Lot of running backs on the old injury report this week. (Getty Images) |
Friday's practices are done and that means the final injury reports for the week -- along with official classifications for said injuries are in the books. Let's take a look at the most important injuries on the weekly report and what they mean for the respective teams involved.
Note that we're not including the Raiders, Chargers, Bengals or Ravens because they're playing Monday and aren't locked onto the final injury reports.
Bears vs. Colts
Austin Collie, WR, Colts, Questionable (Head) -- Collie suffered a concussion during the preseason and continues to try and fight his way back on the field. He's been a limited participant in practice but is expected to play. Losing Collie (T.Y. Hilton is also questionable) wouldn't be great for Andrew Luck, who's already going to have his hands full with a stout Bears defense.
Brian Urlacher, LB, Bears, Probable (Knee) -- It's crazy to think that Chicago will put Urlacher on the field against an overmatched Indy squad, especially with a matchup against the Packers coming less than a week from now on Thursday night, but that looks to be the case.
Pat Angerer, LB, Colts, OUT (Foot) -- Angerer's been ruled out, which doesn't help the Colts' chances on defense.
Vikings vs. Jaguars
Justin Blackmon, WR, Jaguars, Probable (Ankle) -- Blackmon tweaked his ankle this week but was back at practice. He should be fine to play. The Jags need him. Badly.
Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings, Questionable (Knee) -- Said it on Pro Football 360, and I'll say it again here: the Vikings are playing with fire when it comes to Peterson if they force the issue and use him too much against Jacksonville. What does 10 carries in the opener really mean against a week of recovery time? Peterson might still get held out, Leslie Frazier said, and that would be the good thing, but I bet he gets a few unnecessary carries.
Darryl Smith, LB, Jaguars, OUT (Groin) -- Smith's the best linebacker on the Jaguars, which makes Jacksonville lucky that AP will be limited.
Derek Cox, CB, Jaguars, OUT (Hamstring) -- This game could secretly turn into a mini-shootout for two teams you wouldn't expect to be throwing up big numbers with the absence of some key defensive players.
Jets vs. Bills
Steve Johnson, WR, Bills, Questionable (Groin) -- It's surprising Johnson is even questionable, given that he practiced in full on Friday. Sunday is a huge matchup for Buffalo and they need their best wideout out there. It would be stunning to see him miss this game.
Brad Smith, QB/WR, Bills, Probable (Groin) -- Smith's absence isn't that huge of a deal. I just want to see him get in the game and run the wildcat better than the Jets.
David Harris, LB, Jets, Probable (Ankle) -- Pretty unlikely that Harris misses this game, but any chinks in the armor for the Jets' defense would only hurt their chances of picking up an important win here.
Dustin Keller, TE, Jets, Questionable (Hamstring) -- With Santonio Holmes also dealing with a rib injury and Stephen Hill plagued by a calf injury, the already limited group of Jets skill position players is getting even thinner.
Texans vs. Dolphins
Jake Long, T, Dolphins, Probable (Knee) -- Long should play (you watched Hard Knocks, didn't you?) but if he didn't it would be a pretty, pretty big problem for a potentially already overmatched Ryan Tannehill in his first career start.
Arian Foster, RB, Texans, Questionable (Knee) -- Everything was fine and dandy with Foster until Friday, when Gary Kubiak called him a game-time decision. Best guess: he starts and sees limited carries if Houston gets a big lead. It wouldn't be shocking at all to see Ben Tate end up with more touches (and fantasy points) in this game.
Brooks Reed, LB, Texans, Questionable (Hip) -- Reed's a game-time decision just like Foster, but losing him would be more important. Jesse Nading is no linebacker version of Tate. The Texans can still win without Reed -- or even a combo of Reed and Foster -- but they'd certainly prefer to have their stars on the field for Week 1.
Titans vs. Patriots
Sebastian Vollmer, T, Patriots, Questionable (Back) -- Easily the biggest concern for the Patriots is avoiding any shots on Tom Brady, and the possibility of a top offensive lineman missing the game is not good.
Shane Vereen, RB, Patriots, OUT (Foot) -- Time for Stephen Ridley to shine.
Lions vs. Rams
Louis Delmas, S, Lions, Doubtful (Knee) -- Detroit's secondary isn't very good with Delmas. Add in ..
Chris Houston, CB, Lions, Doubtful (Ankle) -- And this could become a shootout. Take the over.
