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NFL Nation reporters assess the top storylines to watch for every team on Tuesday.AFC East | AFC North| AFC South | AFC West NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC WestNFC EASTDallas CowboysWith the Cowboys not wanting to put left tackle Tyron Smith?at risk?in the preseason because of a stinger, second-year tackle Chaz Green has received more work with the first team than he could have imagined. Green has started the first two preseason games at left tackle and has played better with the starters than he has with the backups. He said the pace of play and expectations he feels from the other starting linemen have helped him focus. If something were to happen to Smith or right tackle Doug Free in the regular season, Green, who did not play in a game as a rookie because of hip surgery, would be the first option. Smith wants to play Thursday against the Seahawks, but the coaches might opt to be even more deliberate. Green said he expects to play left and right tackle against the Seahawks. -- Todd ArcherNew York GiantsThe kicking competition begins Tuesday, now that Randy Bullock has been signed. Josh Brown is suspended for the opener and now has a proven commodity alongside him as a contingency plan. Kicker has all of a sudden become a position to watch for the Giants, but they wont be the only players under the spotlight. Wide receiver Victor Cruz is expected to participate in a full practice Tuesday for the first time in more than two weeks after struggling with a groin injury. This is a crucial week for Cruz. -- Jordan RaananPhiladelphia EaglesNew Eagles linebacker Stephen Tulloch was expected in town Monday night and should be hitting the practice field before long. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz knows Tulloch well, having coached him in both Detroit and Tennessee, but now must figure out how to fit him into the linebacker picture. Coach Doug Pederson said the starting middle linebacker job currently belongs to Jordan Hicks. -- Tim McManusWashington RedskinsLeft tackle Trent Williams will play for the first time this preseason on Friday against Buffalo. Williams missed the first two preseason games because of a knee issue, but he wont be blocking for running back Matt Jones, who will miss the rest of the preseason because of his sprained shoulder. Williams has harped on wanting the preseason work. This game is big for me because I havent had any live reps, he said. So it will be a huge test for me. -- John KeimNFC NORTHChicago BearsThe Bears, who return to practice Tuesday, have been without the services of outside linebacker Pernell McPhee the entire offseason and summer. McPhee, who underwent knee surgery after the 2015 season, is still on the physically unable to perform list, and he has not practiced since Chicago opened training camp in late July. Needless to say, the Bears are eager for McPhee (six sacks, 10 tackles for loss last year) to rejoin the defense. The day he comes back, its going to be like Im opening up a Christmas present because I know what he brings to the table, veteran cornerback Tracy Porter said. I know the guys that we have on the field, theyre doing a tremendous job, and just to plug in a piece like McPhee is going to be big for us. I just cant wait for him to come back. -- Jeff DickersonDetroit LionsThe offensive line will be a focal point again this week, especially as the Lions starters will be playing a lot more Saturday against Baltimore than they have the rest of the preseason. That means Detroit will need continued, consistent improvement from its five starters, particularly rookie left tackle Taylor Decker. The Ohio State product has shown some promise, but there have been plays blown up on his side so far this preseason. Considering how important quarterback Matthew Stafford is to Detroits offense, the Lions need to keep Stafford as clean as possible Saturday night. -- Michael RothsteinGreen Bay PackersWide receiver?Jordy Nelsons return to practice -- or as he called it, hardly even a practice -- went off without a hitch. But that doesnt mean the Packers will increase his workload significantly right away. In fact, Nelson doesnt expect to do any live 11-on-11 work the rest of this week. Obviously, well eventually build into team periods, Nelson said. Well see what we do this week, but I assume, just based off normal progression, that next week well probably get into some competitive periods. -- Rob DemovskyMinnesota VikingsAs they hope for the return of quarterbacks?Teddy Bridgewater and/or Shaun Hill to practice on Tuesday, the Vikings will be monitoring the health of the man charged with