Jene Bramel
Footballguy
Lots of news flying today -- most players expected to be active are, but Rolando McClain is inactive. Read entire thread to be sure you've got the latest.
Atlanta
Curtis Lofton is questionable with a knee injury, but practiced fully Friday and is expected to play. Sean Weatherspoon has yet to play much in the base defense since returning three weeks ago. There was nothing to indicate a change in the rotation this week.
Carolina
Jason Williams was ruled out today with a knee injury that didn’t hold up well after a full practice on Thursday. Jordan Senn likely replaces him. Jon Beason is also questionable with a knee injury. Beason admitted that the injury was affecting his play in an interview earlier in the week and Fox called him day-to-day but he’ll play. Chris Gamble is doubtful to play this week, with Captain Munnerlyn likely stepping in again.
Cincinnati
Johnathan Joseph is questionable with an ankle injury. The Bengals have been using lots of deep Cover-2 looks with the secondary in shambles, giving more underneath tackle opportunities to Dhani Jones than Chinedum Ndukwe. That could continue this week.
Pittsburgh
Nothing of note here.
Cleveland
Scott Fujita is getting closer to returning, but remains doubtful. The usual suspects are questionable – Eric Barton, Shaun Rogers and Kenyon Coleman – but are likely to play. Eric Wright should be back this week, but Joe Haden will keep his starting role.
Buffalo
Donte Whitner has been limited by a knee injury all week and is questionable, but fully expected to play assuming no setbacks during pregame. Kyle Williams was added to the injury report and listed questionable after not practicing Friday with neck tightness. Gailey said Williams would play.
Denver
Brian Dawkins is out again. Darcel McBath has been limited by multiple injuries and is questionable. If McBath can’t go, it looks like David Bruton is the next man up at SS. There’s been no official indication, but I think it’s likely that Mario Haggan moves back inside as the replacement for Joe Mays with Robert Ayers playing outside. In that scenario, it’s possible we’ll see all four play every down (or near every down). Keep an eye on a possible rotation with Wes Woodyard or Lee Robinson, an interesting small school prospect from last season that could get a shot inside.
Arizona
Clark Haggans and Joey Porter are questionable, but likely to play. Michael Adams played full time ahead of Greg Toler last week. Whisenhunt deferred about the starter this week, but praised Adams for his strong play. Expect Toler to remain the nickel corner this week.
Green Bay
Cullen Jenkins is out with a calf injury. Atari Bigby is questionable, but fully practiced on Friday. He could be back this week in rotation with Charlie Peprah. Desmond Bishop rotated out in the fourth quarter nickel packages last week, but nearly every nickel snap before that. Expect him to continue to get 90% of the snaps or better.
Detroit
Kyle Vanden Bosch is now on IR with a neck injury. Cliff Avril and Turk McBride start, with Lawrence Jackson getting a healthy rotational workload. DeAndre Levy is listed probable and will play, but has been limited more by his groin injury over the past two weeks. Amari Spievey looks locked in as an every-down safety now. Alphonso Smith is also out, with either Nathan Vaaher or Brandon McDonald starting in his place.
Kansas City
Nothing of note here.
San Diego
Stephen Cooper is probable with a knee injury, Brandon Siler questionable with a rib injury. Both practiced fully on Friday. I think that Siler started last week due to Cooper’s knee limiting him and I’d think that Cooper would return as the starter if he’s near fully healthy. That makes Siler a risky start. I’m hoping to get Kevin Acee’s thoughts on the situation today. Steve Gregory is off the injury report this week, but there’s been no word whether he’ll rejoin the lineup.
Miami
Channing Crowder and Karlos Dansby continue to be limited. Both are listed questionable. Crowder is closer to playing than he was last week, but we’re likely to see plenty of Tim Dobbins. If Crowder is healthy enough to be listed as the starter tomorrow, it’s possible that Dansby may again sit in the base defense. It’s a risky situation for Dansby or those hoping for another strong game from Dobbins.
New York Jets
Nothing of note here.
New England
Brandon Spikes has been suspended for four weeks for violating NFL policy. That likely puts Gary Guyton into an every-down role and the LB4+ tier this week. Patrick Chung saw another decrease in his snaps last week with Jarrad Page. Neither is a safe play this week.
