Quarterbacks in the News

QB Chris Redman (Bal) is still not fully recovered from his back injury.  Redman did finally practice on Wednesday, but Jeff Blake will again get the start.

QB Rodney Peete (Car) should start despite a strained finger on his throwing hand and four turnovers last week.

QB Chris Chandler (Chi) should again start this Sunday.

QB Jim Miller (Chi) will not practice (as has become the norm) but will be the #2 QB this weekend.

QB Jon Kitna (Cin) will receive a $1.6 million bonus if he plays in 80% of the team’s plays. He’s currently on pace for 79%.  There are rumblings that the tight purse of owner Mike Brown could cause a benching in the future if Kitna stumbles. Something to be on the lookout for here.

QB Brian Griese (Den) will be out at least for this week with an MCL sprain. He is targeting December 1^st for his return.  Steve Beuerlein will start in Griese’s place.

QB David Carr (Hou) has a bruised (non-throwing) wrist but will play as normal this weekend.

QB Trent Green (KC) is suffering from a myriad of minor injuries (most notably ankle, shoulder, and rib soreness).  Word is that he looked OK health-wise in practice Wednesday.  He’ll be on the field Sunday.

QB Ray Lucas (Mia) took a shot to his elbow but will continue to start in place of Jay Fiedler.

QB Jay Fiedler (Mia) continues to rehab (is now throwing a Nerf ball).  He will return as starter on December 1^st or 9^th.

QB Donovan McNabb (Phi) broke the fibula in his foot and could be out 6 to 8 weeks. Koy Detmer will start in his place.

QB Tommy Maddox (Pit) spent two nights in the hospital after suffering head and spine injuries last Sunday. Amazing, he has already been pronounced physically healthy by doctors.  He’s out this Sunday but should return within a couple of weeks.  Kordell Stewart will get the start until then.

QB Marc Bulger (StL) will definitely miss practice until Friday due to swelling in the finger that was injured last Sunday.

QB Kurt Warner (StL) is expected to start this Sunday.  He will get all of the 1^st team snaps in practice this week.

QB Steve McNair (Ten) is still bothered by turf toe but will likely play through the pain. He did practice Wednesday.

QB Shane Matthews (Was) has been demoted to 3^rd string QB.

QB Danny Wuerffel (Was) is almost completely healed from his shoulder injury and has been named as starter for this Sunday.  However, don’t be surprised when Patrick Ramsey sees action as well.

Running Backs in the News

RB Marcel Shipp (Ari) strained his quadriceps (plus suffered a knee bruise) in last week’s game. He did practice on Wednesday.

RB TJ Duckett (Atl) is improving and should be good to go on Sunday.  He will not start.

RB Maurice Smith (Atl) has been released by the team.

RB Lamar Smith (Car) will play this weekend.

RB William Green (Cle) refunded his lunch a few times in his first start last Sunday.  He also ran for 96 yards.

RB Jamel White (Cle) has not fully recovered from his shoulder separation.  He will likely sit another week.

RB Emmitt Smith (Dal) was less than pleased about the time-share situation with Troy Hambrick.  For his part, Hambrick believes Smith should retired and was quoted in an interview saying “this is like Michael Jordan still in the league tarnishing his name”.  What a great locker room this must be.

RB Najeh Davenport (GB) is gone for the year after being placed in IR with a fractured eye socket. Jay Graham was signed by the team.

RB Edgerrin James (Ind) has an ankle sprain. He missed practice Wednesday but should be ready to start on Sunday.

RB Rob Konrad (Mia) will play despite his quad injury.

RB Ricky Williams (Mia) will reportedly see more action on 3^rd downs now that the weather is not so warm.

RB Moe Williams (Min) has a heel bruise but will play.

RB Deuce McAllister (NO) will most likely miss this week with his ankle sprain. If he can’t start, look for Curtis Keaton and James Fenderson to both see time in his place.  Also, Fred McAfee is hanging around.

RB Dorsey Levens (Phi) should play despite his hand injury.

RB Duce Staley (Phi) should play this Monday despite his knee injury.

RB Jerome Bettis (Pit) is improving and should see significant action this weekend.

RB Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala (Pit) has not fully healed from his pectoral tear and could sit another week.

RB Terrell Fletcher (SD) missed Wednesday’s practice with an ankle injury but should be able to go this weekend.

RB Fred McCrary (SD) may sit this week with the thigh injury he suffered last Sunday.

RB Fred Beasley (SF) may not be able to go with an assortment of injuries including an ailing groin.

