Terrell Owens’ sore hamstring likely will land him on the bench for the Dallas Cowboys’ preseason opener in Seattle.

An MRI exam over the weekend showed no damage, but that didn’t seem to matter to Owens when he was asked whether he would play against the Seahawks on Saturday.

“I doubt it,” he replied.

Owens sat out a sixth straight practice Monday afternoon because of soreness that set in Wednesday. He also said he probably wouldn’t practice the rest of this week, either.

Hoping to speed things up, Owens is shipping his healing-inducing hyperbaric chamber to his training camp hotel room. Owens’ personal medical staff is on its way from Atlanta, too.

“Not to discredit the training staff here,” Owens said, “but I know my body and how it responds to the treatment that they give me and what’s best for me.”

Owens said they include the people who helped him recover from a severe leg and ankle injury far sooner than anyone expected before the 2005 Super Bowl. Team vice president Stephen Jones said the Cowboys are OK with Owens bringing in his own medical staff, which is common for players.

Owens said the hamstring was “just a little sore,” but he’s not taking any chances.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Sam Hurd, left, listens to wide receiver Terrell Owens after practice. Owens, who is nursing a sore hamstring, isn't expected to play in the Cowboys' preseason opener.

“I’ve never really had it before so I don’t know,” he said. “If I tried to really open it up, I may hurt it more, so we’ll just see. It’ll be OK.”

After the team left the field Monday, Owens spent about 45 minutes catching balls from a machine, starting far away and taking a step closer after every one. He did the same drill on his knees, too.

T.O.’s status report on himself had to be news to coach Bill Parcells, who responded in his daily news briefing to most questions about Owens’ health with an “I don’t know.”

“I know everything I need to know,” he said. “Well, there’s nothing more to know. Maybe not knowing exactly is all I’m capable of knowing at this point.”

Parcells said all his information about his new star receiver’s health has come through the trainer, adding that he’s always dealt with injuries that way, even with players he’s known for a long time.

Fellow starting receiver Terry Glenn also missed practice Monday with blisters on both feet. Parcells said he expects Glenn to return today.

Broncos

Broncos rookie running back Mike Bell and first-round pick Jay Cutler have moved up the depth chart in Denver.

Bell is No. 1, jumping ahead of Ron Dayne and Tatum Bell – for now. Cutler was officially promoted to backup quarterback, replacing Bradlee Van Pelt.

Cutler will now serve as Jake Plummer’s backup.

Mike Bell will start Friday in Denver’s preseason opener at Detroit.

“This is a dream come true,” said Bell, an undrafted rookie out of Arizona. “To (get) the opportunity to be the starter on a great organization like this is a blessing.”

Mike Shanahan said there still was time for either Tatum Bell or Dayne to play their way into the starting job.

“It is very close, and it could change day by day, week by week, but we felt like Mike deserves a chance to work with the first team and take a look to see if he can keep it,” the coach said.

Patriots

The Patriots activated safety Rodney Harrison, defensive lineman Richard Seymour, center Dan Koppen, defensive back Randall Gay and defensive lineman Johnathan Sullivan from the physically-unable-to-perform list.

Safety Mel Mitchell and rookie wide receiver Matt Shelton have been placed on injured reserve and will sit out the entire 2006 season.

Harrison missed most of last season after tearing three ligaments in his left knee in September. Seymour missed the first 10 days of camp with a tight quadriceps. Koppen (shoulder) and Gay (ankle) missed the last seven games of the 2005 regular season.

Bills

It didn’t take long for Bills rookie safety Donte Whitner to start spending part of his new signing bonus.

The No. 8 draft pick’s first purchase? Negotiating what Whitner would only describe as a five-figure deal to buy the No. 20 jersey from running back Shaud Williams.

Whitner, who wore No. 36 during minicamps in Buffalo, debuted the new number Monday when he took the field for the first time in training camp after signing a five-year contract Saturday.

Whitner said he didn’t want to wear the same number as his predecessor, veteran Lawyer Milloy, who was released in March. New jersey number aside, Whitner is focused on catching up after his stalled negotiations led him to missing the first eight days of camp.

The Bills also released linebacker Jeff Posey after the eight-year veteran lost his starting job to Angelo Crowell.

Vikings

The Vikings activated Pat Williams from the physically-unable-to-perform list, and the defensive tackle was back on the field practicing with the team.

Williams worked out with trainers for the first week of camp, after coach Brad Childress decided he wasn’t in good enough condition to practice. Williams missed meeting the weight the Vikings targeted for him.

Listed at 317 pounds in team publications, Williams normally plays much heavier than that and didn’t appear to be any bigger than he was last season.

Giants

Linebacker LaVar Arrington missed his third consecutive practice with knee swelling. Arrington had arthroscopic surgeries in 2004 and 2005 while with the Washington Redskins to clean out loose cartilage and has insisted his knees are fine.

Guard Chris Snee (knee), defensive tackle William Joseph (leg bruise) and running back Derrick Ward (broken foot) also missed practice. Coach Tom Coughlin said Snee doesn’t need surgery but will miss valuable practice time.

Ward was hurt when he accidentally slipped while walking between two rooms. He is scheduled to have surgery tonight and miss several weeks. Meanwhile, running back Brandon Jacobs returned to practice after sitting out Sunday with an irregular heartbeat.

Rams

Rams top pick Tye Hill and safety Dwaine Carpenter got into a fight on the sideline, with Carpenter throwing punches. Coach Scott Linehan downplayed the brawl.

“They got into a little thing on the sideline and it’s over,” he said. “They kissed and made up and it’s time to move on. It’s nothing personal. They’re two fiery competitors.”

Running back Steven Jackson was pulled from practice early due to a strained Achilles heel.

Seahawks

Holmgren said tight end Jerramy Stevens, who had surgery on his left knee April 25, was scheduled to make his camp practice debut Wednesday.

“I talked to him today and he’s a little uncertain, but he’s uncertain because he hasn’t done anything,” Holmgren said. “As far as our training staff, he’s ready to come back. We’ll ease him into it.”