Wichtige: Regeln, Hilfe und Infos » happened on the tapes this year,

PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Kevin Kolb will start at quarterback for the Buffalo Bills in their preseason game Friday night against the Minnesota Vikings. Bills coach Doug Marrone made the announcement after practice Wednesday night. Kolb, who is competing with rookie EJ Manuel for the starting quarterback job, did not play in Buffalos first preseason game because of a left knee injury. Marrone said the decision was not a reflection of Manuel, who played well against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, and more about the competition at quarterback. "Kevin probably would have started the first game if he wasnt injured or hurt, and EJ would have come in and then EJ would have started this game," Marrone said. "But because of injury, obviously EJ started and Im going to get Kevin his start. You cant call it a competition and then all of the sudden not have the quarterbacks getting those starts." Kolb twisted his knee when he slipped on a wet rubber mat during practice. He signed with the Bills after two injury-filled seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. Kolb participated in team drills for the first time in over a week on Monday but took a big step forward Tuesday. On Tuesday, Kolb moved well in the pocket and did not appear to be hampered by the knee injury. "(Tuesday) was a big day for me," Kolb said. "I felt my feet get back underneath me and was able to push the ball down the field a couple of times and I was happy with it." Bills rookie linebacker Kiko Alonso will likely miss Fridays game as he makes his way back from a shoulder injury. Alonso has been cleared by doctors to return to the field but Marrone said he plans on resting him for a couple days. Wide receivers Stevie Johnson (hamstring) and Brad Smith (undisclosed) returned to practice on a limited basis Wednesday night. The Bills are hoping that Johnson, Buffalos top receiver, will return on a full-time basis next week before the teams third preseason game. Anthony Davis Jersey . 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CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers were at the pinnacle of their game the last time they faced the Arizona Cardinals in January.Newton threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more as the Panthers walloped the Cardinals 49-15 in the NFC championship to advance to the franchises second Super Bowl. But things have gone downhill since for Carolina (1-5), which enters Sundays rematch against Arizona (3-3-1) in dire need of a victory and looking to snap a four-game losing streak.We dont need no messages. We out of messages. We out of things that need to be said. We out of big, rah-rah speeches and everybody saying believe, Newton said. Man, listen, we gotta win. Thats it.Carolinas offense, which led the league in scoring last season, showed signs of life in a 41-38 loss to the Saints before the bye week in Newtons first game back from a concussion. But the Panthers will face a defense that has been outstanding in recent weeks, limiting the New York Jets and Seattle Seahawks to a combined nine points in the last nine quarters.Arians said Arizonas biggest problem in the NFC championship game is it got behind early and began to press under pressure -- something the Cardinals cant afford to do on Sunday.The big thing is you cant let them get a big lead or any kind of lead because theyre really good when they have a lead, Arians said.Here are some things to watch in the Cardinals-Panthers game:NEWTON RUNNING: Newton only ran twice against the Saints in his first game back from a concussion, but said this week he wont let the head injury affect how he approaches the game moving forward.The Cardinals expect a full dose of Newton.Having that freak of nature running down between the hashes and down the sidelines, thats not supposed to happen, Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson said. It would definitely be a blessing to not prepare for Cam Newton as a runner, but we know thats not reality. That is his game. You can tell that gets him into the game. That gets him fired up.JONES IMPACT: Arians called his defenses performance against Seattle the best hes seen since he took over as Cardinals coach in 2013.A big reason for Arizonas improved play is the addition of Chandler Jones, who had a strip sack of Russell Wilson. He draws so much attention that young Markus Golden has had chances to make big plays, too. Golden leads the team with six sacks; Jones has five.He can do some things that we werent able tto do in the past, Peterson said of Jones.dddddddddddd (We can) play a little bit more coverage and let him and Markus get after the quarterback, which they have been doing such a phenomenal job for us throughout the season.RUNNING WILD: The Cardinals have undergone something of a personality change. They havent been able to connect for big passing plays, and have become more reliant on running back David Johnson.The versatile third-round pick out of Northern Iowa leads the NFL in yards from scrimmage with 1,004. He had 113 yards rushing and 58 receiving against Seattle and came within inches of scoring the winning TD in overtime. He has at least 100 yards from scrimmage in all seven games this season.The biggest thing for young guys is opportunity, Arians said of Johnson. He got opportunities last year through injuries and made the best of them. Hes continued to progress this year.CAROLINAS SECONDARY: Carolinas secondary could be just what Carson Palmer needs to get on track. Carolina has allowed 13 touchdowns through the air and eight passing plays of 40 yards or more.Carolina will get cornerbacks James Bradberry and Robert McClain back from injuries , but the Panthers were struggling on defense even before they got hurt. Coach Ron Rivera said if everything stays the same Worley and McClain would start against the Cardinals.You didnt see the deep balls completed on them last year and its happened on the tapes this year, Arians said. Young guys get hit with double moves, and veterans too, but young guys are pressing so hard that communication can get a little screwed up.KICKING WOES: Both teams have kickers in need of a confidence boost.Chandler Catanzaro missed a chip shot field goal in overtime that would have given Arizona a victory Sunday night against the Seahawks. Likewise, Carolinas Graham Gano has been off his game. He has missed two key field goals this season, including a 50-yarder against the Broncos in Week 1 at the end of regulation that would have helped the Panthers extract revenge for their Super Bowl loss last season. He also missed an extra point that would have tied the game against the Saints in the fourth quarter on Oct. 16.---AP Sports Writer Bob Baum in Tempe, Arizona contributed to this report.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '