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John Clayton's injury updates

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The Cardinals got a scare Friday when wide receiver David Boston had a little problem with his right knee, but the problem wasn't anything that would keep him from playing Sunday's game against the Eagles. Losing Boston would be disastrous because the Cards won't have Rob Moore, who is out with a hamstring injury. Cornerback Corey Chavous (toe) tried to do some work during Friday's practice, but it looks as though David Barrett will have to fill in for him as a starter. Last week, Barrett filled in for Tom Knight, who is back and healthy.

The Falcons won't have weakside linebacker Chris Draft for Sunday's game against the Bears. He will be replaced by Mark Simoneau while rookie Matt Stewart moves into the nickel defense at linebacker. Draft has a bad right toe. Coach Dan Reeves still isn't sure what to do with starting guard Kynan Forney, who also is recovering from a toe injury. Forney is practice but isn't 100 percent. If he returns Forney to the starting lineup, he would have to break up the right side of the line, which has performed well in the past two weeks. Reeves will wait until Sunday morning to decide whether to keep Travis Claridge at right guard and Ephraim Salaam at right tackle or insert Forney and move Claridge to right tackle. The Falcons will also be without wide receiver Tony Martin (shoulder) and backup cornerback Conrad Hamilton (hamstring). Michael Vick's back is fine and he will be playing Sunday.

As he predicted, Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis, who missed Wednesday's practice because of complications because of elbow tendonitis, practiced Friday and should be able to play Sunday's showdown against the Titans. The Ravens usually have a light practice on Fridays. Coach Brian Billick said he will make a game time decision on Lewis's status but expect him to play. defensive ends Rob Burnett and Michael McCrary remain questionable because of knee injuries, but each was on last week's list, so they will play. The only Ravens who won't play are right tackle Leon Searcy and tight end Todd Heap, who has a high ankle sprain.

Despite a hip injury, Bills quarterback Rob Johnson handled the offensive snaps for the past three days so he will be able to start Sunday against the Jets. Starting offensive tackles John Fina and Jonas Jennings return to the starting lineup after missing last Sunday's game. The Bills plan to start rookie middle linebacker Brandon Spoon even though he is only two weeks removed from a dislocated elbow. Of the seven defensive linemen who are healthy enough to play Sunday, five have one or less years of experience. Bryce Fisher and Aaron Schobel will handle Phil Hansen's defensive end duties while he recovers from a dislocated elbow.

The Bengals believe that center Rich Braham, who must wear a neck brace for a disc problems, will be able to start against the Steelers. Good thing. Backup Brock Gutierrez would be the next option but he has three small fractures in his back. Safety Darryl Williams was downgraded to doubtful because of a foot injury that sidelined him last week.

The Browns will keep rookie James Jackson as their starting halfback even though he will have to wear a flak jacket because of bruised ribs. Jamel White, who was impressive last week in a victory over the Jaguars. Coach Butch Davis hasn't decided whether he wants to put defensive tackle Marcus Spriggs on the injured reserve list. Spriggs broke his forearm for the second time this year on Thursday. Scratch wide receiver Dennis Northcutt for a fourth consecutive game. He was in a red jersey all week as he tries to recover from a broken clavicle.

The Cowboys will start Kareem Larrimore at cornerback ahead of a banged up Mario Edwards. Izell Reese will be the other starting corner for the Raiders game. Coach Dave Campo has decided to start unknown Reggie Swinton at wide receiver on the other side of Joey Galloway since the knee injury that is sidelining Rocket Ismail and the release of veteran Wayne McGarity.

The Packers are relatively healthy expected on the special teams. Kick-returner Allen Rossum is out with a hamstring injury. Receiver Antonio Freeman will handle his punt return duties. Halfback Dorsey Leavens (back), tight end David Martin (shoulder) and linebacker Nate Wayne (leg) have practiced all week and are expected to play against the Bucs.

