The Indianapolis Star reports Colts TE Ken Dilger and DE Mark Thomas were among the players unable to practice on Monday. Dilger is being bothered by a sore left knee. HC Jim Mora said the team expects both players to be available when practice resumes Wednesday. WR Reggie Wayne was in uniform and saw limited practice time on Monday. The team's first-round draft pick missed all four preseason games while dealing with a high sprain to his left ankle. Mora said team physicians want to determine how much work Wayne can handle each day. "I still question whether he'll be ready to go full speed on Sunday," he said, referring to the season opener at New York.
The Nashville Tennessean reports Titans DL Henry Ford is playing with a splint on his left wrist after a recent injury. Ford said the wrist has ''two small cracks'' and has been a source of pain, but he won't miss any practice time. The only player who won't be able to play against the Dolphins on Sunday night is CB Andre Dyson, who is still recovering from a broken toe.
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports Seahawks HC/GM Mike Holmgren is delaying his announcement on the extent of the injury to CB Ike Charlton's right knee until today. The club was calling it a sprain after Charlton left the field against the Saints. He underwent an MRI test Sunday.
The Press-Democrat reports Raiders RB Randy Jordan has made a quick recovery from the injury to his right ankle suffered against the Packers. Jordan moved around the locker room on Monday without a limp. He is listed as probable. DT Roderick Coleman (pectoral muscle) also did not have ice on his injury and showed full range of motion. He is listed as questionable, but he said he'll be in the lineup.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports Rams HC Mike Martz stopped short of ruling out LB London Fletcher and DE Grant Wistrom for the Rams' season opener. But he sounded less than optimistic about their chances of playing Sunday in Philadelphia. Wistrom has been sidelined since Aug. 12, when he suffered a knee injury early in the Rams' exhibition game in Buffalo. He did limited work in team periods on Monday, when the Rams returned to practice after two days off. Fletcher sat out Monday's practice. He tweaked a hamstring in the Aug. 25 exhibition game in San Diego. The Rams weren't concerned about the injury at first, but it's obviously still bothering Fletcher. Also sitting out Monday's workout were C Frank Garcia (toe) and TE Brandon Manumaleuna (ankle).
The Press-Democrat reports 49ers WR J.J. Stokes saw his most practice time since sustaining a strained left hamstring July 31st in training camp. He is expected to start Sunday's opener.
The Press-Democrat reports in a surprise development, 49ers HC Steve Mariucci announced Monday that second-year QB Tim Rattay had beaten out QB Rick Mirer for the backup job. "We're heading full speed ahead to develop Tim," Mariucci said of the seventh-round draft pick in 2000. "It's nice to have three capable guys."
The Press-Democrat reports 49ers HC Steve Mariucci announced Monday that RB Garrison Hearst will start the season opener at 3Com Park this week against the Atlanta Falcons. However, Hearst might have to share the tailback duties with rookie RB Kevan Barlow. It will likely be a committee of two, as RB Paul Smith saw most of his action during Monday's practice with the scout team. "The plan is to start Garrison Hearst, and we'll use Kevan Barlow quite a bit," Mariucci said. "We'll continue to develop (Barlow) as a tailback, and Garrison will have a helping hand in developing him."
The Star-Tribune reports Vikings HC Dennis Green said he hopes newly acquired RB Travis Prentice will advance enough so he can play Sunday. "I'm trying to learn the offense as fast as I can," Prentice said. "My mind is in a meltdown right now." Green said the Vikings would not have released RB Moe Williams, who will work out for Baltimore, if the Prentice trade had fallen through. Negotiations between Green and his son Jeremy, Cleveland's coordinator of pro personnel, went smoothly, however. "We felt we needed a bigger guy," Green said. "Moe was a great player for us, but he was going to be third team, and last year he was second team. ... When you are dealing with your son, you pretty much can be fair with him and you expect him to be fair with you."
The Star-Tribune reports Vikings CB Robert Tate practiced Monday, but it is uncertain whether he will be ready to start Sunday's game against Carolina. Tate injured his right shoulder Aug. 24th and did not play in the preseason finale.
