players at Florida State www.thesaintsfootballauthentic.com , the Los Angeles Chargers' rookie safety is learning how football can be an entirely different game at its highest level."The speed is, uh, a little different," James said. "There's more guys that can run. And big guys! You'll see big guys flashing across your face, and you'll be like, 'Dang, why are they moving that fast?' You don't see it in college, but you're out there and a guy is 300 pounds and he's running, and you're just like, 'Oh, man, that's unbelievable.'"James is getting up to speed quickly in the Chargers' secondary, and he looks increasingly likely to grab a starting job.Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley acknowledged Monday that the Chargers think James could start in their regular season opener alongside Jahleel Addae. James is still learning on the job, but his progress in the Bolts' first three preseason games has been exciting to his coaches."You can see his confidence growing in the system," Bradley said. "If he makes a mistake, now he knows. He'll come over and go, 'That was on me.' I couldn't say that a couple of weeks ago."James was expected to step up quickly as a first-round pick, and his path to a starting spot was cleared when the Chargers allowed Tre Boston to leave in the offseason. But James still has to prove that Bradley can rely on him, and he's getting a comprehensive test during the Chargers' preseason schedule, which concludes at San Francisco on Thursday night.James' 106 preseason snaps are the most among the Chargers' defensive players."I feel like the more reps I get, the more knowledge will come," James said. "Gus does a great job of saying, 'When you're uncomfortable, that's when you get the most growth.' Right now I'm kind of uncomfortable, and I feel like I'm getting better each day."Bradley used James and Addae at both strong safety and free safety last weekend against New Orleans, deliberately testing their versatility. James played many roles at Florida State, but learning those roles in Bradley's defense requires study and repetition.James played in the box effectively as a strong safety for the Seminoles, while playing deep as a free safety isn't quite as familiar. He's also getting chances to rush the passer from multiple spots in the formation, adding more experiences to his skill set.James made mistakes against the Saints, but also made a handful of outstanding plays — including his first interception against the quarterback who will likely end this season as the most prolific passer in NFL history. James sniffed out Drew Brees' long pass to Ted Ginn and leaped to make an outstanding catch."There is going to be a learning curve," Bradley said. "I think he's going to go out there and he'll make a mistake here and there New Orleans Saints T-Shirt , but he will also make some splash plays. Just like the (interception). You saw him make a great play, and then there's a play (later) where you go, 'OK, let's teach on this.' There might be some coaching on the sideline if that takes place on some plays, but he has gradually gotten better."While he learns on the job, James has immediately taken a vocal role on the Chargers' defense, fulfilling his self-declared intention on draft day to become a team leader."He's already talking," Bradley said. "When you come off the field, he's talking to the guys, 'Hey, that's not good enough. This is good enough. This is what we're looking to do. That's a great job by the D-line.' He's very animated. He has a lot of energy. I think that personality will show more when he gains even more confidence in the system." Buffalo quarterback AJ McCarron sustained a potentially serious shoulder injury, throwing the Bills' quarterback situation into total disarray, during a 19-17 win over the Cleveland Browns on Friday night.McCarron, who signed with Buffalo as a free agent for a chance to start after four years as a backup in Cincinnati, completed just 3 of 6 for 12 yards during four series.The 27-year-old didn't show any obvious signs of being hurt — he was hit hard from behind by Myles Garrett and sacked by Larry Ogunjobi — and the Bills didn't disclose his injury until the fourth quarter.McCarron is competing with Nathan Peterman and rookie Josh Allen for Buffalo's starting job.Allen, the No. 7 overall pick, out-performed McCarron and Peterman rallied the Bills (2-0) with a late touchdown pass to tight end Nick O'Leary.Rookie Nick Chubb and Carlos Hyde had touchdown runs for the Browns (1-1).PANTHERS 27, DOLPHINS 20CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Christian McCaffrey had 120 yards from scrimmage in the first half, including a 71-yard touchdown run and Carolina defeated Miami.McCaffrey