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John Clayton's injury updates

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The Cardinals placed defensive tackle Mario Fatafehi and wide receiver Rob Moore on the injured reserve list and signed defensive end Andy Bowers and wide receiver Bryan Gilmore off the practice squad. Moore told reporters that his season-long hamstring injury has made him think a lot about his NFL future. He told reporters Friday that if he has to spend another season rehabilitating instead of training that he would retire. Moore has missed the entire season because of the hamstring injury. Coach Dave McGinnis will take linebacker Rob Fredrickson and wide receiver Frank Sanders on the trip to Oakland and test out their injuries Sunday morning to determine whether or not they will play. Sanders said he felt better Friday than he did a week ago on a hamstring injury that forced him to stop playing after two series. Sanders has played 106 consecutive games. Fredrickson hasn't practiced this week because of a knee injury. Jabari Issa gets the start at defensive end for Fatafehi.

The only Falcons player who didn't practice and won't be available for Sunday's game against the Rams is strong safety Gerald McBurrows, who is out with a knee injury. Johndale Carty starts, but Chris Hudson may see more action because he's brought in on passing downs. Against the Rams, most plays are passing downs. Hudson has been listed as questionable with a sore knee but he's not going to miss this crucial NFC West game. Linebacker Chris Draft was added to the injury list Thursday because of a toe injury, but he will play. Draft and Mark Simoneau have been sharing the one outside linebacking job. No problems for halfback Maurice Smith, who is bothered by knee and ankle injuries. The ankle injury is the worse of the two, but a better taping job allowed him to finish last Sunday's game against the Panthers.

Brian Billick won't have any trouble picking the inactives for Sunday's game. They were all on the sidelines during Friday's practice. Out are defensive linemen Sam Adams (knee) and Rob Burnett (calf), halfbacks Terry Allen (hand) and Jason Brookins (foot), wide receiver Pat Johnson (clavicle) and cornerback James Trapp (groin). Throw in healthy but inexperienced guard Jason Thomas, and those are Sunday's inactives for the game against the Colts. Despite limited practice throughout the week, middle linebacker Ray Lewis (thigh) and tight end Shannon Sharpe (knee) will play.

The Bills finally will have the offensive line on the field that they envisioned at the beginning of the season. Jonas Jennings will start at right tackle, allowing Jerry Ostroski to move to right guard. John Fina, who performed better on his injured knee after three weeks of rest, will stay as the starting left tackle. Quarterback Rob Johnson said Thursday he doesn't expect to come back from his broken clavicle this season, leaving Alex Van Pelt as the starting quarterback for the final six games. The Bills will play the 49ers in San Francisco on Sunday night.

Coach George Seifert is leaning toward staying with Jimmy Hitchcock at cornerback even though he is bothered by sore ribs. Rashard Anderson is the other possibility but Hitchcock has been starting the past couple of games. The Panthers travel to New Orleans to play the Saints. Defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, the team's second-round pick is starting for Larry Chester, who is out for the season with a broken leg but hasn't yet been put on the injured reserve list. Middle linebacker Lester Towns will be able to play despite a toe injury.

The Bengals aren't sure whether defensive end Vaughn Booker can play against the Bucs Sunday. His ankle injury was bad enough that he couldn't practice Friday. Bernard Whittington would get the start if Booker's ankle doesn't respond by Sunday. Peter Warrick will be starting at wide receiver despite a shoulder injury, but expect T.J>. Houshmandzadeh to handle Warrick's duties on punt returns. Cornerback Artrell Hawkins (ankle) will be replaced by Robert Bean. Scott Rehberg fills in at left guard for Matt O'Dwyer, who needs one more week to heal from a knee injury.

Bears coach Dick Jauron kept halfback Anthony Thomas out of practice Friday because of a hamstring, and everyone around the Bears believes that he will sit out the game Sunday against the Lions. Thomas didn't practice Wednesday and did some limited work on Thursday. Jauron said he would make a game day decision on Thomas. He said the same thing last week and kept him out of the game. James Allen is expected to get his second consecutive start.

Browns halfback James Jackson said if the Titans game were today, he couldn't play on his bad ankle. That makes him very questionable for Sunday's game against the Titans. Figure that Ben Gay will be the likely starter ahead of Jamel White. The Browns also won't have linebacker Tarek Saleh because of a hip injury. The release of Mike Sellers and the possible absence of Saleh takes away two of the Browns best special teams players.

Jackie Harris should be able to return to the starting lineup at tight end now that his hamstring problems appear to be behind him. The Cowboys visit the Redskins Sunday. Linebacker Dexter Coakley continues to rest his sore knee but he's going to start. Rocket Ismail's concussion suffered during practice this week is fine. He practiced Friday. Out for the Cowboys are safety Tony Dixon (ankle), defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban (back) and linebacker Orantes Grant (knee).

Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith took a few reps during Friday's practice and looked much improved, according to coach Mike Shanahan. That leaves everything to a game time decision whether or not he plays against the Dolphins Sunday. Earlier in the week, Shanahan was pessimistic that Smith had time to recover on his two bad ankles. His hope was that 10 day break between the Thanksgiving Day game and the Dolphins game and that is now playing in Smith's favor. Keith Pooole won't play because of a rib injury. Terrell Davis returns to start after missing two games because of knee surgery.

Lions tight end David Sloan admits he suffered a slight tear of the medial collateral ligament during the Thanksgiving Day loss to the Packers. Because he hasn't practiced in the past couple of days, he may have to sit out Sunday's game against the Bears. He would be replaced by rookie Stephen Trejo. Returner Desmond Howard hasn't practiced all week because of a shoulder injury. He says that he is optimistic that he can play, but this will be a game time decision and the chances aren't great. Guard Stockar McDougle is back after a seven week absence because of a foot injury. Though Tony Semple will continue at left guard, expect McDougle to get one series at right tackle.

The Packers are in good shape for injuries heading into the Monday night game against the Jaguars. Chad Clifton, who's been bothered by an ankle injury, is back working with the first team at left tackle. Fullback William Henderson should be able to play despite a bad back. After cutting third quarterback Henry Burris Thursday, the Packers had Bill Schroeder working as the third quarterback. With the roster spot, the Packers signed safety Matt Bowens, the former Ram.

The already thin receiving corp remains down to three healthy pass-catchers _ Marvin Harrison, Terrance Wilkins and Tony Simmons. Trevor Insley won't be able to ply because of a concussion. Insley was the third receiver last Sunday against the 49ers. Rookie Reggie Wayne took part in limited work during the week trying to come back from a knee injury. Coach Jim Mora is hopeful that he will be available. The Colts will be without strong safety Cory Bird (ankle and knee) and linebacker Mike Peterson (knee). There is an outside chance Steve McKinney (back) could be available after doing some work this week. Free safety Idrees Bashir is probable with a concussion.

By playing against the Ravens last Sunday, quarterback Mark Brunell hurt his recovery from a quad injury. As of Friday, he is still experiencing swelling in the thigh and has been very limited in practices for the past three days. He's very questionable for Monday's game against the Packers. Saturday will be an important practice for him to see if there is any improvement. The Jaguars were thin at defense during Friday's practice. They were missing two strong side linebackers _ Hardy Nickerson (hip) and Danny Clark (foot). Kevin Hardy is out with a knee injury. Free safety Marlon McCree couldn't practice because of an ankle injury.

Defensive tackle Russell Maryland told coach Dave Wannstedt Friday that he isn't in good enough shape to help the Dolphins so he won't accept Wannstedt's offer to sign with the team next week. Wannstedt has been trying to convince Maryland and Cortez Kennedy to join the team, but he has been rejected by both. Maryland and Kennedy aren't expected to sign with anyone the remainder of the season. Defensive tackle Daryl Gardener will go on the injured reserve list next week after last Saturday's back surgery. For the second consecutive day, cornerback Sam Madison (dislocated shoulder) worked in non contract drills. It will be a game time decision whether or not he will play against the Broncos. Wannstedt said that he will either start Terry Cousins or Jamar Fletcher at Madison's spot if he can't go depending on the Broncos offensive strategy. Fullback Rob Konrad (shoulder) and strong safety Brian Walker (broken thumb) will return.

Daunte Culpepper will start at quarterback for the Vikings against the Steelers Sunday but most people around the Vikings believe he is only at around 70 percent. He has a sprained PCL and is listed as probable. He practiced Friday, but his mobility is going to be seriously affected against the Steelers aggressive defense. Things got worse Friday on the Vikings offensive line when Calvin Collins, who was slated to play left guard, popped a calf muscle and probably won't be able to play. That will force Corbin Lacina to come back one week earlier than he would like to off his knee injury. The Vikings will start Everett Lindsey at left tackle and Cory Withrow at right guard. Fullback Jim Kleinsasser will miss the game and maybe the next couple because of an ankle injury.

Bill Belichick's Patriots should have the flexibility to switch between the 4-3 and 3-4 Sunday against the Jets. Ted Johnson (knee) and Byron Cox (broken leg) have practiced all week. The Patriots don't expect to use Cox more than 10-to-15 plays. After all, he is rushing back from a broken leg to play against the Jets. Johnson will start. The question will be whether or not the Patriots start in a 4-3 or a 3-4. Linebacker Willie McGinest was given the green light Friday to practice on his leg injury. Same thing with backup linebacker Matt Chatham, who has a leg injury. Punter Ken Walter sat out practice Friday because of the flu.

