Jene Bramel
Footballguy
James Laurinaitis was limited in practice all week, but is probable. James Butler’s recovery has gone quicker than expected. He fully practiced Friday and is also probable. That makes Michael Lewis’ role still more unclear. It’s possible that he’s been signed to take over Craig Dahl’s hybrid linebacker role in the dime defense. Ron Bartell is questionable with a neck injury.
Patrick Chung looked better than expected by the end of the week and is listed questionable after limited practices Thursday and Friday. There’s been no official indication on how much (or if) he’ll play. I’d expect him to be active, but limited and likely rotate today.
Brian Dawkins is likely to return from his knee sprain this week. If he holds up, he may get a full time load right away.
LaMarr Woodley will play today, making Timmons a relatively safe start in all leagues. Hamstrings are fickle, especially the first week back, but I think you start Timmons unless you have another strong LB1 option to use in his place. The Steelers’ run defense is going to struggle up front without Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel. Today might be the beginning of a nice run of games for Troy Polamalu.
DeAndre Levy is questionable, but expected to return to his starting role today. He’s still suggesting he’s not 100%, however, so be wary of using him until he proves he can perform. Ashlee Palmer moves over to WLB, but it may be Bobby Carpenter that takes nickel snaps.
Gerald Hayes is off the PUP list today and should see a handful of snaps in the base defense. It’s likely that he’ll replace Daryl Washington, with Paris Lenon moving to WILB, but it’ll be interesting to see how this progresses in coming weeks. Clark Haggans is doubtful with a groin injury and very unlikely to play.
Brandon Chillar is off the injury report, as is AJ Hawk, so we should get some clarity on the nickel packages in Green Bay today. We may also see Chillar take some OLB snaps with all the injuries GB has had at that spot, though they aren’t much deeper inside. Last week, Chillar replaced Bishop for just a handful of snaps, but they were the most likely passing snaps. Atari Bigby wasn’t activated off the PUP this week, but likely will next week. Anthony Smith did not play a defensive down, so expect Charlie Peprah to be a decent start again this week.
Kirk Morrison was again removed from the nickel package in favor of Justin Durant last week. Don Carey and Courtney Greene started and both played every down last week. Greene is the much better play. Jeremy Mincey was tabbed to start over Derrick Harvey this week, but broke his hand in practice. He practiced fully on Thursday, but limited on Friday. Neither player is a good start today, but Mincey is worth watching if he plays.
The Saints got both Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter back to limited practices this week and Scott Shanle was limited all week without setbacks. Greer is doubtful and is unlikely to play. Porter is a GTD. Expect to see a lot of Malcolm Jenkins at Patrick Robinson at corner regardless of whether Porter goes or not. Darren Sharper should also move toward a full time role after coming out of last week’s game well.
Matt Shaughnessy is off the injury report and ready to play. Kamerion Wimbley has been limited with a groin injury all week. There’s little talk about Wimbley’s injury, but it’s likely that Shaughnessy and Scott would both see more opportunity if he’s unable to go.
Chinedum Ndukwe and Johnathan Joseph are questionable. Both could do no better than a limited Friday practice. Joseph seems more likely to play than Ndukwe, as the Bengals promoted a safety off the practice squad late week. Reggie Nelson would get the start if Ndukwe can’t go. Chris Crocker would assume most of the safety value, however.
Geno Hayes is questionable with a knee injury, but practiced fully Friday. Sean Jones and Sabby Piscitelli are rotating at SS.
Jairus Byrd is questionable but practiced fully on Friday. The Bills stuck with the 4-3 coming out of the bye and Chan Gailey’s comments suggest that the switch is permanent (for 2010, anyway). The 4-3 is likely to continue this week against another run heavy team in KC, but it hasn’t been any more successful than the 3-4 was. It’s possible we may yet see Posluszny back in a more consistent ILB role soon.
Terrence Newman didn’t practice all week and is questionable with a rib injury. He’s a game time decision, with team sources suggesting he’ll try to play. Bradie James and Keith Brooking took nearly every snap last week.
Patrick Chung looked better than expected by the end of the week and is listed questionable after limited practices Thursday and Friday. There’s been no official indication on how much (or if) he’ll play. I’d expect him to be active, but limited and likely rotate today.
Brian Dawkins is likely to return from his knee sprain this week. If he holds up, he may get a full time load right away.
LaMarr Woodley will play today, making Timmons a relatively safe start in all leagues. Hamstrings are fickle, especially the first week back, but I think you start Timmons unless you have another strong LB1 option to use in his place. The Steelers’ run defense is going to struggle up front without Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel. Today might be the beginning of a nice run of games for Troy Polamalu.
DeAndre Levy is questionable, but expected to return to his starting role today. He’s still suggesting he’s not 100%, however, so be wary of using him until he proves he can perform. Ashlee Palmer moves over to WLB, but it may be Bobby Carpenter that takes nickel snaps.
Gerald Hayes is off the PUP list today and should see a handful of snaps in the base defense. It’s likely that he’ll replace Daryl Washington, with Paris Lenon moving to WILB, but it’ll be interesting to see how this progresses in coming weeks. Clark Haggans is doubtful with a groin injury and very unlikely to play.
Brandon Chillar is off the injury report, as is AJ Hawk, so we should get some clarity on the nickel packages in Green Bay today. We may also see Chillar take some OLB snaps with all the injuries GB has had at that spot, though they aren’t much deeper inside. Last week, Chillar replaced Bishop for just a handful of snaps, but they were the most likely passing snaps. Atari Bigby wasn’t activated off the PUP this week, but likely will next week. Anthony Smith did not play a defensive down, so expect Charlie Peprah to be a decent start again this week.
Kirk Morrison was again removed from the nickel package in favor of Justin Durant last week. Don Carey and Courtney Greene started and both played every down last week. Greene is the much better play. Jeremy Mincey was tabbed to start over Derrick Harvey this week, but broke his hand in practice. He practiced fully on Thursday, but limited on Friday. Neither player is a good start today, but Mincey is worth watching if he plays.
The Saints got both Jabari Greer and Tracy Porter back to limited practices this week and Scott Shanle was limited all week without setbacks. Greer is doubtful and is unlikely to play. Porter is a GTD. Expect to see a lot of Malcolm Jenkins at Patrick Robinson at corner regardless of whether Porter goes or not. Darren Sharper should also move toward a full time role after coming out of last week’s game well.
Matt Shaughnessy is off the injury report and ready to play. Kamerion Wimbley has been limited with a groin injury all week. There’s little talk about Wimbley’s injury, but it’s likely that Shaughnessy and Scott would both see more opportunity if he’s unable to go.
Chinedum Ndukwe and Johnathan Joseph are questionable. Both could do no better than a limited Friday practice. Joseph seems more likely to play than Ndukwe, as the Bengals promoted a safety off the practice squad late week. Reggie Nelson would get the start if Ndukwe can’t go. Chris Crocker would assume most of the safety value, however.
Geno Hayes is questionable with a knee injury, but practiced fully Friday. Sean Jones and Sabby Piscitelli are rotating at SS.
Jairus Byrd is questionable but practiced fully on Friday. The Bills stuck with the 4-3 coming out of the bye and Chan Gailey’s comments suggest that the switch is permanent (for 2010, anyway). The 4-3 is likely to continue this week against another run heavy team in KC, but it hasn’t been any more successful than the 3-4 was. It’s possible we may yet see Posluszny back in a more consistent ILB role soon.
Terrence Newman didn’t practice all week and is questionable with a rib injury. He’s a game time decision, with team sources suggesting he’ll try to play. Bradie James and Keith Brooking took nearly every snap last week.
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