NFL Player News

Monday, September 20

• 09/20/10 - 4:01PM ETChad Ochocinco : Cracked Rib?

  Ochocinco reported on his Twitter account that he has a cracked rib.

  This obviously isn't an official diagnosis, let alone a pronouncement of his availability for Week 3 against the Panthers, but be on the lookout for further reports later this week.

• 09/20/10 - 3:07PM ETDennis Dixon : Sidelined by Knee Injury

  Dixon reportedly has a tear in the lateral meniscus of his left knee, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

  It's an injury that could keep him out 3-5 weeks, which means that either Byron Leftwich or Charlie Batch will have to QB the Steelers until Ben Roethlisberger returns from his suspension after Week 4.

• 09/20/10 - 2:58PM ETAndre Johnson : Avoids Serious Ankle Injury

  The ankle injury that Johnson suffered Sunday is apparently not a serious one, the Texans' official site reports. "Andre has got an ankle sprain, a mild ankle sprain," coach Gary Kubiak said Monday. "He'll be day-to-day throughout the week, but I think we feel better about it probably today than we did yesterday coming out of the game. He'll be day-to-day as we head into the weekend."

  This sounds like a situation with the makings of a week of limited practice participation for Johnson, with a probable or questionable injury designation heading into Week 3. More on his status as the week rolls along.

• 09/20/10 - 1:36PM ETMichael Turner : (Groin) Should be Ready for Week 3

  Turner (groin) is ready to go, according to Falcons coach Mike Smith, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

  We'll see if Turner's practice participation this week is affected by the issue at all, but it sounds like he will be fine for Week 3's game against the Saints. With Jerious Norwood dealing with a knee injury, Jason Snelling (who filled in very nicely for Turner Sunday) becomes a must-own backup.

• 09/20/10 - 12:46PM ETRyan Fitzpatrick : Named Bills' Week 3 Starter

  Coach Chan Gailey announced Monday that Ryan Fitzpatrick will start at quarterback for the Bills Sunday against the Patriots, the team's official site reports. "We're looking for a spark," said Gailey.

  Gailey also noted that this is not just a one-week thing, so for the foreseeable future, Fitzpatrick and former starter Trent Edwards will flip-flop roles. We suppose that Fitzpatrick is worth a dart if your league is deep enough to have rostered Edwards, but the Bills' passing game isn't exactly loaded with weapons at this point, so temper your expectations.

• 09/20/10 - 11:46AM ETChris Wells : (Knee) Not Guaranteed to Play in Week 3

  Wells (knee) must do more in practice this week in order to play Sunday against the Raiders, Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic reports.

  He's been very limited in practice for more than weeks now, so keep an eye on his participation levels throughout the week. Tim Hightower ran well in Sunday's loss to Atlanta, but the poor play of Derek Anderson and the Arizona defense ultimately put the offense behind the eight ball and rendered the running game obsolete in the second half.

• 09/20/10 - 11:34AM ETMichael Bush : (Thumb) Likely a Game-Time Decision

  Bush had had the stitches removed from his injured left thumb, and will prepare as if he'll play Sunday even though a decision won't be made until before game time, according to Jerry McDonald of the Bay Area News Group.

  Bush better get going quick, as Darren McFadden had the hot had in Sunday's win against the Rams and now has 240 yards rushing through two games and a 5.0 average. Bush will certainly factor into the backfield, but we could see a situation where he's slowly worked in while the team rides the hot hand in McFadden. Bush is still roughly three weeks past thumb surgery.

• 09/20/10 - 10:04AM ETDustin Keller : Big Game Against Patriots

  Keller had seven catches for 115 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's win over the Patriots.

  The Jets were far more aggressive in Week 2, and Keller was one of the major beneficiaries. He won't get anything easy against the Miami defense next week, but he might eventually sneak into the top 10 at this position, at least for fantasy purposes.

• 09/20/10 - 9:58AM ETLaDainian Tomlinson : Effective Again

  Tomlinson was New York's best runner in Week 2, picking up 102 total yards on 15 touches (11 rushes, four catches).

