NFL Injury Report: Saddle up, Dominic Rhodes

The big practice day is Friday, of course, but the Wednesday and Thursday sessions also have meaning to them. Let's see who's in, who's out, and who's on the fence as we prepare for Week 7.

• Dominic Rhodes looked surprisingly good against the Ravens last week, and the D-Train will keep rolling in Naptown for a while. Joseph Addai has a slightly torn hamstring and is going to need a rest (Adam Schefter of the NFL Network thinks it could be a 2-4 week holiday), and the Colts also lost Mike Hart for the season this week.

The best potential games for Rhodes come this Sunday (at Green Bay) and in Week 9 against the Patriots. The dates at Tennessee (Week 8) and at Pittsburgh (Week 10) could feature some rough sledding. I don't know why Entourage keeps bringing Dom back (last week's episode pushed me off the bus for good), but I can't fault the Colts for their Dom revival; Rhodes can play.

• Willie Parker aggravated the MCL sprain in his left knee Monday and wasn't able to practice Wednesday. Crummy timing, because the Bengals front seven is there for the taking this week. Don't kick Mewelde Moore to the curb yet. "We're going to take it day by day," Parker told the AP. Mike Tomlin didn't meet with the media Wedneday.

• Tony Romo (finger) did a little bit of throwing Wednesday and the Dallas Morning News reports that he's willing to keep playing even while less than 100 percent. Why the Cowboys would risk him this week against St. Louis I can't figure out, but let's keep an eye peeled on this one. The Cowboys say at minimum that Romo will travel with the team this week.

• Reggie Bush rested a sore knee Wednesday and might not do a lot this week. According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, this is something Bush has been managing for a while. It's too early to get paranoid yet on this one.

• Clinton Portis (hip flexor) rested Wednesday but the Redskins aren't worried about his status for the weekend. And no, I don't expect much from Shaun Alexander.

• All signs point to Eli Manning (chest) playing Sunday against the Niners. An X-ray on the area came back clean.

• The Bengals continue to be coy on a timetable for Carson Palmer (elbow). All we know at this point is that he's apparently not going to have surgery, and he won't go against the Steelers this week.

• Calvin Johnson (post-concussion) and Kevin Smith (shoulder) both sat out Wednesday, according to the Lions official site.

• Kellen Winslow remains very questionable and this will probably go up to game-day for another week. The Browns aren't revealing what the injury is, but rumors abound; it's a crying shame we don't have Bill Raferty working NFL games.

• Joey Galloway (foot) had a limited session Wednesday. He's a smart addition for depth, but you need to see him do something on the field before you think about playing him.

• LaDainian Tomlinson (toe), Chris Chambers (ankle) and Darren Sproles (ankle) each missed the media-open portion of practice Wednesday, according to the North County Times. Tomlinson is fully expected to go at Buffalo, and early indications had Chambers likely as well.

• Brandon Stokley (post-concussion) didn't practice Wednesday, but the Broncos did get full work from Eddie Royal (ankle) and a partial day from Tony Scheffler (groin). Selvin Young (elbow) and Ryan Torain (groin) also got some reps in, but I wouldn't count on either guy until Week 9 (Denver is off next week).

• The Ravens didn't list Willis McGahee on the Week 7 injury report, if you wanted to know. He left Sunday's game early with an undisclosed injury.

• Mike Holmgren isn't sure if Deion Branch (heel) will be ready this week, and there's no way I'm risking anything on Seattle's passing game with Matt Hasselbeck out. Branch did not practice Wednesday. As for the other quarterbacks, both Seneca Wallace and Charlie Frye are getting practice reps and it's not clear who will go yet.

• Jeremy Shockey (groin) had a limited session Wednesday and remains up in the air for Week 7. It's probably more likely that Marques Colston (thumb) will go this week, albeit he was limited on Wednesday as well. David Patten (groin) had a full day, for what it's worth, but he's probably not going to come back as a starter.

• Trent Edwards (post-concussion) says he's fine and should be good to go against the Chargers this week.

• Chris Perry (shoulder/general suckiness) didn't practice Wednesday, so maybe we'll see Cedric Benson or Kenny Watson get a full shot this week. The Steelers are tough to run on, however, and Cincinnati's line still stinks. T.J. Houshmandzadeh (ankle) also took it easy Wednesday, and there's a good chance Shayne Graham won't be able to kick this week.

• Herman Edwards says Brodie Croyle (shoulder) is "healthy but rusty" according to the Kansas City Star. Edwards forgot to mention "unstartable in fantasy."

• Laurence Maroney (shoulder) didn't practice Wednesday, if you wanted to know. I can't see any reason to be optimistic here. Lamont Jordan (calf) also missed the session, which makes Sammy Morris even more intriguing for this week's matchup against Denver.

• This could be the week Lawrence Tynes gets his job back from John Carney. Mind you, we've heard that before.