbow.

Rams defensive end Leonard Little sprained his right knee in practice, although coach Steve Spagnuolo didn't believe it was serious.

Vikings coach Brad Childress said Brett Favre will likely play one half next Monday night against the Houston Texans.

Childress said he isn’t sure how much Favre will play in the final preseason game. Typically, starters play very little, if at all, in the final preseason game, but Favre is behind after missing the first two weeks of training camp.

Childress didn’t reveal much news in his press conference today. However, he did say it’s possible that the team could keep four quarterbacks this season.

“Perhaps,” he said. “There’s certainly a scenario where that could happen.”

Childress didn’t indicate how soon they might make a decision.

It will be another week without knowing the Browns' starting QB for the next preseason game on Saturday.

Pressed to assess the QB competition, coach Eric Mangini maintained that the process is playing out and he will not make a decision until he is able to make the right decision.

Much of the discussion today concerned Derek Anderson's performance in the 27-10 win over Detroit. Mangini praised Anderson for making good throws and other positives not readily observed in the game, such as recognitions and using his cadence to draw the Lions offsides twice.

Mangini would not say who will start at QB against Tennessee in the game typically considered the dress rehearsal for the season opener. It would be Brady Quinn's turn to start based on Mangini's rotation.

The coach insists he is confident a winner will present itself before the opener on Sept. 13, even though he said the competition "is very close."

Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew acknowledged today that veteran kicker Jason Hanson might not be ready for the start of the regular season on Sept. 13.

The team revealed last week that Hanson underwent a minor knee procedure, but the Lions won't divulge any more details. They won't even say which knee was operated on. Hanson has not been seen at the practice facility since undergoing the procedure.

Cardinals HC Ken Whisenhunt confirmed that rookie outside linebacker Cody Brown will be placed on injured reserve after suffering a dislocated left wrist last Saturday against the Chargers.

Cardinals missing practice Monday were: receiver Steve Breaston (ankle), who did some running on the side; QB Brian St. Pierre (back), who was held out as a precaution; tackle Elliot Vallejo (knee); linebacker Ali Highsmith (ankle) and defensive tackle Keilen Dykes (quadriceps).

Cardinals First round pick RB "Beanie" Chris Wells took more snaps in practice Monday than he has since suffering a sprained ankle on Aug. 1. Wells looked smooth at top speed and didn't seem to have a problem cutting. Barring a setback, he should play Friday against Green Bay.

What are the Ravens doing at wide receiver? This remains the biggest concern of camp. Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams, two of the top three receivers, can't stay healthy. Kelley Washington still seems more suited for special teams, and Justin Harper appears to drop as many passes as he catches. The Ravens probably will add a receiver cut by another team in September (perhaps the New York Giants' David Tyree).

The Ravens running backs present a dangerous tandem. If Ray Rice is the most improved offensive player in camp, Willis Mcgahee is not far behind. In his second season, Rice is running hard and with confidence. He is primed for a breakthrough season. After a disappointing effort last year, McGahee came to camp in great shape, an indication that he arrived with more determination. A motivated McGahee is a dangerous one.

Chris Palmer, the Giants quarterbacks coach, said today that he’s “not pleased” with Carr this summer. He’s been inconsistent this summer and has gotten back into some of the bad habits that ruined the start of his NFL career when he was with the Texans.

“I’m not pleased with David right now,” Palmer said. “I think he’s got to be more consistent. He’s a quarterback. He’s got to prove that he’s a winning quarterback. I think there are certain things he has to improve upon, and I’ve told him that. He has the ability to play in this league. He’s a very, very talented player, but he’s got to do things the way we want them done.”
Some of that has to do with Carr’s seeming inability to stay in the pocket when the pass rush gets through. Behind what has been a porous offensive line all summer long, Carr has seemed to scramble too often and sometimes too quickly. Palmer said “he’s a little anxious in the pocket,” which is the reputation he carried with him from his five tumultuous years in Texas when he was sacked a ridiculous 249 times.