  The Jets made good on their promise to go 50-50 in the backfield - Shonn Greene got 16 touches and produced 60 yards. While this still looks like a timeshare for the time being, and Tomlinson will not be the starter in Week 3, we can't ignore that he's looked like the better back in both games thus far.

• 09/20/10 - 9:54AM ETMatt Moore : Set to Back Up Clausen

  Moore's teammate Jimmy Clausen will start Sunday against the Bengals, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.

  Moore's Week 1 concussion didn't help, nor did his 6-for-16 performance in Week 2. This looks like a pretty bad team right now, and Moore's value obviously takes a huge hit. Even if Clausen isn't outstanding, the more the team loses the more likely they are to stay with their rookie further into the season.

• 09/20/10 - 9:54AM ETMark Sanchez : Bounces Back in Week 2

  Sanchez and the Jets bounced back in a big way, as the second-year quarterback put up career-highs in passing touchdowns (three) and completions (21) in Sunday's win over the Patriots.

  After a horrendous first game against Baltimore in which Sanchez hardly threw down the field, the Jets took the reins off him and let him sling it, and Sanchez looked comfortable, poised and aware, completing touchdown passes to three receivers and rediscovering his chemistry with tight end Dustin Keller. We'd warn against starting him next week at Miami in most formats, but if he takes a step forward in that game, we'll have to re-evaluate Sanchez's fantasy prospects for 2010.

• 09/20/10 - 9:52AM ETJimmy Clausen : New Starter in Carolina

  Clausen will start against the Bengals on Sunday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.

  Head coach John Fox made the decision Monday after a pair of lackluster performances to begin the season from incumbent starter Matt Moore. Claussen didn't fare much better than Moore in Week 2 after relieving him, but the Panthers are already looking at a rebuilding situation after slipping to 0-2 with a home loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday.

• 09/20/10 - 8:19AM ETLarry Fitzgerald : Minor Wrist Issue

  Fitzgerald (knee) was also wearing a plastic brace on his wrist following Sunday's loss to the Falcons, the Arizona Republic reports.

  Apparently, this is from a minor injury he suffered in the season opener against St. Louis, so there's no need to worry about it at this time. Fitzgerald will likely remain a staple on the Cards' injury report through the early weeks of the season anyway after suffering a knee sprain during the preseason.

• 09/20/10 - 7:13AM ETFelix Jones : Another Quiet Game

  Jones and the Cowboys' running game were again ineffective Sunday, as he managed just seven yards on seven carries.

  He did catch two passes for 12 yards, but that's small consolation for anyone who started Jones in Week 2. The Cowboys' offense is completely out of synch right now, and it's the running game that's getting the short end of the stick. If you have other options keep Jones on your bench until things turn around.

• 09/20/10 - 7:00AM ETMiles Austin : Another Big Game

  Austin had his second straight huge game Sunday, catching 10 passes for 142 yards.

  He didn't find the end zone this time, but otherwise his numbers were almost identical to Week 1. The Tony Romo-to-Austin connection is firing on all cylinders. Unfortunately for the Cowboys, the rest of the offense is sputtering badly.

• 09/20/10 - 6:26AM ETJustin Forsett : Receives Just Eight Carries

  Forsett received only eight carries Sunday, but he gained 44 yards for a 5.5 average.

  Forsett was effective early, showing good burst. But the Seahawks inexplicably ignored him after the first quarter. Half of his carries came on the opening drive. Julius Jones and Leon Washington each received four rushes. Forsett is clearly the top back, but the Seahawks don't appear too invested in a running game these days.

• 09/20/10 - 5:33AM ETDennis Dixon : Could Play in Week 3

  Coach Mike Tomlin said Dixon (knee) could have returned to action Sunday and "handed the ball off to finish the game" if it were necessary, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

  The early report on Dixon is that he was not seriously injured and he said he may be able to play in Week 3. "Will I be ready next week? Yeah, I think I can," he stated. Both Dixon and Byron Leftwich (who will likely be re-signed Monday) will be under a microscope this week to see who will be healthy enough to play against Tampa Bay.

