COWBOYS
Holloman's career ends
IRVING, Texas -- The Dallas Cowboys said Thursday that linebacker DeVonte Holloman has a career-ending neck injury related to a spinal problem that kept him out almost half of his rookie season a year ago.
Coach Jason Garrett said Holloman was advised not to play again after doctor evaluations this week.
After missing the first two days of practice this week, the 23-year-old Holloman was on the field Thursday in his No. 57 jersey but didn't appear in the locker room when it was open to reporters after Garrett's announcement.
Garrett wouldn't discuss details of the injury other than saying Holloman has been dealing with a neck issue "the last couple of weeks." Holloman came out of last weekend's preseason game against Baltimore midway through the fourth quarter because of the injury.
"It's a very challenging, difficult thing for a young man who has dreams of being an NFL football player, achieves those dreams," Garrett said. "But this becomes an easy decision for him and for his family when you're dealing with that kind of injury."
Holloman returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown in his Dallas debut in the Hall of Fame preseason game last year, and the converted safety ended up starting at middle linebacker in the regular-season finale against Philadelphia because of injuries to other players.
The sixth-round pick, who played the first six weeks before injuring his neck in practice and missing seven games, led the Cowboys with 11 tackles in a loss that kept the Cowboys out of the playoffs.
The Cowboys have already lost middle linebacker Sean Lee to a season-ending knee injury. Holloman was essentially slotted as Lee's backup while getting work at both outside linebacker spots as well. His versatility was expected to help offset the loss of Lee.
CHIEFS
Moves create depth
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Kansas City Chiefs have acquired safety Kelcie McCray from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for offensive guard Rishaw Johnson in a move that should bolster depth for both teams.
McCray entered the league with Miami as an undrafted free agent out of Arkansas State. He's appeared in 15 games over the past two seasons with the Dolphins and Buccaneers.
The Chiefs are desperate for help at safety, particularly with Eric Berry still dealing with a nagging heel injury. Undrafted rookie Daniel Sorensen has been pressed into a starting role.
Johnson has appeared in three games over parts of two seasons for Kansas City. He had slid down the depth chart after the Chiefs acquired several other linemen in the draft and free agency.
Charles returns
Jamaal Charles returned to Chiefs practice Thursday for the first time since hurting his foot last week, though he's unlikely to play in Saturday night's preseason game against Minnesota.
Charles hurt the foot last Thursday while moving out of the dormitories at Missouri Western, where the Chiefs start their training camp workouts. He did not make the trip to Carolina for their second preseason game last weekend.
Wide receiver De'Anthony Thomas returned after missing a day of practice with spasms in his hamstring. Defensive back Chris Owens was also back on the field after leaving a day earlier with a knee injury.
Pro Bowl safety Eric Berry, wide receiver Dwayne Bowe and linebacker Joe Mays did not practice.
TEXANS-BRONCOS
Practice not 'chippy'
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Nobody got hurt Thursday in several skirmishes that broke out during team drills between Denver's record-shattering offense and Houston's swaggering defense.
Texans talkative safety D.J. Swearinger was once again in the middle of the biggest fracas. Tempers flared when running back Montee Ball was shoved after the whistle. Several players ended up on the ground in all the pushing and shoving that followed, including Denver receiver Emmanuel Sanders.
Texans coach Bill O'Brien took exception to the notion the joint practices were chippy, saying, "I'm from Boston, so when chippy was used, that was with the old big, bad Bruins in the '80s. Chippy was a hockey term, not a football term. It was competitive. Two teams going at it."
PATRIOTS
Pair released
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots have released defensive lineman Marcus Forston and tight end D.J. Williams.
Forston had three tackles in three games for the Patriots last season. Williams had no catches in two games.
The Patriots originally signed Forston in May 2012 as an undrafted free agent from Miami. He played one game and spent most of that season on the team's practice squad.
Williams was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round in 2011 and had nine catches in 26 games for them over two seasons. He started last season with Jacksonville, where he played seven games before being cut and signed by New England.
VIKINGS
Peterson misses practice
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Adrian Peterson missed Minnesota Vikings practice for the second consecutive day, but the team does expect the star running back to make the trip to Kansas City this weekend.
Peterson missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday for what the team called personal reasons. He has not played in the first two preseason games and coach Mike Zimmer hinted earlier that he didn't really see a need to play him much at all for the entire exhibition season.
The Vikings have been giving more work to Peterson's backup, Matt Asiata.
Linebacker Chad Greenway did return to practice on Thursday after sitting out on Wednesday to rest a sore wrist.
The Vikings play at Kansas City on Saturday.
TITANS
Decision on Saturday
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Titans are looking for Coty Sensabaugh and Blidi Wreh-Wilson to replace departed Pro Bowl cornerback Alterraun Verner, and coach Ken Whisenhunt sees no reason to make a decision just yet.
And he isn't.
The Titans visit Atlanta on Saturday night, and Sensabaugh likely starts opposite Jason McCourty with Wreh-Wilson starting the last exhibition in New Orleans. Whisenhunt said Thursday the rotation will be decided Saturday.
But both defensive backs are expected to play heavily this season with one starting at cornerback and the other playing on passing downs.
Sensabaugh can't wait to play again no matter when he gets on the field. Targeted on a couple deep passes by the Saints, Sensabaugh says he's a perfectionist and not happy with how he played.
49ERS
New field repaired
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers were working to re-sod the field at new Levi's Stadium on Thursday, a day after a public workout was cut short and moved to the regular practice fields because players were slipping.
San Francisco hosts the San Diego Chargers at the $1.2 billion stadium on Sunday, and the team has said it expects to have the field ready in time.
Coach Jim Harbaugh moved his team out of the stadium Wednesday about an hour into the practice.
Veteran placekicker Phil Dawson missed wide right on first-half field goal attempts from 55 and 44 yards in Sunday's 34-0 loss to the Denver Broncos, saying there's always adjustments with new grass. The field looked dry in places and chunks of sod were missing.
Sports on 08/22/2014