Quarterback Mark Brunell plans to play despite a concussion from last Sunday's game against the Browns. Left tackle Tony Boselli plans to play on a shoulder injury that will probably require surgery after the season. Coach Tom Coughlin said he will make a final decision Sunday afternoon for the Seahawks game, but Brunell practiced enough Friday that he should be able to go as long there isn't any recurrence of headaches. Brunell appears to be past his headaches. The news is also good for tight end Kyle Brady, who has a hip point. The Jaguars don't expect to play linebacker Hardy Nickerson (neck), cornerback Fernando Bryant (foot) and defensive end Tony Brackens (knee). Safety Donovan Darius (hip) and halfback Fred Taylor (groin) are definitely out. The Jaguars made a roster room for the Nickerson's injury by signing middle linebacker Joe Wesley and cut Steve Zahursky, a tackle.

Chiefs coach Dick Vermeil said Friday that defensive end Duane Clemons is questionable with a sprained knee, but don't expect him to play. He didn't take part in team practice for the past couple of days. Rich Owens is expected to replace Clemons in the starting lineup. Fullback Tony Richardson is out for about a month with a shoulder. The good news for the Chiefs is that they will have their two starting wide receivers -- Derrick Alexander and Snoop Minnis, who has recovered from his concussion of two weeks ago.

Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt said that middle linebacker Zach Thomas, listed as questionable with a grade one knee sprain, will play and start Sunday's game against the Patriots. Thomas took part in all of Friday's practice and even though his knee is sore, this is too important of a division game for him to miss. The Dolphins play the Patriots Sunday. Free safety Brock Marion is also battling a minor knee injury, but Wannstedt pronounced him fit. The only change for the Dolphins is that they will start rookie Marlon Greenwood at strongside linebacker because of his speed, size and strength.

The only change for the Vikings in Sunday's game against the Saints is at cornerback. Robert Tate, who has a shoulder injury and is listed as questionable, is expected to be replaced by Eric Kelly at cornerback. Coach Dennis Green plans to keep Fred Robbins at nose tackle and Lemanski Hall at outside linebacker.

Patriots middle linebacker Bryan Cox returned to practice Friday and said he would have to be dead to not play against the Dolphins. Cox left Wednesday's practice early and stayed home from Thursday's because of the flu. The Patriots listed him as questionable. It doesn't look at though the Patriots will have nickel cornerback Leonard Myers, who has the flu and is listed as doubtful. Halfback J.R. Redmond (ankle), safety Matt Stevens (knee) and linebacker T.J. Turner (knee) didn't practice Friday and remain questionable but probably won't play. Defensive end-linebacker Willie McGinist may be available because of his back-leg injury, but Roman Phifer is the starter now. The Patriots placed defensive tackle Jace Sayler on the injured reserve list with a knee injury and signed linebacker Rob Holmberg to a one-year contract at the $477,000 minimum.

Halfback Ricky Williams will start despite a sprain AC shoulder joint suffered during Thursday's practice. The Saints put him on the Friday injury report as probable, but Williams practiced Friday and said he was fine. The Saints also upgraded tight end Cam Cleeland (hamstring) and guard Chris Naeole (knee) from questionable to probable, so they go into Sunday's game against the Vikings reasonably healthy.

Giants coach Jim Fassel said he would need to see Tiki Barber run full speed by Saturday for him to play against the Redskins. Doesn't look as though that will happen. Barber has missed practice all week and isn't up to full speed because of a hamstring injury. Guard Glenn Packer won't play because of concussions suffered in the past two games. Jason Whittle replaces him.

The Jets officially declared free safety Damien Robinson (ankle) out of Sunday's game against the Bills. They will start Chris Hayes. Defensive tackle Steve Martin is still questionable with a toe injury. Cornerback Aaron Glenn will fill in for punt return duties for Chad Morton, who is out with an ankle injury. Receiver Laveranues Coles will take over Morton's kickoff return duties.

The Raiders biggest worry going into the Cowboys game is the defensive line. The Raiders lost defensive end Trace Armstrong for the season with a torn Achilles. They won't have starting defensive tackle Roderick Coleman, who has a torn hamstring. They aren't sure if Grady Jackson, another starting defensive tackle, could play with a shoulder injury that has been bothering him since last season. It's possible the Raiders may have to start Josh Taves and rookie Chris Cooper against the Cowboys. Guard Mo Collins has been slowed by a calf injury and had trouble finishing Thursday's practice. He is listed as probable.

