Last-minute injury report, Week 11
Here are the up-to-the-minute updates for Week 11's crucial slate of games.
UPDATE: Steelers defensive end Travis Kirschke and Chiefs lineback Mike Vrabel are inactive.
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Bad news for owners of the Steelers defense: Troy Polamalu is out of this week's game with a knee injury. He could miss the following week's game against the Ravens, as well. Tyrone Carter will start at safety for him. Defensive end Travis Kirschke is also out with a calf injury.
Be sure to get Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Boweout of your fantasy lineup, as he was suspended four games for failing a drug test. He'll be back in Week 15, against Cleveland. The Chiefs could also be down a few players on the defensive side, with linebackers Mike Vrabel and Justin Rogers listed as doubtful and David Herron listed as questionable.
UPDATE: Wide receiver Pierre Garcon is active for the Colts. He's an option only in deep leagues.
UPDATE: Both tight end Todd Heap and defensive tackle Haloti Ngata will start for the Ravens today.
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The Colts have their usual injured corps: Wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez, cornerback Kelvin Hayden, kicker Adam Vinatieri. For those in individual defensive player leagues, defensive end Dwight Freeney and cornerback Antoine Bethea both said they'll play despite being listed as questionable. Wide receiver Pierre Garcon is also listed as questionable but practiced fully on Friday and is likely to play. Matt Stover will continue to kick for Indianapolis.
Linebacker Terrell Suggs is out with a knee injury after being injured Monday night by a Brady Quinn block. Rookie Paul Kruger could replace him, but he struggled Monday against Cleveland and isn't a palatable fantasy option. Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata is still dealing with an ankle injury but said he'll play. Ravens tight end Todd Heap didn't practice Friday and is listed as questionable; he'll be a game-time decision. L.J. Smith would start in his place if he can't go.
49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree is on the injury report with a knee injury, but he says it's just "a little bruise." He'll play. The only real question mark for San Francisco is Takeo Spikes, who didn't practice all week and is listed as questionable.
Aaron Rodgers, who led the Packers to a surprise win over the Cowboys last week, could be running from defensive lineman even more this week: Tackle Allen Barbre is listed as doubtful, while Scott Wells (who should start at center this week) missed some practices with post-concussion symptoms. Backup running back Ahman Green is listed as questionable with a groin injury
Upgrade Maurice Jones-Drew! The Bills are thin on defense, as they'll be missing defensive tackle Marcus Stroud, along with cornerback Ashton Youboty. Linebacker Keith Ellison was placed on injured reserve Friday, while cornerback Terrence McGee is listed as questionable and probably won't play.
The Jaguars could be missing three defensive starters. Cornerback Rashean Mathis has already been ruled out of Sunday's game with a groin injury, while linebacker Justin Durant is listed as doubtful and safety Gerald Alexander is listed as questionable. Alexander did practice all week.
UPDATE: Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce is inactive today; Chase Blackburn will start in his place.
UPDATE:Michael Turner will not start today; Jason Snelling will get the starting nod for the Falcons. He's worth a flier if he's still available in your league. Wide receiver Roddy White will also start for Atlanta.
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Falcons running back Michael Turner will probably miss Sunday's game against the Giants; he's listed as doubtful. If he doesn't go, Jason Snelling will take his place in the lineup. He's worth taking a flier on, but check Sunday to see if Turner is out. Jerious Norwood, who has missed four straight games, could also get some carries if he plays. He's listed as questionable. Roddy White also has the questionable tag, but -- like last week -- he's likely to play.
Despite their four-game skid, the Giants are relatively healthy after the bye week. Cornerback Aaron Ross should finally return from injury and help shore up New York's leaky secondary.
UPDATE: As expected, Antonio Bryant is active today and will start for the Buccaneers. If you're stuck, Bryant isn't a bad option at wide receiver.
UPDATE: Saints free safety Darren Sharper is active today and will start; he's safe to use in IDP leagues.
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Saints running back Reggie Bush and defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis didn't make the trip to Tampa and will both miss Sunday's game. Cornerbacks Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter, and wide receiver Lance Moore had already been ruled out of Sunday's game. Upgrade the Saints' wide receiving corps in Bush's absence.
Antonio Bryant should finally return to the field Sunday against the Saints; he's listed as probable after missing the past two weeks. Cornerback Elbert Mack is listed as questionable for the Buccaneers.
UPDATE: Josh Cribbs is active today for Cleveland; he's obviously a nice start if you're in a league that awards points for return yards.
UPDATE: Jamal Lewis is active today for the Browns. For those in deep leagues, backup running back Jerome Harrison is inactive today. Running back Chris Jennings will back up Lewis.
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Despite being taken off on cart with a neck injury on Monday against the Ravens, wide receiver Josh Cribbs says he will play Sunday against the Lions. He's listed as questionable, as is running back Jamal Lewis. Check to see Sunday if Cribbs and Lewis are active before using either of them.
