Pittsburgh Steelers: In what could be a key decision for the Steelers' offensive line in 2003, ESPN.com has learned that starting center Jeff Hartings traveled to Birmingham, Ala., on Tuesday, where he will have his ailing left knee examined by noted orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews.

It is expected that the examination will determine how to treat a knee that forced the eight-year veteran to miss four games and five starts in 2002. Among the options being considered, sources said, were continued rest, arthroscopic surgery, or perhaps as a last resort, the controversial "microfracture" procedure.

The "microfracture" surgery essentially entails drilling holes into the bone in an effort to regenerate cartilage. If such a drastic step was called for, Hartings would likely miss the entire 2003 season. Hartings' knee was said to be showing improvement in recent days, but he and the Steelers need to know the long-term prognosis. The hope is that Hartings will require just relatively benign treatment.

Hartings, 30, is essential to a Pittsburgh line that is undergoing a dramatic overhaul. The team lost left tackle Wayne Gandy and Marvel Smith, who has never played the position in a regular-season contest, is moving from the right side to fill the vacancy. Oliver Ross and Todd Fordham are vying for the right tackle position. Right guard Kendall Simmons just returned to practice this week, after he took time off following the revelation that he has diabetes.

A former Penn State star, acquired from the Detroit Lions as an unrestricted free agent in 2001, Hartings moved from guard to center when he joined the Steelers. He is a power blocker, very intelligent, and his loss would be a tough one to overcome.

The backup to Hartings, third-year veteran Chukky Okobi, was banged up in Saturday's preseason loss at Detroit, but hopes to return to practice later this week.

-- Len Pasquarelli

Dallas Cowboys: Disappointed with the performance of both young quarterbacks in the preseason opening loss at Arizona last weekend, Cowboys coach Bill Parcells may be forced now to alter his plan for selecting a starter. Parcells had planned on identifying the starter before the third preseason contest, when he typically game-plans for the first time, but neither Chad Hutchinson nor Quincy Carter were impressive against the Cardinals.

Both quarterbacks will get another chance to stake a claim to the starting job on Friday, when the Cowboys play at Houston.

One thing Parcells is not yet ready to do is mash the panic button and sign a veteran like free agent Ray Lucas, who played for him with the New York Jets. The plan remains to develop one of the young quarterbacks, despite the obvious growing pains, and to build from within and for the long-term.

"Just because the boat rocks a little, you can't just jump in the water yet," Parcells said.

-- Len Pasquarelli

Oakland Raiders: Troubled center Barret Robbins, who was suspended from the Super Bowl by the Raiders and continues to battle bipolar disorder and alcoholism, returned to the first-unit for a brief period of Monday's practice.

The eight-year veteran is still not ready to go full-out yet and acknowledged that he is only about 70-75 percent recovered from May surgery on his right knee. Although the club continues to support Robbins, his long-term future with the franchise remains a bit uncertain at this point.

Adam Treu and former first-round draft choice Matt Stinchcomb, who was chosen as a tackle, have been working at center with the No. 1 offense in camp. Stinchcomb moved to the hub position only last week.

-- Len Pasquarelli

Tennessee Titans: Longtime safety Marcus Robertson is returning to the Titans, but not to fill the team's need for a veteran backup at the position. Robertson instead will join the Titans in the player development department, where he will counsel veteran on career transition.

The 12-year veteran spent the first 10 seasons of his career with the Houston/Tennessee franchise, and was a standout performer in one of the NFL's best secondaries. He signed with the Seattle Seahawks as a free agent in 2001 and played the past two seasons there.

"It's like a homecoming," Robertson said. "I'm very comfortable here. This team has been good to be and I want to (reciprocate)."

Robertson, 33, will replace Al Smith, with the former Titans linebacker being promoted to director of pro scouting. Robertson has said he would like to continue as a player, but he currently has no job offers.

-- Len Pasquarelli

Seattle Seahawks: Seahawks defensive tackle Chad Eaton, one of the team's better players against the run, could miss 4-6 weeks after undergoing a second surgery on his right knee. Eaton had arthroscopic surgery in the offseason but the knee continued to swell and to cause too much discomfort to allow him to continue practicing.

The team is hopeful that Eaton, a seven-year veteran, might be fully rehabilitated by the regular-season opener. Eaton, who bulked up to 327 pounds, was one of the few bright spots on a Seattle defense that statistically ranked last in the NFL versus the run in 2002.

One positive for the Seahawks is that they have a capable replacement in veteran tackle Norman Hand, who was acquired from the New Orleans Saints in a trade on the second day of this year's draft. One of the league's top run defenders when his weight is under control, Hand was pushing Eaton for the starting job in training camp.

-- Len Pasquarelli

Baltimore Ravens: Safety Antwoine Sanders was among the last players chosen in the 2003 draft, with the Ravens taking him with the fifth-to-last selection in the lottery. The former Utah standout now has an even more ignominious distinction, however, as he became the first of the 262 draft choices to be waived.

The Ravens on Monday reached an injury settlement with Sanders, allowing them to cut him, and making him a free agent. He had signed a three-year contract worth $934,125, with a signing bonus of $24,125.

-- Len Pasquarelli

Washington Redskins: Center Larry Moore will be out up to three weeks with a left knee injury, but the team thinks he will play in the season opener against the Jets on Sept. 4.

An MRI test Tuesday revealed a sprained ligament. Moore was injured during practice Monday.

Moore started all 16 games last season, but this year he is working with two new guards, Randy Thomas and Dave Fiore.

With Moore out, Wilbert Brown and Lennie Friedman will work at center. The team also has the option of moving Fiore to center and playing third-round pick Derrick Dockery at left guard.

New York Jets: Kicker Clay Rush and offensive tackle Bobby Brandt were waived.

Rush, a former Arena Football League kicker of the year, shared kickoff duties in the Jets' first two preseason games.

Brandt worked as a long snapper during training camp.

Cincinnati Bengals: Rookie quarterback Carson Palmer missed practice with a strained tendon in his right foot.

Palmer, the Heisman Trophy winner and top pick in this year's draft, could miss the next few days of practice, the team said.

The injury occurred in Sunday's preseason loss to the New York Jets. Bengals spokesman Jack Brennan said the injury isn't severe and will be treated mainly with stretching and rest.

The Bengals' next preseason game is Saturday against Detroit.

San Francisco 49ers: Receiver Nate Jackson was traded to the Denver Broncos for a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2004.

Jackson, who played at Division III Menlo College near the 49ers' training complex, was one of San Francisco's final cuts before last season. He was back in camp with the team this summer.

The 49ers also signed linebacker Darnell Robinson, who has been out of football since getting cut by Detroit before the 2001 season.

Information from ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli and The Associated Press was used in this report.