News and Notes 11-01-12

Bye weeks: New England, NY Jets, St. Louis, San Francisco


Quarterbacks

*-Ryan Tannehill practiced again in limited fashion, but reports are that he needed to have fluid drained from his injured knee this week. Tannehill is considered a game time decision for week 9, but if he can practice again tomorrow in at least limited fashion, I'd guess he would be the starter. But if not, it will be Matt Moore.

*-Peyton Manning put in a full practice for the second consecutive day. Manning has a bruised thumb on his throwing hand but it's not considered to be a real issue. Just like yesterday when I mentioned Aaron Rodgers and his minor calf injury, I just wanted to pass it along that I know about it, and it's not shying me away from considering the red hot Manning as a fantasy play.


Running Backs

*-The trade deadline has come and gone and RB's Steven Jackson and DeAngelo Williams were not traded. We can stop speculating about that.

*-Donald Brown was held out of practice today for the Colts. He wasn't on yesterday's practice report injury list so it begs the question of whether Brown was being rested after having a larger than expected workload week 8? Or did he suffer any type of setback in the knee he had surgery on 3 weeks ago? We won't know for sure until tomorrow's practice. Right now, I'd be hesitant to have Brown penciled into my starting lineups if I were you.

*-Mikel Leshoure was removed from the Lions injury report. This should put to rest any speculation about his calf injury being anything more than very minor. He'll start week 9 without issue, but the Lions have said that Joique Bell has taken over as the passing down RB. Bell is still a smart handcuff to Leshoure.

*-Speaking of the Lions, they have until next Tuesday to make a decision whether to activate Jahvid Best or put him on injured reserve. With Doctors not wanting to be responsible for clearing him medically because of his lengthy concussion history, my bet is that he'll be placed on IR.

*-Darren Sproles didn't practice today because of a hand injury. Currently, it's not believed to be serious enough to put his week 9 status in jeopardy, but you'll want to check out the Saturday team by team news and notes in my blog to be sure.

*-As expected, Ahmad Bradshaw practiced in limited fashion today. Bradshaw was held out yesterday because of his foot injury and likely will be held out of all future Wednesday practices. As long as he practices at least by Friday each week going forward, you can safely expect Bradshaw to play.

*-Also as expected, Jonathan Dwyer returned to a limited practice today. With Rashard Mendenhall being eased back because of his strained Achilles tendon, the Steelers are being cautious with Dwyer and his quad bruise. While we still don't know for sure whether Mendenhall will play or not this week, it's likely Dwyer will start and at least be the primary RB.

*-Trent Richardson is limited in practices this week because of his ribs injury. But after making it thru week 8 without issue, he will be fine for week 9.

*-DeMarco Murray didn't practice again today and he's not expected to play this week. Expect Felix Jones to start again. Jones has added a shoulder ailment to his knee issues on the practice report injury listings. This guy just can't stay healthy. Don't be surprised if we see a good bit more of Phillip Tanner this week. Providing the Cowboys don't fall way behind early to Atlanta and abandon their rushing attack.

*-John Kuhn was unable to practice again today because of his hamstring issue and he is not expected to play week 9 for the Packers.


Wide Receivers

*-Despite sitting out practice again today, Calvin Johnson is fully expected to be fine to start week 9. Johnson's got some knee soreness and the Lions want their stud WR as healthy as can be on Sunday. Teammate Titus Young has been limited with his own knee issue, but he'll be fine for this week too.

*-Percy Harvin missed practice today. Harvin was limited yesterday because of a hamstring issue but the Vikings say today's missed practice was for personal reasons and not related to the hamstring. You always have to be concerned about any time Harvin has a boo-boo, but it appears that he should be okay for week 9.

*-Andre Johnson was removed from the practice report injury listings today. This just confirms that he sat out yesterday as a day of rest and nothing that was related to injury. Like I said yesterday, Johnson is due a big game.

*-Brian Hartline was limited in practice today with a groin issue. He wasn't on the report yesterday so you have to wonder if he injured it in practice today. We should know more tomorrow. As long as he can practice some tomorrow, I'd say Hartline will be okay. Teammate Jabar Gaffney missed practice, but the report says it's not injury related. Probably a personal issue.

*-Dallas WR Dez Bryant didn't practice today again because of his hip injury. While he is tentatively expected to be okay to start week 9, I'd be cautious about trusting Bryant in a fantasy starting lineup. Teammate Kevin Ogletree also hasn't practiced yet this week because of a hamstring issue and his status for week 9 has to be considered Questionable.

*-No big surprise that Redskins WR Pierre Garcon has been officially ruled OUT for week 9. Garcon isn't expected to return until week 11 at the earliest.

*-Brandon LaFell missed practice again today because of a concussion. His chances of playing week 9 are slipping from slim to slimmer and I'd be surprised if he wasn't declared out on the Friday injury report. Louis Murphy would most likely draw the start for Carolina if LaFell doesn't play.


Tight Ends

*-Owen Daniels was added to the injury listings today as having been limited with a minor hamstring issue. Currently it's not believed to be anything serious and Daniels should be fine to start week 9.

*-Jermichael Finley was limited again today, but that's been the norm in practices the last couple of weeks and he hasn't missed game action. He'll start week 9.

*-Brandon Pettigrew put in a limited practice today after sitting out yesterday. Pettigrew has been bothered by a minor knee issue the last few weeks but he keeps playing on Sundays and there's no reason to think that won't be the case again this week.