Zereoue will miss Steelers' preseason opener

Injured halfback Amos Zereoue will not play Saturday in theSteelers' first exhibition game according to published reports. Zereoue will be held out of that game to make sure his sprained leftankle is fully healed. It turned stiff and swelled, and Cowher saidZereoue will wait until Monday to practice. Cowher also said he wasleaning toward not playing center Jeff Hartings, who has notpracticed this week because of a sore knee.

Dolphins - Quarterback Jay Fiedler was held out of the MiamiDolphins' practice Wednesday with what the team described as backspasms.

Dolphin Coach Dave Wannstedt said he thinks the injury occurredwhile Fiedler was stretching before practice.

"I think he probably stretched too much and it just tightened upon him a little," Wannstedt said. "It didn't get hit. It didn't doanything drastic. It tightened up on him a little bit and he was outof synch, so we decided to give him a little rest."

Fiedler missed six starts last season with a broken right thumb.

"If I can go, I can go," Fiedler said. "And if not, we'll play itone day at a time."

Former Denver QB Brian Griese, signed in the offseason to beFiedler's backup, worked out with the offensive starters Wednesday.

49ers - Quarterback Jeff Garcia will skip the San Francisco 49ers'exhibition opener against Kansas City on Saturday to rest his soreback.

The three-time Pro Bowler hurt his back in a workout a few daysbefore training camp. He had been participating in nearly everypractice at camp until Tuesday, when his back got stiff again.

Garcia missed the 49ers' workouts Wednesday.

"We've been out here a lot of days and a lot of practices, and itstiffened up on him a little bit," Coach Dennis Erickson said. "We'vejust got to be careful with it. He never had a problem with it, andall of a sudden yesterday it bothered him."

Garcia passed for 3,344 yards and 21 touchdowns last season whileleading San Francisco to the NFC West title and the second round ofthe playoffs.

His absence in the preseason could be a good thing for the 49ers,who must evaluate their backups.

Tim Rattay, Garcia's seldom-used understudy for the past twoseasons, will start against the Chiefs. Rattay was 26-of-43 for 232yards and two TDs last season in mostly mop-up duty.

Rattay will give way to Brandon Doman during the second quarter,and rookie Ken Dorsey probably will get his first NFL snaps in thefourth quarter. Unless Rattay falters, Doman and Dorsey are fightingfor one roster spot. The 49ers, though, have said they might keep allfour quarterbacks.

Jaguars - The Jacksonville Jaguars had their third heat-relatedinjury of the preseason when wide receiver Donald Hayes dropped to aknee at the end of practice.

The Jaguars had just completed a 90-minute practice session andwere divided into position groups when Hayes dropped and beganstruggling with the 82-degree heat. Hayes, 28, never lostconsciousness, but started to spasm from cramps.

Paramedics assisted the Jaguars' medical staff and began givingfluids intravenously to Hayes, who weighs 220 pounds. He later wasrushed into an ambulance before being transferred to BaptistHospital.

Hayes was released from the hospital late Wednesday afterreceiving treatment. A Jaguars spokesman said Hayes would return topractice and his availability for Saturday's exhibition game atMinnesota would be determined Thursday or Friday.

Giants - Michael Strahan, who broke the little toe on his rightfoot in practice earlier this week, may still play in the New YorkGiants' exhibition opener today against the New England Patriots.

"I don't know if I'll play him," Giants Coach Jim Fassel saidWednesday. "I'm sure that he wants to play. We'll see. I'll thinkabout it driving over there and tomorrow."

Bucs - Derrick Brooks returned to the Bucs after spending eightdays with his ailing mother and got a standing ovation from fans thatlined up to watch practice.

Led by Warren Sapp, his teammates bowed to salute the NFLDefensive Player of the Year.

Coach Jon Gruden had more praise for Brooks after the two-hourpractice.

"Any time the most valuable player in the NFL walks on yourpractice field, it's great," Gruden said. "Derrick inspires not onlyhis teammates and his fans, but he inspires me, so yeah, it was greatto have him back."

Brooks, who missed the team's exhibition game against the New YorkJets in Japan, said his mother's condition has improved, though hewould not be more specific about her illness. He appeared almostembarrassed by the reaction.

