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FRIDAY'S GAMES 8/26/05 Cincinnati Bengals - QB Rotation: Carson Palmer, Jon Kitna, Casey Bramlet, Craig Krenzel. Marvin Lewis isn't saying who is in the lead for the No. 3 quarterback spot between Craig Krenzel and Casey Bramlet with two weeks left in their battle. Both have had the opportunity to be the third quarterback into a game this preseason and a chance to be the last one. Bramlet was with the Bengals as No. 3 last season and played in Europe. Krenzel started five games for the Bears as a rookie. Wide receivers thin. Marvin Lewis said LB David Pollack would not start, though he will play and Pollack said he expects to play a great deal. Turnovers are still key: The Bengals were plus-2 in turnover differential against Washington (three takeaways vs. one giveaway) and won, 24-17. They were minus-1 against New England (a 23-13 loss). In the two regular seasons under Lewis, the Bengals are 9-1 with a plus-differential and 4-2 when the differential is even. Secondary thin: CB Myles didn't play in the second half last week because of a groin injury, and CB Rashad Bauman (stinger) left the game injured and didn't return. Philadelphia Eagles - QB Rotation: Donovan McNabb (first half), Mike McMahon (3rd Q), Andy Hall (4th Q). If coach Andy Reid sticks to form, this probably will be the final exhibition tune-up for the majority of the starters. There's a good chance that Terrell Owens will see his first preseason game action Friday. Head coach Andy Reid said that as long as Owens' injured groin holds up to the rigors of practice he'll get playing time against Cincinnati. With Owens out of the lineup, the Eagles' have a trio of young receivers getting to play in Greg Lewis, rookie Reggie Brown and Billy McMullen. Brown has not been overwhelmed by Andy Reid's complicated offensive system and appears to have a lock on the No. 3 WR job. Sean Landeta, 43, has joined the Eagles. Dirk Johnson, the Eagles' punter last year, has missed all of training camp following surgery to repair a sports hernia. "I don't like seeing him run during preseason," Andy Reid said when asked about Donovan McNabb's big run the last game. San Diego Chargers - QB Rotation: Drew Brees (1st Q), Philip Rivers (2nd Q), Cleo Lemon (3rd Q), Craig Ochs. With this game at Minnesota coming just five days after Sunday's victory over St. Louis, coach Marty Schottenheimer decided he will play the starters only in the first quarter, perhaps slightly longer. But nowhere near the entire half they played against the Rams. RB LaDainian Tomlinson won't play at all. QB Philip Rivers completed 7-of-8 for 35 yards last week, another impressive showing. All-Pro TE Antonio Gates agreed to a six-year contract with the Chargers. The Chargers are the only team in the NFL that returns all 22 starters on offense and defense, plus their punter, kicker and long snapper. Minnesota Vikings - QB Rotation: Daunte Culpepper, Brad Johnson, Shaun Hill. CB Fred Smoot (right knee) should be ready to make his first preseason appearance Friday. Running backs thin: Rookie RB Ciatrick Fason will miss two to three weeks, and RB Michael Bennett "dinged up his neck." RB Mewelde Moore will get the start this game. Neither RB Michael Bennett nor center Matt Birk will play. Mike Tice said Travis Dorsch will get a chance to do some punting Friday and indicated that neither RB Michael Bennett nor center Matt Birk will play against the Buccaneers -- Bennett because of a sprained neck and Birk because of continued problems with his midsection that eventually will require surgery. The Pro Bowl center's condition also was a factor in personnel changes. Mike Tice wants to ensure he has a veteran backup center behind presumptive starter Cory Withrow. With reserve Anthony Herrera out (serious staph infection in his right leg), the Vikings demoted left guard Adam Goldberg and made him the top backup at center and both guard positions. Chris Liwienski returned to left guard, while rookie Marcus Johnson took over at right guard. Barring injury, Tice said Liwienski, Johnson and Withrow will start against the Buccaneers in the opener. Buffalo Bills - QB Rotation: J.P. Losman (first half), Kelly Holcomb (3rd Q), Shane Matthews (4th Q), Tory Woodbury, Kevin Thompson. HC Mike Mularkey said some of his starters will play into the third quarter against the Bears. Offensive line thin: Guards Lawrence Smith and Ben Sobieski were ruled out for the year. Tight end depth is thin. Defensive Coordinator Jerry Gray has been blitzing often. Gray looks at the depth chart and likes what he sees. In this pass-happy era of the NFL you can never have enough good cornerbacks, and the Bills have plenty of