So far Carr is 8 for 16 for 82 yards and a touchdown in two preseason games, including an awful 2-for-6, 8-yard outing on Saturday night against the Bears. His regression has been surprising, since the Giants were pleased with his performance last season. And they were very encouraged after he went 8 for 11 for 110 yards and a touchdown playing the second half of the season finale in Minnesota.

Bengals QB Carson Palmer is expected to miss another preseason game because of a sprained left ankle.
Palmer didn't participate in the Bengals' practice Monday, getting treatment on his ankle instead. Palmer suffered the injury during the preseason opener, and sat out a game last Thursday against New England.
He's not expected to play Thursday night against the St. Louis Rams at Paul Brown Stadium. Palmer said Monday he's confident he'll be ready for the season opener against the Denver Broncos because the ankle is getting better each day.

Chargers Shawne Merriman played into the second quarter on Saturday, 22 snaps in all.

He said his knee was a little sore yesterday after he played almost every defensive down of the first quarter and looked stronger and more fluid than he had in the preseason opener seven days prior.

It's all part of the progress he has seen and expects to continue as he comes back from the major knee surgery that ended his 2008 season before it really began.

While Merriman expects to at some point be the player he always has been, the linebacker cautions that the process won't be complete when the season begins Sept. 14.
Oh, he's still 25 and invincible. He still believes “impossible” is a word for mortals. He plans on being the best player on the field that night in Oakland, even if he's not 100 percent.

But he acknowledged that his knee won't be at full strength until late September “or maybe October.” Games like this past Saturday in Phoenix and this coming Saturday in Atlanta, where he will likely push himself to at least halftime, are among the measuring points he has established.

The Bucs say LB Angelo Crowell will miss the season with a torn biceps muscle.

The seventh-year pro was hurt during Saturday night's preseason victory at Jacksonville. The former Buffalo defensive captain signed with the Bucs as a free agent after sitting out all of 2008 because of a knee injury.

Crowell was slowed much of training camp by a sore hamstring. Third-year pro Quincy Black becomes the likely starter at strongside linebacker.

The 28-year-old spent six seasons in Buffalo after entering the NFL as a third-round draft pick in 2003. He had his best season in 2007, leading the Bills with 140 tackles, two sacks and one interception.

After watching the Bears rip through that defense with ease Saturday night, Giants HC Tom Coughlin has had enough of the hype.
Saying that "you have to earn everything that is said about you," Coughlin chastised the media for over-hyping his team and fired warning shots toward his healthy and injured players for believing it. If the depth everyone speaks about is really there, it clearly wasn't evident to Coughlin in the Giants' 17-3 loss to the Bears.
"I just think that for so long we've (read that) we've got so much depth. I don't know what you're watching, but the guys that are supposed to be the depth have hardly even practiced," Coughlin said yesterday. "I think you're talking about something that looks good but hasn't really materialized. Until we get this thing straightened around with everybody on the field, this rotation and this depth that we're talking about really is a nonfactor right now."
The Giants were missing five defensive starters Saturday night - safety Kenny Phillips (knee), LB Antonio Pierce (foot), CB Aaron Ross (hamstring), DTChris Canty (hamstring) and LB Michael Boley (hip). None of them is expected to practice in full this week, and Boley and Canty - whom Coughlin revealed yesterday has a "torn" hamstring - could still be out a few more weeks.

Two Miami Dolphin cornerbacks will miss tonight’s preseason game against the Carolina Panthers because they are suspected of having swine flu.
At first, the word from sources was that Sean Smith and Jason Allen definitely have the swine flu.
But once The Miami Herald broke the story, the team flak moved in for some damage control, saying that the players were still undergoing tests to determine the actual diagnosis.
And even when that diagnosis is confirmed, said spokesman Harvey Greene, it will not be released to the public.
But that’s ok because apparently there are plenty of sources on the team that are willing to share information with the media.

Rams RB Kenneth Darby sat out Sunday with what is believed to be a slight knee sprain. Also sidelined were quarterback Marc Bulger (finger), guard Jacob Bell (concussion) and wideout Brooks Foster (ankle).

Rams Wideout Tim Carter (groin) also did some running, but not at top speed.

