The official website of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reports OL Leon Hires has been added to the Bucs active roster from their own practice squad. Hires signed a one-year deal, details of which were not disclosed. The move was necessitated by injuries to starting C Jeff Christy (knee) and backup OG Russ Hochstein (foot), two ailments that left the team lacking in depth at the interior offensive line positions. Hires is now eligible to play in the team's season opener at Dallas if he is not one of the eight players deactivated before the game. To make room for Hires on the 53-man roster, the team released DE Ron Warner. Warner joined the team this off-season as a free agent after a stint in the Canadian Football League.
The Providence Journal reports Patriots LB Ted Johnson does not expect to know how much he will play, even whether he will play at all, until shortly before game time today. Johnson suffered a leg and hip injury in the final preseason game against Washington. He missed several days of practice and has gradually done more as game time has approached. "I'm not sure," Johnson said Friday when asked about his chances of playing. "It's truly a day-to-day decision. Every day it feels better, but I'm not a fortunte teller, so I don't know." Another Pats' player who is questionable is rookie NT Richard Seymour. He suffered a leg injury in practice Wednesday.
Titans Radio Network reports the Titans have released RB Derek Combs from the team's practice squad. The move came as the team had to make room for rookie RB Dan Alexander, signed to the practice squad Friday after being released Thursday. The Raiders selected Combs in the seventh-round of last April's draft.
The Kansas City Star reports Chiefs WR Derrick Alexander's practice habits frustrate HC Dick Vermeil, who expressed it more than once during the off-season workouts and camp. However, because Alexander usually produces on game day, Vermeil is willing to live with it. "He doesn't shine on the practice field," Vermeil said. "He shines in the games. He's got a different style. He's not a bad person. If he was a bad person, then I would handle it differently. But he's a good guy. His tempo for playing the game was not what I'm used to. It did get better. When it got better, then he had an Achilles' tendon problem." That problem forced Alexander out of practice and the preseason game last week. Vermeil said an MRI showed no serious defects, and the Chiefs expect him to play today.
The official website of the Buffalo Bills reports the team has placed PK Steve Christie (groin) on Reserved-Injured. He will not kick for the team at any time for the rest of this season. In filling the vacated spot on the 53-man active roster, the Bills signed PK Jake Arians from the practice squad. Arians signed with the Bills practice squad earlier this week and will wear #9 in tomorrow's home opener versus the New Orleans Saints.
The Star-Tribune reports Vikings OT Brad Badger (knee), WR/KR Nate Jacquet (groin) and CB Robert Tate (shoulder) practiced Friday and are expected to play Sunday.
The St. Petersburg Times reports Bucs C Jeff Christy (knee) is a last-minute decision regarding his playing status this week. The option to activate DE/DT Ellis Wyms, who has been slowed by a sprained left foot, and CB Dwight Smith (right foot sprain) also will be before kickoff. DT James Cannida (left knee sprain) and OG Russ Hochstein (left foot fracture) are not expected to play Sunday.
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports after almost three weeks off to clear out the cobwebs from a concussion, Green Bay Packers WR Antonio Freeman said he was clear-headed and ready to start the regular season Sunday against the Detroit Lions. "I am excited," Freeman said Thursday. "I think we made the right decision by not risking anything playing another two (exhibition) games. Playing in this opener has been the goal. I am in the wrong profession if I am not excited. I am still excited."
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports Packers RB Ahman Green said he expected to play Sunday, though his injured groin probably will prevent him from being at full strength. "I am working through a little bit of rust, but it is more of a day-to-day thing," Green said. "I know I will probably be out there. I don't know what percentage I am going to be, but I am going to be out there." Green returned to practice this week after a strained groin forced him to miss the final three exhibition games. Running-backs coach Sylvester Croom said Green would start Sunday, with RB Dorsey Levens, who has a broken left hand, also available. LB Na'il Diggs (groin) was limping around the locker room after practicing Thursday. Diggs said he wasn't sure if the injury might limit him Sunday. Special-teams coach Frank Novak said returner Allen Rossum (hamstring) looked improved while running during practice. LB Nate Wayne aggravated his sore right knee and sat out the second half of practice with a bag of ice on his knee. DC Ed Donatell said that Wayne is expected to play against Detroit.
