ESPN Stephania Bell Blog

Hooray! No more byes. Unfortunately, as we found out in Week 10 when only two teams were resting, when there are more players playing the game, there are more injuries. Consequently, we have a lengthy injury report heading into this week's contests, so we may as well dive right into it.

As a reminder, each Friday teams are required to report injury designations for all players appearing on the injury report in anticipation of player status for the upcoming weekend. It's always easier when you know in advance that a player is not going to play. To help you out with that, key fantasy players listed Friday as "Out" for this week's games appear as a group at the end of the blog. But as is often the case, some of the most notable fantasy players' availability remains undecided heading into game time. That said, we take a look here at what we know about injuries heading into Week 11.

Good luck, everyone! May your players stay healthy and win for you.

QUARTERBACKS

Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions, (P): Stafford has been on the field for the Lions the past few weeks despite appearing less than fully recovered from his knee injury. Stafford again practiced daily on a limited basis but is reportedly moving better than he has in a while. That's good news for him and good news for his primary target, Calvin Johnson, whose receptions may have been down the past two weeks as a result of Stafford's limitations.

Kyle Orton, Denver Broncos, (Q): Orton will be a dreaded game-time decision and he really represents the classic 50-50 shot of sitting or starting. Orton injured his left ankle in Week 10 and has been unable to practice all week. Teammate Chris Simms has taken all of the first-team practice reps this week and should be better prepared to go this time around. Nonetheless, the Broncos maintain that they will see how Orton is moving around in pregame warm-ups to decide whether he plays. You have to figure that even if he does play he will still be uncomfortable and may struggle when he really has to step up on the front leg to make a deep throw. Very shaky fantasy situation here.

RUNNING BACKS:

Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals, (D): While Benson's injury (hip abductor strain) has not appeared serious, he did not practice this week and the rating of "doubtful" suggests he will not be facing Oakland in Week 11. Let's face it: This is a good opportunity for Benson to rest his hip and gear up for the latter part of the season. Rookie Bernard Scott is expected to start Sunday, but Benson should be available in Week 12.

Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons, (D): The "doubtful" tag tells the tale. Despite the Falcons maintaining throughout the week that there was no timetable on Turner's return, he never did appear to have much of a shot of playing this week after suffering a high right ankle sprain in Week 10. It would not be a big surprise if this keeps him out a bit longer, but that remains to be seen. In the meantime, all signs point to Jason Snelling getting the start in New York.

Jerious Norwood, Atlanta Falcons, (Q): Last week Norwood was listed as questionable but had only just begun to run, did no team practice and was ultimately, unsurprisingly, inactive on game day. This week Norwood did return to practice Thursday and Friday on a limited basis. While the Falcons are encouraged to have him back on the practice field, he is coming off a month of missed playing time and is not likely to do much of anything Sunday, if he's even activated.

Ladell Betts, Washington Redskins, (P): Betts' status last week was more dubious and he went on to have a great day starting in place of the injured Clinton Portis. With Portis out again in Week 11 expect Betts -- who was able to practice fully all week despite an injured ankle -- to again be the primary ball carrier for the Redskins.

Jamal Lewis, Cleveland Browns, (Q): Lewis has an ankle issue that limited him in practice throughout the week. Although he is expected to play, the ankle may impact his playing time. He has already indicated that he's retiring at the end of the year. Injury and upcoming retirement are not a great combination.

Sammy Morris, New England Patriots, (Q): Morris was in practice every day this week, working his way back from a sprained MCL. Although he worked on a limited basis, he's expected to be active for Sunday's game against the Jets. How much playing time Morris will get is a different issue. Given that this would be his first game in a month, it's likely he would be eased back into contact. Laurence Maroney should remain the feature back for the Patriots in Week 11.

Cadillac Williams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, (P): Williams had a sore knee that limited him Wednesday but he was a full practice participant Thursday and Friday. He will start against the New Orleans Saints.

Correll Buckhalter, Denver Broncos, (P): Buckhalter looked like he might not make it onto the field earlier in the week because of a bothersome knee. He has a history of injury to both knees, which is always a concern. He was back in full practice by Friday, however, and it appears, given the probable tag, that he will be available. Expect Knowshon Moreno to continue to get the majority of the work, though.

Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants, (P): Regular readers know what's coming next. Bradshaw has a crack in his fifth metatarsal (long bone in the forefoot) and rests early in the week, then practices on a limited basis later and plays Sunday.

WIDE RECEIVERS

Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions, (P): Johnson has been getting healthier as far as his knee goes, but he popped up on the injury report Friday because of his hand. This does not appear to be anything serious, however, given that he still practiced to some degree and the team has designated him as probable. He has a matchup against the Cleveland Browns; you have to believe he's out there.

Steve Breaston, Arizona Cardinals, (P): This is another sight familiar to regular readers. Breaston limits the stress on his knee throughout the week but plays on Sundays. Teammate Anquan Boldin is off the injury report but Breaston still manages to put up points week in and week out.

Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos, (P): Last week it was his back that had him listed on the injury report. This week the soreness seems to have traveled upward to his neck. The ailment only kept him out of practice one day, however, and after two full days of work, Marshall is set to play Sunday. It will be interesting to see who's throwing to him. The Denver Post reported that Marshall says he's "in love with Chris Simms' arm." Hmmm.

Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons, (Q): White has been limited in practice again this week because of soreness in his knee, but he has been playing through this for a couple of weeks now. Although White is listed as questionable, it appears that he will play, but fantasy owners need to check pregame inactives to be sure.

Bernard Berrian, Minnesota Vikings, (Q): The following commentary on Berrian is what I wrote last week and the exact same philosophy applies again, so why not repeat it?

Berrian has been bothered off and on this season by hamstring issues on both legs and again this week he was limited in practice. While the Vikings expect to have him available, his injury and his missed practice time do nothing to help increase his targets from quarterback Brett Favre. Sidney Rice is still the go-to guy with Percy Harvin becoming dangerous no matter how they use him. In other words, Berrian is not your best fantasy option.

Antonio Bryant, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, (P): Last week even I was suggesting that fantasy owners drop Bryant because of lingering issues in his surgical knee. While I'm not convinced he's 100 percent recovered, I will say he has had an amazing turnaround. In fact, coach Raheem Morris told the Tampa Tribune that Bryant's performance this week was "encouraging." It appears that Bryant will play, but he may share plenty of time with Maurice Stovall, according to the Tribune. From a health perspective that makes sense, so fantasy owners should take that into consideration.

Pierre Garcon, Indianapolis Colts, (Q): Garcon had an ankle issue that kept him out of Wednesday's practice, but he was back in full practice for the remainder of the week, making it likely that he will play Sunday.

Laveranues Coles, Cincinnati Bengals, (P): Coles was limited Thursday but managed a full practice Friday and is expected to face the Oakland Raiders.

TIGHT ENDS

Todd Heap, Baltimore Ravens, (Q): According to the Carroll County (Md.) Times, Heap is still nursing a sore rib, and although he remains a game-time decision is unlikely to play. L.J. Smith would start in place of Heap against the Indianapolis Colts. The good news for Heap owners is that he told the Times he does not have a cracked or broken rib and it is improving. Translation: Even if Heap misses Week 11, he should be in good shape for Week 12.

Kellen Winslow, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, (P): Winslow's sore knee is not unusual, and he was limited in practice Wednesday as a result. Back in full practice the remainder of the week, he is expected to resume his usual role.

Jermichael Finley, Green Bay Packers, (P): Finley is coming off a knee injury that has kept him out for several weeks but he now appears ready to return after a full week of practice.

Desmond Clark, Chicago Bears, (D): Clark has been unable to practice due to a sore neck and is very unlikely to play Sunday. No doubt the Bears will miss his blocking more than fantasy owners will miss points, but he should not be in your Sunday lineup.

Out: This space is intended for a list of key fantasy players, not including those who have been moved to injured-reserve status, who are officially listed as "Out" for the upcoming game.

Reggie Bush, RB, New Orleans Saints: Bush had not been able to practice all week because of swelling in his surgical knee, so it was not a huge surprise that he did not travel with the team to Tampa Bay. The Saints know their best chances of getting him back and keeping him back involve minimizing the swelling. Resting a week can go a long way. We'll see just how improved he is next week.

Brian Westbrook, RB, Philadelphia Eagles: This comes as no surprise after Westbrook suffered his second concussion in three weeks. Coach Andy Reid has already indicated this will be a multi-week absence.

Clinton Portis, RB, Washington Redskins: Portis is out again this week after suffering a concussion in Week 9. He traveled to Pittsburgh this week for consultation with their concussion experts. No timetable, as usual with these injuries.