protecting their quarterbacks blind side. Left tackle Matt Kalil limped off the practice field with an apparent leg injury on Sunday and did not return, which left?T.J. Clemmings to get first-team work at left tackle. Kalils injury might not be serious, but given the fact that knee problems have hampered him in previous seasons, the Vikings are hoping hes fully healthy before his fifth season, in which hell make $11.1 million and try to prove hes worth a long-term contract following the conclusion of his rookie deal. -- Ben GoesslingNFC SOUTHAtlanta FalconsOutside linebacker Vic Beasley Jr. will be ready to play against the Dolphins after missing last weeks preseason game against the Browns because of a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder. Beasley was limited Sunday but returned to 11-on-11 drills Monday. We did about 12 to 15 reps, so we anticipate him being full for the game, Falcons coach Dan Quinn said of Beasley. The return of Beasley to the lineup will allow the coaches to get a closer look at the nickel pass-rush group of Beasley at left end, Derrick Shelby and Adrian Clayborn on the interior, and seven-time Pro Bowler Dwight Freeney at right end. -- Vaughn McClureCarolina PanthersPro Bowl tight end Greg Olsen worked on the side Monday at practice for the first time since he developed back spasms a week ago. Coach Ron Rivera said?if Olsen responds well overnight, hell be in pads on Tuesday. Thats a good sign for the Panthers, who rely heavily on the tight end. The first team didnt have a completion to the tight end in Saturdays exhibition game.?Olsen and backup Ed Dickson?didnt play. -- David NewtonNew Orleans SaintsThe most disturbing trends in the Saints preseason so far have been their turnovers and lack of a run game. The Saints are averaging 2.4 yards per carry, not including quarterback scrambles. Now, part of that is applying a game plan, as opposed to just your training camp offense, Saints coach Sean Payton said. But I think thats a work in progress. Its gotta be better. One area that could lead to some improvement is moving Andrus Peat permanently to right guard for the rest of the preseason after he flip-flopped between guard and left tackle. They need him comfortable at the guard spot if hes going to secure his starting job there. -- Mike TriplettTampa Bay BuccaneersRookie cornerback Vernon Hargreaves III?started taking reps with the first-team defense on the outside on Monday. He had gotten reps with the ones only at nickelback, while lining up on the outside with the second-team defense. Also, a pretty cool thing happened at practice Monday: Media caught only the first 30 minutes, but Im told that coach Dirk Koetter said if Roberto Aguayo made a field goal from more than 50 yards out, the team could leave a couple hours early. Aguayo nailed it, and everyone cheered and celebrated. Thats one way to help a rookie kicker get his confidence back. -- Jenna LaineNFC WESTArizona CardinalsThe Cardinals got another important player back from injury on Monday. Rookie defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche practiced for the first time since he suffered?a high-ankle sprain a few days before training camp. He went through only individual drills but said he felt good putting his pads on for the first time. Nkemdiche also said theres a chance that he could play in Sundays preseason game at Houston, but he wouldnt commit either way. -- Josh WeinfussLos Angeles RamsQuarterback?Jared Goff needs a big week in practice and the ensuing game if he wants to be the starting quarterback for the Sept. 12 Monday Night Football opener in San Francisco. Goff struggled with the first-team offense this past Saturday, and Case Keenum has completed 10 of 12 passes. What Ive been saying since day one is were going to be patient with him, Rams coach Jeff Fisher said of Goff. Case is our starter. [Goff has been] progressing. Hes getting better, hes learning from his mistakes, he doesnt dwell on them. -- Alden GonzalezSan Francisco 49ersQuarterback Colin Kaepernick made his biggest step forward in his return from shoulder fatigue on Monday, when he took part in the teams entire practice for the first time since Aug. 10. Kaepernick did all the work in individual drills, then said during an informal chat with media in the locker room that he was full-go for the parts of the workout that werent open. Kaepernick also confirmed that he is on schedule to play this week against Green Bay and that his arm felt good after extended throwing sessions Saturday and Monday. -- Nick WagonerSeattle SeahawksThe Seahawks focus with tight end?Jimmy Graham continues to be to take it slow and limit the risk of a setback. Were