Jene Bramel
Footballguy
Carolina
Nothing of note here.
Jason Williams to start for Nic Harris at WLB.
Cleveland
Scott Fujita remains out with a knee sprain. David Bowens started for him this week, but is still not an every-down player. Eric Barton made it through only a limited practice on Friday and is limited with a shoulder injury.
Green Bay
Brandon Chillar took more nickel snaps than Desmond Bishop last week. Bishop still managed to put together good numbers and the Falcons may not put the Packers into many nickel situations if the game remains close, but Bishop will be a risk if he continues to give up nickel snaps. Atari Bigby is out this week, which should put Charlie Peprah back into an every-down role.
Atlanta
John Abraham was limited again this week and listed questionable. Sean Weatherspoon played in nickel situations last week, which bodes well for him returning to every-down status this week. I would expect that to happen this week, but he’s risky as a LB3 until it’s confirmed that he’s back as the full time OLB. There’s been nothing of note on either situation from the local media this week.
Abraham is active. Weatherspoon listed as starter. I think he'll play every down, but still some risk.
Jacksonville
Jeremy Mincey played almost every snap last week, with Derrick Harvey rotating for Austen Lane predominantly. Mincey and Larry Hart were the nickel rushers.
New York Giants
Nothing of note here.
Kansas City
Brandon Flowers didn’t practice last week and is doubtful with a hamstring injury. He looks very unlikely to play.
Seattle
Colin Cole remains out. Though he continues to play well and run up numbers, David Hawthorne is still leaving in nickel packages.
Miami
Karlos Dansby was limited (questionable) all week with a toe injury, but he looks like he’s expected to play.
Oakland
Nmandi Asomugha is expected back this week after practicing fully on Friday.
Minnesota
Nothing of note here.
Washington
LaRon Landry has already been ruled out. Reed Doughty will replace him again. Rocky McIntosh was limited most of the week with a thigh injury. McIntosh is being called a GTD, with HB Blades his most likely replacement. Blades played every down after McIntosh went down, and he’s a viable LB3 against Minnesota if McIntosh can’t play.
McIntosh is active.
Philadelphia
Juqua Parker and Asante Samuel were listed questionable on Friday. Samuel has been ruled out, with Joselio Hanson likely starting, and there are reports that Brandon Graham will start at DE whether Parker is active or not. Antonio Dixon is also questionable with an abdominal injury. He hasn’t been ruled out, but didn’t practice Friday and is probably a GTD at best.
Chicago
Nothing of note here.
Pittsburgh
Troy Polamalu didn’t practice until Friday, but is probable and should play.
Buffalo
Shawne Merriman went on IR this week. Spencer Johnson remains out. Terence McGee is likely out again after having a setback with his knee this week. George Wilson has begun seeing rotational snaps with Jairus Byrd again at times.
St. Louis Rams
James Butler is back this week, which could put Craig Dahl back in the nickel hybrid LB/S role that Michael Lewis had played while Butler was out.
Denver
DJ Williams is questionable with a concussion. He was limited all week, but there are reports that he’s expected to play. Robert Ayers is also expected back, so we may see some rotation among the OLBs, with Jason Hunter sitting in pass rush situations. It’s also possible that the Broncos could choose to move Haggan inside if Williams can’t go, rather than using Woodyard in that spot.
Tampa Bay
Nothing of note here. Quincy Black should be back this week at SLB.
Baltimore
Nothing of note here.
Tennessee
David Ball is out with a concussion, leaving more snaps for Jason Babin, William Hayes and Jacob Ford this week. Tony Brown and Jason Jones are both questionable. Neither practiced this week, and Jones seems much less likely to play than Brown.
Ball and Jones are inactive. Brown is active.
Houston
Darryl Sharpton will start at OLB for Zac Diles again this week. Diles is expected to play and those snaps could come as the second nickel backer, with Kevin Bentley going back to a base defensive role. The Titans are just a so-so matchup, so all three players are risky LB3 this week.
San Diego
Steve Gregory is questionable, but practiced fully all week. There’ve been no clear indications on who will start at SS, but Gregory has been considered the starter when active. A case could be made for Gregory, Oliver or a rotation this week.
Indianapolis
Gary Brackett and Clint Session are again questionable after not practicing all week. Neither is expected to play. Phil Wilson has reported that neither will play until they can get through a limited practice, which is Session’s case is looking further out than Brackett. Pat Angerer would again start at MLB and be the only every-down linebacker.