Julius Jones, RB, Seattle Seahawks: A bruised lung and an injured rib will keep Jones sidelined for at least this week.

Chris Cooley, TE, Washington Redskins: Cooley is still recovering from ankle surgery, and his timetable remains uncertain. He is expected to have a follow-up visit with his surgeon this week; we should then get a better idea as to his true timetable.

Fred Taylor, RB, New England Patriots: No surprise here. The only difference this week is that he's not joined on the bench, at least not yet, by Sammy Morris.

Lance Moore, WR, New Orleans Saints: Moore will miss yet another week with his sprained ankle.

Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Indianapolis Colts: There is some speculation that Gonzalez could return to practice next week. Still, there are many hurdles to cross before returning to game action.

See you at the injury chats: Tuesday 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Sunday pregame (10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.). Be sure to check out Fantasy Football Now on Sundays at ESPN.com and on ESPN2 from 11:30 a.m. EST to kickoff for last-minute inactives, rankings and more!

It's Week 11, and we have another Thursday night matchup on our hands.

This week's showdown between the Carolina Panthers and the Miami Dolphins will be without one marquee fantasy player who unfortunately has been lost for the season because of injury. Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown injured his foot in Week 10, and there were hints that it was serious (on crutches, non-weight-bearing) from the start.

On Wednesday, the Dolphins announced that Brown had suffered his second season-ending injury in just three years. (He suffered a torn ACL in 2007 but returned in 2008 to play in all 16 games.) The Miami Herald is reporting that Brown suffered a Lisfranc injury and that he has traveled to North Carolina to be evaluated by a renowned foot and ankle specialist, Dr. Robert Anderson. Depending on the outcome of that visit, Brown may be facing surgery.

In any event, he is facing a lengthy rehabilitation process but has a chance to be ready for the start of the 2010 season. Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney suffered a Lisfranc injury in Week 10 of the 2007 NFL season. Freeney underwent surgery and was able to return for the start of the 2008 season, ultimately playing in all sixteen games that year. While there is high variability with the nature and degree of these injuries, not to mention plenty of individual hurdles to cross during rehabilitation, there are reasons to be optimistic that Brown will be on the field for the Dolphins when the 2010 season kicks off.

On the Panthers' side of the ball, Jonathan Stewart did not practice Tuesday to rest his Achilles, as has been customary for him this season. Stewart was back in practice Wednesday and, although listed as questionable (also customary), is expected to play. Teammate DeAngelo Williams also missed practice this week but on Wednesday. Williams was listed as questionable heading into Week 10 and it was of particular concern last week that, after returning to limited practice Thursday, he was then unable to practice Friday.

While Stewart had the better fantasy day Sunday with two touchdowns, Williams actually saw more touches, suggesting that his knee was not a big issue. It's not a surprise that the Panthers chose to rest him after his questionable status in Week 10 followed by a short week. Barring a pregame setback, expect both Williams and Stewart to be active in Thursday night's game.

So who else should we be concerned about health-wise heading into Week 11? Here's what we know so far:

Quarterbacks

Kyle Orton, Denver Broncos: Orton suffered a left ankle sprain and did not practice Wednesday but remains optimistic that he will be able to play. Orton told reporters that this injury is totally different from the sprain he suffered last year. For one thing, it's on the opposite leg. Orton acknowledged that he struggled when he returned after sitting out just one game with a high right ankle sprain last season and said, "Last year was so tough because it was pushing off and that was my back leg, so that was tough."

This injury has not been reported as a high ankle sprain, and it will be interesting to see, if he plays, just how much it will affect his performance. His mobility is likely to be limited, and it could be uncomfortable for him to step firmly onto his front leg to deliver a deep ball. At least Chris Simms has been getting some increased work with the first team this week. Orton's availability may come down to a game-time decision.

Running backs

Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eagles: Westbrook has already been ruled out for Week 11 after suffering a second concussion in three weeks.

There is some encouraging news for Westbrook, though, following his visit to Pittsburgh for a consultation. Westbrook underwent an evaluation with several specialists at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) including Dr. Joseph Maroon, UPMC neurosurgeon and team neurosurgeon for the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Dr. Michael Collins, UPMC neuropsychologist. Both have extensive experience with concussions and are often sought out as experts in the area. They are largely responsible for the development of the IMPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) tool, which is used in the NFL and in many colleges and high schools.

The Eagles received an encouraging report after Westbrook's visit and published a statement from the evaluating doctors on their official Web site. Maroon and Collins stated: "We are very encouraged by Brian's progress, we believe that he has an excellent prognosis and we expect a full recovery. We developed a comprehensive physical rehab plan for Brian, and we will repeat the detailed testing in the next two to three weeks.

Dr. Mark Lovell, the director of the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program, added, "We commend the Eagles athletic training and medical staff for their diligent and conservative care in this particular case as well as their historical excellence in managing these types of injuries."

Obviously the fact that Westbrook suffered two concussions in such close proximity adds an extra level of concern, and there is no doubt that the organization will err on the side of caution, as they have already demonstrated. It is important to point out, as the Pittsburgh experts did, that the Eagles' medical staff took all the appropriate measures to ensure that Westbrook had fully recovered from his prior concussion before returning to the field. In fact, after it appeared that Westbrook would return in Week 9, he was ultimately held out after his headache symptoms recurred the day before the game. There is a very real concern about the potential long-term effects of multiple concussions, and medical knowledge is still evolving in this area.

Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins: Speaking of taking concussions seriously, Portis appears to be doing just that. He is officially out for Week 11, and Ladell Betts is again expected to start in his place. After sitting out Week 10, coach Jim Zorn told the Washington Post that early in the week, Portis was still experiencing "blurriness" with quick head movements. Portis will not return any sooner than his symptoms permit. As is always the case with concussions, there is no predictive timetable in place here.

Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons: The only definitive comment the Falcons will make with regard to Turner is that there is no timetable for his return, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Certainly it does not appear that he will be in uniform Sunday when the Falcons travel to New York. Turner has a high ankle sprain, and the consequences of returning too soon are far greater than the reward of having Turner in the lineup at less than full speed. Expectations are that Jason Snelling will start. There was a Jerious Norwood sighting in Thursday's practice, but after he missed the past four games with a hip flexor strain, it would be hard to anticipate his being back to game speed, even if he is active Sunday.

Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals: On Tuesday I outlined the details of Benson's hip injury, which, although reportedly not serious, might result in his absence in Week 11. Benson has not practiced this week, which makes it more likely that Bernard Scott could get the start. The Bengals maintain that this could come down to a game-time decision, so we may not know for sure until Sunday.

Reggie Bush, New Orleans Saints: Bush has not practiced this week as a result of swelling in his knee, which he aggravated during Sunday's game. No strong hints yet that he will miss Sunday's game, but it is a situation worth monitoring.

Wide receivers

Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos: Marshall was absent from Wednesday's practice with a neck injury. In Week 10, his back kept him out of practice early but not out of competition Sunday. Assume that this is a similar situation and that Marshall will play this week.

Antonio Bryant, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bryant's knee has improved again and he resumed full practice Thursday. Bryant has missed the past two weeks because of recurrent swelling and discomfort in his surgical knee. According to the St. Petersburg Times, coach Raheem Morris says Bryant may be a game-time decision. It will be important to see how his knee responds to its first full practice in several weeks. If he should be able to practice fully Friday, that would be an encouraging sign.

Lance Moore, New Orleans Saints: Moore is still not practicing because of a left ankle sprain, and there are no obvious clues as to when he'll return. Plan accordingly.

Pierre Garcon, Indianapolis Colts: Garcon did not practice Wednesday because of an ankle injury but did take the field Thursday and remains hopeful that he will be active Sunday. Meanwhile, teammate Anthony Gonzalez is still recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery and is not expected even to return to practice for a couple of weeks.

Be sure to check back Saturday for post-Friday NFL injury report updates on all your fantasy players heading into the weekend.

See you at the injury chats (Tuesday 11 a.m. to 12 p.m, Friday 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Sunday pregame (10 to 10:30 a.m.). And check out "Fantasy Football Now" on Sundays at ESPN.com and ESPN2 from 11:30 a.m. ET to kickoff for last-minute inactives, rankings and more.

The joy of having only two teams on bye this past week quickly faded when more players on the field translated to more players ultimately getting carted off the field. The New York Giants and the Houston Texans have to be thankful that they did not add to their injury reports as they watched the games from home. Concussions continue to take a toll on fantasy stars, as do ankle and foot injuries. Sprinkled in the mix are rib injuries, muscle strains and knee sprains. In what constituted perhaps my busiest week yet this fantasy football season, many a fantasy must-start quickly became a fantasy must-replace.

What happened to your key players this week and will they recover in time to perform this week? We take a look at what we know so far as we move toward Week 11.

