Quarterbacks in the News QB Rodney Peete (Car) is still out while recovering from knee surgery. QB Chris Weinke (Car) is Questionable with a concussion. While Weinke did practice on Wednesday, Randy Fasani has been taking snaps in practice with the intention of starting this week as Weinke is still considered to be day-to-day. *** Friday Night Update - QB Chris Weinke (Car) has been ruled out of this game. Randy Fasani will start in his place. QB Jim Miller (Chi) is Probable with shoulder and elbow tendonitis. However, he was not able to practice on Thursday, and Chicago named Chris Chandler as the starter for this week. *** Friday Night Update - Cincinnati signed QB Joe Germaine to their team. They are expected to release Gus Frerotte once Joe is comfortable with the Cincinnati playbook. QB Kelly Holcomb (Cle) is Questionable with a broken leg. He did participate (in a limited basis) on Wednesday. QB Quincy Carter (Dal) has been benched in favor of Chad Hutchinson. QB Brett Favre (GB) was knocked out of the week seven game against Washington with a knee injury. The Packers have a bye this week so Favre will be able to rest. He plans to start the week nine game against Miami. QB Trent Green (KC) is Probable with an ankle injury. This is the same ankle he played on last week so expect Green to start again this Sunday. QB Ray Lucas (Mia) was banged up last Sunday. He will rest this week (during the Dolphins bye). QB Brad Johnson (TB) is Doubtful with a fractured rib. Rob Johnson will get the start this week against Carolina. *** Friday Night Update - QB Brad Johnson (TB) was unable to practice all week and remains doubtful. Rob Johnson has practiced with the first unit all week. QB Patrick Ramsey (Was) is out as the starting QB, and Shane Matthews has once again claimed the job. QB Danny Wuerffel (Was) is Questionable with a shoulder injury. However, he's doing nothing more than light throwing. /*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/* Running Backs in the News FB Bob Christian (Atl) is Questionable with a concussion. He will not take contact during practice this week, and Atlanta hopes he'll be able to go this Sunday. RB TJ Duckett (Atl) is Doubtful with a torn ligament in his foot. Atlanta has signed Maurice Smith who will likely see action this week. *** Friday Night Update - RB TJ Duckett (Atl) was unable to practice on Friday. He will likely be inactive for the game. *** Friday Night Update - RB Warrick Dunn (Atl) will start at RB this week. RB DeShaun Foster (Car) is Doubtful with a knee injury. He has practiced some this week but experienced some swelling and pain. Foster was not able to practice on Thursday. His situation is being re-evaluated by team doctors. *** Friday Night Update - RB Deshaun Foster (Car) was diagnosed with severe swelling of the knee and after carefully looking at the situation have placed the talented on injured reserve. He is lost for the year. RB Emmitt Smith (Dal) is Probable with an ankle injury. Expect him to play. *** Friday Night Update - RB Olandis Gary (Den) is expected to be inactive this week. He has not carried the ball the last two games. FB Cory Schlesinger (Det) is Probable with a back injury. Expect him to play. RB Stacey Mack (Jac) is Probable with an ankle injury. Expect him to play. RB Ricky Williams (Mia) has a sprained toe. He will rest this week (during Miami's bye). RB Jon Ritchie (Oak) was hospitalized Wednesday with a bacterial infection. He was expected to rejoin the team on Thursday. RB Tyrone Wheatley (Oak) is Doubtful with a hamstring injury. It looks like he'll sit this week. RB Jerome Bettis (Pit) is Out with a sprained knee. He doesn't need surgery, but Amos Zereoue will start this week in his place. RB Garrison Hearst (SF) is Questionable with a hamstring injury. He did not practice Wednesday. Here's Steve Maruicci's take: "This is Garrison Hearst," Mariucci said. "Really, I swear, some guys heal faster than others. Some guys have a different pain threshold than others. Some guys recover faster than others. Our guess is that Garrison will be back soon. "I hope he's gonna be out there this week. I think he will." *** Friday Night Update - RB Garrison Hearst (SF) shared snaps with Kevan Barlow in Friday's practice. Barlow will likely start, but both will likely see action this week. RB Shaun Alexander (Sea) could see less action this week as the Seahawks are planning to give Maurice Morris more playing time. FB Greg Comella (Ten) is Questionable with a shoulder injury. He did not practice on Wednesday. Jeff Fisher described Comella's situation as "not looking good". RB Robert Holcombe (Ten) is Out with a hip injury. /*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/* Wide Receivers in the News WR David Terrell (Chi) is still Out with a foot injury. *** Friday Night Update - WR Michael Westbrook (Cin) is expected to be inactive on Sunday. WR Bill Schroeder (Det) is Questionable with an ankle injury. He sat out practice on Wednesday and Thursday. WR Qadry Ismail (Ind) is Probable with a knee injury. Expect him to play. WR Patrick Johnson (Jac) is Probable with an abdomen injury. Expect him to play. WR Jimmy Smith (Jac) is frustrated with his current role in the Jacksonville offense. Welcome to crowd Jimmy. WR Cris Carter (Mia) believes he'll be in game-shape within ten to fourteen days. Also, he will switch to #88 and not go after the #80 worn by James McKnight. WR Oronde Gadsden (Mia) will be placed on IR and be lost for the season after undergoing