-3/36 Tennessee Titans - QB Rotation: Rookie Vince Young, Kerry Collins, Billy Volek, Matt Mauck (see below).
QB rookie Vince Young will start the final preseason game. The Titans are stuck in a situation where Billy Volek now has competition after the team signed 11-year veteran Kerry Collins, who will play. Volek isn't happy with the move and might be seeking a trade. Jeff Fisher said he'd settled on a playing order for his quarterbacks that should be about even. He might even get Matt Mauck in the game.
WR worries: WR Tyrone Calico has yet to play in the preseason, which could make it difficult for him to make it to the regular season. Free-agent WR David Givens also has a hamstring injury. WR Sloan Thomas (quad) and WR Courtney Roby (hamstring) have been ailing.
Defense thin. Defensive end Travis LaBoy (foot), DE Copeland Bryan (calf), LB Cody Spencer (abdomen), defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth (back), and DT tackle Marcus White (knee) are hurting. Defensive end Antwan Odom hurt his right knee getting carted off Invesco Field at Mile High. Odom left the stadium on crutches. The Titans considered their defensive line a strength at the start of training camp. But they lost tackle Rien Long for the season with an Achilles injury.
Green Bay Packers - QB Rotation: Brett Favre (1 series), Aaron Rodgers (will play the rest of the game), Tom Arth, rookie Ingle Martin.
Coach Mike McCarthy said the plan is to start Brett Favre and probably RB Ahman Green and let them play one series Friday. QB Aaron Rodgers then will play possibly the rest of the game. The bad part about the 48-14 loss to the Bengals is that injuries were no excuse. Green Bay's only missing starter was fullback William Henderson.
Secondary banged up. "What's wrong with Charles Woodson?" one scout said, appearing to be amazed at how poorly the highly paid veteran was covering and tackling in the 48-14 loss at Cincinnati.
The Packers' new zone-block run game still is finding its legs.
On defense, the Packers looked inept trying to contain Carson Palmer and his corps of wide receivers. The Bengals spread out Green Bay with three wide receivers and attacked a nickel defense with Woodson in the slot, Ahmad Carroll outside and safeties Marquand Manuel and Nick Collins inside.
Kicking competition: The Packers claimed kicker E.J. Cochrane off waivers from the Eagles this week, which means they will have three days to decide which kicker they like better. The Packers aren't completely convinced that Dave Rayner is the guy who will be their kicker.
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Philadelphia Eagles - QB Rotation: Donovan McNabb, Jeff Garcia, A.J. Feeley, Timmy Chang.
The Eagles signed QB A.J. Feeley this week and released QB Koy Detmer. Feeley, who was released by San Diego earlier this week, returns to Philadelphia where he spent his first three NFL seasons after being a fifth-round draft pick in 2001. Timmy Chang isn't going to supplant Detmer as the third QB as he's barely got any reps in training camp.
RB Brian Westbrook (sprained foot) is likely out the rest of preseason. He's back in practice, but it's doubtful that Westbrook will see any action in the Eagles preseason finale Friday. The Eagles are comfortable with their situation at running back. RB Reno Mahe didn't practice with a high ankle sprain that he suffered in Friday's 16-7 preseason win over Pittsburgh.
The Eagles acquired veteran WR Donte' Stallworth in exchange for LB Mark Simoneau and a fourth-round pick. The released WR Todd Pinkston.
Special-teams coach John Harbaugh said safety J.R. Reed would be the primary punt-and kick-returner for the game against the NY Jets. Harbaugh said CB Dexter Wynn and RB back Bruce Perry also will mix into that rotation, but it appears as if Reed has the best chance of making the team among that group. Harbaugh said Reid informed him that wide receiver Donte' Stallworth has the ability to return punts, but for the moment the Eagles want him to focus on learning the offense.
-5/33 NY Jets - QB Rotation: Brooks Bollinger (will start), rookie Kellen Clemens, Patrick Ramsey, Chad Pennington (see below).
No. 1 starter Chad Pennington won't play in the preseason finale against Philadelphia on Friday, but will be under center Sept. 10 against Tennessee. It appears fourth-year pro Brooks Bollinger will get the start against the Philadelphia Eagles. Ramsey, Clemens and Bollinger now are competing for the backup job.