Brian Westbrook, RB, Philadelphia Eagles: Westbrook suffered his second concussion in three weeks and his football future is uncertain. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, coach Andy Reid said that Westbrook was "foggy" when he came off the field Sunday after running into San Diego Chargers safety Eric Weddle. Reid has already indicated that Westbrook will not play Sunday night but the question as to when -- or if -- Westbrook plays again this season remains unanswered.

Michael Turner, RB, Atlanta Falcons: Turner suffered a right high ankle sprain Sunday and was seen wearing a walking boot after the game. While the team has not provided any official information as to Turner's status for this week, high ankle sprains typically require weeks, not days, for healing before an athlete can return to play. The challenges are perhaps greatest at the running back position, given all the stress placed on the ankle. Returning too soon can jeopardize the long-term health of an athlete.

The Falcons are hopeful that Jerious Norwood, who has missed the past four games with a hip flexor strain, can return in Week 11. Norwood began running last week, but has yet to return to practice. Jason Snelling stepped in when Turner was forced out, but he too was just coming back from injury (hamstring strain) and may not have quite worked up to full speed. Fantasy owners should anticipate the absence of Turner for at least this week and perhaps longer. Practice updates should provide clues as to whether Norwood or Snelling would be more likely to step up in his place.

Ronnie Brown, RB, Miami Dolphins: Ronnie "Wildcat" Brown was yet another running back forced out of Sunday's game because of a right ankle injury. At least that's how it appeared at the time. More recent news suggests that Brown's foot is the focal point of the injury concern, and the Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that the injury may be more serious than initially thought. Brown is still on crutches, not putting weight on his foot, also hinting at a potentially serious injury. He has already been ruled out for Thursday night's game, with Ricky Williams starting in Brown's place, and that may extend beyond Week 11. Lex Hilliard is expected to serve as Williams' backup.

Cedric Benson, RB, Cincinnati Bengals: In Benson's case, it wasn't an ankle that knocked him out of Sunday's game; it was his hip, as the team indicated that their star running back left the game with a hip flexor strain. The Cincinnati Enquirer, however, reports that the injury is officially being called a hip abductor strain. The Bengals' official Web site also references an injury to the abductor muscle. Both the flexor and the abductor are muscles that support the hip; both, when injured, can affect a player's explosiveness and mobility. The hip flexor, which as the name implies, flexes the hip and helps drive the leg when running. It is a very deep muscle (so deep in fact that it anchors to the front of the lower vertebrae in the spine) and can be slow to recover (see Jerious Norwood above who has missed four games thus far with the injury). The abductor muscle abducts the hip, or moves the hip laterally. Its more important function, though, may be as a stabilizer of the hip and pelvis, helping with balance and stability during all movement. Weakness of the abductor can result in a noticeable limp as the pelvis loses stability.

All muscle strains are measured by degree, and in Benson's case the indications from the team (and Benson himself) are that the injury, whichever muscle or muscles are involved, is not serious. In fact, it sounds as if this hip issue is truly an exacerbation of a pre-existing condition, one that has limited Benson in practice as recently as two weeks ago. While coach Marvin Lewis emphasized that the injury did not appear serious, he also indicated that the team would hold him out of Sunday's game against the Oakland Raiders if necessary, according to the Bengals' official Web site. Said Lewis, "He really doesn't feel much worse for the wear. He has an opportunity this week. We'll be real cautious with him as we approach the game. If he's not healthy, he would not go. We'll see how he is as he goes through the week. Hopefully, he can make a comeback on this."

Nonetheless, Benson is very likely to be limited in practice this week, and as the Enquirer points out, he could be a game-time decision for the Bengals. That's always a fantasy favorite. It is also worth noting that Tuesday's signing of former Kansas City Chiefs star Larry Johnson is not expected to impact the running back depth chart, at least not yet.

Julius Jones, RB, Seattle Seahawks: Jones left the Seahawks' Sunday contest in the first quarter with what was called a chest injury initially. While Justin Forsett ran up a storm in his absence, Jones ended up in an Arizona hospital overnight with what the team is officially calling a bruised lung. Coach Jim Mora told reporters that Jones also was dealing with, "potentially, possibly a cracked rib." Mora added that it was "unlikely that [Jones] would be cleared to play on Sunday."

We've already seen an NFL player with a bruised lung this season. Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson suffered his lung injury in Week 7 but was able to play the following week. Not all internal organ injuries are created equal, however. The concern of a bony injury nearby could complicate the picture for Jones and lead to extended rest. This will be a wait-and-see situation, but Jones' fantasy owners should not wait to pick up an alternate back for Week 11.

Kyle Orton, QB, Denver Broncos: Despite Orton's early exit from Sunday's game with a left ankle injury, coach Josh McDaniels remains vague yet upbeat about the possibility that Orton returns for Week 11. While not revealing anything with regard to the specifics of Orton's injury, McDaniels told The Denver Post, "He's definitely not out for the game. We're certainly hopeful we can get him ready to go." Orton's status early in the week is clearly questionable, and much will depend on what he is able to do in practice by the end of the week. The team will be looking at his mobility and whether he can step up as he plants the leg to make longer throws. In case you were flashing back to last year, it was Orton's right ankle that was injured. Although he missed only one game then, he was clearly uncomfortable and far less mobile in his first couple of games post-injury. This very well could come down to game time.

Other quick hits:

• Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis sat out Week 10 due to lingering concussion symptoms. He may well be out another week. Although the team has not issued a formal status update, coach Jim Zorn told The Washington Post that Portis was still experiencing "blurriness" early in the week with quick head movements. Ladell Betts, who did not show any signs of being limited by a foot sprain Sunday, would get another start.

• Green Bay Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings has accumulated an assortment of nicks this season. His latest injury is being called a knee contusion (deep bruise), and he is likely to miss some practice time this week. There appears to be no serious threat to his availability for Week 11.

• Indianapolis Colts running back Joseph Addai hurt a finger in the first quarter of Sunday's game, but was able to return in the third quarter, although he had two fingers taped together. His status is not likely to be updated until later in the week, as is typical for the Colts. Chad Simpson left the game temporarily with a head injury but was able to return. Donald Brown, who missed the past two games with a shoulder injury, came out of Sunday's game for a while with a sore back. The Colts already have perhaps the lengthiest injury list in the league. They have to hope that all of these situations are minor, which, at this point, seems to be the case.

• Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith suffered bruised ribs after taking a hit in the back when he made his second end zone grab Sunday. While it is still early in the week, there is no hint from the team yet that his Week 11 status is in jeopardy.

• Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu injured his left knee Sunday, the same knee in which he suffered a sprained MCL earlier this season. He did not re-injure the MCL, though. Coach Mike Tomlin told reporters Tuesday that Polamalu suffered a PCL sprain and that he would be evaluated throughout the week to determine his status for Sunday.

More to come in Thursday's blog.

See you at the injury chats (Tuesday and Friday 11:00 a.m.-noon, and Sunday pregame 10-10:30 a.m.), and we'll have the latest injury updates affecting Week 11 in the Saturday morning blog!

Only two teams are on bye this week -- the Houston Texans and the New York Giants -- resulting in slightly less panic for fantasy owners everywhere. Nonetheless, injuries are always affecting game-day rosters and Week 10 is no different in that regard. With plenty of players to talk about, we'll get right down to business.

As a reminder, each Friday teams are required to report injury designations for all players appearing on the injury report in anticipation of player status for the upcoming weekend. It's always easier when you know in advance that a player is not going to play. To help you out with that, key fantasy players listed Friday as "Out" for this week's games appear as a group at the end of the blog. But as is often the case, some of the most notable fantasy players' availability remains undecided heading into game time. That said, we take a look here at what we know about injuries heading into Week 10.

Good luck in Week 10 everyone. May your players stay healthy and win for you.

Quarterbacks
Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions, (P): Stafford has played for the last two weeks and the probable designation tells us he'll be on the field again Sunday. That said, it is clear that Stafford's knee injury (reported patellar subluxation) is not 100 percent behind him. Residual weakness in the quadriceps muscle is a common side effect of such an injury and recovery time can be slow. The result is perhaps a slower Stafford trying to move out of the pocket. It's also possible that some of the inaccurate throws of late are a result, to some degree, of a slightly weaker lower body. Either way, Stafford's performance has been less than stellar, but he should have the benefit of a healthier star receiver (Calvin Johnson) on the field this week to help him out.

Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings, (P): While there really is never much question that Favre will start any given week, there may be a question as to how much he plays. This week it would not be surprising for the team to pull him early if they get a big lead, something that is entirely possible as they host the Detroit Lions. Favre has a groin injury that has been aggravated recently, and the biggest concern for Minnesota is a worsening of the condition that could potentially limit him down the stretch. Either way, fantasy owners stand to get points out of him, so there shouldn't be a huge worry here.

