Working on a Wednesday - NFL injury report
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 6.
•Matt Hasselbeck (knee) didn't work Wednesday, and there's no guarantee he'll practice the next two days. The Seahawks are facing a critical game, though, so look for him to be on the field Sunday. "He has to play," Mike Holmgren admits. Backup quarterback Seneca Wallace (calf) is also nicked up, forcing Charlie Frye to take most of the Wednesday reps.
• Brian Westbrook was held out of practice Wednesday (what else would you expect with broken ribs?) and looks doubtful for Sunday's game at San Francisco. Correll Buckhalter is a solid rental while Westbrook rests.
• Jon Kitna had an MRI on his back Wednesday and is a major question mark for the Vikings Sunday. Dan Orlovsky, who has a sore ankle himself, split the reps with Drew Stanton in practice. According to Tom Kowalski of MLive.com, we won't get an official status on Kitna until Friday. If you have to guess on a short-term pickup here, I'd go with Orlovsky, but Stanton is the better long-term prospect.
• Marques Colston (thumb) and Jeremy Shockey (groin) both did a little work at Wednesday's practice, leaving the door open for a possible early return this week. It's probably still a longshot, but you never know. "I was pleased with what I saw today, and I saw more than I expected to see," Sean Payton told the New Orleans Times-Picayune. "Both of them actually took reps and moved around pretty good. You know, we'll see (Thursday) how they feel, especially when it comes to Jeremy. But Marques looked good."
• Brian Griese (elbow) didn't practice Wednesday so it looks like Jeff Garcia will get the call against Carolina. If you like a jumpy quarterback with a checkdown fetish, Garcia's your guy.
• Selvin Young (groin) is out this week, so make sure Michael Pittman isn't floating around your waiver wire. Mike Shanahan has already shown trust of Pittman in short-yardage and goal-line situations, and the Jags are no great shakes against the run, giving up 4.2 yards a carry. Sticking with the Broncos, we won't see Tony Scheffler (groin) this week, but Eddie Royal (ankle) has a decent shot to play (Mike Shanahan says he's probable).
• Carson Palmer (elbow) had a limited session Wednesday and the plan is to use him as little as possible during the practice week. He's clearly nowhere near 100 percent right now, but nonetheless hoping to start at the Jets.
• Aaron Rodgers (shoulder) didn't do any throwing Wednesday; technically he was "limited" in practice. Barring a setback, we'll see him in Seattle.
• Anquan Boldin (sinus surgery) didn't work Wednesday and looks very questionable for this weekend's game with Dallas. Steve Breaston should be owned in any competitive league, and keep in mind the Cowboys secondary has been leaky all season.
• Deion Branch (heel) won't practice this week and it will be a shock if he plays against Green Bay. The Patriots knew what they were doing when they dispatched this overrated commodity before the 2006 campaign; Branch has never topped 1,000 yards in a season, or snagged more than five touchdown passes. Throw in his injury-prone nature and you understand why he's buried on the rest-of-the-year ranks.
• Justin Fargas (groin) had a full session Wednesday while Darren McFadden (toe) was limited. You can probably connect the dots here, and Brad Evans would like to help.
• Willis McGahee is still battling sore ribs and was limited Wednesday, but it still looks like he'll go against the Colts. McGahee played hurt last week and still had 23 touches against Tennessee, while intriguing Le'Ron McClain took 13.
• Mike Walker (knee) missed Wednesday's session, a shame given how good he looked the last couple of weeks. We'll see if he makes up any ground the next two days.
• Laveranues Coles (thigh) had a limited workout and is listed as questionable; you know how the Jets operate. I see no reason not to use him Sunday against the Bengals.
• Bernard Berrian (knee) is still nicked up and took it easy Wednesday, but there's no need for a radical adjustment yet. He'll do all he can to play this week against Detroit's get-well defense.
• Kellen Winslow (knee) was held out Wednesday but I can't imagine that he won't go Monday against the Giants. The Browns did get Donte' Stallworth (quad) back for the Wednesday workout, for what it's worth.
• Anthony Gonzalez is coming off a concussion and missed Wednesday's practice, but Tony Dungy isn't worried about him missing a game.
• Brandon Lloyd (knee) missed another session Wednesday and probably can't be counted on this week.
• Martin Gramatica went on injured reserve Wednesday, prompting the Saints to give another shot to rookie Taylor Mehlhaff.
• Joey Galloway (foot) remains out of practice, and there hasn't been a target date announced yet. As my buddy Mike Salfino likes to say, the circus leaves town for everyone eventually.
• Terence Newman (abdominal) didn't practice and it's not looking good; while the Dallas Morning News says Newman hasn't been officially ruled out for Week 6 yet, there are whispers that Newman might need hernia surgery. Teammate Adam Jones is also in the news, for a different reason. From a fantasy perspective, the Dallas secondary is a matchup to exploit, no two ways about it.