The Eagles plan to get by the Cardinals game without halfback Duce Staley, who didn't practice Friday. To play, Staley would have to wear a harness to protect a shoulder injury that hasn't fully healed, With a bye week to follow, the thought is to rest Staley and give him additional time to heal. Correll Buckhalter, the rookie, did a good job filling in for him last Sunday. The Eagles also expect to use middle linebacker Barry Gardner and safety Tim Hauck, who are questionable because of hamstring injuries.

The Steelers upgraded defensive end Kimo von Oehhoffen from questionable to probable. An ankle injury kept von Oehoffen out of last week's game against Buffalo, but he returns Sunday against the Bengals as a starter. The only scratch for the Steelers is safety Lethon Flowers, who has an MCL knee injury. He will be replaced by Myron Bell.

The Rams added defensive tackle Jeff Zgonina to the injury list but he is expected to play with a thumb injury that requires a cast. The team isn't saying that the thumb is broken, but it's possible that it is. Despite that, he isn't going to sit out the Monday night game against the Lions. The Lions go into this team with a depleted secondary minus safeties Tommy Bennett and Kurt Schultz and cornerback Bryant Westbrook.

The Chargers will have cornerback Alex Molden back in the starting lineup after missing a couple of games with a knee injury. Defensive end Marcellus Wiley came through his first game back from a stress fracture in a foot and will also start. Backup linebacker Carlos Polk won't play because of a shoulder injury. Defensive coordinator Joe Pascale had a setback in his recovery from back surgery and won't make the trip to Cleveland. He has only been working a limited amount of hours since the start of the season. Apparently, he pushed it too hard and won't make road trips in order for him to be at home games.

George Seifert tried everything to get center Jeff Mitchell to practice on Friday, but it didn't work. They fitted Mitchell with a knee brace. That didn't work. They tried treatment. That didn't work. So after failing to get Mitchell to do much on the field, Seifert considered Mitchell doubtful even though he's officially listed as questionable. The likely scenario is to move James Nesbitt from guard to center and start Jeno James at guard. Mitchell would be the second victim of the bad field from last Sunday's game in Erricson Stadium. Linebacker Dan Morgan fractured his tibia in a loose sod. Mitchell told reporters this week the sod may have caused his knee injury. It appears that Tim Biakabutuka may get a chance to start this week, but Seifert wasn't saying. Biakabutuka and Richard Huntley took most of the first team snaps. Seifert has to decide whether he wants to keep rookie Nick Goings, starter for the past two games on the active roster. Safety Deon Grant twisted his ankle during Friday's practice, but he will play against the 49ers Sunday.

Matt Hasselbeck couldn't practice again Friday because of his groin injury, so Trent Dilfer gets the nod for Sunday's Seahawks game against the Jaguars. On Wednesday, coach Mike Holmgren hoped to get Hasselbeck on the field for practice Thursday and Friday. But when Hasselback tried to move around Thursday, the injury bothered him, so Dilfer handled most of the snaps. The Seahawks will have cornerback Shawn Springs back in the lineup. Shaun Alexander replaces injured halfback Ricky Watters. Right tackle Chris McIntosh isn't expected to play because of a neck injury and will be replaced by Todd Weiner. McIntosh hasn't practiced much this week.

Tony Dungy officially ruled halfback Warrick Dunn out of Sunday's game against the Packers because of a foot injury. Mike Allstott will start for Dunn and Aaron Stecker will be the backup. Defensive tackle James Cannida is also out with a knee injury. The Bucs host the Packers Sunday.

The Titans biggest question isn't quarterback Steve McNair. It's wide receiver Derrick Mason, who is questionable with ankle and shoulder problems. Mason ran along the side of practice Friday, which is a good sign. The thought is that Mason probably won't return kicks but may be able to start if he can gut through his injuries. He only participated in a handful of reps. If he can't start, Chris Sanders would start. Steve McNair has recovered from his right shoulder injury and will start against the Ravens. Defensive tackle John Thornton (shoulder) and wide receiver Kevin Dyson (toe) should play despite being listed as questionable.

The Redskins will have LaVar Arrington back at outside linebacker. He's practiced the past two days despite a knee injury that was supposed to keep him out a couple of weeks. Arrington's return was vital because the Redskins lost Shawn Barber for the season. Antonio Pierce will take over for Barber. Stephen Davis practiced on his sore ankle Friday and will be starting Sunday against the Giants.