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. *** Friday Update - QB Tim Couch (Cle) has been upgraded to probable by the team and is expected to start. Buth Davis has not named a starter, but did name Couch a co-captain for the game. OPINION - If they were not going to play Couch, the team would not have upgraded him on the injury report. This would have allowed Couch and the team to save face for another week as they played the hot Kelly Holcomb. Tim Couch will start in this game, but could get replaced if he struggles. 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. *** Saturday Update - QB Brett Favre (GB) may be facing a Detroit team without cornerback Eric Davis. Eric hurt his hamstring in Thursday's practice and was unable too practice on Friday. The Lions would use rookie Chris Cash if Eric Davis can not go. *** Saturday Update - QB David Carr (Hou) could be in for a very tough game. He will be without three starters on the offensive line (Tony Boselli, Ryan Young and Ryan Schau) 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. *** Saturday Update - QB Steve McNair (Ten_ was able to practice on Friday and will start thie weekend. 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. *** Saturday Update - QB Shane Matthews (Was) will start as expected. Coach Spurrier could have a short hook though. 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. *** Saturday Update - RB Emmitt Smith (Dal) could be without offensive guard Larry Allen who has a sever ankle sprain. Larry Allen has stated he will be there ready to play. *** Friday Update - RB Terrell Davis (Den) has decided to have microfracture surgery on his knee. It's unlikely this will allow him to play again in the NFL, but should improve his quality of life. 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. *** Friday Update - RB Ahman Green (GB) had an MRI on Friday and the doctors were pleased what they saw. It seems his quad has improved significantly, but it is still unclear whether he will suit up and play on Sunday. He is expected to try and take a few reps on Saturday to further test his quad. OPINION - The Packers are playing the LIONS. They do not need to risk Ahman Green and I do not see them risking the rest of the year by rushing Ahman Green back on the field. This is a perfect opportunity to see what you have in Rondell Mealey and the mad crapper, Najeh Davenport. Let me repeat. They are playing the Lions. I don't care how much better he feels. I do not see him playing in the game on Sunday. *** Saturday Update - RB Ahman Green (GB) continues to improve, but will likely be held out this week. He will defintely start in week 4. 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. *** Friday Update - RB Edgerrin James (Ind) practiced on Thursday and Friday and stated he feels fine. 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. *** Saturday Update - RB Curtis Keaton (NO) will be activated this week now that he knows at least a few plays. 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. *** Saturday Update - RB Tiki Barber gets a big break as the Seahawks will be without defensive tackle John Randle and his backup, Brandon Mitchell. 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. *** Friday Update - RB Eddie George (Ten) was able to practice at less than full speed and remains a game-time decision. Knowing his iron-man status of not missing games, we now expect him to play on Sunday. Eddie commented to the media that he will play as long as his foot responds ok to today's work. Mike Green will start if Eddie does not play. *** Saturday Update - RB Eddie George (Ten) had a good practice on Friday and should start as expected. Mike Green is also expected to get some carries. /*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/* 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. *** Saturday Update - WR David Boston (Ari) was able to practice on Friday and is expected to start. 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? *** Saturday Update - WR Marcus Robinson (Chi) practiced on Friday without his knee brace. 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. *** Saturday Update - WR TJ Houshmandzadeh (Cin) is expected to start opposite of Peter Warrick. Michael Westbrook will be the #3 WR this week. 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. *** Friday Update - Despite being listed as doubtful on the Friday injury report, Bill Schroeder (Det) was able to practice on Friday. He does not look like he will play significant minutes though (if he plays at all) so you should look elsewhere this week. 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. *** Friday Update - Laveranues Coles re-injured this knee in practice Wednesday and was held out of practice on Thursday. He was not downgraded on the Friday injury report and is expected to start on Sunday against the Dolphins. *** Saturday Update - WR Laveranues Coles (NYJ) practiced on Friday and will start as expected. 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. *** Friday Update - The Colts got their good news as Marcus Pollard (Ind) will start this weekend. He was upgraded to probable on the Friday injury report. 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. *** Saturday Update - Tony Gonzalez (KC) practiced without the cast during Friday's practice. He will start on Sunday. 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. *** Friday Update - TE Byron Chamberlain (Min) struggled during Thursday's practice and will be a game-time decision this week. We still expect him to play, but he may be limited. *** Saturday Update - TE Byron Chamberlain (Min) made it through Friday's practice, but he was not sharp. Hunter Goodwin will play if Byron is a last minute scratch. 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. *** Friday Update - TE Erron Kinney (Ten) was not able to practice obn Friday and remains very questionable to play on Sunday. Frank Wycheck should get additional looks if Kinney can not play. 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. *** Friday Update - John Kasay (Car) was diagnosed with a hernia and will miss 6-8 weeks. Because of the lengthy time of recovery, the team may place him on injury reserve to save a roster spot. Jon Hilbert will kick for the Panthers this weekend. 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. *** Friday Update - PK Owen Pochman (NYG) underwent microfracture surgery. He was already lost for the season. 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.