KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City's four-time Pro Bowl tight end, injured his left knee during practice Tuesday when he was hit while reaching for a pass. Coach Dick Vermeil said early indications were the injury did not threaten Gonzalez's season or career.
"I think it will be short term, but that's a first look," Vermeil said.
Gonzalez was twisting for a pass thrown behind him when he was hit at the same time by linebacker Mike Maslowski during a full-team drill. He said in the locker room after practice the injury was not serious.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: DT Josh Shaw was suspended for the first four games of the season for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.
Shaw, a second-year pro from Michigan State, left the team to enter the league's substance abuse rehabilitation program. He will be eligible to return to the 49ers on Sept. 29.
The former fifth-round draft pick was injured for much of his rookie season, making just three tackles in three games.
GREEN BAY PACKERS: QB Akili Smith, taken by Cincinnati with the third overall pick of the 1999 draft, was released.
Smith, signed by the Packers after being cut by the Bengals earlier this year, was caught behind starter Brett Favre, veteran backup Doug Pederson and former NFL Europe QB Craig Nall. He was just 3-for-12 for 20 yards in a loss to Carolina last Saturday.
"He needed to be in the minicamps so he'd really know what he was doing coming into these games," offensive coordinator Tom Rossley said. "I think he would have played much better had he been here and known his assignments and known his reads a little bit better." Also released was TE Tyrone Davis, who started 27 games since 1997 and caught 71 passes for 780 yards and 13 touchdowns. He has been plagued by injuries and weight problems during the last several seasons.
BUFFALO BILLS: To no one's surprise, Buffalo placed RB Willis McGahee, its first-round draft choice, on the reserve non-football injury list. The former Miami star, the 23rd overall pick in April's draft, is recovering after tearing three ligaments in his left knee in Miami's national championship loss to Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl last January.
Under NFL rules, McGahee could begin practicing between the end of Week 6 and the end of Week 9. The Bills would then have a three-week window to activate McGahee or sit him out for the rest of the season.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS: Orlando Pace, the St. Louis Rams' Pro Bowl left tackle, settled his contract dispute — for now — by agreeing to the team's one-year tender of $5.73 million.
The 6-foot-7, 320-pound Pace, the first player taken in the 1997 draft, balked at signing the tender, the minimum for a designated franchise player at his position.
He has made the Pro Bowl in four of his six NFL seasons, including last year, when he was hurt and played 10 games.
"Everybody was happy that I was back," Pace said. "Everyone seemed like they were ready to go forward and start winning some ballgames."
CAROLINA PANTHERS: DeShaun Foster will make his preseason debut for Carolina on Friday night against Pittsburgh.
Foster's last game action was just over a year ago when he damaged cartilage in his left knee in a preseason game against New England. He had surgery and missed his rookie season.
He finally got clearance Tuesday when coach John Fox said he would use Foster in the preseason finale.
The Panthers have high hopes for Foster, their second-round draft pick a year ago.
Carolina is hopeful Foster and free-agent addition Stephen Davis can give the Panthers a potent 1-2 running game.
The Panthers also cut QB Randy Fasani, who played in four games with one start as a rookie, completing 15 of 44 passes for 171 yards and no touchdowns.
MIAMI DOLPHINS: QB Clint Stoerner worked out for Miami, an indication Brian Griese's toe injury might keep him out longer than expected.
Griese suffered ligament damage to his left big toe against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday. He could be out a month, but he's not expected to need surgery.
In Griese's absence, Sage Rosenfels becomes the No. 2 quarterback behind Jay Fiedler. In two seasons, Rosenfels has thrown three passes — all incomplete.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS: The Redskins released six players.
Defensive tackle James Cannida, signed after the defense played poorly in the first exhibition game, was cut, along with defensive backs Wade Davis and Lloyd Harrison, cornerback Alex Molden, defensive end Greg Scott and tight end Leonard Stephens.
Linebacker LaVar Arrington missed practice for the second straight day with a mild knee sprain from Saturday's game against Baltimore. Linebacker Jeremiah Trotter left practice early when his surgically repaired knee acted up. Neither will play Thursday at Jacksonville.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: Wide receiver Drew Haddad, a two-year veteran, was one of 15 players released by the Colts.
Haddad made the team in 2001 as an undrafted free agent after returning two punts for touchdowns in the preseason. But he caught only one pass for 11 yards in his career and had just five receptions for 37 yards in the Colts' first three preseason games.
The biggest surprise might have been that kicker Brett Conway was not cut. Conway is battling with Mike Vanderjagt for the job. Vanderjagt is the NFL's most accurate field-goal kicker. but is 0-3 in the preseason after criticizing quarterback Peyton Manning during the offseason.