Rams Wide receiver Donnie Avery, who broke a bone in his foot the same night, was supposed to be out four to six weeks. But he was sprinting at full speed Sunday.

"He ran pretty good," Spagnuolo observed. "He's champing at the bit. If he had his way, he'd be going right now. But we've gone this far; no sense in setting him back."

Chiefs coach Todd Haley saw Matt Cassel get sacked three times and then have to either run for his life or throw quicker than he’d prefer on most of his pass attempts in Friday night’s preseason game in Minnesota.

Rather than cringe at the possibility of injury to his quarterback, Haley liked how Cassel responded to the constant pressure. He also acknowledged that because of offensive-line problems, it may be something Cassel has to get used to.

“That’s going to be life for Matt a little bit early on,” Haley said. “He needs to be able to get out and make plays like that. That’s one of the things I said about him from the start that I was excited about that maybe I didn’t have where I came from was a big guy that can run. That’s a weapon we’ve got to utilize from a scrambling point of view if not a design point of view.”

Since the Jaguars drafted three wide receivers and signed veteran Torry Holt and had Mike Walker returning, WR Troy Williamson was in danger of losing the numbers game.

Entering his fifth season, he was noted more for dropping passes than catching them and there's even a YouTube video showing him dropping passes.

But the injuries to Walker and rookie Mike Thomas have opened the door for Williamson to live up to the potential he had when he was the seventh pick of the draft by the Vikings in 2005. And he's making the most of it.

The Jaguars traded for him last year to give him a second chance, but he was dogged with injuries, played in only eight games and caught just four passes.

This year, he has nine catches in two preseason games, including 74 and 61-yard bombs against Tampa Bay.

Coach Jack Del Rio is hoping that Williamson is in the process of resurrecting his career.

"I think you see it all the time in the NFL. For whatever reasons, there'll be situations or a set of circumstances that happen to fit a player better. There are players like that that maybe don't burst upon the scene their first year in the league, but maybe after bouncing from a team or two, they end up finding a home and end up flourishing. So, obviously, we welcome that. I think he's had a great camp,'' Del Rio said.

Martinez responds
A big topic of conversation since camp began has been third-year receiver Jacoby Jones being pushed by Darnell Jenkins for the last receiver spot. But against the Saints, it was Glenn Martinez who led the team with four catches for 45 yards.
“I really like some of the things I saw him do in camp, not only offensively but on special teams, too,” coach Gary Kubiak said.
Martinez, 27, is 6-1, 187 and entering his fourth season. The Texans signed him as a free agent during the offseason.

The coaches used rookie James Casey at tight end and at fullback. He had two catches for 28 yards, including one for 21 yards. At fullback, he was the lead blocker on a few running plays.
“On third-and-one on the goal line, he had a poor play there, but he's shown the willingness to do the job at the point of attack for a guy who's never done it,” coach Gary Kubiak said. “He's got great hands. He made a couple of great catches when he really got hit.
“His versatility is going to be a big part of this team. We've got a lot of confidence in him. The thing I'm most pleased with is how he's playing (on special teams). He probably got as many corrections in his special teams meetings the first two weeks of camp that I've ever seen. He's responded well.”

Derek Anderson looked worthy of being a No. 1 quarterback.

Rookie Matthew Stafford hardly looked like a No. 1 pick.

Anderson led Cleveland to its first offensive touchdown in seven games and stayed tight with Brady Quinn in their too-close-to-call quarterback competition, helping the Browns beat Stafford and the Detroit Lions 27-10 in their home exhibition opener Saturday night in Cleveland.

"I thought things went well," said Anderson, who got the start after coming off the bench at Green Bay last week. "I played all right. I made some good throws and a couple I wish I could have back. It was an opportunity and I was happy to go out there and play well while I was in."

Anderson started with the first team and finished 8-of-13 for 130 yards with one interception.

Quinn came in during the second quarter and was sacked on his first play. He went only 3-of-5 for 29 yards.

Stafford, selected first by Detroit in April's draft, threw an interception on Detroit's first play and went 5-of-13 for 34 yards. He also overthrew a wide-open Adam Jennings for a potential TD in the first half.