Calvin Johnson is healthy enough that he's been moved up to probable on the injury list, so owners can probably stop worrying about him. The only other significant Lions injuries are on the defensive side, with linebacker Zack Follett and defensive end Dewayne White listed as questionable and linebacker Ernie Sims out with a hamstring injury.
UPDATE: Just to note: Ladell Betts is active and starting this week for the Redskins. The Dallas rushing defense is strong against the run, but he did have 114 yards in his first start last week.
UPDATE: Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth will not start today.
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Clinton Portis remains out after suffering a concussion against the Falcons two weeks ago; after predictions of splitting carries, Ladell Betts rushed 26 times for 114 yards and a score. Rock Cartwright only had nine attempts. Betts is probably a good sleeper at running back. Tight end Fred Davis, who had 4 catches for 50 yards in Washington's upset win last week, will continue to fill in for the injured Chris Cooley. Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth is listed as questionable and is a game-time decision.
The Cowboys, missing only one player last week, will be without free safety Ken Hamlin on Sunday. He'll be replaced by Alan Ball. The Cowboys will have almost everyone else available on Sunday; Marion Barber is in a cast but that only affects his pass blocking, Cowboys coach Wade Phillips said.
UPDATE: As expected, Julius Jones is out today for Seattle. Justin Forsett starts today.
UPDATE: Minnesota wide receiver Bernard Berrian is active today; he's a good start as Seattle's secondary is weak.
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Seahawks running back Julius Jones will miss Sunday's game against the Vikings with a bruised lung. Justin Forsett will start in his place. If he's still available, he might be worth a flier, especially in leagues with points per reception. Cornerback Josh Wilson is listed as doubtful with a concussion.
Vikings coach Brad Childress said it's a long shot cornerback Antoine Winfield plays in Sunday's game; he should sit in individual defensive player leagues. Wide receiver Bernard Berrian is listed as questionable; check to make sure he's active Sunday morning before starting him.
Wide receiver Anquan Boldin is finally off the Arizona injury report, while third wideout Steve Breaston is listed as probable. Things aren't so kind on the other side of the ball: Linebacker Chike Okeafor is out with a back injry, while linebackers Gerald Hayes and Karlos Dansby and cornerbacks Bryant McFadden and Michael Adams are all listed as questionable.
Rams guard Richie Incognito and defensive end C.J. Ah You will both miss Sunday's game against the Cardinals, while defensive end Chris Long is listed as questionable.
The Jets will be without linebacker Vernon Gholston for the second straight game, but don't have any other major injuries. Even wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery has made his way off the injury report. Safety Jim Leonhard is listed as questionable with a thumb injury.
The Patriots have a boatload of players listed as questionable (as usual), most of them on the defensive side: Linebacker Tully Banta-Cain, ends Jarvis Green and Ty Warren, among others. On the offensive side, running back Sammy Morris and wide receiver Julian Edelman get the questionable tag. With a late game, it's tough to start any of these guys. Such is the mystery of a Bill Belichick-penned injury report.
UPDATE: Chris Simms will start at quarterback for the Broncos, as expected.
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Linebacker Shawne Merriman and tight end Antonio Gates are both listed as probable and will play. Center Nick Hardwick is out with an ankle injury, while offensive tacile Jeromey Clary and defensive tackle Ogemdi Nwagbuo are both listed as questionable for the Chargers.
Kyle Orton, injured in Denver's loss to Washington last week, is likely to be a game-time decision for the Broncos. Since it's a late start, it's probably safest to just find another quarterback this week if you're stuck with Orton as your fantasy QB. He's listed as questionable; backup Chris Simms is not a viable fantasy option. Tackle Ryan Harris is out with a toe injury.
Newly acquired Bengals running back Larry Johnson should be active for Sunday afternoon's game against the Raiders, which is good for Cincinnati: It's all but certain Cedric Bensonwill not play. If neither Benson nor Johnson play, Bernard Scott would get the bulk of the carries with Brian Leonard continuing to be the third-down back.
Wide receivers Nick Millers and Javon Walker are out for the Raiders, as is linebacker Ricky Brown. Darren McFadden is off the injury report but Michael Bush will remain the starter in Oakland.
Brian Westbrook suffered another concussion last Sunday and could be out three weeks or more. If LeSean McCoy is on your team, get him in your starting lineup. On the defensive side for the Eagles, safety Quintin Demps and linebacker Akeem Jordan are both out and cornerback Sheldon Brown is listed as questionable.
The Bears had a lot of injuries earlier in the year, but they're getting healthier; tight end Desmond Clark and safety Kevin Payne are both listed as doubtful.
UPDATE: The Houston Chronicle reports that Steve Slaton has regained his starting job in Houston. Might want to start him if you've been stashing him on your bench.
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The Titans finally might be back at full strength in their seconday on Monday night, as cornerback Nick Harper should finally return to the starting lineup. Wide receiver Justin Gage didn't practice most of the week and is unlikely to play.
Texans wide receiver Jacoby Jones practiced on Friday and will be a game-time decision; coach Gary Kubiak said there are no other injury concerns.
