AP reports despite missing another day of practice, New York Giants CB Jason Sehorn probably will play in the New York Giants regular season opener against Denver on Monday night. "There's no question, I think Sehorn will play," HC Jim Fassel said. However, WR Ike Hilliard (toe) didn't practice today and is uncertain to play. "Hilliard is questionable," said Fassel. DT Cornelius Griffin, who has seen little action since spraining an ankle against the Jets on Aug. 25, left practice early. He will probably play against the Broncos on Monday night.
AP reports Philadelphia Eagles CB Troy Vincent (hyperextended knee) is questionable to play this week;
ESPN reports the Tennessee Titans have claimed RB Skip Hicks off waivers from the Chicago Bears.
AP reports to make room on their roster for RB Skip Hicks, the Tennessee Titans have released rookie RB Dan Alexander. GM Floyd Reese said the Titans will try to sign Alexander to their practice squad if he clears waivers.
ESPN reports Buffalo Bills PK Steve Christie is questionable for Sunday's game against the Saints.
ESPN's John Clayton reports CB Samari Rolle has finally agreed to a five-year contract extension worth $36 million with the Tennessee Titans, which makes him the league's highest-paid cornerback based on new money added to the deal. Included in the contract is a two-tiered signing bonus of a combined $11.5 million. The Titans view the deal as a six-year, $37.488 million contract that includes the $1.488 million tender that Rolle signed as a restricted free agent.
AP reports San Diego Chargers DE Marcellus Wiley has a stress fracture in his left foot and will be out for 3-to-4 weeks. Wiley signed a $40 million, six-year deal in March, the biggest contract in team history, after getting 101/2 sacks for the Buffalo Bills last season.
The Contra Costa Times reports the Oakland Raiders have listed WR Jerry Rice as a starter opposite WR Tim Brown. Second-year WR Jerry Porter will be the No. 3 wide receiver with WR James Jett dropping to the No. 4 spot. Porter is not expected to get more playing time than Jett until he can prove that he can be productive in games. The speedy Jett will likely only be used to stretch the defense.
The Press-Gazette reports the Green Bay Packers probably won't know the extent of RB Dorsey Levens limitations for Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions until he practices with the splint he will use in the game. That won't come until Friday at the earliest. For now, Levens will continue to protect his broken left hand with the bulky cast that he's used in practice the last week and a half. "We're being very precautionary with it," Packers HC Mike Sherman said on Wednesday. "What he will have (for the game) will be so much easier to maneuver that if he's catching the ball now, he'll certainly be catching it with the splint." The splint he will wear in the game is a slimmed-down version of the cast he's been using in practice. The cast he wore on Wednesday covered most of his hand except for two fingers and his thumb and extended more than halfway up his forearm. There's little chance Levens could play with a cast as bulky as the one he's used in practice. But since he's not listed on the injury report at all, it appears he will play against the Lions.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports 49ers WR J.J. Stokes took part in his second straight practice and is listed as probable for Sunday's game. LB Julian Peterson will have the cast cut off his sprained left ankle today. He's listed as doubtful. OT Matt Willig left practice after tweaking his knee. The injury is not believed to be serious. HC Steve Mariucci has yet to decide whether rookie TE Eric Johnson or TE Justin Swift will start at tight end.
The official website of the Cincinnati Bengals reports DE John Copeland has a partially torn hamstring and was placed on IR. DE Jevon Langford signed his three-year deal believed to be worth $1.5 million. This move probably makes Langford the starter at right end for Sunday's game against the Patriots.
The Buffalo News reports the Bills are at almost full health. Backup LB Brandon Spoon is listed as doubtful with a sore hamstring but practiced. CB Chris Watson is listed as questionable with a sore shoulder and also practiced. The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle adds practice squad WR Reggie Allen suffered a leg injury during practice when he was thrown to the ground by CB Ken Irvin. The extent of the injury was unknown.
KFHX Radio reports Arizona Cardinals QB Jake Plummer sat out practice on Wednesday due to an unspecified shoulder injury. HC Dave McGinnis still thinks Plummer can start the team's season opener on September 16th.
