Denver Broncos: Broncos rookie defensive tackle Nick Eason didn't show up for practice Tuesday, and the team wasn't sure where he was.

The 6-foot-3, 301-pound Eason, one of Denver's three fourth-round draft picks, reported to training camp last week and participated in the first four days of workouts.

Gene Krcelic, one of Eason's agents, said Eason was still in the Denver area and will probably return in a day or two. Krcelic said he had not spoken to Eason but had spoken with his family.

He figured to get more playing time in camp with veteran Daryl Gardener sidelined up to two months by wrist surgery.

The Broncos drafted Eason out of Clemson with the 114th overall pick, just before taking his college linemate, Bryant McNeal.

Broncos defensive coordinator Larry Coyer said Eason might have been overwhelmed with the physical and mental toll of training camp. Eason had been getting more repetitions in practice with veteran Daryl Gardener sidelined up to two months by wrist surgery.

Krcelic didn't rule that out.

"With Daryl Gardener out, obviously they are a little thin at D-tackle," Krcelic said. "Because of that, the guys that are there are getting more reps, which can be tough on a rookie like Nick. I'm not saying that's why he left, but it's a possibility."

Indianapolis Colts: Colts running back Dominic Rhodes hurt his left shoulder Tuesday and did not practice again, but he wasn't expected to be sidelined long.

The shoulder has given Rhodes problems since college. He wore a shoulder brace for the final eight games of the 2001 season and re-injured the shoulder during training camp last summer. He missed last season after tearing a knee ligament in training camp.

Rhodes was injured Tuesday when a defender grabbed the ball and twisted, trying to jar it loose. Rhodes fell hard to the ground.

He paused a moment before getting up, then walked gingerly back across the scrimmage line. He was taken off the field on a cart, then returned to the sideline a few minutes later.

"He should be fine. He fell on it awkwardly," coach Tony Dungy said. "He could have gone back in to practice."

In 2001, Rhodes rushed for 1,104 yards -- an NFL record for undrafted rookies. Chicago Bears: Chicago signed fullback Casey Urlacher, the brother of Bears star linebacker Brian Urlacher, to a three-year contract Tuesday.

Casey Urlacher had been with the team as an undrafted free agent during June workouts. The 6-foot-1, 240-pound fullback, who played linebacker at Division III Lake Forest College, was waived after the workouts ended June 19.

Casey Urlacher, who is 6-foot-1, 240 pounds, played linebacker at Division III Lake Forest College.

He joined the Bears after fullback Tyree Foreman sprained his right ankle in Tuesday's practice and left the practice field.

Urlacher took the roster spot formerly held by tight end Patrick Hughes, who was waived Tuesday.

Buffalo Bills: Safety Ainsley Battles signed with the Bills on Tuesday, bolstering their young secondary.

Battles is a three-year veteran who spent the last two seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He broke into the NFL as an undrafted free agent with Pittsburgh in 2000.

He has played in 45 games, starting 17, with 75 tackles and three interceptions. His best year was 2001, when he started 11 games and had 46 tackles and two interceptions.

Battles, who practiced shortly after signing, can play both safety positions and will be given the opportunity to compete for a backup role behind starters Coy Wire and Pierson Prioleau.

San Diego Chargers: The Chargers got encouraging news on guard Toniu Fonoti on Tuesday when an MRI exam showed no significant damage in his right triceps.

Fonoti has missed two days of training camp.

"Fonoti is going to be out a little bit, but it's nothing like the one that Vaughn had last year," coach Marty Schottenheimer said, referring to an injury that affected tackle Vaughn Parker last year. "It's just a strain of the triceps and he'll be back to work in a few days."

Parker's injury forced him to have surgery last season and he missed four games.

In other medical news, cornerback Sammy Davis jammed his heel late in Monday's practice and was scheduled to have it X-rayed. The Chargers didn't think his injury was serious.

Wide receiver Eric Parker was to have an MRI on his sore right shoulder and wide receiver David Boston has a hip pointer. Schottenheimer said Boston could play if it was a game situation.

Defensive end Marcellus Wiley continues to miss practice due to a right hamstring strain. He hopes to return later in the week.

Other players with minor injuries include tight end Stephen Alexander (groin) and offensive lineman Michael Keathley (knee).

Houston Texans: Texans rookie running back Domanick Davis broke his hand in practice Tuesday and will be out 3-to-5 weeks.

Davis, a third-round draft pick out of Louisiana State who also return kicks, injured his right hand during the day's only practice session.

X-rays revealed the break and a team official said Davis should be out about a month.