ESPN NFL Training Camp 2008

VIRUS KEEPS MERRIMAN OUT OF PRACTICE (11:55 p.m.)
San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman missed practice Thursday for the third consecutive day because of a virus, and his availability for the preseason game Saturday against the St. Louis Rams is in question.

Merriman said he had strep throat and a heavy fever. He had trouble breathing while battling the illness but said he was feeling much better Thursday.

Merriman also has been dealing with an ailing knee but did work out on the side Thursday afternoon.

"He's running around and had a good workout today, so we'll see where he is this weekend," Chargers coach Norv Turner said.

Turner said he hasn't decided how long starting quarterback Philip Rivers or backups Billy Volek and Charlie Whitehurst will play against the Rams.
-- The Associated Press

O'SULLIVAN CLOSING IN ON QB JOB (11:07 p.m.)
J.T. O'Sullivan took another step closer to becoming the San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback.

O'Sullivan was selected by coach Mike Nolan on Thursday to start San Francisco's exhibition home opener against the Green Bay Packers on Saturday. O'Sullivan also started the 49ers preseason opener last week at Oakland.

Nolan continues to assert there is a three-way competition between O'Sullivan and holdovers Alex Smith and Shaun Hill to become the starter for the team's regular-season opener Sept. 7 against Arizona.

But O'Sullivan clearly has taken the lead in that competition. He has taken all the snaps with San Francisco's first-unit offense in team drills during training camp practices this week and will start against a team he spent time with in 2004.

"It's another opportunity to showcase what he can do, as it is for everyone else," Nolan said. "Right now, we are just in an evaluation process."
-- The Associated Press

CARDS MAY START WARNER AGAINST CHIEFS; DOCKETT, ROLLE OUT (9:36 p.m.)
Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said Thursday that he's leaning toward starting Kurt Warner at quarterback in Saturday night's preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

"The one thing I want to make sure we do is make sure Kurt gets some time with the [first team]," Whisenhunt said.

Warner, who took over as the starter last season when Matt Leinart suffered a season-ending collarbone injury on Oct. 7, didn't play in last week's preseason opener against New Orleans.

Also, Whisenhunt said defensive end Darnell Dockett and safety Antrel Rolle will both sit out Saturday's game while rookie wide receiver Early Doucet is doubtful and rookie cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie remains day to day.

Rodgers-Cromartie, a first-round draft pick, sprained his left ankle Tuesday and missed most of practice. He returned to the field Wednesday, but did not play significant minutes.

Dockett has a mild pectoral muscle strain and won't participate in live contact drills for a week, according to Whisenhunt.

Rolle has a left ankle sprain while Doucet has a hamstring injury.
-- The Associated Press

CB HAYDEN BRUISES RIGHT HEEL (7:54 p.m.)
Colts cornerback Kelvin Hayden bruised his right heel during Thursday afternoon's practice, the latest starter to join Indianapolis' growing injury list.

Hayden started all 16 games last season, producing career highs in tackles (117), interceptions (three) and forced fumbles (two) and passes defended (12). He was hurt late in the afternoon session and was taken into the locker room with his right foot wrapped in ice.

"I don't think it's too serious," coach Tony Dungy said. "He was a lot better at the end of practice."
-- The Associated Press

FAVRE LIMITS THROWS AGAIN (7:45 p.m.)
Brett Favre threw a limited number of passes for the second straight practice Thursday, a day after the New York Jets quarterback said his arm felt "fatigued."

The 38-year-old Favre said his rocket right arm was "kind of dragging a little bit" Wednesday, but not sore, after the team's morning practice. While neither he nor the team were too concerned, Favre took noticeably fewer snaps in the evening practice after talking to coach Eric Mangini about limiting his throws. He again took it easy Thursday.

While the Jets focused primarily on red-zone situations, Favre showed good zip on his passes but threw nothing too far downfield. One of his longest tosses of the day -- about 25 yards -- was thrown off his back foot and intercepted by Kerry Rhodes.