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports Packers RB Ahman Green, RB Dorsey Levens and RB Rondell Mealey all practiced yesterday, as did WR Antonio Freeman and TE David Martin. It was just a light practice conducted without pads, but HC Mike Sherman finally had almost a full complement of players on the field. The return of the seven aforementioned players from injury made him feel a little better about playing the season opener against Detroit in just five days. "I think we will be OK injury-wise," Sherman said. "Dorsey was fine, Ahman looked fine. Something always happens when I go upstairs (after practice). From here up to there, things happen. I don't know how they happen, but they do. But I think we are OK. We definitely need this week of practice to get ready for a good Detroit team." Even with the return of so many players, Sherman was without DE Jamal Reynolds (knee), KR Allen Rossum (hamstring) and WR Robert Ferguson (thigh).
The Chicago Tribune reports Bears WR Marcus Robinson practiced Monday and is scheduled to meet with team doctors Tuesday for an evaluation of his back and whether he can resume full practice this week. The Bears have not decided whether he will be active for Sunday's game at Baltimore, but Robinson is not expected to play. Rookie RB Anthony Thomas also practiced. His knee felt better, but his availability for Sunday won't be determined until later in the week. TE Dustin Lyman went through a portion of practice with his injured shoulder but is a long shot to be ready.
The Bergen Record reports Giants WR Ike Hilliard remains the only Giants starter in jeopardy of missing the season opener, and HC Jim Fassel admitted that he's more hopeful than expectant of having his starting wide receiver Monday night in Denver. "Ike has an innate built-in feeling for the game, but I don't think any player can function without practicing as much as he didn't practice," Fassel said. If Hilliard is back on the field at 100 percent Thursday, he could play Monday, Fassel said. But to this point, Hilliard has done little more than run sprints and pass routes since having his toe operated on shortly before training camp. "I guess I'm more hopeful than anything," Fassel said.
The Bergen Record reports newly-signed Giants PK Morten Andersen didn't practice Monday. HC Jim Fassel downplayed the 41-year-old kicker's knee tightness as a function of not being in a football practice until last week. Andersen kicked three field goals in the final preseason game.
The Bergen Record reports Jets P Tom Tupa (strained hip flexor) said he is feeling better and hopes to punt in practice Wednesday. However, he will not punt in the Jets' opener against Indianapolis. P Tommy Parks will continue to handle those duties, although Tupa could be the third quarterback against the Colts. GM Terry Bradway indicated that TE Scott Slutzker could be re-signed at some point if the Jets have any more injuries at that position. TE Jake Moreland missed the last two preseason games after suffering a knee injury. WR Matthew Hatchette nearly sustained a freak injury when he caught a touchdown pass on the last play of practice and crashed into the tower that supports the team's videotape equipment. He walked a bit gingerly off the field but seemed to be fine.
The Baltimore Sun reports in an effort to shore up a suspect running game, the Ravens are expected to sign RB Moe Williams as early as today. A long-time backup in Minnesota, he will be given the chance to battle RB Terry Allen for the starting running back job. Williams visited the Ravens' Owings Mills practice complex last night and will sign with the team pending a physical this morning. The Ravens then would have to make a roster move to fit him onto their 53-man roster. His familiarity with HC Brian Billick's offense may allow him to play in Sunday's regular-season opener against the Chicago Bears. Williams' expertise on special teams also raised his stock with the Ravens. "I definitely look forward to it [signing]," Williams said. "They got the same system here. It was funny because Coach Billick was asking me questions on who I'd block in certain situations and I knew right away. We do the same exact thing in Minnesota."
The official website of the Cincinnati Bengals reports after giving a prognosis of missing six weeks with a high ankle sprain, Bengals trainer Paul Sparling revised the call Tuesday on QB Scott Mitchell's injury to two to three weeks. Sparling said Mitchell suffered a sprain in the Aug. 30 pre-season finale of his medial ligament, which isn't as high in the ankle as previously thought. Sparling still has Mitchell out for Sunday's pre-season opener, but Mitchell is acting like he'll be ready. "I ran the sprints after practice," Mitchell said. "Not at full speed, of course, and someone told me that was full speed." QB Akili Smith, now backing up QB Jon Kitna for the New England game, threw long Monday, two days earlier than expected. "I figured I'd try it because I felt good," said Smith, recovering shoulder tendinities that wiped out three weeks. "I had no pain and I've got no pain now." WR Danny Farmer (knee) has been upgraded to probable.
The Florida Times-Union reports Jaguars HC Tom Coughlin said Sunday that OT Tony Boselli (knee) would begin practicing again tomorrow and receive 50-75 percent of the repetitions this week at left tackle. Meanwhile, C John Wade's recovery from a stress fracture in his foot is proceeding well ahead of schedule, and Coughlin now hopes to have the veteran guard-center back as early as week four against Cleveland. The Jaguars showed confidence in Wade's comeback Sunday by moving him to the active roster. Wade would have missed the first six weeks of the season if left on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list or would have been forced to sit out the year entirely if placed on injured reserve.