Sunday, September 19

• 09/19/10 - 7:03PM ETAndre Johnson : (Ankle) MRI on Tap

  Johnson will undergo an MRI on Monday for his sore right ankle, the Associated Press reports.

  Johnson sprained his right ankle during the second half of Sunday's win over Washington and was forced to miss a few series, but returned to play. He finished with 12 catches (17 targets) for 158 yards and one touchdown in the win.

• 09/19/10 - 6:28PM ETPercy Harvin : MRI Set for Hip Injury

  Harvin will undergo an MRI on his bruised hip after aggravating the injury in Sunday's loss to Miami, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. He had five receptions for 32 yards in the loss.

  Harvin was on the field for just 11 plays in the second half due to the injury. Minnesota is already without Sidney Rice, so losing Harvin for any length of time would exacerbate problems in the Vikings passing game.

• 09/19/10 - 4:09PM ETJason Witten : Suffers Concussion Sunday

  Witten was diagnosed with a concussion as a result of the fourth quarter hit he took in Sunday's game against the Bears, the Dallas Morning News reports.

  This puts his Week 3 status in question, with Martellus Bennett next in line for TE targets should Witten sit out next week.

• 09/19/10 - 3:57PM ETAndre Johnson : (Ankle) Returns to Game

  Johnson (ankle) has returned to action in Sunday's game at Washington.

  You can't keep a good man down, as Johnson just scored on a 34-yard TD pass to tie the game in what's been one of the best contests of a Week 2 perhaps lacking in all-around excitement. We'll keep an eye on things during the week once some post-game swelling takes place, but for now there's a big sigh of relief around the fantasy football world.

• 09/19/10 - 3:38PM ETAndre Johnson : Questionable to Return (Ankle)

  Johnson has an ankle injury and his return is questionable in Sunday's game against the Redskins, according to injury analyst Will Carroll.

  This isn't just a case of the team protecting a player, as the Texans are in a dogfight against the Redskins. We'll keep an eye on the top fantasy receiver on most boards for the rest of the afternoon, and even if he does return, during the week.

• 09/19/10 - 2:52PM ETMichael Turner : Groin Injury Doesn't Appear Serious

  Turner, who suffered a groin injury Sunday, was actually cleared to return to the game, but the Falcons elected to let him rest as the contest turned into a blowout, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports. "I don't think it was significant," coach Mike Smith said of Turner's injury. "He was talking about going back in to the ball game. He was cleared to go back in. I don't think it's going to be anything significant. But I have yet to talk to the trainers..."

  In relief of Turner, Jason Snelling rushed for 129 yards on 24 carries with a pair of TDs on the ground, adding five catches for 57 yards, with a receiving TD. We'll track Turner's status in the coming days, but the early indications are that this is not a significant injury.

• 09/19/10 - 2:28PM ET :

  The injury that Mathews suffered Sunday against Jacksonville was to his right ankle, Jaguars' official site reports.

  His return to the game is questionable, but Mathews was at least spotted back on the sideline after being evaluated in the Chargers' locker room.

• 09/19/10 - 2:14PM ETJason Witten : Hard Hit Sidelines Him Sunday

  Witten left Sunday's game in the fourth quarter after being hit hard while making a catch, the Dallas Morning News reports.

  Though Witten wanted to return to the game, trainers wouldn't let him, so at first glance this could be a case of him getting his bell rung. Prior to his exit Sunday, Witten had five catches for 51 yards.

• 09/19/10 - 1:47PM ETJamaal Charles : Takes Back Seat to Thomas Jones

  Charles had 11 carries for 49 yards and added a 27-yard reception in Sunday's win over the Browns. After the game, he referred to himself as the Chiefs' "backup" running back, the Kansas City Star's Kent Babb reports.

