NFLWIRE.Net

Texans quarterback Matt Schaub has sprained his left ankle against the Vikings. Schaub appeared to hurt his ankle when he get tangled up at the line on a touchdown run by Steve Slaton with about four minutes left in the first half Monday night. He got his ankle taped and returned for the last series of the second quarter, where he completed two passes before Houston kicked a field goal.

The battered Broncos are running out of time and players alike. With just a short week left in their preseason, the Broncos are scrambling to fix a turnover-prone, mistake-filled and injury-riddled offense that's nowhere near ready for the regular season. "Time is running out," quarterback Kyle Orton said.

Tedy Bruschi began the first day of his post-football life by taking out the trash. "I'm real life," he said, "I'm just regular." Hardly. Bruschi is that unique player who won three Super Bowls, spent a long career with just one team and got Bill Belichick to drop his stoic persona on Monday and, in a voice shaking with emotion, call Bruschi "a perfect player."…

Carson Palmer threw some passes to Cincinnati Bengals teammates during practice, an indication he could play in the final preseason game. Palmer threw to receivers during the first 30 minutes of practice Monday, the first time he's done that in nearly three weeks. The quarterback dropped back after taking snaps and moved around without problem on his sprained left ankle.

Rookie head coach Todd Haley fired offensive coordinator Chan Gailey and assumed that role himself Monday, 13 days before he opens the season with a very unsettled quarterback situation. Matt Cassel was injured in Saturday night's preseason loss to Seattle, limping away with a knee injury. But Haley refused to discuss the injury to Cassel, who signed a six-year contract for a guaranteed $28…

Pittsburgh Steelers right guard Darnell Stapleton has been placed on the injured reserve list with a knee injury and will miss the season. Stapleton injured his left knee during the first week of training camp and had arthroscopic surgery to remove loose cartilage. An undrafted player who started in the Super Bowl, he was expected to be ready by the start of the season.

Defensive end Brett Keisel has signed a five-year contract, becoming the eighth player to reach a new deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers since they won the Super Bowl in February. Because the Steelers have a policy of not negotiating during the regular season, Keisel is expected to be the final player signed before the Sept.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released underachieving wide receiver Dexter Jackson. Jackson was a second-round draft pick out of Appalachian State in 2008. He appeared in the first seven games of last season, primarily as a kick returner. The 23-year-old returned 20 punts and 14 kickoffs with limited success before losing the kick return job to undrafted free agent Clifton Smith.

Heckled and harassed by a hostile crowd, Jay Cutler silenced the jeers the best way he knew how — with his powerful right arm. The Chicago quarterback played the role of villain to perfection in his return to Invesco Field, leading the Bears team to a 27-17 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday night.

By his own admission, Jets receiver Chansi Stuckey had struggled through a ”quiet” preseason until he broke out against the Giants on Saturday night. Stuckey led the Jets with four receptions and gained 69 receiving yards. He also solidified his standing as the team’s second-best option at receiver, outperforming the speedy David Clowney, who worked with the first team but did not have a catch in the Jets’ 27-25 victory.

The Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said he did not agree with quarterback Donovan McNabb’s criticism that the addition of Michael Vick had disrupted the rhythm of the offense. ”Not at all,” he said Sunday before practice. ”Michael is going to help this offense. I’m confident of that.”

HOUSTON (AP) — Brett Favre’s ribs appear to be just fine.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The battered Broncos are running out of time and players alike.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Kansas City Chiefs head coach Todd Haley fired his offensive coordinator Chan Gailey on Monday and said he would take over the role himself.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Brodie Croyle kept getting hurt and Tyler Thigpen seemed ill-suited for an NFL offense, so the Kansas City Chiefs traded for Matt Cassel and gave him a guaranteed $28 million contract before the first snap.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kevin Kolb is getting a start at quarterback in the Eagles’ final preseason game.