them. Starters Nate Clements and Terrence McGee played in the Pro Bowl last season. Chicago Bears - QB Rotation: Chad Hutchinson (first half), rookie Kyle Orton (3rd Q), Kurt Kittner, Jeff Blake. The starters are expected to play at least through the first half, and RB Thomas Jones ought to play. Rookie QB Kyle Orton, who went 6 for 10 for 60 yards in Indianapolis but also fumbled twice, is the most interesting candidate to displace Hutchinson as the starter. Recently signed veteran Jeff Blake also has a chance to win the quarterback job. Coach Lovie Smith made it clear Hutchinson must perform well Friday, or the Bears will consider going to their third quarterback before the regular season begins. Offensive coordinator Ron Turner will install a game plan for Friday's exhibition against Buffalo with the hope that the specific scheme, along with another week to settle into his role, will help QB Chad Hutchinson be more productive. Hutchinson's overall numbers in the preseason fall short of Orton's. Hutchinson is 17-for-28 for 178 yards with the two interceptions and a 49.4 passer rating. The Bears lost starting QB Rex Grossman (ankle) for 3-4 months. The Bears' depth on defense has taken a hit. Coach Lovie Smith said safeties Bobby Gray and Cameron Worrell and LB Marcus Reese all will undergo season-ending surgery. Starting CB Jerry Azumah is still out, he could return to practice soon but won't play in the final exhibition game Sept. 1 against Cleveland. The Bears have a new offensive coordinator in Ron Turner. He is bringing in his version of the West Coast offense. His offense is geared toward receivers as opposed to backs and tight ends in the passing game. Turner said, "We definitely are going to continue to be aggressive." Pittsburgh Steelers - QB Rotation: Ben Roethlisberger (first half), Tommy Maddox (3rd Q), Charlie Batch (4th Q), Brian St. Pierre. The first teams will play the entire first half. Bill Cowher is looking for some production from his No. 1 offense. "They haven't even put the ball in the end zone yet," he said. "I think we certainly have a ways to go to be where we want to be by opening day." Tommy Maddox will open the second half at quarterback and "we'll see how it unfolds and how much Charlie and Brian St. Pierre play." Five players were ruled out of the preseason game with the Redskins. Porter, Staley, DBs Vontez Duff (shoulder) and Chidi Iwuoma (shoulder) and DE Travis Kirschke (back). Bill Cowher added that he'd like to get No. 2 QB Tommy Maddox into Friday's game after he didn't to play against Miami last Saturday. Staley and Joey Porter are hoping to be ready for the season opener Sept. 11 against Tennessee. The Steelers' first-team defense has looked solid in the first two preseason games, but the offense is another story. QB Ben Roethlisberger, who has yet to produce a touchdown, is 8 of 15 for 64 yards with an interception. Also, Jerome Bettis, who is starting in place of Duce Staley, has 18 yards on five carries. Washington Redskins - QB Rotation: Patrick Ramsey (1st Q+), Mark Brunell (2nd Q+), rookie Jason Campbell (3rd Q+). Coach Joe Gibbs said he intends to split the snaps evenly among his top three quarterbacks Friday against Pittsburgh. Gibbs said, "Our game plan would be roughly a third, a third and a third." QB Mark Brunnel led the Redskins to a failed field-goal attempt, then a TD, before sitting. For the night, he was 11 of 19 for 121 yards. His QB rating of 76.9 dwarfed those of Ramsey and rookie Jason Campbell. RB Clinton Portis has only one carry this preseason, but is expected to get considerable playing time Friday against Pittsburgh. The Redskins are short on cornerbacks. CB Walt Harris (quadriceps) and WR Taylor Jacobs (toe) are unlikely to play Friday. Punter Tom Tupa remains out with a back sprain, leaving Andy Groom to handle those duties for the second straight game. New England Patriots - QB Rotation: Tom Brady (first half), Doug Flutie (3rd Q), Rohan Davey (4th Q), rookie Matt Cassel (see below). Bill Belichick is treating the Green Bay game as close to a regular-season contest as possible, with a more specific game plan and a game-like approach to substitutions, meaning the starters will play a more significant role. "Every player that dresses for the game, I've told them to be ready to go for 60 minutes, just like it's a regular-season game," Belichick said. "As a coaching staff we'll try to manage the game as we think is best, given all of the things that we're trying to get done in this game." QB Rohan Davey is expected to play Friday after sitting out last week against New Orleans. Davey started against Cincinnati in the exhibition opener and statistically did not fare as well as Doug