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports Seahawks DE Lamar King sat out practice for the second straight day to rest the foot he injured Saturday. Listed as probable, he is expected to play against the Browns. OT Chris McIntosh continues to be sidelined with the neck stinger that has kept him out since Aug. 4. He is listed as questionable, and it looks like OT Todd Weiner will start against the Browns.
The official website of the Indianapolis Colts reports DE Lionel Barnes (knee) and CB Rodregis Brooks (ankle) will miss Sunday's opener. DE Chad Bratzke (chest) is listed as questionable, as is DE Mark Thomas and WR Reggie Wayne. But Bratzke and Thomas each practiced Wednesday and are expected to play on Sunday. ``All the guys who practiced today should be able to play,'' HC Jim Mora said. S Cory Bird (head), CB Clifton Crosby (hamstring), TE Ken Dilger (knee), QB Peyton Manning (knee) and DE Chukie Nwokorie (knee) are all listed as probable, meaning there is a 75 percent chance they'll play. All practiced and all are expected to play.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports Rams DE Grant Wistrom (knee) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game. "I'm not really sure he's going to make it," HC Mike Martz said. "There's a chance, but an outside chance." Wistrom did limited work in practice Wednesday. LB London Fletcher (hamstring) is listed as questionable. Fletcher also did limited work Wednesday. Martz will take the cautious approach with both. Backup C Frank Garcia is doubtful for Sunday. He suffered a hyperextended big toe in practice Aug. 29. "The swelling in that toe continues to go down," Martz said. "We won't know until this weekend."
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports Rams HC Mike Martz said yesterday that QB Jamie Martin, rather than QB Marc Bulger, will be the backup against the Eagles. "I think Jamie has been a real quick study with what we do," Martz said. "It makes you a little nervous, obviously, but with each day that goes by I'm a little bit more relieved."
The Tampa Tribune reports Bucs C Jeff Christy missed Wednesday's practice, all but assuring that he will be unable to play Sunday against Dallas. Backup C Todd Washington is expected to make his first regular-season start. Meanwhile, DT James Cannida (knee sprain) will not play Sunday. CB Dwight Smith (foot sprain) and DE Ellis Wyms (foot sprain) are both questionable.
TheDetroit Free Press reports Lions DT Luther Elliss, SS Ron Rice and CB Robert Bailey got little or no work during the team portions of the Lions' first day of heavy work in preparation for the Packers. HC Marty Mornhinweg said he might not know until a few hours before kickoff Sunday whether those three injured players would play. "That might be a game-day decision," Mornhinweg said. Rice (broken left big toe) participated in the morning walk-through; Bailey (sprained right ankle) and Elliss (left elbow) worked sparingly in the afternoon session. FS Kurt Schulz had back surgery Wednesday and is expected to miss at least six games.
The Sun-Sentinel reports Tennessee Titans RB Eddie George, who was limited in training camp, said his surgically repaired toe is healthy and ready for Sunday's opener against the Dolphins. "If not 100 percent," he said of the toe, "99.5 percent." George showed no ill effects of the toe injury in Monday's practice and reported no pain following practice. "He looked really good; he was cutting really good," Titans HC Jeff Fisher said. "I don't think [the lack of preseason play] is an issue. Once the lights go on he's going to forget about only having [11] carries in the preseason."
The Providence Journal reports while the Patriots listed four players on their injury report for Sunday's game at Cincinnati, LB Ted Johnson appears most in danger of not playing. HC Bill Belichick reported that LB Tedy Bruschi (back), DL Mike Compton (calf) and CB Ty Law (foot) all are practicing well, but that Johnson remains limited because of a leg injury.
The Baltimore Sun reports Ravens CB Chris McAlister (ankle) and CB Duane Starks (knee) are listed as questionable for Sunday's game, but should play this weekend. "We'll know more today or tomorrow ... but I'm optimistic," HC Brian Billick said. Starks, who said he has noticed drastic improvements in his knee this week, sounded a little more confident. "I'll be ready," he said. "I've still got three or four more days. I don't want to miss the game. I think I'm a definite go."
