The Ravens, Texans, Rams and Jets have their bye this week.

QB Jeff Blake (Ari) is still having some soreness in his heel, but will start as expected.

QB Michael Vick "is progressing well" according to head coach Dan Reeves. Vick has done some throwing and is wearing shoes again. Vick isn't ready for a full practice but says he'll be ready in two weeks. Reeves isn't so sure about that.

QB Tim Couch (Cle) will in fact get another start this weekend as Kelly Holcomb is still not healthy enough to start.

QB Jake Plummer (Den) practiced this week with his sore knee and will play this weekend.

QB Joey Harrington (Det) insists that his shoulder is fine. As evidence, he has not missed any repetitions in practice this week.

QB Byron Leftwich (Jac) has been named as the team's starting QB for this weekend.

QB Daunte Culpepper (Min) will sit another week. Combined with the team's week six bye, Culpepper will have plenty of time to rest his back. Gus Frerotte will start in his place.

QB Tom Brady (NE) practiced on Thursday and Friday and will start this weekend despite his ever-present elbow injury.

QB Chad Pennington (NYJ) was able to participate in some of the light workouts in Thursday's practice. Vinny Testaverde will start again this weeek.

QB Jeff Garcia (SF) is still bothered by his sore groin, but wasa ble to practice and will start this weekend.

RB Travis Henry (Buf) was able to participate in Friday's practice, but only took about 40% of the snaps according to ESPN's John Clayton. Henry will be a game time decision. It is likely that he and Joe Burns will split carries this week.

RB Sammy Morris (Buf) is still out while recovering from hernia surgery.

RB Anthony Thomas (Chi) did not practice on Wednesday and did not take contact on Thursday as the team wants to rest his bruised shoulder. He did practice Friday and he is expected to play this weekend without being limited.

RB Corey Dillon (Cin) will not play this weekend. Rudi Johnson will get the starting nod. Brandon Bennett and newly signed Kenny Watson will provide rellief.

RB Clinton Portis (Den) practiced this week and is expected to start this weekend's game.

RB Edgerrin James (Ind) practiced on Friday but sat out of Saturday's session with back stiffness. This type of setback is not good news and the word now is that James will be a game-time decision. If James plays, he will likely share time with Ricky Williams and James Mungro.

RB Priest Holmes (KC) is still a little bothered by his hip flexor, but he will start this weekend after practicing all week.

RB Onterrio Smith (Min) will reportedly receive the bigger role in this week's game. The team would like to limit the carries of Moe Williams. Tice has predicted that Smith will get 100 yards this week.

RB Mike Cloud (NE) has been reinstated after serving a four-week NFL suspension.

RB Kevin Faulk (NE) was able to practice on Friday, but is clearly not 100%. He is expected to share time with Antowain Smith and Mike Cloud.

RB LaDainian Tomlinson (SD) has a sore calf and was held out of Wednesday's practice. He is expected to start as usual this weekend after practicing on Thursday and Friday.

RB Lamar Gordon (StL) has a sprained wrist, but will start this week as expected.

RB Mike Alstott (TB) is considered a game-time decision for Monday night's game. His neck has been sore for a couple of weeks. The team has downgraded him to questionable for Monday's game and having him tested. The team also has committed to getting Michael Pittman more involved as they look to abandon the platoon of Jones, Pittman and Stecker.

WR Larry Foster (Ari) has been released by the Cardinals.

WR Kevin Kasper (Ari) practiced all week and will play this weekend.

WR Jason McAddley (Ari) missed Wednesday's practice and will not play this weekend with his injured hamstring.

WR Brian Finneran (Atl) practiced on Thursday and Friday, but his status for this weekend is not fully known. He will likely be a game-time decision. If he does play, it will be off the bench.

WR Peerless Price (Atl) was able to practice on Friday, and the team expects him to play this weekend.

WR Steve Smith (Car) was upset earlier this week at not yet receiving an extension from the team and got vocal in the media over the situation. On Friday he apologized for his outburst.

WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (Cin) is not expected to play this week.

WR Ed McCaffrey (Den) practiced on Wednesday despite his thigh injury and will play this weekend.

WR Shawn Jefferson (Det) could miss this weekend's game with his rib injury.

WR Robert Ferguson (GB) is finally healthy and will start this weekend alongside Donald Driver.

WR Andre Johnson (Hou) will have a toenail removed during the team's bye week. He is not expected to miss any games.

WR Brandon Stokley (Ind) was able to practice on Thursday and could see his first action of the season this Monday night.

WR Jimmy Smith (Jac) has returned to the team after serving his four-game NFL suspension and will start this weekend opposite of Matthew Hatchette.