Lions - Cory Redding is learning to play tackle with the DetroitLions after spending four years as a defensive end at Texas.

Redding, last year's Lombardi Award winner as college football'stop lineman, will help replace Luther Elliss, out for the preseasonwith a torn chest muscle. Redding joins former college teammate ShaunRogers on the inside.

Panthers - John Kasay is the last original Panther. That won'thelp him reclaim his job as Carolina's kicker.

Shayne Graham, who took over last season when Kasay was hurt, iscurrently first on Carolina's depth chart. Their battle to make theopening-day roster is perhaps the most intriguing contest of trainingcamp.

Kasay isn't giving up.

"Training camp is a long process, it's kind of like the Tour deFrance in that you want to have great days, but there are alsoopportunities you have within it," Kasay said. "I'm not climbing thePyrenees mountains, but you have different opportunities and you wantto take advantage of them."

Kasay, entering his 13th NFL season, finally seems healthy after astring of injury-prone seasons. The fans love him, often looking backto the record 37 field goals he kicked in 1996.

The hernia that sidelined him last year is healed and the left-footed Kasay is booming the ball again.

Age would seem to tip the scales in the 25-year-old Graham'sfavor. At almost 34, Kasay doesn't know how much longer he can hangon.

"Until I can't do it any more," Kasay said. "I'm perpetually 29years old. I've been that for about four years."

Titans - Tom Ackerman, the only experienced center on theTennessee Titans, had arthroscopic surgery on his right kneeWednesday.

Ackerman will miss two weeks.

Justin Hartwig, moved to center from guard Monday, will startSaturday night in the Titans' exhibition opener against the ClevelandBrowns. Hartwig was the Titans' sixth-round draft pick last year.

Cowboys - Offensive lineman Gennaro DiNapoli signed with theDallas Cowboys, who were looking for help because rookie Al Johnsonhas a knee injury.

The Cowboys also traded long snapper Jeff Grau to Tampa Bay for aconditional draft pick to make room on their roster, which is now at82 players.

DiNapoli played the past three seasons with Tennessee.

The Cowboys also released offensive tackle Joe Johnson.

Zereoue will miss Steelers' preseason opener

Injured halfback Amos Zereoue will not play Saturday in theSteelers' first exhibition game according to published reports. Zereoue will be held out of that game to make sure his sprained leftankle is fully healed. It turned stiff and swelled, and Cowher saidZereoue will wait until Monday to practice. Cowher also said he wasleaning toward not playing center Jeff Hartings, who has notpracticed this week because of a sore knee.

Dolphins - Quarterback Jay Fiedler was held out of the MiamiDolphins' practice Wednesday with what the team described as backspasms.

Dolphin Coach Dave Wannstedt said he thinks the injury occurredwhile Fiedler was stretching before practice.

"I think he probably stretched too much and it just tightened upon him a little," Wannstedt said. "It didn't get hit. It didn't doanything drastic. It tightened up on him a little bit and he was outof synch, so we decided to give him a little rest."

Fiedler missed six starts last season with a broken right thumb.

"If I can go, I can go," Fiedler said. "And if not, we'll play itone day at a time."

Former Denver QB Brian Griese, signed in the offseason to beFiedler's backup, worked out with the offensive starters Wednesday.

49ers - Quarterback Jeff Garcia will skip the San Francisco 49ers'exhibition opener against Kansas City on Saturday to rest his soreback.

The three-time Pro Bowler hurt his back in a workout a few daysbefore training camp. He had been participating in nearly everypractice at camp until Tuesday, when his back got stiff again.

Garcia missed the 49ers' workouts Wednesday.

"We've been out here a lot of days and a lot of practices, and itstiffened up on him a little bit," Coach Dennis Erickson said. "We'vejust got to be careful with it. He never had a problem with it, andall of a sudden yesterday it bothered him."

Garcia passed for 3,344 yards and 21 touchdowns last season whileleading San Francisco to the NFC West title and the second round ofthe playoffs.

His absence in the preseason could be a good thing for the 49ers,who must evaluate their backups.

Tim Rattay, Garcia's seldom-used understudy for the past twoseasons, will start against the Chiefs. Rattay was 26-of-43 for 232yards and two TDs last season in mostly mop-up duty.

