ESPN NFL

THOMAS HOPES TO PLAY (10:21 p.m. ET)
Zach Thomas told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday that he intends to play again despite being limited by undisclosed injuries.

A source close to the Chiefs said this weekend that Thomas, who was signed in the offseason, was not expected to play. But doctors have not ruled the linebacker unfit.

If Thomas, 35, were to retire, the Chiefs could try to recoup some of this signing bonus; however, he has indicated that that will not happen. Thomas is scheduled to make $1 millon this season.

The Chiefs also acquired another pair of veteran defenders in linebacker Mike Vrabel and defensive back Mike Brown this offseason.

Thomas spent the first 12 years of this career with the Dolphins and made seven Pro Bowls. He played last season with the Cowboys.

-- ESPN.com news services

BROOKS OUT OF NINERS' OPENER (8:34 p.m. ET)
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Monday to remove a small bone fragment, a procedure that likely will keep him out the team's season opener Sept. 13 at Arizona.

Brooks had an MRI exam on his knee late Sunday and it was determined he needed surgery, which was done at nearby Stanford University. He is likely to be sidelined two or three weeks.

Coach Mike Singletary said Brooks might have initially hurt the knee in practice, then aggravated it during the team's preseason win at Dallas on Saturday night.

Brooks, a fourth-year pro in his second season with San Francisco, is a backup outside linebacker to Parys Haralson. He wasn't active for any games last season.

-- The Associated Press

VET COLEMAN HEADLINES SAINTS' CUTDOWN (6:43 p.m. ET)
Rod Coleman's NFL comeback bid is on hold.

The 10-year veteran defensive lineman was among three cuts made by the New Orleans Saints on Monday as the club trimmed its roster to 75, the maximum for the final week of the preseason.

The Saints also waived cornerback Greg Fassitt and receiver D'Juan Woods, who both had been injured recently. Fassitt hurt his hamstring during Saturday's exhibition game at Oakland, while Woods missed the last two preseason games with a neck injury.

The 33-year-old Coleman is a former Pro Bowl defensive tackle who played with the Oakland Raiders and Atlanta Falcons earlier in his career. He spent 2008 out of football, but signed with New Orleans in March.

-- The Associated Press

STAFFORD IS LAST MAN STANDING -- FOR A DAY (6:37 p.m. ET)
For one day, there was no question that Matt Stafford was the Detroit Lions' first-string quarterback.

Injuries to both Daunte Culpepper (foot) and Drew Stanton (knee) meant Stafford was Detroit's only healthy quarterback at Monday's practice. Coach Jim Schwartz cut the session short.

"It was fun -- it was like being back in college," said Stafford, who took every snap for Detroit on Monday. "I got to do everything -- even play Peyton Manning on the show team."

Schwartz says he doesn't know if he will have either Culpepper or Stanton for Thursday's final preseason game in Buffalo, or if he will have to find an emergency quarterback.

-- The Associated Press

COLTS ONE OVER LIMIT AFTER CUTS (6:35 p.m. ET)
The Indianapolis Colts have released four players and still must make one more roster move to get down to the NFL's mandatory limit of 75.

Defensive back Michael Coe, a fifth-round draft pick in 2007, defensive end Rudolph Hardie and defensive end Curtis Johnson were all placed on the waived-injured list late Monday afternoon. Undrafted rookie tight end Colin Cloherty was waived.

The Colts must reach the cutdown limit on Tuesday.

Coe is the second former draft pick the Colts have released since training camp opened. Receiver Roy Hall, also a fifth-round pick in 2007, was released earlier this month.

BEARS PUT DVORACEK ON WAIVED/INJURED LIST (6:30 p.m. ET)
The Bears have placed Dusty Dvoracek on the waived/injured list after ruling him out for the season last week because of a torn ACL in his right knee.

Dvoracek had surgery Friday after going down in a preseason game against the New York Giants.

If he clears waivers, Dvoracek reverts to injured reserve. He could also work out an injury settlement with the Bears.

The Bears also waived receiver John Broussard, punter Richmond McGee and long snapper J.J. Milan on Monday.

-- The Associated Press

WHISENHUNT PUNISHES CARDS WITH PLAYING TIME (6:20 p.m. ET)
Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt is so upset with his starters that he might play them longer than usual in the Cardinals' final preseason game Thursday night in Denver.

"It depends on whether my anger subsides by Thursday, to be honest with you," Whisenhunt said.

The Cardinals watched film of their 44-37 loss to Green Bay on Monday, then worked out for two hours in temperatures that reached 106 degrees.

Arizona's starters fell behind 38-10 at halftime against the Packers Saturday night as Aaron Rodgers shredded the Cardinals' defense for 258 yards passing and three touchdowns. Green Bay had 357 yards by halftime.

"I couldn't be more disappointed in the performance of the defense against Green Bay," first-year defensive coordinator Bill Davis said. "The players couldn't be more disappointed. I didn't see it coming. It won't happen again, and I don't know where it came from."