just trying to find ways to keep making steps, and were very careful to do the right things, coach Pete Carroll said this week. Graham, who is trying to come back from the ruptured patellar tendon he suffered last November, is off the PUP list but has not been a full practice participant. The team is taking it day by day with Graham, and?Carroll suggested recently that he could be sidelined at the start of the season. Unless Graham begins to participate in team drills soon, that seems the most likely scenario. -- Sheil KapadiaAFC EASTBuffalo BillsThe Bills got positive injury news at Mondays practice with the return of guard Richie Incognito, Greg Salas and Nickell Robey-Coleman. As they end training camp Tuesday, however, running back Mike Gillislee is expected to remain out with a concussion. Coach Rex Ryan surprisingly said Monday that Gillislee is probably the Bills No. 2 running back, though Reggie Bush had been taking?reps before him in practice and Saturdays preseason game. -- Mike RodakMiami DolphinsCenter Anthony Steen is the new man in the middle for the Dolphins. He is replacing Pro Bowler Mike Pouncey for at least the next couple weeks after Pouncey suffered a hip injury. Steen is a converted guard who moved to center this spring. They told me that I looked more like a natural center, Steen said. So then they started working me at center slowly, progressed me into it. Now Im pretty much a full-time center. -- James WalkerNew England PatriotsQuarterback Tom Brady had an excused personal absence from the team for Sunday and Monday, and all eyes will be on whether he returns Tuesday. Coach Bill Belichick said Brady will return when his situation clears up. Belichick did not specify the reason for Bradys absence. -- Mike ReissNew York JetsRunning back Matt Forte, who sat out the first two preseason games because of a hamstring injury, is practicing on a full-time basis and could make his Jets debut on Saturday against the Giants. If he plays, it would probably be just a cameo appearance. Forte is a key piece in the offensive puzzle, and the Jets dont want to be reckless in their approach. The objective is to have him healthy for the regular-season opener. -- Rich CiminiAFC NORTHBaltimore RavensWide receiver Breshad Perriman was activated off the physically unable to perform list Monday after recovering from a partially torn ACL, but its unknown when he will participate in a full practice. This is big news for the Ravens because Perriman is their?only receiver with that combination of size and speed. There is uncertainty about how much of an impact Perriman can bring. The 2015 first-round pick has yet to play in a preseason or regular-season game. If he can live up to the pre-injury expectations, Perriman has a good chance to elevate the Ravens downfield passing attack and become the teams No. 3 receiver, at the very least. -- Jamison HensleyCincinnati BengalsTight end Tyler Eifert?on Monday made another step toward recovery by jogging for the first time since he had ankle surgery in May. He is still aiming for a Week 1 start, and the team is starting to look ahead to the regular season. Its just working through that soreness and trying to push it without having a setback, Eifert said. You just have to trust the process and do what you can to get ready. -- Katherine TerrellCleveland BrownsDelaying joint practices with Tampa Bay, which will take place Tuesday and Wednesday, has proven to be good timing for coach Hue Jackson and the Browns. Because the practices were later in camp than is typical, the receivers (Josh Gordon, Andrew Hawkins, Corey Coleman) had a chance to heal from injuries so they can take part in the work. A lot of teams probably wouldnt do it on the third week, but I thought it would be best for us, and I couldnt foresee the physical injuries that we would have or anything, Jackson said. It wasnt any magic solution. It just worked out this way. -- Pat McManamonPittsburgh SteelersLeVeon Bell might get his first live action in about 10 months Friday at New Orleans. Coach Mike Tomlin said after Mondays practice that all healthy players will play, and Bell has been a full participant in practices, despite reconstructive knee surgery in November. The trio of Bell, Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown played a total of 58 snaps last year, but if Bell gets the green light, they might be together for at least 10 in New Orleans. -- Jeremy FowlerAFC SOUTHHouston TexansRunning back Alfred Blue returned to practice after missing time with a shoulder injury, rejoining the crowded backfield. Lamar Miller will be the starter, but coach Bill OBrien and general manager Rick Smith will have