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John Clayton's injury updates
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The Cardinals will be down four starters on defense for the Cowboys
game. Out are cornerback Tom Knight (hamstring), safety Pat Tillman (ankle),
defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch (knee) and linebacker Raynoch Thompson
(suspended by team drunken driving charge). David Barrett starts for Knight.
Filling in for Thompson will be Sekou Sanyika.
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Ravens coach Brian Billick will have to wait until game time Sunday
to determine if quarterback Elvis Grbac (ribs), halfback Terry Allen (ankle)
and tight end Shannon Sharpe (knee) will play. Each is questionable and each did
very little in the Friday practice. Even though the trio has missed all of
this week's practices for the Jaguars game, Billick said they are each
experienced enough to be able to play if they get healthy by Sunday. Randall Cunningham is prepared to be the starter. Jason Brookins is expected to get
his first start in Allen's place. Todd Heap, who has missed four games with
a high ankle sprain, would fill in for Sharpe if he can't go. The Ravens put
their $31 million tackle Leon Searcy on the injured reserve list because of
the surgery to repair his return triceps muscle. Searcy didn't play a down
for the Ravens this season. Billick added Danny Kight as a kickoff
specialist to help a kickoff team that is letting team's start drives at
their 30 yard line, worst in the AFC. Matt Stover will continue kicking field
goals.
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The Bills had a scare Thursday when wide receiver Eric Moulds rolled
an ankle, but he returned to practice Friday and was fine. He participated
in all of Friday's drills. The Bills are expected to give backup receiver
Jeremy McDaniel another week to heal from his ankle injury. Defensive end
Phil Hansen says he will return after two missed games because of a
dislocated elbow. He may not start, but he is expected to play. That will
help the Bills run defense against San Diego. Jon Carman will start at right
tackle for injured Jonas Jennings, who has a foot injury. The Bills don't
expect halfback Travis Henry to get a suspension for his misdemeanor plead
on a charge of touching an underage women. The league will probably await
until the November sentencing before making their ruling. Henry is subject
to fine and possible suspension by the league.
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Kick returner Steve Smith remains a big question mark for the
Panthers in Sunday's game against the Jets. His knee continues to bother
him, so coach George Seifert worked Isaac Byrd and Deon Grant as returning
options. If Smith is inactive, wide receiver Patrick Jeffers is expected to
be active. He's missed the past 14 months because of knee problems. Jeffers
won't start if he's on the active roster. Nate Hemsley draws the starting
assignment at outside linebacker, but don't be surprised if Darren Hambrick gets some playing time even though he's only been on the roster for two
days. Hambrick was claimed off the waiver wire from Dallas.
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The Bears have no major
issues for injuries. They have four players listed as probable but they are
practiced and were pronounced fit to play against the 49ers in Soldiers
Field.
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How thin are the Bengals at cornerback? With backup Robert Bean out
with a hamstring and veteran backup Tom Carter questionable with a
hamstring, the third cornerback appears to be Ligarius Jennings. Mark Roman
and Artrell Hawkins will start. Defensive end Vaughn Booker remains
questionable because of an ankle injury that sidelined him last week. He was
limited in work Friday. If Booker can't go, the Bengals will move Bernard
Whittington from defensive tackle to Booker's defensive end spot and promote
Glen Steele to the starting lineup at defensive tackle. That was last
week's alignment in a loss to Chicago.
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Coach Dave Campo will make a game-time decision on wide receiver
Joey Galloway, but he practiced enough Friday on his sore foot to appear to
be ready to play. The same goes for wide receiver Reggie Swinton. Clint
Stoerner gets the start, but the Cowboys are expected to get Ryan Leaf into
the game for some plays. He has a wrist band that has plays spelled out of
him. Anthony Wright is out and expected to get season-ending anterior
cruciate knee surgery soon.
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Quarterback Charlie Batch did a little work Friday, but he's
essentially missed three days of practice this week. Despite that, Batch and
Lions coach Marty Morhinweg say that he will start Sunday's game against
the Bengals. Wasn't this the quarterback the organization didn't think was
good enough to start a month ago? The bigger question remains halfback James
Stewart, who is questionable with an ankle injury. It will be a gametime
decision for Stewart. He practiced a little on Friday. If his ankle isn't
too sore Saturday, Stewart might go but don't be surprised if he doesn't.