The Dallas Morning News reports Cowboys owner and GM Jerry Jones has not given up on QB Ryan Leaf. But he said Friday the injury to Leaf's throwing wrist will either require medical attention or Leaf altering his throwing style. "He's got some trouble with a ligament in his wrist, and if they were to repair it and tighten it up too much, it could affect the movement in his wrist," Jones said. Jones said if the Cowboys had more room under the salary cap this year, he would have considered signing Leaf to a contract and placing him on injured reserve while Leaf rehabilitated from the injury. Leaf has indicated he will file a grievance with the NFL against Tampa Bay seeking full payment of the salary he was owed from the Buccaneers for this season, $900,000. Players who are released injured have such recourse.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reports other than DE Marcellus Wiley (out 3-4 weeks), Chargers HC Mike Riley said the rest of his 53-man roster is healthy enough to play tomorrow. WR Dondre Gilliam was waived off injured reserve.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports with 49ers TE Greg Clark sidelined indefinitely after his Aug. 14 hamstring surgery, second-year TE Justin Smith will get the start tomorrow. He'll split time with rookie TE Eric Johnson, and both might be used in a double tight-end formation. Meanwhile, two days after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to repair slight cartilage damage in his right knee, OT Matt Willig was upgraded on the injury report from "out" to "doubtful." HC Steve Mariucci said doctors were surprised by how quickly Willig is recovering from the 25-minute procedure. "If this was the playoffs or the Super Bowl, I'm sure I could play, " Willig said yesterday. "As it is, it's probably better to sit this one out."
The Florida Times-Union reports if Jags WR Keenan McCardell has his way, the Jaguars' starting offense will be in place tomorrow for the first time all summer. McCardell, who missed almost all of training camp and the preseason with a groin strain that later prompted hernia surgery, practiced again yesterday and said he plans to play against the Steelers. If so, McCardell would suit up just three weeks after abdominal surgery. Teammate WR Jimmy Smith made a similarly speedy recovery from three abdominal surgeries in the off-season. "I've always said that you get paid to play," McCardell said yesterday. "You don't get paid to stand around and watch. If I step out on that field, I'll be ready to go. I'm planning on playing." For their part, the Jaguars still list McCardell as questionable.
The Plain Dealer reports Browns WR Dennis Northcutt (collarbone) did not practice this week and is expected to miss the game. S Marquis Smith (broken hand) said he doubts he'll play. "It'll be the first time I've missed a game in my life," said Smith, who was the starting strong safety when he broke the hand two weeks ago. He will be replaced by S Earl Little.
The official website of the Cincinnati Bengals reports QB Scott Mitchell's ankle has improved so much that HC Dick LeBeau is going to take a look at him Saturday before deciding on his status.
The Miami Herald reports Miami Dolphins QB Cade McNown was added to the injury list on Friday after sustaining an elbow injury in Thursday's practice. The Sun-Sentinel adds an MRI taken Friday showed McNown has a strain of the flexor muscles on his left (throwing) forearm that attach at the elbow. McNown is listed as questionable for Sunday's game.
ESPN's John Clayton reports after the Chicago Bears practiced Friday, WR Marcus Robinson (back surgery) was upgraded from questionable to probable. Still, don't count on him playing. HC Dick Jauron still plans to start WR Marty Booker and WR Dez White. First-round choice WR David Terrell may be the third receiver. Where that leaves Robinson, who has missed a lot of practice since having back surgery, is unknown. Jauron indicated that second-round choice RB Anthony Thomas, bothered by a knee injury, will play and back up RB James Allen this week.
ESPN's John Clayton reports Seattle Seahawks HC Mike Holmgren selected QB Trent Dilfer as the backup to QB Matt Hasselbeck this week. Dilfer beat out QB Brock Huard although it's not out of the question for Holmgren to alternate backups week-to-week. WR Darrell Jackson and WR Koren Robinson will start at receiver.
ESPN's John Clayton reports the Indianapolis Colts upgraded DE Chad Bratzke from questionable to probable after he practiced all week with his chest injury. The prognosis is also good for WR Reggie Wayne, who has an ankle injury. He's listed as questionable, but he's practiced all week.
ESPN's John Clayton reports it's all but certain that the Carolina Panthers will hold out WR Patrick Jefffers, who has a bad knee. In fact, it's not out of the question for them to wait a couple weeks because the Panthers have a couple of opening games on artificial turf. His absence puts WR Donald Hayes into the starting lineup with WR Mushin Muhammad. HC George Seifert still hasn't announced whether CB Rashard Anderson or CB Jimmy Hitchcock will start at cornerback although most people think it will be Anderson. Backup RB Richard Huntley isn't expected to play having just come back from hamstring problems for the past several weeks. Jeffers and Huntley each practiced Friday.
