Note: The Early Injury report will cover only those teams advancing in the playoffs
from now until the end of the season.
Quarterbacks
St. Louis' Marc Bulger was knocked out of the Detroit game with a contusion
on his throwing arm.
Status: Bulger is expected to fully recover, and he remains the starter as the
team heads into their bye-week. After the game, Bulger characterized the injury
as a "big bruise" and said that he would be fine.
New England's Tom Brady limped off the field on Saturday due to a hit on his
left leg just below the knee.
Status: Brady continued to play through the injury, and is considered "A-OK"
as of Monday.
Tennessee's Steve McNair missed the game on Sunday due to his right calf, left
ankle (cracked bone spur) and left knee (strained) injuries.
Status: McNair has battled through these same injuries for weeks, but the coaching
staff wanted to give him rest in the final week of the regular season so that
McNair would have a chance to be closer to 100% for the Wild Card round of the
playoffs. His status for the Baltimore game on Saturday will be updated as the
week goes along - everyone including McNair expects him to start on Saturday.
Running Backs
Green Bay's backup RB Najeh Davenport (strained neck) was injured in the game
on Sunday.
Status: X-rays were negative, and the injury is considered minor at this time.
Philadelphia's leading RB Brian Westbrook tore his left triceps tendon in the
second quarter of the game on Saturday.
Status: The Eagles and Westbrook are pursuing second and third opinions, but
the trainers are encouraging the RB to have immediate surgery to correct the
injury (which will end his season). Team owner Jeff Lurie huddled with Correll
Buckhalter and Duce Staley after the game and the two indicated afterward that
they are expecting to fill Westbrook's shoes during the playoffs due to his
triceps injury. Reno Mahe may be elevated to #3 RB and given the punt-return
duties that Westbrook had been handling (James Thrash is returning kick-offs).
Denver's starting RB Clinton Portis missed the game on Sunday due to his high
ankle sprain.
Status: Portis declared himself 100% recovered from the injury on Monday, and
fully expects to play in the Wild Card game vs. the Colts on next Sunday.
Denver's starting FB Reuben Droughns (high ankle sprain) missed the game on
Sunday.
Status: Droughns is expected back in the lineup on Sunday after his game off
this past weekend.
Kansas City's backup RB Derrick Blaylock sustained a right foot sprain in the
game on Sunday.
Status: The severity of the sprain isn't currently known - Blaylock will be
evaluated further during the bye-week, but first-round draft pick Larry Johnson
may see more time than usual in relief of Holmes due to this injury. Time will
tell.
Kansas City's backup FB Omar Easy suffered a right wrist sprain in the game
on Sunday.
Status: The injury is not considered serious at this time.
Tennessee's reserve RB Robert Holcombe (hamstring) missed the game on Sunday
due to his injury.
Status: Holcombe was listed as questionable on the Friday injury report.
Wide Receivers
Green Bay's reserve WR/KR Antonio Chatman was "knocked woozy" in
the game on Sunday.
Status: The injury is considered minor at this time.
Green Bay's starting WR Robert Ferguson (Achilles) missed the game on Sunday.
Status: Ferguson was listed as probable on the Friday injury report. He warmed
up in pre-game and wanted to play, but coach Sherman held him out at the last
minute.
Denver's starting WR Ed McCaffrey left the game on Sunday due to a concussion.
Status: It is McCaffrey's second concussion in 3 games, and the increasing frequency
of his concussions is causing concern among the Bronco's staff. He will be evaluated
further as the week goes along - concussions are known to cause complications
several days after the initial injury. McCaffrey has a long history of concussions
in his career, heightening concern.
Kansas City's backup WR Dante Hall suffered a right thigh contusion in the
game on Sunday.
Status: The injury is not considered serious at the current time.
Tennessee's starting WR Justin McCareins suffered a mild concussion in the
game on Sunday, but returned to action.
Status: The concussion is considered minor at this time.
Tennessee's reserve WR's Jake Schifino (leg) and Eddie Berlin (concussion)
missed the game on Sunday.
Status: Both players were listed as questionable on the Friday injury Report.
Tight Ends
Baltimore's reserve TE John Jones (quadriceps) missed the game on Sunday.
Status: Jones was listed as questionable on the Friday injury report.
Indianapolis' backup TE Dallas Clark (ankle/fractured leg) missed the game
on Sunday, as expected.
Tennnesee's starting TE Frank Wycheck injured his ribs in the game on Sunday.
