Quarterbacks in the News: QB Gus Frerotte (Cin) will start despite his sore thumb and the general consensus that he stunk last week. If he struggles this week we are likely to see Jon Kitna and Akili Smith in the coming weeks before the management concedes they don't have a good QB. QB Tim Couch (Cle) threw hard at practice on Thursday and is now making it tougher on the coaches who earlier in the week stated that they were likely to stay with Kelly Holcomb after his solid performance. Tim Couch appears on the injury report as probable with a sore forearm. A decision on the starter is not anticipated until right before game-time. QB Tom Brady (NE) was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week. QB Trent Dilfer (Sea) was able to practice on Thursday and is expected to start on Sunday. He did not appear on the Wednesday injury report. QB Shane Matthews (Was) was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Week. /*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/* Running Backs in the News: FB Joel Makovicka (Ari) missed practice on Thursday with a sore hamstring. He will attempt to practice tomorrow and the team is hopeful that he will be able to play on Sunday. He appears on the injury report as questionable. Baltimore Ravens cut Tellis Redmon. Chester Taylor won the backup RB job behind Jamal Lewis. RB Deshaun Foster (Car) will not play this week. Lamar Smith will start in his place. RB Brandon Bennett (Cin) appears on the injury report as questionable with a sore ankle. He expects to be ready to go Sunday. RB James Stewart (Det) is expected to start this week with a sore knee. He also was expected to start last week, but tweaked the knee in warm-ups. RB Ahman Green (GB) has a sweat problem that is making it hard for him to hold onto the ball. He fumbled twice (losing 1) last week and was run out of Seattle because of his fumbling problems there. In an unrelated story, Ahman Green left practice early on Thursday with an upset stomach. RB Jonathan Wells (Hou) is expected to play with his sore knee. James Allen will start as usual. RB Shyrone Stith (Ind) was placed on injury reserve and is lost for the season. This means newly acquired RB Ricky Williams backs up Edgerrin James. RB Michael Bennett (Min) will play with his sore shoulder. What is more worrisome than his shoulder though is the team's willingness to play Doug Chapman and Moe Williams considerable minutes. RB Tiki Barber (NYG) says his hamstring is no longer bothering him, but is still battling a toe injury. He will play with the pain though. He appears on the injury report as probable. RB Curtis Martin (NYJ) is a big unknown for this week. He is listed as questionable and has not practiced this week. He says he will be there on Sunday and continues to ride the bike hard on the sidelines. It is also unclear whether he has just an ankle sprain or a high ankle sprain. We expect him to play, but he may be limited. Friday's practice should give us a more complete story. More as we know it. RB Lamont Jordan (NYJ) does not appear on the Wednesday injury report, but broke his hand in practice. He will play with a soft cast. This likely helps Curtis Martin if he can play. RB Zack Crockett (Oak) has been cleared to play this week. He appears on the injury report as questionable with a neck injury. RB Tyrone Wheatley (Oak) is nicked up with a sore hip and quad, but will play. He appears on the injury report as probable. The investigation regarding the alleged sexual assault by Jerome Bettis expects to be completed by Friday. Recent information seems to exonerate Jerome Bettis. FB James Hodgins (StL) will not play this week. RB Stephen Davis (Was) practiced on Thursday and will start as expected. He does not appear on the injury report, but has a sore groin. /*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/* Wide Receivers in the News: WR Willie Jackson (Atl) has been named the starter opposite Brian Finneran. Shawn Jefferson will play in three WR sets. WR Travis Taylor (Bal) has a banged up shoulder and looks lost on the football field. Even if he is able to play, we do not see him having much of an impact against a tough TB defense. He appears on the injury report as questionable and has yet to practice. WR Muhsin Muhammad (Car) has a sore shoulder, but is expected to play on Sunday. The Dallas Cowboys signed WR Darnay Scott. He is expected to be their #3 or #4 WR this season. WR Kevin Kasper (Den) expects to play this week despite appearing on the injury report as questionable with sore ribs. WR Donald Driver (GB) is expected to be added to the Friday injury report as probable with a sore finger. He will start opposite of Terry Glenn. WR Terry Glenn (GB) missed practice on Wednesday (excused). He returned Thursday and practiced. He is expected to start on Sunday. The Houston Texans signed WR Jajuan Dawson. WR James Jett (Oak) injured his hamstring in practice. He already was on the injury report as probable with a sore calf. Since his main talent was running full speed as a decoy, I do not suspect we will be seeing much of James Jett this week. WR Plaxico Burress (Pit) has a sore hip, but is expected to start. His value is dropping though with the explosive play of Antwaan Randle El. WR Eric Crouch (StL) retired this week. No word yet from the team whether they will retire his number. WR Keenan McCardell (TB) hopes to practice Friday and take the field on Sunday. He has not practiced all week and appears on the injury report as questionable with a thigh contusion. Coach Jon Gruden remained optimistic that Keenan would be available on Sunday. /*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/* Tight Ends in the News: TE Aaron Shea (Cle) is expected to play with a sore shoulder. He appears on the injury report as probable. TE James Whalen (Dal) has a sore calf, but is expected to play. He appears on the injury report as probable. Assault and harassment charges against TE Dwayne Carswell were dropped provided he donates $10,000 to a local YWCA, performs 40 hours of community service, apologizes and pays his girlfriend's legal expenses. Is there a reason I am reporting on this? TE Shannon Sharpe will continue to get the looks from the tight end position in Denver. TE Billy Miller (Hou) is expected to play despite a sore ankle. He appears on the injury report as probable. TE Marcus Pollard (Ind) is not expected to play this week, but he has not ruled himself out. He is listed as doubtful on the injury report and has not practiced all week. TE Desmond Clark (Mia) will not play this week. TE Byron Chamberlain (Min) appears as questionable on the injury report with a strained PCL, but looks as if he will not play this week. TE Jimmy Kleinsasser is expected to start in his place. The team also plans to use more three receiver sets with Ray Buchanon out of the picture. *** Friday Update - Brain fart. Minnesota will not face the Falcons this week to take advantage of a Buchanon-less defense. The Bears get that priviledge. TE Ernie Conwell (StL) will play despite a sore neck. TE Erron Kinney (Ten) has a sore ankle and is listed as questionable on the injury report. He was walking with a protective ankle boot on Wednesday. TE Walter Rasby (Was) will not play this week. Zeron Flemister practiced on Thursday and will start again this week. /*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/* Place Kickers in the News: QB Danny Wuerffel (Was) is living proof that a team should carry two kickers. PK Brett Conway (Was) was put on injury reserve and is lost for the season. The team has signed James Tuthill, but the move looks to be temporary low-cost solution until they can find a better replacement. The team also tried out Shayne Graham, Jon Hilbert and Tim Seder this week. Don't be surprised to see them make a deal to pry Jeff Chandler away from the 49ers. /*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/* Others in the News: HC Steve Spurrier, with the help of Polysporin, now expects to coach without the need of protective covering on his injured hand. He cut his hand tearing off his headset in a fit of rage. He does not appear on this week's injury report. CB Ray Buchanon is suspended for four games starting immediately. This weakens the Falcons defense against the pass substantially.