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Mort Goes To Camp: Washington Redskins

Jason Campbell sits down with Chris Mortensen to talk about Washington's upcoming season

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Mort Goes To Camp: Washington Redskins

BROWNS PICK UP RAYMOND, WAIVE RUUD (12:48 a.m. ET)
The Cleveland Browns say they have been awarded wide receiver Paul Raymond off waivers from the New York Jets, and waived linebacker Bo Ruud.

After being signed by the Jets as an undrafted free agent in May 2008, Raymond spent parts of last season on the practice squads for the Jets, Detroit Lions and New York Giants. He was re-signed by the Jets after last season.

-- The Associated Press

TOMLINSON LOOKING FOR MORE CARRIES (11:04 p.m. ET)
LaDainian Tomlinson is looking forward to increasing his summer work load.

"I'm hoping to get a few more carries," Tomlinson said Monday as the San Diego Chargers got back to practice after a day off. "I said this past game I was just starting to get into the rhythm. Hopefully I can get into that rhythm before [coach Norv Turner] pulls me out."

Tomlinson was pulled by Turner after four runs and one catch in a 20-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night. But it was news for the mere fact that Tomlinson played in a preseason game for the first time since 2005.

Next up for the Chargers is a Saturday night meeting at the NFC champion Arizona Cardinals. Tomlinson expects to be active late into the second quarter.

-- The Associated Press

PACKERS' BARNETT PRACTICES FOR FIRST TIME (10:11 p.m. ET)
Nick Barnett isn't all the way back from the knee injury that ended his 2008 season, but the veteran Green Bay Packers linebacker took a big step forward Monday when he practiced for the first time in training camp.

The Packers activated Barnett from the physically unable to perform list Monday morning, allowing him to practice for the first time since tearing the ACL in his right knee last Nov. 9 at Minnesota. While he was withheld from 11-on-11 team periods, Barnett took part in individual drills, the jog-through sessions and 7-on-7 work -- all of which he said he enjoyed.

"It felt great to be out there," said Barnett, who sat out all of the team's offseason organized team activity practices and the mandatory minicamp. "The knee felt great. I don't think I was babying it. I felt good hitting the bags, throwing the pads on with the helmet.

"The next step is hitting some people. But we'll take it one step at a time."

-- The Associated Press

BILLS' BYRD DEBUTS, BUT VETERANS OUT (10:04 p.m. ET)
While Buffalo Bills rookie safety Jairus Byrd finally made his training camp debut Monday, the team was without two veteran defensive backs who are nursing knee injuries.

Byrd, the first of Buffalo's two second-round draft picks, took part in a morning walkthrough and a night practice after being activated from the active/non-football-injury list. He missed the first 18 days of training camp -- and two preseason games -- after having surgery to repair a sports hernia.

Cornerback Drayton Florence will miss between two and five weeks because of a sprained knee, coach Dick Jauron said. Florence was hurt when he collided with teammate Ko Simpson in a 27-20 win over Chicago in a preseason game Saturday.

Safety Bryan Scott is day to day after hurting a knee Saturday. Reserve tight end Travis McCall, an undrafted rookie, is out indefinitely because of a left knee injury sustained against the Bears.

-- The Associated Press

MAWAE ON PACE FOR RETURN (8:08 p.m. ET)
Kevin Mawae has been running, slinging giant ropes and pushing against sleds by himself on a side field during training camp while his Tennessee teammates practice.

The All Pro center is rehabilitating after offseason surgery to repair his torn right triceps tendon. His aim is to get ready for the NFL season opener Sept. 10 at Pittsburgh, and finish this season healthy.

"Obviously, I'd like to be there for the regular season, and that's what the ultimate goal is. To be there for the season opener and the 16 weeks following that," Mawae said. "I'd like to get some time in at the end of the preseason just in time to knock some of the rust off."

No current NFL offensive lineman has played more games than Mawae's 225 in 15 seasons. But an injured calf kept him out of the final two games of 2007, including a wild-card playoff loss at San Diego, and that torn tendon kept him out of the final two games of 2008, including a 13-10 divisional playoff loss to Baltimore.