Michael Brockers, DT, Rams, OUT (Ankle) -- Brockers won't get to make an immediate impact against a weak-ish Lions offensive line.
Saints vs. Redskins
Brandon Meriweather, S, Redskins, OUT (Knee) -- Look for Drew Brees to exploit the Redskins' secondary in this game.
Brian Orakpo, LB, Redskins, Probable (Chest) -- Orakpo should play, and the Redskins need him to because they're going to be behind the eight-ball to begin with.
Marques Colston, WR, Saints, Questionable (Foot) -- Colston's a pretty good bet to play. The good news for New Orleans is that losing him isn't a complete nightmare, since Brees has plenty of weapons.
Jabari Greer, CB, Saints, Questionable (Groin) -- Robert Griffin III probably wouldn't mind seeing Greer on the sideline, but I bet he plays. Lot of questionable Saints.
Curtis Lofton, LB, Saints, Questionable (Ankle) -- Lofton's the key run stopper against a team that likes to run. Steve Spagnuolo would prefer not to miss him along with the also-questionable David Hawthorne.
Browns vs. Eagles
Trent Richardson, RB, Browns, Questionable (Knee) -- No way T-Rich doesn't play. CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora already reported he's feeling good. Expect him to get plenty of carries.
Jason Babin, DE, Eagles, Probable (Calf) -- Babin will play, but he's a big name on here.
Falcons vs. Chiefs
Brandon Flowers, CB, Chiefs, Questionable (Foot) -- Talk about an injury report sleeper. If Flowers misses this game, the Falcons could really go HAM on offense. [/looks at Julio Jones]
Derrick Johnson, LB, Chiefs, Questionable (Ankle) -- Or maybe it's just Romeo Crennel going all Patriots on us with questionable rulings? If you're rolling with KC, beware of some serious defensive losses, just in case.
Packers vs. 49ers
Ted Ginn, KR, 49ers, Questionable (Ankle) -- Apparently, Ginn will miss the game, or at least won't be returning kicks, which means Kyle Williams (remember him from the NFC Championship Game?) will be taking them back. Please don't ask Jim Harbaugh about this.
B.J. Raji, DT, Packers, Probable (Ankle) -- Big name, but he's going to play.
James Starks, RB, Packers, OUT (Toe) -- Time to shine, Cedric Benson.
Cardinals vs. Seahawks
James Carpenter, OL, Seahawks, OUT, (Knee) -- Don't worry, Seattle always has J.R. Sweezy to step in. Sweezy, by the way, spent his entire college career playing defensive tackle at NC State. Someone needs to explain this to me.
Matt Flynn, QB, Seahawks, Probable (Elbow) -- Pete Carroll said Flynn's good to go ... if he's needed.
Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks, Questionable (Back Spasms) -- Lynch should play, but he could be limited to a degree since the Hawks seem to trust Robert Turbin. But Lynch has been scratched at the last minute before due to spasms, so expect this to last right up until about 3:45 p.m. ET on Sunday.
Beanie Wells, RB, Cardinals, Questionable (Hamstring) -- Beanie somehow stumbled on this list despite being fine earlier this week. See that window, Ryan Williams? Go ahead and climb through it. Beanie will play anyway though I'd bet. He's always here.
Buccaneers vs. Panthers
Jon Beason, LB, Panthers, Probable (Thigh) -- Beason's expected to start. The Panthers (might) need him on Sunday.
Steve Smith, WR, Panthers, Probable (Foot) -- Same for Smith, except the Panthers (definitely) need him on Sunday.
Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers, Questionable (Ankle) -- If you're a fantasy football fellow (or lady), don't bank on Stew playing this week. That's exactly why DeAngelo Williams was named "Start of the Week" by CBSSports.com's Jamey Eisenberg. The Panthers have Williams and Mike Tolbert, not to mention Cam Newton, and would prefer resting Stewart instead of forcing him on the field unnecessarily.
Broncos vs. Steelers
Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Steelers, Doubtful (Knee) -- Mendenhall's story almost took a crazy turn that involved him playing, but that's likely done for. No way he plays on Sunday.
Isaac Redman, RB, Steelers, Probable (Ankle) -- Redman on the other hand, should be fine.
James Harrison, LB, Steelers, Questionable (Knee) -- Harrison tweeted Friday that things weren't looking good. 50/50 on him playing.
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