Flutie, his chief competition for the No. 2 job, did against the Saints. A number of players who missed last week's game against New Orleans, including DL Ty Warren, RB Cedric Cobbs, CB Randall Gay, and safety Guss Scott, likely will play at Green Bay. The Pats have allowed 303 rushing yards in two games this preseason, including 196 yards in the first half last week when the starters and primary backups were on the field. They've experimented liberally with different personnel groupings. But when Saints backups run down your throats, flags go up. Prize free agent LB Chad Brown got stiff-armed to the ground and allowed long gains twice in the first quarter. As replacements for Tedy Bruschi and Ted Johnson, Brown and fellow free agent Monty Beisel have yet to instill confidence. Green Bay Packers - QB Rotation: Brett Favre, rookie Aaron Rodgers, Craig Nall, J.T. O'Sullivan. Craign Nall and J.T. O'Sullivan are locked in a battle for the third and final quarterback berth behind Favre and Rodgers. The team wants to see a little more of what Nall can do. In two preseason games as the first quarterback to enter the game behind Favre, Rodgers has completed 6-of-15 passes for 28 yards. Secondary thin. Even if TE Ben Steele's back/neck injury isn't serious, the Packers face problems without starter Bubba Franks in camp. Steele has been inconsistent and the Packers desperately need a receiving weapon at TE to make their offense work the way they want. Their other receiving TE David Martin has been sidelined by a groin injury and remains mired by inconsistency. Without Franks, Martin and Steele, the Packers were limited Saturday. "We have to get David Martin right now," OC Tom Rossley said. Defense not 100%: Cletidus Hunt’s return date is up in the air because he still has swelling in his knee. Rookie LB Kurt Campbell was scheduled to have surgery to repair the torn anterior cruciate ligament this week. Safety Mark Roman (hamstring), LB Na’il Diggs (knee) and DT Kenny Peterson (elbow) are ailing. Diggs is sidelined with a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee and might not be 100% for the opener against. Because of injuries, Donnell Washington and James Lee are expected to start at the defensive tackles, while Ahmad Carroll and Mike Hawkins are likely to start at the cornerbacks. Jim Bates is the Packers new Defensive Coordinator, their third new one in three years. The defense is running more coverages than the basic two-deep scheme of a year ago. Baltimore Ravens - QB Rotation: Kyle Boller, Anthony Wright, rookie Derek Anderson. RB Jamal Lewis will miss this preseason game because of a bone spur in his left foot. Chester Taylor, who started the first two preseason games, will replace Lewis again. TE Todd Heap practiced but is not expected to play Friday against the Saints. Defense missing two key players: LB Peter Boulware is expected to return to practice this week but not play against the Saints. CB Samari Rolle did not practice, and his status for the game is in doubt. Rolle injured his knee against the Philadelphia Eagles. From last week's practice: "You can see it in coach Brian Billick's face at times. Three times QB Kyle Boller threw long TD passes, and twice he was intercepted for TDs. One of the interceptions was on a slant-in pass to Clarence Moore, a replay of the interception Boller threw against the Falcons. A lot of times Billick just shakes his head in approval or disappointment." New Orleans Saints - QB Rotation: Aaron Brooks, Todd Bouman, Kliff Kingsbury, rookie Adrian McPherson. Less than an hour-and-a-half before the New Orleans Saints normally open the locker room to reporters for player interviews, a team spokesman sent out an e-mail Tuesday explaining that the day's practice would be closed and that there would be no player or coach availability. Although HC Haslett has appeared more irritable than usual in meetings with reporters this week, team spokesman Greg Bensel said the unusual decision to close practice had nothing to do with the coach being annoyed with the media. Offensive line thin: The Saints are thin at tackle with backups Jon Stinchcomb and Spencer Folau injured, so guard/center Jamar Nesbit was asked to give right tackle a shot when the team returned to practice this week. Defensive line thin: Starting strongside LB James Allen has missed most of camp with a bruised bone in his knee. Starting defensive tackle Brian Young left the Patriots game with a strained MCL in his knee. NY Giants - QB Rotation: Tim Hasselbeck (1st-3rd Qs), Jesse Palmer (4th Q), Jared Lorenzen. The starters will play into the third quarter against the Jets. Jesse Palmer will quarterback the second team. Tom Coughlin wasn't sure if there