at 15-under 127 and open up the largest 36-hole lead of the European Tour season.Otaegui and Thongchai

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- No matter what the plan is for Julius Peppers this season, the expectations arent changing for the oldest player on the Green Bay Packers roster.Its not like were going to put him out to pasture or sit him over on the bench a whole lot, general manager Ted Thompson said Wednesday.Peppers is beginning his 15th NFL season; whether this will be the final one for the 36-year-old defensive stalwart isnt known.Of more immediate attention, as the Packers prepare to play their first preseason game Friday night against the Cleveland Browns, is just what role Peppers will have when the season starts in a month.Peppers is listed as a starter on the depth chart this week. But another former first-round draft pick, Nick Perry, not Peppers, has been taking most of the reps at the outside linebacker spot opposite Clay Matthews in Green Bays base defense early in training camp.Defensive coordinator Dom Capers said reining in Peppers has been by design.I think we know what Julius is capable of, so youll probably see limited reps of Julius with where he is, Capers said. Youve seen that through training camp thus far, so its enabled Nick to get a lot of reps. We have a number of guys there that we need to see and take a good look at.While Perry is relishing the extra work as he looks to put an injury-marred first four pro seasons behind him, Peppers isnt saying much about the apparent role reversal. In fact, he hasnt spoken to reporters in the locker room since the first couple of days of camp, which opened July 26.Peppers declined to talk as he walked out of the locker room after practice Wednesday.As long as he can stay healthy, which hes been since the teams offseason program in the spring for the first time in his career, Perry is expected to have a bigger role in Green Bays defense this season.Hes a physical guy, very good player against the run, and he can use that physicality and size, and hes got a couple pass-rush moves that hes very good at, Capers said.Perry has yet to play a full season, but the Packers saw enough production at the end of last season to re-sign him to a one-year contract.This is home for me, said Perry, who led Green Bay with 3 + sacks in its two playoff games. For those guys to believe in me and know that Ive got more to give, it just puts everything in perspective on whats to come. Theres unfinished business here, and were just trying to get to that.As for Peppers, the Packers are hopeful he will remain as productive as ever, even if his role is diminished.Hes a marvelous player and a very gifted, athletic specimen, the likes of which I dont know that Ive ever seen, Thompson said.Peppers had a team-high 10 + sacks last season, moving him to No. 9 on the NFLs all-time sacks list with 136. He also was selected to the Pro Bowl for the ninth time.Thompson wouldnt say whether the team will try to maximize Peppers production in the final year of a three-year, $26 million contract by reducing his workload.I think certainly you can make that argument that that would be a logical conclusion, Thompson said. I dont know. I think it just kind of depends. I think you pick your spots and you use players that are extraordinary, which Julius is, in a certain way.Game notes Matthews (ankle) and WR Randall Cobb (calf) were held out of the Packers final open practice before Fridays game. Among those still sidelined were QB Brett Hundley (ankle), LB Jake Ryan (hamstring) and C JC Tretter (illness). . Long snapper Jesse Schmitt watched practice with a cast on his broken right hand. Schmitt suffered the injury while making a block on his first snap in a punt drill in his first practice with the team Tuesday night. The Packers signed Schmitt, an undrafted rookie from Purdue, to compete with incumbent Rick Lovato. Schmitt didnt know if surgery would be needed.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL San Francisco 49ers Gear . Belfort (24-10) needed just 77 seconds to down Henderson in the headlining bout of Saturdays "UFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson" event at Goiania Arena in Goiania, Brazil. The fight served as a rematch of the pairs 2006 meeting, which Henderson won by decision. San Francisco 49ers Shirts . -- The Magic have their first victory of the new year. https://www.49ersjerseysale.com/ . "It was nerve-wracking, but we pulled through," said Collaros, who threw four touchdown passes to lead the Toronto Argonauts (8-4) to a 33-27 win over the Calgary Stampeders (9-3) in front of 28,781 fans at McMahon Stadium. Stitched 49ers Jerseys . -- Jimmy Walkers first PGA Tour trophy came with a special gift tucked inside. San Francisco 49ers Store .Y. -- Knicks coach Mike Woodson said Wednesday that J. ANTALYA, Turkey -- Thorbjorn Olesen shot a course-record 62 to take a commanding six-shot lead after the second round of the Turkish Airlines Open on Friday.Adrian Otaegui had earlier shot a 63, but Olesen went one better to enter the weekend at 15-under 127 and open up the largest 36-hole lead of the European Tour season.Otaegui and Thongchai Jaidee (66) were tied at 9-under, one stroke ahead of Joakim Lagergren (64), David Horsey (67), Matteo Manassero (68) and Li Haotong (68).The 26-year-old Olesen had made only four of his last 13 cuts but he was in good form at Regnum Carya Golf and Spa Resort, making an eagle and eight birdies.On the par-4 17th, Olesen drove into the rough but then curled his second shot around some trees and into the centerr of the green to set up a successful birdie putt.ddddddddddddAll three of Olesens European Tour titles have come when he has held the 54-hole lead.I feel like Ive been up in contention in a lot of big events, the Dane said. I feel pretty comfortable. There is still 36 holes to go, so thats a lot of golf to be played, but I have to keep being aggressive out there. Thats the only way I can win.It was a difficult day for Masters champion Danny Willett, who needs a top-five finish to overtake Henrik Stenson and return to the top of the Race to Dubai standings.Willett (74) dropped to 1-over and was in a tie for 58th place. ' ' '