PACMAN TO START VS. HOUSTON (2:11 a.m. ET)
Dallas Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said Adam Jones will start at left cornerback in Friday's preseason game against Houston.
Phillips said this is a one-game deal, but it's a step in Jones' NFL comeback.
"I just think he needs to play, and he's shown he can play," Phillips told The Dallas Morning News. "He had a good game last game."
Jones was on the field for nine plays in the preseason opener against San Diego and drew a penalty for pass interference.
Jones made six tackles in the second preseason game versus Denver. He also had a 24-yard punt return.
Jones has mailed a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell asking to be fully reinstated. Goodell is expected to make a final decision before the Cowboys have to make their final roster cuts.
-- ESPN.com news services
NALEN OUT; BAILEY TO RETURN TO BRONCOS (9:39 p.m. ET)
The Broncos will be without Tom Nalen again. Their stalwart center has missed most of training camp and was scheduled for surgery on his left knee, his second in 2½ months. His status for the season is up in the air, depending on what the surgeon finds.
If Nalen can't return quickly, the Broncos have a big decision to make about whether to add him to their 53-man roster. They're already planning to hold open a spot for rookie running back Ryan Torain, who will miss the first half of the season recovering from a broken elbow.
With Nalen out, not a single starter on O-line from last year's season-opening lineup is back. Still, Jay Cutler has yet to be sacked, and he's completed 24 of 30 passes for 237 yards and a TD.
Denver will get cornerback Champ Bailey (hamstring) back in the lineup for his preseason debut against Green Bay.
"Champ's in good shape. Champ's had a good week. There's been no setback and he's practiced every day. So, I'm sure he's looking forward to playing his first game," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said.
-- The Associated Press
JENNINGS RETURNING TO PACKERS' LINEUP (9:34 p.m. ET)
Greg Jennings is returning to the Packers' lineup -- and also to the scene of his signature NFL moment.
The Packers will welcome back their star wide receiver Friday in Denver after he missed the team's first two preseason games with a sore knee. Jennings had one of the best moments of his career against the Broncos last season, catching an 82-yard touchdown pass from Brett Favre on the first play of overtime to power the Packers to a memorable 19-13 win.
It was the second-longest TD pass in NFL overtime history. On Nov. 10, 1985, Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski hit wide receiver Mike Quick on a 99-yard play.
"Last year was last year," Jennings said. "I'm pretty sure they're probably thinking about that and don't want that to happen again. But it's preseason. It's time to get work. This is a time where we really perfect our craft, and this is a time to test yourself, especially for myself, this being my first preseason game."
-- The Associated Press
PATS SIGN FLYNN TO AUGMENT OFFENSIVE LINE (4:49 p.m. ET)
The New England Patriots signed 10-year veteran Mike Flynn on Thursday in a move to shore up an injury-depleted offensive line.
The 34-year-old played his entire NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens before he was released in February. He can play both center and guard.
The Patriots have been battling injuries on the line throughout the preseason. Right guard Stephen Neal has been on the physically unable to perform list since training camp opened, and left tackle Matt Light has not practiced since early in camp due to an injury.
To make room for Flynn on the roster, the Patriots released cornerback Ade Jimoh, who was signed last week as a free agent.
-- The Associated Press
LIONS QB STANTON INJURES THUMB (2:50 p.m. ET)
Lions quarterback Drew Stanton bruised his right thumb in practice Thursday, but the backup hopes to play in the team's third exhibition game.
Stanton said his throwing hand hit the back of a teammate's shoulder pads, and X-rays of the thumb showed it wasn't a major injury. His right hand was packed with ice after practice.
The former Michigan State star completed 7 of 8 passes for 85 yards and a touchdown in the first two exhibition games and ran eight times for 46 yards and a score. Stanton is competing with Dan Orlovsky to be the No. 2 quarterback behind Jon Kitna.
Detroit hosts the Browns on Saturday.
-- The Associated Press
BILLS SIGN ROOKIE LINEMAN (12:28 p.m. ET)
Buffalo bolstered its offensive line by signing undrafted rookie free agent Dustin Dickinson on Thursday.
Dickinson spent two months with Seattle before being released in late June. He played college at Houston, where he appeared in 49 games, including 39 starts.
The Bills, who play their third preseason game at Indianapolis on Sunday, are short on offensive linemen. Reserve tackle Matt Murphy is out indefinitely with a partly torn left rotator cuff, while Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters hasn't reported because of a contract dispute.
To make room on their roster, the Bills released receiver Jason Jones.
-- The Associated Press
ROLLE, McALISTER READY TO ROLL? (11:34 a.m. ET)
The Ravens are crossing their fingers that starting cornerbacks Samari Rolle and Chris McAlister can play in a preseason game for the first time, Saturday against the Rams.
Rolle (eight games, knee) and McAlister (10, epilepsy, shoulder) missed a significant portion of last season. They have been battling injuries this preseason. This represents the first week the two and safety Ed Reed have practiced together.
The Ravens play host to Cincinnati in the regular-season opener on Sept. 7.
"I certainly hope they play," defensive coordinator Rex Ryan said, according to The Baltimore Sun. "We won't have everybody because we won't have Ed, but we might have some of the other regulars. They have been working hard, so we'll wait and see what Bill T [trainer Bill Tessendorf] decides. The good news is that they have been working."
FREENEY GOING WITH THE PLAN (11:30 a.m. ET)
Defensive end Dwight Freeney, who practiced with the Colts for the first time Tuesday, has grudgingly accepted the team's plan to ease him back into the mix.
Freeney, who had left foot surgery that knocked him out of the final eight games of last season plus the playoffs, said he is getting close to 100 percent.
"If the coaching staff wants to ease me into it, then that's the plan,'' Freeney said, according to The Indianapolis Star. "I guess that's what I'm going to have to do. But in my mind ... I need to be out there.''