Dallas' Dez Bryant may return this week

Rookie wideout cleared to play

Dallas Cowboys rookie wide receiver Dez Bryant is cleared to play in the team's final preseason game this week, but the team isn't sure whether he'll suit up or not.

Cowboys being careful with Bryant

"I don't know," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told reporters. "He'll be able to play. He'll be ready to go. It's a question of is it worth some of the risk.

"If we end up playing our regulars, then that might make a difference. We typically have not played a full set of our players, so that might be something we might consider since we've got a chance to have our starters out there."

Bryant has been out of action since the end of July with an ankle injury and it was originally thought he would miss the entire preseason - if not longer.

The Dallas Cowboys drafted Bryant 24th overall in the 2010 draft.

McNabb out for Friday, Week 1 status in question

Donovan McNabb still limping

The Washington Redskins have ruled Donovan McNabb out for Friday's preseason finale againt the New York Jets, but that game is the least of their worries at this point. They just want to make sure he's ready for Week 1. That isn't a sure thing, either.

McNabb's sprained left ankle has him watching from the sidelines with his foot wrapped these days. He has been able to work out, but the timeline is getting short if he's going to be ready for Week 1.

McNabb trying to stay positive

"Obviously, you want to continue playing with the guys, with the [starters], and continue to work your timing in game situations," McNabb told reporters.

"Obviously, due to this injury, there is a minor setback. . . . I don't think it's a [major] setback in any way. Instead of it being a physical thing, you have to make sure mentally you continue to stay involved in what's at stake and what we're doing."

Bengals eat $8 million to release Bryant

Antonio Bryant cut by Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals cut ties with veteran receiver Antonio Bryant, forking over the $8 million he was owed in guaranteed in the four-year, $28-million contract they signed him to in March.

Bryant never appeared completely healthy since joining the Bengals. He had some ligament issues before signing with the Bengals, but they didn't think it was anything that would hold him back. Obviously, they couldn't have been more wrong.

Bryant doesn't play a single snap

Antonio Bryant didn't impress anyone on the practice field and didn't even play a snap of the team's four preseason games. Cincinnati originally chose Bryant over Terrell Owens when the club was looking for another wideout, but ultimately, the Owens signing last month made Bryant expendable.

Bryant is now free to sign with any other team, but interest is expected to be limited.

Favre set to start Sunday against 49ers

Vikings get veteran back on the field

Brett Favre will start tonight against the San Francisco 49ers and should play a series or two and about 10 plays. From there he'll turn it over to backup quarterback Tarvaris Jackson.

Oddsmakers dog Favre in his return

Most sportsbooks have the Vikings set as 2.5-point underdogs with the game's total at 37 points.

It has been a bit of a busy week for the Vikings. The publicity of the whole Favre saga was a lot to deal with, even if the veteran quarterback did his best to reassure the team.

"I did feel -- more so than last year, believe it or not -- I needed them to know I'm all in," Favre told reporters. "Not that they didn't know. I think they did just from me being there. And that was kind of the mantra from all of those guys: 'We knew if we got you here, we were going to get you and you'd be all in. It was getting your [butt] here that is the problem.'

"The hardest part for me is leaving Hattiesburg and the tranquility and that stuff, leaving that. But when I left it, I knew it was nose to the grindstone for five months now."

Cardinals suffer big loss - Larry Fitzgerald out

Larry Fitzgerald is out... but for how long?

The Arizona Cardinals saw superstar wideout go down in a pile during Saturday's 19-16 loss to the Houston Texas and collectively held their breath. The news is better than it could have been. Fitzgerald suffered a sprained MCL but there was no ligament tear, meaning it's possible he'll be ready for Week 1.

"They say they want to be careful with it so it doesn't linger and … I'm ready to go for Week 1 at St. Louis," Fitzgerald said. "It's frustrating, because I was having my best camp as a pro."

Fantasy owners left in limbo

Word is that no matter how well Fitzgerald may be feeling, he's likely done for preseason, meaning that fantasy football players are going to be left wondering what to do with their drafts... I know I am already.

Last season Fitzgerald caught a career-high 13 touchdown passes and could have seen even more targets this year after Anquan Boldin moved on to Baltimore.

Westbrook signs with 49ers

Niners ink backup RB for Frank Gore

Running back Brian Westbrook is heading to San Francisco to play second-fiddle to starter Frank Gore. The longtime member of the Philadelphia Eagles signed a one-year deal worth between $1.25-2.5 million depending on undisclosed incentives.

The 49ers jumped into the Westbrook sweepstakes after running back Glen Coffee surprised the team by retiring at 23 eyars old.

Looking for a second chance

Westbrook was limited to seven starts last season, recording 271 rushing yards and 181 receiving yards, but he was one of the most electric backs in the league not all that long ago. He led the league in yards from scrimmage in 2007 and went to the Pro Bowl twice.

Now he'll get a chance to be a part of a young team on its way up and if Frank Gore goes down, he may end up being a lot bigger piece of San Francisco's team than expected.

Shawne Merriman reports to Chargers camp

Merriman shows up two weeks late

Some might say better late than never, but we'll have to see if that hold true for Shawne Merriman and the San Diego Chargers.

Merriman finally arrived to training camp on Friday to a tentative response from Chargers fans and their reaction is understandable. After leading the league with 39 1/2 sacks from 2005-07 but hasn't been much of a factor since as he battled various knee and foot injuries.

“I didn’t lose anything (by not being in camp),” Merriman said. “But … these guys have been out here working every single day and I have to work myself like they worked themselves the first couple weeks while I wasn’t here. And I’m prepared to do that.”

“I have a lot to prove,” Merriman added. “I’m willing to work. I’m not going to talk about what I’m going to do … I know what the expectations are.”

Money is motivation

Merriman is in the final year of his contract with San Diego and the Chargers haven't expressed any interest in signing him to a long-term deal, so he needs to get back on the field to showcase himself. Now we just have to wait and see if he still has the skills.