Week Fifteen Injury Updates
Updated Wednesday, December 11, 2002

• Saint starting QB Aaron Brooks (shoulder) will be listed as questionable this week. But according to the team, he is actually a little better this week than he was last. Keep a close eye on Brooks’ practice time this week because it will be very revealing in terms of his status.
• According to the Chicago Tribune, Bear starting QB Jim Miller (knee) had an MRI on Tuesday, which revealed a slight tear of the medial collateral ligament that will put the Miller on crutches for three weeks and out for the season. Backup QB Chris Chandler is expected to start this week with #3 QB Henry Burris coming in on a situational basis.
• Ram backup QB Marc Bulger (finger) will start this week and has been medically cleared to play. The team would most likely want to get one more look at him entering an off-season that will certainly be interesting concerning the team’s quarterback position. As we reported last week, there’s a small chance the team will enter the 2003 season with Bulger as the starter. Another possible route would be to showcase Bulger these last three games in the hopes of trading him. Starting QB Kurt Warner (hand) remains out. Regardless, Bulger is a must-have right now so pick him up if he’s available.
• Colt starting QB Peyton Manning has an inflamed bursa sac (knee) but head coach Tony Dungy said he doesn’t think it will be a big factor. Manning told Guru Report Publisher John Hansen on Wednesday morning that the injury will not affect him in any way, that he will be a "full go" this week, and that the injury will not be one that could get worse. Manning told Hansen that the injury is just a nagging thing.
• Eagle starting QB Donovan McNabb (ankle) continues to improve, had his cast removed from his ankle on Monday, but is still not ready to play and won’t be until Week Seventeen at the absolute earliest. Backup QB Koy Detmer (elbow) is improving, but his status is still way up in the air. When he’s ready, he will start, despite backup QB A.J. Feeley’s fine play. Right now, Feeley looks like the starter for the team this week.
• Seattle starting QB Matt Hasselbeck woke up Monday in pain after suffering a sprained foot against the Eagles. Hasselbeck doesn’t know if he’ll play this week, and head coach Mike Holmgren doesn’t, either. But backup QB Jeff George is expected to practice with the first-team offense at least this week and could start. Hasselbeck does hope he’ll be able to practice Thursday.
• Redskin QB Danny Wuerffel (shoulder) is not expected to play this week, and the team expects rookie QB Patrick Ramsey to start not only this week but likely for the rest of the season. Backup QB Shane Matthews would be the #2.

• Packer head coach Mike Sherman said Monday that he hopes starting RB Ahman Green (knee) can return to practice this week, but he said he wasn’t sure he will and would not say for sure yet that Green will definitely return to the starting lineup this week. If he practices today or Thursday, that would be a strong indication that he’ll be able to return.
• Colt starting RB Edgerrin James has a sore ankle and now a groin injury, according to head coach Tony Dungy. James is expected to play but could be limited in practice.
• Brown starting RB William Green (triceps) is expected to play.
• Saint starting RB Deuce McAllister will be listed as questionable again, but he made it out of the Raven game with no setbacks.
• 49er starting RB Garrison Hearst (knee) will be listed as probable, and head coach Steve Marrucci seemed confident that he’d be ready to play this week. Meanwhile, backup RB Kevan Barlow (knee) will be listed as questionable, but Mariucci hopes he’ll be upgraded to probable and believes there’s a good chance he’ll play this week.
• Lion starting RB James Stewart re-aggravated his stinger injury from the previous week and also injured his knee and his finger (lacerated). We will have a better idea of his status after the team practices today. Starting FB Cory Schlesinger also re-aggravated his stinger injury and his status is not yet known.
• Falcon head coach Dan Reeves said RB Warrick Dunn (ankle) should be fine for this week’s game, but he also said that the team will play rookie RB T.J. Duckett plenty the rest of the way.
• Jet backup RB Lamont Jordan (ankle) will be listed as questionable again this week. If he’s out, that again helps starting RB Curtis Martin’s value, as we saw last week when Martin scored.
• Eagle backup RB Dorsey Levens (shin) is expected to be able to play this week, but rookie Brian Westbrook (ankle) is looking like he’ll be out. Starting RB Duce Staley should see plenty of time this week.
• Seahawk backup RB Maurice Morris (hamstring) is likely out this week.
• Bear starting RB Anthony Thomas (finger) and backup TE Dustin Lyman (knee) were placed on IR this week.

