Last-minute injury report, NFL Week 4
UPDATE: Detroit running back Kevin Smith is active today against the Bears. Smith will start, but look for the Lions to attempt to lighten the load by giving some carries to Maurice Morris.
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Lions' RB Kevin Smith was injured in the Lions' win last week, and will be a game-time decision, according to head coach Jim Schwartz. Maurice Morris got every carry and scored a touchdown after Smith went out last week.
For Chicago, RB Matt Forte -- who injured his knee last week but didn't miss any time -- is listed as probable and will almost certainly play. He practiced fully on Thursday and Friday. Linebacker Lance Briggs was limited in practice all week but is listed as probable.
UPDATE: With the Browns placing James Davis on injured reserve and Jamal Lewis unlikely to play, Jerome Harrison will start in Cleveland. He rushed for 52 yards last week and caught 5 passes for 33 yards against the Ravens. The Browns' offense is struggling, but Harrison will get a bulk of the carries today and is a decent stop-gap option.
UPDATE:Jerome Harrison is officially the starter as Jamal Lewis is inactive today against the Bengals.
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RB Cedric Benson, on pace to break Cincinnati's single season rushing record, is listed as probable and will play. He was held out of practice on Wednesday but practiced fully on Thursday and Friday. DT Tank Johnson and S Roy Williams are listed as questionable but are likely to play.
RB Jamal Lewis is listed as doubtful and will likely miss his second consecutive game, as will K Phil Dawson (though the Browns' kicker probably isn't on many fantasy squads). If Lewis can't go, Jerome Harrison (16 carries, 52 yards; 3 receptions, 33 yards last week at Baltimore) gets the starting not at running back. Billy Cundiff is the Browns' backup kicker.
UPDATE: For the Raiders, Javon Walker and Chaz Schilens are inactive at wide receiver. Darrius Heyward-Bey and Louis Murphy are the starting wideouts for Oakland today, though only Heyward-Bey is fantasy worthy (and only in large leagues).
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Oakland's offense will continue to miss tackle Robert Gallery, who broke his left fibula in Week 2. WR Johnnie Lee Higgins was limited in practice all week with an injured shoulder but is listed as probable. If Higgins isn't able to go, that means even more looks for Darrius Heyward-Bey.
Chris Brown, the Texas' designated short-yardage back, is listed as questionable with a shin injury. Brown has been the Texans' running back inside the 20 this season, and the as-yet disappointing Steve Slaton might be able to get goal-line carries if Brown can't go.
UPDATE: Linebacker Lofa Tatupu is active today for the Seahawks and should be back starting today after missing last week's game against the Bears.
UPDATE: As expected, Matt Hasselbeck will not play in today's game against the Colts; he's inactive. Seneca Wallace will start.
UPDATE: Amazingly, Dwight Freeney -- injured last Sunday night in the Colts' win over Arizona -- is active today against Seattle. It's unclear if he'll get on the field, but could play in a limited role, probably on pass-rushing downs.
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Matt Hasselbeck is "very doubtful" to return to the field today, said coach Jim Mora, so Seneca Wallace will start in his place for the second straight week. Wallace was comfortable with Nate Burleson, who caught caught 9 passes for 109 yards in last week's loss to the Bears. Another downgrade for Seattle: Tackle Walter Jones will not make his season debut today, as previously hoped.
For the Colts, WR Anthony Gonzalez and S Bob Sanders remain out; neither will be back for at least another few weeks. At the WR spot, Colts rookie Pierre Garcon has scored two long touchdowns as Gonzalez's replacement; he'll continue to get more looks.
UPDATE: Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan is inactive this week against the Jaguars; Jacksonville receiver Mike Sims-Walker is an attractive receiving option with the Tennessee secondary down a man.
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Titans coach Jeff Fisher said CB Cortland Finnegan is doubtful for today's game. LenDale White has been out all week with a flu-like illness he wasn't quite able to describe. He did say, "You don't want the stuff I just had." Avoid shaking hands with White today, but he should be able to play; he scored his first touchdown of the year last week against the Jets.
