Quarterbacks in the News: QB Chris Redman (Bal) is on a bye this week and will not play. QB Rodney Peete (Car) has been declared the Panther's starter for the entire season. Now that the Panthers are 2-0, I wonder if this also includes the Super Bowl? QB Jim Miller (Chi) hurt his already sore ankle last week, but is expected to start. He does not appear on the injury report. QB Tim Couch (Cle) has looked great in practice and should be the starter this week. Coach Butch Davis has not made a decision as to the starter yet, but that likely has more to do with the exceptional play of Kelly Holcomb. We expect Tim Couch to get the start, but he could be on a short leash all season long if he struggles. Tim appears on the injury report as questionable with a sore forearm. QB Joey Harrington (Det) gets his first NFL start this week. Despite struggling in spot duty, we think he represents the future for the Lions. Mike McMahon looks terrible. QB Mark Brunell (Jac) is on a bye this week and will not play. QB Trent Green (KC) is contemplating changing his name to Trint because he likes INTs so much. QB Rich Gannon (Oak) is on a bye this week and will not play. QB Kordell Stewart (Pit) is on a bye this week and will not play. QB Steve McNair (Ten) has a sore neck and shoulder, but was able to practice on Thursday. He is expected to start as usual despite colliding into an equipment box and bench on the sidelines. He appears on the injury report as questionable. QB Shane Matthews (Was) left the game on Monday with a sore left shoulder and a bruised ego after looking like a world-beater against Arizona in Week 1. He was able to throw the ball today in practice and is expected to start. Coach Spurrier told reporters that Matthews would start if he could play. QB Patrick Ramsey (Was) looks to be overtaking Wuerffel for the #2 spot in Washington. He could be a decent gamble a little later in the season and will probably be the Redskin's starting QB next season. /*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/* Running Backs in the News: RB Thomas Jones (Ari) took Wednesday and Thursday's practices off to rest his tender ankle. He is expected to start as usual. He appears on the injury report as probable. Dan Reeves said TJ Duckett (Atl) is expected to see more action this week. He is still not a viable starter though with limited carries and Dunn getting the bulk of the redzone looks. RB Jamal Lewis (Bal) is on a bye this week and will not play. RB DeShaun Foster (Car) is out this week with a sore knee. He has yet to start practicing and is expected to miss a couple more games beside this one. Lamar Smith remains the starter for the Panthers and helped his cause by scoring two TDs last week. RB Brandon Bennett (Cin) appears on the injury report as questionable. RB Corey Dillon (Cin) has recovered from his dehydration and will start as usual this week. RB Richard Huntley was signed by the Detroit Lions. He should be the #2 behind James Stewart soon. Lamont Warren has looked bad the last couple of years when he has taken the field. RB Ahman Green (GB) is not expected to play against the Lions this week. He is listed as questionable on the injury report, but expect that to be downgraded to doubtful on the Friday injury report. He has a sore quadricep. The team announced earlier in the week that Ahman is not expected to practice all week. Because the Packers are playing the Lions, expect Green to miss this game even if he could play on Sunday. Rondell Mealey is expected to start in his place. FB Jim Finn (Ind) will not play again this week. It has not mattered so far this season as Edgerrin james looks very sharp. RB Edgerrin James (Ind) will play with his sore ankle. RB Fred Taylor (Jac) is on a bye this week and will not play. RB Fred McAfee (NO) will not play this weekend. He is out with a pulled hamstring. RB Curtis Martin (NYJ) despite recovering in time to start last week was definitely not 100%. He does not even appear on the injury report this week. He may struggle against a good Miami rush defense though. RBs Charlie Garner and Tyrone Wheatley (Oak) are on a bye this week and will not play. RB Brian Westbrook (Phi) appears on the injury report with a sore abdomen. RBs Jerome Bettis and Amos Zereoue (Pit) are on a bye this week and will not play. RB Shaun Alexander (Sea) got a huge lift this week when the Seahawks signed OT Walter Jones. He was poked in the eye last week against the Cardinals, but is fine now. RB Paul Smith (SF) will not play. He has a pulled hamstring. FB James Hodgins (Stl) will not play this week. RB Michael Pittman (TB) appears to be over his leg cramps and will start as usual. He does not appear on the injury report. RB Eddie George (Ten) was in a walking boot earlier in the week, but it has since been removed. He did not practice on Thursday, but did limp through a pre-practice walk-through. George will likely be a game-time decision. If George cannot go, Mike Green will get the start. He appears on the injury report as