The way Tony Romo approached practices inside the Alamodome, the offense had little time to breathe between plays.

There were numerous times when Romo was ready to run the next play before one, two or all three wide receivers made it back to the huddle. In one practice, the first-team offense broke the huddle an average of 16 seconds after the ball was placed.

The idea is to create a fast-paced tempo to keep the offense sharp and the defense on its heels.

"We're not going to be reactive," Romo said. "We're going to be proactive and we're going to try to push the envelope with our tempo, with our discipline and with our consistency in what we try to do on every play."

The Panthers entered training camp with a new defensive coordinator, a more aggressive scheme and plenty of motivation in the locker room to erase memories of their late-season slide in 2008.
Halfway through the preseason, injuries are derailing their plans.

Jon Beason, Carolina's middle linebacker, leading tackler and defensive leader, is the latest concern. He left Saturday's exhibition loss to Miami with a left knee injury. Unlike the torn Achilles' tendon suffered by defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu in training camp, Beason insisted after the game he had not suffered a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament.

There was speculation Beason, wearing a brace and on crutches Saturday, had injured his medial collateral ligament.

A team spokesman declined to reveal the results of Sunday's scheduled MRI exam.

The Ravens' second preseason game tonight:

Starters not expected to play are linebacker-defensive end Terrell Suggs (heel) and wide receiver Mark Clayton (hamstring). Others expected to be sidelined are linebacker Dannell Ellberbe (knee) and offensive tackle Stefan Rodgers (leg).

Titans players who missed work included linebacker Josh Stamer (groin), defensive tackle Jason Jones (foot), defensive end William Hayes (knee), receiver Chris Davis (hamstring), cornerback Nick Harper (rest), cornerback Ryan Mouton (ankle) and center Doug Datish (soreness).

Titans WR Mark Jones fielded punts but did little else as he makes his way back from a hamstring problem.

49ers RB Glen Coffee really shined in Saturday night's 21-20 victory over the Raiders, rushing for 129 yards on 16 carries while Frank Gore spent most of the night as a spectator.

"I'm learning to be a physical runner and it's easy behind this line," Coffee said. "They just blocked and blocked and blocked."

And Coffee just ran. He ripped off four runs of at least 10 yards, including one 35-yarder. Coffee said he hadn't seen so many holes since high school.

Gore will once again get the bulk of the carries, but with coach Mike Singletary vowing to rely on a power running game, there should be plenty of opportunities for Coffee if he keeps playing like this.

"Frank Gore is, in my opinion, one of the top five backs in the league," Singletary said. "Frank's going to run the ball. We're going to get the ball to Frank. Coffee, we're very thankful that we have him, but he's going to serve the same purpose that we brought him here for. There's going to be times when Frank needs a rest, and that's when Coffee will have a chance to play."

Arizona's 2009 first-round pick running back "Beanie" Chris Wells, who suffered an ankle sprain early in training camp re-aggravated the injury in practice this week and has yet to appear in the preseason.

Chargers wideout Vincent Jackson missed the preseason game against the Cardinals with a sprained finger suffered in practice this week.

By now, most know that Ben Roethlisberger seems to make bigger deals out of injuries that turn out to be minor. Even his teammates joke about it and some of his former coaches have rolled their eyes over another dramatic Roethlisberger "injury."

It began when the quarterback complained of having broken toes following the AFC championship game loss to New England his rookie season. Cowher denied that Roethlisberger had any such injuries. Other instances have followed him through his career.

The most recent example occurred Thursday when his right foot was hurt in practice and he was held out of the game in Washington.

"He's fine," coach Mike Tomlin said Saturday night. "Well, not fine, of course; if fine he would have played."

Teammates and coaches know that if it were a real game, Roethlisberger would have played, because no matter how dramatic he sometimes makes a minor injury seem, he has rarely failed to show up when it counts. Appendectomies and in-season knee surgeries do not count, but he has played after concussions and separated shoulders.

Rams rookie receiver Brooks Foster is out six to eight weeks with an ankle injury, coach Steve Spagnuolo announced Saturday.