The Lions have announced the first 19 of 21 players they released today on their way down to the 53-man roster limit. Most notable among the cuts were linebacker Buster Davis, safety Greg Blue, cornerback Dovonte Edwards and receivers Devale Ellis and John Standeford. They also placed running back Brian Calhoun on injured reserve with what coach Rod Marinelli termed a "thigh muscle tear." Calhoun has finished all three of his NFL seasons on IR.

By cutting Ellis, Standeford and Brandon Middleton, the Lions appear to be going with just four receivers — Calvin Johnson, Roy Williams, Mike Furrey and Shaun McDonald — and extra help at fullback (Sean McHugh) and tight end (John Owens). Rookie fifth-round pick Kenneth Moore was released and is a prime candidate for the practice squad.

Davis had a strong camp but got caught in a numbers game at linebacker. The Lions are committed to second-round pick Jordon Dizon as Paris Lenon's backup at middle linebacker and wanted reserves at both outside positions. They kept Anthony Cannon and Gilbert Gardner, who will back up Alex Lewis on the strong side, over Davis and Leon Joe. If Davis is not claimed, the Lions will try to re-sign him to the practice squad

With two cuts to go, here's the list of those waived so far:

WR Ron Bellamy, LB Darnell Bing, S Greg Blue, LB Buster Davis, OG Frank Davis, DE Victor DeGrate, CB Dovonte Edwards, WR Devale Ellis, DE Rudolph Hardie, TE Clark Harris, QB Drew Henson, S LaMarcus Hicks, OG Corey Hulsey, LB Leon Joe, WR Brandon Middleton, WR Kenneth Moore, RB Artose Pinner, WR John Standeford, CB Kiwaukee Thomas.

The all-important third preseason game is here, but don't expect the Lions to play their starters into the third quarter like they may have done in the past. They've stayed remarkably healthy so far — most of the first unit and key reserves, anyway. There's no sense chancing that, plus there's enough positions at the back of the roster still up for grabs that the coaching staff will give players the opportunity to win their way on or off the team. That's a good thing. I'll have a position battle breakdown in the paper next week, but there's more competition here than the previous two years combined under Rod Marinelli.

Now, for three things I'll be watching for today:

• The ninth defensive back. In all likelihood, the Lions will keep nine DBs. Cornerbacks Brian Kelly, Leigh Bodden, Travis Fisher and Keith Smith, and safeties Gerald Alexander, Daniel Bullocks, Dwight Smith and Kalvin Pearson are guaranteed spots. No. 9 is up for grabs with corners Dovonte Edwards and Ramzee Robinson and safety Greg Blue in the mix. Secondary coach Jimmy Lake said both Robinson and Edwards have had good camps, but Robinson has been more consistent in games. Edwards rebounded with a good effort last week against the Bengals, but he struggled Week 1 against the Giants. Blue is a monster hitter whose ball skills have gotten perceptively better since last season. Typically, teams lean towards five corners, but both Pearson and Alexander can play nickel corner, which evens the field for Blue. Whoever plays best in the next two games — and contributes the most on special teams — should win the job.

• George Foster. Left for dead after last season than re-signed when no free-agent replacement surfaced, Foster will make his third straight start at right tackle — to many people's surprise. "I ain't a bad player," Foster said. Foster has had one penalty in limited snaps this preseason (his big issue last year) and appears to be closing in on a roster spot, maybe at the expense of Jonathan Scott. Scott was thought to be the Lions' swing tackle, but rookie Gosder Cherilus, breathing down Foster's neck for the starting right-tackle job, has worked on the left side some this preseason. Both Foster and Cherilus should get work with the first team today.

• The punt return. Kind of a rehash of last week's Devale Ellis watch, but the Lions are still trying to identify their punt returner. Marinelli said Aveion Cason is No. 1 for now, but there's an opportunity for Ellis and fellow receiver Brandon Middleton to win that job and solidify a spot on the team. Ellis has gone back for one return each of the first two weeks; one punt sailed out of bounds and he returned the other two yards in a hailstorm of traffic. Middleton went back for a return last week for the first time since his NFL Europe days. That one, too, landed out of bounds. Both players need more opportunity to be properly evaluated.

Training camp is officially over and so are the detailed practice reports for two reasons. No. 1, we reporters are only allowed to watch the individual portion of practice now. No. 2, even if we could stay for the whole thing, teams start to get into gameplanning now and everything proprietary is off limits. The blog's not going away, however, as I'll continue to update it (nearly) every day during the season.

Lions coach Rod Marinelli said Tuesday he was pleased with the progression of the run game from the first to second exhibition game. After rushing for 84 yards on 35 carries in the opener against the Giants, the Lions finished with 112 yards on 31 attempts against Cincinnati.

"It's not what I want, but it was better," Marinelli said. "They're getting more comfortable. I think the more you do the same thing over and over and over, the better it's going to get. And you can kind of see it. With the run game you just got to keep pounding it and keep pushing it."

Of less significance to Marinelli was the Lions' 2-0 record.

"It's more meaningful to me that the pad level's down, the hustle, effort, we're getting the correct run fits on defense, I think we're punting the ball very well." Marinelli said. "That's what's meaningful to me."

A few other daily notes of interest:

• "Chain Gang" was back playing at the start of practice today. Players might be a little tired of the Sam Cooke song by now, but Marinelli continues to get his point across. As well as the Lions played against the Bengals, it's all for naught if they don't get back to work.

