Last-minute injury report -- Week 6
Byes: Dallas, Indianapolis, Miami, San Francisco
UPDATE: For those of you in really big leagues: Bengals running back Brian Leonard is inactive today, and Bernard Scott will get any carries in relief of Cedric Benson.
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More bad news for Steve Slaton owners: Texans starting right guard Mike Brisiel is out for the year; five-year vet Chris White and rookie Antoine Caldwell will take his place. On the defensive side, defensive tackle Shaun Cody is out with the flu; defensive end Mario Williams and linebacker DeMeco Ryans are both listed as probable.
Bengals running back Brian Leonard is listed as doubtful after missing all week with a groin injury; on the defensive side, defensive tackle Tank Johnson and safety Roy Williams are listed as questionable. Defensive tackle Frostee Rucker is listed as doubtful.
UPDATE: A few sources have Calvin Johnson listed as active today, but the Lions' official website lists him as out. Dennis Northcutt will actually start opposite Bryant Johnson today.
UPDATE: Not that you were planning on benching Aaron Rogers, but Packers left tackle Chad Clifton is activeand will return to the starting lineup. It's a big plus for Green Bay's passing game.
UPDATE: Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnsonare both probably out for today's game. Daunte Culpepper will start for the Lions at QB, while the starting Lions' wide receivers will be Derrick Williams and Bryant Johnson.
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Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnsondidn't practice on Friday and is listed as questionable. Quarterback Matthew Stafford is also listed as questionable and will be a game-time decision. ("I actually will announce our decision Sunday morning," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said.) If Stafford can't go, Daunte Culpepper will be the starting quarterback.
The Packers could be starting undrafted rookie Even Dietrich-Smith at center on Sunday; they are likely, however, to get running back Brandon Jackson back on the field for the first time all season. (DeShawn Wynn is out with a knee injury.) On the defensive side, safety Atari Bigby is listed as probable.
UPDATE: Marc Bulger will start at quarterback today for the Rams. He's not a bad play if you're stuck looking for a quarterback today.
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Marc Bulger is expected to start after coming in after Kyle Boller suffered a concussion in last week's loss to Minnesota. On the defensive side, Leonard Little missed practice Friday with an illness but is listed as probable.
Wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker will return after being suspended last week for breaking curfew; fellow wide receiver Mike Thomas is listed as probable with a rib injury.
UPDATE: Ravens tackle Jared Gaither is inactive today against the Vikings. Upgrade the Minnesota defense, downgrade the Ravens' offense.
UPDATE: Ravens wide receiver Mark Clayton is active for today's game against the Vikings.
UPDATE: Percy Harvin is active today for the Vikings despite his shoulder injury.
UPDATE: Percy Harvinis looking like he's going to play today. Check back to make sure he's active, though.
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Ravens offensive tackle Jared Gaither, who injured his neck two weeks ago, is listed as doubtful but hasn't been ruled out of today's game; with Jared Allen rushing for the Vikings, it could hurt Joe Flacco's numbers. Wide receiver Mark Clayton is listed as probable with a shoulder injury.
Vikings rookie wide receiver Percy Harvin is listed as probable with a left shoulder injury. He'll be a game-time decision: "We'll warm up and see how it feels." He's also apparently using the majestic plural.
UPDATE: Wide receiver Mario Manningham is active today.
UPDATE: For the Saints, running backs Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell are both active today. Bell hasn't played since Week 2 and is an iffy start today unless you're really hurting for running backs; Thomas may lose some carries but will get the starting nod.
UPDATE: For the Giants, Ahmad Bradshaw is active; he could be a good play. On the defensive side, cornerback Aaron Ross is inactive, helping make Saints quarterback Drew Brees and almost any of the team's wideouts good plays.
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Giants quarterback Eli Manning is listed as probable with the foot injury he suffered two weeks ago; he came out last week at halftime once the Giants pulled far ahead of the Raiders. He'll play this week. Ahmad Bradshaw only practiced on Friday (and was limited). On the defensive side, cornerback Aaron Ross has been ruled out.
Saints Running back Pierre Thomas was limited in practice all week, but is listed as probable and should play against the Giants. Fellow running back Mike Bell is also listed as probable and should return after missing the last two weeks before the bye.
UPDATE: Browns tight end Robert Royal is active and will start today.
UPDATE: As expected, Jamal Lewis is active today for the Browns and will get the starting nod over Jerome Harrison.
UPDATE: Steelers safety Troy Polamalu is active today and will return to action for the first time since the Thursday night season opener. He's safe to start in IDP leagues. While Rashard Mendenhall is scheduled to start, Parker should also get a large chunk of carries.
UPDATE: The Browns have announced kicker Phil Dawson is out (again), as is tight end Steve Heiden.
