Around NFL training camps: Aug. 20

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BRADY MAKES APPEARANCE AT PATS' CAMP (1:36 a.m. ET)
It's only the preseason, so there are no signs of panic in the locker room, even with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady limited by a foot injury. Yet a team that was a perfect 18-0 before losing the Super Bowl certainly doesn't like the trend.

Brady was present for the roughly 15 minutes in which the media were allowed to watch practice Wednesday. He stretched, did light throwing and handed the ball off.

His absence from the first two games -- and possibly the third -- could be precautionary. All Patriots coach Bill Belichick would say about Brady on Wednesday was that he's "day to day."
-- The Associated Press

GIANTS GET THREE RECEIVERS BACK (1:03 a.m. ET)
Giants receivers Amani Toomer (knee), Steve Smith (hamstring) and Mario Manningham (quad) returned to practice after missing time with injuries. Smith and Manningham missed the first two preseason games, and all three hope to play against the New York Jets.

"We are glad to have them out here," coach Tom Coughlin said. "We need them out here. They need to be out here, they need to be out here. Hopefully, they will be stronger and ready to come right back tomorrow. Everybody needs to work, you need to work with the quarterback, you need to be on the field, you need to establish some consistency, some reliability, and that is what we need."

Toomer, Smith and Manningham had all missed significant practice time in training camp. Smith, a second-year pro, and Manningham, this year's third-round draft choice, did not play in either of the first two preseason games.

Toomer, the 13-year veteran, sat out the Giants' preseason win over the Cleveland Browns on Monday night. He played briefly in the preseason opener at Detroit but did not catch a pass.

All three receivers participated in individual and team drills and expect to play Saturday night against New York.
-- ESPN.com news services

CHIEFS LB TO MISS LAST 2 PRESEASON GAMES (6:38 p.m. ET)
Linebacker Demorrio Williams will likely miss the final two Kansas City Chiefs preseason games with a broken bone in his right hand, but expects to be ready for the Sept. 7 opener at New England.

Williams suffered the injury in practice Tuesday, but did not learn of the severity until a cast was placed on the hand later.

"When I did it, I knew I did something, but I thought I might just have jammed another finger," Williams said Wednesday. "I ended up going through practice. I didn't think it was this serious.

"I will be back for New England."

Williams said he was rushing the passer when the injury occurred.

He said the "cracked bone" is between his little finger and ring finger. He has never played in a cast, but might be forced to do so against the Patriots.

-- The Associated Press

BRONCOS' NALEN TO HAVE ANOTHER SURGERY (5:38 p.m. ET)
Five-time Denver Broncos Pro Bowl center Tom Nalen is headed back to the operating table.

The only player left from the Broncos' Super Bowl teams of the late 1990s, Nalen needs another operation on his left knee after surgery in June failed to put him back on the field without pain.

The 37-year-old Nalen will undergo another arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Thursday, said coach Mike Shanahan, who is holding out hope that his center will be ready for the season opener at Oakland on Sept. 8.

"It hasn't healed the way we'd like," Shanahan said. "And so tomorrow he's going to go in and get a little cleanup. Hopefully, nothing too serious and relieve some of the swelling and the pain."

The 15-year veteran whose 2007 season was cut short by a torn right biceps after five games missed most of training camp before returning to practice on a limited basis last week.

The Broncos and Nalen ruled out another surgery last month when an MRI was negative, but they reversed course this week as the pain and swelling persisted.

Nalen, whose five Pro Bowls are the most for a Broncos lineman, has helped Denver to the most rushing yards and the third-fewest sacks in the NFL since 1995.
-- The Associated Press

EDWARDS HAS SWOLLEN BRUISE ABOVE KNEECAP (3:25 p.m. ET)
Trent Edwards has a swollen bruise above his right kneecap which forced him to miss practice Wednesday, a day after the Buffalo Bills' starter knocked knees in a collision with running back Marshawn Lynch.

Walking with a noticeable limp, Edwards was relieved the injury to his lower right quadriceps wasn't as severe as he initially feared, but added he's not sure whether he'll play in Buffalo's third preseason game at Indianapolis on Sunday.

"Honestly, right now, I'm just kind of taking it on a day-by-day basis," Edwards said after the Bills held their final training camp session of the summer in suburban Rochester. "Sunday's still a long way away."

Except for the swelling, Edwards said he's been informed that there is nothing structurally wrong with his leg or knee. If Edwards can't play, the focus shifts to J.P. Losman, who's acknowledged he's lacked focus and motivation after the Bills failed to grant his request to be traded this offseason.
-- The Associated Press

HASSELBECK MIGHT MISS SECOND PRESEASON GAME (3:16 p.m. ET)
Matt Hasselbeck missed another day of practice Wednesday because of a stiff back, and the Pro Bowl quarterback may also miss his second consecutive preseason game Monday night in San Diego.