The Providence Journal reports Patriots LB Ted Johnson does not expect to know how much he will play, even whether he will play at all, until shortly before game time today. Johnson suffered a leg and hip injury in the final preseason game against Washington. He missed several days of practice and has gradually done more as game time has approached. "I'm not sure," Johnson said Friday when asked about his chances of playing. "It's truly a day-to-day decision. Every day it feels better, but I'm not a fortunte teller, so I don't know." Another Pats' player who is questionable is rookie NT Richard Seymour. He suffered a leg injury in practice Wednesday.
Titans Radio Network reports the Titans have released RB Derek Combs from the team's practice squad. The move came as the team had to make room for rookie RB Dan Alexander, signed to the practice squad Friday after being released Thursday. The Raiders selected Combs in the seventh-round of last April's draft.
The Kansas City Star reports Chiefs WR Derrick Alexander's practice habits frustrate HC Dick Vermeil, who expressed it more than once during the off-season workouts and camp. However, because Alexander usually produces on game day, Vermeil is willing to live with it. "He doesn't shine on the practice field," Vermeil said. "He shines in the games. He's got a different style. He's not a bad person. If he was a bad person, then I would handle it differently. But he's a good guy. His tempo for playing the game was not what I'm used to. It did get better. When it got better, then he had an Achilles' tendon problem." That problem forced Alexander out of practice and the preseason game last week. Vermeil said an MRI showed no serious defects, and the Chiefs expect him to play today.
The official website of the Buffalo Bills reports the team has placed PK Steve Christie (groin) on Reserved-Injured. He will not kick for the team at any time for the rest of this season. In filling the vacated spot on the 53-man active roster, the Bills signed PK Jake Arians from the practice squad. Arians signed with the Bills practice squad earlier this week and will wear #9 in tomorrow's home opener versus the New Orleans Saints.
The Star-Tribune reports Vikings OT Brad Badger (knee), WR/KR Nate Jacquet (groin) and CB Robert Tate (shoulder) practiced Friday and are expected to play Sunday.
The St. Petersburg Times reports Bucs C Jeff Christy (knee) is a last-minute decision regarding his playing status this week. The option to activate DE/DT Ellis Wyms, who has been slowed by a sprained left foot, and CB Dwight Smith (right foot sprain) also will be before kickoff. DT James Cannida (left knee sprain) and OG Russ Hochstein (left foot fracture) are not expected to play Sunday.
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports after almost three weeks off to clear out the cobwebs from a concussion, Green Bay Packers WR Antonio Freeman said he was clear-headed and ready to start the regular season Sunday against the Detroit Lions. "I am excited," Freeman said Thursday. "I think we made the right decision by not risking anything playing another two (exhibition) games. Playing in this opener has been the goal. I am in the wrong profession if I am not excited. I am still excited."
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports Packers RB Ahman Green said he expected to play Sunday, though his injured groin probably will prevent him from being at full strength. "I am working through a little bit of rust, but it is more of a day-to-day thing," Green said. "I know I will probably be out there. I don't know what percentage I am going to be, but I am going to be out there." Green returned to practice this week after a strained groin forced him to miss the final three exhibition games. Running-backs coach Sylvester Croom said Green would start Sunday, with RB Dorsey Levens, who has a broken left hand, also available. LB Na'il Diggs (groin) was limping around the locker room after practicing Thursday. Diggs said he wasn't sure if the injury might limit him Sunday. Special-teams coach Frank Novak said returner Allen Rossum (hamstring) looked improved while running during practice. LB Nate Wayne aggravated his sore right knee and sat out the second half of practice with a bag of ice on his knee. DC Ed Donatell said that Wayne is expected to play against Detroit.