  Why, Todd Haley, why? Haley and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis seem stubbornly committed to force-feeding the ball to Thomas Jones (22 carries) while leaving the faster and more explosive Charles woefully underused. Sure, the Chiefs are 2-0, but it's not because of their offense, and it's hard to argue that getting Charles closer to 20 touches a game wouldn't inject some much-needed life into Kansas City's offensive attack. Charles owners, you have every right to be upset right now, but it's not time to panic just yet. We still have hope that Charles' talent will help him rise to the top eventually.

• 09/19/10 - 12:54PM ETMichael Turner : Groin Injury Reportedly Mild

  The groin issue suffered by Turner Sunday is reportedly mild, NFL Network's Jason La Canfora reports.

  Turner managed nine carries for 75 yards prior to his exit, but with Sunday's game quickly turning into a rout, it turned into the Jason Snelling show, with Jerious Norwood also banged up.

• 09/19/10 - 11:59AM ETFred Taylor : (Toe) Active Against Jets

  Taylor (toe) is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Jets.

  Now that Laurence Maroney is in Denver, Taylor is expected to continue to work as the Patriots' lead back in the coming weeks, as long as he can stay healthy.

• 09/19/10 - 11:54AM ETDennis Dixon : Left Knee Sprain

  Dixon's injury has been called a left knee sprain.

  Next week will be interesting to say the least as Byron Leftwich is expected to be re-signed and might be healthy enough to start.

• 09/19/10 - 11:46AM ETPercy Harvin : (Hip) Re-Enters Game

  Harvin (hip) returned to Sunday's game against the Dolphins with 7:09 left in the third quarter, Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.

  Great news that he was able to return to Sunday's game, but it looks like Harvin's health status is going to be something that will need to be monitored all season.

• 09/19/10 - 11:45AM ETMichael Bush : (Thumb) Out Against Rams

  Bush (thumb) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Rams, the Raiders' official site reports.

  Darren McFadden's value gets a boost for at least one more week, especially against a Rams' defense that should be among the league's worst against the run when the dust clears at the end of the season. We'll revisit Bush's status next week.

• 09/19/10 - 11:28AM ETNate Burleson : Ankle Injury

  Burleson suffered an ankle injury in Sunday's game against the Eagles, Mlive.com's Tom Kowalski reports.

  Burleson had one catch for four yards before his departure Sunday. His absence could lead to added looks for Bryant Johnson this week.

• 09/19/10 - 11:24AM ETPercy Harvin : Hurts Hip In Second Quarter

  Harvin is questionable to return after injuring his hip in the second quarter of Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.

  Before his exit Sunday, Harvin had five catches for 32 yards, but it's clearly not a great sign that he's already aggravated his hip injury.

• 09/19/10 - 11:24AM ETMichael Turner : Suffers Groin Injury Sunday

  Turner (groin) left Sunday's game against the Cardinals with a groin injury, the Falcons' official site reports.

  Turner's potential return to the game is officially listed as questionable. He had 75 yards on nine carries before leaving the game.

• 09/19/10 - 11:03AM ETDennis Dixon : Hurts Knee Sunday

  Dixon suffered a knee injury in Sunday's game against the Titans.

  He was taken to the locker room for X-rays. More information as it becomes available.

• 09/19/10 - 9:53AM ETHakeem Nicks : (Ankle) Test Before Game-Time

  Nicks made the trip to Indianapolis for Sunday night's game against the Colts and will test his ankle before game-time, FoxSports.com's Jay Glazer reports.

  Ralph Vacchiano of the Daily News adds that Nicks did say he expects to play, but unfortunately for fantasy owners that won't be confirmed one way or another until 90 minutes or before Sunday night's kickoff.

• 09/19/10 - 9:22AM ETKevin Kolb : (Concussion) Could be Back Next Week

  While Kolb (concussion) will not play Sunday, he's been cleared to return to practice Wednesday, Charley Casserly of The NFL Today on CBS reports. Casserly adds that Kolb will take back the starting job if he has a good week of practice.