The Jaguars are incredibly healthy so far this season; the flu-like illness (not H1N1) that hit several members of the team didn't hit any of their big guns.
UPDATE: For the Giants, Domenik Hixon is inactive today. While he doesn't have much fantasy value right now, Hakeem Nicks is active.
UPDATE:Dwayne Bowe is active today against the Giants and is running routes at full speed in pre-game warmups. Coming off an injury he's a risky play, but as the Chiefs' number one option with the Giants' secondary a bit banged up, he could see a lot of passes come his way.
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RB Ahmad Bradshaw, who missed practice in the middle of the week, will play for the Giants today. WR Domenik Hixon is out of Sunday's game, which means more looks for Mario Manningham. WR Hakeem Nicks is listed as probable and is set to return this afternoon. The Giants' defense looks to be at almost full-strength, too: DE Justin Tuck and CB Kevin Dockery are listed as probable, though CB Aaron Ross is out with a hamstring injury.
The only major injury for the Chiefs is WR Dwayne Bowe, who didn't play last week against the Eagles. He practiced some with the first team on Friday and is listed as questionable for the second straight week; he'll be a game-time decision. If Bowe can't go, Mark Bradley caught four passes for 28 yards and a score and completed a 26-yard pass last week; Bobby Wade also caught two passes for 13 yards and a garbage time score against Philadelphia.
UPDATE: Derrick Mason's illness isn't keeping him out of today's game; he's active and a safe play.
UPDATE: Wide receiver Wes Welker is active for the Patriots today against the Ravens; fellow wideout Joey Galloway is inactive. Look for Tom Brady to target Welker often against a tough Ravens' D. On the defensive side for New England, Vince Wilfork is active.
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Derrick Mason (12 rec., 196 yards, 1 TD so far this year) is listed as questionable with an unknown illness; he didn't practice on Wednesday or Thursday and was limited on Friday. He'll probably play, but if not Kelley Washington and Mark Clayton will get more looks. TE Todd Heap and LB Ray Lewis are listed as probable and fully practiced Thursday and Friday; they'll play.
Wes Welker was on the practice field Friday and is listed as questionable for today's game; check before game-time to see if he's active. Rookie Julian Edelman will get more looks if Welker can't go, though he only had 3 catches for 20 yards last week against Atlanta. On the defensive side, DT Vince Wilfork is listed as questionable and LB Jerod Mayo is doubtful.
UPDATE:Derrick Ward is inactive for the Buccaneers this week. Cadillac Williams is active and will get the start and should be a good play this week. Wide Receiver Antonio Bryant is also active for the Bucs this week; he only had one catch in last week's shutout loss to the Giants.
UPDATE: The Redskins' Clinton Portiswill play this afternoon against Tampa Bay. Ladell Betts is relegated to the backup role. Portis has struggled so far this season, but he'll have a good shot to get back on track this afternoon against a weak Buccaneers run defense.
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The Buccaneers have a new quarterback in Josh Johnson, who'll get his first NFL starts today. Antonio Bryant has been slowed by a knee injury since August and has just 3 catches this season; he's listed as questionable. Michael Clayton will get more looks if Bryant can't go. RB Derrick Ward is also listed as questionable. If he can't go, RB Cadillac Williams (who's listed as probable) will start.
Washington's Clinton Portis will be a game-time decision; if he can't go, Ladell Betts will get the starting nod. Marcus Mason, though, did get repetitions with the first-team offense during Friday's practice and could steal some carries from Betts. On the defensive side, DT Albert Haynesworth didn't practice all week but is listed as probable.
The Bills have quite a few players out for today's game (LB Paul Posluszny, DBs Bryan Scott and Donte Whitner, LT Demetrius Bell) but are relatively healthy at the skill positions. Running back Marshawn Lynch is back after his three-game suspension to starts the season but is behind Fred Jackson (425 yards from scrimmage, second in the NFL) on the depth chart. Coach Dick Jauron said he'll ease Lynch into action, so Jackson could still put up good numbers today.