Chicago
Nick Roach starts for Pisa Tinoisamoa again. Still a three way rotation at safety, with Chris Harris getting the most snaps.
New York Giants
Nothing of note here.
Minnesota
Chris Cook is out again this week. Ray Edwards questionable with a high ankle sprain, but was able to practice some on Friday. Edwards is a GTD, but Brian Robison is available to rotate and the NYG matchup is terrible. He’s too risky to use unless you’ve no other options.
Oakland
Rolando McClain played through tendinitis in his foot last week and his improved play carried over another week. He’s questionable, but should be good to go. Tyvon Branch is again questionable with a shoulder injury. Officially, he’s a GTD, too, but seemingly likely to play after being in a similar situation the past two weeks.
Jacksonville
Sean Considine starts for Courtney Greene, who’s out with a shoulder injury.
Seattle
Colin Cole should return from his high ankle sprain this week. Lofa Tatupu continues to struggle with a knee injury, but will play.
San Francisco
Nate Clements and Parys Haralson are questionable. Both were limited all week.
St. Louis
Ron Bartell is doubtful after not practicing all week with a neck injury. Quincy Butler is his most likely replacement. OJ Atogwe is questionable with a shoulder injury, but practiced fully Friday and should play.
New Orleans
Nothing of note here.
Tampa Bay
Quincy Black is questionable, but practiced fully on Friday. He’s missed games in similar situations before, so consider him a GTD. Tim Crowder was added to the injury report with a shoulder injury on Friday and is questionable.
Washington
LaRon Landry did some work on the side on Friday. He’s questionable and apparently has a chance to play, but I expect him to wait at least one more week. Carlos Rogers is also questionable.
Philadelphia
Asante Samuel is out this week. Juqua Parker should return, but Brandon Graham has earned a 50-50 rotational role at minimum.
Dallas
Keith Brooking is probable this week, but Sean Lee has likely earned more than just a handful of snaps in rotation. Gerald Sensabaugh is questionable.
Baltimore
Nothing of note here.
Houston
Kevin Bentley seems locked in as an every-down player. Darryl Sharpton and Zac Diles will continue to split the base defensive snaps.
Atlanta
Curtis Lofton is questionable with a knee injury, but practiced fully Friday and is expected to play. Sean Weatherspoon has yet to play much in the base defense since returning three weeks ago. There was nothing to indicate a change in the rotation this week.
Carolina
Jason Williams was ruled out today with a knee injury that didn’t hold up well after a full practice on Thursday. Jordan Senn likely replaces him. Jon Beason is also questionable with a knee injury. Beason admitted that the injury was affecting his play in an interview earlier in the week and Fox called him day-to-day but he’ll play. Chris Gamble is doubtful to play this week, with Captain Munnerlyn likely stepping in again.
Cincinnati
Johnathan Joseph is questionable with an ankle injury. The Bengals have been using lots of deep Cover-2 looks with the secondary in shambles, giving more underneath tackle opportunities to Dhani Jones than Chinedum Ndukwe. That could continue this week.
Pittsburgh
Nothing of note here.
Cleveland
Scott Fujita is getting closer to returning, but remains doubtful. The usual suspects are questionable – Eric Barton, Shaun Rogers and Kenyon Coleman – but are likely to play. Eric Wright should be back this week, but Joe Haden will keep his starting role.
Buffalo
Donte Whitner has been limited by a knee injury all week and is questionable, but fully expected to play assuming no setbacks during pregame. Kyle Williams was added to the injury report and listed questionable after not practicing Friday with neck tightness. Gailey said Williams would play.
Denver
Brian Dawkins is out again. Darcel McBath has been limited by multiple injuries and is questionable. If McBath can’t go, it looks like David Bruton is the next man up at SS. There’s been no official indication, but I think it’s likely that Mario Haggan moves back inside as the replacement for Joe Mays with Robert Ayers playing outside. In that scenario, it’s possible we’ll see all four play every down (or near every down). Keep an eye on a possible rotation with Wes Woodyard or Lee Robinson, an interesting small school prospect from last season that could get a shot inside.