-- The Associated Press

LEFTWICH THE APPARENT FRONTRUNNER IN TAMPA BAY (7:33 p.m. ET)
Though Raheem Morris says Tampa Bay's quarterback competition is still wide open, the first-year coach plans to make a decision within a week.

That suits the apparent frontrunner, Byron Leftwich, just fine.

Leftwich will begin Saturday night's preseason game at Jacksonville with an opportunity to be a team's No. 1 quarterback for the first time since the Jaguars cut him late in training camp two years ago.

That's precisely what Leftwich hoped for when he signed with Tampa Bay this spring after spending last season as a backup to Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh.

-- The Associated Press

VILMA PREPARING TO BE TEAM PLAYER (6:57 p.m. ET)
Jonathan Vilma needed one season in New Orleans to resurrect his career.

Coming back from major knee surgery, he played every defensive snap at middle linebacker in 2008, leading the team with 151 tackles to go with two forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and a game-sealing interception.

Vilma understands he'll be challenged to top those numbers in his second season with the Saints, but said he's trying not to worry about his own statistics.

His play-making ability is no longer in question at this point. What the Saints need him to do now is become the "quarterback" of a defensive unit that struggled last season, even while Vilma thrived individually.

"The personal goals, I try not to really worry about," Vilma said after a recent practice. "It's really about the team goals and trying to be a better leader, trying to be a better communicator, trying to make sure that the defense is in the top tier and people start mentioning the Saints defense -- and doing things bigger than just myself."

-- The Associated Press

HURD STEPPING UP TO COWBOYS' CHALLENGE (6:56 p.m. ET)
Along with acrobatic catches in camp, Sam Hurd led the Dallas Cowboys with a team-high five receptions for 79 yards in the preseason opener while playing with the second-team offense. With No. 1 receiver Roy Williams bothered by a sprained left wrist, though he did practice Monday, there could be more opportunities for Hurd in the next game on Friday night.

"Sam Hurd makes an unheard of catch every day, I think," coach Wade Phillips said.

Now in his fourth season, after being limited to three games last year with no catches because of a recurring ankle injury, Hurd is ready to be a consistent contributor.

"I have been patient, patiently waiting," Hurd said. "As a rookie, you don't even think you're going to make it. You're just working your hardest. ... I took advantage of everything I could do to get better, and it's been a blessing that each year I've developed and grown a little better."

-- The Associated Press

BENGALS' PALMER SAYS HE WON'T PLAY THURSDAY (4:20 p.m. ET)
When the Cincinnati Bengals play their second preseason game Thursday night at New England Patriots, it will be without quarterback Carson Palmer.

Head coach Marvin Lewis said Monday that Palmer suffered a "mild to moderate high ankle sprain" in a 17-7 loss Friday to New Orleans. Lewis said he hasn't ruled Palmer out this week, but after a very short workout on a side field Monday afternoon, Palmer said, "I'm not playing Thursday."

Palmer spent less than 10 minutes Monday doing exercises with a trainer. He had his left ankle heavily taped and moved at less than half speed.

There may actually be a silver lining to Palmer's ankle sprain. Because of a right elbow injury, which forced Palmer to miss 12 games last season, he is only allowed to throw 150 passes a day during training camp. So for the next few days, he'll not only be resting his ankle, he'll be resting his throwing elbow, too.

Palmer said he does plan to play in the Bengals' final two preseason games and said neither injury will be an issue when the Bengals open the season September 13 at home against the Broncos.

-- ESPN's Bob Holtzman

LIONS SIGN METCALF, LOOKER (4:09 p.m. ET)
The Lions have signed offensive guard Terrence Metcalf and receiver Dane Looker. Detroit created space on the roster by releasing offensive tackle Kirk Barton and receiver Bobby Sippio.

Metcalf, who was cut by Chicago in March, was suspended last season while he was with the Bears for four games for violating the league's policy on anabolic steroids and related substances. With 25 career starts, he adds much-needed depth at guard for Detroit.

The Lions also need help at receiver and hope Looker can provide it. He started six games last season for the Rams and has 112 career receptions, 1,224 yards receiving and five touchdowns.