Lamont Warren would start for him. The Lions defense expects to have free
safety Kurt Schulz on the active roster for the first time this season now
that his back is feeling better. Tony Semple will also put aside back pains
that sidelined him part of this week's practice to start at left guard for
injured Stockar McDougle (foot). Matt Joyce starts again at right tackle,
but Aaron Gibson will also be used.
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Outside linebacker T.J.
Slaughter was limited Friday because of knee and ankle problems. He's
listed as questionable so expect Danny Clark to take over his weakside
linebacker job. Backup tight end Damon Jones couldn't do much Friday because
of a shoulder injury. Joe Zalenka, the team's deep snapper, may have to
back up Kyle Brady at tight end. That means that the Jaguars won't have too
many two tight end sets. Todd Fordham, Tony Boselli's replacement at left
tackle, is bothered by an ankle injury but will play. His assignment is
keeping Ravens defensive end Mike McCrary away from quarterback Mark
Brunell. Coach Tom Coughlin still hasn't announced whether Elvis Joseph will
take over at halfback for fumbling Stacey Mack, but he plans to use both
backs Sunday against the Ravens. Fred Taylor is still iffy for a return next
week. He's missed four games because of a groin injury.
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Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt thinks that the bye week has helped
out right tackle Todd Wade so he should be able to start Sunday's game
against the Seahawks. He had a knee injury. Arturo Freeman starts at free
safety for Brock Marion, who is out with a calf injury. Jeff Ogden will
handle some of Dedric Ward's backup receiver duties because Ward is out with
a foot problem.
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Randy Moss practiced Thursday and Friday on his sore ankle and sore
Achilles so he is a go for the Bucs game. Halfback Michael Bennett is
expected to sit out and let Doug Chapman handle the halfback duties. Bennett
also has an ankle injury. The Vikings signed Nate Jacquet to take back some
of the return because Troy Walters is bothered by a sore knee.
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The frustration between the Patriots and Terry Glenn continues to
build. Patriots coach Bill Belichick downgraded Glenn to doubtful because
his hamstring continues to keep him out of practice. Glenn hurt the
hamstring during the final 30 minutes of last Thursday's practice and the
injury hasn't improved. Belichick is baffled. Glenn took treatment all week
but hasn't been able to do anything in practice. He's played only one of the
first six games, missing four because of violation of the league's drug
policy and one because of the hamstring problem. The Patriots added backup
offensive tackle Adrian Klemm to the injury report with a leg injury. He's
out. Defensive tackle Richard Seymour remains questionable with a leg
injury. He practiced Friday but Brandon Mitchell is expected to start. The
Patriots play at Denver Sunday. The Patriots aren't commenting on published
reports that cornerback Terrell Buckley was being suspended for an
altercation with an assistant coach. Whether it's true or not, we'll see
Sunday if Leonard Myers, the promising rookie, moves ahead of Buckley as the
team's third cornerback.
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Left tackle Willie Roaf will see how his injured knee feels Sunday
morning to determine whether or not he will play against the Saints. There
is no structural problem with the knee, but he is concerned about doing
further damage by playing hurt. Still, Roaf knows the importance of him
being on the field for this NFC West showdown. A loss puts the Saints in a
position to just fight for a wild-card berth. Coach Jim Haslett lists Roaf
as doubtful. Roaf did his first bit of work this week during Friday's
workout. If he can't play, Daryl Terrell will fill in at left tackle. The
Saints upgraded defensive backs Michael Hawthorne (hamstring) and Richard
Newsome (ankle) from questionable to probable.
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The Giants don't expect defensive tackle Keith Hamilton (dislocated
shoulder) and cornerback Will Allen (ankle) to play Sunday against the
Redskins. Will Peterson is expected to start for Allen. Lance Legree will
start for Hamilton. Coach Jim Fassel said that wide receiver/kick eturner
Ron Dixon has a chance to play despite an ankle injury.
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The only change for the Jets Friday is that the team has ruled out
returner Chad Morton for a third straight game because of an ankle injury.
Defensive tackle Shane Burton (calf), wide receiver Santana Moss (knee) and
wide receiver Wayne Chrebet (concussion) are also out. The Jets claimed
safety Clarence LeBlanc off the waiver wire from the Giants. He will be
inactive on Sunday. The Jets had 52 players on their roster before this
transaction.