  It looks like Michael Vick's tenure as Philly's starting QB may not last past this week as a result.

• 09/19/10 - 8:42AM ETJake Delhomme : Inactive With Ankle Injury

  Delhomme (ankle) is out for Sunday's game against the Chiefs, the Browns' official website reports. He is inactive, the Cleveland Plain Dealer adds.

  Delhomme was considered doubtful to play Sunday, and Seneca Wallace will start in his place.

• 09/19/10 - 8:32AM ETChris Wells : (Knee) Inactive for Week 2

  Wells (knee) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Falcons, Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic reports.

  Tim Hightower will start at running back for the second straight game, while it's believed that Wells is going to be able to return in Week 3. LaRod Stephens-Howling should also be in line for a few touches against the Falcons as well.

• 09/19/10 - 8:14AM ETChris Wells : (Knee) Appears Unlikely to Play Sunday

  Wells (knee) was sitting out of warm-ups while wearing sweatpants Sunday morning, which appears to indicate he won't play against the Falcons, Darren Urban of the Cards' official site reports.

  The official inactives will be released approximately 90 minutes before kickoff, so we should be able to confirm Wells' absence at this time. If you were thinking about using him Sunday, you'll want to get ready to swap him out of your lineup before the first wave of games Sunday morning.

Friday, September 17

• 09/17/10 - 3:53PM ETMike Williams : (Thigh) Probable for Week 2

  Williams (thigh) is listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Broncos, the Seattle Times reports.

  Although the Broncos allowed three touchdown passes in Week 1, they did a terrific job of clamping down on Mike Sims-Walker, holding the Jaguars' top wideout to no receptions. If Williams gets the Champ Bailey treatment on Sunday, it could be a quiet day, so he's probably a WR3 at best.

• 09/17/10 - 3:48PM ETJahvid Best : (Toe) Listed as Probable Against Eagles

  Best (toe) is listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Eagles, the Detroit Free Press' Dave Birkett reports.

  The Eagles' run defense has historically been strong, but Green Bay ran fairly well against Philly in Week 1, even after Ryan Grant went down with an injury. Best should again get the bulk of the rushing workload for Detroit.

• 09/17/10 - 3:44PM ETJake Delhomme : Officially Listed as Doubtful

  Delhomme (ankle) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Chiefs, the Browns' official site reports.

  The Browns have yet to rule Delhomme out, but it's expected that Seneca Wallace will be behind center for the team Sunday.

• 09/17/10 - 3:25PM ETLaurence Maroney : Not Ready for Denver Debut

  Maroney will miss Sunday's game against the Seahawks with a thigh injury, the Sports Network reports.

  Once he's healthy, Maroney will have a chance to carve out a role in the Broncos' backfield, but for now the team will feature Knowshon Moreno, with Correll Buckhalter on hand to work in a complementary role.

• 09/17/10 - 3:08PM ETClinton Portis : (Wrist) Practices Fully, But Listed as Questionable

  Portis (wrist) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Houston, the Washington Post reports.

  The questionable tag is a bit misleading here; Portis fully participated in all of Washington's practices this week and should be fine for Sunday's tilt. The Texans allowed just 44 rushing yards last week, but the Colts went to the air almost exclusively in the second half, so that number may not paint the full picture. Portis is a borderline RB2/RB3 in most formats this week.

• 09/17/10 - 3:05PM ETMichael Bush : Game-Time Decision for Week 2

  Bush (thumb) will be a game-time decision for Sunday's game against the Rams, the Oakland Tribune reports.

  Bush practiced a bit this week, so he has a better chance to play than he did last week. However, he is still only three weeks removed from surgery, so his chances of playing are not great. The Raiders have a nice matchup against the Rams this week, so Bush's (and Darren McFadden's) owners should be sure to monitor his status until a final decision is made.

• 09/17/10 - 3:02PM ETDonovan McNabb : Expected to Play Despite Questionable Designation

  McNabb (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Texans, the Washington Post reports.

