FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Atlanta Falcons still expect Kemal Ishmael will open the season as the fill-in starter at strong safety even though hell miss his third straight preseason game this week.Coach Dan Quinn said Tuesday Ishmael wont play in Thursday nights final preseason game against Jacksonville. Ishmael, returning from a shoulder sprain, practiced on Monday and Tuesday but wont be able to replace injured rookie starter Keanu Neal this week as had been hoped.Neal is expected to miss at least the first two regular-season games after having arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Monday.Quinn said Ishmael should have no limitations next week.He practiced the last two days and hes just not quite ready with the time off that hes missed, Quinn said, adding Ishmael would have played this week if it was a regular game.Newly signed veteran safety Deshon Goldson will play against the Jaguars after quickly learning the defense.He did a good job this week in terms of learning and applying it, Quinn said. We wont overload him but we definitely want to give him some work.Quinn stressed on Sunday that Goldson, a 2012 All-Pro selection with the 49ers who started 15 games with the Redskins last season, was signed to play behind Neal and Ishmael.Ishmael said Tuesday he was ready to play when needed.Im feeling good, feeling real comfortable out there on the defense, Ishmael said.Ishmael, entering his fourth season with the Falcons, is preparing for a familiar backup role -- assuming Neal makes a full recovery from his knee injury.Ishmael made five starts in 2015 and a combined 15 in 36 games the last three years.Its all about selflessness, Ishmael said of his role. Its bigger than me. Its a team thing. ...Whatever role they want me to fill, thats what Im going to do and Im going to be happy with it.Wide receiver Julio Jones (ankle), defensive end Adrian Clayborn (shoulder) and running back Brandon Wilds (knee) also wont play this week. Quinn said rookie wide receiver Devin Fuller (shoulder) will be placed on injured reserve.Kicker Matt Bryant will return after missing two games with muscle tightness in his leg. Running back Terron Ward will return from an ankle sprain to play behind Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman.Quinn said the final preseason game will be a really fun night for the guys as players compete for the final roster and practice-squad spots.Such starters as quarterback Matt Ryan should have extremely limited time as the focus is on younger players.Thats why its a fun night for us coaches to see the competitiveness, Quinn said. You get a chance to see who wants to go for it in the very biggest way. Its another opportunity to shine and do that.Game notesQuinn said he talked in a team meeting about the 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernicks decision to sit for the national anthem before a preseason game. Quinn said he wanted to make sure players consult teammates before taking any similar action to make sure everything is about the team, especially when were at a ballgame as a team.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFLCustom Houston Rockets Jerseys .com) - Following a late-game loss to the reigning NBA champs, the Toronto Raptors will look to sustain their recent high-level play as they travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers. James Harden Jersey . Halifax beat the Saint John Sea Dogs 7-5 on the strength of two goals apiece from Nikolaj Ehlers, Matt Murphy and Brent Andrews. Jonathan Drouin also scored and had three assists while Zachary Fucale made 17 saves for the Mooseheads (16-8-0), who led 6-1 after two periods. http://www.therocketsofficial.com/Authentic-PJ-Tucker-Rockets-Jersey/ . To the surprise of many, it isnt the Wolverines but their in-state rivals the Michigan State Spartans. Tracy McGrady Jersey . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. Houston Rockets Jerseys . Note: The Calgary Flames announced Tuesday that Sean Monahan would not be made available to Canadas World Junior team.(Sports Network) - The Boston Red Sox aim to stay perfect on their nine-game homestand when they resume a four-game series versus the Toronto Blue Jays tonight at Fenway Park. The Red Sox took the opener of this series with Thursdays 7-4 win behind a decent outing from Jon Lester. Lester improved to 8-4 and allowed four runs and five hits in seven innings, while Junichi Tazawa and Koji Uehara each threw a scoreless inning of relief. Uehara posted his third save. Lester altered his mechanics after his previous start and the changes helped him reach the win column. "I think that was the biggest thing for me tonight, was just how we were able to stay down in the zone throughout the entire night," Lester said. "So yeah, I was really happy with how I threw the ball tonight." A seven-run second inning also aided Lester. Dustin Pedroia hit a two-run home run during the big inning, while Jacoby Ellsbury, Daniel Nava, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Stephen Drew and Jose Iglesias had an RBI apiece. Boston, which has won the first three tests on this homestand and owns a 26-15 record at Fenway Park, is 3 1/2 games ahead of Baltimore for the AL East lead and 4 1/2 games in front of New York. Toronto, though, is last at 7 1/2 games off the pace. Allen Webster looks to keep the Red Sox rolling on this residency when he toes the rubber for the fourth time in his career. The young Webster is 0-2 in his first three starts to go along with an 11.25 earned run average and has allowed 13 runs in hiss last two appearances -- both losses.dddddddddddd He gave up five runs in 4 1/3 innings of a 10-3 loss at Detroit last Saturday. Webster, a right-hander, has never faced Toronto and is filling in while Clay Buchholz nurses a sore neck. The Blue Jays have lost three of four games since their season-high 11-game winning streak and didnt get much from starting pitcher Chien-Ming Wang in Thursdays opener in Beantown. Wang was rocked in just 1 2/3 innings and allowed all seven runs in the second inning. He walked two and allowed six hits with no strikeouts. "I mean, he looked good that first inning, getting some ground balls," Jays manager John Gibbons said. "That second inning, the ball was coming up and they didnt miss them." Maicer Izturis had two hits and two RBI and Rajai Davis finished 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored in defeat. First-year Blue Jay Josh Johnson will be tasked with stopping the Red Sox when he takes the mound Friday. Johnson is coming off the first win of the season, a 13-5 rout of the Orioles on Sunday. Even though he was touched for four runs and seven hits in six innings, Johnson pushed his record to 1-2 in eight starts with a 4.60 ERA. Johnson is 0-2 on the road this season and 1-0 with a 3.15 ERA in three career starts against the Red Sox. He did not record a decision versus Boston up north in his Toronto debut on April 5, when he gave up four runs -- three earned -- and nine hits in six innings of a 6-4 loss. Boston is 6-4 versus the Jays this season. ' ' '