The Post-Gazette reports Steelers CB Chad Scott did not practice yesterday as he continues to heal from a damaged MCL in his right knee. HC Bill Cowher will update his status today, but it appears more likely that Scott will not be able to line up against Jacksonville on Sunday. FB Jon Witman returned to practice and ran with the first team after missing much of the time this summer with a bad back. However, FB Dan Kreider who earned the team's rookie of the year honors after he replaced an injured Witman at fullback last season, did not practice. Cowher decided not to put Kreider on the physically unable to perform list to open the season because it would have required him to miss the first five games. Kreider was injured on July 20 during a walk-through drill when he felt a pop in his calf that turned out to be a pulled muscle.
The Kansas City Star reports Chiefs WR Derrick Alexander was pulled early from practice yesterday after his sore Achilles' tendon acted up. He missed all of practice and the preseason game last week but tried to give it a go Monday. After some of the early drills, he headed toward trainer Dave Kendall and was finished for the day. "It's too early in the week to push him," HC Dick Vermeil said.
Citing ABC26 news, free-agent S Henry Jones (Bills) will workout for the New Orleans Saints tomorrow.
ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports Atlanta Falcons HC Dan Reeves said today that rookie QB Michael Vick is expected to see some playing time in the team's season opener this coming weekend.
The official website of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reports the team has waived QB Ryan Leaf. "Ryan came out of training camp as our fourth quarterback," said Buccaneers GM Rich McKay. "It was our hope that we could find a way to keep all four quarterbacks from a roster and contract standpoint; however we were unable to do so." Leaf may now be claimed off waivers by any other NFL team over the next 24 hours. If he clears waivers, Leaf will be free to sign with any club in the league. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers used the open roster spot to claim rookie WR Milton Wynn off waivers from the St. Louis Rams.
The Press-Gazette reports the Green Bay Packers' top two draft picks may not play in Sunday's regular-season opener against Detroit. HC Mike Sherman said DE Jamal Reynolds (knee) and WR Robert Ferguson (concussion) won't practice today. "We'll evaluate him (today)," Sherman said about Ferguson. "Obviously just coming off that game, I doubt (he will practice today) considering the hit that he had. He'll probably be questionable for this week."
The Nashville Tennessean reports Titans DL Henry Ford is playing with a splint on his left wrist after a recent injury. Ford said the wrist has ''two small cracks'' and has been a source of pain, but he won't miss any practice time. The only player who won't be able to play against the Dolphins on Sunday night is CB Andre Dyson, who is still recovering from a broken toe.
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reports Seahawks HC/GM Mike Holmgren is delaying his announcement on the extent of the injury to CB Ike Charlton's right knee until today. The club was calling it a sprain after Charlton left the field against the Saints. He underwent an MRI test Sunday.
The Press-Democrat reports Raiders RB Randy Jordan has made a quick recovery from the injury to his right ankle suffered against the Packers. Jordan moved around the locker room on Monday without a limp. He is listed as probable. DT Roderick Coleman (pectoral muscle) also did not have ice on his injury and showed full range of motion. He is listed as questionable, but he said he'll be in the lineup.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports Rams HC Mike Martz stopped short of ruling out LB London Fletcher and DE Grant Wistrom for the Rams' season opener. But he sounded less than optimistic about their chances of playing Sunday in Philadelphia. Wistrom has been sidelined since Aug. 12, when he suffered a knee injury early in the Rams' exhibition game in Buffalo. He did limited work in team periods on Monday, when the Rams returned to practice after two days off. Fletcher sat out Monday's practice. He tweaked a hamstring in the Aug. 25 exhibition game in San Diego. The Rams weren't concerned about the injury at first, but it's obviously still bothering Fletcher. Also sitting out Monday's workout were C Frank Garcia (toe) and TE Brandon Manumaleuna (ankle).
The Press-Democrat reports 49ers WR J.J. Stokes saw his most practice time since sustaining a strained left hamstring July 31st in training camp. He is expected to start Sunday's opener.
The Press-Democrat reports in a surprise development, 49ers HC Steve Mariucci announced Monday that second-year QB Tim Rattay had beaten out QB Rick Mirer for the backup job. "We're heading full speed ahead to develop Tim," Mariucci said of the seventh-round draft pick in 2000. "It's nice to have three capable guys."
The Press-Democrat reports 49ers HC Steve Mariucci announced Monday that RB Garrison Hearst will start the season opener at 3Com Park this week against the Atlanta Falcons. However, Hearst might have to share the tailback duties with rookie RB Kevan Barlow. It will likely be a committee of two, as RB Paul Smith saw most of his action during Monday's practice with the scout team. "The plan is to start Garrison Hearst, and we'll use Kevan Barlow quite a bit," Mariucci said. "We'll continue to develop (Barlow) as a tailback, and Garrison will have a helping hand in developing him."
The Star-Tribune reports Vikings HC Dennis Green said he hopes newly acquired RB Travis Prentice will advance enough so he can play Sunday. "I'm trying to learn the offense as fast as I can," Prentice said. "My mind is in a meltdown right now." Green said the Vikings would not have released RB Moe Williams, who will work out for Baltimore, if the Prentice trade had fallen through. Negotiations between Green and his son Jeremy, Cleveland's coordinator of pro personnel, went smoothly, however. "We felt we needed a bigger guy," Green said. "Moe was a great player for us, but he was going to be third team, and last year he was second team. ... When you are dealing with your son, you pretty much can be fair with him and you expect him to be fair with you."
The Star-Tribune reports Vikings CB Robert Tate practiced Monday, but it is uncertain whether he will be ready to start Sunday's game against Carolina. Tate injured his right shoulder Aug. 24th and did not play in the preseason finale.
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports Packers RB Ahman Green, RB Dorsey Levens and RB Rondell Mealey all practiced yesterday, as did WR Antonio Freeman and TE David Martin. It was just a light practice conducted without pads, but HC Mike Sherman finally had almost a full complement of players on the field. The return of the seven aforementioned players from injury made him feel a little better about playing the season opener against Detroit in just five days. "I think we will be OK injury-wise," Sherman said. "Dorsey was fine, Ahman looked fine. Something always happens when I go upstairs (after practice). From here up to there, things happen. I don't know how they happen, but they do. But I think we are OK. We definitely need this week of practice to get ready for a good Detroit team." Even with the return of so many players, Sherman was without DE Jamal Reynolds (knee), KR Allen Rossum (hamstring) and WR Robert Ferguson (thigh).
The Chicago Tribune reports Bears WR Marcus Robinson practiced Monday and is scheduled to meet with team doctors Tuesday for an evaluation of his back and whether he can resume full practice this week. The Bears have not decided whether he will be active for Sunday's game at Baltimore, but Robinson is not expected to play. Rookie RB Anthony Thomas also practiced. His knee felt better, but his availability for Sunday won't be determined until later in the week. TE Dustin Lyman went through a portion of practice with his injured shoulder but is a long shot to be ready.
The Bergen Record reports Giants WR Ike Hilliard remains the only Giants starter in jeopardy of missing the season opener, and HC Jim Fassel admitted that he's more hopeful than expectant of having his starting wide receiver Monday night in Denver. "Ike has an innate built-in feeling for the game, but I don't think any player can function without practicing as much as he didn't practice," Fassel said. If Hilliard is back on the field at 100 percent Thursday, he could play Monday, Fassel said. But to this point, Hilliard has done little more than run sprints and pass routes since having his toe operated on shortly before training camp. "I guess I'm more hopeful than anything," Fassel said.
The Bergen Record reports newly-signed Giants PK Morten Andersen didn't practice Monday. HC Jim Fassel downplayed the 41-year-old kicker's knee tightness as a function of not being in a football practice until last week. Andersen kicked three field goals in the final preseason game.
The Bergen Record reports Jets P Tom Tupa (strained hip flexor) said he is feeling better and hopes to punt in practice Wednesday. However, he will not punt in the Jets' opener against Indianapolis. P Tommy Parks will continue to handle those duties, although Tupa could be the third quarterback against the Colts. GM Terry Bradway indicated that TE Scott Slutzker could be re-signed at some point if the Jets have any more injuries at that position. TE Jake Moreland missed the last two preseason games after suffering a knee injury. WR Matthew Hatchette nearly sustained a freak injury when he caught a touchdown pass on the last play of practice and crashed into the tower that supports the team's videotape equipment. He walked a bit gingerly off the field but seemed to be fine.