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The Raiders may not know until game time whether or not outside
linebacker Elijah Alexander will play because of an ankle injury. If he
can't go, the Raiders may start Travian Smith. They figure to go into this
game against the Eagles without halfback Tyrone Wheatley (knee) and guard Mo
Collins (leg). Roderick Coleman will still start at defensive tackle ahead
of Darrell Russell.
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Eagles coach Andy Reid had a positive injury report for Sunday's
game against the Raiders. On Friday, Reid said that defensive tackle Corey
Simon has gotten over his problems with concussions from the Monday Night
victory over the Giants and will play. He said that left tackle Tra Thomas
has gotten over his problem with pink eye and will start. Wide receiver Todd
Pinkston may need to wear a wrap around a sore wrist and he will play.
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Wide receiver Hines Ward took part in all of the drills Friday and
should be able to play on the ankle he injured during Sunday's victory over
the Bucs. The Steelers added left tackle Wayne Gandy to the injury list as
probable with a right shoulder injury but he should be able to play against
the Titans Monday night. The only questionable Steelers is backup cornerback
Jason Simmons, who has a hamstring injury.
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Rams coach Mike Martz reiterated Friday what he said on Thursday
that Marshall Faulk will miss Sunday's game against the Saints with his knee
injury. Trung Canidate gets his second start for Faulk. Ryan Tucker returns
at right tackle to start with a smaller cast for his broken thumb and a
partially separated left shoulder. Defensive tackle Jeff Zgonina, who is the
team's run-stuffer, may return as a starter. He's been out with a broken
thumb.
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The Chargers will have to wait until game time Sunday to see how
well linebacker Junior Seau's groin responds to treatment. Seau participated
in the past two days of practice with the team. He's listed as questionable.
Tight end Freddie Jones missed another day of practice because of an ankle
injury. He's questionable, but coach Mike Riley seems to be optimistic that
he will be able to play. We'll see. The Chargers will have linebacker Carlos
Polk back on special teams. Alex Molden has recovered enough from his knee
injury to be available as the team's third cornerback. Rookie Tay Cody
starts. The Chargers signed tight end Josh Whitman off their practice squad
and placed defensive tackle Maa Tanuvasa on injured reserve.
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The 49ers dodged the bullet with two injuries. On Friday, they added
halfback Kevan Barlow (left quad) and returner Vinny Sutherland (groin) to
the injury list, but both practiced. This was the same quad that nagged
Barlow throughout training camp. Center Jeremy Newberry practiced on his
severely sprained ankle for the first time since Oct. 1 and plans to play
against the Bears. Out are tight end Greg Clark, halfback Jonas Lewis,
center Ben Lynch and defensive tackle Reggie McGrew.
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Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren doubts that free safety Marcus
Robertson will play because of his hamstring problems. Maurice Kelly, who is
battling some swelling on a knee, will start in Robertson's place. Trent
Dilfer isn't 100 percent because of a groin injury but should back up Matt
Hasselbeck. Charlie Rogers is healthy enough to be the return specialist.
Defensive end Michael Sinclair will start at defensive end now that his
groin injury problems don't seem to be so bad. The Seahawks play the
Dolphins Sunday.
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Suddenly, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense looks slow. Bucs coach Tony Dungy said it would take a miracle
for halfback Warrick Dunn to be healthy enough to play. He's going to miss
with a hamstring injury. Dungy says about the same for wide receiver Jacquez
Green, who has a groin injury. Wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson is about at 80
percent speed because of a hip flexor. He was upgraded to probable. That
means Mike Alstott starts and Aaron Stecker will handle the third-down
running. The Bucs added defensive tackle Warren Sapp to the injury report as
probable with a shoulder injury. Linebacker Derrick Brooks remains probable
with a foot injury.
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The Redskins won't play cornerback Fred Smoot for another week to
give him more time to heal from the bone bruise above a knee. Darrell Green
starts for him. Defensive ends Bruce Smith and Marco Coleman will both
return and the timing couldn't be any better. Defensive end Dorian Boose
underwent arthroscopic knee surgery Friday and is expected to miss a couple
of weeks. Outside linebacker Antonio Pierce will start now that his groin
injury is feeling better.
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