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers, (P): Rodgers continues to have some discomfort in his feet, but was able to put in full practices Thursday and Friday and is expected to start. Unfortunately from a protection standpoint, Rodgers lost right tackle Mark Tauscher almost as soon as he got him back (Tauscher sprained his knee last week) but Chad Clifton should be able to protect him on the blind side. Despite the foot ailments, keeping Rodgers on his feet is actually a good thing in the bigger picture of his overall health, especially if he is not forced to continuously scramble. Here's hoping that he will fare better in terms of sack avoidance in Week 10.

Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks, (P): Hasselbeck had a sore shoulder after taking a big hit in Week 8 followed by an exhausting Week 9 in which he was unable to make big throws. He was a full participant in practice Thursday and Friday, however, and is expected to make his Sunday start. In fact, Hasselbeck told reporters that his health is "the best it's been" since he injured his ribs in late September. The Seahawks have an important divisional matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, so fantasy owners have to be hoping for a big performance here.

Running Backs
Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eagles, (P): He's playing! That's his official status (forget the NFL injury report probable designation), according to head coach Andy Reid, who told reporters Friday that Westbrook "had a little extra bounce in his step" the past couple of days. After sitting out Sunday because of concussion-related headache symptoms and missing practice early in the week because of swelling in his surgically repaired ankle, Westbrook is ready to get back on the field.

His return comes not a moment too soon, as the Eagles face the San Diego Chargers on Sunday. Reid acknowledged that Westbrook would not see action the whole game when reflecting on the options the Eagles now have with LeSean McCoy in the picture. Fantasy owners should expect to continue to see the Westbrook-McCoy tandem once again.

Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams, Carolina Panthers, (Q): Not all questionables are created equal. Take the case of Stewart and Williams, for example. Stewart has routinely been listed as questionable throughout the season as the result of a chronic sore Achilles. Stewart's pattern, which remained the same this week, is to rest Wednesday, practice Thursday and Friday, then play Sunday. Williams, however, injured his knee (no specifics; coach John Fox referred to it earlier in the week as a "tweak") last Sunday. After not practicing Wednesday, Stewart returned to limited practice Thursday but then was unable to practice Friday. Regular readers of this blog know that I am very suspicious when a player is unable to practice after initially returning to practice post-injury. Williams is now a game-time decision. This may be a week in which Stewart sees increased action, even if Williams is ultimately active.

Ladell Betts, Washington Redskins, (Q): With Clinton Portis out at least this week following a concussion in Week 9, it seemed automatic that fantasy owners could count on Betts making the start in his place. After all, as coach Jim Zorn told the Washington Post earlier this week, Betts has extensive experience working with the first team given all the missed practice time for Portis across the season. Unfortunately, Betts chose this time to injure his foot (originally called an ankle sprain) and after not practicing Wednesday and Thursday, could only do limited work Friday. Betts told the Washington Post that he was about 75 percent as of Friday so it appears he will see some action, but it may not take much to set him back.

The benefit of practicing so much with the first team in the past is that Zorn still has confidence in Betts' ability to perform Sunday, if the health of his ankle permits. While the Redskins are still hopeful he'll play, there will almost certainly be a rotation of sorts to include Rock Cartwright and even Quinton Ganther. The question for fantasy owners is first "Will Ladell Betts play?" (luckily this is an early game) and second "How much time will he see?" At this point, there is no good answer so it may come down to a roll of the dice if Betts is active. It would be wise to evaluate all alternatives.

Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars, (P): Jones-Drew has had a sore knee intermittently this season and so far it has proven to be nothing serious. After putting in limited work Thursday, Jones-Drew practiced fully Friday and is expected to play. Fantasy owners worldwide just breathed a little easier.

LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers, (P): While Jones-Drew owners are relieved, Tomlinson owners have to feel a bit dejected about how this season has turned out. Now, Tomlinson's latest ailment (hip) is not expected to keep him out Sunday, but the fact that he has another ailment is of concern. Tomlinson has at times run very well, but just appears a step shy of the LT we hoped to see for one more year. While he can still contribute effectively for the Chargers on the ground, he may drop a few more notches on your fantasy depth charts.

Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders, (P): The probable tag tells us that McFadden is likely to make his return from knee surgery Sunday. It is worth noting, however, that while he put in a full week of practice, it is quite another thing to run at game speed and take hits on the still-recovering knee. Expect Justin Fargas to continue to see the bulk of the work this week with the team working on getting McFadden back into game shape.

Donald Brown, Indianapolis Colts: Brown is included here specifically because he does NOT appear on the Colts' injury report headed into Week 10. Week 9 started out that way, but then Brown was unable to practice Friday and was inactive Sunday. It looks like the Colts will have him back on the field to complement Joseph Addai when they have their big matchup against the New England Patriots.

Jerious Norwood, Atlanta Falcons, (Q): Despite the questionable tag suggesting a 50-50 shot of Norwood being on the field, the chances are seemingly less than that. Norwood has not been able to practice all week with a lingering hip injury and he will not likely see any action for another week.

Derrick Ward, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, (Q): Attention! Late-week injury downgrade! Ward, who has had some knee issues earlier in the season, appeared on the injury report Friday when he was unable to practice. He seems very iffy to play. More carries for Cadillac.

Marion Barber, Dallas Cowboys, (P): He's playing and that's pretty much all you need to know. Barber only appears on the injury report because of the still-healing thumb on his non-ball-carrying hand. The quad continues to improve and he remains the No. 1 guy in Dallas.

Wide Receivers
Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions, (P): At least the team is letting us know that Johnson is probable this week so there won't be so much pregame hand-wringing. More importantly, Johnson did more in practice this week (full participant daily) than he did last week. With him and Stafford both at less than 100 percent last week, the passing game was unimpressive. Although Stafford remains limited, Johnson's improvement could mean that he can bail Stafford out by making bigger plays. Could is the operative word. Johnson may not yet be back to Megatron form and they are facing the Minnesota Vikings -- at Minnesota -- but there's still more reason for optimism for his fantasy owners this week from a health perspective.

Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston, Arizona Cardinals, (P): Both are probable. Both are playing. The week off no doubt gave Boldin's ankle some much-needed rest and he will be on the field for the team's big divisional matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. Breaston remains the No. 3 receiver and should continue to provide some regular fantasy points.

Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos, (P): Marshall had a sore back after Monday night's game, but it could be simply a result of him providing most of the offensive production for the Broncos. He was back practicing Thursday and Friday and, as the probable tag indicates, is expected to play. I hear a collective fantasy-owner sigh.

Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints, (P): Colston caught the illness bug and was kept out of practice early in the week but returned full steam on Friday. With Lance Moore out again due to a sprained ankle, Colston may be featured even more, along with teammates Devery Henderson and Robert Meachem.

Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons, (Q): White has been limited in practice again this week because of soreness in his knee but the Falcons continue to act as if there are no major worries here. Although White is listed as questionable, it appears that he will play, but fantasy owners need to check pregame inactives to be sure.

Terrell Owens, Buffalo Bills, (Q): Although he's listed as questionable, Owens told reporters after participating in his first practice Friday that his hip, which began hurting after he fell asleep on his couch, is feeling good. Owens hasn't done much for fantasy owners thus far when he's been healthy. I'm not sure why that would change now when he may be a step slower.

Bernard Berrian, Minnesota Vikings, (Q): Berrian has been bothered off and on this season by hamstring issues on both legs and again this week he was limited in practice. While the Vikings expect to have him available, his injury and his missed practice time do nothing to help increase his targets from Favre. Sidney Rice is still the go-to guy and Percy Harvin is dangerous no matter how they use him. In other words, Berrian is not your best fantasy option.

Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles, (P): There's really not much to worry about here with Maclin listed as probable and practicing fully throughout the week. It's worth noting that DeSean Jackson is not on the injury report at all. Both will be available to catch Donovan McNabb's passes.

Antonio Bryant, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, (D): The doubtful tag says it all. The Buccaneers are concerned about the return of swelling in Bryant's knee and he has been held out of practice all week. This may turn into a multiple-week issue. Time for fantasy owners to drop the receiver who showed some promise earlier in the season and turn elsewhere for help.

Chaz Schilens, Oakland Raiders, (P): It will be interesting to see if Schilens' presence on the field improves quarterback JaMarcus Russell's performance. After all, coach Tom Cable indicated that Schilens' absence (out since the start of the season following foot surgery) has affected Russell. Somehow I'm not expecting to be overwhelmed. Nonetheless, this is encouraging news for the Raiders as the receiver who was No. 1 on the depth chart heading into the season is expected to finally make his debut. This is another situation in which they may work him into the game slowly, so fantasy owners should not expect too much, but it's worth keeping an eye on him.

