NFL Week 4: Injury Report

QB:

J.P. Losman - Losman suffered a sprained MCL in week 3, and he'll be out 2 weeks. It looks like he'll return in week 7 after Buffalo's bye. Rookie Trent Edwards will start in his place.

Steve McNair - McNair apparently re-injured his strained groin in week 3, but he claimed after the game that he could have continued playing. He practiced fully on Thursday. His status as Baltimore's starter for the rest of the season is clearly in question at the moment, but he will start in week 4.

Jay Cutler - Cutler sprained his ankle in week 3, but he believes he'll practice this week. Check back to make sure, but it looks like he'll be fine for week 4. Patrick Ramsey would start if Cutler can't go.

Josh McCown - McCown fractured his toe on his other foot, and his status for week 4 is in doubt. He missed practice on Wednesday. Daunte Culpepper will replace him if McCown can't go.

Brian Griese - No injury to report here, but Griese will replace Rex Grossman as the starting QB for the Bears in week 4.

Tavaris Jackson - Jackson strained his groin in week 2, and he missed week 3. His status for week 4 is in doubt, but does it really matter? Kelly Holcomb would start again if Jackson can't go.

Jake Delhomme - Delhomme strained his throwing elbow in week 3, and did not return after leaving with the injury. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. He's expected to miss at least one week with the injury, but luckily he didn't sustain any ligament damage. David Carr will start in his place.

Matt Leinart - No injury here, but Arizona coach Ken Wisenhunt has stated his intention to use Warner during no huddle situations throughout the season. Is this the NFL's first QBBC? At any rate, keep Leinart firmly on your bench until he's playing all game. I wouldn't drop him as he still has upside and this could be a motivational tactic, but you can't use him this week not knowing what will come of this.

Marc Bulger - Bulger revealed that his is playing through 2 broken ribs. He's apparently not going to miss any time, but this is a solid explanation for why he played so poorly in last Sunday's game. He practiced fully on Wednesday. He should start in week 4.

RB:

Laurence Maroney - Maroney injured his groin in week 3, and his status for week 4 is in question. He was limited in practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. He should be OK for week 4, but keep an eye on his practice schedule.

Rudi Johnson - Johnson suffered a an injured hamstring in week 3, and he is out for week 4. Kenny Watson will start in Rudi's place and is a solid flex/bye week fill-in for this week against the Patriots. He might not get a lot of rushing attempts, but he should see some scoring opportunities.

Ahman Green - Green sprained his knee in week 3, and his status for week 4 is in doubt. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. Ron Dayne will start if Green can't go, and he has a favorable matchup against the Falcons.

Larry Johnson - LJ was suffering from general soreness after week 3, and his status for week 4 is in question. He has now missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday, but still has a shot to play this week. This is starting to become a serious concern.

Julius Jones - Jones suffered another concussion in week 3, but he believes he'll be fine and play in week 4. What role he'll have has become a bigger question at this point. Marion Barber would be a top 5 option if Jones were to miss the game.

Brandon Jacobs - Jacobs sprained his knee in week 1, and he will miss week 4. He did not practice on Wednesday, but returned to practice on Thursday in a limited fashion, giving him an outside chance of playing in some capacity in week 4. The local newspaper stated that he'll resume receiving 20-25 carries when he returns, but if he returns this week, there's no way he'll receive the majority of the carries.

Brian Westbrook - Westbrook strained his abs in week 3, but he believes he'll be fine and play in week 4. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday, but hopefully hell return to practice on Friday. Correll Buckhalter would start if Westbrook were to miss the game, so Westbrook owners need to pick him up given that it's a Sunday night game.

Kevin Jones - Jones returned from his Lisfranc foot fracture in week 3 in a very limited role, but he reported no problems and his role should continued expanding. Tatum Bell will still see the field plenty in week 4. It'll likely be at least 1 more week before he'll become a fantasy option.

Brandon Jackson - Jackson strained his shin in week 3, and he's still struggling with the injury. He was limited in practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. Regardless if he plays or not, he is a must-bench against the Vikings.