WR James McKnight (Mia) was excuse from Wednesday's practice to be with his wife as she gave birth.

WR Nate Burleson (Min) has been moved into the starting lineup for this weekend. This moves Kelly Campbell to the #3 role. D'Wayne Bates will not play this weekend.

WR Randy Moss (Min) didn't practice on Wednesday or Friday in order to rest his sore back. He will start this weekend as usual.

WR David Givens (NE) practiced on Thursday and Friday and is expected to play this week.

WR David Patten (NE) was able to practice on Thursday and Friday and could play this weekend despite his knee sprain.

WR Joe Horn (NO) was able to practice on Friday and is expected to start this weekend.

WR Ike Hilliard (NYG) practiced on Friday with his injured heel and is expected to start this weekend.

Note that all NY Jets WRs have a bye this week. During their bye, the Jets have made a few changes in their starting WRs. Wayne Chrebet has moved from starting flanker to starting split end. Santana Moss has been moved into the starting lineup at the flanker position. Curtis Conway has been demoted from the starting lineup and will serve as the team's #3 WR.

WR Jerry Porter (Oak) is in fact out this weekend. He is expected to return on October 20th against the Chiefs.

WR Plaxico Burress (Pit) was able to practice on Thursday and Friday. He was upgraded to probable and will start this weekend.

WR David Boston (SD) has apologized for his recent behavior and to his teammates. He will start this weekend after missing last Sunday's game due to a team suspension.

WR Reche Caldwell (SD) is still out with his dislocated wrist.

WR Tim Dwight (SD) was able to practice on Friday. He has been upgraded to probable on the injury report and is expected to play this weekend.

WR Eric Parker (SD) has an inner ear infection and missed Thursday's practice. He was able to go on Friday and was also upgraded to probable on the injury report. He is expected to play this weekend.

WR Terrell Owens (SF) was removed from the injury report and will start as expected.

WR Cedrick Wilson (SF) will continue as the team's #3 WR, but he will lose some playing time to Brandon Lloyd.

WR Joe Jurevicius (TB) will miss another game, but his knee is improving. It is possible he could return for the week six contest.

WR Derrick Mason (Ten) had a death in the family and was excused from Thursday's practice.

WR Justin McCareins (Ten) tweaked his ankle during Thursday's practice session, but it is considered a minor injury. He is expected to play this weekend.

WR Taylor Jacobs (Was) should receive more work this weekend in his 2nd game back from injury. If he performs, he could quickly move back into the #3 WR role.

TE Alge Crumpler (Atl) practiced this week and will play this weekend.

TE Kris Mangum (Car) practiced on Friday and looks like he'll play as usual this weekend.

TE Matt Schobel (Cin) was able to practice on Friday but is a game-time decision after missing practice all week.

TE Aaron Shea (Cle) will sit out this weekend's game with a torn bicep.

TE Shannon Sharpe (Den) practiced on Wednesday despite his sore knee and will start this weekend.

TE Byron Chamberlain (Min) was re-instated from his NFL suspension and then cut by the Vikings (they say he was 20+ pounds overweight upon his return).

TE Jim Kleinsasser (Min) is expected to start this weekend despite his injured abs.

TE Daniel Graham (NE) does not look like a good bet for this weekend after missing Friday's practice. Christian Fauria will start this week.

TE Jay Riemersma (Pit) missed practice on Thursday and Friday and looks to be a game-time decision for this weekend.

TE Stephen Alexander (SD) will miss the next 4-6 weeks after surgery for his injured groin.

TE Josh Norman (SD) is still sitting with his hamstring injury.

TE Justin Peelle (SD) will again start for the team with Stephen Alexander and Josh Norman both out.

TE Eric Johnson (SF) is still out with his collarbone.

TE Frank Wycheck (Ten) will not play this weekend, but he could return to action this season. He was examined by specialists who want to see how he responds to practice next week. He has been advised to stop practicing for 5-7 days and see what effect that has on him.

TE Zeron Flemister (Was) has sat out the last two games, but he should be on the field this weekend.

TE Byron Chamberlain (FA) has begun contract talks with the Washington Redskins.

PK Bill Gramatica (Ari) is experiencing back stiffness and is being called a game-time decision. As a precaution, the team has signed Tim Duncan If Gramatica (he's listed as probable) can't go, Duncan will handle the PK duties.

*** SATURDAY UPDATE *** PK Mike Vanderjagt (Ind) hasn't kicked this week due to a rib injury that was suffered last Sunday, but head coach Tony Dungy says he would "be shocked" if Vanderjagt isn't on the field this Monday night.