The Florida Times-Union reports Jaguars WR Keenan McCardell, who practiced yesterday, is attempting to come back just three weeks after having hernia surgery. Jaguars HC Tom Coughlin appears confident McCardell will play.
The Denver Rocky Mountain News reports Broncos RB Terrell Davis isn't revealing whether he will start this week, but he is close to 100 percent after playing in the team's final two preseason games. He has suffered no setbacks with either his surgically repaired right knee or the hamstring that slowed him early in training camp.
The Kansas City Star reports Chiefs C Casey Wiegmann (abdomen) and LB Mike Maslowski (knee) did not practice Wednesday. WR Derrick Alexander has been hampered by a sore Achilles' tendon since training camp but practiced at full speed, HC Dick Vermeil said. LB Donnie Edwards (ankle) also returned to practice and is ready for Sunday.
ESPN's John Clayton reports Seattle Seahawks HC Mike Holmgren didn't name a backup quarterback and may not until Sunday. It's not out of the question for Holmgren to alternate QB Brock Huard and QB Trent Dilfer every other week for a couple of reasons. Demoting Huard to third string permanently would lower his value for any team willing to trade for him. Secondly, Dilfer is still learning the West Coast offense and can use extra time to pick up the plays. He didn't sign until after the start of training camp. "My way of thinking is that it's not that big of a deal because we're fortunate to have two guys who I think can play," Holmgren said. "I've alternated guys in the past in that third spot. It's a little unusual. And I'm not saying we're going to do that now. They both have their strengths and whoever we decide the other guy is very supportive."
ESPN's John Clayton reports the Chicago Bears released RB Skip Hicks, showing that they are gaining more confidence in second-round choice RB Anthony Thomas now that he is healthy and prepared enough to take on the backup job. Hicks wasn't a powerful runner. His game was more finesse. With the roster spot for Hicks, Bears HM Jerry Angelo brought in RB Autry Denson, whom he knows from their days together in Tampa Bay.
WTEM reports Washington Redskins HC Marty Schottenheimer will permit QB Jeff George to audible at the line of scrimmage this year, unlike last season under HC Norv Turner. However, Schottenheimer will not permit George to "draw up plays in the dirt." Part of the reason Turner rushed an injured QB Brad Johnson back into the lineup last year was because George was "making up plays in the huddle."
AP reports Philadelphia Eagles CB Troy Vincent (hyperextended knee) is questionable to play this week;
ESPN reports the Tennessee Titans have claimed RB Skip Hicks off waivers from the Chicago Bears.
AP reports to make room on their roster for RB Skip Hicks, the Tennessee Titans have released rookie RB Dan Alexander. GM Floyd Reese said the Titans will try to sign Alexander to their practice squad if he clears waivers.
ESPN reports Buffalo Bills PK Steve Christie is questionable for Sunday's game against the Saints.
ESPN's John Clayton reports CB Samari Rolle has finally agreed to a five-year contract extension worth $36 million with the Tennessee Titans, which makes him the league's highest-paid cornerback based on new money added to the deal. Included in the contract is a two-tiered signing bonus of a combined $11.5 million. The Titans view the deal as a six-year, $37.488 million contract that includes the $1.488 million tender that Rolle signed as a restricted free agent.
AP reports San Diego Chargers DE Marcellus Wiley has a stress fracture in his left foot and will be out for 3-to-4 weeks. Wiley signed a $40 million, six-year deal in March, the biggest contract in team history, after getting 101/2 sacks for the Buffalo Bills last season.
The Contra Costa Times reports the Oakland Raiders have listed WR Jerry Rice as a starter opposite WR Tim Brown. Second-year WR Jerry Porter will be the No. 3 wide receiver with WR James Jett dropping to the No. 4 spot. Porter is not expected to get more playing time than Jett until he can prove that he can be productive in games. The speedy Jett will likely only be used to stretch the defense.
