Jene Bramel
Footballguy
Arizona
AJ Jefferson hurt his foot during practice on Thursday and is questionable. He was limited on Friday and will be a GTD. Paris Lenon (groin) is also questionable, but looks likely to play.
Philadelphia
Nate Allen is out with a concussion today. Jaiquawn Jarrett took the first team snaps in his place and is likely to start today. Juqua Parker is questionable with his ongoing ankle injury, but practiced fully on Friday. Brandon Graham looked healthy in a small number of snaps last week and could see his rotational time increase today.
Buffalo
Chris Kelsay and Kyle Williams are both out. The Bills have settled into a rotation with Alex Carrington and Spencer Johnson, who has played both end and linebacker, with Danny Batten and Arthur Moats as swing OLBs. Kelvin Sheppard is still seeing a handful of nickel snaps, but the Bills continue to use dime personnel as their primary subpackage.
Dallas
Sean Lee will try to play with a large, padded splint today. Expect his effectiveness to be limited as a tackler and it’s likely that the team will limit his snaps in rotation. Bruce Carter played a small number of snaps last week and Rob Ryan rotated both Bradie James and Keith Brooking out frequently, using dime personnel in passing situations. Mike Jenkins is out with a hamstring injury.
Denver
Wes Woodyard is questionable with a knee injury. He was able to make it through a limited practice on Friday. Joe Mays might see more subpackage snaps if Woodyard can’t go, but the coaches have said they’re considering a third safety (likely Rahim Moore) as well.
Kansas City
Jon McGraw is listed questionable, but practiced fully Thursday and Friday and looks likely to be active.
Detroit
Louis Delmas is questionable with a foot injury, was limited in practice Thursday and Friday. He is expected to play.
Houston
Danieal Manning remains out with his broken fibula. Antonio Smith is questionable with a shoulder injury, but made it through a limited practice on Friday.
Tampa Bay
Geno Hayes was benched last week, as the Bucs shuffled Quincy Black to WLB and inserted Adam Hayward at SLB. Morris said that Hayes will play this week in rotation, but not start. Mason Foster played every down, Quincy Black played most downs, but the Bucs used dime personnel (with Ronde Barber inside) frequently against the Saints. Gerald McCoy is now out for the season with a torn bicep. Tampa Bay signed Albert Haynesworth, but also could begin using Da’Quan Bowers more often inside. Bowers may also be needed as a situational rusher with Dakoda Watson likely to miss today’s game with a groin injury.
Indianapolis
Terrence Johnson is likely out with an ankle injury today. Jacob Lacey was the slot corner last week, with Kevin Thomas continuing to start alongside Jerraud Powers.
New Orleans
Jonathan Vilma will rest his knee again this week and through the bye. Jo-Lonn Dunbar should again be an every-down MLB this week, with Jonathan Casillas and Scott Shanle seeing the bulk of the OLB snaps.
Atlanta
William Moore is doubtful with a quad injury. Ray Edwards was limited in practice this week with his ongoing knee issues and Curtis Lofton was added to the injury report with a groin injury on Friday. Both are listed probable to play.
NY Giants
Jacquian Williams was back in the lineup in some nickel situations last week, though Michael Boley (who’s no longer on the injury report) and Mathias Kiwanuka are the primary every-down backers. Justin Tuck doesn’t look all the way back to his usual explosive self yet and was still rotated out in some series last week, but overall looked more comfortable when he played.
San Francisco
Ray McDonald is questionable with a hamstring injury. Navorro Bowman was limited with a shoulder injury this week, but is probable to play.
Pittsburgh
LaMarr Woodley is again out with a hamstring injury. James Harrison looked over any residual back issues last week, but was added to the injury report on Thursday with a toe injury. He practiced fully Friday and is expected to play. The Steelers are saying that Jason Worilds will see more playing time outside this week, with Lawrence Timmons seeing the bulk of his time inside – though Timmons rotated frequently to OLB last week.
Cincinnati
The Bengals called Carlos Dunlap’s hamstring injury a cramp, but he practiced very little this week and is considered a GTD. Rey Maualuga is expected back, but I think it’s 50-50 at best whether he’ll play in subpackages over Brandon Johnson when the Steelers align in multiple WR sets today.
