Friday, August 29, 2003
NFL Games
Lions' Stewart separates shoulder
The Associated Press
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - What every NFL coach fears most in the last exhibition game happened to Steve Mariucci and the Detroit Lions Thursday night.Starting running back James Stewart separated his right shoulder in the first quarter of their 22-16 loss to Buffalo.
Stewart, who led Detroit with 1,021 yards rushing last season, was hurt six minutes into the game and is out indefinitely.
The Lions also lost linebacker Brian Williams, who dislocated his left shoulder.
Olandis Gary had the go-ahead score three minutes into the fourth quarter with a 1-yard run, followed by a two-point conversion by holder Brian Moorman, who ran it in off a bobbled snap.
The game's outcome was far less important than Stewart's loss.
It happened during the Lions second series, which would've likely been Stewart's last of the game. He had 27 yards rushing on seven carries and one catch for 12 yards.
The Lions are left with no proven running back heading into their regular-season opener against Arizona on Sept. 7.
Jets 17, Eagles 9
PHILADELPHIA - New York's Marquel Blackwell threw two touchdown passes in leading the Jets' backups to victory over Philadelphia's second- and third-stringers in the final preseason game for both teams.
Despite resting their starters, the Eagles (2-2) lost a key player when first-round pick Jerome McDougle went down with a left hip and ankle injury in the third quarter. He was taken off the field for X-rays, but the extent of the injuries wasn't immediately known.
McDougle, the 15th overall pick from Miami, was expected to help fill the void left by the departure of three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Hugh Douglas.
Eagles running back Duce Staley, playing his first game since ending his holdout last Saturday, carried three times for 4 yards.
Bucs 34, Texans 3
TAMPA, Fla. - Shaun King threw for 146 yards and a touchdown as Tampa Bay dominated Houston.
The Super Bowl champions (4-1) outgained the Texans (0-4) 243-47 while amassing 17 first downs to Houston's two in the opening half. Tampa Bay's starting defense played only one series, but the Bucs didn't allow a TD for the second straight week.
King completed his first six passes and finished 13-for-17 in just under a half. He directed scoring drives of 59, 70, 54 and 58 yards, and threw a 5-yard TD pass to Will Heller late in the second quarter.
David Carr played two possessions for the Texans, going 1-for-2 for 12 yards.
Jaguars 17, Redskins 15
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Mark Brunell threw a touchdown pass in the first quarter Thursday night. The big question is whether it was his last one for the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Brunell led a scoring drive and rookie Byron Leftwich led two to lift Jacksonville past Washington.
Brunell's future has come into question in the past week, as talk that the Jaguars were putting out trade feelers about the 11-year veteran circulated around the league. Coach Jack Del Rio denied the team was trying to trade him.
Releasing him is another option. Cut day is Sunday, and by then, it will be clear whether the Jaguars (3-1) are committed to Brunell for another season or to full-fledged rebuilding this year with Leftwich or second-year QB David Garrard.
Redskins' starter Patrick Ramsey went 1-for-3 for 3 yards in two series.
Chiefs 22, Rams 6
ST. LOUIS - Two days after Orlando Pace ended his holdout, the St. Louis Rams put the All-Pro offensive tackle to the test.
Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk didn't start for St. Louis (1-3) in the final tuneup for the regular season, a 22-6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the annual Governor's Cup game.
Trent Green played one series, completing his only pass for a 6-yard touchdown to Omar Easy in the first quarter. Priest Holmes didn't play, a precaution after his hip injury last year, and tight end Tony Gonzalez also sat after a minor knee injury on Tuesday.
Cowboys 52, Raiders 13
IRVING, Texas - Quincy Carter gave coach Bill Parcells plenty of reason to believe he picked the right starting quarterback.
Carter led the Dallas Cowboys to four touchdowns and a field goal on five drives, scrambling to throw a 69-yard touchdown pass and heaving a 49-yarder against Oakland's first-string defense in Thursday night's victory.
Oakland quarterback Rich Gannon and his top receivers played only five snaps. Gannon was 0-for-3, with his first pass bouncing off Jerry Rice's shoulder and being returned 24 yards for a touchdown by cornerback Mario Edwards.
Giants 30, Ravens 24
BALTIMORE - Kyle Boller turned in a spectacular performance in his final audition for the role as starting quarterback of the Baltimore Ravens.
The rookie threw two touchdown passes Thursday night to stake Baltimore to a 17-point lead over New York, who later rallied for the win.
Boller, the 19th overall pick in the 2003 draft, gained the upper hand in his duel with four-year veteran Chris Redman for the right to start the Sept. 7 opener at Pittsburgh.
Redman played three series, going 1-for-6 for 11 yards without producing any points. Third-stringer Anthony Wright played the final 27 minutes for Baltimore (1-3).
Cardinals 31, Vikings 27
MINNEAPOLIS - Arizona lost its starting quarterback early but the Cardinals reserves played well enough to give the team its first 4-0 preseason in 12 years.
Third-string quarterback Preston Parsons ran for two touchdowns and threw for another to lead Arizona past Minnesota.
Parsons went 13-for-16 for 156 yards.
The Cardinals (4-0) lost starter Jeff Blake to a concussion when Vikings tackle Chris Hovan sacked him on the game's first offensive play.
There was no immediate word on whether Blake would miss any work with the Cardinals, who open the regular season Sept. 7 at Detroit.
Browns 20, Falcons 9
CLEVELAND - The Cleveland Browns ended the preseason with a win and without any issues at quarterback.
The Atlanta Falcons weren't so lucky.
Kelly Holcomb passed for 126 yards in two series and William Green had a touchdown run Thursday night.
Holcomb completed a 68-yard pass on his first throw as the Browns (1-3) tuned up for their Sept. 7 opener against the Indianapolis Colts.
Couch replaced Holcomb in the second quarter and threw a 57-yard TD pass to Dennis Northcutt. Couch finished 7-of-8 for 144 yards.
Atlanta's Doug Johnson, filling in at QB for Michael Vick, passed for 147 yards.
Dolphins 24, Saints 10
NEW ORLEANS - Jay Fiedler only threw five times and connected just twice.
Fiedler, who played in two series, hit Chris Chambers for a 38-yard gain that took the Dolphins to the Saints' 14-yard line. He followed that up with a touchdown toss to Derrius Thompson to put Miami ahead early.
It was a big night for some players, however.
Ki-Jana Carter, the No. 1 pick overall in the 1995 draft by Cincinnati, gained 94 yards in 25 carries as he tried to lock up the backup spot.
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