RB Marshall Faulk (StL) looks like he’ll be the proverbial game-time decision again this week.  Practice was canceled on Wednesday, and Faulk did not practice on Thursday.  If he can’t go, Lamar Gordon will again get the start.

RB Chris Hetherington (StL) is out with his groin injury.

RB Maurice Morris (Sea) is still ailing from his hamstring injury and will likely miss another week.

Wide Receivers in the News

WR Jason McAddley (Ari) missed Wednesday’s practice with an extremely sore and bruised biceps.  He expects to play this weekend.

WR Shawn Jefferson (Atl) practiced on Wednesday and should play Sunday.

WR Javin Hunter (Bal) suffered a concussion last Sunday.  He expects to be on the field this weekend.

WR Brandon Stokley (Bal) is still not able to run and probably will miss another week.

WR Reggie Germany (Buf) was released by the team.

WR Nate Jacquet (Car) has been signed by the team.

WR Muhsin Muhammad (Car) should be good to go this Sunday.

WR Steve Smith (Car) assaulted teammate Anthony Bright and was suspended for this weekend’s game.  There is a possibility that charges will be filed against Smith as Bright required hospitalization and plastic surgery to repair his broken nose. Karl Hankton will start in place of Smith.

WR Marty Booker (Chi) basically has a battered body.  However, he practiced Wednesday and will be on the field Sunday.

WR Rod Smith (Den) is having ankle problems but will still be on the field this weekend.

WR Jacquez Green (Det) has a leg injury.  His status is up in the air.

WR Az-Zahir Hakim (Det) was placed on IR and is out for the year.

WR Bill Schroeder (Det) does not appear on the injury report.

WR Corey Bradford (Hou) did not practice Wednesday but expects to be ready this weekend.

WR Jermaine Lewis (Hou) should play despite a chest injury.

WR Qadry Ismail (Ind) is still ailing with his knee. However, he did practice on Wednesday and could play this weekend.

WR Pat Johnson (Jac) is still suffering with bad abs.  He may miss another week.

WR Bobby Shaw (Jac) has a toe injury but.  He didn’t practice on Wednesday but should be ready Sunday.

WR Jimmy Smith (Jac) joins the rest of the Jaguars WR corps with a shin injury.  He didn’t practice on Wednesday but should be ready Sunday.

WR Cris Carter (Mia) is still out with his kidney problems. He is improving, but will miss another week.

WR Ron Dixon (NYG) will likely miss another week with his knee injury. He did not practice Wednesday.

WR Herman Moore (NYG) should be the 3^rd WR this weekend.

WR Todd Pinkston (Phi) had a tooth removed but still looks to play this weekend.

WR Hines Ward (Pit) has a slight neck injury but will start as normal.

WR Curtis Conway (SD) missed Wednesday’s practice with a shoulder injury but should still play this weekend.

WR Terrell Owens (SF) will start with his heel injury.

WR Bobby Engram (Sea) should play this week despite a thigh injury.

WR Darrell Jackson (Sea) is expected to practice fully this week and play on Sunday.

WR Keyshawn Johnson (TB) has a rib bruise but should play as usual.

WR Rod Gardner (Was) should be able to go despite a shoulder injury.

WR Willie Jackson (Was) should be the team’s 3^rd WR this weekend.

Tight Ends in the News

TE Alge Crumpler (Atl) should be ready to go this weekend.

TE Wesley Walls (Car) suffered a concussion but looks to be fine this Sunday.

TE John Davis (Chi) suffered a concussion last weekend and may not be able to play this weekend.

TE Aaron Shea (Cle) was placed on IR and gone for the season.

TE Shannon Sharpe (Den) is still out with his elbow injury.

TE Randy McMichael (Mia) will play despite his foot injury.

TE Byron Chamberlain (Min) has a knee injury but should play.

TE Roland Williams (Oak) missed Wednesday’s practice with turf toe. He says he’ll play Sunday.

TE Chad Lewis (Phi) is a bad a…wait, he has an injured buttocks. He should be good to go this Sunday.

TE John Allred (Pit) suffered a concussion but should play this Sunday.

TE Eric Johnson (SF) could miss yet another week with his bad back.

TE Frank Wycheck (Ten) practiced Wednesday and should return to action this weekend.

TE Walter Rasby (Was) is likely out with strained abs.

Place Kickers in the News

PK Todd Peterson (Pit) has been placed on IR and is gone for the season. Jeff Reed has been signed and will kick for the Steelers this weekend.

PK Jose Cortez (SF) has been benched in favor of Jeff Chandler. Cortez is still on the roster so this move is certainly contingent on Chandler performing well.