COWBOYS One added, two cut
ARLINGTON, Texas - 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.
Hannah spent the past two seasons on the practice squad.
BEARSHester ready to field punts
LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Devin Hester is ready to start fielding punts again.
Bears Coach Lovie Smith on Thursday said plans are for Hester to play at returner in Sunday's Bears game at Denver for the first time this preseason.
Hester hadn't even fielded many punts before this week's practices, and wants to do it Sunday to get off the rust.
Hester's big challenge until now has been learning new starting quarterback Jay Cutler so the two can become a viable passing combination.
They hooked up for two connections in the first preseason game, but failed to connect four times. Last week against the New York Giants, Hester failed to go deep enough to catch up to a 60-yard heave by Cutler.
BRONCOS Marshall misses practice
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall appears unlikely to make his preseason debut in Sunday night's exhibition against the Chicago Bears after missing practice again.
Marshall, who had off-season hip surgery, has missed most of the team's training camp with a hamstring problem. He also has requested a trade after clashing with the organization and new Coach Josh McDaniels over his desire for a new contract.
McDaniels refused to specify the reasons for Marshall's absence from practice. He had returned to practice Tuesday, and McDaniels had said he participated fully in the team's drills. However, Marshall appeared to hold himself out of some prepractice warmup drills Wednesday - the only portion of the team's workout open to the media - and was nowhere to be seen Thursday.
During a brief post-practice news conference, McDaniels refused to say whether Marshall's absence was healthrelated.
BILLS Owens increases workouts
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens took a step closer in recovering from a sprained toe after working out and catching passes in individual drills during practice.
Coach Dick Jauron was encouraged by Owens' progress Thursday. He added it's possible the receiver will be cleared to start practicing fully next week. It was the third consecutive day Owens has worked out, and marked the most time he's practiced since jamming his foot in the Hall of Fame game Aug. 9.
Owens has been ruled out from playing in a preseason game at Pittsburgh on Saturday.
49ERS Hill back at QB
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - San Francisco quarterback Shaun Hill neverthought he had seriously injured his back.
Hill returned to practice for the 49ers on Thursday and deemed himself more than healthy enough to play Saturday night at Dallas in the team's third exhibition 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.
Hill, who was named the regularseason starting quarterback Monday by Singletary over Alex Smith, said his back calmed down "quite a bit." He's not sure how long he will play Saturday.
STEELERS
Kicker has sore ankle
PITTSBURGH - Pittsburgh 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 made 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).
Sports, Pages 26 on 08/28/2009