Coach Mike Holmgren said after the morning's drills that No. 3 passer Charlie Frye will likely get the bulk of playing time against the Chargers because Hasselbeck's back remains tight and sore. Hasselbeck first felt his back tighten even though he looked sharp in the first two series of the preseason opener Aug. 8 at Minnesota.

Hasselbeck returned to practice Monday, then left Tuesday morning. Holmgren does not consider his quarterback's recurring pain a setback and reiterated that he believes Hasselbeck will be fine.
-- The Associated Press

PANTHERS RELEASE SCOTT, SIGN BAILEY (2:47 p.m. ET)
Carolina released injured defensive tackle Ian Scott, who signed in the offseason to provide depth after three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kris Jenkins was traded to the Jets. Scott sprained his left knee on the fifth day of training camp.

Scott missed all of last season in Philadelphia with a knee injury.

The Panthers also signed receiver Sean Bailey, an undrafted rookie from Georgia.
-- The Associated Press

BROWNS ACQUIRE SECONDARY HELP (2 p.m. ET)
The Miami Dolphins traded cornerback Travis Daniels to the Cleveland Browns for a seventh-round draft pick.

Daniels was a fourth-round pick in 2005 by the Dolphins, where he played both cornerback and safety. Daniels played in 16 games last season, starting five for Miami.
-- ESPN's Chris Mortensen

HARRISON SPEAKS, BUT DOES NOT SHARE (1:15 p.m. ET)
Marvin Harrison has not conversed with the local media since Jan. 13, when the Colts lost to San Diego in the divisional playoffs. But on Tuesday afternoon, he did speak with the Indianapolis Star -- a conversation that was … well, not that enlightening.

About football, his camp performance, and how his knee is holding up, Harrison told the Star: "I mean, have you been in Terre Haute watching practice? You can write what you see. That's the best way I can tell you."

When the Star reporter pointed out that Colts fans probably wanted to hear an assessment in Harrison's words, he replied: "You all seem to know more about it … you all write what you see. That way I won't have a comment."

Then there's the April 29 shooting in Philadelphia that involved a gun Harrison owned. When the topic came up, a Colts official shut down the interview.

INJURIES TO CRIBBS, ANDERSON PROMPT WARINESS (11:33 a.m. ET)
The Browns don't have just Derek Anderson's concussion to worry about. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Pro Bowl kick returner Joshua Cribbs has a high left ankle sprain and likely will be out until the Sept. 7 season opener.

Cribbs, who injured the ankle in Monday night's preseason game against the Giants, had X-rays and an MRI exam, which came back negative for breaks or tears.

The Browns, who are being cautious with Anderson, are planning on starting Brady Quinn against the Detroit Lions on Saturday. Anderson's concussion is described as mild, but the team is mindful of the fact he also suffered a concussion when he played at Oregon State.

According to the Plain Dealer, the Browns had no comment on any of the five players injured against the Giants, including Brodney Pool and Brad Cieslak (both with concussions) and linebacker Leon Williams (neck).

BATCH SAYS HE'S AHEAD OF SCHEDULE (10:33 a.m. ET)
Charlie Batch had X-rays on his healing collarbone Tuesday for the first time since Aug. 11, when he underwent surgery to repair the injury suffered in the preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Batch, the Steelers' backup quarterback, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he felt "pretty good right now," and had started rehabilitation. The procedure entailed inserting a plate into the collarbone so it would not interfere with his throwing motion, and he is expected to be out for six weeks.

"I always felt I would be back before the timetable anyway," Batch said in the Post-Gazette. "I always have whenever I had anything done before. But you want to err on the side of caution."

ODOM SHEDS BOOT (10:11 a.m. ET)
For the first time since July 28, when he sprained his left foot in training camp, defensive end Antwan Odom was able to walk around without his protective boot.

Odom, acquired by the Bengals in the offseason, has been able to walk without crutches for nearly a week. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, Odom likely will return to practice next week and possibly be available for the Sept. 7 regular-season opener.

GATES OFF PUP LIST (9:41 a.m. ET)
Tight end Antonio Gates passed a physical Tuesday and practiced for the first time this training camp.

Gates, who has been progressing well in his recovery from a left toe injury, was taken off the PUP list. He was pleased with Tuesday's practice, but was cautious about predicting his return. "I hate to look so far down the road because this is a tricky situation," Gates said in the Times. "It's one of those injuries where you have to really monitor and make sure I'm not overdoing it and doing nothing to have any setbacks."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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