Jets coach Eric Mangini said, "All three of those guys need to be ready to play Friday," referring to the preseason finale against Philadelphia.
Jets RB Curtis Martin has a lingering knee injury. With Martin ailing, the majority of the reps will go to Derrick Blaylock, Cedric Houston and rookie Leon Washington. The Jets acquired RB Kevan Barlow from the 49ers for a draft pick in 2007.
Secondary thin.
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-3/40 Cincinnati Bengals - QB Rotation: Carson Palmer (1-2 series), Anthony Wright (will follow), Doug Johnson, rookie Erik Meyer.
QB Carson Palmer is expected to play in the preseason finale Friday at Indianapolis. Palmer (9-14-0, 140 yards) emphatically made his case Monday night to be the starting quarterback at Kansas City in the regular-season opener, which head coach Marvin Lewis announced after the game. Indications are that Palmer, coming back from reconstructive knee surgery in January, suffered no setbacks during the game.
Wideouts thin: WR Bennie Brazell strained his left knee Monday, WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh bruised a heel.
Secondary competition stiff. Keiwan Ratliff is fighting with No. 1 draft pick Johnathan Joseph as well as veterans Rashad Bauman and Greg Brooks to be the third corner behind starters Tory James and Deltha O'Neal.
Indianapolis Colts - QB Rotation: Peyton Manning (1-2 series), Shaun King (most of the action), Josh Betts, Jim Sorgi.
Colts coach Tony Dungy said he plans to play his first-teamers against the Bengals. "You won't see them much," Dungy said. "They're certainly not going to play into the second quarter. What we would like is a nice scoring drive by our offense and a three-and-out by our defense and we'd be happy."
No. 2 QB Jim Sorgi is likely out with an injury to his right (throwing) shoulder. Shaun King has taken the most snaps in preseason and would be elevated to backup in the interim. TE Dallas Clark and CB Nick Harper won't play.
RBs Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai will play sparingly against the Bengals. Wells might get some work along with Kory Chapman and Tony Hollings.
Defense thin. Not once during the preseason has the projected starting unit been on the field together -- not in practice, certainly not in a game. At various times, injuries have sidelined safeties Bob Sanders (shoulder) and Mike Doss (calf), tackles Montae Reagor (knee) and Corey Simon (knee), end Dwight Freeney (shoulder), CB Jason David (groin) and LBs Gary Brackett (knee) and Gilbert Gardner (hand). Doss, David and Simon have missed all three preseason games, and won't play Friday against Cincinnati. Cornerback Nick Harper (bruised ribs) also will not play.
The team signed defensive linemen Jason Davis, Phillip Alexander and Mark Word. With several defensive linemen hampered by injuries, all three should anticipate extensive playing time in the Colts' final preseason games.
One new wrinkle in the Saints game was the use of 288-pound defensive tackle Darrell Reid as a blocking back in short yardage. Reid helped create the hole for Joseph Addai's 1-yard TD run. "We really don't have that fullback-type guy on our roster," said Dungy, who referred to James Mungro's season-ending knee injury two weeks ago.
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San Diego Chargers - QB Rotation: Rookie Charlie Whitehurst (first half), Brett Elliott, Philip Rivers.
Coach Marty Schottenheimer said QB Rivers might not play Friday, in large part because of the team's uncertainty at left tackle. The Chargers' top three players at the position – Roman Oben, Marcus McNeill and Leander Jordan – were unable to practice Monday, leaving Cory Lekkerkerker working with the No. 1 unit. "There's a chance that none of the starter will play,” the coach said. It's likely rookie Charlie Whitehurst will open at quarterback.
Schottenheimer would have to decide whether to risk his franchise quarterback behind an unproven left tackle who has never played in a regular-season game. Schottenheimer said, "If the first unit plays, don't go for a cup of coffee or you won't see them."
Chargers QB Philip Rivers slightly bruised his throwing shoulder when he was sacked late in the second quarter of Saturday's game. His right shoulder was wrapped and it appeared he was holding his arm close to his side. “A little sore,” he said. “But, honestly, if we had to play today, I could go.”
For the first time in what is now his sixth season, RB LaDainian Tomlinson will not play even one snap this preseason.
LB Donnie Edwards will start Friday's exhibition finale at San Francisco.
