Berea, Ohio ? There were two surprising developments at the Cleveland Browns’ practice Thursday: Tim Couch didn’t throw and William Green didn’t show.

Couch, who has a sore right arm after tearing scar tissue near his elbow in the exhibition season, was kept out of throwing drills as the team prepared for Sunday’s season opener against Kansas City.

Green, a rookie running back, was sent to the Cleveland Clinic for undisclosed tests. Coach Butch Davis said Green, who is expected to start on Sunday, was stiff and sore in the team’s morning walkthrough.

The Browns have been cautious all week with Couch, limiting him to short passes. In the half-hour of practice Thursday that was open to the media, Couch threw one pass a left-handed lob to a ball boy.

Couch has been downgraded on the injury report to questionable perhaps the clearest sign yet that backup Kelly Holcomb will start.

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Bucanners: Lomas Brown thought he had seen it all in his 19 seasons in the NFL. That is, until lightning and heavy rain Thursday forced the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to practice in a parking garage.

“I have never done that before. It was definitely the first time,” the offensive tackle said. “I’ve practiced in a gym, inside the (training) facility and even an auditorium, but never before in a parking lot.”

Rather than cancel the two-hour workout, coach Jon Gruden moved practice to the third level of a parking garage at an office building adjacent to One Buccaneer Place.

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Eagles I: Pro Bowl cornerback Troy Vincent could miss Philadelphia’s opener Sunday against Tennessee after injuring his left knee in practice Thursday. Vincent was injured on a non-contact play and left the field on his own. He underwent an MRI, and was diagnosed with a bone bruise. His status is day-to-day.

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Eagles II: A police officer filed an $11 million lawsuit claiming Philadelphia running back Brian Mitchell assaulted her and team executives covered it up. Karen Haley claims she was romantically involved with Mitchell for four months and during a date at the player’s penthouse apartment in September 2001, she told him she contacted his wife.

Mitchell became angry and “put her in a half-nelson, a head lock and shoved her onto the bed and twisted her right arm behind her back,” Haley’s attorney, Steven S. Melitzky, said Thursday.

She since underwent surgery on her arm and is “in danger of never fully recovering, which puts her career in jeopardy,” Melitzky said.

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Chargers: Cornerback Quentin Jammer is ready to sit out the season rather than accept San Diego’s contract offer, the player’s agent said. Jammer, the fifth pick overall in April’s draft out of Texas, is seeking a deal that would pay $13.5 million during the first three seasons. The Chargers are offering $12.6 million. Defensive tackle Ryan Sims, taken by Kansas City with the sixth pick, signed for a reported $13 million in the first three seasons.

“He’s not going to take less than pick six,” agent Mike Sullivan said.

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Patriots: Cornerback Terrell Buckley, cut by Tampa Bay on Sunday, re-signed with New England on Thursday. Buckley had 25 tackles and three interceptions in 15 games for the Patriots last season before leaving as a free agent. In 10 seasons, Buckley has averaged 39 tackles and four interceptions.

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Texans: Houston starting left guard Ryan Schau sprained his knee Thursday, and his status for Sunday’s season opener against Dallas is uncertain. It was another blow to the team’s offensive line. Starting tackle Tony Boselli is doubtful with a shoulder injury and tackle Ryan Young is out after groin surgery.