The Baltimore Sun reports in an effort to shore up a suspect running game, the Ravens are expected to sign RB Moe Williams as early as today. A long-time backup in Minnesota, he will be given the chance to battle RB Terry Allen for the starting running back job. Williams visited the Ravens' Owings Mills practice complex last night and will sign with the team pending a physical this morning. The Ravens then would have to make a roster move to fit him onto their 53-man roster. His familiarity with HC Brian Billick's offense may allow him to play in Sunday's regular-season opener against the Chicago Bears. Williams' expertise on special teams also raised his stock with the Ravens. "I definitely look forward to it [signing]," Williams said. "They got the same system here. It was funny because Coach Billick was asking me questions on who I'd block in certain situations and I knew right away. We do the same exact thing in Minnesota."
The official website of the Cincinnati Bengals reports after giving a prognosis of missing six weeks with a high ankle sprain, Bengals trainer Paul Sparling revised the call Tuesday on QB Scott Mitchell's injury to two to three weeks. Sparling said Mitchell suffered a sprain in the Aug. 30 pre-season finale of his medial ligament, which isn't as high in the ankle as previously thought. Sparling still has Mitchell out for Sunday's pre-season opener, but Mitchell is acting like he'll be ready. "I ran the sprints after practice," Mitchell said. "Not at full speed, of course, and someone told me that was full speed." QB Akili Smith, now backing up QB Jon Kitna for the New England game, threw long Monday, two days earlier than expected. "I figured I'd try it because I felt good," said Smith, recovering shoulder tendinities that wiped out three weeks. "I had no pain and I've got no pain now." WR Danny Farmer (knee) has been upgraded to probable.
The Florida Times-Union reports Jaguars HC Tom Coughlin said Sunday that OT Tony Boselli (knee) would begin practicing again tomorrow and receive 50-75 percent of the repetitions this week at left tackle. Meanwhile, C John Wade's recovery from a stress fracture in his foot is proceeding well ahead of schedule, and Coughlin now hopes to have the veteran guard-center back as early as week four against Cleveland. The Jaguars showed confidence in Wade's comeback Sunday by moving him to the active roster. Wade would have missed the first six weeks of the season if left on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list or would have been forced to sit out the year entirely if placed on injured reserve.
The Post-Gazette reports Steelers CB Chad Scott did not practice yesterday as he continues to heal from a damaged MCL in his right knee. HC Bill Cowher will update his status today, but it appears more likely that Scott will not be able to line up against Jacksonville on Sunday. FB Jon Witman returned to practice and ran with the first team after missing much of the time this summer with a bad back. However, FB Dan Kreider who earned the team's rookie of the year honors after he replaced an injured Witman at fullback last season, did not practice. Cowher decided not to put Kreider on the physically unable to perform list to open the season because it would have required him to miss the first five games. Kreider was injured on July 20 during a walk-through drill when he felt a pop in his calf that turned out to be a pulled muscle.
The Kansas City Star reports Chiefs WR Derrick Alexander was pulled early from practice yesterday after his sore Achilles' tendon acted up. He missed all of practice and the preseason game last week but tried to give it a go Monday. After some of the early drills, he headed toward trainer Dave Kendall and was finished for the day. "It's too early in the week to push him," HC Dick Vermeil said.
Citing ABC26 news, free-agent S Henry Jones (Bills) will workout for the New Orleans Saints tomorrow.
ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports Atlanta Falcons HC Dan Reeves said today that rookie QB Michael Vick is expected to see some playing time in the team's season opener this coming weekend.
The official website of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers reports the team has waived QB Ryan Leaf. "Ryan came out of training camp as our fourth quarterback," said Buccaneers GM Rich McKay. "It was our hope that we could find a way to keep all four quarterbacks from a roster and contract standpoint; however we were unable to do so." Leaf may now be claimed off waivers by any other NFL team over the next 24 hours. If he clears waivers, Leaf will be free to sign with any club in the league. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers used the open roster spot to claim rookie WR Milton Wynn off waivers from the St. Louis Rams.
The Press-Gazette reports the Green Bay Packers' top two draft picks may not play in Sunday's regular-season opener against Detroit. HC Mike Sherman said DE Jamal Reynolds (knee) and WR Robert Ferguson (concussion) won't practice today. "We'll evaluate him (today)," Sherman said about Ferguson. "Obviously just coming off that game, I doubt (he will practice today) considering the hit that he had. He'll probably be questionable for this week."