Chester Taylor - Taylor suffered a hip injury in week 1, but he's expected to return in week 4. He was limited in practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. Coach Childress still claims that he'll be the starter when he returns, but I find that hard to believe given how good Adrian Peterson looked in both weeks 1 and 3. He'll definitely pick up passing down work again with Peterson's ineffective blocking, but I'm not sure how many carries he'll get even if he does "start".

Deuce McAllister - McAllister tore his ACL in week 3 and is lost for the season. Reggie Bush will become the featured RB for New Orleans, but given questions about his durability, expect to see veteran Aaron Stecker and rookie Pierre Thomas used frequently as well.

Cadillac Williams - Williams injured his ribs in week 2, aggravated them in week 3, but he is expected to start in week 4. Gruden maintains that Cadillac is his unquestioned start, but the preseason concerns about his durability are very real and in full force.

Steven Jackson - Jackson tore his groin in week 3 and will be sidelined for multiple weeks. I'd give a 3-6 week estimate as it was revealed today that he has a 40% tear. Some outlets are reporting it as a 1 week injury, but that's ridiculous. Brian Leonard will start in his place.

WR:

Mark Clayton - Clayton was limited in weeks 1 and 2 with a sprained ankle. He was again limited in practice on Thursday, and he looks like a must-bench for week 4.

Hines Ward - Ward sprained his knee in week 3, and his status for week 4 is in doubt. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. Santonio Holmes and Heath Miller would benefit from Ward's absence.

Andre Johnson - Johnson sprained his knee in week 2, and he will miss week 4. The Texans are hoping he'll return in week 6 as it stands right now. It's possible he could practice later this week.

Jacoby Jones - Jones separated his shoulder in week 3 and will miss 2-3 weeks. He can be dropped in redraft leagues for now.

Javon Walker - Walker experienced soreness in his knee in week 3, but he expects to play in week 4. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. This is the same knee he had ACL surgery on 2 years ago, so this might be a problem, especially given his struggles last week despite the tough matchup. Keep an eye on this.

Eddie Kennison - Kennison tore his hamstring in week 1, and he will miss week 4. He's not worth holding onto in most leagues with the struggling Chiefs offense. His return might impact Dwayne Bowe.

Terry Glenn - Glenn underwent arthroscopic knee surgery prior to week 1, and he will miss week 4. He's hoping the surgery will allow him to return around week 6.

Plaxico Burress - Burress injured his ankle in week 2, but he played well in week 3. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. He's expected to play in week 4, but at less than 100%. This could be a lingering problem.

Santana Moss - Moss strained his groin in week 3, and he's on bye in week 4. The Redskins revealed that Moss would not have been able to play had they had a game in week 4, which leaves his week 5 status in question.

Calvin Johnson - Johnson bruised his back in week 3, but he is on track to start in week 4. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday. Continue to monitor his practice schedule to make sure. He might become a gametime decision.

Anquan Boldin - Boldin hurt his hip in week 3, and he appears questionable to start in week 4. He missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday. Continue to monitor his status as he could become a gametime decision.

TE:

Kellen Winslow - Winslow suffered a partially separated shoulder in week 3, and his status for week 4 is in question. He missed practice on both Wednesday and Thursday, so keep an eye on his practice schedule. If he doesn't practice, he'll be a game-time decision.

L.J. Smith - Smith underwent groin surgery prior to week 3, and he's out for week 4. When he returns, he'll be a TE2 option.

Vernon Davis - Davis sprained his knee in week 3 and will miss an estimated 2 weeks. He's expected to return in week 7 after the 49ers' bye week.

D:

Chicago - Chicago's defense was hit hard with injuries in week 3, and they will be without DT Tommie Harris, CB Charles Tillman, CB Nathan Vasher, and possibly LB Lance Briggs in week 4. Without Harris, a pocket collpasing specialist, and both starting corners, they could be in for a very long day against the pass happy Lions. I'd consider other options this week.