Out: This space is intended for a list of key fantasy players, not including those who have been moved to injured reserve status, who are officially listed as "out" for the upcoming game.

Justin Gage, WR, Tennessee Titans: He has multiple broken bones in his back. Gage gets the tough player of the week award because he injured himself while making a catch that earned him a "10" on the style points scale. Luckily, transverse processes (the part of the vertebrae that are broken) are not near the spinal cord, so the risk for serious injury is minimal, but it will take a few weeks for the bone to heal and the pain to subside. Fantasy owners should make alternate plans for a few weeks.

Jermichael Finley, TE, Green Bay Packers: Finley will miss another week with his sprained knee but hopes to return soon.

Clinton Portis, RB, Washington Redskins: Portis is out this week after suffering a concussion in Week 9. As is always the case with head injuries, there is no timetable for his return. We will keep you posted on his progress.

Chris Cooley, TE, Washington Redskins: Cooley is still recovering from ankle surgery and his timetable remains uncertain. More updates in the next week.

Fred Taylor, RB, New England Patriots: There are rumblings that Taylor is making some good progress. As always, if there are any nuggets to come out of Boston, we will be all over them.

Lance Moore, WR, New Orleans Saints: Moore will miss another week with his sprained ankle. I'm hearing this could be more serious than initially thought. Fantasy owners will want to consider that his absence could be extended.

Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Indianapolis Colts: Same song, different verse. Still recovering from surgery. Still hoping they get him back in practice within the next few weeks.

Antoine Winfield, CB, Minnesota Vikings: Still ailing with the foot but hoping to return in Week 11.

See you at the injury chats (Tuesday 11 a.m.-noon ET, Friday 11 a.m.-noon and Sunday pregame (10-10:30 a.m.). Be sure to check out Fantasy Football Now on Sundays at ESPN.com and on ESPN2 from 11:30 a.m. ET to kickoff for last-minute inactives, rankings and more!

This week we see the start of Thursday night games (pro football three days a week!) when the San Francisco 49ers host the Chicago Bears, so don't forget to activate the early-game players on your roster.

Thankfully we can finally say goodbye to the weeks of six teams on bye! There are only two teams resting this week -- the New York Giants and the Houston Texans -- so many fantasy teams will have their full rosters available. Naturally, injuries will impact player availability to some degree and that's why we're here for you. We can already anticipate that Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis will not be available as he recovers from a concussion. But you may be able to utilize Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden, who looks to be on track for a possible return following knee surgery.

Who else do fantasy owners need to be examining closely when it comes to injuries? We take a look at what we know so far as we move toward Week 10.

Clinton Portis, RB, Washington Redskins: Portis is the latest star fantasy player to literally be knocked out of a game, as he suffered a concussion Sunday. He is doubtful heading into Week 10, according to head coach Jim Zorn, who told The Washington Post that he spoke with Portis on Monday morning and that his star running back could not remember the disabling hit. He indicated that Portis would undergo IMPACT testing Tuesday (tests that examine how the brain is processing information). Those test results are compared with preseason test numbers and must return to baseline levels before a player can be cleared to return to play. In addition to cognitive testing, the medical staff will monitor any concussion-related symptoms that Portis exhibits to determine whether he can participate in any exercise activity. While it is impossible to predict how long it will be before Portis can return, we do know that Ladell Betts will be the projected starter in Portis' absence.

Brian Westbrook, RB, Philadelphia Eagles: Westbrook sat out Sunday's game, which came as a bit of a surprise based on how good Westbrook looked in midweek practice. This serves as a reminder that not only are concussions taken very seriously, as they should be, but that symptoms can return days later as activity is increased. Westbrook had put in full practices on Wednesday and Thursday, but sat out Friday's practice. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Westbrook was held out Friday as a result of recurrent swelling in his surgically repaired ankle. Even coach Andy Reid indicated early Friday that Westbrook didn't have a return of his headache, but that the team wanted to rest him after he had practiced extensively the two days prior. The Inquirer adds that it was later Friday, after the decision had been made to hold Westbrook out of practice, that he experienced headache symptoms which led to his being held out of Sunday's game. "The reason he didn't play was strictly because of the headache," Reid said.

Heading into this week, the team is hopeful that Westbrook's concussion symptoms will have completely resolved and that his ankle will be in better shape. Reid hopes to have him in practice Wednesday. As we saw last week, practice Wednesday is no guarantee for playing Sunday, but it would be a step in the right direction. Westbrook owners may find themselves faced with another game-time decision in Week 10.

Anquan Boldin, WR, Arizona Cardinals: By now, fantasy owners know that Boldin did not play in Week 9 in order to rest his injured ankle. They also know that he wasn't happy about it. In the end, it was not a huge surprise that he was declared inactive as coach Ken Whisenhunt had been hinting at that possibility throughout the week. Nonetheless, Boldin's presence in practice Friday did render that decision a little less predictable heading into the weekend.

So what can fantasy owners expect this week? It would seem that Boldin is more likely to play in Week 10. Keep in mind that his ankle sprain is not likely to be 100 percent recovered. The hope for the Cardinals had to be that Boldin would be further along in his healing following a week of rest which would then allow him to last for an entire game, something he could not do in Weeks 8 or 9. Stay tuned to see what Boldin does in practice this week. Expect him to see limited work with the likelihood that he will suit up on Sunday.

Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions: Johnson returned to the field Sunday but was relatively quiet. He had nine passes thrown his way, not all of them accurate, and hauled in two receptions for a grand total of 27 yards. Although Johnson's performance didn't exactly stand out, the good news is that he emerged unscathed from the game and should be in better shape heading into Week 10. Johnson's presence does open up the offense and if he and Matthew Stafford can increase their practice together, things should improve. Maybe not this week though; the Lions face the Minnesota Vikings.

Other quick hits:

• Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards is expected to be cleared to play this Sunday. He is feeling better since suffering a concussion several weeks ago.

• St. Louis Rams wide receiver Danny Amendola suffered a concussion in Week 8 but he has been cleared to return to play. He returned to practice Monday and says he has fully recovered.

• Indianapolis Colts running back Donald Brown sat out Week 9 and his status for this week is unclear. Last week, Brown was off the injury report and practiced fully Wednesday and Thursday. He was then a surprise addition Friday when he did not practice at all. The Colts want to have him back when he can play without risk of a setback and will update his status midweek.

• Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez underwent arthroscopic knee surgery to remove some debris within the joint. Is he still on your roster? By now, you should have a replacement slotted in for him as the situation remains unpredictable.

• Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden was back in practice Monday. If all goes well, he will be on the field Sunday when the Raiders host the Kansas City Chiefs. Just how much time he would see in his return is uncertain. The Raiders are also hoping to see wide receiver Chaz Schilens rejoin the team soon. Schilens has been slowly working his way back from foot surgery and acknowledges that he is not yet 100 percent.

• New England Patriots running back Sammy Morris was walking through the locker room without a limp Monday according to the Boston Globe. He is recovering from a sprained MCL. The Boston Herald reported last week that he hoped to be available in Week 11, so expect Laurence Maroney to start for the Patriots again this Sunday.

• Although the San Francisco 49ers did not practice Monday, they released an "estimated" practice injury report based on what they projected for their players (required with the game upcoming on Thursday). Frank Gore, who suffered an eye contusion after getting poked in Week 9, was listed as a full participant, indicating the team expects him to start as usual Thursday. Tight end Vernon Davis was listed as limited because of a left shoulder contusion. It does not sound as if this would be enough to keep him out of Thursday's game, though.

More to come in Thursday's blog.

See you at the injury chats (Tuesday 11:00 a.m.-noon, Friday 11 a.m.-noon and Sunday pregame 10:00-10:30 a.m.) and we'll have the latest injury updates affecting Week 10 in the Saturday morning blog!

Fantasy owners can see the light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to finding replacements for one of the many players who are on bye. Six teams are off again this week (next week two teams are off) and then the league will resume the full schedule of games. If we can just get through Week 9 …

As a reminder, each Friday teams are required to report injury designations for all players appearing on the injury report in anticipation of player status for the upcoming weekend. It's always easier when you know in advance that a player is not going to play. To help you out with that, key fantasy players listed Friday as "Out" for this week's games appear as a group at the end of the blog. But as is often the case, some of the most notable fantasy players' availability remains undecided heading into game time. That said we take a look here at what we know about injuries heading into this week.

Notably, the players for Buffalo, Cleveland, Oakland, St. Louis, Minnesota and New York (Jets) all have byes this week and are omitted from this report.