The Dallas Morning News reports Cowboys owner and GM Jerry Jones has not given up on QB Ryan Leaf. But he said Friday the injury to Leaf's throwing wrist will either require medical attention or Leaf altering his throwing style. "He's got some trouble with a ligament in his wrist, and if they were to repair it and tighten it up too much, it could affect the movement in his wrist," Jones said. Jones said if the Cowboys had more room under the salary cap this year, he would have considered signing Leaf to a contract and placing him on injured reserve while Leaf rehabilitated from the injury. Leaf has indicated he will file a grievance with the NFL against Tampa Bay seeking full payment of the salary he was owed from the Buccaneers for this season, $900,000. Players who are released injured have such recourse.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reports other than DE Marcellus Wiley (out 3-4 weeks), Chargers HC Mike Riley said the rest of his 53-man roster is healthy enough to play tomorrow. WR Dondre Gilliam was waived off injured reserve.
The San Francisco Chronicle reports with 49ers TE Greg Clark sidelined indefinitely after his Aug. 14 hamstring surgery, second-year TE Justin Smith will get the start tomorrow. He'll split time with rookie TE Eric Johnson, and both might be used in a double tight-end formation. Meanwhile, two days after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to repair slight cartilage damage in his right knee, OT Matt Willig was upgraded on the injury report from "out" to "doubtful." HC Steve Mariucci said doctors were surprised by how quickly Willig is recovering from the 25-minute procedure. "If this was the playoffs or the Super Bowl, I'm sure I could play, " Willig said yesterday. "As it is, it's probably better to sit this one out."
The Florida Times-Union reports if Jags WR Keenan McCardell has his way, the Jaguars' starting offense will be in place tomorrow for the first time all summer. McCardell, who missed almost all of training camp and the preseason with a groin strain that later prompted hernia surgery, practiced again yesterday and said he plans to play against the Steelers. If so, McCardell would suit up just three weeks after abdominal surgery. Teammate WR Jimmy Smith made a similarly speedy recovery from three abdominal surgeries in the off-season. "I've always said that you get paid to play," McCardell said yesterday. "You don't get paid to stand around and watch. If I step out on that field, I'll be ready to go. I'm planning on playing." For their part, the Jaguars still list McCardell as questionable.
The Plain Dealer reports Browns WR Dennis Northcutt (collarbone) did not practice this week and is expected to miss the game. S Marquis Smith (broken hand) said he doubts he'll play. "It'll be the first time I've missed a game in my life," said Smith, who was the starting strong safety when he broke the hand two weeks ago. He will be replaced by S Earl Little.
The official website of the Cincinnati Bengals reports QB Scott Mitchell's ankle has improved so much that HC Dick LeBeau is going to take a look at him Saturday before deciding on his status.
The Miami Herald reports Miami Dolphins QB Cade McNown was added to the injury list on Friday after sustaining an elbow injury in Thursday's practice. The Sun-Sentinel adds an MRI taken Friday showed McNown has a strain of the flexor muscles on his left (throwing) forearm that attach at the elbow. McNown is listed as questionable for Sunday's game.
ESPN's John Clayton reports after the Chicago Bears practiced Friday, WR Marcus Robinson (back surgery) was upgraded from questionable to probable. Still, don't count on him playing. HC Dick Jauron still plans to start WR Marty Booker and WR Dez White. First-round choice WR David Terrell may be the third receiver. Where that leaves Robinson, who has missed a lot of practice since having back surgery, is unknown. Jauron indicated that second-round choice RB Anthony Thomas, bothered by a knee injury, will play and back up RB James Allen this week.
ESPN's John Clayton reports Seattle Seahawks HC Mike Holmgren selected QB Trent Dilfer as the backup to QB Matt Hasselbeck this week. Dilfer beat out QB Brock Huard although it's not out of the question for Holmgren to alternate backups week-to-week. WR Darrell Jackson and WR Koren Robinson will start at receiver.
ESPN's John Clayton reports the Indianapolis Colts upgraded DE Chad Bratzke from questionable to probable after he practiced all week with his chest injury. The prognosis is also good for WR Reggie Wayne, who has an ankle injury. He's listed as questionable, but he's practiced all week.
ESPN's John Clayton reports it's all but certain that the Carolina Panthers will hold out WR Patrick Jefffers, who has a bad knee. In fact, it's not out of the question for them to wait a couple weeks because the Panthers have a couple of opening games on artificial turf. His absence puts WR Donald Hayes into the starting lineup with WR Mushin Muhammad. HC George Seifert still hasn't announced whether CB Rashard Anderson or CB Jimmy Hitchcock will start at cornerback although most people think it will be Anderson. Backup RB Richard Huntley isn't expected to play having just come back from hamstring problems for the past several weeks. Jeffers and Huntley each practiced Friday.