Darren Sproles (ankle) is out the rest of preseason. Schottenheimer listed RB Michael Turner as the first option for returning kickoffs and wide receiver Eric Parker as the likely replacement on punt returns. Schottenheimer ruled out using rookie CB Antonio Cromartie.
-3.5/35 San Fran 49ers - QB Rotation: Alex Smith, Trent Dilfer, Shaun Hill, Gibran Hamdan (see below).
Mike Nolan said that he would use the team's final exhibition against the Chargers to get his first-team offense more work. QB Jesse Palmer was released Tuesday and the 49ers brought in another quarterback to consider for the No. 3 job when they claimed Gibran Hamdan off waivers from Seattle. Coach Mike Nolan doesn't believe Hamdan will play Friday.
Center Jeremy Newberry underwent surgery on his left knee and will spend the rest of the season on injured reserve.
Nolan said the players will attend team meetings but won't practice Thursday to give them a break before playing Friday against San Diego.
Mike Nolan wants a 3-4 defense, but the 49ers are likely to move back to a 4-3 front this week, possibly by pairing Isaac Sopoaga with either Bryant Young or Anthony Adams at defensive tackle. Whoever doesn't play alongside Sopoaga would be a defensive end. With LB Brandon Moore missing the Dallas game, rookie Melvin Oliver started at defensive end, and Oliver looked lost at times. The 49ers allowed 189 rushing yards to the Cowboys.
Moore was tried as the outside linebacker in the 3-4, before injuring his knee against the Raiders on Aug. 20. Moore expects to return to practice this week, but no longer as a starter. Nolan hopes a shakeup will improve tackling, a problem in the last two games.
The secondary, which allowed the most yards passing in the league last season, remains a work in progress. It's missing left CB Shawntae Spencer, who's expected to miss the rest of the exhibition season with a pulled left hamstring. Free safety remains a position in flux with Mike Adams and Mark Roman still competing. Nolan also said that both safety spots are open, meaning Tony Parrish is being challenged at strong safety.
Coaches emphasized picking up the pace in practice. "Dallas' tempo was outflanking us with their run game because of their tempo," Nolan said. "We tried to pick that tempo up."
Other changes: With offensive lineman Adam Snyder sidelined over the past two weeks with a biceps injury, Kwame Harris will start the season at right tackle and Justin Smiley will be the right guard.
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QB rookie Vince Young will start the final preseason game. The Titans are stuck in a situation where Billy Volek now has competition after the team signed 11-year veteran Kerry Collins, who will play. Volek isn't happy with the move and might be seeking a trade. Jeff Fisher said he'd settled on a playing order for his quarterbacks that should be about even. He might even get Matt Mauck in the game.
WR worries: WR Tyrone Calico has yet to play in the preseason, which could make it difficult for him to make it to the regular season. Free-agent WR David Givens also has a hamstring injury. WR Sloan Thomas (quad) and WR Courtney Roby (hamstring) have been ailing.
Defense thin. Defensive end Travis LaBoy (foot), DE Copeland Bryan (calf), LB Cody Spencer (abdomen), defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth (back), and DT tackle Marcus White (knee) are hurting. Defensive end Antwan Odom hurt his right knee getting carted off Invesco Field at Mile High. Odom left the stadium on crutches. The Titans considered their defensive line a strength at the start of training camp. But they lost tackle Rien Long for the season with an Achilles injury.
Green Bay Packers - QB Rotation: Brett Favre (1 series), Aaron Rodgers (will play the rest of the game), Tom Arth, rookie Ingle Martin.
Coach Mike McCarthy said the plan is to start Brett Favre and probably RB Ahman Green and let them play one series Friday. QB Aaron Rodgers then will play possibly the rest of the game. The bad part about the 48-14 loss to the Bengals is that injuries were no excuse. Green Bay's only missing starter was fullback William Henderson.
Secondary banged up. "What's wrong with Charles Woodson?" one scout said, appearing to be amazed at how poorly the highly paid veteran was covering and tackling in the 48-14 loss at Cincinnati.
The Packers' new zone-block run game still is finding its legs.
On defense, the Packers looked inept trying to contain Carson Palmer and his corps of wide receivers. The Bengals spread out Green Bay with three wide receivers and attacked a nickel defense with Woodson in the slot, Ahmad Carroll outside and safeties Marquand Manuel and Nick Collins inside.
