you look at this years top eight, it looks pretty sound

NFL Nation reporters assess the top storylines to watch for every team on?Wednesday.NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West AFC East | AFC North| AFC South | AFC WestNFC EASTDallas CowboysUndrafted rookie tight end Austin Traylor can come close to sewing up a spot on the Cowboys 53-man roster with a solid performance Thursday vs. Houston. With James Hanna out the first six weeks of the season because of a knee injury, and Gavin Escobar not a lock to make the team, Traylor could factor in behind Jason Witten and Geoff Swaim. Traylor?was limited to eight games his senior year at Wisconsin by an arm injury, but he has proven to be an adept blocker and improved pass catcher. -- Todd ArcherNew York GiantsCoach Ben McAdoo wouldnt say whether his starters would play in Thursdays preseason finale against the Patriots, but there might not be a universal answer. It will all be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, McAdoo said. Rookie wide receiver Sterling Shepard expects to play some, but the real question is with Victor Cruz. Do the Giants need to see more from him? McAdoo thought he took a good step over the weekend during his first game in almost two years. -- Jordan RaananPhiladelphia EaglesThe results of offensive tackle?Lane Johnsons B sample have yet to be revealed, meaning the Eagles still dont know for sure if hell be handed a 10-game suspension for violating the leagues performance-enhancing drugs policy before the start of the season. Even if he is suspended, Johnson could always appeal, which could push the timeline back even further. Doug Pederson indicated that he would start Johnson Week 1 if the right tackle is available. If hes ready to go, then hes our guy, Pederson said. -- Tim McManusWashington RedskinsThe Redskins final preseason game, moved up to Wednesday night, will be the Nate Sudfeld show at quarterback. Sudfeld will start and is expected to play all four quarters as the Redskins want to get him plenty of work. Theyre expected to keep him as the No. 3 quarterback behind Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy. Sudfeld might not be ready to play right now, but there are definitely some in the organization who say he can develop into a starter in a year or two. With uncertainty over Cousins situation in Washington, the Redskins want to make sure they have a young passer worth trying to groom. -- John KeimNFC NORTHChicago BearsCoach John Fox refused to reveal who he intended to play in Thursdays exhibition finale, but he stressed that Browns coach Hue Jacksons decision to play Clevelands starters?will have no impact on the Bears. I think we kind of know what were going to do, Fox said. We pretty much keep that to ourselves until we get out there. What they do wont impact what we do. Pro Bowl guard Kyle Long will not play Thursday, but the Bears are hopeful Long can practice next week in advance of the season opener against?Houston. I think its fair to say he wont play this week against Cleveland -- but were anticipating him at least being back out there to get ready for Houston, Fox said. -- Jeff DickersonDetroit LionsLions coach Jim Caldwell wouldnt rule out any players of Thursdays preseason finale against Buffalo, including quarterback Matthew Stafford. When asked why he would play Stafford in the final exhibition, he said, You could think of a few. We may have some. If we have some, well certainly put it in place. This still seems unlikely, especially since Caldwell said earlier in the week that rookie Jake Rudock would see more snaps than he has in the past. He and Dan Orlovsky are competing for the No. 2 quarterback role behind Stafford. -- Michael RothsteinGreen Bay PackersWhat was supposed to be an ordinary walkthrough practice for the Packers before heading to Kansas City for Thursdays preseason finale will be new punter Jacob Schums first day with the team. He was claimed off waivers Tuesday after the Buccaneers let him go, replacing veteran Tim Masthay, who had kicked for the Packers since 2010. -- Rob DemovskyMinnesota VikingsThe Vikings season was turned upside down Tuesday when quarterback Teddy Bridgewater sustained a torn ACL and dislocated knee during practice, and theyll probably spend their next few days trying to figure out what to do at quarterback. Shaun Hill figures to be the starter in the immediate future, but the Vikings probably will need another quarterback, with Joel Stave -- who didnt figure to make the team -- now the only other healthy quarterback on the roster. I have confidence in Shaun, coach Mike Zimmer said. I think he has played great this preseason. He has been in two-minute drills. He has done a phenomenal job, and the thing we all have to remember is, this is about the team. This isnt about a one-man deal. -- Ben GoesslingNFC SOUTHAtlanta FalconsThe Falcons are going to give rookie wide receiver?Devin Fuller?a redshirt year with the decision to put him on injured reserve because of a shoulder injury. Fuller was battling for a spot in the rotation?and could have been the kick returner. His departure means undrafted J.D. McKissic, who has averaged 50.5 yards per kickoff return this preseason including a 101-yard TD, has a better shot to make the 53-man roster. Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu, Justin Hardy, and Aldrick Robinson are the first four receivers followed by Eric Weems, Nick Williams, and McKissic. -- Vaughn McClureCarolina PanthersCoach Ron Rivera says he expects Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kawann Short to be back Wednesday for the final walkthrough for Thursdays preseason finale against Pittsburgh. But dont look for Short or most of the key starters to play against the Steelers. Short has missed the past three days of practice because of an undisclosed soreness. The same for backup quarterback Derek Anderson. Rivera said third-string Joe Webb?probably will play the entire game against Pittsburgh with Anderson the emergency quarterback. -- David NewtonNew Orleans SaintsDoes the fourth preseason game matter? Apparently it does when youre 0-3 this summer and coming off back-to-back 7-9 seasons. Saints coach Sean Payton says the plan is for starters to play in the first quarter Thursday against the Ravens, including quarterback?Drew Brees, who hasnt played in a preseason finale since 2006. Its unclear just how much Brees will play -- but it is clear that the Saints are eager to develop a little momentum heading into the season. -- Mike TriplettTampa Bay BuccaneersThe Bucs will rest most of their starters in Wednesdays preseason finale against the Redskins, with several final roster spots still up for grabs. Weve got competition at multiple positions -- wide receiver, tight end, running back, offensive line, corner[back], safety, defensive line and linebacker, coach Dirk Koetter said. The team also will need to decide its kick returner situation since Donteea Dye, the front-runner in that department, was waived/injured Monday after suffering a hamstring injury. Kenny Bell, Bernard Reedy and Ryan Smith are three to watch there. -- Jenna LaineNFC WESTArizona CardinalsThe good news for the Cardinals is that both wide receiver John Brown and safety Tyrann Mathieu were cleared to play in Thursday nights preseason finale against the Broncos. But coach Bruce Arians said he would wait and see if either ends up playing. Brown has been dealing with headaches since he suffered a concussion on July 31. Mathieu returned to the field last Sunday, eight months after ACL surgery. -- Josh WeinfussLos Angeles RamsRams coach Jeff Fisher said hes 50/50 on whether quarterback?Jared Goff would start the final preseason game, in Minnesota?on?Thursday. Goff starting would of course mean that Case Keenum, who is expected to open the regular season as the starter, would not play. If thats the case, itd be great, Goff said. Itd be something Im more accustomed to doing -- kind of getting out there, going right away. -- Alden GonzalezSan Francisco 49ersCoach Chip Kelly said quarterback?Colin Kaepernick would play in the preseason finale against the Chargers and?Blaine Gabbert would not. Kelly pointed to the number of game repetitions -- 13 for Kaepernick and 43 for Gabbert -- as the reason. Kelly indicated Kaepernick would get a longer look though the exact number of snaps would be determined later. Thursdays game should bring some answers on the quarterback competition as Kelly says he would like to make a decision after the game and potentially an announcement as soon as Friday. -- Nick WagonerSeattle SeahawksIt will be interesting to see if the Seahawks make a move to add a backup quarterback in the next few days as teams trim their rosters to 53 players. If the regular season started today, theyd go with undrafted free agent Trevone Boykin, who has had an up-and-down preseason. Hes growing, offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said. I think as any young quarterback, theres a lot on his plate with what we ask him to do. Russell Wilson has never missed a game or practice in his four-year career, but the Seahawks need to have a plan in place in case Wilson suffers an injury in 2016. -- Sheil KapadiaAFC EASTBuffalo BillsThe Bills waived first-year quarterback Austin Trainor as part of their moves to cut down to 75 players Tuesday, which is a signal that rookie quarterback Cardale Jones (shoulder) is ready to play in Thursdays preseason finale. The team is likely to start EJ Manuel in the game and then replace him with Jones, who sat out last Fridays preseason loss to Washington because of soreness in his throwing shoulder. Trainor signed Sunday as insurance in case Jones couldnt play Thursday in Detroit. -- Mike RodakMiami DolphinsDolphins rookie guard Laremy Tunsil caught his foot in the turf earlier this week in practice, but the first-round pick says he is good to go for Thursdays preseason finale against the Titans. Tunsil could?use the extra reps. He has a big assignment in his first regular-season game, on the road against the Seahawks. -- James WalkerNew England PatriotsThe Patriots officially put starting right tackle Sebastian Vollmer and running back Dion Lewis on the