-- The Associated Press

REDSKINS STAGE 'KICK-OFF' TO CAP KICKER BATTLE (6:17 p.m. ET)
Shaun Suisham and Dave Rayner remain in a too-close-to-call battle for the Washington Redskins kicker's job.

Coaches had Suisham and Rayner take part in a pressure-packed "kick-off" at Redskins Park on Tuesday. Each tried seven field goals with the rest of the team watching.

Suisham went 6-for-7. Rayner finished 5-for-7.

The "kick-off" was necessary because the Redskins have attempted only three field goals in three games, and two of those were gimmes from 20 and 25 yards. The other was a 52-yarder that Suisham missed in Friday's game against New England. The final game is Thursday, and coaches have to decide on a kicker by Saturday.

"I don't know why I'm a story," Suisham said.

"It's kicking field goals. It's nothing more than that," Suisham said. "It's practice. I'm trying to get ready for the season. I feel great. I feel like I've been hitting the ball well. I'm disappointed that I missed the kick in the game, obviously, but it hasn't shaken me. I feel good."

Coach Jim Zorn said it's not clear who's ahead and that it will be "a last-minute decision" which player gets the job.

-- ESPN.com news services

BULGER TO SIT OUT PRESEASON FINALE (6:14 p.m. ET)
The St. Louis Rams plan to sit quarterback Marc Bulger in the preseason finale on Thursday to lessen the chance of him aggravating his broken right pinkie.

Bulger threw for the second straight day Monday, but has yet to take a snap from center. Backup Kyle Boller will get his third straight start against the Kansas City Chiefs in the annual Governor's Cup game in St. Louis.

"Right now we're planning on him not going," coach Steve Spagnuolo said. "He'd have to come in here tomorrow begging to play and say that it's OK."

Spagnuolo says Bulger would have likely played in a regular-season game, along with other players nursing injuries -- defensive end Leonard Little, guard Richie Incognito and fullback Mike Karney.

-- The Associated Press

PALMER COULD PLAY THURSDAY (6:05 p.m. ET)
Carson Palmer threw some passes to Cincinnati Bengals teammates during practice, an indication he could play in the final preseason game.

Palmer threw to receivers during the first 30 minutes of practice Monday, the first time he's done that in nearly three weeks. The quarterback dropped back after taking snaps and moved around without problem on his sprained left ankle.

He sustained a moderate sprain in the first preseason game, and has missed the last two. Coach Marvin Lewis said Monday it's possible Palmer could play in the final exhibition game Thursday against Indianapolis.

-- The Associated Press

RAIDERS REDUCE ROSTER BY FIVE (5:35 p.m. ET)
The Oakland Raiders have released offensive linemen Jonathan Compas and Marcus Johnson, receivers Shawn Bayes and Will Franklin, and defensive tackle Joe Cohen.

The moves on Monday leave the Raiders with 75 players on the roster a day before the deadline to reach that number. Oakland will have to reduce the roster to 53 by Saturday.

Also Monday, center John Wade returned to practice for the first time since leaving the exhibition opener on Aug. 13 with a stinger.

-- The Associated Press

'FILM SESSION' FOR DOLPHINS (5:22 p.m. ET)
Dolphins coach Tony Sparano changed things up at practice Monday with a little field trip.

After a walk-through session in the morning, Sparano surprised his players by telling them to hit the showers and load the bus. It was movie day at Dolphins training camp.

The new "G.I. Joe" film to be exact.

"Seeing 65 players, or 66 players sprint out of the bubble like a kid at Christmas, it was pretty good," Sparano said.

Usually an intense, in-your-face coach, Sparano showed off his softer side Monday. He thought his Dolphins, who play their final preseason game Thursday night at New Orleans, could use the trip as a way to rest and bond.

Last year, Sparano took the team to see "The Express," a drama based on the life of Syracuse Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis, the first black player to win the award.

"[The Express] was a little bit more relative to what we were trying to do," Sparano said. "This thing here, I just figured it'd be a lot of things blowing up and people doing all those things, so I thought it was pretty good. It had a nice-looking woman in it, too, for them."

-- The Associated Press

BROWNS RELEASE EX-CARDINALS STARTER HOOD (5:11 p.m. ET)
Defensive back Rod Hood, a starter for Arizona in last season's Super Bowl, has been released by the Cleveland Browns.

Hood made 14 starts last season for the Cardinals, who released him in April. The Browns signed him as a free agent in May. He had been rotating at cornerback, but was beaten on a touchdown pass in Saturday night's win over Tennessee.

The Browns also released tight end Nate Jackson, waived linebacker Robert McCune and signed rookie offensive lineman Branndon Braxton, who was waived on Aug. 20.

The team had no response to a report that veteran offensive guard Ryan Tucker has been released. Tucker, who has been with Cleveland since 2002, has been sidelined by an unspecified injury the past few weeks.

