NY Giants - QB Rotation: Kurt Warner, rookie Eli Manning, Jesse Palmer, Ryan Van Dyke (see QB situation below).
Giants coach Tom Coughlin announced that Kurt Warner would start at quarterback Friday. Coughlin said Warner and Eli Manning would each have a chance to play with the first offensive unit, which is expected to remain in the game into the third quarter. Van Dyke will get to make a major impression on the coaches when he plays the final quarter-and-a-half on Friday. Third-string QB Jesse Palmer (abdominal strain) dressed but did not work Tuesday.
Several veterans likely won't be able to play against the Jets tonight, including TE Jeremy Shockey (hamstring), G Barry Stokes (gluteal strain), QB Jesse Palmer (abdomen), K Bill Gramatica (back) and DE Keith Washington (eye).
NY Jets - QB Rotation: Chad Pennington (First half and will play into third quarter), Ricky Ray, Chris Finlen, Quincy Carter, Brooks Bolinger (see QB situation below).
QB Chad Pennington will start and play into the third. The focal point behind center will be on the backups: Former Cowboys starter Quincy Carter was signed as a backup on Tuesday. Former No. 2 QB Ricky Ray will now be battling to stay on the club. Bollinger, who was sidelined a week by a sprained right knee, returned to practice this week and will likely play against the Giants. Either he or Ricky Ray will relieve Pennington sometime in the third quarter. Carter won't play against the Giants.
On Monday, QB Brooks Bollinger (knee), WR Santana Moss (hamstring) and CB David Barrett (ankle) practiced on a limited basis.
New defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson covets speed and is preaching an attacking, aggressive defense.
In the preseason opener against the Saints, Henderson estimated that 70% of his calls were man-to-man, 15% zone and 15% man-zone combination, though he may miux in more zones.
Green Bay Packers - QB Rotation: Brett Favre (Will start and play into the 3rd quarter), Tim Couch (out), Doug Pederson, Craig Nall, Scott McBrien (see QB situation below).
Favre will play the first half and start the third quarter unless LT Chad Clifton doesn't play. If Favre gets roughed up he'll be pulled quickly. Offensive coordinator Tom Rossley indicated after a Thursday morning walk-through at Lambeau Field that the preliminary playing rotation includes Brett Favre, Craig Nall and Scott McBrien. Tim Couch has had a sore arm in practice. Doug Pederson, who's apparently moved ahead of Couch for the No. 2 role behind Favre, will be strictly the holder on kicks for the second straight game.
Offensive line thin: Starting offensive linemen Mike Flanagan and Mike Wahle (knee injuries) didn't play last week. Though the Packers return all five starters on the offensive line, the unit will get minimal work together in preseason. Grey Ruegamer, a backup center and guard, continues to work at Flanagan?s spot, while rookie Steve Morley has replaced Wahle at left guard. They have yet to see more than three of their five returning starting linemen on the field at the same time.
Backup running back Najeh Davenport might not play against Jacksonville because of a hamstring injury.
Mike Sherman and defensive coordinator Bob Slowik have decided to blitz more than most teams in the exhibition season so they can work on the new schemes Slowik has put into the defense. The Packers? No. 1 defense played the first half Saturday, and Slowik blitzed regularly. He plans to use a variety of blitzes and fake blitzes to put doubt in opposing quarterbacks and generate a pass rush that lacks a second speed rusher to go with Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila.
Jacksonville Jaguars - QB Rotation: Byron Leftwich, David Garrard, Quinn Gray, Doug Johnson (exact amount of playing time still to be determined).
QB Doug Johnson was signed because the Jaguars were concerned about David Garrard's health, but he may not beat out Quinn Gray for the No. 3 job. Johnson's limited knowledge of the Jaguars' offense -- especially compared to that of his competitors at the position -- is one reason why he is in danger of being released. "He is behind the other quarterbacks," Del Rio said.
A sprained foot will cause Fred Taylor to miss Friday's game against Green Bay and possibly the final exhibition contest next week. The Jaguars signed RBs Frank Moreau and Robert Gillespie. The two are expected to play Friday. Rookie RB Greg Jones is set to make his first NFL start in place of Taylor.
Offensive line thin: Both of the Jaguars' veteran backup offensive linemen, Mike Compton and Ephraim Salaam, are nursing injuries suffered Saturday. Compton broke his thumb and will miss another week because of surgery to insert a screw, while Salaam is limited by a strained right knee.
Running back depth a concern particularly this week with Fred Taylor's injured foot. RB LaBrandon Toefield has missed almost all of camp with a high ankle sprain and won't play.
S.F. 49ers - QB Rotation: Tim Rattay, Brandon Doman, Cody Pickett, Ken Dorsey (see QB situation below).
Coach Dennis Erickson said his first-string units would see their most extensive action of the exhibition season Friday, playing throughout the first half and possibly the first series of the third quarter.
