Week 1: Injury updates
Here is the latest news on key injuries for Week 1 of the 2008 NFL season.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals could be down two nose tackles for the opener against the 49ers. Defensive tackle Gabe Watson is listed as doubtful, but he won't play. He's coming back from a fractured kneecap he suffered in a treadmill accident. Nose tackle Alan Branch is doubtful with an ankle injury, and odds favor his missing the game. Center Al Johnson also is expected to be out, with a knee injury. Tight end Jerame Tuman is questionable with a hamstring injury. Tight end Ben Patrick is probable with a hamstring injury.
Atlanta Falcons
Center Alex Stepanovich is doubtful with an ankle injury and is expected to miss the Lions game. Linebacker Coy Wire returned to the practice field after missing Thursday's workout. He's questionable with an ankle injury. Safety Thomas DeCoud is questionable with an ankle injury.
Baltimore Ravens
Halfback Willis McGahee should be able to play Sunday's game against Cincinnati. He's listed as probable with a knee injury. The question is whether he will start and how much he will play. It's likely he will share time in the game with rookie Ray Rice. Quarterback Troy Smith is out because of his tonsil infection. He has lost about 20 pounds. Defensive tackle Kelly Gregg is doubtful because he's still recovering from knee surgery. The Ravens list safety Ed Reed as questionable with his neck problems. Tight end Todd Heap is probable with a sore knee. Baltimore signed right tackle Willie Anderson to a three-year, $10.5 million deal, releasing tight end Edgar Jones.
Buffalo Bills
Linebacker Paul Posluszny returned to practice Friday and plans to play despite an ankle injury. His services are needed because the Bills lost linebacker Angelo Crowell for the season. They signed linebacker Blake Costanzo to replace him. Defensive tackle Spencer Johnson returned to practice Friday and plans to play despite a sore back. Ruled out of the game were tight end Derek Fine (thumb) and tight end/offensive tackle Matt Murphy (shoulder).
Carolina Panthers
The Panthers won't have quarterback Matt Moore (fractured leg) and wide receiver Ryne Robinson (knee) for Sunday's game against the Chargers. Wide receiver D.J. Hackett has recovered from a toe injury that bothered him in training camp, and he will be available.
Chicago Bears
The only Bear who will miss the opener against the Colts is left tackle Chris Williams, who has back problems. Tight end Desmond Clark (knee), defensive tackles Dusty Dvoracek (calf) and Tommie Harris (knee), guard Terrence Metcalf (knee), and defensive end Mark Anderson (thumb) are probable.
Cincinnati Bengals
Safety Chinedum Ndukwe (knee) and defensive tackle Pat Sims were officially ruled out of Sunday's game against the Ravens. Wide receiver Andre Caldwell is doubtful with a toe injury and isn't expected to play. Everyone else should be able to play. Defensive tackle John Thornton (knee), defensive end Jonathan Fanene (illness), linebacker Brandon Johnson (nose) and halfback Kenny Watson (hamstring) are probable.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns have one of the longest injury lists heading into the opener. Linebacker Kris Griffin (elbow) and tight end Martin Rucker (knee) are out. Guard Rex Hadnot (knee), safety Brodney Pool (concussion), linebacker Beau Bell (knee), wide receiver Josh Cribbs (ankle) and guard Ryan Tucker (hip) are questionable, and odds favor their not playing. Halfback Jamal Lewis is questionable with a hamstring injury but expects to play. Mike Adams will start at safety if Pool doesn't go. Safety Sean Jones is probable with a knee injury and will play.
Dallas Cowboys
Cowboys coach Wade Phillips continues to monitor the status of cornerback Terence Newman, who is questionable because of a groin injury. Newman has been limited in practice the past couple of days. Adam Jones could get the start if Newman can't play. Ruled out for the Browns game are wide receivers Miles Austin (knee) and Sam Hurd (knee), guard Kyle Kosier (foot), and linebacker Anthony Spencer (knee). Wide receiver Isaiah Stanback will be the third receiver despite a dislocated shoulder. He will wear a harness in the game. Stanback is listed as questionable, but Phillips said he will be on the field. Even with Stanback, the Cowboys will have only three receivers active Sunday.
