First-rounders on the sideline for this preseason game

ATLANTA - The preseason is usually a showcase for the hotshot rookies. Not this time.

Both first-round picks will be missing when the Atlanta Falcons host the Tennessee Titans on Friday night.

Atlanta's Roddy White is sidelined with a sprained ankle, cutting into his chances of earning a starting job for a team in desperate need of receivers. Tennessee cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones didn't agree on a contract until Wednesday, too late to play in his hometown.

"It may take a week or two to get back in the groove," said Jones, the sixth overall pick and first defensive player taken in the draft. "I'm just happy I don't have to see my name go across the (television) screen as unsigned and all that."

White landed awkwardly on his right foot after making a catch in last week's victory over the Baltimore Ravens. The high ankle sprain forced him to wear a protective boot most of the week.

"It's getting better," White said. "A lot of the swelling has gone down, so I'm able to move it a little bit."

But the lack of practice time has put White behind - not an enviable spot for a rookie who's still learning the offense.

"It's rough," he said. "I'm trying to visualize myself at the position and then walk through it and then gradually just teach myself the play from right behind it.... I'm getting a lot of mental reps."

The Falcons (2-0) need White to return as soon as possible. Receiver might just be the weakest position on the team.

Michael Jenkins and Dez White are the starters, but neither has the look of a big-time receiver. Former starter Peerless Price has been a major disappointment and needs to improve significantly just to make the team. Brian Finneran is also in the mix.

"You'd like to have a player to really jump out both in practice and carry it over into a game," coach Jim Mora said. "It would be great if one of those four that is practicing right now would rise above the pack. Just take a step up so everyone - people in the stands, in the media, coaches and teammates - said, 'Man, that guy is really doing something special.'"

In a telling development, undrafted rookie Cole Magner has been one of the most impressive receivers in camp.

"The kid hasn't dropped a ball since he's been here," quarterback Michael Vick said. "You see him make the tough grabs and the wild catches that Jim is looking for."

The Titans (0-1) need Jones to solidify the cornerback position. They cut Samari Rolle in February and let their other starter, Andre Dyson, leave as a free agent for salary-cap reasons.

The 5-foot-10 Jones impressed Tennessee with his speed and vertical leap, but an arrest last month left him facing misdemeanor assault and felony vandalism charges.

"Amazingly, as bad as I wanted to play the game in Atlanta, there's nothing that can take the place of my dream," Jones said. "I've been waiting 21 years for this."

Travis Henry, acquired from Buffalo to bolster Tennessee's running game, will sit out because of a turf toe injury. Chris Brown, last year's starter, will get his first action after missing the preseason opener with a sore hamstring.

"In a perfect world, we'd like both of them to get reps and build toward the start of the regular season, but that's not been the case," coach Jeff Fisher said.

Brown hasn't played an entire season because of injuries, which is why the Titans traded for Henry. The incumbent has said he'll be happy with whatever arrangement the coaching staff decides on.

Henry rushed for 1,300 yards in both 2002 and '03, then demanded a trade after Willis McGahee took over as Buffalo's starter.

"Every team is going to try to have two good running backs, so if something happens you can have someone step in and not lose a beat," said Brown, who rushed for 1,067 yards last season but missed five games.

The Falcons are banged up on the defense. Linebackers Keith Brooking (foot) and Ed Hartwell (knee) won't play, and end Brady Smith is still recovering from offseason neck surgery.

On the other hand, safety Bryan Scott should play his first game since shoulder surgery.

"I'd rather err on the side of playing him too little than playing him too much," Mora said. "I just don't want it to get tweaked again because he's too important to us."