QBs thin: QB Ken Dorsey, who has been filling in as the 49ers' first-string QB for Tim Rattay, has two protruding disks in his lower back. Dorsey sustained the injury during Monday practice and will not play this weekend.
Starting QB Tim Rattay practiced well and plans to play. If Rattay progresses, he could be the starter Friday. Even though Rattay's right forearm continues to respond well in practice, coach Dennis Erickson said he'll wait until pregame warmups Friday to decide whether to start Rattay. Witout Dorsey, Brandon Doman and Cody Pickett are the other options.
Wide receiver Rashaun Woods, the team's No. 1 draft pick, will make his exhibition debut, likely in the second half. Woods has practiced this week after missing most of camp with hamstring strains. Fullback Fred Beasley will be another of San Francisco's offensive pieces that will miss Friday's game, as Beasley is recovering from a high ankle sprain. Defensively, the club will welcome back linebacker Julian Peterson, who returned on Tuesday after being involved in a contract dispute with the team.
Strong safety Tony Parrish has a torn right calf muscle.
Ted Tollner is the new offensive coordinator for the 49ers, and Willy Robinson is the new defensive coordinator.
Minnesota Vikings - QB Rotation: Daunte Culpepper (first half and one series into the 3rd), Gus Frerotte (3 Q), Shaun Hill (4 Q).
Mike Tice said he plans to play his starters the entire first half and at least one series in the third quarter Friday against San Francisco.
Secondary thin: CB Brian Williams (knee) will miss the rest of the preseason. There are a handful of young players like Rushen Jones, Reggie Austin and Horace Willis looking to step up.
Wide receiver Marcus Robinson will miss the Vikings' two remaining exhibition games to rest his left hamstring. He was signed to be the Vikings' No. 2 receiver alongside Randy Moss.
Vikings coach Mike Tice continues to tinker with his linebackers, replacing rookie Dontarrious Thomas in the nickel defense with Mike Nattiel. Nattiel will join E.J. Henderson as the only linebackers when the team goes into its nickel defense on passing downs. Thomas will continue to be the starting weak-side linebacker in the base defense, and Nattiel will be his backup.
Ted Cottrell is the Vikings new defensive coordinator.
Coach Mike Tice emphasized the need for a stellar showing in exhibition games - to "play winning football," especially given the heartbreak of how the 2003 season ended on that infamous fourth down in Arizona. "Because of how the season ended, because of the shock and the depression we were in as a football team, winning is the only thing that's going to cure that," Tice said. "So it's important for us to have an exceptional preseason. Winning's a habit. It needs to become a habit."
Giants coach Tom Coughlin announced that Kurt Warner would start at quarterback Friday. Coughlin said Warner and Eli Manning would each have a chance to play with the first offensive unit, which is expected to remain in the game into the third quarter. Van Dyke will get to make a major impression on the coaches when he plays the final quarter-and-a-half on Friday. Third-string QB Jesse Palmer (abdominal strain) dressed but did not work Tuesday.
Several veterans likely won't be able to play against the Jets tonight, including TE Jeremy Shockey (hamstring), G Barry Stokes (gluteal strain), QB Jesse Palmer (abdomen), K Bill Gramatica (back) and DE Keith Washington (eye).
NY Jets - QB Rotation: Chad Pennington (First half and will play into third quarter), Ricky Ray, Chris Finlen, Quincy Carter, Brooks Bolinger (see QB situation below).
QB Chad Pennington will start and play into the third. The focal point behind center will be on the backups: Former Cowboys starter Quincy Carter was signed as a backup on Tuesday. Former No. 2 QB Ricky Ray will now be battling to stay on the club. Bollinger, who was sidelined a week by a sprained right knee, returned to practice this week and will likely play against the Giants. Either he or Ricky Ray will relieve Pennington sometime in the third quarter. Carter won't play against the Giants.
On Monday, QB Brooks Bollinger (knee), WR Santana Moss (hamstring) and CB David Barrett (ankle) practiced on a limited basis.
New defensive coordinator Donnie Henderson covets speed and is preaching an attacking, aggressive defense.
In the preseason opener against the Saints, Henderson estimated that 70% of his calls were man-to-man, 15% zone and 15% man-zone combination, though he may miux in more zones.
Green Bay Packers - QB Rotation: Brett Favre (Will start and play into the 3rd quarter), Tim Couch (out), Doug Pederson, Craig Nall, Scott McBrien (see QB situation below).
Favre will play the first half and start the third quarter unless LT Chad Clifton doesn't play. If Favre gets roughed up he'll be pulled quickly. Offensive coordinator Tom Rossley indicated after a Thursday morning walk-through at Lambeau Field that the preliminary playing rotation includes Brett Favre, Craig Nall and Scott McBrien. Tim Couch has had a sore arm in practice. Doug Pederson, who's apparently moved ahead of Couch for the No. 2 role behind Favre, will be strictly the holder on kicks for the second straight game.