  McNabb fully participated in all of Washington's practices this week, so there's little truth to this questionable tag - McNabb will play. Peyton Manning dissected the Texans for 433 yards and three touchdowns in Week 1, and while we don't expect McNabb to rack up those kind of numbers, he should be able to put together a pretty good week.

• 09/17/10 - 2:38PM ETSteven Jackson : (Knee) Probable for Week 2

  Jackson (knee) practiced Friday and is listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Raiders, NFL.com reports.

  Jackson's Week 2 status never seemed to be in serious jeopardy, which is good news because we'd hate to see him miss out on a tantalizing matchup against the Raiders. Oakland got shredded on the ground by Tennessee last week, and Jackson makes for a great Week 2 start.

• 09/17/10 - 2:09PM ETMatt Moore : Probable For Sunday's Game

  Moore (concussion) is listed as probable for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, Panthers.com reports.

  Moore practiced fully on Thursday and Friday, so all signs point to him being available on Sunday. However, he looked lost in Week 1, and despite a decent matchup against Tampa Bay, he shouldn't be considered in one-QB leagues unless you're absolutely desperate.

• 09/17/10 - 1:36PM ETMichael Jenkins : (Shoulder) Ruled Out Again

  Jenkins (shoulder) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, AtlantaFalcons.com reports.

  With Jenkins out, Harry Douglas, Brian Finneran and Eric Weems will again team with Roddy White to handle the receiving load for Atlanta. Jenkins wasn't able to practice all week, so his Week 3 status remains uncertain as well.

• 09/17/10 - 1:28PM ETLarry Fitzgerald : Practices Fully All Week

  Fitzgerald (knee) was a full participant in practice all week and is listed as probable for Sunday's game against Atlanta, AZCardinals.com reports.

  Fitzgerald turned in a disappointing three-catch effort in Week 1, but don't forget that he's still adjusting to a new quarterback and recovering from a knee injury that still is not fully healed. He'll get things going eventually, and you don't want to have him on your bench when that happens.

• 09/17/10 - 12:47PM ETPercy Harvin : Insists He Will Play Sunday

  Harvin (hip) was a limited participant in practice on Friday, is listed as questionable against Miami and will be a game-time decision. However, Harvin laughed when he heard he would be a game-time decision and insists he'll play, ESPN 1500 am Twin Cities reports

  It's a good sign he returned to practice on Friday, if limited, so we'd think he'd play. Still, check before kickoff to make sure he's active.

• 09/17/10 - 12:33PM ETChris Wells : Status Will Likely Be Decided at Game Time

  Wells (knee) was limited in practice on Friday and will likely be a game-time decision against the Falcons on Sunday, the Arizona Republic's Kent Somers reports.

  We'll await further information from head coach Ken Whisenhunt, but it sounds like you'll want to carefully consider the alternatives in Week 2. For what it's worth, the Cards have three other healthy running backs available if needed, so Whisenhunt and the team's medical staff may continue to take the cautious approach.

• 09/17/10 - 11:02AM ETKellen Winslow : (Knee) Game-Time Decision

  Winslow (knee) will be a game-time decision for Sunday's game against Carolina, according to the Pewter Report.

  Winslow, who was limited at practice Friday, has "been experiencing some pain," said coach Raheem Morris. "You guys know what he does to manage pain everyday, and what he does to manage being able to play. So, we will get him to the game and he will be a game-time decision." In any case, this looks like more than simply a case of the Bucs managing his practice participation, but on the plus side, they kick off early Sunday, which should give Winslow's owners a chance to adjust their lineups accordingly should he be made inactive.

• 09/17/10 - 7:45AM ETJake Delhomme : (Ankle) Won't Practice Friday

  Delhomme (ankle) will not practice Friday, the Cleveland Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot reports.

  Generally a player who doesn't practice all week rarely plays on Sunday, especially when it's a quarterback (although Delhomme has done it before). Seneca Wallace will again take the first-team reps in Friday's practice and is the smart money to be Cleveland's Week 2 starter.