their work cut out for them in trying to narrow down the roster while looking at Blue, Jonathan Grimes, Kenny Hilliard,?Akeem Hunt?and?rookie fourth-round pick?Tyler Ervin. -- Sarah BarshopIndianapolis ColtsThe Colts should get some help in their depleted secondary Tuesday because cornerbacks Darius Butler and Jalil Brown are expected to be back at practice. Butler (hamstring) and Brown (foot) missed last weekends game against Baltimore. They could be the starting cornerbacks against Philadelphia on Saturday. Pro Bowl cornerback Vontae Davis is week-to-week with an ankle injury, and the other starting cornerback, Patrick Robinson, is day-to-day with a groin injury. -- Mike WellsJacksonville JaguarsCoach Gus Bradley said hes hoping to see left tackle Kelvin Beachum get some team reps during practice this week. If Beachum can, and his left knee responds well to the pounding -- hes coming off ACL surgery -- theres a chance hell be able to play Sunday against Cincinnati. Luke Joeckel is coming off the most physical game of his career, according to Bradley, and has the lead in the battle to be the starting left tackle. -- Mike DiRoccoTennessee TitansStarting strong safety DaNorris Searcy has seen backup Daimion Stafford get some time with the first team. But the way coach Mike Mularkey talks about Searcy, his starting job seems secure. The coach said Searcy has been very steady and is doing good work to get people lined up as the quarterback of the defensive backfield. -- Paul KuharskyAFC WESTDenver BroncosTrevor Siemian will get the start at quarterback in Saturdays preseason game against the Rams and will likely win the starting job for the regular-season opener if he has a quality outing. The real intrigue now: Coach Gary Kubiak wouldnt say Monday who would be the second quarterback in the game. He said all three quarterbacks would play an equal number of snaps, but he would not say whether rookie Paxton Lynch or Mark Sanchez would follow Siemian. Kubiak is expected to reveal the full rotation in the coming days. -- Jeff LegwoldKansas City ChiefsThe Chiefs are still sorting through candidates to start at right cornerback. Phillip Gaines began training camp as the likely starter, but he hasnt played in either of the preseason games after undergoing surgery in October for a torn ACL. Steven Nelson got the start and a lot of playing time in the preseason opener, then it was rookie D.J. Whites turn in last weeks game. Clearly the Chiefs are searching -- not just for a starter but also for a nickelback. The Chiefs have used safety Ron Parker as their nickelback in the past. If they turn to Parker again, its a sign theyre not satisfied with the development of some of their young cornerbacks -- Adam TeicherOakland RaidersIn rebuilding the Raiders secondary, defensive backs?coach Marcus Robertson pulled the hometown card to recruit cornerback Sean Smith, who used to attend Robertsons camps as a youth in his hometown of Pasadena, California. Sean is a student of the game, Robertson said of the 6-foot-3, 218-pound Smith. Hes got a very high football IQ. The things that he possesses in his size and his length, I think make up for a little bit of the short areas of quickness and things of that nature because hes so difficult to get around, hes so difficult to throw over. -- Paul GutierrezSan Diego ChargersDefensive end Corey Liuget lost weight in order to play faster in 2016, but he has yet to see the fruits of his labor. Through two preseason games, Liuget has yet to record a tackle, quarterback pressure or sack. Its been OK, Liuget said. I havent been able to explode the way I want to, but its been pretty good. Im getting in shape and working my tail off trying to make plays. ... Its preseason, so you dont want to put all of your good stuff out there. -- Eric D. Williams Danny Duffy Jersey . It might not have mattered. While the Dodgers are preparing for the playoffs, the Padres showed their future has promise behind two rookies. Adalberto Mondesi Jersey . The International Olympic Committee released the official list of bid cities on Friday after the deadline for applications had passed. The candidates -- all previously announced in their own countries -- are: Almaty, Kazakhstan; Beijing; Krakow, Poland; Lviv, Ukraine; Oslo, Norway; and Stockholm. https://www.cheaproyals.com/1517a-erick-mejia-jersey-royals.html .J. -- Pitcher Carl Pavano is retiring after 14 major league seasons. Jorge Lopez Jersey . Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, announced Wednesday that the team would assign Swedish forward Elias Lindholm to his nations team for the upcoming tournament. Kevin McCarthy Jersey . What general manager Dave Nonis called "short and productive" negotiations ended with Kessel signing a US$64-million, eight-year contract on Tuesday. CONCORD, N.C. -- Kevin Harvick has already proven hes a factor at Charlotte Motor Speedway, especially during night races. With the top starting spot Saturday night, hell be tough to beat in the opening race of the second round of NASCARs playoffs.Harvick turned a lap at 196.029 mph in a Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet to earn the top starting spot in Thursday night qualifying. He edged Alex Bowman, the replacement driver for Dale Earnhardt Jr., who is not racing for the championship.It is Harvicks first pole of the season.I think any time you can eliminate track position, thats definitely a bonus for us, he said. This hasnt really been our strongest day all year, qualifying day, in general has not been very good for us. So, to see the speed that the car immediately had ... Im just really proud of the guys who will hopefully catapult us in the right direction to get the night started right.Chase Elliott qualified third and was followed by Kyle Busch, the highest qualifying Toyota driver, Tony Stewart and AJ Allmendinger.Martin Truex Jr., winner of two of the first three Chase races, qualified seventh.He was followed by Carl Edwards, Denny Hamlin, Joey Logano, the top qualifying Ford driver, and Jimmie Johnson as Chase drivers took eight of the top 11 spots in Thursday night qualifying.Kasey Kahne qualified 12th as all four Hendrick Motorsports drivers made the final round of qualifying.But it was Harvick, with his fast lap, who stole the spotlight.Harvick, the 2014 champion, has been looking forward to racing at Charlotte and a potential automatic berth into the third round of the Chase. Harvick has three career points victories at Charlotte, including the October race during his championship season. That victory pushed Harvick into the round of eight of the Chase.Hes also has had success racing at night, and Charlotte Motor Speedway President Marcus Smith dubbed Harvick Nighthawk because Harvick has not finished outside the top 10 at night in the last seven races. Hes only been outside the top-five twice in that span.Harvick has also won six times in night races on the NASCAR schedule since 2012, and he really wants win No. 7 to take the focus off upcoming races at Kansas and then the Chase eliminator at Talladega.It would be a lot easier on my blood pressure, he said. Any of these races can jump up and biite you at really any particular time just because of the fact that you just never know.dddddddddddd Obviously Talladega has the most things out of your control. So if you can get to victory lane, its a huge benefit in this first round in the next two weeks.DIDNT MOVE ON: Starting position isnt all that critical in a 500-mile race, but the drivers competing for the championship dont want the competition to get too big of a jump on them.But four of the drivers in the field failed to make it out of the second round of qualifying. Matt Kenseth will start 17th, Austin Dillon will start 19th, Brad Keselowski 20th and Kurt Busch 23rd.We just lacked a little bit of speed in qualifying trim, Keselowski said. You want to qualify and race good, and I think weve got a great Ford Fusion to do that.Dillon was similarly optimistic.We had a good car in practice, were going to be fine, he said.BOWMAN COMES CLOSE: Bowman set the standard for qualifying and appeared to have the car to win the pole for Saturday nights race.The replacement driver for Dale Earnhardt Jr. was fast in practice and topped the speed chart in the second round of qualifying. Then he went out first to set the tone for the final round, only to be knocked off the pole by Harvick.Harvick bumped Bowman by .029 seconds.We didnt put the greatest lap together in the last round, Bowman said.Its the best starting spot of Bowmans career, and comes in his fifth race as Earnhardts replacement. Hes hopeful it leads to more work, either with Hendrick Motorsports or elsewhere.I dont know what the future holds, Bowman said. There arent very many rides open for next year, so these rides might be the last of my Cup career.LARSON MISCUE: Kyle Larson thought hed posted a fast enough lap to advance into the second round of qualifying.Then Matt DiBenedetto posted a late fast lap that knocked Larson out of the top 24.He scrambled to get back on track and run another qualifying lap, but Larson didnt beat the clock. Hell start 25th in Saturday nights race.We were just kind of waiting and we ended up waiting too long, said Larson. Its a bummer we didnt get to go out there and make another lap.Larson was eliminated from the Chase last week at Dover. ' ' '