the league with 85.4 yards per game. They’re ranked 17th after two games, a big part of the offense’s overall improvement.Cincinnati tries to improve to 3-0 for only the fifth time in coach Marvin Lewis’ 16 seasons when it pla

DAVIE Riley Ridley Jersey , Fla. (AP) — Miami Dolphins quarterback David Fales has been on the bubble for his entire five-year NFL career, so he almost sounds convincing when he says Thursday’s exhibition finale at Atlanta is just another game.Waived four times and released from a practice squad twice, Fales will likely be awarded the No. 2 job for the first time if he plays well against the Falcons.If he plays poorly, he might be cut.In his latest battle to stay in the league, Fales is competing with Brock Osweiler for Miami’s backup job.“You can’t put too much weight on one game,” Fales said. “I’m going to approach it the same way I have every preseason game and every game. You can’t put too much pressure on yourself. Otherwise you’re going to be forcing stuff and trying to do crazy stuff, and it’s not going to help you.”It’s the oddest thing about these preseason finales the week before the season — they’re poorly attended and mostly meaningless, but for players fighting to make the roster, the pressure’s perhaps greater than in a playoff game.So Dolphins coach Adam Gase will see how Fales and Osweiler fare under pressure. Gase seeks a successor to the departed Matt Moore Greedy Williams Jersey , Miami’s backup quarterback since 2011.Osweiler and Fales haven’t looked like keepers much since training camp began, but Gase said he’s comfortable with his options at backup quarterback — an important role given doubts regarding the durability of starter Ryan Tannehill, who’s coming off knee surgery and missed the entire 2017 season.Miami might decide to keep both Osweiler and Fales, but the fourth quarterback on the roster, Bryce Petty, is a long shot to make the team. There has also been speculation the unimpressive camps by Fales and Osweiler might prompt the Dolphins to go quarterback shopping before the season.Gase said he’s certain his No. 2 QB will be either Fales or Osweiler. The reason for his comfort level?“I’ve called games for both of them,” Gase said.Fales won praise from Gase after his first career start in last year’s season finale. He threw for 265 yards and a touchdown in a loss to Buffalo.Osweiler, a seventh-year veteran, was a backup with the Denver Broncos and played in 13 games when Gase was an assistant coach there.The two contenders for the No. 2 job did little to help their cause in Saturday’s exhibition game against Baltimore. When Miami was outscored 24-0 in the second half Sione Takitaki Jersey , each threw an interception and finished with a passer rating under 36.0.Gase blamed poor protection by second- and third-team linemen.“I think Brock’s temper is better than it used to be,” Gase said with a slight smile. “He took a couple shots there. It’s not on him.”For the entire preseason, Osweiler is 25 for 41 for 174 yards with one interception and six sacks. Fales is 14 for 27 for 184 yards with two interceptions and one sack. Neither has thrown a touchdown pass.Like Fales, Osweiler tries to characterize the exhibition finale not as a winner-take-all battle for No. 2, but just another day in the ongoing competition to stay in the NFL.“It doesn’t really matter what spot you’re labeled in,” Osweiler said. “You need to come to practice every single day and get better. Otherwise someone will take your job.” CINCINNATI (AP) — Joe Mixon’s chair was upside-down in his locker on Monday, a reminder that the Cincinnati Bengals are moving ahead without the running back who’s been a key part of their 2-0 start.Mixon had debris removed from his right knee over the weekend and is expected to be sidelined for a few games. In the interim, the AFC North leaders will lean more heavily on Giovani Bernard and Tra Carson, who hasn’t carried the ball in an NFL game.Mixon got hurt during a 34-23 win over the Ravens on Thursday night at Paul Brown Stadium Sheldrick Redwine Jersey , going in-and-out of the game. An exam found a piece of debris that was removed. Mixon’s agent said he could return within two weeks.“I think between Gio and Tra, we will find a way, I hope,” offensive coordinator Bill Lazor said Monday.Mixon was a centerpiece of the Bengals’ revised offense in the first two games, carrying 38 times for 176 yards — a 4.7-yard average — and catching six passes for 57 yards. After splitting time last season with Bernard and Jeremy Hill, the second-round pick became the focal point this year.Bernard has carried only seven times for 25 yards and caught five passes for 26 yards. Mixon was on the field for 44 plays in an opening 34-23 win at Indianapolis, with Bernard in for only a dozen plays. The snaps were evenly split against Baltimore as Mixon was hobbled by the injury.Lazor thinks the 5-foot-9 Bernard is comparable enough in style to the 6-foot-1 Mixon that the Bengals can run the same types of plays. Bernard played in all 16 games last season even though he was only 10 months removed from a torn ACL. He ran for 116 yards against Detroit on Dec. 24.“I think he’s really unique physically and to be able to do that (with) his stature, to play the way he plays,” Lazor said. “He finishes runs Austin Seibert Jersey , he doesn’t go out of bounds. He doesn’t go down easy.”Carson was an undrafted free agent from Texas A&M. He was on the practice squad for most of 2016 and missed all last season with a groin injury. He’s been a special teams player this season, getting in on offense for only five plays.“When he hits it, he goes hard,” Lazor said. “He just goes straight ahead, he’s decisive, he’s trustworthy in pass protection.”The Bengals had one of the worst rushing offenses in franchise history last season, finishing second-to-last in the league with 85.4 yards per game. They’re ranked 17th after two games, a big part of the offense’s overall improvement.Cincinnati tries to improve to 3-0 for only the fifth time in coach Marvin Lewis’ 16 seasons when it plays at Carolina on Sunday. The Panthers are coming off a 31-24 loss at Atlanta , the Bengals’ opponent the following week.PRESTON BROWN BETTER: Linebacker Preston Brown was inactive for the game on Thursday because of a sprained right ankle. Brown thinks he could have played if the game had been on Sunday Trysten Hill Jersey , giving him a few more days to heal. He’s optimistic about being ready for Carolina. Brown wanted to play on Thursday, but was limited in a pregame workout for Lewis.“We started to do some different drills and I saw the look on Marvin’s face,” Brown said Monday. “He didn’t like how I was looking.”ALSO MENDING: Center Billy Price (right foot) and defensive end Michael Johnson (left knee) missed most of the game on Thursday. The Bengals will have a better idea of their status by midweek.