Status: The injury will be evaluated further as the week goes along - it did
not appear serious at first glance.
Kickers
Baltimore's starting P Dave Zastudil broke his nose and suffered a mild concussion
in the season finale vs. Pittsburgh.
Status: Zastudil returned to action, but felt "woozy and out of it"
for most of the game. He will be monitored and evaluated further during the
week. Backup QB Kyle Boller served as the team's emergency punter (1 for 29
yards).
Offensive Lineman
Green Bay's starting LG Mike Wahl played through a broken bone in his ring
finger on Sunday.
Status: Wahl broke the bone in the first quarter, had a soft cast put on the
injury, and returned to the game. He expects to play against the Seahawks on
Sunday.
Green Bay's reserve OL Marcus Spriggs (hamstring) missed the game on Sunday.
Status: Spriggs was listed as probable on the Friday injury report.
Seattle's starting RG Chris Gray suffered an apparent MCL injury in the game
on Saturday.
Status: The severity of the injury is not currently known. Gray will be evaluated
further as the week goes along.
Seattle's reserve OL Jerry Wunsch has been placed on IR (ankle).
Denver's starting G Dan Neil (high ankle sprain) missed the game on Sunday
to rest and recuperate.
Status: Neil is expected back in the lineup on Sunday vs. the Colts.
New England's starting G Damien Woody injured his leg in the game on Saturday.
Status: The injury will be evaluated further during the bye week.
Defensive Players
Carolina's starting DT Brentson Buckner (knee) and starting CB Terry Cousin
(leg) missed the game on Sunday.
Status: Cousin was listed as doubtful, and Buckner was questionable, on the
Friday injury report. Buckner commented after the game that he was ready to
get in the game against Dallas.
Green Bay's starting LB Na'il Diggs suffered a shoulder injury in the game
on Sunday.
Status: Diggs did not return to action, but the injury is not considered serious
at this time.
Green Bay's starting NT Gilbert Brown (knee) and starting CB Mike McKenzie
(turf toe) missed the game on Sunday.
Status: McKenzie was listed as questionable on Friday; Brown was a game-time
scratch.
Philadelphia's starting CB Troy Vincent (hip) missed the game on Saturday,
as expected.
Status: Vincent is expected back for the first playoff game, in 2 weeks.
St. Louis' starting LB Robert Thomas (groin) missed the game on Sunday.
Status: Thomas was listed as doubtful on the Friday injury report.
Seattle's reserve DB Willie Williams (foot) missed the game on Sunday.
Status: Williams was listed as probable on the Friday injury report.
Baltimore's starting LB Peter Boulware (knee) missed the game on Sunday.
Status: Boulware was listed as questionable on the Friday injury report. He
was rested to help him overcome a knee sprain (the team would have limited him
to pass-rushing situations had he played).
Denver's starting CB Kelly Herndon missed the game on Sunday due to broken
bones in his hand.
Status: Herndon vows to play vs. the Colts even though he'll have to wear a
cast on the hand. Time will tell if the coaching staff thinks he can play well
enough with a cast on his limb.
Indianapolis' starting LB Marcus Washington injured his ribs in the game on
Sunday, and missed part of the second quarter.
Status: X-Rays were negative, and Washington returned to action in the second
half. The ribs will be evaluated further as the week goes along.
Indianapolis' starting S Mike Doss (ankle) and reserve DB Cory Bird (shoulder)
missed the game on Sunday.
Status: Doss was listed as questionable on the Friday injury report, while Bird
was listed as doubtful.
Kansas City's starting LB Mike Maslowski (knee), starting CB Eric Warfield
(back) and reserve LB Monty Beisel (groin) missed the game on Sunday.
Status: Maslowski and Beisel have missed several games due to their injuries
(6 straight for Maslowski, 4 straight for Beisel) - both were listed as doubtful
on Friday's injury report; Warfield was also listed as doubtful on the Friday
injury report.
Tennessee's starting DL Kevin Carter (head/neck) left the game on Sunday and
did not return to action.
Status: The severity of Carter's injuries are unknown at the current time.
Tennessee's starting DE Jevon Kearse injured his back in the game on Sunday.
Status: The severity of the injury is unknown - Kearse will be evaluated further
as the week goes along, but the injury does not appear serious.
Tennessee's starting LB Rocky Calmus (broken leg) and reserve LB Jordan Kramer
(ankle) missed the game on Sunday, as expected.
Status: Calmus was listed as out on the Friday injury report, while Kramer was
listed as questionable.
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