-- The Associated Press

HAYNESWORTH EXPECTS TO PLAY VS. STEELERS (3:46 p.m. ET)
Albert Haynesworth expects to play in the Redskins' game against the Steelers on Saturday night.

"I'd like to," the Pro Bowl defensive tackle told the Washington Post. "I like to get in three games [in the preseason]. I like to be at full speed when the season starts, so three games is good for me."

Haynesworth, who has experienced knee soreness during training camp and recently had an injection in the knee, sat out the Redskins' preseason opener, a 23-0 loss to the Ravens, last week. He told the newspaper that he could have played against Baltimore, but coach Jim Zorn decided to be cautious.

"I feel fine," Haynesworth told the newspaper. "I'm ready to play."

-- ESPN.com news services

COWBOYS RELEASE COLEMAN, HAWKINS (2:58 p.m. ET)
Injured running back Alonzo Coleman and cornerback Michael Hawkins have been released by the Cowboys.

Coleman has been out during camp with a knee injury. He appeared in only one game in the past two seasons for the Cowboys. After signing as a rookie free agent in 2007, Coleman spent all of that season and the first 13 weeks last season on the practice squad.

Hawkins has been down with a bruised knee. He'd been out of football for two seasons before signing with Dallas in January.

The moves Monday put the Cowboys' roster at 77 players. Dallas will host Tennessee on Friday.

-- The Associated Press

MANGINI WON'T NAME QB COMPETITION LEADER (2:29 p.m. ET)
Brady Quinn got the bulk of the work in the Browns' first preseason game, but coach Eric Mangini isn't declaring him the leader in Cleveland's quarterback derby.

Quinn started Saturday's 17-0 loss to Green Bay and completed 7 of 11 passes for 68 yards. Derek Anderson attempted just two passes and was hit on both throws. Each quarterback threw an interception.

"It's too early to make an assessment on both guys," Mangini said Monday. "I'm looking at it as a body of work and not really a horse race."

Despite the unbalanced snaps for the two, Mangini would not commit to starting Anderson in Saturday's preseason game against the Lions. He previously indicated he likely would rotate the first two preseason starts at quarterback.

-- The Associated Press

RYAN UPSET ABOUT RAVENS' JERSEY NUMBER (2:05 p.m. ET)
A sharp-tongued Rex Ryan might have provided a Ravens rookie with some extra motivation. Toward the end of his news conference Monday, the Jets coach was talking glowingly about the Ravens' defensive tradition when he mentioned former defensive end Michael McCrary.

"I am disappointed that they gave his jersey to some rookie who hasn't proven" anything, said Ryan, using an expletive. "Excuse my language."

With a big grin, Ryan looked over at senior director of public relations Bruce Speight and said, "Sorry, Bruce."

McCrary, a two-time Pro Bowl selection who retired after 2002, wore No. 99 -- which was given to second-round pick Paul Kruger.

The teams will play Aug. 24 in Baltimore.

-- The Associated Press

YOUNG TO GET MORE TIME WITH TITANS' FIRST TEAM (2:01 p.m. ET)
Disgruntled quarterback Vince Young will not start the Titans' preseason game against the Cowboys on Friday, but he will play more with the first-team offense, the (Nashville) Tennessean reported Monday.

Kerry Collins will start against Dallas, but the first-team offense could play the entire first half, with Young replacing Collins at some point, coach Jeff Fisher said. The Titans want to evaluate Young, who is battling Patrick Ramsey for the backup quarterback job, in a variety of situations.

"The important thing at the end of the day is he gets to play with the starting offense," Fisher told the Tennessean.

-- ESPN.com news services

CARDS' BREASTON DAY TO DAY (1:54 p.m. ET)
Cardinals wide receiver Steve Breaston has a sprained PCL and bone bruise in his right knee and is day to day, The Arizona Republic reported.

Breaston has some swelling in the knee because of the bone bruise, but coach Ken Whisenhunt wouldn't rule him out of the Cardinals' preseason game against the Chargers this week, the newspaper reported.

Breaston had an MRI on the knee Friday.

-- ESPN.com news services