ESPN NFL

EAGLES LOSE GUARD TO FOOT SURGERY (1:08 a.m. ET)
Philadelphia Eagles guard Todd Herremans will have surgery Friday in Philadelphia for a stress fracture in his foot, coach Andy Reid announced Thursday night.

Reid did not specify how much time Herremans would miss.

"We'll see how it goes after the surgery with what the doctor says," Reid said in the postgame press conference.

Herremans has been in a walking boot since he injured his foot on Aug. 12.

-- ESPN.com news services

CHARGERS' GUARD SPOT STILL UP FOR GRABS (8:31 p.m. ET)
San Diego Chargers coach Norv Turner said the battle at right guard between Kynan Forney and rookie Louis Vasquez remains competitive and a decision probably won't be made until the week of the regular-season opener.

"It's a very, very competitive spot," coach Norv Turner said. "That decision probably won't be made until we get ready to play the opening game."

Turner also said he likes the addition of free agent Kevin Burnett at inside linebacker, where the Chargers are expected to have a rotation that will include Stephen Cooper and Tim Dobbins.

-- ESPN.com news services

CUTS LEAVE COWBOYS WITH ONE MOVE TO MAKE (7:10 p.m. ET)
The Dallas Cowboys have signed center Duke Preston and released linebacker Justin Rogers and tight end Rodney Hannah.

The Cowboys have 76 players, leaving them with one move to make by the Sept. 1 deadline to be at 75.

Preston was cut Tuesday by Green Bay. A fourth-round pick by Buffalo in 2005, he's started 20 games and played 59. He'll compete with Cory Procter and Montrae Holland for a backup spot behind Andre Gurode.

Rogers received an injury settlement because of a knee problem. He spent the past two seasons with the Cowboys, contributing mostly on special teams.

-- The Associated Press

JONES' TIME IS RUNNING OUT (6:42 p.m. ET)
Mark Jones has been hurt most of training camp and unable to show the Tennessee Titans that he is capable of doing the job they signed him to do.

The Titans signed him this offseason to replace departed free agent Chris Carr as their punt and kick returner. But Jones hurt his right hamstring on the first day of training camp and didn't return to full practice until this week.

But the Titans also have other options. Rookie running back Javon Ringer has been productive on kickoffs, while rookie cornerback Ryan Mouton and defensive back Tuff Harris both flashed some ability on punt returns.

"He's got two games where he's going to get the opportunity to return and play offense," Fisher said.

Jones can't wait for the chance.

"As soon as I can get my hands on the ball, hands on the steering wheel, don't let go of it," Jones said.

-- The Associated Press

OUT OF LUCK WITH CAROLINA? (5:28 p.m. ET)
Ryne Robinson reported to training camp determined to nail down three jobs with the Carolina Panthers: kickoff returner, punt returner and No. 4 receiver.

Robinson is 0-for-3 as the preseason winds down, putting his spot on the 53-man regular-season roster in jeopardy.

"I think everybody is out here to prove themselves, and I'm still one of those guys," Robinson, a 2007 fourth-round pick, said this week. "I have to come out on a daily basis and show them I can still function and still play at full speed."

Fourth-round pick Mike Goodson has become the No. 1 kickoff returner. Seventh-round pick Captain Munnerlyn is the top punt returner. Second-year pro Kenny Moore has taken ownership of the No. 4 receiver job, and has also returned kicks.

-- The Associated Press

QB HILL BACK TO PRACTICE (4:33 p.m. ET)
San Francisco quarterback Shaun Hill never thought he had seriously injured his back. Hill returned to practice for the 49ers and deemed himself more than healthy enough to play Saturday night at Dallas in the team's third preseason game.

Hill left Wednesday's training camp workout after throwing one pass because of a strained lower back that he injured Tuesday, and coach Mike Singletary said at the time he was unsure of Hill's status for the game against the Cowboys. With any injury, major or minor, to a quarterback -- and especially a hurt back -- a team will be particularly cautious.

"Everything felt good," Hill said Thursday. "It was nice to get out there and be able to practice. If anything, in my mind, it wasn't as bad as everybody else thought, that's for sure. I knew there wasn't a whole lot to it."

Hill, who was named the regular-season starting quarterback Monday by Singletary over Alex Smith, called the injury a "freak thing," adding his back calmed down "quite a bit." He's not sure how long he will play Saturday.

-- The Associated Press

REED MIGHT KICK BACK (3:08 p.m. ET)
Steelers kicker Jeff Reed has a slightly sprained ankle and might not play in Saturday's preseason game against Buffalo.

Reed stepped in a hole late during training camp at Saint Vincent College but was able to kick last Saturday against Washington. Reed hit on a 34-yard field goal but missed from 48 yards.

If Reed isn't ready -- he's listed as questionable -- rookie Piotr Czech will kick. Czech made a 41-yarder against the Redskins.

Quarterback Dennis Dixon (shoulder), tight end Sean McHugh (knee) and right guard Darnell Stapleton (knee) won't play. McHugh had an arthroscopic surgery Wednesday and will be out about a month.

Questionable are wide receiver Santonio Holmes (back) and running backs Willie Parker (hamstring) and Frank Summers (groin).

-- The Associated Press

COLTS' LILJA TO SIT OUT AGAINST LIONS (2:58 p.m. ET)
Offensive lineman Ryan Lilja will miss Saturday's preseason game against Detroit. Lilja bruised a shoulder in last week's 23-15 win against Philadelphia. He has not practiced this week.

The starter at left guard, Lilja missed all of last season with a knee injury.

-- The Associated Press

HOLT CUT (1:24 p.m. ET)
The Minnesota Vikings waived receiver Glenn Holt, whom they had signed as a free agent out of Cincinnati in the offseason.

He was brought in to compete primarily as a return man after averaging 24.3 yards per kick return with the Bengals. But Holt became expendable when the Vikings drafted receiver Percy Harvin, who is expected to be one of the main kick returners.

The Vikings have also been impressed by Jaymar Johnson and Darius Reynaud in the dual roles of receiver and kick returner, meaning there was no room for Holt to compete for a spot.

Holt is a four-year veteran who led the Bengals in kick-return yardage each of the past three seasons.

-- The Associated Press

MANGINI'S CAUTION (12:48 p.m. ET)
Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson could play into the second half Saturday night in the Browns' third preseason game.

Which quarterback starts, however, won't have much bearing on the ultimate winner in the quarterback race.

"I wouldn't read anything into that at all," coach Eric Mangini said Thursday. "Somebody has to [start], but the goal is to get a balance. That hasn't changed."

NFL teams typically play their starters longer in the third preseason game. Mangini said he will talk to the quarterbacks on Friday and inform them of his plan for Saturday's game against Tennessee. Both quarterbacks are expected to see time with the starters.

-- The Associated Press