Quarterbacks in the News: QB Akili Smith (Cin) will start for the Bengals this week. QB Tim Couch (Cle) was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week. QB Brian Griese (Den) has a sprained ankle after tripping over his dog on his stairs. His status for this week's game is uncertain at this point. He was not able to practice on Thursday and his real status likely will not be known until game-time. If he cannot go, Steve Beuerlein will start in his place. *** Friday Update - QB Brian Griese (Den) returned to practice on Friday and looked sharp. He split reps with Steve Beuerlein and will do the same on Saturday. Griese is listed as probable on the updated injury report. QB Jay Fiedler (Mia) has a sore finger, but expects to start this Sunday. He was able to complete Thursday's practice with it taped. He appears on the injury report as probable. Philadelphia has waived QB AJ Feeley. QB Kordell Stewart (Pit) was informed by coach Cowher that he will need to improve his play or he will be benched. Tommy Maddox is next in line. QB Shane Matthews (Was) looks like he will be demoted as the team exits it's bye. No official word on who the starting QB will be, but Wuerffel is getting the majority of the snaps in practice. Spurrier also noted that Patrick Ramsey was coming around so Danny's not a lock to keep this job for long. /*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/* Running Backs in the News: RB Thomas Jones (Ari) has a twisted ankle and missed Thursday's practice. He hopes to be ready to play on Sunday. He appears on the injury report as probable. *** Friday Update - RB Thomas Jones (Ari) was able to practice on Friday, but was clearly not 100%. The coaching staff has stated Jones will start as expected. Marcel Shipp could get extra work if Jones is ineffective. RB Jamal Lewis (Bal) has bruised ribs but will play on Monday night. He appears on the injury report as probable. *** Friday Update - RB Jamal Lewis (Bal) was able to practice on Thursday and Friday and will start on Sunday. RB Deshaun Foster (Car) will not play with his sore knee. Even if he is able to play soon, he will likely backup Lamar Smith who has looked very good this season in leading the Panthers to a 3-0 mark. *** Friday Update - RB Lamar Smith (Car) was added to the injury report as probable on Friday, but is expected to start as usual. The team has few options with DeShaun Foster out. *** Friday Update - RB Emmitt Smith (Dal) gets good news with the return of Larry Allen this week. Allen will play tackle vice guard this week because of mobility concerns. RB Olandis Gary (Den) appears on the injury report as probable with a sore ankle, but is expected to play according to Coach Mike Shanahan. RB Lamont Warren (Det), despite being listed as questionable on the injury report, is out and will have surgery on his injured shoulder. RB Richard Huntley (Det) moves into the #2 role behind James Stewart. FB William Henderson (GB) appears on the injury report as questionable with a sore knee. He was not able to practice on Thursday. If he cannot go, rookie Najeh Davenport will start in his place. The Green Bay Packers released RB Rondell Mealey. Najeh Davenport is the #2 RB behing Ahman Green. RB Ahman Green (GB) was able to practice Thursday with his sore quad and is expected to start on Sunday. RB James Allen (Hou) has a sore shoulder, but is expected to play. He appears on the injury report as probable. RB Michael Bennett (Min) is expected to play despite a tender foot. Even after a solid performance last week, I still hate the under-performing Ron Dayne (NYG). RB Curtis Martin (NYJ) was able to practice on Thursday, but may be held out by Coach Edwards so that he can return to 100%. A decision on his playing status is not expected until Saturday (when Herman Edwards supposedly thinks better). *** Friday Update - According to ESPN, Coach Herman Edwards and Curtis Martin talked for about five minutes and Martin avoided all interview requests. It looks as if Herman Edwards is leaning towards sitting Curtis Martin this week. And with a week 6 bye coming up, it's very possible that Curtis Martin may sit the next two weeks to give him nearly a full month to properly heal the tender ankle. LamOnt Jordan will start if Martin does not go. RB Richie Anderson (NYJ) is expected to play with a sore Achilles. RB Marshall Faulk (StL) was cleared to play after a successful MRI. He has been practicing all week with the team. He loses a key element in an already weak line as Orlando Pace will miss the next couple of weeks. Marshall appears as questionable in the Wednesday injury report, but that will likely be upgraded to probable in the Friday report. FB James Hodgins (StL) will not play. /*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/* Wide Receivers in the News: WR David Boston (Ari) has a tender ankle, but expected to play. He was able to practice Thursday. He appears on the injury report as probable. *** Friday Update - WR David Boston (Ari) was able to practice again on Friday and will start on Sunday. WR Brandon Stokely (Bal) has a very tender ankle, but promises to be there on Monday night. He has missed Wednesday and Thursday practices. He appears on the injury report as questionable. WR Muhsin