would be enough time to get Jared Lorenzen into the game. QB Eli Manning (elbow) will miss Friday's game. Manning says he's fine with a little soreness but he'll return in preseason finale' for a final tune up. The annual Giants-Jets preseason game usually is the most spirited of the summer, with starters on the field for three quarters and tempers often rising hotter than usual. Revenge game? These teams scrimmaged two weeks ago and a lot of fierce words were said after the Jets hit harder than normal in a scrimmage that was scheduled to be light hitting. "Talk is cheap. Tell the Giants to 'bring it,'" said Jets FB B.J. Askew, who body-slammed Giants LB Carlos Emmons. So what happened? Giants QB Eli Manning accused Jets DC Donnie Henderson of using complex blitzing schemes in what was scheduled to be a very vanilla scrimmage. Giants RB Tiki Barber called Henderson a "maniac." The Jets did practice a bit more physical against the Giants. Several days later, Henderson called Tom Coughlin to clear the air. They believe Gang Green came to Albany intent on causing trouble 2 1/2 weeks ago. NY Jets - QB Rotation: Chad Pennington, Jay Fiedler, Brooks Bollinger. New HC Mike Heimerdinger is known as an aggressive coach, and wants to create an attacking mentality. He's having the Jets breaking the huddle as quickly as possible, among other things. Coach Herman Edwards said Ty Law will definitely play Friday against the Giants. The Jets secondary is suddenly looking like a team strength with the addition of Ty Law, rookie CB Justin Miller, rookie safeties Kerry Rhodes and Andre Maddox and the emergence of first-year S Oliver Celestin. Second-year man Eric Coleman, a starter last season, and Celestin are the starters at safety. Celestin can also play some cornerback/nickel back. Mike Heimerdinger, the former offensive coordinator with the Titans, is the new offensive coordinator. Carolina Panthers - QB Rotation: Jake Delhomme, Chris Weinke, Rod Rutherford, rookie Stephan LeFlors. Coach John Fox plans a similar QB rotation to last week. "The plan is we'll play the starters into the second quarter or maybe the whole second quarter, depending how the game goes," Fox said. "That goes for Game 3 and then we back off in the fourth one." Chris Weinke is the No. 2 QB. He's light years ahead of rookie Stefan LeFors and Rod Rutherford, who are competing for No. 3. RB Stephen Davis worked for the first time in a full padded practice outside Tuesday. He showed a good burst of speed, as well as an ability to make cuts on his surgically repaired knee. Defensive shuffle: The Panthers face questions at linebacker and safety. Mike Minter started camp at free safety, shifted back to strong safety -- his position in recent seasons -- and returned to free safety again this week. The Panthers ten straight exhibition wins came to an end last week. Cleveland Browns - QB Rotation: Trent Dilfer (will start), rookie Charlie Frye, Doug Johnson, Josh Harris, rookie Lang Campbell (see below). HC Romeo Crennel said QB Trent Dilfer will start. Crennel has not decided who will go second, Doug Johnson or Charlie Frye. Johnson returned to action this week after missing the Lions game with a sore shoulder and said he feels better. Frye has looked good in his first two outings. "I'll reserve my decision until game time," Crennel said. Friday's game will "have a major impact" on the backup quarterback job," Crennel added. Cleveland's secondary took another hit when CB Gary Baxter left last week's game with a concussion. Cleveland started the game with three defensive backs inactive: Daylon McCutcheon (migraine headaches), Brodney Pool (concussion) and Michael Lehan (leg injury). The Browns signed Ray Mickens to a one-year deal Thursday, and he played against Detroit. HC Romeo Crennel said the biggest accomplishment in his camp was installing the 3-4 defensive system and seeing evidence that it will be effective. The biggest issues left, he said, are seeing how the defense tackles over four quarters at regular-season speed, and how the team reacts to the inevitable adversity a typical season presents. "It's still a honeymoon," the coach said. The new defense features not only a new scheme and coordinator, but six new starters in nose tackle Jason Fisk, RDE Alvin McKinley, LB Matt Stewart, RCB Gary Baxter and safeties Sean Jones and Brian Russell. The biggest disappointment of camp is the prospect of RB Lee Suggs starting a third straight season with an injury. Suggs' ankle injury probably means a committee approach to the backfield unless Reuben Droughns or William Green establishes himself. With Suggs out, Droughns is expected to get the start Friday against Carolina. Arizona Cardinals - QB