Denver Broncos
It will be a game-time decision whether linebacker Boss Bailey will be able to play with a high ankle injury. If he can't play, Jamie Winborn will get the start. The fact Bailey missed a lot of time this summer with this injury could slant the odds toward his not playing. Center Tom Nalen (knee) and running back Ryan Torain (elbow) are out. Linebacker Louis Green has a hamstring injury and has a good chance of missing the game.
Detroit Lions
Tight end Dan Campbell is listed as probable with a hamstring injury but should be able to play. Quarterback Drew Stanton is probable with a right thumb injury, but he is the third-string quarterback. He'll be in uniform but isn't expected to play.
Green Bay Packers
Wide receiver James Jones (knee) is listed as doubtful for Monday night's game against the Vikings. If he does miss the game, the team expects him to be back the next week. Guard Josh Sitton is out with a knee injury. Center Scott Wells took an injection to help his back injury. He's listed as questionable, but he didn't practice Friday. Linebacker AJ Hawk is questionable with a chest injury, but he has a chance to play. Halfback Ryan Grant (hamstring), defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (knee), defensive end Jeremy Thompson (groin), safety Atari Bigby (ankle), tackle Chad Clifton (chest) and linebacker Tracy White (ankle) are probable.
Houston Texans
The only Texan who will miss the opener against the Steelers is linebacker Xavier Adibi. The rookie linebacker is doubtful with a sore Achilles and is probably a week from playing. Backup tackle Rashad Butler is questionable with a shoulder injury. He was limited in Friday's practice. Defensive end Earl Cochran (back) and tackle Ephraim Salaam (knee) are probable and should play.
Indianapolis Colts
There have been no changes in the Colts' injury report all week. Center Jeff Saturday (knee) and guard Mike Pollak (knee) are out. Rookie seventh-round pick Jamey Richard is going to start at center. Charlie Johnson will start at left guard. Dan Federkeil will start at right guard for Ryan Lilja, who is on the physically unable to perform list. Peyton Manning has held up well in his first week of practice coming off his July 14 knee surgery and will start. Defensive end Dwight Freeney sat out Friday's practice but will play.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Jerry Porter had a setback on his recovery from hamstring surgery and has been ruled out of the Titans game. He will join center Brad Meester (biceps) and Derek Landri (quad) on the sideline. Cornerback Scott Starks is questionable with a pectoral injury and will be a game-time decision. Guard Maurice Williams (knee), wide receiver Reggie Williams (hamstring) and tight end Greg Estandia (knee) are probable.
Kansas City Chiefs
A knee injury that flared up Friday for linebacker Napoleon Harris probably will keep him out of Sunday's game against the Patriots. Wide receiver Maurice Price hasn't practiced all week because of a thigh injury. He's questionable, but don't expect him to play. Wide receiver Will Franklin is questionable with a knee injury. He was limited in practice all week. The Chiefs removed running back Kolby Smith from the injury list. He had a sore back.
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins had a clean injury list until Friday. The team added cornerback Mike Lehan as questionable with an ankle injury. He had a full practice Friday, giving him a chance to play.
Minnesota Vikings
Safety Madieu Williams is out with a neck injury. Running back Maurice Hicks vows to play despite a foot injury. Wide receiver Robert Ferguson should be able to play despite an ankle injury. Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson will play despite a medial collateral knee ligament injury.
New England Patriots
Tight end Benjamin Watson hasn't practiced all week because of a knee injury and is listed as doubtful. Watson will be replaced by David Thomas, taking away a pass-catching threat that accounted for 36 receptions and six touchdowns last year. Wide receiver/special-teams player Sam Aiken (knee) is out. Backup center Dan Connolly (knee) is questionable and didn't practice Friday. Don't expect him to be available. Backup defensive tackle Le Kevin Smith returned to practice and is questionable. He has missed most of the week with a knee injury. Guard Russ Hochstein is questionable with a groin injury, but he had a full practice Friday. The Patriots took quarterback Tom Brady off the injury report, and he will start despite a foot injury.