• Charger head coach Marty Schottenheimer said that until WR Curtis Conway (shoulder) regains the strength in his shoulder, he will not play. However, Schottenheimer added Conway told him the shoulder is improving.
• Steeler starting WR Hines Ward (hamstring) is questionable to play this week, according to head coach Bill Cowher. They’ll get a better idea if he can play after he goes through practice this week, if he can at all. Keep in mind Ward is one of the toughest guys in the league and returned quickly from his appendectomy this year.
• 49er starting WR Terrell Owens has not only his lingering heel injury, but now also a groin injury. He’ll probably be rested in practice, but he’ll be listed as probable. Owens has played hurt all year and he’s played well, obviously. According to footballinjuries.com, Owens had the groin injury last week in practice.
• Packer starting WR Donald Driver’s injury (elbow) is just a bruise and he is expected to be fine to play this week. Head coach Mike Sherman said Monday that starting WR Terry Glenn asked to be given a pain-killing drug to play Sunday night, but the team elected to hold him out. Glenn should be available this week.
• Buccaneer backup WR Joe Jurevicius (ankle) and starting WR Keenan McCardell (quad) will be listed as probable, according to head coach Jon Gruden, but both are expected to play
• Colt starting WR Qadry Ismail’s injury Sunday was a wrist one, and he could miss time in practice, but it’s expected that he’ll be available this week.
• Bengal starting WR Peter Warrick (lung) spent Sunday night in a hospital and will likely miss some practice and is questionable to play this week.
• Giant starting WR Ron Dixon (knee) is probably doubtful this week, according to head coach Jim Fassel.
• 49er starting TE Eric Johnson has a shoulder sprain and his status will be updated later in the week.
• Titan head coach Jeff Fisher said starting WR Kevin Dyson (hamstring) had season-ending surgery last week. Backup WR Drew Bennett is expected to continue to start.
• Cardinal starting WR Frank Sanders (foot) is considered questionable at best to play this week.
• Seahawk backup WR Bobby Engram (toe) is likely out this week.
• Jaguar starting TE Kyle Brady (ankle) will be limited in practice this week but is expected to play.
• 49er KR Jimmy Williams (knee) is out for the rest of the season.

• The Titans are hopeful that starting DE Jevon Kearse (foot) will finally return to the starting lineup this week. Starting S Lance Schulters (thigh) is expected to play.
• Falcon starting defensive ends Brady Smith (back) and Patrick Kerney (knee) are considered day-to-day. Their status for Sunday’s game will be known later this week.
• Seahawk rookie DE Anton Palepoi, who got his first start last week, if iffy to play on Sunday.
• Chief starting DT John Browning (foot) could be limited in practice but is expected to play on Sunday.
• Ram starting OLB Tommy Polley was thought to be out for the rest of the season due to a high ankle sprain. However, head coach Mike Martz said Polley has a heel injury and probably will be able to play this week.
• Cardinal head coach Dave McGinnis said starting OLB Rob Fredrickson (neck) and starting C Mike Gruttadauria (knee) would miss the rest of the season. Starting CB Duane Starks (groin) likely is out again.
• Viking head coach Mike Tice said starting MLB Greg Biekert’s calf injury is a little more serious than first thought, and his status for this week’s game is unclear.
• Buccaneer starting S John Lynch (neck) is questionable to play this week, according to head coach Jon Gruden.
• Eagle starting CB Bobby Taylor (concussion) is expected to play this week.
• 49er starting CB Ahmed Plummer (groin) is considered questionable to play this week.
• Patriot starting G Joe Andruzzi (knee) is considered questionable to play this week.
• Steeler head coach Bill Cowher said starting OT Wayne Gandy (calf) is questionable to play this week. He also said starting ILB James Farrior (sternum) is also questionable.