Training Camp Roundup: Aug. 16
BRUSCHI TACKLING CHALLENGES IN 14TH YEAR (10:13 p.m. ET)
In his 14th season with the New England Patriots, Tedy Bruschi finds himself trying to hold off a group of challengers to his job while adapting to a new defensive look that could impact his role.
Bruschi returned to practice Sunday and Bruschi admitted he has a lot of catching up to do.
"You don't really get that look, you don't really get those reps until you're out here on the practice field," he said. "Do you feel a little bit behind because you haven't been out here for so long? Yeah, but you get in the meeting room and watch the film, and hopefully, you don't become an error repeater."
His role though, remains in question. The Patriots are deep on the defensive line and have added young players at linebacker in the past two years.
"We're not sure," he said. "We're in training camp right now, roles are being defined and I know we have a lot of good inside linebackers. Gary Guyton's a good player. Jerod Mayo's a good player. You know what he can do. However it is -- even myself, in my 14th year -- every training camp I have to look at it as I have to come in and establish a role for myself on this team. This year's no different."
BEANIE RETURNS TO CARDS PRACTICE (10:00 p.m. ET)
Rookie running back Beanie Wells returned to practice, sort of, as the Arizona Cardinals gathered for their final five days of training camp in the pines of northern Arizona.
Wells took part in individual drills but, to his surprise, was held out of the offense-versus-defense part of Sunday's late afternoon workout.
Coach Ken Whisenhunt says he kept Wells out of the team portion of the workout because he didn't want to rush the player back too fast.
"We don't want to have a setback," Whisenhunt said. "I think Beanie's going to be begging to get some reps off here in the near future, so be careful what you wish for, right?"
Wells said he initially was frustrated when he was hurt when a defender rolled on his leg late in his first practice after arriving at camp Aug. 1.
"Because you know I had that whole 'injury bug' stigma from college. To get hurt here on a freak play the first day, I was devastated," Wells said. "But you know I had a lot of great guys around me, coach Whis and [running backs] coach [Curtis] Modkins and all the players, keeping my spirits up and making sure I'm on top of things, not letting me get too down about the situation.
49ers WAIVE CLAYTON (9:26 p.m. ET)
The San Francisco 49ers waived running back Thomas Clayton on Sunday, two days after he sustained a serious knee injury in the fourth quarter of Friday night's 17-16 preseason win over the Denver Broncos.
Clayton tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and will be out for the season. 49ers spokesman Bob Lange said Clayton would have surgery.
The Niners needed the roster spot and signed rookie fullback Bill Rentmeester to replace Clayton. Rentmeester was released by the Chargers on Aug. 5 after signing with San Diego as an undrafted free agent on May 1. If another team doesn't claim Clayton, he stays with the 49ers and would be placed on injured reserve.
"It's always unfortunate when you lose anyone that's trying to make a football team," coach Mike Singletary told reporters after a walkthrough Sunday. "He's just a guy that really works hard. He gives you everything that he has on every down and we know that he had high hopes of being part of the team. When someone like that goes down, it's always a difficult thing to see. So, we'll just have to rehabilitate the knee and go from there."
Clayton was tripped up by Denver cornerback Jack Williams and awkwardly twisted his knee. He was down for several minutes before being carted off the field. Clayton raised his left finger to the fans, grimacing in pain.
RAIDERS ADD DEPTH TO LB CORPS (8:54 p.m. ET)
The Oakland Raiders have signed linebacker Morlon Greenwood and cut defensive end Derrick Gray.
The move announced Sunday gives the Raiders more depth at outside linebacker with Jon Alston nursing a foot injury and Ricky Brown competing with Kirk Morrison for the starting middle linebacker spot.
Greenwood saw his production and playing time decrease last season in Houston and was released in February. He started 10 games and finished with 31 solo tackles last season.
JETS CHANGE PUNTERS, CUT TE PROJECT (8:08 p.m. ET)
The New York Jets have signed undrafted free agent linebacker Joshua Mauga and free agent punter Kenneth Parrish, and re-signed wide receiver Huey Whittaker.
The Jets also waived tight end J'Nathan Bullock and punter T.J. Conley on Sunday.
Bullock, signed in May, was a forward on the Cleveland State basketball team trying to make the team as an undrafted free agent. Conley led the NCAA with a 47.4 punting average at Idaho as a senior.
TITANS GET SOME GOOD NEWS (7:45 p.m. ET)
Right tackle David Stewart was supposed to have tests to check the swollen knee that kept him out. Coach Jeff Fisher said Sunday that tests hadn't been run, but the injury was not serious.
"It's not unrealistic to say we should have everybody back working in some capacity this week," Fisher said.
That makes the Titans sound pretty healthy, except that is about what Fisher said a week ago about a smaller handful of players including starting middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch, defensive end Jacob Ford, linebacker Colin Allred, defensive tackle Jason Jones and fullback Casey Cramer.
Tulloch sat out the Hall of Fame game on Aug. 9 due to tendinitis in his knee and has not returned to practice. Ford hasn't practiced since Aug. 2 because of a strained hamstring, and Allred hasn't practiced since the first week of camp because of a high ankle sprain.
Jones is the tackle being counted on most to help replace Albert Haynesworth, but Jones has had his right foot in a boot since the Hall of Fame game and was among those scratched Saturday night.
All Pro center Kevin Mawae remains on the physically-unable-to-perform list after offseason surgery to repair a torn right biceps tendon. His goal is to play at least once in the preseason with the focus being ready to start Sept. 10 in the NFL regular-season opener at Pittsburgh.
Mark Jones was signed to try to replace Chris Carr, a free agent loss to Detroit, as the kick and punt returner. He hasn't taken part in a full practice since the first day of camp July 31.
The injury list appeared to lengthen Saturday when rookie receiver Kenny Britt twisted an ankle that sent him to the locker room at the end of the third quarter. Titans quarterback Vince Young's hamstring tightened up, bringing Patrick Ramsey in during the third quarter.
Fisher said Sunday he assumes Britt, the No. 30 pick overall and the first receiver drafted by this team since 1998, is going to be fine.
"He didn't show up for treatment. If you don't show up for treatment, you have to practice the next day," Fisher said.
JENKINS' RETURN BOOSTS COWBOYS SECONDARY (5:45 p.m. ET)
Cornerback Mike Jenkins has returned to practice with the Dallas Cowboys after missing a week because of a sprained right ankle.
Jenkins, a first-round pick last year, was back on the field Sunday for the Cowboys' second practice of the day.
Neither Jenkins nor Terence Newman, among the team's top three cornerbacks, played in the preseason opener Thursday night. Newman sustained a slight groin strain Aug. 8, the same day Jenkins was hurt.
Coach Wade Phillips expects Newman to be back at practice Monday, when the Cowboys have only an afternoon workout. Phillips has said Newman and Jenkins could have played last week if it were the regular season.
TEXANS EYE OPTIONS AFTER GROSSMAN INJURY (5:42 p.m. ET)
Houston's Rex Grossman is expected to miss about a month with a hamstring injury and the Texans are looking to sign another quarterback to fill in until he's healthy.
Grossman, Houston's third quarterback and the former Bears starter, was injured in Saturday's win over the Chiefs and coach Gary Kubiak says he doesn't feel comfortable finishing the preseason with only Matt Schaub and backup Dan Orlovsky.
Kubiak says the Texans could bring back Alex Brink, who was with the team last season.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.





