Thursday practice report

Quarterbacks

Bills starting QB Trent Edwards(notes) (concussion) didn’t practice again Thursday and is considered doubtful to play. Backup QB Ryan Fitzpatrick(notes) is expected to start for him.

Browns QB Derek Anderson(notes) (ankle) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start.

Eagles QB Donovan McNabb(notes) (rib) practiced Thursday and is expected to start.

Giants QB Eli Manning(notes) (foot) practiced Thursday and is expected to start.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers(notes) (foot) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start.

Running Backs

Browns backup RB Jerome Harrison(notes) (illness) missed practice again Thursday and is considered questionable to play.

Browns starting FB Lawrence Vickers(notes) (illness) missed practice again Thursday and is considered questionable to play.

Cardinals rookie RB Chris Wells (hip) saw light work again Thursday, but is expected to play.

Chargers FB Jacob Hester(notes) (illness) was added to the injury report after not practicing Thursday, but is expected to start.

Cowboys RB Marion Barber(notes) (thigh/broken left thumb) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start. Backup RB Felix Jones(notes) (knee) practiced again Thursday. The coaches want to see how he responds to Friday’s practice in order to determine how much he can contribute on Sunday.

Eagles RB Brian Westbrook(notes) (ankle) practiced Thursday and is expected to start.

Falcons starting FB Ovie Mughelli(notes) (calf) didn’t practice again Thursday and is considered very questionable to play.

Falcons RB Michael Turner(notes) (chest) saw light work again Thursday, but is expected to start. Backup RB Jerious Norwood(notes) (hip) didn’t practice again Thursday and is considered questionable to play.

49ers RB Frank Gore(notes) (ankle/foot) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start.

Giants backup RB Ahmad Bradshaw(notes) (ankle/foot) didn’t practice Thursday, but is expected to play.

Panthers backup RB Jonathan Stewart(notes) (Achilles) returned to practice Thursday and is expected to play.

Panthers FB Brad Hoover(notes) (back) returned to practice Thursday and is expected to start.

Patriots RBs Fred Taylor(notes) (ankle) and Sammy Morris(notes) (knee) didn’t practice again Thursday and are not expected to play. Backup RB Laurence Maroney(notes) is expected to start with backup RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis(notes) also seeing carries.

Raiders FB Luke Lawton(notes) (ankle) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start.

Redskins RB Clinton Portis(notes) (ankle) didn’t practice Thursday, but should be able to start.

Saints RB Pierre Thomas(notes) (hamstring) practiced again Thursday and will play. He’s not listed on the injury report.

Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall(notes) (knee) practiced Thursday and is expected to start.

Vikings RB Adrian Peterson (ankle) saw light work again Thursday, but is expected to start.

Receivers

Browns WR/KR/PR Josh Cribbs (knee) saw light work on Thursday, but is expected to play.

Browns starting TE Robert Royal(notes) (illness/finger/hamstring) missed practice again Thursday and is considered questionable to play. Backup TE Steve Heiden(notes) (knee) missed practice again Thursday and is considered doubtful to play. #3 TE Greg Estandia(notes) would start if the other two players aren’t able to play.

Buccaneers WR Michael Clayton(notes) (hamstring) practiced Thursday and is expected to start.

Cardinals starting WR Anquan Boldin(notes) (ankle) didn’t practice again Thursday and is considered very questionable to play. Backup WR Steve Breaston(notes) (knee) saw light work on Wednesday, but is expected to play. He would start if Boldin can’t play.

Colts WR Anthony Gonzalez(notes) (knee) didn’t practice again Thursday and is considered very questionable to play.

Cowboys WR Roy Williams (ribs) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start.

Eagles WR Kevin Curtis (knee-out) is getting a second opinion on his lingering knee problem. Rookie WR Jeremy Maclin(notes) will continue to start for him.

Jets starting WR Jericho Cotchery (hamstring) didn’t practice again Thursday and is considered doubtful to play. He did some light conditioning work again. Backup WR David Clowney(notes) is expected to start for him again. WR Braylon Edwards(notes) (quadriceps) saw light work again Thursday, but is expected to start.

