Jene Bramel
Footballguy
News and Notes
Keith Ellison was placed on IR this week. Bryan Scott should remain the every-down WLB, though Nic Harris could get a look at some point. Donte Whitner is not on the injury report this week. Jairus Byrd is still struggling through his hernia/groin issue and is questionable. There are beat writer rumblings that Byrd will play, but nothing definitive on the safety lineup yet.
Antonio Pierce is out for the Giants with a neck problem. It's expected that Chase Blackburn takes over in the middle as an every-down player, but Jonathan Goff might see snaps in rotation at some point this season.
The Browns used David Bowens and Kaluka Maiava as every-down ILBs last week. Nothing seems certain in Cleveland, but that’s expected to continue for now.
Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter are both out for New Orleans this week. Randall Gay and Malcolm Jenkins start. Darren Sharper is expected back.
The Eagles shuffled backers again this week. Joe Mays is back in the middle, with Will Witherspoon at WLB and Chris Gocong at SLB. Expect Witherspoon to play every down and the Eagles to use a variety of 5-1-5 and dime packages again this week.
The Chargers could have all four ILBs back healthy this week. Kevin Burnett should get the majority of the snaps alongside Stephen Cooper, but expect both Tim Dobbins and Brandon Siler to get a handful of rotational snaps.
Antoine Winfield could be back in a subpackage role this week, but isn’t expected to start if he’s active.
Injuries
Terrell Suggs is out this week and likely for 2-3 more weeks with a knee sprain. Paul Kruger will pick up snaps in his absence. Haloti Ngata and Tavares Gooden could return to the lineup.
Justin Durant won’t play this week. Russell Allen is expected to replace him in the lineup in the base defensive packages, Brian Iwuh in the nickel.
Josh Wilson is out this week with a concussion. Marcus Trufant will play.
Troy Polamalu is out for the next two weeks (or more) with a PCL strain.
Karlos Dansby is questionable with a shoulder injury and was limited in practice all week. Gerald Hayes looks likely to be back today after fully practicing Thursday and Friday. Bryant McFadden was also limited all week with an ankle injury. Expectations are that all three will play.
Antoine Bethea is questionable with a foot injury and was only able to practice (limited) on Friday.
Albert Haynesworth is questionable but not expected to play with an ankle injury.
Jim Leonhard worked on the side on Friday but is likely out with a broken thumb. Eric Smith replaces him in the lineup.
Jason Jones did not practice (shoulder) on Friday.
Keith Rivers is again unlikely to play this week, with Brandon Johnson playing every down in his absence. Johnathan Joseph was limited all week with a foot problem.
Ken Hamlin is out for a couple of weeks with an ankle injury.
Greg Ellis was limited all week and is listed questionable with his shoulder injury.
Ernie Sims and Dewayne White are unlikely to play this week. Cliff Avril could be back in the lineup this week after being made inactive last week due to special teams and run matchups.
Chris Long, Leonard Little and James Hall were all limited in practice all week. Long is listed questionable, the other two are probable and expected to play.
Erik Coleman is questionable with a knee injury, only limited practice Thur/Friday.
Keith Ellison was placed on IR this week. Bryan Scott should remain the every-down WLB, though Nic Harris could get a look at some point. Donte Whitner is not on the injury report this week. Jairus Byrd is still struggling through his hernia/groin issue and is questionable. There are beat writer rumblings that Byrd will play, but nothing definitive on the safety lineup yet.
Antonio Pierce is out for the Giants with a neck problem. It's expected that Chase Blackburn takes over in the middle as an every-down player, but Jonathan Goff might see snaps in rotation at some point this season.
The Browns used David Bowens and Kaluka Maiava as every-down ILBs last week. Nothing seems certain in Cleveland, but that’s expected to continue for now.
Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter are both out for New Orleans this week. Randall Gay and Malcolm Jenkins start. Darren Sharper is expected back.
The Eagles shuffled backers again this week. Joe Mays is back in the middle, with Will Witherspoon at WLB and Chris Gocong at SLB. Expect Witherspoon to play every down and the Eagles to use a variety of 5-1-5 and dime packages again this week.
The Chargers could have all four ILBs back healthy this week. Kevin Burnett should get the majority of the snaps alongside Stephen Cooper, but expect both Tim Dobbins and Brandon Siler to get a handful of rotational snaps.
Antoine Winfield could be back in a subpackage role this week, but isn’t expected to start if he’s active.
Injuries
Terrell Suggs is out this week and likely for 2-3 more weeks with a knee sprain. Paul Kruger will pick up snaps in his absence. Haloti Ngata and Tavares Gooden could return to the lineup.
Justin Durant won’t play this week. Russell Allen is expected to replace him in the lineup in the base defensive packages, Brian Iwuh in the nickel.
Josh Wilson is out this week with a concussion. Marcus Trufant will play.
Troy Polamalu is out for the next two weeks (or more) with a PCL strain.
Karlos Dansby is questionable with a shoulder injury and was limited in practice all week. Gerald Hayes looks likely to be back today after fully practicing Thursday and Friday. Bryant McFadden was also limited all week with an ankle injury. Expectations are that all three will play.
Antoine Bethea is questionable with a foot injury and was only able to practice (limited) on Friday.
Albert Haynesworth is questionable but not expected to play with an ankle injury.
Jim Leonhard worked on the side on Friday but is likely out with a broken thumb. Eric Smith replaces him in the lineup.
Jason Jones did not practice (shoulder) on Friday.
Keith Rivers is again unlikely to play this week, with Brandon Johnson playing every down in his absence. Johnathan Joseph was limited all week with a foot problem.
Ken Hamlin is out for a couple of weeks with an ankle injury.
Greg Ellis was limited all week and is listed questionable with his shoulder injury.
Ernie Sims and Dewayne White are unlikely to play this week. Cliff Avril could be back in the lineup this week after being made inactive last week due to special teams and run matchups.
Chris Long, Leonard Little and James Hall were all limited in practice all week. Long is listed questionable, the other two are probable and expected to play.
Erik Coleman is questionable with a knee injury, only limited practice Thur/Friday.
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