NFL ROUNDUP Training camp news and notes

Titans: Free safety Lance Schulters, diagnosed last weekend with Bell's palsy, plans to play in Saturday night's game against the Buffalo Bills. Bell's palsy is a virus that affects the facial nerves, and it has caused numbness in Schulters' face and around his left eye. He has had to use an eye patch to help him sleep, and a visor has been attached to his helmet because he is not able to completely close his eyelid. Schulters sat out the Titans' exhibition opener against Cleveland after learning hours earlier he had the virus, which can take up to three weeks for symptoms to peak. But he has been practicing this week. "I talked with Lance today, and he has every intention of playing," coach Jeff Fisher said after Thursday's practice. The Titans also might be without cornerback Samari Rolle, who suffered a mild concussion Tuesday. "He is better at this time," Fisher said. "First and foremost, you don't mess with injuries and concussions regardless of how mild they may appear to be, and secondly, it would not make any sense to push him to set him back. We just have to wait and see." If Rolle does not play, Tony Beckham would start in his place. Beckham was a fourth-round pick last year out of Wisconsin-Stout. Center Tom Ackerman returned to the practice field Thursday. Ackerman had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee last week. Fisher said the team would see how Ackerman looks during pre-game warmups, but he isn't likely to play against the Bills.
Bears: While tight end Dustin Lyman attempts a comeback, his position is making a comeback in the team's offense. Lyman has shown few after-effects of major surgery on his left knee in December. He's become the team's No. 2 tight end behind offseason acquisition Desmond Clark. "Like they say, if you're not getting better, you're getting worse," Lyman said. "So I feel like I'm getting better." Lyman had 58 yards, seven catches and a 21-yard gain in a Dec. 1 game with Green Bay, all career bests. He also injured his knee in that game. In his first game action since then, Lyman jumped offsides last Saturday against Indianapolis. He's looking to end such mistakes Saturday night against Denver in the Bears' second exhibition game. "I jumped offsides; I had a lot of anxiety and I was ready to go," he said. "It just felt good to be back on the field. It was rocky, but it was a good start."
Colts: Cornerback Travis Coleman was signed as insurance. Coleman had 38 tackles this spring with the Berlin Thunder of NFL Europe. He played in one game for the Chicago Bears last season, making two tackles against the New York Jets. The Detroit Lions signed Coleman on July 25 and waived him the next day. Colts cornerbacks Walt Harris, Nick Harper, Donald Strickland and Cliff Crosby all missed practice time this week. Harris, a starter, has been bothered by tendinitis in his knee and is not expected to play Friday night against Seattle. Strickland, the Colts' third-round draft pick, has not practiced during training camp after tearing his groin July 25. Crosby has a sprained left ankle after a blocking sled was pushed over his foot during Wednesday morning's practice. Harper, who has been the other starter during training camp, has an ankle injury that kept him out of practice Wednesday and Thursday.
Redskins: Punter David Leaverton was signed Thursday, however, he must await the outcome of a one-game duel between Bryan Barker and Brent Bartholomew, who have been around since the start of training camp. "The better of the two will be the guy standing Sunday," special teams coach Mike Stock said. So, for example, when Bartholomew watches Barker kick one against the Patriots, he'll have the pressure of knowing he has to go out and top it. "It's an odd situation," Bartholomew said. "Normally as a punter, you're punting against the conditions and the other team, and now you're punting against the guy next to you. It's a little tougher." Leaverton will not punt in the game. He'll instead split kickoff duty with John Hall, then go head-to-head against the Barker-Bartholomew winner for the rest of preseason. Leaverton was a fifth-round draft pick by Jacksonville in 2001. He's been with five teams -- Jacksonville, New England, New York Jets, Tampa Bay and St. Louis -- but he has yet to make a regular season roster.
Giants: Defensive end Michael Strahan's broken toe will keep him out of the Giants' exhibition game against the Carolina Panthers tonight. "It's just really sore," coach Jim Fassel said. Strahan broke the little toe on his right foot last week and missed the preseason opener against the New England Patriots. Keith Washington is expected to start for Strahan at left end. Safety Shaun Williams (shoulder), backup safety Johnnie Harris (hamstring) and running back Dorsey Levens (leg) also won't play.
-- Associated Press