The Saints expect wide receiver Willie Jackson to start even though he came down with a hamstring injury that has him listed as questionable. Albert Connell handled some of Jackson's work as the starter during Thursday's practice, but it will still come down to a game time decision whether the hamstring is healthy enough to start against the Panthers. Starting cornerback Kevin Mathis didn't practice Friday because of his neck injury and will be replaced by Duane Hawthorne at cornerback. Tight end Cam Cleeland finally practiced but only with the scout team. He's expected to miss another game.

The bye week has done a lot of good for the Jets. Guard Randy Thomas is the only player on the injury list and he's been able to practice all week on the ankle injury that sidelined him for a coupe of games. Coach Herman Edwards will have to decide Sunday whether to give Thomas back his starting job or stay with JP Machado. Odds favor Thomas starting.

Cornerback Charles Woodson will probably need a take a pain-killing shot for the third consecutive game to get through Sunday's game against the Cardinals. He has a bad toe injury that can't get through games unless he gets a shot. Tight end Roland Williams has missed a lot of practice this week because of an ankle injury but he should be able to play.

Oliver Ross will get his second start at right guard for Rich Tylski, who has been downgraded from questionable to probable for Sunday's game against the Vikings. Tylski missed last Sunday's Steelers game because of an ankle injury. Backup cornerbacks Jason Simmons (hamstring) and Deshea Townsend (hamstring) are question marks. The Steelers host the Vikings Sunday.

Expect the Rams to start Rich Coady at strong safety and Dexter McCleon at free safety for Sunday's game against the Falcons. McCleon will move over from corner to fill in for Kim Herring, who will only be available on a limited basis because of a hip pointer. Dre Bly will handle McCleon's cornerbacking duties. Coady is filling in for Adam Archuleta.

Of the nine Chargers listed as questionable or probable, the only one who didn't fully participate in practice Friday was free safety Jason Perry, who was limited on a knee injury. That means the Chargers have a chance of having a lot of semi-healthy options for the crucial trip to Seattle. For example, Tim Dwight, coming back from a collapsed lung, may be able to handle some specialty plays in the offense enough though it's doubtful he will handle the punt returns. Strong safety Rodney Harrison will be back at his normal spot. Wide receiver Jeff Graham, who didn't practice Thursday because of a knee injury, should be available. Cornerback Alex Molden (ankle) is the only player who is definitely out.

Forty-Niners wide receiver Terrell Owens practiced hard on his sore ankle Friday, giving him hope of being able to play Sunday night's game against the Bills. Going into practice, most people thought it was 40-60 that he was going to be able to play. He did about everything in practice. Now, there is better than 50-50 chance as long as practicing didn't cause additional swelling that will slow him down Saturday. Halfback Kevan Barlow had a slight setback on his shoulder injury and coach Steve Mariucci said it was all but certain he wouldn't play against the Bills. Wide receiver Tai Streets tweaked a hamstring and is now listed as probable. Defensive end Andre Carter practiced after missing a game because of an ankle injury and will be back as a starter.

The Seahawks head into the Chargers game in reasonably good shape. Defensive end Lamar King is not going to play because of a pulled calf. Ricky Watters is out.

The Bucs upgraded wide receiver Karl Williams (hip) from questionable to probable, leaving coach Tony Dungy with an interesting question. Does he start Williams or Jacquez Green? Williams had the last start when the two were healthy. The betting line is that Green will get the start because Williams missed some practice time this week with the hip injury. Reidel Anthony is questionable with a hip flexor and didn't practice. Backup halfback Aaron Stecker didn't practice Friday and will probably miss the game because of a hamstring injury. The Bucs visit the Bengals Sunday.

The four Titans not expected to play Sunday's game in Cleveland are wide receivers Chris Sanders (back) and Justin McCareins (ankle), strong safety Blaine Bishop (foot and hand) and tackle Brad Hopkins (hand). There is an outside chance tight end Erron Kinney could play even though he didn't practice Friday but don't count on it. Kinney has a calf injury. Defensive end Jevon Kearse and tight end Frank Wycheck returned to practice Friday and will be able to start. Kearse has a back injury. Wycheck has a bad ankle.

The Redskins were a healthy and vengeful lot as they prepared for the Cowboys Sunday. They practiced as if they were on a mission to physically pound the Cowboys. The only player who can't play is guard Matt Campbell, a guard who has a dislocated knee cap. Walter Rasby is still expected to start at tight end, but Stephen Alexander is back for his second consecutive game and may see more playing time. Halfback Stephen Davis isn't having any serious difficult because of his back injury.