San Diego Chargers: Chargers wideout David Boston returned to practice Thursday after being sidelined nearly a week with a strained side muscle.

Boston, who left the Cardinals as a free agent, didn't go full speed Thursday, instead using the workout to gauge his recovery.

"I was just being smart," Boston said. "It wasn't like I was going out here to prove anything. I just wanted to see where I was at with my injury, and take it one step at a time."

Boston isn't expected to play more than a few downs in the Chargers' exhibition opener at Seattle on Saturday. Before the side muscle problem, Boston had a hip injury.

Those not working Thursday were tight end Stephen Alexander (groin); offensive lineman Toniu Fonoti (triceps); wide receivers Eric Parker (shoulder), Dondre Gilliam (knee) and Kassim Osgood (thumb); defensive tackle Leonardo Carson (calf); safety Terrence Kiel (leg), and running back Antoineo Harris (knee).

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Buccaneers safety Dwight Smith pleaded guilty Thursday to brandishing a gun at another motorist.

Smith was sentenced to one year's probation and fined $225 for the misdemeanor charge of improperly displaying a firearm at another motorist. He also was ordered to get anger management counseling and complete 25 hours of community service in a plea agreement with prosecutors in Pinellas County.

The third-year safety, who returned two interceptions for touchdowns in the Bucs' Super Bowl victory over Oakland, was charged April 16 with brandishing a 9-mm semiautomatic handgun.

Smith was arrested after police said they got a cell phone call from a motorist who complained that a man pointed a gun at him at a traffic light.

Smith told officers he "displayed'' the handgun because the other driver was being aggressive. Smith denied he pointed it at the motorist.

Atlanta Falcons: Falcons receiver Peerless Price had his right thigh wrapped in ice after feeling his hamstring tighten at the end of the team's practice on Thursday.

Price refused to elaborate as he left the dining hall at Furman University 45 minutes later. But Price did admit he tweaked his hamstring as he ran a route down the right sideline.

Atlanta was working on the two-minute offense when Price was hurt. Trainer Ron Medlin later said the fifth-year receiver also suffered a swollen ankle when another player stepped on his right foot.

Price returned for one play, but quarterback Doug Johnson didn't throw him the ball. At that point, head coach Dan Reeves ended practice as the rain started falling harder.

Price promised he would play in the preseason opener Saturday night against Green Bay.

Minnesota Vikings: Vikings tight end Jim Kleinsasser will miss the next two weeks of training camp with soreness in his right foot caused by plantar fasciitis.

The injury -- inflammation of the tissue that connects the heel bone to the base of the toes -- is not considered serious. Coach Mike Tice said Kleinsasser would be able to play if it were the regular season. One of the Vikings' best blockers, Kleinsasser saw a foot specialist Thursday and was advised that rest was the best option for treatment.

Also, a cast will be kept on running back Michael Bennett's injured left foot two weeks longer than originally planned -- until the end of the month.

Bennett said he's still on a rehabilitation timetable for returning to action in mid-October, but the team wants to be cautious since there's a chance he could miss the entire season.

Bennett underwent a surgical procedure on July 18 to fix a stress fracture. If it appears healed when the cast comes off, Bennett should be able to play after another six weeks of rehab. If it's not healed, he won't play in 2003.

Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals signed free agent rookie offensive lineman Dralinn Burks on Thursday, one day after learning that Frank Garcia had been suspended for four games.

The 6-foot, 4-inch, 307-pound Burks, a cousin of Cardinals' guard Leonard Davis, started 10 games at tackle for Kansas State last season. He played two years at Kansas State after transferring from Trinity, Texas, Community College.

Burks was on the San Diego Chargers' roster but was released before the start of training camp.

Garcia, a backup tackle, was suspended by the NFL for four games on Wednesday after testing positive for the banned substance ephedra. Garcia appealed, saying he had innocently taken an herbal allergy remedy during a golf outing the day he was randomly tested.

The NFL denied the appeal.

Besides losing Garcia, the Cardinals are without backup offensive tackle Raleigh Roundtree, who underwent surgery to remove his spleen after failing the team physical. Davis is practicing with a large cast after breaking his right hand in a fight during practice with defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch.

To make room for Burks, Arizona waived rookie wide receiver Antwone Savage, a free-agent signee from Oklahoma.