Raiders starting WR Chaz Schilens(notes) (foot) practiced again Thursday and is expected to play. However, his role for Sunday’s game won’t be known until closer to game time. The coaches want to evaluate his conditioning since he hasn’t played in a game since last season. It’s still likely that rookie WR Louis Murphy(notes) either starts or takes more than half the playing time reps over Schilens in this week’s game.

Packers WR Greg Jennings(notes) (hip) was added to the injury report after being held out of Thursday’s practice, but is expected to start. Backup WR/KR Jordy Nelson(notes) (knee) is out. Backup CB Tramon Williams(notes) is expected to return kicks this week.

Patriots WRs Wes Welker(notes) (knee) and Randy Moss(notes) (shoulder) practiced again Thursday and are expected to start. Rookie WR Julian Edelman(notes) (forearm) didn’t practice again Thursday and may miss several weeks. Rookie WR Brandon Tate(notes) (knee) is practicing, but remains on the PUP list. The team has three weeks to either place him on their active roster or he stays on PUP for the rest of the season meaning he wouldn’t be eligible to play. The team is leaning on not activating him for this week’s game since he missed all of the preseason and hasn’t played in a game yet. The team has until 4:00 PM ET on Saturday to make a decision on him for this week’s game.

Rams WR Donnie Avery(notes) (hip) saw light work on Thursday, but the team thinks he’ll able to start.

Saints TE Jeremy Shockey(notes) (shoulder) saw light work in Wednesday’s practice, but is expected to start.

Vikings rookie WR/KR Percy Harvin(notes) (shoulder) saw light work again Thursday, but is expected to play. Whether he returns kicks on Sunday isn’t known.

Place Kickers

Browns K Phil Dawson(notes) (right calf) didn’t practice Wednesday and is considered doubtful to play. Backup K Billy Cundiff(notes) is filling in.

Colts K Adam Vinatieri(notes) (knee) didn’t practice again Thursday and is expected to be out until sometime next month. Backup K Matt Stover(notes) is filling in.

Texans K Kris Brown(notes) (right ankle) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start.

Offensive Line

Bills starting RT Jonathan Scott(notes) (ankle) didn’t practice again Thursday and is considered very questionable to play.

Browns starting C Alex Mack(notes) (illness) missed practice again Thursday and is considered questionable to play.

Cardinals RT Levi Brown(notes) (knee) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start.

Cardinals G Reggie Wells(notes) (thumb) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start.

Chargers G Louis Vasquez(notes) (knee) practiced Thursday and is expected to start.

Chiefs LT Branden Albert(notes) (ankle) saw light practice time on Thursday and is considered questionable to play.

Chiefs RT Ryan O’Callaghan(notes) (shoulder) was added to the injury report after being limited in Thursday’s practice, but is expected to start.

Chiefs G Brian Waters(notes) (ankle) practiced Thursday and is expected to start.

Cowboys C Andre Gurode(notes) (knee) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start.

Cowboys G Leonard Davis(notes) (thumb) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start.

Cowboys RT Marc Colombo(notes) (ankle) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start.

Eagles LT Jason Peters(notes) (knee/ankle) practiced Thursday and is expected to start.

Eagles LG Todd Herremans(notes) (foot) practiced Thursday and is expected to play. Whether he or backup OL Nick Cole(notes) (knee/practiced Thursday) starts or not will be determined closer to game time.

Giants RT Kareem McKenzie(notes) (groin) saw light work on again Thursday, but is expected to start.

Giants G Rich Seubert(notes) (shoulder) practiced Thursday and is expected to start.

Jets starting RT Damien Woody(notes) (foot/knee) didn’t practice again Thursday and is considered questionable to play.

Packers starting LT Chad Clifton(notes) (ankle) didn’t practice again Thursday and is considered very questionable to play.

Packers starting C Jason Spitz(notes) (back) didn’t practice again Thursday and is considered questionable to play.

Patriots starting LT Matt Light(notes) (knee) didn’t practice again Thursday and is considered doubtful to play. Rookie OT Sebastian Vollmer(notes) is filling in.

Patriots RT Nick Kaczur(notes) (ankle) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start.