The only player listed on the injury report for the Miami Dolphins is LB Joey Porter, questionable with a hamstring injury. The Dolphins did lose Chad Pennington for the season after he suffered a shoulder injury last week against the Chargers. Chad Henne, who went 10-for-19 for 92 yards and a pick in relief last week, makes his first NFL start. Ted Ginn Jr. didn't catch a pass last week from either Pennington or Henne, but will have a chance to make amends against the depleted Buffalo secondary.
UPDATE: For the Raiders, Javon Walker and Chaz Schilens are inactive at wide receiver. Darrius Heyward-Bey and Louis Murphy are the starting wideouts for Oakland today, though only Heyward-Bey is fantasy worthy (and only in large leagues).
No major offensive skill players are listed on the injury report for the Jets. On the defensive side, cornerbacks Lito Sheppard and Donald Strickland are both out yet again; S Kerry Rhodes, DT Kris Jenkins and LB Larry Izzo are all listed as probable.
For the Saints, Mike Bell, who put up impressive numbers in the first two weeks of the season, is out again with a knee injury. The Saints are off next week and Bell is expected to be back in Week 6. Pierre Thomas ran for 126 yards and two scores, all in the second half, in the Saints' win over the Bills last week. WR Lance Moore was limited all week in practice but is listed as probable.
Felix Jones, injured in the Cowboys' win over the Panthers Monday night, is out this week. Marion Barber, who missed last week's game, will be a game-time decision; he's listed as probable. Regardless, Tashard Choice -- who rushed for 82 yards and a score last week -- should get plenty of carries.
WR Brandon Stokley is listed as questionable; he played last week but didn't catch a pass. Besides his 87-yard miracle touchdown against the Bengals in Week 1, Stokley has only 70 yards receiving, so he's probably not starting for many teams anyway. Short-yardage specialist RB Peyton Hillis is listed as probable; he sustained a blow to the head last week but practiced on Thursday and Friday and is likely to play.
Marc Bulger is essentially out for today's game; if he dresses, coach Steve Spagnuolo said he'll be the third quarterback. Kyle Boller will make his first start for the Rams. This probably means more rushing attempts for RB Steven Jackson, though Boller did toss a pair of touchdown passes in last week's 36-17 loss to Green Bay.
49ers' RB Frank Gore was injured on the first play of last week's loss to Minnesota; Glen Coffee will take his place. Coffee rushed for 54 yards on 25 carries in relief of Gore last week. kick returner Allen Rossum has been sidelined with an illness all week but is likely to play.
UPDATE: As expected, Willie Parker will not play tonight against the Chargers; Rashard Mendenhall gets the nod in his place and is an intriguing sleeper pick for teams with holes to fill because of byes. Mewelde Moore should also see some carries.
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LaDainian Tomlinson, who missed the last two weeks with an ankle injury sustained in Week 1, practiced fully all week and is listed as probable for tonight's game. Darren Sproles had been the starter in his absence. On the defensive side, Shawne Marriman is listed as questionable with a groin injury, though he did practice fully on Friday after being out the day before.
Steelers' RB Willie Parker didn't practice all week and is not expected to play tonight; he's listed as doubtful. Rashard Mendenhall is expected to start in his place. He didn't play last week on offense -- only getting in on special teams -- after not knowing the plays at practice during the week. On the defensive side, Troy Polamalu continues to be out with a knee injury.
WR Greg Jennings is listed as probable with a wrist injury but is expected to play; he practiced yesterday after being limited earlier in the week and is expected to play. Come on, would anyone on the Packers miss a shot at beating Brett Favre?
Speaking of He Who Shall Not Go Unmentioned In Any Football Story, Favre is listed as probable with a foot injury. He'll obviously play. No one else fantasy-worthy is listed on the Packers' injury report.