The Press-Gazette reports the Green Bay Packers probably won't know the extent of RB Dorsey Levens limitations for Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions until he practices with the splint he will use in the game. That won't come until Friday at the earliest. For now, Levens will continue to protect his broken left hand with the bulky cast that he's used in practice the last week and a half. "We're being very precautionary with it," Packers HC Mike Sherman said on Wednesday. "What he will have (for the game) will be so much easier to maneuver that if he's catching the ball now, he'll certainly be catching it with the splint." The splint he will wear in the game is a slimmed-down version of the cast he's been using in practice. The cast he wore on Wednesday covered most of his hand except for two fingers and his thumb and extended more than halfway up his forearm. There's little chance Levens could play with a cast as bulky as the one he's used in practice. But since he's not listed on the injury report at all, it appears he will play against the Lions.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports 49ers WR J.J. Stokes took part in his second straight practice and is listed as probable for Sunday's game. LB Julian Peterson will have the cast cut off his sprained left ankle today. He's listed as doubtful. OT Matt Willig left practice after tweaking his knee. The injury is not believed to be serious. HC Steve Mariucci has yet to decide whether rookie TE Eric Johnson or TE Justin Swift will start at tight end.
The official website of the Cincinnati Bengals reports DE John Copeland has a partially torn hamstring and was placed on IR. DE Jevon Langford signed his three-year deal believed to be worth $1.5 million. This move probably makes Langford the starter at right end for Sunday's game against the Patriots.
The Buffalo News reports the Bills are at almost full health. Backup LB Brandon Spoon is listed as doubtful with a sore hamstring but practiced. CB Chris Watson is listed as questionable with a sore shoulder and also practiced. The Rochester Democrat & Chronicle adds practice squad WR Reggie Allen suffered a leg injury during practice when he was thrown to the ground by CB Ken Irvin. The extent of the injury was unknown.
KFHX Radio reports Arizona Cardinals QB Jake Plummer sat out practice on Wednesday due to an unspecified shoulder injury. HC Dave McGinnis still thinks Plummer can start the team's season opener on September 16th.
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports Seahawks DE Lamar King sat out practice for the second straight day to rest the foot he injured Saturday. Listed as probable, he is expected to play against the Browns. OT Chris McIntosh continues to be sidelined with the neck stinger that has kept him out since Aug. 4. He is listed as questionable, and it looks like OT Todd Weiner will start against the Browns.
The official website of the Indianapolis Colts reports DE Lionel Barnes (knee) and CB Rodregis Brooks (ankle) will miss Sunday's opener. DE Chad Bratzke (chest) is listed as questionable, as is DE Mark Thomas and WR Reggie Wayne. But Bratzke and Thomas each practiced Wednesday and are expected to play on Sunday. ``All the guys who practiced today should be able to play,'' HC Jim Mora said. S Cory Bird (head), CB Clifton Crosby (hamstring), TE Ken Dilger (knee), QB Peyton Manning (knee) and DE Chukie Nwokorie (knee) are all listed as probable, meaning there is a 75 percent chance they'll play. All practiced and all are expected to play.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports Rams DE Grant Wistrom (knee) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game. "I'm not really sure he's going to make it," HC Mike Martz said. "There's a chance, but an outside chance." Wistrom did limited work in practice Wednesday. LB London Fletcher (hamstring) is listed as questionable. Fletcher also did limited work Wednesday. Martz will take the cautious approach with both. Backup C Frank Garcia is doubtful for Sunday. He suffered a hyperextended big toe in practice Aug. 29. "The swelling in that toe continues to go down," Martz said. "We won't know until this weekend."
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports Rams HC Mike Martz said yesterday that QB Jamie Martin, rather than QB Marc Bulger, will be the backup against the Eagles. "I think Jamie has been a real quick study with what we do," Martz said. "It makes you a little nervous, obviously, but with each day that goes by I'm a little bit more relieved."
The Tampa Tribune reports Bucs C Jeff Christy missed Wednesday's practice, all but assuring that he will be unable to play Sunday against Dallas. Backup C Todd Washington is expected to make his first regular-season start. Meanwhile, DT James Cannida (knee sprain) will not play Sunday. CB Dwight Smith (foot sprain) and DE Ellis Wyms (foot sprain) are both questionable.