Raiders starting G Robert Gallery(notes) (leg) didn’t practice again Thursday and is considered doubtful to play. G Cooper Carlisle(notes) (ankle) practiced Thursday and is expected to start.

Redskins starting LT Chris Samuels(notes) is out and might miss the rest of the season.

Raiders starting RT Cornell Green(notes) (calf) didn’t practice Thursday and is considered doubtful to play.

Rams G Richie Incognito(notes) (ankle) practiced Thursday and is expected to start.

Saints G Jahri Evans(notes) (toe) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start.

Vikings RT Phil Loadholt(notes) (ankle) saw light work again Thursday, but is expected to start.

Defensive Line

Bears DT Tommie Harris(notes) (knee) didn’t practice again Thursday, but still should able to start.

Bengals DT Tank Williams(notes) (foot) didn’t practice Wednesday and is considered questionable to play. Backup DT Pat Sims(notes) (biceps) practiced again Thursday and filled in for Sims. Starting DT Domata Peko(notes) (knee) didn’t practice again Thursday and is considered questionable to play.

Bills DE Chris Kelsay(notes) (eye) saw light work again Thursday, but is expected to start.

Bills starting DT Kyle Williams (shoulder) didn’t practice again Thursday and is considered questionable to play.

Browns DE Kenyon Coleman(notes) (groin) saw light work again Thursday, but is expected to start. DE Robaire Smith(notes) (calf) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start.

Browns DT Shaun Rogers(notes) (illness/foot) saw light work on Thursday, but is expected to start.

Buccaneers DTs Chris Hovan(notes) (ankle) and Ryan Sims(notes) (hand) practiced Thursday and are expected to start.

Eagles starting DE Victor Abiamiri(notes) (knee) is out. DE Juqua Parker(notes) is expected to start for him.

Jets DE Shaun Ellis(notes) (knee) saw light work again Thursday, but is expected to start.

Jets starting DT Kris Jenkins(notes) (knee) was placed on IR. Backup DT Sione Pouha(notes) fills in.

Raiders DE Greg Ellis(notes) (knee) saw light work again Thursday, but is expected to start

Patriots DE Jarvis Green(notes) (knee) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start.

Patriots DT Vince Wilfork(notes) (ankle) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start.

Redskins DTs Albert Haynesworth(notes) (ankle) and Cornelius Griffin(notes) (elbow) didn’t practice Thursday, but are expected to start.

Texans DE Mario Williams(notes) (shoulder) saw light work again Thursday, but is expected to start.

Linebackers

Bears starting SLB Pisa Tinoisamoa(notes) (knee) is out and will miss the rest of the season. Backup LB Jamar Williams(notes) or veteran LB Hunter Hillenmeyer(notes) (ribs) will fill in. Hillenmeyer practiced Thursday and is expected to play. The coaches are leaning toward keeping backup LB Nick Roach(notes) as the starting MLB.

Browns ILB Eric Barton(notes) (shoulder) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start.

Browns OLB David Bowens(notes) (knee) saw light work again Thursday, but is expected to start. OLB Kamerion Wimbley(notes) (illness) saw light work on Thursday, but is expected to start.

Buccaneers MLB Barrett Ruud(notes) (elbow) practiced Thursday and is expected to start.

Chargers starting ILB Kevin Burnett(notes) (ankle) didn’t practice again Thursday and is considered questionable to play. Backup ILB Tim Dobbins(notes) would likely start if he can’t play. ILB Stephen Cooper(notes) (knee) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start.

Cowboys OLB DeMarcus Ware(notes) (foot) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start.

Eagles starting MLB Omar Gaither(notes) (broken foot-out) didn’t practice Wednesday and will miss the rest of the season. Recently acquired LB Will Witherspoon(notes) (glute/practiced Thursday) will start for him. He’s expected to play in roughly 70% of the defensive snaps with veteran MLB Jeremiah Trotter(notes) playing in obvious running situations.

Eagles WLB Akeem Jordan(notes) (hip) practiced Thursday and is expected to start.

Giants starting WLB Michael Boley(notes) (knee) didn’t practice again Thursday and is not expected to play. Backup LB Chase Blackburn(notes) fills in.

Giant MLB Antonio Pierce(notes) (back) practiced Thursday and is expected to start.

