Early news and notes. Keep checking back for updates.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Bengals-Bills
Bengals.com
In his first news conference at Paul Brown Stadium since
the club broke training camp, Lewis said Tuesday Palmer doesn’t have to play
Friday night in Buffalo in order to
start the Sept. 10 regular-season opener and he said they’ll decide later in
the week if Palmer goes against the Bills. But if Palmer doesn’t play any
preseason games, he won’t start against the Chiefs to begin the season,
although he said Palmer continues to get the majority of snaps. They will also
make a call later this week on whether defensive tackle Sam Adams can play in Buffalo.
Safety Anthony Mitchell (sprained foot) is out for Friday while left tackle
Levi Jones (sprained knee) is day-to-day. Linebacker David Pollack (hamstring)
and cornerback Deltha O’Neal (hand) are defensive
starters who should be ready to play after missing Sunday night’s game,
according to Lewis. Wide receivers Antonio Chatman (groin) and Bennie Brazell (hamstring) are also going to be ready to make
their Bengals debuts after missing the opener. Defensive lineman Jonathan Fanene (hamstring) could be ready for his first action, as
could cornerback Greg Brooks, day-to-day with a slight hamstring pull.
Lions-Browns
Detroit News
Charles Rogers will have one less opportunity to make an
impression in his battle to win a job with the Detroit Lions. Rogers, one of
several receivers competing for playing time and roster spots, will not play in
Friday night’s second exhibition at Cleveland
because of a sore knee. Coach Rod Marinelli said
after Thursday’s practice that Rogers
will not play. Rogers caught one
pass for seven yards in last week’s game with Denver.Dan
Orlovsky will be the No. 2 quarterback for the second
straight game with Josh McCown in the No. 3 spot, Marinelli said. Jon Kitna will
start.
The Independent
Center has been a Bermuda Triangle for the Browns since
training camp began. LeCharles Bentley suffered a
torn patellar tendon on the first play of camp
July 27. Bob Hallen
quit the team on Aug. 7 and officially retired four days later. Rob Smith,
buried deep on the depth chart when camp began, suffered a sever ankle sprain
in the preseason game against the Eagles and is out indefinitely. The injuries
were bad enough. Then word broke Tuesday that Alonzo Ephraim will be suspended
for the first four games by the NFL for a substance abuse violation.
Chargers-Bears
Chicago Tribune
Wednesday was spent with only Rex Grossman and Brian
Griese taking snaps, virtually all against “the cards” for San Diego’s defense,
which presents primarily a three-man front. Drills were at about half speed and
both quarterbacks were smooth delivering the ball interception-free. How much
Grossman will play Friday against the Chargers, the expectation is for the
first half. “As long as the 1’s are in there,” offensive coordinator Ron Turner
said, “he’ll be in there, more than last week.”
Associated Press
Bears Coach Lovie Smith dropped
Thomas Jones behind Cedric Benson, who is also sidelined with a shoulder
injury. Neither will play Friday night in Chicago’s
home exhibition opener at Soldier Field against the San Diego Chargers. Adrian
Peterson will be the starter. Whoever becomes the starter for the regular
season opener Sept. 10, the Bears need a better performance from quarterback
Rex Grossman as they tune up. Grossman was 3-of-11 for 47 yards in a 28-14 loss
to the San Francisco 49ers last
Friday night. His fumble was returned for a touchdown. Grossman is expected to
play the first half. The Chargers will be watching the continuing development
of first-year starter Philip Rivers, who was cool and crisp in a win against Green
Bay in the exhibition opener last Saturday. Among the San
Diego starters not expected to play are running back
LaDainian Tomlinson, who rarely plays in exhibitions, and linebacker Donnie
Edwards, who has a bad back. Tomlinson will be replaced by Michael Turner, who
was a star at Northern Illinois.