had 92 yards rushing on five carries and caught four passes for 28 yards for Carolina (2-0).Cam Newton overcame an early interception and two sacks by Robert Quinn to finish 9 of 12 for 89 yards, including a 27-yard touchdown pass to speedy rookie tight end Ian Thomas to give Carolina a 13-9 lead before exiting near the end of the first half.Ryan Tannehill was an effective 14 of 17 for 100 yards despite playing without wide receivers DeVante Parker and Kenny Stills, but Miami (0-2) struggled to finish drives and settled for three field goals in the first half. Kenyan Drake had 54 yards rushing on eight carries.CHIEFS 28, FALCONS 14ATLANTA (AP) — After a dismal showing in the first preseason game, Matt Ryan and Atlanta found their offensive rhythm.Ryan guided the Falcons right down the field for a touchdown on their first possession, hooking up with Austin Hooper on a 4-yard scoring pass , and led another impressive drive before calling it a night in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.Ryan finished 5 of 7 for 90 yards, looking very much like the quarterback who won the MVP during the 2016 season even though two of his top weapons, receiver Julio Jones and running back Devonta Freeman, were held out for the second week in a row.It was certainly an encouraging contrast to the preseason opener, when the Falcons (0-2) were blanked 17-0 by the New York Jets and Ryan played only one brief series.Kansas City's new starting quarterback, Patrick Mahomes New Orleans Saints Hats , had an up-and-down game. The second-year player was intercepted on a deep throw by Falcons safety Damontae Kazee, who drifted over from the middle of the field to pick a ball intended for Sammy Watkins.Mahomes caught a break when another ill-advised throw into the end zone was dropped by Falcons cornerback Blidi Wren-Wilson, allowing the Chiefs to salvage a field goal.But, with just 17 seconds left in the first half, Mahomes made the most of his final pass. Three Atlanta defensive backs inexplicably allowed Tyreek Hill to get behind them, and Mahomes delivered the pass in stride for a 69-yard touchdown.Mahomes was 8 of 12 for 138 yards.GIANTS 30, LIONS 17DETROIT (AP) — Davis Webb took advantage of his opportunity to play for Eli Manning, throwing a go-ahead touchdown in the second quarter to help New York beat Detroit.Webb was 14 of 20 for 140 yards with an 8-yard TD pass to Wayne Gallman Jr., who scored for a second time later in the game. Webb showed poise in the pocket and touch down the field, connecting on a perfectly lofted 40-yard pass to Russell Shepard to set up Aldrick Rosas' 55-yard field goal in the second quarter.Webb, a 2017 third-round pick, bounced back from a poor performance last week. He was 9 of 22 for 70 yards, sailing passes over open receivers in the preseason opener against Cleveland to raise some concerns about whether he's ready to be the team's No. 2 quarterback.The Lions started Matthew Stafford after sitting him in last week's game at Oakland and he had a shaky game behind a porous offensive line. Stafford was 2 of 5 for 51 yards and was sacked twice and hit once as he threw.Jake Rudock replaced Stafford in the second quarter and finished 23 of 30 for 171 yards with a TD. Rudock came back in the fourth, reliving veteran Matt Cassel, who threw an interception.CARDINALS 20, SAINTS 15NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Free-agent acquisition Sam Bradford and 10th overall draft choice Josh Rosen combined to provide a promising outlook for Arizona's quarterback situation.After Bradford completed all six of his passes for 61 yards, Rosen went 10 of 16 for 107 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown to rookie Christian Kirk in a preseason victory over New Orleans.David Johnson bowled his way into the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown to give the Cardinals the game's opening score, capping a six-play, 61-yard drive led by Bradford.Kirk finished with four receptions for 49 yards, and Chad Williams caught three passes for 44 yards for Arizona.Saints quarterback Drew Brees sat out the entire game, as he also did when the Saints won their preseason opener in Jacksonville last week.The two reserves competing to back up Brees were able to move the team in spurts but were inconsistent and had issues with ball security, combining for four fumbles, two of which resulted in turnovers by Taysom Hill.Hill, a second-year pro who got the start, also was intercepted twice and finished 11 of 15 for 68 yards to go with 43 yards rushing, all of it coming on one long scramble that led to New Orleans' first field goal.Savage, who played most of the second half, was 6 of 7 for 53 yards, but was sacked three times.