"We tease him and he goes, 'I'm a little bit fatigued like we all are,' but I say, 'Yeah, but you're old," offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said with a chuckle. "He laughs, but he's doing good."
-- The Associated Press

OLIVEA PLACED ON IR, REYNOLDS WAIVED (7:40 p.m.)
The New York Giants placed offensive tackle Shane Olivea on season-ending injured reserve with a back injury Thursday and waived defensive end Antonio Reynolds.

The Giants took a gamble on Olivea last month, signing the four-year veteran just days before training camp and days after he finished a rehabilitation stint at the Betty Ford Center in California for an addiction to pain killers.

Reynolds signed Sunday, but was soon sidelined with a hamstring injury.
-- The Associated Press

JOHNSON, ANDERSON, DORSEY EXPECTED TO PLAY (7:04 p.m.)

Running back DeDe Dorsey, RT Willie Anderson and RB Rudi Johnson are expected to play Sunday night against Detroit. All three sat out the Packers game with injuries. Houshmandzadeh will miss a second straight game with a strained hamstring.

Johnson ran routes smoothly on Thursday and appeared to be close to full-speed. Johnson was hobbled at the start of camp by his right ankle, which was surgically cleaned out in June. "He practiced a lot better [Wednesday], a lot better than he practiced last week," Lewis said. "He now has some confidence he didn't quite have."
-- The Associated Press

COLTS EXPECT MANNING TO BE READY FOR OPENER (4:04 p.m.)
The Colts are confident that Peyton Manning will be ready for their regular-season opener Sept. 7 against the Bears.

"He's doing exactly what we thought he would do," coach Tony Dungy said after the team's workout Thursday morning.

The two-time league MVP had surgery July 14 to remove an infected bursa sac from his left knee.
-- The Associated Press

BURRESS SAYS HE'LL PLAY IN SEASON OPENER (4:00 p.m.)
Plaxico Burress said that he will play in the Giants' season opener against the Redskins.

The wide receiver said he must still get comfortable with the orthotics that were built into his shoes to compensate for his "extremely flat feet." But Burress said "I will be" when asked if he'd be on the field for the Giants' Sept. 4 opener.

HASSELBECK UNLIKELY TO START VS. BEARS (3:55 p.m.)
Matt Hasselbeck has returned to Seahawks practice for the first time since his back stiffened six days ago. Yet it appears unlikely the Pro Bowl quarterback will play in Saturday's preseason game against the Bears.

Hasselbeck took part only in individual drills Thursday. He first felt his back tighten after playing the first two series of last Friday's preseason opener at Minnesota.

Third-string quarterback Charlie Frye again ran the first-team offense during team drills.

Coach Mike Holmgren said Hasselbeck could play this weekend if he is needed. The more pressing need of training camp is Frye proving to Holmgren he can run the offense. That would free No. 2 passer Seneca Wallace to play receiver or return kicks this season.
-- The Associated Press

HARRINGTON TO START PRESEASON OPENER (3:51 p.m.)
Quarterback Joey Harrington will start the Falcons' preseason home opener Saturday against the Colts, coach Mike Smith said. Smith wouldn't reveal the rotation after Harrington but implied that first-round draft pick Matt Ryan would not be the last QB on the field.

JAGUARS SIGN DT LEWIS (2:33 p.m.)
The Jacksonville Jaguars signed veteran free agent defensive tackle Jonathan Lewis and waived rookie running back Lavarus Giles on Thursday.

The 24-year-old Lewis spent the second half of the 2007 season on the Oakland Raiders' practice squad. He was taken in the sixth round of the 2006 draft by Arizona and has spent time with Seattle and Detroit. Giles was signed as a free agent in June.
-- The Associated Press

TITANS' STEWART HAS SURGERY (2:21 p.m.)
Titans starting right tackle David Stewart underwent arthroscopic surgery Thursday and will be sidelined two to three weeks.

Stewart signed a six-year, $39 million extension in June, shortly after left tackle Michael Roos signed a $43 million deal. A fourth-round pick in 2005, Stewart started 30 games the past two years at right tackle.

He's been bothered by a cartilage tear since last season.

Titans coach Jeff Fisher said the injury was minor, and Stewart has a chance to play in the fourth and final preseason game.
-- The Associated Press