Time for a Friday morning run through some news and notes from around the NFC South:
ATLANTA FALCONS
Coach Mike Smith said Lamar Holmes has done a nice job so far as he tries to win the right tackle position. But Holmes will face another big test Saturday when he’ll have to block Tennessee defensive end Derrick Morgan.
CAROLINA PANTHERS
Jon Beason, who is coming off knee surgery, made his preseason debut Thursday night. If Beason can get back to being anything close to what he was before injuries ruined his past two seasons, the Panthers could have one of the league’s top linebacker groups.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
Wide receiver Preston Parker puts his chances of making the final roster at 50 percent. I think Parker has a better chance than that. He’s had a productive preseason, and his chances of sticking grew recently when the Saints released veterans Steve Breaston and Patrick Crayton.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS
If guard Carl Nicks (staph infection) is out for an extended period, Jeremy Zuttah hopes to stay at center. Zuttah moved to guard when Nicks was injured last season. But center is Zuttah’s natural position. The Bucs also could turn to Ted Larsen, or move backup tackle Gabe Carimi to guard. Carimi was working at guard with the first team in the portion of practice that was open to the media Thursday.