Kicking competition: The Packers claimed kicker E.J. Cochrane off waivers from the Eagles this week, which means they will have three days to decide which kicker they like better. The Packers aren't completely convinced that Dave Rayner is the guy who will be their kicker.
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Philadelphia Eagles - QB Rotation: Donovan McNabb, Jeff Garcia, A.J. Feeley, Timmy Chang.
The Eagles signed QB A.J. Feeley this week and released QB Koy Detmer. Feeley, who was released by San Diego earlier this week, returns to Philadelphia where he spent his first three NFL seasons after being a fifth-round draft pick in 2001. Timmy Chang isn't going to supplant Detmer as the third QB as he's barely got any reps in training camp.
RB Brian Westbrook (sprained foot) is likely out the rest of preseason. He's back in practice, but it's doubtful that Westbrook will see any action in the Eagles preseason finale Friday. The Eagles are comfortable with their situation at running back. RB Reno Mahe didn't practice with a high ankle sprain that he suffered in Friday's 16-7 preseason win over Pittsburgh.
The Eagles acquired veteran WR Donte' Stallworth in exchange for LB Mark Simoneau and a fourth-round pick. The released WR Todd Pinkston.
Special-teams coach John Harbaugh said safety J.R. Reed would be the primary punt-and kick-returner for the game against the NY Jets. Harbaugh said CB Dexter Wynn and RB back Bruce Perry also will mix into that rotation, but it appears as if Reed has the best chance of making the team among that group. Harbaugh said Reid informed him that wide receiver Donte' Stallworth has the ability to return punts, but for the moment the Eagles want him to focus on learning the offense.
-5/33 NY Jets - QB Rotation: Brooks Bollinger (will start), rookie Kellen Clemens, Patrick Ramsey, Chad Pennington (see below).
No. 1 starter Chad Pennington won't play in the preseason finale against Philadelphia on Friday, but will be under center Sept. 10 against Tennessee. It appears fourth-year pro Brooks Bollinger will get the start against the Philadelphia Eagles. Ramsey, Clemens and Bollinger now are competing for the backup job.
Jets coach Eric Mangini said, "All three of those guys need to be ready to play Friday," referring to the preseason finale against Philadelphia.
Jets RB Curtis Martin has a lingering knee injury. With Martin ailing, the majority of the reps will go to Derrick Blaylock, Cedric Houston and rookie Leon Washington. The Jets acquired RB Kevan Barlow from the 49ers for a draft pick in 2007.
Secondary thin.
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-3/40 Cincinnati Bengals - QB Rotation: Carson Palmer (1-2 series), Anthony Wright (will follow), Doug Johnson, rookie Erik Meyer.
QB Carson Palmer is expected to play in the preseason finale Friday at Indianapolis. Palmer (9-14-0, 140 yards) emphatically made his case Monday night to be the starting quarterback at Kansas City in the regular-season opener, which head coach Marvin Lewis announced after the game. Indications are that Palmer, coming back from reconstructive knee surgery in January, suffered no setbacks during the game.
Wideouts thin: WR Bennie Brazell strained his left knee Monday, WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh bruised a heel.
Secondary competition stiff. Keiwan Ratliff is fighting with No. 1 draft pick Johnathan Joseph as well as veterans Rashad Bauman and Greg Brooks to be the third corner behind starters Tory James and Deltha O'Neal.
Indianapolis Colts - QB Rotation: Peyton Manning (1-2 series), Shaun King (most of the action), Josh Betts, Jim Sorgi.
Colts coach Tony Dungy said he plans to play his first-teamers against the Bengals. "You won't see them much," Dungy said. "They're certainly not going to play into the second quarter. What we would like is a nice scoring drive by our offense and a three-and-out by our defense and we'd be happy."
No. 2 QB Jim Sorgi is likely out with an injury to his right (throwing) shoulder. Shaun King has taken the most snaps in preseason and would be elevated to backup in the interim. TE Dallas Clark and CB Nick Harper won't play.
RBs Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai will play sparingly against the Bengals. Wells might get some work along with Kory Chapman and Tony Hollings.
Defense thin. Not once during the preseason has the projected starting unit been on the field together -- not in practice, certainly not in a game. At various times, injuries have sidelined safeties Bob Sanders (shoulder) and Mike Doss (calf), tackles Montae Reagor (knee) and Corey Simon (knee), end Dwight Freeney (shoulder), CB Jason David (groin) and LBs Gary Brackett (knee) and Gilbert Gardner (hand). Doss, David and Simon have missed all three preseason games, and won't play Friday against Cincinnati. Cornerback Nick Harper (bruised ribs) also will not play.
