[BangTheBook]

Tampa Bay Bucs - QB Rotation: Chris Simms, Tim Rattay, rookie Bruce Gradkowski, Jared Allen.

The Bucs made some changes to the starting offensive line unit against Miami. There could be other starting shakeups for Saturday's game against Jacksonville. "We're still looking at some competitive situations on offense particularly," Jon Gruden said. "At the same time, we would like to see our starters some of them play a little bit longer, some will play for the first time."

The Bucs have not decided who their backup quarterback will ber, but with Jay Fiedler ailing and Tim Rattay performing only marginally, Jon Gruden said he is comfortable with the idea of turning to rookie Bruce Gradkowski should starter Chris Simms go down. After playing all of the second half a week earlier, Gradkowski played most of the second half Saturday, completing 11 of 14 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown.

QB Luke McCown, a third-year veteran who was expected to contend for the No. 2 job behind starter Chris Simms on the Bucs' depth chart, underwent surgery in June to repair a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee and will miss at least the start of the regular season. QB Jay Fiedler's rehabiliting a shoulder injury that required surgery in December. Fiedler said he hopes to be 100 percent by the start of the season.

Six of Tampa Bay's 11 offensive starters in the 2003 Super Bowl were at least 30 years old. If Sean Mahan beats out John Wade at center, WR Joey Galloway could be the only Bucs starter older than 29 on opening day.

Jacksonville Jaguars - QB Rotation: Byron Leftwich, David Garrard, Quinn Gray, rookie Paul Pinegar (see below).

Jack Del Rio said the starters could go into the second half against Tampa Bay, depending on how much time they get in the first half. Backup QB David Garrard will take the majority of the snaps. The club hopes to play starter Byron Leftwich sparingly because of soreness in his throwing arm.

The coach also wants to see No. 3 QB Quinn Gray. Gray could get some work with the first team in the first half, but Del Rio said that depends on the flow of the game, and he could wait until the second half to look at Gray.

With WR Matt Jones returning to the lineup, Del Rio said he plans to introduce Jones, Ernest Wilford and Reggie Williams as starters. The team has been playing a lot of three wide receiver sets in training camp.

Two young running backs have impressed. Jack Del Rio thinks RB Greg Jones is finally regaining the form he lost when he suffered a serious knee injury in his junior year at Florida State. Del Rio also likes the running of Maurice Drew, the Jaguars' second-round pick this year.

The Jaguars are thin at tight end with Marcedes Lewis sidelined with a high ankle sprain and Brian Jones out with a knee injury.

Atlanta Falcons - QB Rotation: Michael Vick (first half), Matt Schaub (3rd Q), Bryan Randall, D.J. Shockley.

With Vick set to play at least the first half, the battle for the No. 3 QB position likely will go down to the final exhibition game. Jim Mora was not sure if Bryan Randall and D.J. Shockley will split the fourth quarter against Tennessee. One might play this week and the other next Thursday against Jacksonville.

The aftermath of losing 38-10 to host Green Bay Saturday left Falcons coach Jim Mora very uneasy about his team's depth. He was so disturbed that after the game he a high-ranking team personnel official to find him some help at the No. 3 wide receiver and backup safety.

The Falcons agreed to three-year contract with free agent defensive tackle Grady Jackson on Tuesday.

Rookie WR Adam Jennings (hamstring) will not play against Tennessee. Undrafted free agents Robert Redd and Troy Bergeron may replace him on kickoff returns.

A rash of injuries along the Falcons' offensive line has depleted depth. Guards Ben Claxton and Tyson Clabo and tackle Quinn Ojinnaka all suffered ankle or foot injuries last week.

They traded RB T.J. Duckett this week for WR Ashlie Lelie.

The Falcons don’t do live tackling in practice. Some say that's why they've allowed too many rush yards. Having close to a whole new group of players up the middle of the defense also could have had something to do with it. Darrell Shropshire is the new starter at nose tackle. Ed Hartwell, who missed nearly a year after recovering from Achilles’ tendon surgery, was really rusty and safeties Lawyer Milloy and Chris Crocker are still trying to get acclimated.

Secondary thin. Second-round draft pick Jimmy Williams has been forced into action with a training camp injury to starter Jason Webster and Saturday's mild injury to DeAngelo Hall. He struggled Saturday in several areas, including committing two costly penalties.

Tennessee Titans - QB Rotation: Billy Volek (1st Q+), rookie Vince Young (2-3rd Qs), Matt Mauck, Cody Hodges.

Billy Volek will start, QB Young is expected to enter Saturday night's game against the Falcons in the second quarter and play at least through the third quarter. Jeff Fisher said he plans for most the starters, including QB Billy Volek, to play well into the second quarter against the Falcons.