Arizona
Clark Haggans and Joey Porter are questionable, but likely to play. Michael Adams played full time ahead of Greg Toler last week. Whisenhunt deferred about the starter this week, but praised Adams for his strong play. Expect Toler to remain the nickel corner this week.
Green Bay
Cullen Jenkins is out with a calf injury. Atari Bigby is questionable, but fully practiced on Friday. He could be back this week in rotation with Charlie Peprah. Desmond Bishop rotated out in the fourth quarter nickel packages last week, but nearly every nickel snap before that. Expect him to continue to get 90% of the snaps or better.
Detroit
Kyle Vanden Bosch is now on IR with a neck injury. Cliff Avril and Turk McBride start, with Lawrence Jackson getting a healthy rotational workload. DeAndre Levy is listed probable and will play, but has been limited more by his groin injury over the past two weeks. Amari Spievey looks locked in as an every-down safety now. Alphonso Smith is also out, with either Nathan Vaaher or Brandon McDonald starting in his place.
Kansas City
Nothing of note here.
San Diego
Stephen Cooper is probable with a knee injury, Brandon Siler questionable with a rib injury. Both practiced fully on Friday. I think that Siler started last week due to Cooper’s knee limiting him and I’d think that Cooper would return as the starter if he’s near fully healthy. That makes Siler a risky start. I’m hoping to get Kevin Acee’s thoughts on the situation today. Steve Gregory is off the injury report this week, but there’s been no word whether he’ll rejoin the lineup.
Miami
Channing Crowder and Karlos Dansby continue to be limited. Both are listed questionable. Crowder is closer to playing than he was last week, but we’re likely to see plenty of Tim Dobbins. If Crowder is healthy enough to be listed as the starter tomorrow, it’s possible that Dansby may again sit in the base defense. It’s a risky situation for Dansby or those hoping for another strong game from Dobbins.
New York Jets
Nothing of note here.
New England
Brandon Spikes has been suspended for four weeks for violating NFL policy. That likely puts Gary Guyton into an every-down role and the LB4+ tier this week. Patrick Chung saw another decrease in his snaps last week with Jarrad Page. Neither is a safe play this week.
Chicago
Nick Roach starts for Pisa Tinoisamoa again. Still a three way rotation at safety, with Chris Harris getting the most snaps.
New York Giants
Nothing of note here.
Minnesota
Chris Cook is out again this week. Ray Edwards questionable with a high ankle sprain, but was able to practice some on Friday. Edwards is a GTD, but Brian Robison is available to rotate and the NYG matchup is terrible. He’s too risky to use unless you’ve no other options.
Oakland
Rolando McClain played through tendinitis in his foot last week and his improved play carried over another week. He’s questionable, but should be good to go. Tyvon Branch is again questionable with a shoulder injury. Officially, he’s a GTD, too, but seemingly likely to play after being in a similar situation the past two weeks.
Jacksonville
Sean Considine starts for Courtney Greene, who’s out with a shoulder injury.
Seattle
Colin Cole should return from his high ankle sprain this week. Lofa Tatupu continues to struggle with a knee injury, but will play.
San Francisco
Nate Clements and Parys Haralson are questionable. Both were limited all week.
St. Louis
Ron Bartell is doubtful after not practicing all week with a neck injury. Quincy Butler is his most likely replacement. OJ Atogwe is questionable with a shoulder injury, but practiced fully Friday and should play.
New Orleans
Nothing of note here.
Tampa Bay
Quincy Black is questionable, but practiced fully on Friday. He’s missed games in similar situations before, so consider him a GTD. Tim Crowder was added to the injury report with a shoulder injury on Friday and is questionable.
Washington
LaRon Landry did some work on the side on Friday. He’s questionable and apparently has a chance to play, but I expect him to wait at least one more week. Carlos Rogers is also questionable.
Philadelphia
Asante Samuel is out this week. Juqua Parker should return, but Brandon Graham has earned a 50-50 rotational role at minimum.
Dallas
Keith Brooking is probable this week, but Sean Lee has likely earned more than just a handful of snaps in rotation. Gerald Sensabaugh is questionable.
Baltimore
Nothing of note here.
Houston
Kevin Bentley seems locked in as an every-down player. Darryl Sharpton and Zac Diles will continue to split the base defensive snaps.
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