New Orleans Saints
The Saints have a couple of questions at linebacker: Mark Simoneau (back) and Troy Evans (ankle) are questionable. They were limited in Friday's practice. Halfback Aaron Stecker, added to the injury report Thursday, is questionable with a hamstring injury. He didn't practice Friday. Defensive tackle Hollis Thomas is out with a triceps injury. The Saints list halfback Deuce McAllister (knee), defensive tackle Brian Young (foot) and cornerback Mike McKenzie (knee) as questionable, but all three did everything in Friday's practice.
New York Jets
The Jets head into the opener against the Dolphins in good shape. Out is wide receiver David Clowney (shoulder). The only real question mark is cornerback Justin Miller (foot), but he might have lost his starting job to Dwight Lowery. Wide receiver Laveranues Coles will play despite a thigh injury. Defensive end Shaun Ellis (hand) and guard Damien Woody (shoulder) are also a go for the opener.
Oakland Raiders
Wide receiver Javon Walker said Thursday that he will play against his former team, the Broncos, despite a hamstring injury. Walker has missed practice time this week because of the injury. Walker missed Friday's practice, and coach Lane Kiffin indicated he needs to see Walker practice Saturday for him to play. Defensive end Kalimba Edwards is expected to miss the game because of a groin injury. He hasn't practiced all week.
Philadelphia Eagles
Wide receiver Reggie Brown hasn't fully recovered from his preseason hamstring pull. Brown is listed as doubtful and is expected to miss the game against the Rams. Wide receiver Kevin Curtis is out with a sports hernia problem. He will be replaced at flanker by rookie DeSean Jackson. Defensive end Victor Abiamiri is out with a wrist injury. Safety Brian Dawkins (ankle), defensive end Chris Clemons (calf), safety Sean Considine (hand) and halfback Lorenzo Booker (hip) are probable and will play.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers are healthy heading into the opener. Linebacker James Harrison practiced with a little wrap on a sore shoulder but will play. Tight end Sean McHugh has a sore ankle and isn't expected to play, but he was just signed this week and is learning the offense.
San Diego Chargers
Tight end Antonio Gates is probable and is expected to start coming back from his offseason toe surgery. Center Nick Hardwick (foot) and left tackle Marcus McNeill (back) have been ruled out of the opener against the Panthers. Jeremy Newberry will start at center. L.J. Shelton will start at left tackle.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers will have everyone available for Sunday's game against the Cardinals. The 49ers added safety Michael Lewis to the injury report Friday (sore back), but he's probable and will play. Tight end Delanie Walker (calf) also is probable and should be available.
Seattle Seahawks
Wide receiver Deion Branch said on a Seattle radio show Friday morning that he doesn't expect to be ready for the opening game in Buffalo. He underwent reconstructive knee surgery seven months ago. The team officially ruled him out. With Bobby Engram (collarbone) and Branch out, the Seahawks will start Nate Burleson and Courtney Taylor at wide receiver. Right tackle Sean Locklear (knee) is out. Defensive end Baraka Atkins isn't expected to play because of a sore back. Linebacker Lofa Tatupu will play despite a sore knee.
St. Louis Rams
The Rams ruled out second-round choice Donnie Avery, a wide receiver. He missed practice all week with a knee injury. Center Brett Romberg (hand), cornerback Fakhir Brown (shoulder) and running back Brian Leonard (shoulder) are probable.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The only Buccaneer ruled out of Sunday's game against the Saints is guard Davin Joseph, who will be out more than a month with a broken foot. Quarterback Jeff Garcia has a jammed right pinkie and a sore calf, but he has practiced and will play. Wide receivers Antonio Bryant (knee), Michael Clayton (chest) and Joey Galloway (groin) have been nursing minor injuries, but they will play. Safety Sabby Piscitelli has recovered from a preseason knee injury. Fullback B.J. Askew will be able to go despite a foot injury.
Tennessee Titans
Quarterback Vince Young had some tightness in a hamstring Friday. The Titans added him to the injury report as probable. Defensive tackle Jason Jones is questionable with a thigh injury. He practiced Friday, giving him a chance to play. Running back Quinton Ganther is questionable with a hamstring injury. Wide receiver Justin McCareins, who was sick Thursday, was removed from the injury report.
John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
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