The Titans may make some alterations to their lineup and rotations for their third preseason game against the Falcons. That could mean a change in the order of the running backs — where Chris Brown has led off, followed by Travis Henry and LenDale White — and perhaps a look at right tackle David Stewart with the starting unit. Jacob Bell has started both preseason games at right tackle. "It's going to be worthwhile over the next couple of weeks to maybe shift some people," Fisher said. "For example, I'd like to see Travis and LenDale run the ball earlier in the game."

WR worries: WR Tyrone Calico has yet to play in the preseason, which could make it difficult for him to make it to the regular season. "We need to get Ty on the field practicing," Fisher said. Free-agent WR David Givens also has a hamstring injury and did not travel to Denver. WR Sloan Thomas (quad) and WR Courtney Roby (hamstring) have been ailing.

WR Brandon Jones will play a few snaps. Jones had right ACL surgery last December and hasn't played in a preseason game.

Defense thin. Defensive end Travis LaBoy (foot), DE Copeland Bryan (calf), LB Cody Spencer (abdomen), defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth (back), and DT tackle Marcus White (knee) are hurting. Defensive end Antwan Odom hurt his right knee Saturday, getting carted off Invesco Field at Mile High. Odom left the stadium on crutches. The Titans considered their defensive line a strength at the start of training camp. But they lost tackle Rien Long for the season with an Achilles injury.

Rookie cornerback Cortland Finnegan is working this week as the nickel back, the fifth defensive back on the field.

St. Louis Rams - QB Rotation: Marc Bulger, Gus Frerotte, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Dave Ragone.

The No. 1 offense has produced just two field goals in five possessions over two exhibition games. "I don't read anything into it," HC Linehan said. "It would've been worse if we were going three-and-out and punting every time. I'm not going to make a big deal about it."

Former Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Scott Linehan takes over as the new head coach.

Linehan has promised to balance the attack, which was decidedly pass-heavy with Mike Martz at the controls.

RB Marshall Faulk is out for the season. The Rams signed Moe Williams to a one-year contract, addressing the need for a backup running back. They have third-year back Steven Jackson in the starting role, and behind him is Tony Fisher, a fifth-year running back from Notre Dame. RBs Antoine Bagwell and J.D. Washington, undrafted rookie running backs trying to make the leap from NCAA Division II to the NFL, are vying for a spot.

K.C. Chiefs - QB Rotation: Trent Green, Damon Huard, rookie Brodie Croyle, Casey Printers, Jeff Smoker (see below).

Trent Green will start at quarterback, and Damon Huard will also play, but rookie Brodie Croyle could be the first replacement for Green. Look for Croyle, who missed the first two preseason games because of a sore shoulder, to play extensively Saturday.

The Chiefs are disappointed with depth at wide receiver and some of the defensive-line positions and might look for help at those spots.

Pro Bowl guard Will Shields will not play in Saturday’s third preseason game against the Rams. One tackle, Kyle Turley, is new to the Chiefs after missing the last two seasons with back troubles. The other, Kevin Sampson, has one career NFL start. Jordan Black will fill in for Shields.

Running back depth is thin with Michael Bennett (hamstring), Ronnie Cruz (head) and Priest Holmes (neck) hurting.

“This is a game we’ve got to play with much more urgency and emotion,” coach Herm Edwards said. “I’m pretty sure guys will do that.” QB Trent Green said, “Is it time to panic? No. But I think we definitely have to have a sense of urgency going into this week’s game.”

Herm Edwards wants to see the Chiefs play defense with a lot more fire than last week. Edwards hinted that the Chiefs, after playing mostly plain, basic defenses in their first two preseason games, might show some new looks in Saturday’s game against St. Louis.

Seattle Seahawks - QB Rotation: Matt Hasselbeck, Seneca Wallace, Gibran Hamden, David Greene.

Wideouts thin. Players currently unable to practice because of injury: TE Jerremy Stevens, D.J. Hackett, Keenan Howry and Skyler Fulton. WR Darrell Jackson (knee) hopes to play this game.

Secondary thin, with CBs Jordan Babineaux and Jimmy Williams, and S Michael Boulware hurting.

Mike Holmgren does not game plan for opponents during the exhibition season.

Left guard Floyd Womack returned to practice, his first day back from a strained right hamstring suffered Aug. 9. Rookie Rob Sims is currently playing left guard on the first-string offense. Second-year player Chris Spencer is back at center after Robbie Tobeck underwent surgery on his elbow.

San Diego Chargers - QB Rotation: Philip Rivers, A.J. Feeley, rookie Charlie Whitehurst, Brett Elliott.

For the first time in what is now his sixth season, RB LaDainian Tomlinson will not play even one snap this preseason.

The Chargers are pleased with their defense after two exhibition games. The Packers (218 yards) and Bears (189) combined for just 407 yards and 13 points from their offenses, and San Diego's starting unit has yet to allow a point.

Darren Sproles (ankle) is out the rest of preseason. Schottenheimer listed RB Michael Turner as the first option for returning kickoffs and wide receiver Eric Parker as the likely replacement on punt returns. Schottenheimer ruled out using rookie CB Antonio Cromartie.