Terrell Davis will try to reclaim his old spot as Denver's starting tailback when the Broncos open their new stadium Saturday night.
More than two years after the first shovel hit the dirt, the Broncos will play at Invesco Field at Mile High in a preseason game against the New Orleans Saints.
Davis, who has missed 24 games because of injuries over the past two seasons, is also scheduled to make his 2001 debut Saturday. A sore knee and tight hamstring kept him out of Denver's first two exhibition games.
"I'm going to try to go as hard as I can, but I have to be smart about what I do out there as well," Davis said. "This is going to be a good test for me to see where I stand, to gauge my performance and where I am right now."
Though he is penciled in as Denver's first-string tailback, Davis has competition from Olandis Gary and Mike Anderson, who have shared the workload in his absence.
GREEN BAY PACKERS: Defensive tackle Russell Maryland, sidelined most of training camp with a sore back, will play a few downs for the Packers on Saturday night.
"It felt much better this week, a little less sore, didn't have any setbacks, so just kind of working my way there," Maryland said. "It's imperative that I get in and get snaps tomorrow full speed, because I haven't had that all preseason."
While Maryland understands that his lack of participation during training camp could put his roster spot in jeopardy, he didn't know how much he'd be able to play against Miami.
"I'm just going to put some work in and try not to overdo it," he said.
But the 11-year veteran said he can't rely on savvy alone to prepare for the season, which opens Sept. 9.
"The whole preseason schedule is a necessary evil," he said. "You try not to get hurt, you try not to get injured, but you need to get that work in to be ready Sept. 9."
Packers defensive tackle Santana Dotson said he's on track to play in the season opener.
Dotson, who had an operation last winter to repair a torn quadriceps tendon above his right knee, took part Thursday in his first on-field drills since last November.
He said he'll begin doing 11-on-11 drills next week but isn't sure if he'll play against Oakland in the preseason finale.
Dotson said he's not sure he needs to play in the exhibitions anyway.
"I've been around here for six years and playing the same position for 10," he said. "As long as I'm prepared for Week 1 against a team I've been playing against for 10 years, I think I'll be all right."
Dotson said the biggest question right now is how his body responds to game day wear and tear.
"The only thing I haven't been able to do is see how it comes back from body-on-body contact, the twisting and torque that's always demanded of me in my position," he said. "Once I see where I am with that, I think I'll be ready."
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS: Doug Flutie, San Diego's 38-year-old quarterback, has a stiff hip and might miss Saturday's preseason game against the St. Louis Rams.
Flutie said the tightness came from the repetition of dropping back in practice.
"Actually, I could go out and run a 40 for you right now and all that," Flutie said.
Coach Mike Riley probably will make a decision at game time, and rookie Drew Brees might start if Flutie doesn't.
Flutie understands Riley's caution. Flutie had a groin injury last year in camp with Buffalo, which forced him to miss the first three regular-season games.
"It's not a matter of being full speed and going out and playing. It's a matter of being smart — it's preseason and everything else," Flutie said.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: Matt Hasslebeck and a new corps of receivers will take over the Seattle passing game Saturday in the Seahawks' exhibition game against San Francisco.
Hasselbeck will make his first start at quarterback for Seattle since signing a five-year, $24 million contract. He will throw to new starting receivers James Williams and first-round draft pick Koren Robinson.
Williams and Robinson will replace Darrell Jackson and Kartsen Bailey.
With all these new faces in Seattle's offensive lineup, running back Ricky Watters is feeling like an old man — but he's excited by the Seahawks' potential.
"When they say stuff like, 'I used to watch you when I was a little kid,' I say, 'Hold on, man, I wasn't around that long,' " the 11-year veteran said. "It's funny to see these guys, because they come in older and older in their minds — at least they think they know more."