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Jamal Lewis returned last week and solidified his starting running back job with 117 yards last week against the Bills; he's listed as probable and will play today. On the defensive side, tackle Shaun Rogers is listed as probable with a foot injury.
Steelers' starting running back Rashard Mendenhall missed practice earlier in the week with flu-like symptoms, but returned to practice Friday and will start Sunday. Usual starting running back Willie Parker is listed as probable with a toe injury and is scheduled to return; Mendenhall is still scheduled to start, however. Safety Troy Polamalu is listed as probable and will return for today's game for the first time since suffering a knee injury in the opener.
UPDATE: Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Bryant is active. Carolina has an average pass defense, and Bryant had 5 catches for 62 yards against the strong Philadelphia pass defense last week. He could surprise this week.
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Panthers tight end Dante Rosario missed practice Thursday with a sprained ankle, but returned on Friday. He is listed as questionable. Wide receiver Steve Smith and running back Jonathan Stewart are both listed as probable; they'll play.
Buccaneers fullback B.J. Askew, injured in a car accident earlier in the week, will miss today's game. He'll be replaced by backup running back Earnest Graham. "We're going to go out this weekend and give him some more touches, more carries and more blocking opportunities," Coach Raheem Morris said. Wide receiver Antonio Bryant is listed as probable for Tampa Bay.
UPDATE: As expected, Clinton Portis is active today and will start for the Redskins.
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The Chiefs only have three players on this week's injury report: Offensive tackle Branden Albert, safety Jarrad Page -- both questionable -- and offensive guard Andy Alleman, who is doubtful. You're good to go if you have any Chiefs. (Well, your team might not be doing so well if it has a surplus of Kansas City players.)
Tackle Chris Samuels -- by at least one account the Redskins' most indispensable player -- is out for today's game and possibly the season. That hurts the Redskins' running game. Clinton Portis was limited in practice on Friday but should start in today's game. On the defensive side, tackle Albert Haynesworth is listed as probable and tackle CorneliusGriffin is listed as questionable.
Donovan McNabb wasn't really limited with his broken ribs when he returned from injury in last week's win over the Buccaneers; he's listed as probable on the injury report and will start again. Wide receiver Kevin Curtis, who missed last week's game, made the flight to Oakland but is listed as questionable. Even if Curtis plays, rookie wide receiver Jeremy Maclin, who had a breakout game last week against the Bucs, will get the start opposite DeSean Jackson.
Darren McFadden is out for the second straight week for the Raiders; Michael Bush is the listed starter, but last week he got 12 carries (37 yards and a touchdown) while backup Justin Fargas got 11 (18 yards).
Cardinals wide receiver Steve Breaston is listed as questionable; he played last week and caught four passes for 66 yards. Tight end Stephen Spach is out with an ankle injury; he'll be replaced by Anthony Becht.
Seattle: Linebacker LeRoy Hill, offensive tackles Walter Jones and Sean Locklear, offensive guard Rob Sims and safety C.J. Wallace are all out for today's game. The offense wasn't hampered last week, though, as Matt Hasselbeck returned and threw four TD passes. He'll start again this week against the Cardinals. Wide receiver Nate Burleson caught a pair of touchdown passes last week; he's listed as probable.
No skill position players are on the injury report for the Titans this week, but their defensive secondary is hampered by injuries: Cornerback Cortland Finnegan is out once again, as is cornerback Nick Harper. Safety Vincent Fuller is listed as doubtful for today's game as well. Upgrade all of the New England wide receivers.
The Patriots' injury report is notoriously the hardest to decipher of all the NFL teams, but they've gotten relatively healthy at the offensive skill positions. Tom Brady and Randy Moss are listed as probable. Wes Welker is also set to play today.
The Bills are injured on the defensive side, with linebackers Marcus Buggs and Kawika Mitchell and Bryan Scott out for today's game. Linebacker Paul Posluszny is expected to be back today (he's listed as probable). On the offensive side, none of the Bills starters at the skill positions are on the injury report.
Wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery is expected to miss this week's game with a hamstring injury. He played last week but only had one catch for four yards.
The Bears are healthy at the starting offensive skill positions, though they'll only have two running backs for today's game. On the defensive side, linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer will not play in today's game. New Bears acquisition Gaines Adams, acquired late last week from Tampa Bay for a second-round pick, will probably be inactive.
Falcons fullback Ovie Mughelli will likely miss today's game against the Bears; Verron Haynes will play in his first game of the year. Wide receiver Roddy White is listed as probable.
Broncos unning back Correll Buckhalter practiced during the week and should play in Monday's game. Knowshon Moreno, who had 21 carries for 88 yards in last week's win over the Patriots, should still get the start.
The Chargers don't have any starters at the offensive skill positions on the injury report. Linebacker Shawne Merriman is listed as probable and promised "people will see a difference" after being limited in Weeks 3 and 4 with a groin injury.