• On the injury front, Ron Bellamy (concussion), Devale Ellis (hamstring) and Dan Campbell (hamstring) sat out Tuesday's practice. The Lions were so down on healthy receivers they decided to cut Taye Biddle, who missed most of the last week with an abdominal injury, and re-sign Grand Valley State's Eric Fowler, who was released to make room for Biddle originally. They also put fullback Jon Bradley on injured reserve with a shoulder sprain that wouldn't heal and signed tight end Clark Harris.

• Marinelli said Aveion Cason is the No. 1 punt returner right now. That doesn't bode well for Ellis, who's fighting for a job as the No. 5 receiver. In Ellis' defense, it isn't fair to judge him on one return, effectively his haul in the first two games. (He went back to catch the first punt against the Giants, but it went out of bounds. Against Cincinnati, he tried to make something happen on a punt in traffic and was hauled down after a 2-yard gain. He did make the first gunner miss in Cincy.) Doctors held Ellis out Tuesday, and he said he'll be back on the field Wednesday. Ellis did well as a punt returner two seasons ago.

• Defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis also practiced with his lower left leg wrapped Tuesday. He suffered a twisted knee against the Bengals.

• George Foster continues to work at No. 1 right tackle, though rookie Gosder Cherilus took a few reps next to first-team right guard Stephen Peterman during a run drill. One veteran offensive player on the team said he's been impressed with Cherilus so far in camp.

Every day during training camp, Lions beat writer Dave Birkett takes you inside practice at Allen Park with notes, quotes and observations of interest.

• Scary moment in today's afternoon practice when Mike Furrey collided with Devale Ellis in a goal-line punt return drill. Ellis, who missed last season with a knee injury, lay on the ground for a short period while trainers attended to him. He said he felt a little whiplash and the doctors did right to make sure he didn't have a serious neck injury. A few plays later, Ellis was back running under a punt, and in the next team period he caught a touchdown pass.

• I've written it before but it bears repeating that Ellis is having a great camp. He should win the fifth receiver job (ahead of Brandon Middleton and fifth-round pick Kenny Moore), and as one of the fastest players on the team could be a weapon in the return game. The Lions' only concern with Ellis is his durability, but Wednesday's performance should help alleviate that fear. "I just wanted to show everybody I can play and I'm durable," Ellis said of his rush to return to the field after the Furrey collision. "I'm only 170 pounds, but I can take a hit. Mike's a former safety, 200 pounds, and we didn't have pads on and I'm fine. That's why I wanted to come back and take that punt to let them know that I can take shot, keep playing."

• Ellis had a drop in Wednesday's morning practice, but those have been few and far between the past seven days. In fact, I think he's got a long future ahead of him as a Lion. He's got good hands, can go the distance on returns, and is quick in his cuts in the Shaun McDonald mold. McDonald's contract is up after this season, so Ellis could be the future at slot receiver.

• McDonald, incidentally, remains on the PUP list while he rehabs from offseason knee surgery. He's also shown up for practice a couple times with his right thumb in a wrap. It's highly doubtful he'll be back for the preseason opener next week against the Giants.

• One last Ellis note, after a week of double sessions he hasn't had his knee swell up once. No draining, no nothing. He's ready to contribute this year.

Every day during training camp, Lions beat writer Dave Birkett takes you inside practice at Allen Park with a few notes, quotes and observations of interest.

• Looks like the Lions will go conventional with their use of the new defensive speaker system. Middle linebackers Paris Lenon, Buster Davis and Jordon Dizon have had their helmets outfitted for the system and practiced using it for the first time today. During team drills, defensive coordinator Joe Barry used a walkie-talkie to relay play calls to Lenon and Co. At the same time, linebackers coach Phil Snow hand-signaled in the plays. The nuts and bolts of how that will work during the season still is being ironed out, but Lenon reported no hiccups with the dry run today. Hand signals aren't going away, but Barry said he hopes to test the speaker system another nine or 10 times during the preseason. On game days, two helmets will be wired for the system but only one player can have it on the field at any given time.

• Devale Ellis continues to have an eye-catching camp. Competing for the No. 5 receiver spot and return duties, Ellis made a few nice catches in traffic during full-team drills this morning. On special teams, I don't think he's dropped a punt yet. Passing-game coordinator Kippy Brown indicated the other likely candidate, fifth-round draft choice Kenneth Moore, has a ways to go as a receiver the other day. Moore was drafted for his return skills.

• The Lions are counting on Ikaika Alama-Francis to contribute at defensive end this year, and Rod Marinelli is after him to be more consistent. An example from morning practice: In one drill, Marinelli praised Alama-Francis for having good pad level and good get off (he got under right tackle George Foster's pads and knocked him backwards with ease). In the next, Marinelli hollered that Alama-Francis needed to get off the ball better and "I haven't seen you make one play all day."

• Dewayne White and Jeff Backus had two good, clean battles in one-on-one line work. There was a little pushing, however, between Langston Moore and Matt Butler.

• THIS NOTE UPDATED 12:30 P.M. TUESDAY A football man watching practice with a more trained eye than I said rookie defensive tackle Andre Fluellen looked quick and had good hips after seeing him in position drills. A third-round pick, Fluellen should make the team, but something tells me the Lions wouldn't mind if the left elbow injury he suffered last year flares up during camp. That way they could stash him on injured reserve for the year and keep Shaun Cody, who's having a great camp, and Moore as backup tackles.