-- The Associated Press

CARDS GET DOWN TO 75 (4:52 p.m. ET)
The Arizona Cardinals have released five-year NFL veteran safety Keith Lewis and rookie offensive tackle Brandon Pearce to reach the 75-man roster limit.

The team also waived two injured players: wide receiver Michael Ray Garvin (knee) and linebacker Pago Togafau (broken foot).

As expected, the Cardinals placed linebacker Cody Brown, the team's second-round draft pick, on injured reserve with a dislocated wrist. He is out for the season.

Lewis signed with Arizona after five seasons with San Francisco, where he played in all but four games. Pearce was an undrafted rookie free agent out of Memphis.

The Cardinals must pare the roster to 53 by Saturday.

-- The Associated Press

INJURIES KEEP HITTING COWBOYS' ROOKIES (3:26 p.m. ET)
So much for the big boost on special teams the Dallas Cowboys were expecting from their rookie class.

Linebacker Jason Williams, the team's top draft pick, has a high ankle sprain and safety Michael Hamlin has a broken arm. Coach Wade Phillips says they will both miss at least the next four weeks.

Most of Dallas' 12 draft picks were projected to help on special teams, but now six of them have been hurt this preseason -- with tackle Robert Brewster (torn pectoral muscle) and linebacker Brandon Williams (torn knee ligament) gone for the season.

The other wounded draftees are quarterback Stephen McGee, who missed the last game and will miss the preseason finale because of a sprained knee, and linebacker Stephen Hodge, who is trying to control swelling on a knee. Phillips said Hodge may be able to practice this week.

-- The Associated Press

STEELERS' STAPLETON OUT FOR SEASON (3:23 p.m. ET)
Pittsburgh Steelers right guard Darnell Stapleton has been placed on the injured reserve list with a knee injury and will miss the season.

Stapleton injured his left knee during the first week of training camp and had arthroscopic surgery to remove loose cartilage. An undrafted player who started in the Super Bowl, he was expected to be ready by the start of the season.

Coach Mike Tomlin, however, says Stapleton might need more surgery.

Now, Trai Essex will begin the season at right guard.

The Steelers also cut wide receivers Martin Nance and Steven Black, safety Derrick Richardson and center Alex Stepanovich.

-- The Associated Press

TEXANS TRADE JOHNSON (2:34 p.m. ET)
The Houston Texans have traded defensive tackle Travis Johnson to the San Diego Chargers.

Houston will get a sixth-round draft pick that will turn into a fifth-round pick with minimum playing time, ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter reported.

Johnson was a first-round pick in 2005, but never lived up to expectations. His career has been marked by numerous injuries and inconsistent play.

He returned to practice last week for the first time this season after undergoing sports hernia surgery just before the start of camp.

Johnson started 14 games last season and 13 in 2007.

-- ESPN.com news services

BENGALS PUT UTECHT ON INJURED LIST (2:29 p.m. ET)
The Bengals have placed tight end Ben Utecht on the injured reserve list, ending his season.

Utecht suffered a severe concussion during practice on Aug. 5, when he was taken from the field in an ambulance. The reserve hasn't been able to practice, prompting the move.

The Bengals also waived tight end Matt Sherry with a shoulder injury. If he clears waivers on Tuesday, he'll revert to the Bengals' injured reserve list.

The Bengals lost starting tight end Reggie Kelly to a torn Achilles tendon at the start of training camp, leaving them with very little experience at the position.

-- The Associated Press

PANTHERS RELEASE WR-KR ROBINSON (1:41 p.m. ET)
The Panthers released Ryne Robinson, who failed to regain the kickoff and punt return jobs after missing last season with a knee injury.

The Panthers also waived defensive tackle Lorenzo Williams and tackle Gerald Cadogan and placed guard C.J. Davis on injured reserve. The team must cut one more player by Tuesday afternoon to get to the 75-player limit.

Robinson was Carolina's fourth-round pick in 2007 out of Miami of Ohio, and he showed some promise as a returner and receiver late in his rookie year.

Robinson spent last season on injured reserve. He failed to win either the punt return or kickoff return jobs this preseason and had fallen behind Kenny Moore in the competition for the No. 4 receiver job.

-- The Associated Press

BOLEY COMES OFF PUP LIST (1:38 p.m. ET)
Giants linebacker Michael Boley is ready to get back on a football field.

Boley, who signed a five-year, $25 million contract, was taken off the physically unable to perform list and was to practice on Monday for the first time since having surgery in June to repair a torn labrum. The former Atlanta Falcon hurt his hip during the offseason program.

Boley cannot play in the regular-season opener against Washington on Sept. 13 because he will be serving an NFL suspension.

New York also released three players, including cornerback Stoney Woodson, a seventh-round draft choice who was waived injured with an ankle problem. Also waived were wide receiver Taye Biddle and offensive lineman Terrance Pennington.

-- The Associated Press