Rattay will give way to Brandon Doman during the second quarter,and rookie Ken Dorsey probably will get his first NFL snaps in thefourth quarter. Unless Rattay falters, Doman and Dorsey are fightingfor one roster spot. The 49ers, though, have said they might keep allfour quarterbacks.

Jaguars - The Jacksonville Jaguars had their third heat-relatedinjury of the preseason when wide receiver Donald Hayes dropped to aknee at the end of practice.

The Jaguars had just completed a 90-minute practice session andwere divided into position groups when Hayes dropped and beganstruggling with the 82-degree heat. Hayes, 28, never lostconsciousness, but started to spasm from cramps.

Paramedics assisted the Jaguars' medical staff and began givingfluids intravenously to Hayes, who weighs 220 pounds. He later wasrushed into an ambulance before being transferred to BaptistHospital.

Hayes was released from the hospital late Wednesday afterreceiving treatment. A Jaguars spokesman said Hayes would return topractice and his availability for Saturday's exhibition game atMinnesota would be determined Thursday or Friday.

Giants - Michael Strahan, who broke the little toe on his rightfoot in practice earlier this week, may still play in the New YorkGiants' exhibition opener today against the New England Patriots.

"I don't know if I'll play him," Giants Coach Jim Fassel saidWednesday. "I'm sure that he wants to play. We'll see. I'll thinkabout it driving over there and tomorrow."

Bucs - Derrick Brooks returned to the Bucs after spending eightdays with his ailing mother and got a standing ovation from fans thatlined up to watch practice.

Led by Warren Sapp, his teammates bowed to salute the NFLDefensive Player of the Year.

Coach Jon Gruden had more praise for Brooks after the two-hourpractice.

"Any time the most valuable player in the NFL walks on yourpractice field, it's great," Gruden said. "Derrick inspires not onlyhis teammates and his fans, but he inspires me, so yeah, it was greatto have him back."

Brooks, who missed the team's exhibition game against the New YorkJets in Japan, said his mother's condition has improved, though hewould not be more specific about her illness. He appeared almostembarrassed by the reaction.

Lions - Cory Redding is learning to play tackle with the DetroitLions after spending four years as a defensive end at Texas.

Redding, last year's Lombardi Award winner as college football'stop lineman, will help replace Luther Elliss, out for the preseasonwith a torn chest muscle. Redding joins former college teammate ShaunRogers on the inside.

Panthers - John Kasay is the last original Panther. That won'thelp him reclaim his job as Carolina's kicker.

Shayne Graham, who took over last season when Kasay was hurt, iscurrently first on Carolina's depth chart. Their battle to make theopening-day roster is perhaps the most intriguing contest of trainingcamp.

Kasay isn't giving up.

"Training camp is a long process, it's kind of like the Tour deFrance in that you want to have great days, but there are alsoopportunities you have within it," Kasay said. "I'm not climbing thePyrenees mountains, but you have different opportunities and you wantto take advantage of them."

Kasay, entering his 13th NFL season, finally seems healthy after astring of injury-prone seasons. The fans love him, often looking backto the record 37 field goals he kicked in 1996.

The hernia that sidelined him last year is healed and the left-footed Kasay is booming the ball again.

Age would seem to tip the scales in the 25-year-old Graham'sfavor. At almost 34, Kasay doesn't know how much longer he can hangon.

"Until I can't do it any more," Kasay said. "I'm perpetually 29years old. I've been that for about four years."

Titans - Tom Ackerman, the only experienced center on theTennessee Titans, had arthroscopic surgery on his right kneeWednesday.

Ackerman will miss two weeks.

Justin Hartwig, moved to center from guard Monday, will startSaturday night in the Titans' exhibition opener against the ClevelandBrowns. Hartwig was the Titans' sixth-round draft pick last year.

Cowboys - Offensive lineman Gennaro DiNapoli signed with theDallas Cowboys, who were looking for help because rookie Al Johnsonhas a knee injury.

The Cowboys also traded long snapper Jeff Grau to Tampa Bay for aconditional draft pick to make room on their roster, which is now at82 players.

DiNapoli played the past three seasons with Tennessee.

The Cowboys also released offensive tackle Joe Johnson.