The team signed defensive linemen Jason Davis, Phillip Alexander and Mark Word. With several defensive linemen hampered by injuries, all three should anticipate extensive playing time in the Colts' final preseason games.
One new wrinkle in the Saints game was the use of 288-pound defensive tackle Darrell Reid as a blocking back in short yardage. Reid helped create the hole for Joseph Addai's 1-yard TD run. "We really don't have that fullback-type guy on our roster," said Dungy, who referred to James Mungro's season-ending knee injury two weeks ago.
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San Diego Chargers - QB Rotation: Rookie Charlie Whitehurst (first half), Brett Elliott, Philip Rivers.
Coach Marty Schottenheimer said QB Rivers might not play Friday, in large part because of the team's uncertainty at left tackle. The Chargers' top three players at the position – Roman Oben, Marcus McNeill and Leander Jordan – were unable to practice Monday, leaving Cory Lekkerkerker working with the No. 1 unit. "There's a chance that none of the starter will play,” the coach said. It's likely rookie Charlie Whitehurst will open at quarterback.
Schottenheimer would have to decide whether to risk his franchise quarterback behind an unproven left tackle who has never played in a regular-season game. Schottenheimer said, "If the first unit plays, don't go for a cup of coffee or you won't see them."
Chargers QB Philip Rivers slightly bruised his throwing shoulder when he was sacked late in the second quarter of Saturday's game. His right shoulder was wrapped and it appeared he was holding his arm close to his side. “A little sore,” he said. “But, honestly, if we had to play today, I could go.”
For the first time in what is now his sixth season, RB LaDainian Tomlinson will not play even one snap this preseason.
LB Donnie Edwards will start Friday's exhibition finale at San Francisco.
Darren Sproles (ankle) is out the rest of preseason. Schottenheimer listed RB Michael Turner as the first option for returning kickoffs and wide receiver Eric Parker as the likely replacement on punt returns. Schottenheimer ruled out using rookie CB Antonio Cromartie.
-3.5/35 San Fran 49ers - QB Rotation: Alex Smith, Trent Dilfer, Shaun Hill, Gibran Hamdan (see below).
Mike Nolan said that he would use the team's final exhibition against the Chargers to get his first-team offense more work. QB Jesse Palmer was released Tuesday and the 49ers brought in another quarterback to consider for the No. 3 job when they claimed Gibran Hamdan off waivers from Seattle. Coach Mike Nolan doesn't believe Hamdan will play Friday.
Center Jeremy Newberry underwent surgery on his left knee and will spend the rest of the season on injured reserve.
Nolan said the players will attend team meetings but won't practice Thursday to give them a break before playing Friday against San Diego.
Mike Nolan wants a 3-4 defense, but the 49ers are likely to move back to a 4-3 front this week, possibly by pairing Isaac Sopoaga with either Bryant Young or Anthony Adams at defensive tackle. Whoever doesn't play alongside Sopoaga would be a defensive end. With LB Brandon Moore missing the Dallas game, rookie Melvin Oliver started at defensive end, and Oliver looked lost at times. The 49ers allowed 189 rushing yards to the Cowboys.
Moore was tried as the outside linebacker in the 3-4, before injuring his knee against the Raiders on Aug. 20. Moore expects to return to practice this week, but no longer as a starter. Nolan hopes a shakeup will improve tackling, a problem in the last two games.
The secondary, which allowed the most yards passing in the league last season, remains a work in progress. It's missing left CB Shawntae Spencer, who's expected to miss the rest of the exhibition season with a pulled left hamstring. Free safety remains a position in flux with Mike Adams and Mark Roman still competing. Nolan also said that both safety spots are open, meaning Tony Parrish is being challenged at strong safety.
Coaches emphasized picking up the pace in practice. "Dallas' tempo was outflanking us with their run game because of their tempo," Nolan said. "We tried to pick that tempo up."
Other changes: With offensive lineman Adam Snyder sidelined over the past two weeks with a biceps injury, Kwame Harris will start the season at right tackle and Justin Smiley will be the right guard.
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