Good luck in Week 9, everyone! May your players stay healthy and win for you.

QUARTERBACKS
Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions, (P): Stafford played in Week 8 and managed to emerge no worse for wear. Although he acknowledged feeling more sore than usual, Stafford returned to practice every day this week and is on track to play in Week 9. The probable designation confirms that, barring an unexpected setback, Stafford will be the Lions' signal-caller this week.

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers, (P): Rodgers went into Week 8 with soreness in one foot and came out of it with both feet hurting. The pre-existing foot sprain appeared to be aggravated during last Sunday's game and Rodgers also suffered a toe sprain in his opposite foot. After taking Wednesday and Thursday off from practice, Rodgers was able to return to full practice on Friday. Listed as probable, he is expected to start this weekend at Tampa Bay. Although he may not be as mobile as usual, Rodgers should benefit from the veteran protection of two returning tackles to the offensive line. Chad Clifton, who has been dealing with a recurrent ankle sprain, practiced this week and is expected to resume his role at left tackle. Mark Tauscher, whose last season ended early as the result of an ACL injury, will be taking up the right tackle spot. Rodgers should have a little extra time to work with this week.

Jake Delhomme, Carolina Panthers, (P): Delhomme suffered a chest contusion last week that initially looked like it might be something serious. He was taken to the hospital for tests, but when all came back negative, he was cleared to practice. He did just that, participating in full practice throughout the week. Delhomme is expected to start against the New Orleans Saints this week.

Eli Manning, New York Giants, (P): Manning made an appearance on the injury report Friday but it appears to be more of a matter of documenting the presence of the injury than anything else. Manning has been a full participant in practice and is expected to start against the San Diego Chargers. Much has been made of just how much Manning's plantar fasciitis has contributed to his performance recently, and while Manning denies that the foot is a factor, it is impossible to say with any certainty whether it contributes to some degree. Keep in mind that Manning had one of his better performances the week immediately after his foot flared up, so it is certainly not the only issue. Manning and the Giants are hoping for a better performance this week.

RUNNING BACKS
Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eagles, (Q): Don't let the questionable tag fool you. Westbrook is expected to play Sunday. Westbrook, who has been recovering from a concussion, returned to full practice this week after sitting out last week. He did not practice Friday but coach Andy Reid indicated that Westbrook did not have any recurrent symptoms; rather, the team decided to give him a day of rest after putting in two full days. LeSean McCoy will continue to provide another option at running back, and it seems as if the workload will be split in the usual manner.

Kevin Smith, Detroit Lions, (Q): Smith did not practice Wednesday, but as I outlined in my Thursday blog, the shoulder injury he sustained in the Week 8 game did not appear to be serious. Smith increased his practice work Thursday and Friday and expects to be on the field Sunday when the team faces the Seattle Seahawks.

Donald Brown, Indianapolis Colts, (Q): Brown missed the Week 8 game after suffering a painful shoulder injury the previous week. At the start of the week, there was some concern as to whether he would be available Sunday, but Brown put in full practices Wednesday and Thursday and did not even appear on the team's injury report. On Friday, however, Brown did not practice, and popped up as questionable to face the Houston Texans. It's unclear whether Brown had a setback or whether the team just opted to rest him, but now his status becomes a dreaded game-time decision. This game kicks off in the early round so fantasy owners should be sure to check game-day inactives.

Marion Barber, Dallas Cowboys, (P): Barber continues to appear on the injury report as a result of his fractured left thumb. The thumb has not hindered his performance and, perhaps more importantly, his quadriceps strain seems to be almost fully recovered. After fully practicing all week, Barber will be ready to take on the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday night.

Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants, (P): Refer to last week's note. Seriously. Bradshaw's status looks to remain the same going forward. He will not practice (or will practice very little) during the week and will continue to wear a protective boot on his foot (where he has a cracked fifth metatarsal) until the weekend. The probable designation tells you the Giants plan on having him on the field against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.

Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers, (Q): Stewart has also developed a routine of resting early in the week to avoid overloading his Achilles. He did not practice Wednesday, as has become his norm, but practiced fully Thursday and Friday. Despite the questionable tag, he is expected to play Sunday.

WIDE RECEIVERS
Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions, (Q): Johnson is one of the key fantasy question marks heading into Week 9 and the Lions haven't made planning any easier by designating him as a game-time decision. Johnson had a similar designation in Week 8 and did not play. It's worth noting, however, that Johnson did very little in practice leading up to last week. Known for his athleticism and acrobatic catches, Johnson would have been at risk of either not playing up to par or reinjury had he returned too soon. This week Johnson has been reported to be running smoothly and has seen increased practice time, including reps with the first-team offense. Coach Jim Schwartz has not tipped his hand as to whether he expects Johnson to play or not and no doubt will want to see him running well in pregame warm-ups before making the final decision. This is a late game, so fantasy owners may be taking a gamble here by waiting until that decision is made. The evidence thus far supports an increased likelihood of Johnson playing as compared to last week, but questionable literally means there is a 50-50 chance it could go either way. The fact that it does come down to game time also belies the fact that Johnson is not at full strength just yet, but there is little doubt if he does play that Stafford will take advantage of his best deep threat.

Donald Driver, Green Bay Packers, (P): This has to come as a relief to concerned fantasy owners who noticed Driver was not at practice Wednesday or Thursday. He suffered a stinger in last week's game and was still having neck soreness early in the week. He was back in full practice Friday, however, and given the probable designation. It is clear the team expects him to play Sunday.

Devin Hester, Chicago Bears, (Q): Hester's ankle sprain was deemed mild by the team, but his absence from practice both Wednesday and Thursday began to raise some eyebrows. Hester was back Friday in limited work and declared himself 100 percent ready according to the Chicago Tribune. Fantasy owners can feel confident that Hester will be on the field Sunday and should not be limited at the wide receiver position.

Anquan Boldin, Arizona Cardinals, (Q): On Thursday I outlined why the Cardinals might lean toward resting Boldin in Week 9. Boldin's return to practice Friday makes the picture even murkier. He worked on a limited basis but reportedly was moving well, making a good case for being active Sunday. Once again, Boldin's status will be a game-time decision. At least this week fantasy owners benefit from the fact that the Cardinals have an early start. But bear in mind, while Boldin has not missed any starts as a result of the ankle injury, he has not finished the past two games, either.

Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons, (Q): White did not practice until Friday because of soreness in his knee. Coach Mike Smith indicated that White was rested as a result of the short week after a Monday night game. Expect Smith to suit up to face the Washington Redskins on Sunday.

Antonio Bryant, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, (Q): Fantasy owner injury alert! Bryant has had some recurrence of swelling in his post-surgical knee which he attributed to the long flight from London to Tampa Bay. After practicing Wednesday, Bryant did less Thursday and did not practice at all Friday. A downward practice trend is never good heading into the weekend. Bryant will be a game-time decision but even coach Raheem Morris has hinted that Bryant may sit this one out. Fantasy owners should make alternate plans just in case.

Pierre Garcon, Indianapolis Colts, (Q): This one is a bit of a surprise. Garcon appeared on the injury report Friday when he did not practice as the result of an injured ankle. It is unclear whether he was being rested so as not to add to the ever-growing Colts injury roster or whether he had an actual injury setback. Fantasy owners need to check his status before game time. Fortunately Colts' starting wide receiver Reggie Wayne is off the injury report this week.

Steve Breaston, Arizona Cardinals, (P): Breaston will continue to play on Sundays after limited work during the week. If teammate Anquan Boldin sits, Breaston's role stands to be expanded.

Mario Manningham, New York Giants, (P): After sitting out in Week 8 as a result of a late-week shoulder injury, Manningham returned to limited practice this week and is expected to play.

DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles, (P): There's really not much to worry about here, with both players listed as probable and both practicing fully throughout the week. They both should see some action against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night.

TIGHT ENDS
Ben Watson, New England Patriots, (Q): Watson was limited in practice throughout the week because of a sore back. Watson is expected to play this weekend despite the questionable tag.

Kevin Boss, New York Giants, (P): Boss indicated that the ankle he hurt earlier in the season was sore after the Week 8 game which was no doubt the reason for his limitations in practice throughout the week. The probable designation indicates that the Giants expect to have him available this Sunday.

Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers, (P): Alarm bells went off among fantasy owners when Gates was limited early in the week because of his foot, especially given his history of foot problems. Gates was back in full practice Thursday and Friday though and is expected to start against the New York Giants.

Dante Rosario, Carolina Panthers, (Q): Rosario has been dealing with a knee injury for a few weeks now. He did not practice at all this week and is expected to miss the game Sunday.

Out: This space is intended for a list of key fantasy players, not including those who have been moved to injured reserve status, who are officially listed as "Out" for the upcoming game.