Rotation: Kurt Warner (1st-3rd Qs), Josh McCown (4th Q), John Navarre, Chris Lewis. HC Dennis Green said the starters will play into the third quarter Friday at Oakland. It will be their longest time on the field this preseason as they prepare for the regular season. Green has made it clear that rookie RB J.J. Arrington is the starter, and Marcel Shipp is the backup. In Arrington, Green thinks he has added a big-play dimension to the offense. Arrington is quick and fast. That's why Shipp will be the backup, no matter how well he plays this preseason. Offensive line thin: Starting center Alex Stepanovich will be out for the rest of the month. Injuries to right tackle Oliver Ross (knee) forced Nick Leckey, a center, and Ian Allen to play on the front line. And Cardinals coach Dennis Green is giving rookie Elton Brown every chance to win the starting job at right guard. Rookie guard Elton Brown's debut was rough. He was part of a line that couldn't adjust to the blitz. Dennis Green said he was "absolutely" concerned about the offensive line's health and performance. The Cardinals are down to their fourth different starting center since the first weekend of training camp. The team also signed center Shawn Lynch this week. Oakland Raiders - QB Rotation: Kerry Collins (first half), Marques Tuiasosopo (3rd Q), David Rivers (4th Q). QB Kerry Collins will play through the first half, Norv Turner said, with Marques Tuiasosopo and possibly David Rivers taking snaps in the second half. QB Andrew Walter will not play because of a groin injury. Coach Norv Turner expects to use WR Ron Curry in 15 to 18 plays Friday. WR Jerry Porter (hamstring) and second-year pro WR Carlos Francis won't play. With P Shane Lechler likely unavailable the next couple of weeks, the Raiders have signed free-agent punter Bryce Benekos. He will back Gary Cook. Lineup changes: The Raiders showed a 4-3 defensive front in their official starting lineup, with Bobby Hamilton and Tommy Kelly at the ends, but came out in the nickel. They quickly reverted back to a 4-3, with Derrick Burgess and Ed Jasper moving in and out of the starting base defense. Tennessee Titans - QB Rotation: Steve McNair (first half), Billy Volek (3rd Q), Chris Redman, Shane Boyd (see below). Jeff Fisher said he plans on playing the starters to halftime. It will be their most extensive preseason work. QB Steve McNair will be followed by Billy Volek at quarterback, while Chris Redman and Shane Boyd are also expected to play. RB Travis Henry (turf toe) isn't expected to play at San Francisco. Offensive line changes: With LT Brad Hopkins (knee damage) out and also scheduled to serve a one-game suspension when the Titans play their regular season opener on Sept. 11 in Pittsburgh, the offensive line will get some extra valuable experience Friday. Rookie Michael Roos will fill in for Hopkins, with Jacob Bell, David Stewart or Todd Williams in line to fill in at right tackle, the spot Roos is expected to occupy when Hopkins is on the field. The changes for the offensive could be especially tough because Pittsburgh has a 3-4 front, which is far less common than the 4-3 most teams run. Jeff Fisher reduced the number of two-a-days and limited the contact. The Titans made it through camp without any devastating injuries, something they weren't able to say this time last year. Norm Chow is the new offensive coordinator. San Fran 49ers - QB Rotation: Tim Rattay (first half and into the 3rd Q), Alex Smith (3rd Q), Ken Dorsey, Cody Pickett (see below). The 49ers suffered a tragedy Saturday when rookie LB Thomas Herrion died after collapsing in the locker room after Saturday's game against the Broncos. San Francisco 49ers coach Mike Nolan announced that Tim Rattay will be the Niners starting QB entering this season. Rattay will start this game, with Smith following. HC Mike Nolan said he will play his starters for the first half and the first series of the second half against Tennessee, but for only the first two drives in the last exhibition game, Sept. 1 at San Diego. That makes this game the most important of the preseason. Offensive line thin: G David Baas (pulled hamstring) might miss training camp. C Jeremy Newberry (knee) is recovering from offseason surgery. LT Jonas Jennings (finger) and Justin Smiley (bruised left calf) are ailing. Baas' injury has the most impact. The second-rounder was expected to compete for a starting spot. Secondary thin: CB Randee Drew has a stress fracture in his foot and is out indefinitely, CB Shawntae Spencer (hamstring) is ailing. Mike Nolan is the new 49ers head coach (former defensive coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens).
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