St. Louis
James Hall was listed questionable with a knee injury, but was able to practice (limited) on Thursday and Friday. Chris Chamberlain has seen his playing time drop over the past two weeks, as the Rams have trended back toward a dime package on many passing downs.
Cleveland
TJ Ward has a foot injury that is expected to keep him out for a month (or longer). Usama Young has filled in previously, but is questionable with a hip injury and practiced only in limited fashion on Friday. The team expects Young to be active and starting today.
Tennessee
Chris Hope is expected back this week and the Titans say he’ll rotate in with Jordan Babineaux. Barrett Ruud is questionable, but didn’t practice all week with a groin injury. Colin McCarthy took the snaps with the first team last week. McCarthy took a spare nickel snap when Ruud was out briefly for a series earlier in the year, but it’s not certain that he’ll play in the nickel with Gerald McRath today. Will Witherspoon would be the other nickel LB option. Dave Ball is out with a concussion.
Carolina
The hits keep on coming for Carolina. Thomas Williams is on IR with a neck injury. Jason Phillips is out with a calf injury. James Anderson is questionable with an ankle injury that he sustained on Thursday and he didn’t practice on Friday. Ron Rivera was optimistic that Anderson would play. The Panthers could play more 3-4 this week despite the loss of linebackers, or use Omar Gaither and Jason Williams outside and Dan Connor inside. Antwan Applewhite could also see some SLB duty in the 4-3. Connor has some upside today, but Gaither is the safest option.
Washington
OJ Atogwe is questionable and limited on Friday. LaRon Landry was back on the injury report with Achilles related issues, but increased his practice participation all week and is listed probable to play.
New England
Brandon Spikes is out with his MCL sprain. Gary Guyton is questionable with a shoulder problem and Dane Fletcher is out with a thumb injury. Guyton was limited all week, but expected to play. Patrick Chung is questionable with a foot problem. He was only able to make it through a limited practice on Friday, but was joking with reporters on Friday and seems probable to play.
Minnesota
Antoine Winfield practiced fully Thursday and Friday and will return Monday night. There were suggestions that Asher Allen would replace Cedric Griffin in the lineup this week, but both are likely to see lots of snaps against the GB spread offense. Erin Henderson should see lots of playing time over EJ Henderson in the nickel.
AJ Jefferson hurt his foot during practice on Thursday and is questionable. He was limited on Friday and will be a GTD. Paris Lenon (groin) is also questionable, but looks likely to play.
Philadelphia
Nate Allen is out with a concussion today. Jaiquawn Jarrett took the first team snaps in his place and is likely to start today. Juqua Parker is questionable with his ongoing ankle injury, but practiced fully on Friday. Brandon Graham looked healthy in a small number of snaps last week and could see his rotational time increase today.
Buffalo
Chris Kelsay and Kyle Williams are both out. The Bills have settled into a rotation with Alex Carrington and Spencer Johnson, who has played both end and linebacker, with Danny Batten and Arthur Moats as swing OLBs. Kelvin Sheppard is still seeing a handful of nickel snaps, but the Bills continue to use dime personnel as their primary subpackage.
Dallas
Sean Lee will try to play with a large, padded splint today. Expect his effectiveness to be limited as a tackler and it’s likely that the team will limit his snaps in rotation. Bruce Carter played a small number of snaps last week and Rob Ryan rotated both Bradie James and Keith Brooking out frequently, using dime personnel in passing situations. Mike Jenkins is out with a hamstring injury.
Denver
Wes Woodyard is questionable with a knee injury. He was able to make it through a limited practice on Friday. Joe Mays might see more subpackage snaps if Woodyard can’t go, but the coaches have said they’re considering a third safety (likely Rahim Moore) as well.
Kansas City
Jon McGraw is listed questionable, but practiced fully Thursday and Friday and looks likely to be active.
Detroit
Louis Delmas is questionable with a foot injury, was limited in practice Thursday and Friday. He is expected to play.
Houston
Danieal Manning remains out with his broken fibula. Antonio Smith is questionable with a shoulder injury, but made it through a limited practice on Friday.
Tampa Bay
Geno Hayes was benched last week, as the Bucs shuffled Quincy Black to WLB and inserted Adam Hayward at SLB. Morris said that Hayes will play this week in rotation, but not start. Mason Foster played every down, Quincy Black played most downs, but the Bucs used dime personnel (with Ronde Barber inside) frequently against the Saints. Gerald McCoy is now out for the season with a torn bicep. Tampa Bay signed Albert Haynesworth, but also could begin using Da’Quan Bowers more often inside. Bowers may also be needed as a situational rusher with Dakoda Watson likely to miss today’s game with a groin injury.