Lance Moore, WR, New Orleans Saints: Moore has a sprained ankle and was unable to practice all week. Moore sits this one out, meaning all of your other Saints fantasy receivers (and tight ends) get more catches this week.

Anthony Gonzalez, WR, Indianapolis Colts: Gonzalez underwent an arthroscopic procedure to clean out his injured knee. He had been struggling since spraining his PCL earlier in the season and had not been able to return to practice. It appears Gonzalez will be out an additional few weeks -- at the minimum -- but by this point fantasy owners should have replaced him in their roster.

Jordy Nelson, WR, Green Bay Packers: Nelson continues to sit with a sprained knee. James Jones is the No. 3 receiver behind Donald Driver and Greg Jennings.

Jermichael Finley, TE, Green Bay Packers: Finley's knee is still not well enough to allow him to return to play. Donald Lee is the starting tight end for Green Bay again this week.

Sammy Morris, RB, New England Patriots: The Boston Herald reported this week that Morris is dealing with an MCL injury. He is not expected back before late November, so until then Laurence Maroney is the expected starter.

Fred Taylor, RB, New England Patriots: No surprise here as Taylor continues to recover from ankle surgery. We may or may not see him back in the lineup in December.

Julian Edelman, WR, New England Patriots:Edelman continues to recover from a fractured forearm. But Wes Welker remains healthy!

Chris Cooley, TE, Washington Redskins:Cooley is still on the mend from surgery to address his injured ankle. While there are conflicting reports as to when he might return, we know it won't be this week or next.

See you at the injury chats (Tuesday 11 a.m. to  12 p.m. Friday 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Sunday pregame, 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.). Be sure to check out Fantasy Football Now on Sundays at ESPN.com and on ESPN2 from 11:30 a.m. EST to kickoff for last-minute inactives, rankings and more!

Usually we don't get much information from the teams that are on bye weeks as they quietly rest their injured players and give everyone some much-needed downtime. That said, there are a few interesting tidbits from a couple of teams who are not playing in Week 9.

While there is other news swirling among the Oakland Raiders, fantasy owners might want to note that running back Darren McFadden has returned to practice for the first time since undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in October to address a torn meniscus. The Oakland Tribune reports that McFadden practiced without experiencing any setbacks. Of course, the all-important test is how the knee responds in subsequent days. If McFadden continues to practice, this is a good sign that he will be available in Week 10. The Tribune indicates that the Raiders expect McFadden to play next Sunday, but that the status of wide receiver Chaz Schilens, who is still slowly recovering from foot surgery, remains questionable.

On the opposite coast, Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards has returned to light practice following a concussion. The Buffalo News quotes a team source as saying that Edwards will return to his starting role in Week 10, assuming no setbacks as he continues to increase his practice activity.

The New York Jets are literally taking the week off as coach Rex Ryan gave everyone six days of vacation. Most players indicated that they had never had this kind of time off midseason. It will be interesting to see whether it proves to be the beginning of a fresh start for the slumping Jets. It could certainly help all the recovering muscle strains on that team.

Thankfully this is the last of the six-team bye weeks so fantasy owners have to contend with only one more frantic search to find substitutions. The Bills, Raiders, Jets, Cleveland Browns, St. Louis Rams and Minnesota Vikings all have this week off.

Here are some status updates to help you shape your roster as we look ahead to Week 9.

Quarterbacks

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers: Rodgers is nursing two sore feet and did not practice Wednesday as expected. According to the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Rodgers has a sprained big toe on his left foot (sustained during last week's game) as well as a right foot sprain which he has been dealing with for two weeks. Rodgers broke the fifth metatarsal (long forefoot bone that connects to the fifth or pinkie toe) in 2006, so this new left toe injury is in a completely different location. The big toe is critical for push-off, so Rodgers' mobility may be compromised a bit more than usual, making his pocket protection that much more important.

Veteran tackle Mark Tauscher, who suffered a season-ending knee injury last December and has not played since, may make his season debut at right tackle this Sunday. It appears that Rodgers will also have his veteran left tackle Chad Clifton back in the lineup this week. Clifton, who has had recurring problems with an ankle sprain, was active last week but did not see playing time. That could very well change this week when the Packers face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Look for Rodgers to do very little physical activity until Friday, as a measure for ensuring his availability for Sunday.

Jake Delhomme, Carolina Panthers: Delhomme was a full participant in practice Wednesday despite suffering a chest contusion in Week 8. As of now, it appears he is ready to take the field Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.

Running Backs

Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eagles: On Tuesday, I outlined what would have to happen in order for Westbrook to be eligible to play in Week 9. So far, so good. Westbrook practiced fully on Wednesday and Thursday and coach Andy Reid says "he's good to go," according to the Eagles' official Web site. The expectation is that he will practice every day this week and barring any setback, will be prepared to play Sunday. Expect the typical Westbrook and LeSean McCoy rotation as the team looks to balance his workload, which has been a constant throughout the season. Westbrook continues to run well when called upon; he is just called upon less frequently as the Eagles utilize all their options.

Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants: As expected, Bradshaw did not practice Wednesday to rest his foot and ankle. Bradshaw likely will do limited work before the game and then play Sunday when the Giants host the San Diego Chargers. Bradshaw did not have his best statistics Sunday and it is no secret that he is playing in pain. Nonetheless he has performed well overall despite playing with the injury and there is no reason to think that he won't continue to do so.

Donald Brown, Indianapolis Colts: Brown did not play in Week 8 because of his shoulder injury but was back in practice Wednesday trying to make his case for this Sunday. In fact, fantasy owners may think he's in the clear since Brown did not even appear on the Colts' official practice injury report for Wednesday. Not so fast. The Colts are holding off on making a decision as to whether or not Brown will be available until late in the week. No doubt they will want to see that he can practice on consecutive days without limitation. This could result in a game-time decision, but for what it's worth, the Colts face the Houston Texans in an early matchup.

Kevin Smith, Detroit Lions: Smith injured his left shoulder in Sunday's game, taking him out of the game early. Apparently it was not so serious that Smith could not have returned, but since Maurice Morris was running well, the Lions went with him. This is not the same shoulder Smith injured earlier in the season (which did not result in any missed time). Smith did not practice Wednesday but was back in practice Thursday. Jim Schwartz went to the trouble of explaining that the workload split in Sunday's game between Smith and Morris was a result of that shoulder injury, but that Smith is the Lions' "workhorse running back, getting most of the carries." So it appears that if Smith is able to go, he certainly will. The Lions have tended to earmark their injured players as game-time decisions, so expect Smith to fall into that category as well. If he practices again Friday, it would certainly support the notion that he will start.

Wide Receivers

Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions: After a few weeks of doing little or nothing in practice, Johnson has returned to increased practice activity this week. Johnson reportedly moved well in practice, but the Lions remain noncommittal about his availability in Week 9. The fact that Johnson is appearing in back-to-back practices on Wednesday and Thursday is already more encouraging than anything he has done since the injury. The Lions clearly need him on the field not only to provide the obvious target for quarterback Matthew Stafford, but also to force opposing defenses to respond to him. That said, they do not want him to be at risk for something more significant in terms of injury. The Detroit Free Press is reporting that coach Jim Schwartz says Johnson's availability will likely be a game-time decision (not surprising as this has been the case before) but this is an early game so fantasy owners can take some consolation there.

Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez, Indianapolis Colts: Wayne had a good game in Week 8 despite a recently strained groin and was back in practice Wednesday (and off the injury report). Wayne has a good history against the Houston Texans and it certainly looks as if he will be starting against them this week.

Meanwhile, Anthony Gonzalez is not any closer to returning to the field. Gonzalez sprained his knee (PCL) early in the season and was originally projected back after the team's bye but has not yet been able to even participate in practice. Gonzalez did not take part in team drills Wednesday and is seeking outside consultation for his injured knee.

According to Tom James of the Terre Haute Tribune-Star, Colts head coach Jim Caldwell is not sure as to exactly where Gonzalez stands in his recovery. Says Caldwell, "I know he's trying to get to the point where he feels like he can function at his normal level. He is not there yet. How long that takes him just depends. I know he's taken a look at it and getting some more opinions and things of that nature and moving forward."

At this point, fantasy owners who were still holding out hope for Gonzalez need to relinquish the space on their bench and find an alternate player who can contribute now. While Gonzalez may yet return this season, there are still too many question marks as to if and when that will be, not to mention how he will perform.

Anquan Boldin, Arizona Cardinals: His status is becoming "iffier" by the day. Boldin, who has acknowledged that he does not expect his ankle to be 100 percent healthy, did not practice Wednesday and there seems to be some momentum building toward resting Boldin for a week to afford the ankle some opportunity to heal. While it's unlikely that one week will allow the ankle to recover completely, it certainly could go a long way toward improving his chances of making it through a full game.