Jets ILB David Harris(notes) (wrist) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start.

Jets OLB Bryan Thomas(notes) (wrist) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start.

Patriots ILB Jerod Mayo(notes) (knee) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start.

Panthers starting SLB Na’il Diggs(notes) (rib) returned to practice Thursday and is expected to start.

Panthers starting WLB Thomas Davis(notes) (hamstring) was added to the injury report after not practicing on Thursday. More on his status will be known after Friday’s practice.

Saints starting OLB Scott Fujita(notes) (calf) didn’t practice again Thursday and is considered very questionable to play. Backup LB Troy Evans(notes) would start if needed.

Texans MLB DeMeco Ryans(notes) (chest) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start.

Texans SLB Brian Cushing(notes) (foot) didn’t practice again Thursday, but is still expected to start.

Defensive Backs

Bengals starting SS Roy Williams (forearm) didn’t practice again Thursday and is considered questionable to play. Backup S Chinedum Ndukwe(notes) would start if needed.

Bills starting FS Donte Whitner(notes) (ankle) didn’t practice again Thursday and is considered questionable to play. Rookie S Jairus Byrd(notes) filled in.

Bills starting SS Bryan Scott(notes) (high ankle) saw light work in Thursday’s practice and is considered questionable to play. Backup S George Wilson(notes) would start again if needed.

Bills CB Terrence McGee(notes) (knee) saw light work on Thursday, but is expected to start.

Browns CB Brandon McDonald(notes) (shoulder) saw light work again Thursday, but is expected to start.

Browns starting FS Brodney Pool(notes) (illness) missed practice again Thursday and is considered questionable to play.

Buccaneers CB Aqib Talib(notes) (hamstring) was added to the injury report after seeing light practice time Thursday, but is expected to start.

Cardinals CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie(notes) (finger) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start.

Chargers CB Antonio Cromartie(notes) (knee) was added to the injury report after being limited in Thursday’s practice, but is expected to start.

Chiefs FS Jarrad Page(notes) (shoulder) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start.

Colts SS Bob Sanders(notes) (knee) was held out of Thursday’s practice. The coaches thought he did well in Wednesday’s practice, so they didn’t want to push him. He’s considered questionable to play, but the team is optimistic that he’ll be able to play. Backup S Melvin Bullitt(notes) would start again if needed.

Cowboys SS Gerald Sensabaugh(notes) (thumb) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start.

Giants starting CB Aaron Ross(notes) (hamstring) didn’t practice again Thursday and is considered doubtful to play. Backup CB Terrell Thomas(notes) is filling in.

Jets starting CB Lito Sheppard(notes) (quadriceps) didn’t practice again Thursday and is considered doubtful to play. Backup CB Dwight Lowery(notes) is expected to start for him. Nickel CB Donald Strickland(notes) (ankle) saw light work on again Thursday and is considered questionable to play.

Jets FS Kerry Rhodes(notes) (knee) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start.

Eagles CB Sheldon Brown(notes) (abdomen) practiced Thursday and is expected to start.

49ers starting SS Michael Lewis (concussion) saw light work on again Thursday and is considered questionable to play.

Patriots CB Shawn Springs(notes) (knee) saw light work again Thursday, but is expected to start.

Patriots SS Brandon Meriweather(notes) (foot) was added to the injury report after being limited in Thursday’s practice, but is expected to start.

Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha(notes) (eye/wrist) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start.

Rams CB Ronald Bartell (concussion) practiced again Thursday and is expected to start.

Rams SS James Butler(notes) (knee) practiced again Thursday and is on target to start.

Steelers SS Troy Polamalu(notes) (knee) didn’t practice again Thursday and is considered questionable to play. Backup S Tyrone Carter(notes) is filling in.

Texans SS Bernard Pollard(notes) (illness) was added to the injury report after being held out of Thursday’s practice, but is expected to start.

Vikings starting CB Antoine Winfield(notes) (foot) didn’t practice again Thursday and is considered doubtful to play. Backup CB Karl Paymah(notes) is filling in.

Vikings FS Madieu Williams(notes) (quadriceps) saw light work again Thursday, but is expected to start.