Johnson makes brief appearance for Chiefs

ST. LOUIS — Larry Johnson got the break-in work he needed while supplying a lackluster Chiefs-Rams preseason finale with just a smidgen of star power.

Johnson, who ended a 25-day holdout earlier in the month, was the only starter of substance for either team who got on the field in St. Louis’ 10-3 victory Thursday. He shook off a bit of rust, carrying three times for 12 yards at the start of the Chiefs’ first drive.

“I was able to get out there and know where the holes were and how the guys were going to go against live competition,” Johnson said. “It was good for me to be out there and experience it before the regular season.”

Chiefs coach Herman Edwards didn’t want Johnson to play but was talked into it by the running back.

“I held my breath,” Edwards said. “We talked about it, and I told him not to be a hero. There’s a lot of guys I couldn’t get out there fast enough, to be quite honest.”

Rams offensive lineman Todd Steussie, who has missed only two games since entering the NFL in 1994, broke his left foot in the first half. Steussie, 36, is a backup this year but made 15 starts at left guard and left tackle because of Rams injuries in 2006. He will undergo surgery and be sidelined six to eight weeks.

• Jets 13, Eagles 11 — At Philadelphia, Mike Nugent kicked a 35-yard field goal as time expired to lift New York.

Eagles backup quarterback A.J. Feeley, who started the game, broke a bone in his left hand, but whether he will miss any action is uncertain.

Former U.S. Olympic skier Jeremy Bloom didn’t have a standout performance in his bid to win a job as Philadelphia’s return specialist. He returned three punts for 29 yards and averaged 22.7 yards on three kick returns.

• Browns 19, Bears 9 — At Chicago, rookie quarterback Brady Quinn was efficient for Cleveland, leading the team to a touchdown in its victory.

Quinn, who entered in the second quarter, finished 9-for-14 for 64 yards with one interception.

Pro Bowl defensive tackle Tommie Harris started for the Bears after missing the first three preseason games while recovering from a hamstring injury sustained last season.

• Buccaneers 31, Texans 24 — At Tampa, Fla., quarterback Luke McCown threw for 203 yards and three touchdowns in the first half, and Bruce Gradkowski threw a 31-yard scoring pass to Paris Warren with three minutes remaining for Tampa Bay.

The TD catch was Warren’s second of the night and proved costly to the Bucs. The third-year receiver, who had seven receptions for 110 yards, injured his left leg when he was tackled as he crossed the goal line and had to be carted off the field.

• Vikings 23, Cowboys 14 — At Minneapolis, Brooks Bollinger made his case for holding onto the backup quarterback spot in Minnesota, and Matt Moore may have sewn up the No. 3 job in Dallas.

Bollinger threw for 109 yards and a touchdown in about two quarters. Moore lost two fumbles but completed nine of his first 10 passes and finished 14-for-19 for 94 yards and a touchdown.

• Jaguars 31, Redskins 14 — At Jacksonville, Fla., Quinn Gray, who will get cut if Jacksonville decides to keep just two quarterbacks, was 17-for-22 for 172 yards and two touchdowns for the Jaguars.

Washington quarterback Jason Campbell returned to the starting lineup after missing last week’s game with a bruised left knee. He played one series and was 5-for-5 for 54 yards and a touchdown before being replaced by Mark Brunell, who played nine years for Jacksonville.

• Seahawks 19, Raiders 14 — At Seattle, Seahawks backup running back Marquis Weeks ran 11 yards for the winning touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

Daunte Culpepper, battling for the starting quarterback job for Oakland, was 11-for-19 for 108 yards and led the offense to its only touchdown.

• Steelers 19, Panthers 3 — At Charlotte, N.C., Jeff Reed kicked four field goals, and Tyrone Carter’s 32-yard interception return for a touchdown with a minute left capped the win for Pittsburgh, which forced six turnovers in first-year coach Mike Tomlin’s final tuneup.

• Patriots 27, Giants 20 — At Foxborough, Mass., quarterback Matt Cassell started for New England, led two scoring drives and finished 10-for-14 for 99 yards on three series.

• Bills 16, Lions 13 — At Detroit, quarterback Trent Edwards directed a 90-yard drive that set up a tiebreaking field goal with 1:46 left, and Buffalo recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff to seal its victory.

• Titans 30, Packers 14 — At Nashville, Tenn., Vince Young threw for a touchdown and ran for another for a second straight week and LenDale White had 77 total yards for Tennessee.

• Saints 7, Dolphins 0 — At New Orleans, rookie Pierre Thomas rushed 16 times for 81 yards and a touchdown and had two catches for 47 yards and a 35-yard kickoff return for New Orleans.

• Broncos 21, Cardinals 3 — At Denver, quarterback Darrell Hackney guided Denver on three touchdown drives, two capped by 2-yard runs by fellow rookie free agent Andre Hall, in the Broncos’ victory.

• Chargers 16, 49ers 13 — At San Diego, the Chargers scored 13 points off turnovers to beat San Francisco.