Offensive line thin: Starting offensive linemen Mike Flanagan and Mike Wahle (knee injuries) didn't play last week. Though the Packers return all five starters on the offensive line, the unit will get minimal work together in preseason. Grey Ruegamer, a backup center and guard, continues to work at Flanagan?s spot, while rookie Steve Morley has replaced Wahle at left guard. They have yet to see more than three of their five returning starting linemen on the field at the same time.
Backup running back Najeh Davenport might not play against Jacksonville because of a hamstring injury.
Mike Sherman and defensive coordinator Bob Slowik have decided to blitz more than most teams in the exhibition season so they can work on the new schemes Slowik has put into the defense. The Packers? No. 1 defense played the first half Saturday, and Slowik blitzed regularly. He plans to use a variety of blitzes and fake blitzes to put doubt in opposing quarterbacks and generate a pass rush that lacks a second speed rusher to go with Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila.
Jacksonville Jaguars - QB Rotation: Byron Leftwich, David Garrard, Quinn Gray, Doug Johnson (exact amount of playing time still to be determined).
QB Doug Johnson was signed because the Jaguars were concerned about David Garrard's health, but he may not beat out Quinn Gray for the No. 3 job. Johnson's limited knowledge of the Jaguars' offense -- especially compared to that of his competitors at the position -- is one reason why he is in danger of being released. "He is behind the other quarterbacks," Del Rio said.
A sprained foot will cause Fred Taylor to miss Friday's game against Green Bay and possibly the final exhibition contest next week. The Jaguars signed RBs Frank Moreau and Robert Gillespie. The two are expected to play Friday. Rookie RB Greg Jones is set to make his first NFL start in place of Taylor.
Offensive line thin: Both of the Jaguars' veteran backup offensive linemen, Mike Compton and Ephraim Salaam, are nursing injuries suffered Saturday. Compton broke his thumb and will miss another week because of surgery to insert a screw, while Salaam is limited by a strained right knee.
Running back depth a concern particularly this week with Fred Taylor's injured foot. RB LaBrandon Toefield has missed almost all of camp with a high ankle sprain and won't play.
S.F. 49ers - QB Rotation: Tim Rattay, Brandon Doman, Cody Pickett, Ken Dorsey (see QB situation below).
Coach Dennis Erickson said his first-string units would see their most extensive action of the exhibition season Friday, playing throughout the first half and possibly the first series of the third quarter.
QBs thin: QB Ken Dorsey, who has been filling in as the 49ers' first-string QB for Tim Rattay, has two protruding disks in his lower back. Dorsey sustained the injury during Monday practice and will not play this weekend.
Starting QB Tim Rattay practiced well and plans to play. If Rattay progresses, he could be the starter Friday. Even though Rattay's right forearm continues to respond well in practice, coach Dennis Erickson said he'll wait until pregame warmups Friday to decide whether to start Rattay. Witout Dorsey, Brandon Doman and Cody Pickett are the other options.
Wide receiver Rashaun Woods, the team's No. 1 draft pick, will make his exhibition debut, likely in the second half. Woods has practiced this week after missing most of camp with hamstring strains. Fullback Fred Beasley will be another of San Francisco's offensive pieces that will miss Friday's game, as Beasley is recovering from a high ankle sprain. Defensively, the club will welcome back linebacker Julian Peterson, who returned on Tuesday after being involved in a contract dispute with the team.
Strong safety Tony Parrish has a torn right calf muscle.
Ted Tollner is the new offensive coordinator for the 49ers, and Willy Robinson is the new defensive coordinator.
Minnesota Vikings - QB Rotation: Daunte Culpepper (first half and one series into the 3rd), Gus Frerotte (3 Q), Shaun Hill (4 Q).
Mike Tice said he plans to play his starters the entire first half and at least one series in the third quarter Friday against San Francisco.
Secondary thin: CB Brian Williams (knee) will miss the rest of the preseason. There are a handful of young players like Rushen Jones, Reggie Austin and Horace Willis looking to step up.
Wide receiver Marcus Robinson will miss the Vikings' two remaining exhibition games to rest his left hamstring. He was signed to be the Vikings' No. 2 receiver alongside Randy Moss.
Vikings coach Mike Tice continues to tinker with his linebackers, replacing rookie Dontarrious Thomas in the nickel defense with Mike Nattiel. Nattiel will join E.J. Henderson as the only linebackers when the team goes into its nickel defense on passing downs. Thomas will continue to be the starting weak-side linebacker in the base defense, and Nattiel will be his backup.
Ted Cottrell is the Vikings new defensive coordinator.
Coach Mike Tice emphasized the need for a stellar showing in exhibition games - to "play winning football," especially given the heartbreak of how the 2003 season ended on that infamous fourth down in Arizona. "Because of how the season ended, because of the shock and the depression we were in as a football team, winning is the only thing that's going to cure that," Tice said. "So it's important for us to have an exceptional preseason. Winning's a habit. It needs to become a habit."