reserve/physically-unable-to-perform list, which means they are out for at least the first six weeks of the season. In Vollmers case, the feeling is that he is unlikely to play this year because of a nagging hip injury that will thrust six-year veteran Marcus Cannon into the top spot on the right-tackle depth chart. -- Mike ReissNew York JetsTodd Bowles has decided to rest backup quarterback?Geno Smith in the final preseason game, announcing that Bryce Petty and Christian Hackenberg will share the game. Presumably, it means Smith has secured the No. 2 spot. Petty could be playing for a roster spot; hell need a strong game to convince team brass to keep four quarterbacks on?the opening-day roster. -- Rich CiminiAFC NORTHBaltimore RavensWide receiver Breshad Perriman says he has done everything physically to be cleared to play in Thursdays preseason finale in New Orleans. Im ready to go, Perriman said after Tuesdays practice. This would be Perrimans much-anticipated NFL debut. He hasnt played in a preseason or regular-season game since being the No. 26 overall player drafted 16 months ago. Perriman said the final decision is up to the coaching staff, and he has no idea whether he will play. Coach John Harbaugh said Perriman would play if he is medically cleared to do so. -- Jamison HensleyCincinnati BengalsRookie wide receiver Alex Erickson will get another chance to show why the team chose him over veteran Brandon Tate as its kick returner when the Bengals host the Colts on Thursday. Special teams captain Cedric Peerman will undergo surgery soon for his broken forearm, but he could be a candidate to return later in the season. -- Katherine TerrellCleveland BrownsVery few teams play their starters in the preseason finale. The Browns will. Why? Because they need to play. In preseason, the offense has scored 37 points and averaged 223 yards per game, and the defense has given 71 points and 393 yards per game. The defensive numbers are an NFL low. -- Pat McManamonPittsburgh SteelersWith Ladarius Green starting the season on the PUP list, the Steelers top two healthy tight ends Jesse James and David Johnson have a combined 32 career catches. But James is eager to ease concerns coming off last weeks four-catch, one-touchdown performance against the Saints. The Steelers were high on his potential after his rookie year, and he?has done nothing to lose that momentum in the preseason. I feel really good, he said. I feel confident when I get in there. -- Jeremy FowlerAFC SOUTHHouston TexansCoach Bill OBrien said Tuesday that he has seen a lot of improvement from backup quarterback Tom Savage. Savage missed all of last season after injuring his shoulder, but he has beaten out?Brandon Weeden?for the backup spot behind Brock Osweiler during camp. OBrien said he wanted to see steady improvement from Savage in Thursdays preseason finale, especially on taking care of the football, managing the game properly, communicating well and converting on third downs. -- Sarah BarshopIndianapolis ColtsThe good thing about the Colts signing cornerback Antonio Cromartie more than two weeks before the regular season starts is that it allows him to get into better shape after having to wait all offseason before a team signed him. Hes getting better, coach Chuck Pagano said. He hasnt played football. Hes in good shape, but theres a difference between LA Fitness shape and training camp shape, right? Hes getting better. Im glad we have a little bit more time. Cromartie probably will start with Patrick Robinson in Week 1 against Detroit because Vontae Davis is still out because of an ankle injury. -- Mike WellsJacksonville JaguarsWith safety?James Sample going on injured reserve because of a shoulder injury for the second consecutive year, Josh Evans and Jarrod Wilson will be competing to be the backup strong safety. Evans has started 37 games at free safety?and strong safety?over the past three seasons. It will come down to what the players do in Thursdays preseason finale at Atlanta, however. As for Sample, the teams fourth-round pick in 2015, he will have played in only four games in two seasons. -- Mike DiRoccoTennessee TitansTitans cornerback Perrish Cox suffered an ankle injury the day before the preseason began. Hell play the most of any Titans starter Thursday night in Miami. Coach Mike Mularkey anticipates playing his starting units for only one series. But Cox should play the first quarter. The secondary has been a big issue, and the Titans hope his return can help settle down things. -- Paul KuharskyAFC WESTDenver BroncosQuarterback?Mark Sanchez wont play in the Broncos preseason finale Thursday night in Arizona, but beyond that he still doesnt exactly know his future with the Broncos or beyond. Rookie Paxton Lynch is scheduled to play the entire game Thursday night, and Trevor Siemian, who was named the Broncos starter for the regular season, wont play against the Cardinals.?If Lynch plays reasonably well, however,?and the Broncos come away with the idea he could be the teams No. 2 quarterback, Sanchez probably would be released given the Broncos would not have to