Jene Bramel
Footballguy
Doesn't appear to be anything critical or crazy for Week 7 right now, but I will not be able to update this thread tomorrow. I'm not certain I can, but am hoping to be available to retweet any major news and inactives as they come across Twitter. Please check my timeline tomorrow morning -- linked in my signature below. My thanks if you guys could keep the news flowing in the Forum in my absence.
Detroit
Justin Durant was limited in practice this week but is expected back. He shared time in some nickel packages with DeAndre Levy earlier in the season and that rotation could occur again, affecting Levy’s upside. Amari Spievey was back in the lineup at safety last week and made it through the game without setback.
Tampa Bay
Mason Foster left last week’s game in the second half but felt well enough to practice fully Friday and should be good to go. The Bucs mixed in some dime packages (with Quincy Black – after Foster left – as the lone LB) last week. Probably not too much to worry about with regard to Foster and Geno Hayes, but worth noting. Tanard Jackson essentially played every down last week, though I think he may have left for a series due to cramps.
Miami
Reshad Jones is very doubtful to play this week. Chris Clemons has been fighting a hamstring injury all season, which means Tyrone Culver probably starts at FS this week.
Minnesota
Antoine Winfield has been limited all week and is again listed doubtful. He’s unlikely to go and has to be considered questionable through the Week 9 bye at this point. Chris Cook was arrested without bail late Friday night and looks to be out. Asher Allen gets the start against Green Bay and could see lots of action. EJ Henderson was back in nickel packages last week, which could mean that Erin Henderson sees very few snaps this week.
Tennessee
Will Witherspoon stayed on the field every down in Week 5 despite Gerald McRath’s return from injury. He’s a risk-reward play against Houston.
Houston
Jason Allen went from starter in Week 5 to unable to get off the bench in dime packages in Week 6 after the Texans deemed Kareem Jackson healthy enough to play every down. DeMeco Ryans continues to sit on passing downs.
Oakland
The Raiders wasted no time putting Aaron Curry into the starting lineup and base defense at WLB last week, but continued to use dime personnel on passing downs. There have been rumors that Kamerion Wimbley might see more time at DE on base defensive downs with Curry on the field, but it’s been Quintin Groves that’s been sitting so far.
Seattle
Leroy Hill was pulled from subpackages in favor of Aaron Curry late in Week 5, which could open the door for KJ Wright to play every down coming out of the bye week, but it’s risky to count on that happening. Walter Thurmond is now a full time starter at CB with Marcus Trufant on IR.
Cleveland
Kaluka Maiava will replace Scott Fujita at WLB this week. Neither he nor Chris Gocong are a great bet for big value or to be relied upon to play every down. It could be a good set up for TJ Ward if Seattle can move the ball on the road. Joe Haden still seems to be at least a week away from returning.
Carolina
Omar Gaither is out this week. Jason Phillips will reportedly get the start at WLB, but it’s likely that Thomas Williams will play in the nickel. The Panthers seem to want to play more 3-4 on base downs, with Dan Connor and James Anderson inside and Charles Johnson and Antwan Applewhite outside. That’s not great news for any of the Panthers’ defensive linemen.
New Orleans
Sedrick Ellis is questionable with an ankle injury. He was limited in practice on Friday.
Baltimore
Tom Zbikowski hasn’t been cleared for contact yet and isn’t likely to be ready to play by Monday. Bernard Pollard will start.
Detroit
Justin Durant was limited in practice this week but is expected back. He shared time in some nickel packages with DeAndre Levy earlier in the season and that rotation could occur again, affecting Levy’s upside. Amari Spievey was back in the lineup at safety last week and made it through the game without setback.
Tampa Bay
Mason Foster left last week’s game in the second half but felt well enough to practice fully Friday and should be good to go. The Bucs mixed in some dime packages (with Quincy Black – after Foster left – as the lone LB) last week. Probably not too much to worry about with regard to Foster and Geno Hayes, but worth noting. Tanard Jackson essentially played every down last week, though I think he may have left for a series due to cramps.
Miami
Reshad Jones is very doubtful to play this week. Chris Clemons has been fighting a hamstring injury all season, which means Tyrone Culver probably starts at FS this week.
Minnesota
Antoine Winfield has been limited all week and is again listed doubtful. He’s unlikely to go and has to be considered questionable through the Week 9 bye at this point. Chris Cook was arrested without bail late Friday night and looks to be out. Asher Allen gets the start against Green Bay and could see lots of action. EJ Henderson was back in nickel packages last week, which could mean that Erin Henderson sees very few snaps this week.
Tennessee
Will Witherspoon stayed on the field every down in Week 5 despite Gerald McRath’s return from injury. He’s a risk-reward play against Houston.
Houston
Jason Allen went from starter in Week 5 to unable to get off the bench in dime packages in Week 6 after the Texans deemed Kareem Jackson healthy enough to play every down. DeMeco Ryans continues to sit on passing downs.
Oakland
The Raiders wasted no time putting Aaron Curry into the starting lineup and base defense at WLB last week, but continued to use dime personnel on passing downs. There have been rumors that Kamerion Wimbley might see more time at DE on base defensive downs with Curry on the field, but it’s been Quintin Groves that’s been sitting so far.
Seattle
Leroy Hill was pulled from subpackages in favor of Aaron Curry late in Week 5, which could open the door for KJ Wright to play every down coming out of the bye week, but it’s risky to count on that happening. Walter Thurmond is now a full time starter at CB with Marcus Trufant on IR.
Cleveland
Kaluka Maiava will replace Scott Fujita at WLB this week. Neither he nor Chris Gocong are a great bet for big value or to be relied upon to play every down. It could be a good set up for TJ Ward if Seattle can move the ball on the road. Joe Haden still seems to be at least a week away from returning.
Carolina
Omar Gaither is out this week. Jason Phillips will reportedly get the start at WLB, but it’s likely that Thomas Williams will play in the nickel. The Panthers seem to want to play more 3-4 on base downs, with Dan Connor and James Anderson inside and Charles Johnson and Antwan Applewhite outside. That’s not great news for any of the Panthers’ defensive linemen.
New Orleans
Sedrick Ellis is questionable with an ankle injury. He was limited in practice on Friday.
Baltimore
Tom Zbikowski hasn’t been cleared for contact yet and isn’t likely to be ready to play by Monday. Bernard Pollard will start.