TheDetroit Free Press reports Lions DT Luther Elliss, SS Ron Rice and CB Robert Bailey got little or no work during the team portions of the Lions' first day of heavy work in preparation for the Packers. HC Marty Mornhinweg said he might not know until a few hours before kickoff Sunday whether those three injured players would play. "That might be a game-day decision," Mornhinweg said. Rice (broken left big toe) participated in the morning walk-through; Bailey (sprained right ankle) and Elliss (left elbow) worked sparingly in the afternoon session. FS Kurt Schulz had back surgery Wednesday and is expected to miss at least six games.
The Sun-Sentinel reports Tennessee Titans RB Eddie George, who was limited in training camp, said his surgically repaired toe is healthy and ready for Sunday's opener against the Dolphins. "If not 100 percent," he said of the toe, "99.5 percent." George showed no ill effects of the toe injury in Monday's practice and reported no pain following practice. "He looked really good; he was cutting really good," Titans HC Jeff Fisher said. "I don't think [the lack of preseason play] is an issue. Once the lights go on he's going to forget about only having [11] carries in the preseason."
The Providence Journal reports while the Patriots listed four players on their injury report for Sunday's game at Cincinnati, LB Ted Johnson appears most in danger of not playing. HC Bill Belichick reported that LB Tedy Bruschi (back), DL Mike Compton (calf) and CB Ty Law (foot) all are practicing well, but that Johnson remains limited because of a leg injury.
The Baltimore Sun reports Ravens CB Chris McAlister (ankle) and CB Duane Starks (knee) are listed as questionable for Sunday's game, but should play this weekend. "We'll know more today or tomorrow ... but I'm optimistic," HC Brian Billick said. Starks, who said he has noticed drastic improvements in his knee this week, sounded a little more confident. "I'll be ready," he said. "I've still got three or four more days. I don't want to miss the game. I think I'm a definite go."
The Florida Times-Union reports Jaguars WR Keenan McCardell, who practiced yesterday, is attempting to come back just three weeks after having hernia surgery. Jaguars HC Tom Coughlin appears confident McCardell will play.
The Denver Rocky Mountain News reports Broncos RB Terrell Davis isn't revealing whether he will start this week, but he is close to 100 percent after playing in the team's final two preseason games. He has suffered no setbacks with either his surgically repaired right knee or the hamstring that slowed him early in training camp.
The Kansas City Star reports Chiefs C Casey Wiegmann (abdomen) and LB Mike Maslowski (knee) did not practice Wednesday. WR Derrick Alexander has been hampered by a sore Achilles' tendon since training camp but practiced at full speed, HC Dick Vermeil said. LB Donnie Edwards (ankle) also returned to practice and is ready for Sunday.
ESPN's John Clayton reports Seattle Seahawks HC Mike Holmgren didn't name a backup quarterback and may not until Sunday. It's not out of the question for Holmgren to alternate QB Brock Huard and QB Trent Dilfer every other week for a couple of reasons. Demoting Huard to third string permanently would lower his value for any team willing to trade for him. Secondly, Dilfer is still learning the West Coast offense and can use extra time to pick up the plays. He didn't sign until after the start of training camp. "My way of thinking is that it's not that big of a deal because we're fortunate to have two guys who I think can play," Holmgren said. "I've alternated guys in the past in that third spot. It's a little unusual. And I'm not saying we're going to do that now. They both have their strengths and whoever we decide the other guy is very supportive."
ESPN's John Clayton reports the Chicago Bears released RB Skip Hicks, showing that they are gaining more confidence in second-round choice RB Anthony Thomas now that he is healthy and prepared enough to take on the backup job. Hicks wasn't a powerful runner. His game was more finesse. With the roster spot for Hicks, Bears HM Jerry Angelo brought in RB Autry Denson, whom he knows from their days together in Tampa Bay.
WTEM reports Washington Redskins HC Marty Schottenheimer will permit QB Jeff George to audible at the line of scrimmage this year, unlike last season under HC Norv Turner. However, Schottenheimer will not permit George to "draw up plays in the dirt." Part of the reason Turner rushed an injured QB Brad Johnson back into the lineup last year was because George was "making up plays in the huddle."