Boldin has played the past two weeks despite the injury but has struggled after the first half. According to the Cardinals' official Web site, coach Ken Whisenhunt is evaluating the situation and insists, "We always try to make the decision that's in the best interest of the team." Fantasy owners think it would be in their best interest to find out before game time, especially since the past two weeks have resulted in frustration. At least the Cardinals play early this week, but it's fair to say that unless Boldin makes a miraculous recovery, it certainly seems as if the team is leaning toward sidelining him for Week 9.

Mario Manningham, New York Giants: Manningham sat out Week 8 after injuring his shoulder in practice late last week. The good news is that he's been back in practice this week and looks as if he will be available Sunday.

Donald Driver, Green Bay Packers: Driver suffered a stinger in Sunday's game but early indications were that it was not serious and that he would play in Week 9. It is a bit concerning that Driver did not practice Wednesday or, apparently, Thursday. The Green Bay Press-Gazette reports that Driver was on the field but not in pads during the portion of practice open to the media. It certainly could be the case that the team is being cautious with Driver and avoiding any contact during the week. So far there is no indication that his status for Sunday is in doubt, but Friday's practice should yield more clues.

Be sure to check back on Saturday for post-Friday NFL injury report updates on all your fantasy players heading into the weekend.

See you at the injury chats (Tuesday 11:00 a.m.-noon, Friday 11 a.m.-noon and Sunday pre-game (10-10:30 a.m.). And check out Fantasy Football Now on Sundays at ESPN.com from 11:30 a.m. ET to kickoff for last minute inactives, rankings and more!

There was a collective sense of mourning among fantasy owners of Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels when he went down Sunday with a season-ending knee injury. Daniels, who had been having a tremendous season, tore his right ACL when his foot reportedly caught in the Ralph Wilson Stadium turf during the Texans' win over the Bills. As is typical, Daniels will have surgery in approximately two weeks once the swelling has had a chance to subside and he approaches full range of motion. In the meantime, Daniels' owners will hit the waiver wire and work the trade market this week to seek a replacement. It will be tough to replace Daniels' production, but forge ahead we must, as a lot of time remains to jostle for fantasy playoff spots.

So whom else must fantasy owners be concerned about when it comes to injuries? We take a look at what we know so far in the wake of Week 8 ...

Anquan Boldin, WR, Arizona Cardinals: Boldin started Sunday's game as expected, but an aggravation of his right ankle injury forced him to leave midway through the third quarter. This was the second week in a row when Boldin's ankle impaired his ability to contribute in the second half, and the Cardinals must decide whether to hold him back for a week to allow the ankle to heal further. For Boldin's part, he says as long as he can run and cut, he expects to be on the field whether he's 100 percent healthy or not. Remember, this guy returned undaunted after suffering multiple facial fractures last season, so we should not expect any less. The Cardinals, while no doubt admiring Boldin's eagerness to be on the field, need to evaluate whether continued setbacks such as this one are worth it in the big scheme of things.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt told The Arizona Republic that sitting Boldin a week and allowing him some additional recovery time would be an option. Whisenhunt indicated that Boldin's performance would be evaluated as the week progresses, which seems to be a familiar tune. Earlier this season his status was questionable for a couple of weeks because of a hamstring injury. Although he has not yet missed a game this year, he clearly has not been at full capacity on several occasions.

It was Boldin who indicated in the days after his ankle injury that he had suffered a high ankle sprain, which typically takes longer to heal than a standard lateral ankle sprain as it is. Even if, as Coach Whisenhunt suggested, the degree of injury has not increased, the ongoing setbacks ultimately may prevent Boldin from returning to full performance as quickly as he otherwise might.

It's definitely a challenging question: Do you play an athlete who is still recovering in the hope that he can contribute some and maybe last the majority of the game? Or do you rest him for a week and hope that the value of the performance goes up in subsequent weeks and the risk of setback goes down? This is perhaps what the Cardinals will be considering this week when it comes to Boldin's status. Fantasy owners are just hoping for an answer before game time, although thankfully the Cards play the Bears in the early slate of Sunday's games. Stay tuned.

Brian Westbrook, RB, Philadelphia Eagles: Westbrook missed Week 8 as he recovered from a concussion suffered the previous Monday night. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Westbrook will return to full practice Wednesday after undergoing some exercise testing.

Once Westbrook rejoins practice, he will continue to be monitored for any return of symptoms. Only after Westbrook has met all the targets of no symptoms at rest, no symptoms with activity and normal cognitive function (these tests are compared to preseason baseline tests) and medical clearance has been granted, would he be available to play in a game. That quite possibly could be this weekend, but there is no true predictive measure for a return from a concussion. Fantasy owners will have to wait patiently for updates from the team, but based on Westbrook's progress thus far, the signs are encouraging.

Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions: Johnson did not play Sunday, and based on his limited activity during the week (after a bye), it really did not come as a huge surprise. All fantasy owners want to know is, will it be this weekend that he returns? The Lions are still calling him day-to-day, and all coach Jim Schwartz would reveal is that "he's getting closer," according to the Detroit Free Press. Without divulging the specifics of Johnson's injury, it's nearly impossible to predict what his time line for return normally would be. So we consider his activity as our best indicator.

Johnson did return to limited practice Thursday and Friday (although reportedly less Friday than Thursday), which was an improvement over the previous weeks. That said, the nature of what Johnson needs to do on the field and his athletic and acrobatic style demands that he be close to full strength. A receiver trying to play cautiously could be a recipe for further injury. When Johnson shows he can run full speed and participate in a significant portion of practice, it will at least provide a clue that he is nearing return.

Jake Delhomme, QB, Carolina Panthers: On Sunday, Delhomme took quite a hit to the chest, which ended up sending him to the hospital for tests. According to The Charlotte Observer, Delhomme said about the hit, "I couldn't catch my breath, and I felt like it was my sternum." Indeed, his sternum (breastbone) and everything underneath it underwent a CT scan during the fourth quarter of Sunday's game, but Delhomme said afterward that everything was fine and he expects to play Sunday in New Orleans. Sternal injuries are much like rib injuries in terms of the intensity of pain as well as the motions that tend to aggravate them. It likely will be uncomfortable for Delhomme to take deep breaths for a while and may be difficult to make deep throws. The Panthers will have to see how he tolerates activity to determine his readiness to play, but the absence of a fracture and no internal organ damage (lung, spleen) are certainly positive signs. So was an interception-free performance.

Trent Edwards, QB, Buffalo Bills: The Buffalo News is reporting that Edwards is expected to return as quarterback for the Bills in Week 10. Naturally, projections of his return are accompanied by the standard caveat, "barring any setbacks," as Edwards increases his activity after his recent concussion. Buffalo is on bye this week, so fantasy owners should be sure to fill in their rosters accordingly, but it appears that Fitzpatrick becomes (even more) droppable.

Other quick hits: Willie Parker missed practice Monday because of illness. The Steelers won't play until Monday night, so this does not appear to be a major concern.

Indianapolis Colts running back Donald Brown missed Week 8 because of his shoulder injury and is no lock to be available for Week 9.

New York Giants tight end Kevin Boss told the Newark Star-Ledger that his ankle (which caused him to miss a week earlier in the season) was "tender" after Sunday's game but not nearly as bad as the original injury. He expects to play this week. We'll see what he does in practice.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has two sore feet after Sunday's loss to the Vikings, but coach Mike McCarthy indicated that he is expected to play this week, even if his practice is limited.

Indianapolis Colts receiver Anthony Gonzalez does not appear to be be making a return to the field this week. He has yet to return to practice. Even if he does begin to practice with the team this week, it seems unlikely he would get back in a game situation after only a few days.

The Raiders have a bye in Week 9 but are hoping to get running back Darren McFadden back in Week 10. McFadden began doing some side work with one of the team's athletic trainers, according to the Oakland Tribune. McFadden says he was working on cuts, and that his target is a Nov. 15 return. He still must clear a number of hurdles before playing in a game situation, including consecutive workouts and practice sessions without swelling. Stay tuned.

New England Patriots running back Sammy Morris did not practice Tuesday, nor did he practice the entire bye week. Although the Patriots have not provided any details about the nature of Morris' injury, the fact that he is not practicing at all yet suggests Laurence Maroney is likely to remain the starter this week.

More to come in Thursday's blog ...

See you at the injury chats (Tuesday 11 a.m.-noon, Friday 11 a.m.-noon and Sunday pregame 10-10:30 a.m.), and we'll have the latest injury updates affecting Week 9 in the Saturday morning blog!