Owens takes a seat
Wearing a hooded sweat shirt, shorts and a wrap on his left thigh, Dallas Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens spent Thursday riding an exercise bike instead of practicing.
Owens tweaked his left hamstring Wednesday and decided to sit out practice as a precaution.
“I wouldn’t say I’m injured, just a little sore,” Owens said.
He is unsure whether he will be ready to practice today, when two workouts are scheduled, or Saturday, when there will be a controlled scrimmage.
“This is my first time ever having to deal with a hamstring, so it’s new to me,” Owens said. “I never really know what to expect.”
Dallas owner Jerry Jones said he’s not too worried about the injury. For instance, there are no plans yet for Owens to undergo an MRI.
“We thought we’d be better served to let him not push off on it today,” Jones said. “We are being sensitive to it and we are watching it. For a guy who is renowned for playing hurt, renowned for working hard and wanting to be out here, we don’t have any concerns.”
Roethlisberger finds old form
Ben Roethlisberger pronounced himself fit for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ first preseason game and said coach Bill Cowher would have to “hold me back” from playing nine days from now in Arizona.
It was a departure from Roethlisberger’s comment following Sunday’s camp-opening practice that his playing is “always Coach’s call.”
The turning point for Roethlisberger, less than two months removed from a motorcycle accident that easily could have ended his life, was Wednesday night’s practice at a high school stadium in downtown Latrobe. In front of a record crowd, he looked like the old Roethlisberger.
“Everything feels pretty good,” Roethlisberger said. “My arm feels good. I feel like it’s coming along well. It’s better than it has been in previous camps.”
Patriots wait for Branch
Richard Seymour took the field with his teammates for the first time in training camp. Unfortunately for the New England Patriots, holdout Deion Branch wasn’t with him.
A tight quadriceps has kept Seymour from practicing and he did little physically in a relatively light workout. The star defensive lineman, without helmet or shoulder pads, lined up in his stance and walked through different formations.
He remained on the physically unable to perform list, although he said he should be at full strength for the regular season.
There was no timetable for Branch’s return.
New England’s top wide receiver and MVP of one of its three Super Bowl victories stayed away for the seventh straight day.
He wants more than the $1.045 million he’s scheduled to make this season, the last of a five-year contract he signed as a rookie, and has been negotiating for a new deal.
Young runs Titans offense
The Tennessee Titans might have seen a glimpse into their future when Vince Young ran the first-team offense during the morning workout.
Starting quarterback Billy Volek was given the practice off to rest his arm for the afternoon, so Young worked exclusively with the first unit. Young, the Titans’ first-round pick from Texas, is regarded as the team’s eventual long-term top quarterback, and he has seen scattered work with the first string in camp.
His highlight of the day was a deep pass to receiver Roydell Williams for a touchdown over the outstretched arms of cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones. Young said he was pleased to get to take snaps from starting center Kevin Mawae.
Volek went through a full practice in the afternoon, relegating Young mostly to second-team work.
Around the league
Arizona Cardinals starting right tackle Oliver Ross has been diagnosed with a probable torn meniscus in his right knee and could be out for 2 1/2 months. It is the same injury that sidelined receiver Anquan Boldin and cornerback Antrel Rolle for much of last season. … St. Louis Rams coach Scott Linehan canceled morning meetings. Instead, the former Idaho Vandals quarterback piled his players into buses and took them a water park in suburban Maryland Heights.