Mid-Week Football Injury/Player Updates:

QB:

Donovan McNabb - Nothing to note here, but he looked sharp this pre-season, so don't worry about him for week 1. He might start a bit slow with his conditioning not having played a full game in almost a year, but it shouldn't be a concern.

Jon Kitna - He missed a little bit of practice time in the preseason along with the preseason finale with back spasms, but he returned to practice and is ready to go for week 1.

RB:

Frank Gore - As most of you know, Gore missed the preseason with a broken hand. The hand is healing well, and he'll wear a pad on it to protect it, but he's ready to roll in week 1.

Willie Parker - Parker missed the first 2 preseason games with a knee ailment, but got plenty of work in the 3rd preseason game and is ready to go in week 1.

Larry Johnson - LJ missed most of the preseason in a contract holdout, but returned for the preseason finale to carry the ball a few times. The coaching staff is a bit concerned about what kind of "football shape" LJ is in right now, and while he might be a bit limited in week 1, he's good enough to start against Houston regardless. I remain very down on LJ this year. He's lost 2 HOF lineman the last two years (Willie Roaf after the 2005 season, Will Shields after the 2006 season), Herman Edwards' offense is nowhere near as good of a system as Dick Vermeil used, and the history of RBs carrying the ball 375 or more times is horrible in the next season. LJ carried it an NFL record 429 times last year including the playoffs, and he was also worked very hard after Priest Holmes went down in 2005. It is worth nothing that last year was his first year as the primary RB for all 16 games, but history is not on his side whatsoever, plus him not being in football shape yet further complicates matters. Want a few numbers? Only 3 of 19 RBs met or slightly decreased the following year as to where the other 16 had a very noticeable drop in fantasy value. These RBs averaged a drop of 107.9 fantasy points in the year following a 375+ carry season. Given the obvious drop in production due to a lesser workload combined with the degrading offense around him, and I'm fairly certain LJ will bust this year.

Laurence Maroney - Maroney's hush-hush offseason shoulder injury was the cause of concern for those looking to draft him, but he carried the ball 15 times in the 3rd preseason game, easing worries that he might not be ready to start the season. He remains a bit of an injury risk moving forward, but he's 100% for week 1.

Travis Henry - Henry's initial knee injury in week 2 of the preseason caused a lot of concern, but he was held out of the final 2 preseason games as a precaution and is ready to roll for week 1. He's also an injury risk given his history and Shanahan's reputation for over-working his primary RBs, but Shanahan's depth chart games continue with Selvin Young the current backup and Mike Bell the current FB. My take? I think this is simply motivation for Mike Bell to fix whatever problems Shanahan saw from him.

Thomas Jones - Jones' suffered a calf injury in the preseason and was held out of the remaining preseason games, but that time off is supposed to make him near 100% for the season opener. Jets' coach Eric Mangini is from Bill Belichick's School of Silent Treatment regarding injuries, so it's hard to say for sure where exactly Jones stands right now. If he's active on gameday, start him.

Clinton Portis - Portis' true health remains very much in doubt. He battled 2 separate instances of knee tendonitis this offseason, missed all 4 preseason games, and rarely practiced. It's possible that the Redskins are simply being cautious with their superstar, but the more likely scenario is that Portis still isn't 100%. He's likely not in football shape due to all the missed time, but he's going to start in week 1. Reports indicate that Betts will split time with him, and one has to wonder if that split will be 50/50, or even favor Betts in week 1. Depending on who your RB3 is, Portis remains a very risky RB2 start in week 1.

Warrick Dunn - Dunn returned quickly from back surgery to participate in the Falcons' preseason finale, but looked old and out of shape. He will remain a huge injury risk this season due to his age, career workload, smaller size, and preseason back injury. He shouldn't be anywhere near your starting roster.

Michael Turner - Turner suffered what was originally reported as a high ankle sprain, but apparently he's feeling better and might be ready for week 1. It's pretty much a non-story as he's nothing more than the handcuff to the most durable RB in the NFL, although odds are that he will get more work than last year once he's healthy.

WR:

Torry Holt - Coach Scott Linehan reported that Holt looked 100% to him, so I might have jumped the gun a bit. I still stand by my statement, though, as Holt's knee injury has lasted for about 2 years, and it was definitely a concern that Holt stated he only felt 75% just a few weeks ago. Plus, this is the time of year when coaches start hiding injury severity for strategic purposes, so it's very hard to take what they say very seriously. He remains a risk until he proves that he's healthy on the field.

Marques Colston - Colston battled a bum knee for much of the preseason, but started in the preseason finale, proving that he's 100%, or very close to it. Consider him ready for week 1.

Randy Moss - Moss has made quite a few headlines recently. He's missed all of training camp and the preseason with a mysterious hamstring ailment, and then was wildly rumored to be on the chopping block come 53 man roster cuts. He obviously survived the cuts, and one has to wonder if he's just milking this so he didn't have to go through practices. It's still a concern, but he has appeared at the media portion of practice the first two days this week. Keep an eye on the gameday inactive list, but if he's active, he'll be worth starting.

Donald Driver - Driver suffered what was originally thought to be a serious foot injury, but it's been labeled a sprain to this point and he appears healthy in practice and should be ready to go in week 1.

Mark Clayton - Clayton suffered a sprained ankle earlier in the preseason, but he returned to practice on Monday and appears ready to roll in week 1.

Darrell Jackson - Jackson has missed a lot of camp with turf toe that continues to bother him from last year, and he's also missed time recently thanks to a hamstring injury. It looks like another year of monitoring the injury reports for owners of DJax. He's rumored to be ready to play in week 1, but given his questionable health and the fact he plays on MNF, it's hard to recommend starting him unless he practices at some point this week.

Terry Glenn - Glenn is troubled by his bothersome knees and remains questionable for week 1. Patrick Crayton would make for a fine start if Glenn is to miss this game, and he's well worth picking up as a WR5 if he went undrafted in your league. Glenn's status is uncertain at this time.

TE:

Alge Crumpler - Crumpler battled a bum knee for much of the offseason, including surgery, but he returned to catch a couple passes in the preseason finale. He looks ready to go for week 1.

Jeremy Shockey - Shockey missed a bit of time in the preseason with a hamstring issue, but he's fine now and is probably as healthy as he'll be all season.

L.J. Smith - Smith returned to practice after hernia surgery and appears ready go in week 1. He's a weak start at TE, however, even at 100%.