surrender a draft pick to the Eagles if Sanchez was not on the roster to start the season. Sanchez did say Tuesday he wanted to remain with the Broncos, but his salary is $4.5 million. Sanchez said he has not thought about where he might land if the Broncos part ways with him, offering only that he was getting ready for Carolina. -- Jeff LegwoldKansas City ChiefsThe Chiefs will play at least the first six weeks of the season without linebacker Justin Houston, who was put on the physically unable to perform list. Houston had surgery in February to repair a balky ACL, and the Chiefs at the time gave a range of six to 12 months for his return. They will have trouble replacing Houston, who is a top pass-rusher but also excels against the run. Dee Ford, a former first-round draft pick, is first in line to replace Houston. Ford had a three-sack game last season against the Chargers in place of the injured Houston but has otherwise struggled with his consistency. -- Adam TeicherOakland RaidersWord of Vikings quarterback?Teddy Bridgewater suffering a significant knee injury swept through the Raiders final preseason practice Tuesday. Fellow quarterback?and 2014 draft classmate Derek Carr?asked?reporters as he came off the field if the reports were true. Told they were, Carr could only mutter, Dang before later tweeting at Bridgewater, I hope you are good bro!...My family and I are praying for you! Khalil Mack, who was also in that 2014 draft, was similarly stunned. Injuries, they suck, but you have to have guys that can step in, Mack said. But its unfortunate to hear that. Very unfortunate to hear that. -- Paul GutierrezSan Diego ChargersJoey Bosa practiced for the first time Tuesday, with teammates doing their best to make the rookie first-round pick feel at home. Bosa received some gentle ribbing from offensive lineman Joe Barksdale while being interviewed by a throng of reporters after practice. And defensive tackle Brandon Mebane had the defensive line group take a break during individual work to pose for a picture, with a long row of cameras on hand to watch Bosas every move. It means a lot that theyre all welcoming me back with open arms like that, Bosa. They all understand the business of the NFL and why I wasnt here. -- Eric D. Williams Joe Flacco Ravens Jersey . Ivanovic was leading 7-5, 1-0 when Hantuchova withdrew after falling 0-40 behind in the second game. The match started slowly for Ivanovic, who surrendered her first two serves as Hantuchova took a 5-3 lead. Ray Lewis Youth Jersey . -- Arizona raced out to a big lead and did not back off, hitting the accelerator instead. http://www.ravensrookiestore.com/Ravens-Hayden-Hurst-Jersey/ .com) - The Calgary Flames aim to bounce back from their first regulation home loss of the campaign on Friday night when they host a Detroit Red Wings club that they swept in three meetings a season ago. Mark Andrews Womens Jersey . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. Iman Marshall Youth Jersey . Clarkson had been dealing with an elbow injury in early January and will be out of action for at least one week. He has three goals and five assists through 36 games with the Leafs this season. Essendon coach John Worsfold concedes making the AFL finals will be tough next year as they try to rally from their disastrous season.While the Bombers are confident about an immediate rebound, Worsfold said the competition for the top eight will be particularly fierce.Essendons doping bans meant they finished last for the first time since 1933 and they incurred a whopping financial hit for the year of $9.8 million.Wed love to play finals next year ... its going to be tough to achieve, Worsfold said.If you look at this years top eight, it looks pretty sound.Ive read about the Tigers, Bucks (coach Nathan Buckley) at Collingwood, Gold Coast, Melbourne and the Saints on the march, Carlton took big steps forward this year - all those teams are like us.Its all in our hands.One of the big challenges for Essendon is integrating their 10 players returning from bans into the squad.On Tuesday, Worsfold spoke about how Jobe Watson was struggling after losing his Brownlow Medal.More broadly, the Bombers arre a long way off deciding what their best 22 looks like.ddddddddddddWorsfold noted that 29 of their players had not been on the same team.Its pretty new territory for us - which is exciting, really exciting, Worsfold said.But overall, it feels like a footy club now.We go into this year with a mature list, but ... not a list thats played together.Its a pretty unique situation.We have no form going into next year.Worsfold sees a five-year window where Essendon will now have a strong list.Club chairman Lindsay Tanner added the club must look forward after their supplements debacle.Its now in our grasp - were through all the processes that are externally-driven (and) its now within our grasp to meet those challenges, Tanner said.The Essendon team will have a four-day camp next week at HMAS Cerberus and one of the goals will be for the players to know each other better. 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