NFL ROUNDUP News and notes

Browns: Cornerback Gary Baxter practiced for the first time since straining his left pectoral muscle in an exhibition Aug. 10 against Philadelphia, and proclaimed himself ready for the Sept. 10 season opener against the New Orleans Saints. That's great news for the Browns, who are already without cornerback Daylon McCutcheon, their surest tackler and the most experienced player in their secondary. McCutcheon had arthroscopic knee surgery Aug. 1 and it's unclear when he'll be ready to play. Meanwhile, Cleveland waived 10 players -- tight end Paul Irons, running back Chris Barclay, punter Kyle Basler, defensive lineman Ja'Waren Blair, quarterback Lang Campbell, kicker Jeff Chandler, offensive lineman Atlas Herrion, linebacker Kenny Kern, wide receiver Brandon Rideau and defensive back James Thornton.
Chiefs: Priest Holmes, who hasn't practiced at all in training camp, now will miss at least the first six weeks of the regular season and his career is in doubt. The three-time Pro Bowl running back was placed on the physically unable to perform list Monday. He will be out for a minimum of six weeks, then the Chiefs will have 21 days to activate him. Holmes, who turns 33 in October, missed the last nine games of the 2005 season after taking a hit from San Diego's Shawne Merriman that caused trauma to the head and neck, and doctors still haven't given him medical clearance to practice or play.
Quarterbacks: Kerry Collins and Jeff George are back in the NFL. Collins, who spent the last two seasons with Oakland, signed with Tennessee, which decided it needed more experience after trading away Steve McNair. Coach Jeff Fisher said Collins met with offensive coordinator Norm Chow for about an hour and would be at practice today. Fisher said Billy Volek remains the starter for now, with rookie Vince Young backing him up while Collins learns the offense. George signed with the Raiders, although he hasn't thrown a regular season pass in the NFL since 2001. Both are former first-round draft picks. George was the first overall pick by the Colts in 1990 and Collins was Carolina's first-ever pick, fifth overall, in 1995.
Jaguars: Running back Greg Jones will be lost for the season, depriving Jacksonville of the main alternative to injury-prone starter Fred Taylor. Jones was also the starting fullback, forcing the Jaguars to make adjustments at two positions. Derrick Wimbush will now become the fullback and LaBrandon Toefield will move up to No. 2 running back behind Taylor. "It's unfortunate," coach Jack Del Rio said after tests revealed Jones tore an anterior cruciate ligaments against Tampa Bay on Saturday night. "He's a great football player. He's my kind of guy. I have a lot of respect and admiration for the way he plays the game and the way he prepares himself. I can't say enough about him. He's a great young man and I know he'll come back strong. We're going to miss him." Jones sustained a similar injury to his right knee during his final season at Florida State and dropped to the second round in the 2004 draft. He ran 62 times for 162 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie, but was featured more last season. He carried 151 times for 575 yards and four scores.
Rams: Coach Scott Linehan monitored Tropical Storm Ernesto, hoping the storm wouldn't disrupt his team's final exhibition game Thursday at Miami. Linehan was the Dolphins' offensive coordinator last year, when Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma struck South Florida. The Rams are scheduled to fly to South Florida Wednesday. Ernesto was forecast to hit South Florida late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
Texans: Wide receiver Derick Armstrong and linebacker Barrett Green were among 13 players released. Armstrong spent the past three seasons in Houston. He appeared in 13 games and had nine catches for 115 yards in 2005. He has 45 receptions for 605 yards and two touchdowns in his career. Green, a seven-year veteran, had recovered from knee surgery that kept him out of six games in 2004 and all but one game last season and ultimately cost him his job in New York. The Texans became worried about the linebacker's durability after he struggled with minor injuries, including a pulled groin in camp.
Seahawks: Former Chiefs starting safety Shaunard Harts was among the 15 Seahawks cut. The Seahawks signed Harts in the offseason in case starting safety Ken Hamlin did not return from a fractured skull and other serious injuries sustained in an October street fight. But Hamlin has been practicing since the first day of training camp and played in each of the team's three exhibition games without restriction.
Associated Press
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