wrist surgery. WR D'Wayne Bates (Min) is Questionable with a strained lower back. He likely will sit this week and allow Derrick Alexander to return to the starting lineup. *** Friday Night Update - WR D'Wayne Bates (Min) is making solid progess, but he is still very questionable this week. Derrick Alexander looks like he will start in his place. WR Troy Brown (NE) is Questionable with a knee injury. Here Bill Belichick's take on Brown's situation: "I think we'll make the determination there around game time, again, as to how much of a load we are going to put on him in terms of the punts, receiving, the field goal rush, all the things he does. He's involved in a lot of things." *** Friday Night Update - WR Troy Brown (NE) practiced on Friday and is expected to start on Sunday. WR Donte Stallworth (NO) is Questionable with a hamstring injury. He was able to practice on Wednesday. *** Friday Night Update - WR Donte Stallworth (NO) practiced on Thursday and is expected to play this week. *** Friday Night Update - WR Antonio Freeman (Phi) was added to the Friday injury report as probable. He is battling the flu. WR Terrell Owens (SF) is Probable with a heel injury. He did not practice Wednesday but did go on Thursday. Look for him to play Sunday. WR JJ Stokes (SF) is Probable with a knee injury. He was able to practice on Wednesday. Tai Streets will likely start for Stokes again this week as Stokes will be eased back into action. *** Friday Night Update - John Clayton of ESPN confirms that the 49ers will likely start Tai Streets, but JJ Stokes will play. WR Keenan McCardell (TB) is Doubtful with a fractured scapula. He didn't practice on Thursday. Joe Jurevicius will start in his place. WR Derrick Mason (Ten) is Questionable with a shoulder separation. He has practiced all week and is expected to play WR (but not return kicks) this week. *** Friday Night Update - WR Derrick Mason (Ten) has been named the starter this week opposite of Kevin Dyson. WR Rod Gardner (Was) is back in the starting lineup (along with Derrius Thompson). /*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/* Tight Ends in the News TE Dave Moore (Buf) was able to practice on Thursday with his broken hand. He is expected to play on Sunday. TE Wesley Walls (Car) is Questionable with a finger injury. He did not practice on Wednesday. TE Fred Baxter (Chi) is Questionable with a side injury. He did not practice on Wednesday. TE John Davis (Chi) is Questionable with a rib injury. He did not practice on Wednesday. *** Friday Night Update - FB Stanley Pritchett (Chi) has been practicing as TE and may need to play that position since both Baxter and Davis are questionable. TE Sean Brewer (Cin) is Questionable with a knee injury. He could not complete practice on Thursday and likely won't play this Sunday. TE Shannon Sharpe (Den) is Probable with a knee injury. Expect him to play. TE John Owens (Det) is Questionable with a shoulder injury. He missed practice Thursday. TE Mikhael Ricks (Det) is Questionable with a groin injury. While he sat out Wednesday's practice, Ricks was able to hit the field for Thursday's session. He looked good and should play on Sunday. TE Rod Rutledge (Hou) is Questionable with a foot injury. TE Marcus Pollard (Ind) is Probable with a knee injury. Expect him to play. TE Daniel Graham (NE) is Questionable with a shoulder injury. TE Jeremy Shockey (NYG) is Questionable with his lingering toe injury. He was able to practice Wednesday and said the toe is getting better. He says he plans to play on Monday night against Philadelphia. After participating in most of Thursday's practice, Jim Fassel described Shockey as "fine". *** Friday Night Update - TE Jeremy Shockey (NYG) was not able to practice at 100% on Friday, but is still expected to start on Monday. TE Eric Johnson (SF) is Questionable with a sore lower back. He sat out of practice both Wednesday and Thursday. An MRI showed a bulging disc (which will probably keep him out of action this week). Look for Justin Swift to start in his place. *** Friday Night Update - TE Eric Johnson (SF) was unable to practice on Friday. All indications are that Justin Swift will start in his place. TE Jerramy Stevens (Sea) is Questionable with an ankle injury. /*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*/* Place Kickers in the News *** Friday Night Update - Denver tried out many kickers to help Elam out with kickoffs, but after a great week of practice, the team will stay with Jason Elam for kickoffs for now. *** Friday Night Update - PK Jason Hanson (Det) missed Wednesday and Thursday practices to be with his wife who was in the hospital to deliver a child. PK Hayden Epstein (Jac) was cut by the Jaguars. Jacksonville signed former Dallas PK Tim Seder. PK Doug Brien (Min) was released by the Vikings. Minnesota signed former Jacksonville PK Hayden Epstein. Remember that Gary Anderson is the current FG kicker for the Vikings. Brien was the kickoff specialist (the role Epstein is likely to fill). *** Friday Night Update - PK Sebastian Janikowski (Oak) has thrown away the obnoxious gold kicking shoe after missing his last 3 FG attempts. PK Morten Andersen (KC) is Probable with a hamstring injury. PK Rian Lindell (Sea) is on extremely thin ice. He's missing FGs, and his kickoffs lack good distance. Seattle has worked out at least two FA kickers recently. More could be on the way. PK Jeff Wilkins (StL) has decided to wear a shoe again for FGs. Isn't it amazing that footwear is actually newsworthy?