questionable. /*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/* Wide Receivers in the News: WR David Boston (Ari) missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday with a sore ankle. He is expected to start as usual on Sunday. WRs Travis Taylor and Brandon Stokely (Bal) are on a bye this week and will not play. WR David Terell (Chi) has caught two passes and has two TDs. In fact both were game winning scores. Do I hear Terrell ratio coming soon? WR Danny Farmer (Cin) will not play this week with his knee problems. WR TJ Houshmandzadeh (Cin) has a sore groin, but is expected to play. He appears on the injury report as probable. WR Peter Warrick (Cin) has a sore leg, but is expected to play. He appears on the injury report as probable. WR Kevin Kasper (Den) has sore ribs but is expected to play against the Bills. He is listed as probable on the injury report. WR Bill Schroeder (Det) is not expected to play this week. He has sore ribs and appears on the injury report as doubtful. Scotty Anderson is expected to start opposite of Az-Zahir Hakim. WR/KR Desmond Howard (Det) is expected to be added to Friday's injury report as questionable with a sore neck. WR Reggie Wayne (Ind) is expected to play after suffering a head injury on Sunday. He appears on the injury report as probable. WRs Jimmy Smith, Patrick Johnson and Bobby Shaw (Jac) are on a bye this week and will not play. WR Eddie Kennison (KC) suffered a bruised knee on Sunday, but does not appear on the injury report this week. He is expected to start opposite of Johnnie Morton. WR Laveranues Coles (NYJ) has a sore knee, but will play. He appears on the injury report as probable. WRs Tim Brown and Jerry Rice (Oak) are on a bye this week and will not play. WRs Plaxico Burress, Hines Ward and Antwaan Randle El (Pit) are on a bye this week and will not play. WR Jacquez Green (Was) is expected to see more action this week. /*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/* Tight Ends in the News: TE Todd Heap (Bal) is on a bye this week and will not play. TE Aaron Shea (Cle) appears on the injury report as questionable. TE David Martin (GB) is expected to play despite a sore jaw. TE Billy Miller (Hou) has a sore ankle, but is expected to play. He appears on the injury report as probable. The Colts are hopeful that TE Marcus Pollard (Ind) can play this week. He was able to practice at full-speed so it looks good unless he has a setback. Jermaine Wiggins played terrible in relief last week. Marcus Pollard appears on the injury report as questionable. TE Kyle Brady (Jac) is on a bye this week and will not play. TE Tony Gonzalez (KC) hurt his wrist in last week's game, but is expected to start as usual. He is practicing with a cast, but will not play with one on Sunday. He appears on the injury report as probable. TE Jason Dunn (KC) hurt himself in the weight room and is expected to be added to the Friday injury report as questionable. TE Desmond Clark (Mia) will not play again this weekend. TE Jimmy Kleinsasser (Min) is out for 2-4 weeks with a sore knee. He filled in nicely for Te Byron Chamberlain who missed last week also with a knee problem. The Vikings are hopeful that Byron Chamberlain can go this week. He is listed as questionable on the injury report, but was limited in practice. He will be a game-time decision on Sunday. TE Roland Williams (Oak) is on a bye this week and will not play. TE Mark Bruener (Pit) is on a bye this week and will not play. TE Stephen Alexander (SD) had a mild concussion, but has been cleared to play. He appears on the injury report as probable. TE Ken Dilger (TB) will start despite a sore tricep. He appears on the injury report as probable. Tampa Bay signed TE Rickey Dudley. This makes sense since he played for Gruden in Oakland. TE Erron Kinney (Ten) is still bothered by a sore ankle. He missed practice on Thursday and is hopeful that he can get on the field Friday. He appears on the injury report as questionable. TE Walter Rasby (Was) will not play again this week. He is out with a twisted knee. /*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/* Place Kickers in the News: PK Matt Stover (Bal) is on a bye this week and will not play. The Carolina Panthers signed free agent kicker Jon Hilbert to their practice squad on Thursday in a move to replace the injured John Kasay. Hilbert won the job after beating out Jaret Holmes, Tim Seder and Michael Husted in an open audition Thursday morning at Ericsson Stadium. PK Mike Vanderjagt (Ind) will kick this week despite a sore groin. He will get extra rest after the game though as the Colts have a bye in week 4. He appears on the injury report as probable. PK Hayden Epstein (Jac) is on a bye this week and will not play. PK Doug Brien (Min) missed two extra points and lost the kicking job for the Vikings. Gary Anderson was quickly signed and he will be kicking FGs the rest of the year. PK Sebastian Janikowski (Oak) is on a bye this week and will not play. PK Todd Peterson (Pit) is on a bye this week and will not play.