Indianapolis
Terrence Johnson is likely out with an ankle injury today. Jacob Lacey was the slot corner last week, with Kevin Thomas continuing to start alongside Jerraud Powers.
New Orleans
Jonathan Vilma will rest his knee again this week and through the bye. Jo-Lonn Dunbar should again be an every-down MLB this week, with Jonathan Casillas and Scott Shanle seeing the bulk of the OLB snaps.
Atlanta
William Moore is doubtful with a quad injury. Ray Edwards was limited in practice this week with his ongoing knee issues and Curtis Lofton was added to the injury report with a groin injury on Friday. Both are listed probable to play.
NY Giants
Jacquian Williams was back in the lineup in some nickel situations last week, though Michael Boley (who’s no longer on the injury report) and Mathias Kiwanuka are the primary every-down backers. Justin Tuck doesn’t look all the way back to his usual explosive self yet and was still rotated out in some series last week, but overall looked more comfortable when he played.
San Francisco
Ray McDonald is questionable with a hamstring injury. Navorro Bowman was limited with a shoulder injury this week, but is probable to play.
Pittsburgh
LaMarr Woodley is again out with a hamstring injury. James Harrison looked over any residual back issues last week, but was added to the injury report on Thursday with a toe injury. He practiced fully Friday and is expected to play. The Steelers are saying that Jason Worilds will see more playing time outside this week, with Lawrence Timmons seeing the bulk of his time inside – though Timmons rotated frequently to OLB last week.
Cincinnati
The Bengals called Carlos Dunlap’s hamstring injury a cramp, but he practiced very little this week and is considered a GTD. Rey Maualuga is expected back, but I think it’s 50-50 at best whether he’ll play in subpackages over Brandon Johnson when the Steelers align in multiple WR sets today.
St. Louis
James Hall was listed questionable with a knee injury, but was able to practice (limited) on Thursday and Friday. Chris Chamberlain has seen his playing time drop over the past two weeks, as the Rams have trended back toward a dime package on many passing downs.
Cleveland
TJ Ward has a foot injury that is expected to keep him out for a month (or longer). Usama Young has filled in previously, but is questionable with a hip injury and practiced only in limited fashion on Friday. The team expects Young to be active and starting today.
Tennessee
Chris Hope is expected back this week and the Titans say he’ll rotate in with Jordan Babineaux. Barrett Ruud is questionable, but didn’t practice all week with a groin injury. Colin McCarthy took the snaps with the first team last week. McCarthy took a spare nickel snap when Ruud was out briefly for a series earlier in the year, but it’s not certain that he’ll play in the nickel with Gerald McRath today. Will Witherspoon would be the other nickel LB option. Dave Ball is out with a concussion.
Carolina
The hits keep on coming for Carolina. Thomas Williams is on IR with a neck injury. Jason Phillips is out with a calf injury. James Anderson is questionable with an ankle injury that he sustained on Thursday and he didn’t practice on Friday. Ron Rivera was optimistic that Anderson would play. The Panthers could play more 3-4 this week despite the loss of linebackers, or use Omar Gaither and Jason Williams outside and Dan Connor inside. Antwan Applewhite could also see some SLB duty in the 4-3. Connor has some upside today, but Gaither is the safest option.
Washington
OJ Atogwe is questionable and limited on Friday. LaRon Landry was back on the injury report with Achilles related issues, but increased his practice participation all week and is listed probable to play.
New England
Brandon Spikes is out with his MCL sprain. Gary Guyton is questionable with a shoulder problem and Dane Fletcher is out with a thumb injury. Guyton was limited all week, but expected to play. Patrick Chung is questionable with a foot problem. He was only able to make it through a limited practice on Friday, but was joking with reporters on Friday and seems probable to play.
Minnesota
Antoine Winfield practiced fully Thursday and Friday and will return Monday night. There were suggestions that Asher Allen would replace Cedric Griffin in the lineup this week, but both are likely to see lots of snaps against the GB spread offense. Erin Henderson should see lots of playing time over EJ Henderson in the nickel.
