COWBOYS: Erik Williams will be eased back into his job but should be ready for the opener. Solomon Page is the likely starter Saturday against Denver. Williams was on the field for practice, with ice wrapped around a knee much of the time. ... Cornerback Kevin Smith remains absent and is considering retirement.

EAGLES: Rookie defensive tackle Giradie Mercer (torn right triceps tendon) was placed on injured reserve

FALCONS: Former All-Pro running back Jamal Anderson has a badly stubbed big toe and a sore knee. ... Already thin at defensive end, Atlanta lost Brady Smith with a pulled groin. His status was unknown.

LIONS: Cornerback Kevin Abrams (toe) is out indefinitely. Coach Bobby Ross said he would look for another cornerback. Lamar Campbell and Marquis Walker have been working at nickel back. ... Quarterback Charlie Batch practiced for the second day in a row without soreness in his right knee. ... James Stewart (groin) and Reuben Droughs (shoulder) are out for Friday's game in Oakland, and Brock Olivo (buttocks) was injured Tuesday.

PACKERS: Running back Dorsey Levens had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and may not be ready for the season opener. Coach Mike Sherman said Levens had scar tissue removed. The surgery produced some good news. Levens' patellar tendon was found to be healthy. Sherman said Levens might be ready for Green Bay's Sept. 3 opener against the Jets. Second-year Basil Mitchell and undrafted rookie Herbert Goodman are the 1-2 backs. ... Quarterback Brett Favre was told he needed more rest after an MRI exam confirmed tendinitis in his right arm. No tendon or ligament damage was discovered. No decision was made on how long he must rest.

PANTHERS: Carolina, which declined to work out free agent Robert Brooks, is not making a strong push to bring in veteran Andre Rison. The team is short-handed because of the season-ending injury to Patrick Jeffers. Donald Hayes is a starter now, opposite Muhsin Muhammad.

RAMS: Wide receiver/punt returner Az-Zahir Hakim (shoulder separation) should be ready for the season opener. Coach Mike Martz did not have prognoses on cornerback Jacoby Shepherd (ankle) and defensive tackle Jeff Zgonina (sprained knee and ankle).

REDSKINS: Center Cory Raymer, who has started 37 consecutive regular-season and playoff games, has two partially torn ligaments in his right knee. "The hope is getting him back on the field in six weeks," trainer Bubba Tyer said. That would rule out Raymer through the first four games of the regular season. The Redskins host the Bucs in Week 5. If the knee has not sufficiently healed after a month, Raymer may require surgery that could sideline him for the season. Raymer's backup is Mark Fischer, a 1998 fifth-round pick who played tackle at Purdue. His only non-preseason experience has been on special teams in last season's playoff loss at Tampa Bay. Others who got snaps are rookie Ryan Kalich, an ex-Gator, and Jay Leeuwenburg, a utility lineman. ... To replace Dan Wilkinson (sprained knee), who is out for at least the rest of the preseason, backup end Kenard Lang has been moved to tackle.

VIKINGS: Linebacker Dwayne Rudd (wrist) is wearing a cast but is expected to play Friday against Arizona.

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