Muhammad (Car) is doubtful with a pulled hamstring. He has not practiced and is not expected to play. Steve Smith and Isaac Byrd will start. *** Friday Update - WR Muhsin Muhammad (Car) was not able to practice on Friday and will not play this week. WR Michael Westbrook (Cin) has a sore back. He is expected to play, but has not made much of a contribution to date. He has been replaced as a starter and is now the #3 WR. *** Friday Update - WR Michael Westbrook (Cin) was able to practice on Friday and will play this week. *** Friday Update - WR Chad Johnson (Cin) will start opposite of WR Peter Warrick. WR Bill Schroeder (Det) practiced this week. He appears as questionable on the Wednesday injury report, but is expected to be upgraded to probable on the Friday report. Scottie Anderson will return to the #3 WR role. WR Terry Glenn (GB) has a severe headache that is affecting his ability to practice. He missed Thursday's practice and is not a lock to play on Sunday. He appears on the injury report as probable, but ESPN is stating that the team will likely downgrade him in Friday's injury report. *** Friday Update - WR Terry Glenn (GB) was unable to practice Friday. Team doctors have stated that he is improving each day, but have yet to clear him to play. Robert Ferguson worked with the first unit and would start if Glenn can not go. Glenn is listed as probable on the updated injury report. WR Javon Walker (GB) was held out of Thursday's practice with a sore quad. He does not appear on the Wednesday injury report. *** Friday Update - WR Javon Walker (GB) did not practice on Friday and is very questionable to play on Sunday. WR Jermaine Lewis (Hou) is questionable with a shoulder injury. Against the Eagles, it doesn't matter if he can take the field. WR Randy Moss (Min) found himself in jail after a traffic incident had him nudging a traffic control lady in an attempt to make an improper turn. He was later released and now faces two misdemeanors. He apologized to his coaches, team and to the fans, but did not sound remorseful to the lady. Despite the incident, he will play on Sunday night. Had it been a felony, he would have been suspended for one game by the team. We look for him to give his best effort in an attempt to put this behind him. *** Friday Update - WR Derrick Alexander (Min) is now the #2 WR for the Vikings. D'Wayne Bates is now the #3 WR. WR Troy Brown (NE) was not able to practice on Thursday. He appears on the injury report as questionable. *** Friday Update - WR Troy Brown (NE) was unable to practice on Friday and looks to be a game-time decision on Sunday. He remains as questionable on the injury report. WR Amani Toomer (NYG) is battling the flu. He is expected to start as usual after working out on Thursday. He appears on the injury as probable. WR Santana Moss (NYJ) has a sore hamstring and was unable to practice on Thursday. He appears on the injury report as probable. WR Reche Caldwell (SD) is questionable with a sore hamstring. /*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/* Tight Ends in the News: TE Wesley Walls (Car) has a sore knee, but was able to practice on Thursday and is expected to start as usual. He appears on the injury report as probable. TE Fred Baxter (Chi) is not expected to play this week. He appears on the injury report as doubtful with a sore ankle. He has not practiced all week. TE Mikhael Ricks (Det) is banged up, but he expects to play. He expects to practice on Friday. He appears as questionable on the injury report with a sore shoulder, but will likely be upgraded to probable on the Friday injury report. *** Friday Update - As expected, Mikhael Ricks was upgraded to probable on the updated injury report. *** Friday Update - TE David Martin (GB) was not cleared by doctors to play this week. He is listed on the injury report as questionable with a concussion. TE Jason Dunn (KC) appears on the injury report as questionable with a tender shoulder. TE Tony Gonzales (KC) will continue to play with his soft cast on his wrist. He appears on the injury report as probable. TE Desmond Clark (Mia) is rounding into better health, but any chance at starting at TE has been lost with the exceptional play of rookie Randy McMichael. Desmond appears on the injury report as questionable. TE/FB Jim Kleinsasser (Min) will not play this weekend. TE Byron Chamberlain (Min) was able to practice on Thursday and will be the starter this weekend. He appears on the injury report as questionable. TE Jerramy Stevens (Sea) was getting most of the work with the first team so the Itula Mili bandwagon is likely over. Stevens could be a great free agent pickup if you are in need of a tight end. TE Marco Battaglia was released by Tampa Bay. *** Friday Update - TE Erron Kinney (Ten) was able to practice on Thursday and Friday and will play on Sunday. /*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/* Place Kickers in the News: PK Jon Hilbert (Car) found a flaw in how he was approaching the kick. He missed both of his FG tries last week so he had better improve in a hurry if he wants to keep his job. *** Friday Update - The Carolina Panthers have signed PK Shayne Graham and he will kick this weekend. After missing two FGs last Sunday, Jon Hilbert was released.