Still waiting on the Saturday practice report from SF and ARI, but Dashon Goldson and Calais Campbell had both yet to practice through Friday. Greg Toler was limited on Friday. Mike Singletary said this week that Taylor Mays was not ready to play, suggesting that we may not see him again in a significant role until 2011 unless the Niners are eliminated from playoff contention.
<<<<<>>>>>
Still a lot of unsettled situations after the Wednesday practices, so hopefully everyone has some leeway in their lineup submission deadlines. I'll have the full notes section posted by Sunday AM as usual, but here are a few quick thoughts on the Thursday games.I'll try to pass along anything of critical importance here and to my Twitter feed during the day tomorrow between meals, but please add anything you see to the thread if you don't see it posted.
Happy Turkey Day, everyone, and enjoy the games.
New England
Mike Wright didn't participate in practice all week with a neck injury and concussion. He didn't fly with the team to Detroit and won't play.
Detroit
Lawrence Jackson won't play with a concussion. Cliff Avril will try to return from his quad injury, but has been limited and is listed questionable. He's likely to rotate with Turk McBride and the matchup isn't great. Consider other options unless you're stuck. CC Brown took over for Amari Spievey in the second half last week and should continue to rotate in this week, killing the value of both in all likelihood.
New Orleans
Darren Sharper is questionable and was limited all week as he recovers from a hamstring injury. I haven't seen any reports suggesting whether he will or won't be able to go. Malcolm Jenkins is also questionable, so Usama Young could get another start this week.
Dallas
Sean Lee rotated in for at least one full series for both Keith Brooking and Bradie James this week. I think Brooking is a safe LB3/4 start, but it'll be interesting to see if the Cowboys continue to increase Lee's playing time and at whose expense.
Cincinnati
The Bengals secondary is a mess. Chinedum Ndukwe and Reggie Nelson will start at safety with Chris Crocker on IR and Roy Williams out with a head/neck injury. Leon Hall is still at corner, but it's anyone's guess who starts next to him. Johnathan Joseph is questionable, but hasn't practiced all week with an aggravated high ankle sprain. Brandon Ghee is likely out with a groin injury. Rico Murray hasn't practiced with an ankle injury. Jonathan Wade and Fred Bennett were signed this week, while Tom Nelson saw snaps as the slot corner last week. There might be some value if someone steps up out of this mess in Week 13, but it's probably best to avoid everyone not named Ndukwe this week.
New York Jets
Nothing of note here.
Nothing of note here.
Jason Williams to start for Nic Harris at WLB.
Cleveland
Scott Fujita remains out with a knee sprain. David Bowens started for him this week, but is still not an every-down player. Eric Barton made it through only a limited practice on Friday and is limited with a shoulder injury.
Green Bay
Brandon Chillar took more nickel snaps than Desmond Bishop last week. Bishop still managed to put together good numbers and the Falcons may not put the Packers into many nickel situations if the game remains close, but Bishop will be a risk if he continues to give up nickel snaps. Atari Bigby is out this week, which should put Charlie Peprah back into an every-down role.
Atlanta
John Abraham was limited again this week and listed questionable. Sean Weatherspoon played in nickel situations last week, which bodes well for him returning to every-down status this week. I would expect that to happen this week, but he’s risky as a LB3 until it’s confirmed that he’s back as the full time OLB. There’s been nothing of note on either situation from the local media this week.
Abraham is active. Weatherspoon listed as starter. I think he'll play every down, but still some risk.
Jacksonville
Jeremy Mincey played almost every snap last week, with Derrick Harvey rotating for Austen Lane predominantly. Mincey and Larry Hart were the nickel rushers.
New York Giants
Nothing of note here.
Kansas City
Brandon Flowers didn’t practice last week and is doubtful with a hamstring injury. He looks very unlikely to play.
Seattle
Colin Cole remains out. Though he continues to play well and run up numbers, David Hawthorne is still leaving in nickel packages.
Miami
Karlos Dansby was limited (questionable) all week with a toe injury, but he looks like he’s expected to play.
Oakland
Nmandi Asomugha is expected back this week after practicing fully on Friday.
Minnesota
Nothing of note here.
Washington
LaRon Landry has already been ruled out. Reed Doughty will replace him again. Rocky McIntosh was limited most of the week with a thigh injury. McIntosh is being called a GTD, with HB Blades his most likely replacement. Blades played every down after McIntosh went down, and he’s a viable LB3 against Minnesota if McIntosh can’t play.
McIntosh is active.
Philadelphia
Juqua Parker and Asante Samuel were listed questionable on Friday. Samuel has been ruled out, with Joselio Hanson likely starting, and there are reports that Brandon Graham will start at DE whether Parker is active or not. Antonio Dixon is also questionable with an abdominal injury. He hasn’t been ruled out, but didn’t practice Friday and is probably a GTD at best.
