Kansas City Chiefs LB Tamba Hali (knee) is back practicing with the team, but he is not expected to play in the team’s preseason finale Thursday, Sept. 1, against the Green Bay Packers. With LB Justin Houston sidelined for at least the first six weeks of the regular season, the team is counting heavily on Hali for their pass rush. He hasn’t practiced much during the season, and even hinted during the offseason of becoming a part-time player, perhaps a pass-rush specialist. ‘There’s swelling, there’s pain,’ Hali said Tuesday, Aug. 30. ‘That’s part of it. There’s going to be pain in my knee. I can only worth through it and get to the passer.’

Kansas City Chiefs RB Charcandrick West has been seeing some starter’s snap in training camp and the preseason, although RB Spencer Ware has seen the majority with RB Jamaal Charles (knee) slow to recover.

Kansas City Chiefs RB Spencer Ware has been seeing a lot of the starter’s reps in practice in training camp, and RB Charcandrick West gets some, too, as RB Jamaal Charles (knee) has been slow to return to a featured back role after a torn anterior cruciate ligament back in October 2015.

Kansas City Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles (knee) recently returned to practice after knee surgery, but he has yet to play in a preseason game. He is unlikely to play Thursday, Sept. 1, in the exhibition finale. He is considered behind schedule, and while there hasn’t been a setback, he isn’t confirmed as the full-time featured back, either. RB Spencer Ware has taken first-team reps for training camp and the preseason, with RB Charcandrick West also seeing first-team reps. ‘For Jamaal, it’s (a matter of) getting trust in the leg,’ head coach Andy Reid said Tuesday, Aug. 30. ‘Every day he does a little bit more and a little bit more and his cuts are a little bit sharper. It’s just a matter of time and we’re OK there. We’re OK with that.’

Minnesota Vikings QB Taylor Heinicke (foot) is two weeks ahead of schedule in his recovery from a foot injury, a source said Tuesday, Aug. 30. He might return to practice in the next three weeks.

Minnesota Vikings QB Shaun Hill is the likely candidate to take over under center with QB Teddy Bridgewater (knee) expected to miss the 2016 season due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament and other structural damage. He has never started more than 10 games in any season and he never has reached the postseason.

Updating a previous report, Minnesota Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater (knee) suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and other structural damage as a result of a non-contact injury in practice Tuesday, Aug. 30, and he also has a dislocated knee. An MRI confirmed the injuries. He did not suffer any nerve or arterial damage, however. He will have surgery within the next few days, but is expected to miss the 2016 season.

The Cincinnati Bengls waived WR Mario Alford with an injury designation Tuesday, Aug. 30. The Bengals also put DT Andrew Billings on injured reserve and put DT Brandon Thompson on the Physically Unable to Perform list. The Bengals are now at 75 players.

The Detroit Lions waived CB Brandon McGee on Tuesday, Aug. 30.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers waived/injured WR Donteea Dye and OL Joel Hale on Tuesday, Aug. 30, to reach the 75-man limit.