Chicago
Nothing of note here.
Pittsburgh
Troy Polamalu didn’t practice until Friday, but is probable and should play.
Buffalo
Shawne Merriman went on IR this week. Spencer Johnson remains out. Terence McGee is likely out again after having a setback with his knee this week. George Wilson has begun seeing rotational snaps with Jairus Byrd again at times.
St. Louis Rams
James Butler is back this week, which could put Craig Dahl back in the nickel hybrid LB/S role that Michael Lewis had played while Butler was out.
Denver
DJ Williams is questionable with a concussion. He was limited all week, but there are reports that he’s expected to play. Robert Ayers is also expected back, so we may see some rotation among the OLBs, with Jason Hunter sitting in pass rush situations. It’s also possible that the Broncos could choose to move Haggan inside if Williams can’t go, rather than using Woodyard in that spot.
Tampa Bay
Nothing of note here. Quincy Black should be back this week at SLB.
Baltimore
Nothing of note here.
Tennessee
David Ball is out with a concussion, leaving more snaps for Jason Babin, William Hayes and Jacob Ford this week. Tony Brown and Jason Jones are both questionable. Neither practiced this week, and Jones seems much less likely to play than Brown.
Ball and Jones are inactive. Brown is active.
Houston
Darryl Sharpton will start at OLB for Zac Diles again this week. Diles is expected to play and those snaps could come as the second nickel backer, with Kevin Bentley going back to a base defensive role. The Titans are just a so-so matchup, so all three players are risky LB3 this week.
San Diego
Steve Gregory is questionable, but practiced fully all week. There’ve been no clear indications on who will start at SS, but Gregory has been considered the starter when active. A case could be made for Gregory, Oliver or a rotation this week.
Indianapolis
Gary Brackett and Clint Session are again questionable after not practicing all week. Neither is expected to play. Phil Wilson has reported that neither will play until they can get through a limited practice, which is Session’s case is looking further out than Brackett. Pat Angerer would again start at MLB and be the only every-down linebacker.
Still waiting on the Saturday practice report from SF and ARI, but Dashon Goldson and Calais Campbell had both yet to practice through Friday. Greg Toler was limited on Friday. Mike Singletary said this week that Taylor Mays was not ready to play, suggesting that we may not see him again in a significant role until 2011 unless the Niners are eliminated from playoff contention.
<<<<<>>>>>
Still a lot of unsettled situations after the Wednesday practices, so hopefully everyone has some leeway in their lineup submission deadlines. I'll have the full notes section posted by Sunday AM as usual, but here are a few quick thoughts on the Thursday games.I'll try to pass along anything of critical importance here and to my Twitter feed during the day tomorrow between meals, but please add anything you see to the thread if you don't see it posted.
Happy Turkey Day, everyone, and enjoy the games.
New England
Mike Wright didn't participate in practice all week with a neck injury and concussion. He didn't fly with the team to Detroit and won't play.
Detroit
Lawrence Jackson won't play with a concussion. Cliff Avril will try to return from his quad injury, but has been limited and is listed questionable. He's likely to rotate with Turk McBride and the matchup isn't great. Consider other options unless you're stuck. CC Brown took over for Amari Spievey in the second half last week and should continue to rotate in this week, killing the value of both in all likelihood.
New Orleans
Darren Sharper is questionable and was limited all week as he recovers from a hamstring injury. I haven't seen any reports suggesting whether he will or won't be able to go. Malcolm Jenkins is also questionable, so Usama Young could get another start this week.
Dallas
Sean Lee rotated in for at least one full series for both Keith Brooking and Bradie James this week. I think Brooking is a safe LB3/4 start, but it'll be interesting to see if the Cowboys continue to increase Lee's playing time and at whose expense.
Cincinnati
The Bengals secondary is a mess. Chinedum Ndukwe and Reggie Nelson will start at safety with Chris Crocker on IR and Roy Williams out with a head/neck injury. Leon Hall is still at corner, but it's anyone's guess who starts next to him. Johnathan Joseph is questionable, but hasn't practiced all week with an aggravated high ankle sprain. Brandon Ghee is likely out with a groin injury. Rico Murray hasn't practiced with an ankle injury. Jonathan Wade and Fred Bennett were signed this week, while Tom Nelson saw snaps as the slot corner last week. There might be some value if someone steps up out of this mess in Week 13, but it's probably best to avoid everyone not named Ndukwe this week.
New York Jets
Nothing of note here.
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