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If you're still alive in your fantasy playoffs, your new year is getting off to a good start. With a full slate of games on New Year's Day, you have 32 teams that could help crown you champion. Or, you could have 32 teams that combine to sink your season by resting their star players, particularly those who are at less than 100 percent health (who is at 100 percent health at this stage anyway?), in advance of the real playoffs or because they have no hope for the playoffs. Whom can you count on? We are in search of that answer as the final games of the 2011 regular season approach. Here's what we're hearing midweek.

Quick Hits

Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots: This is the biggest nonstory story of the week. Brady took a number of hits to his nonthrowing (left) shoulder last week, and Tom Curran of Comcast SportsNet New England reported that Brady underwent X-rays to rule out a shoulder separation. Apparently there were no significant findings, and after sitting out practice Wednesday (noninjury related, according to the Patriots), Brady was at least present for the portion of practice open to the media Thursday, although how much activity he did is unclear. It sounds as if the team is understandably conserving his stamina for Sunday, when the Patriots are playing for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Brady has played through far worse, including, as many longtime fantasy players might remember, a sore throwing shoulder that had him on the injury report for record time. He will play Sunday, and while he perhaps would prefer not to take hard hits on his left shoulder, it should not affect his game.

Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers: Roethlisberger's high ankle sprain got an extra week of recovery when he sat out Week 16, and he now appears on track to play this Sunday. Roethlisberger was listed as a full participant in practice both Wednesday and Thursday, and acknowledges that while he still has pain in the ankle, he is improving. Expect Roethlisberger to play Sunday, barring a setback. Whether he will play the entire game is impossible to predict at this stage, and it might ultimately depend on how his ankle responds that day.

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Tom Pennington/Getty ImagesTony Romo sat out most of last week's game with a hand injury but appears to be in good shape for the season finale.

Tony Romo, QB, and Felix Jones, RB, Dallas Cowboys: Both players are on track to play Sunday night in the game against the New York Giants that will determine who lives to play another week. Jones benefited from the rest he got in Week 16 (he was removed from the game after just four carries) and has been practicing on a limited basis. Of course, the ultimate test for his hamstring will come in the demands of a full game, but his issue was only ever described as "tightness," never a true strain. Romo meanwhile has been working on getting the swelling down in his bruised right hand. The less swelling, the less there are any issues with functionality of the hand that would affect grip and, ultimately, ball control. Romo's presence in practice throughout the week indicates the team is fully expecting he will start.

Andre Johnson, WR, Houston Texans: Johnson has missed three games since suffering his second hamstring injury of the season and made it clear he wanted to get back into a regular-season game before heading into the playoffs. It appears he will get his wish, as Johnson has practiced this week and coach Gary Kubiak indicated he is in line to play Sunday. It appears the Texans do not plan to use Johnson the entire game, as Kubiak suggested they would aim for 15 to 20 plays. Who can blame them after the spate of severe injuries their key players have endured this season? So while they will support Johnson getting some in-game work, they are not likely to take excessive risk. The question for fantasy owners is whether a limited appearance from Johnson will translate to significant point production.

Roy Helu, RB, Washington Redskins: After being a pregame scratch in Week 16 because of a painful toe, Helu has returned to limited practice this week. He says he expects to play, but the combination of his being less than 100 percent and a nice performance last week by Evan Royster makes this week's outlook unclear.

Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, New York Giants: Bradshaw has settled into a routine of not practicing early in the week but returning Friday and playing Sunday. It appears that could be the case again, and the Giants have everything to play for Sunday night.

Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland Raiders: You probably are not in your fantasy championship if you were counting on McFadden to be back, since he now has gone 67 days without practicing. He is not headed to injured reserve, so there still is an opportunity if the Raiders make the playoffs. However, fantasy owners are left hoping for a full offseason recovery.

Jacoby Ford, WR, Oakland Raiders: Ford now is back in practice on a limited basis. His participation on back-to-back days is encouraging, but it is not yet clear whether he will be in the lineup Sunday.

James Starks, RB, Green Bay Packers: Starks did not practice Wednesday or Thursday, and his status for Sunday is looking grim. At this point, it's more important for the Packers to have him healthy for the playoffs, so do not plan on seeing him in Week 17.

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Derick E. Hingle/US PresswireIt'll be hard for either the Saints or fantasy owners to rely on Mark Ingram down the stretch.

Mark Ingram, RB, New Orleans Saints: Uh-oh. Not good news here for the Saints. Ingram has missed the past three games with a turf toe injury but in the past week had appeared to be making some progress. Unfortunately, his return to light practice Wednesday resulted in a setback, one the New Orleans Times-Picayune suggests could keep him out of the playoffs. Wise fantasy owners probably already made the move to secure Chris Ivory, who is expected to play again this Sunday.

Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars: Jones-Drew had an ankle injury heading into last week's game and managed to play through it. He has not practiced yet this week, but there seems to be little doubt that this is just rest in advance of Sunday's game.

Reggie Bush, RB, Miami Dolphins: Bush has had a resurgence of his career in Miami and wants to finish the season strong. His absence from practice both Wednesday and Thursday is a bit worrisome, considering he downplayed last week's injury to his right knee. According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Bush is walking without a limp, but a knee injury to a running back with a history of knee issues is still concerning. If Bush is not practicing Friday, fantasy owners should be making alternate plans.

Hakeem Nicks and Mario Manningham, WRs, New York Giants: On Saturday, Nicks aggravated the hamstring he injured earlier this season, and it kept him out of practice Wednesday and Thursday. He made it clear he plans to play, however. According to ESPN New York, Nicks said, "It is all or nothing. It is playoffs now." That's not to say he'll be completely past it. Nicks and teammate Manningham both present some risk in that neither is expected to be completely beyond his injuries by the time Sunday rolls around. Manningham's struggles with swelling in his knee have been ongoing, but he turned in some limited work Wednesday and Thursday. Coach Tom Coughlin seems encouraged that Manningham will be available for this critical matchup.

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Dale Zanine/US PresswireLeSean McCoy is the leading rusher in fantasy this season, but will he get to build on his stats?

LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia Eagles: Finally, Michael Vick and Jeremy Maclin are off the injury report, but McCoy gets added this week. McCoy hurt his ankle in Week 16 and was given Wednesday off. Eagles coach Andy Reid expressed optimism early in the week that McCoy would be fine, and his return to limited practice Thursday seemed to support that statement. McCoy is expected to play Sunday.

Kevin Smith, RB, and Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions: Smith's ankle is still in recovery mode, but he has turned in full practices this week. As noted Tuesday, the Lions signed Joique Bell from the practice squad, so it is difficult to assess just how Sunday's lineup will shape up. Johnson is listed on the injury report with an Achilles injury and did not practice Wednesday or Thursday. There has been no indication that there is anything major to be concerned about regarding his health but his status for Sunday is unclear. While the Lions have made it sound as if it will be business as usual, it's hard to imagine their starters not being removed early at the very least, as this game does not hold much value (they're playing to keep the 5-seed in the playoffs).

Ryan Mathews and Mike Tolbert, RBs, San Diego Chargers: Not what fantasy owners want to see -- both Chargers running backs returned to the injury report. Mathews, again listed with a calf injury, sat out Wednesday but was back to limited practice Thursday, suggesting he'll be available Sunday. Tolbert, however, was out both Wednesday and Thursday with a hamstring injury, and his status is less certain.

See you at the injury chat Friday at 11 a.m. ET, and we'll have the latest injury updates affecting Week 17 in the Saturday morning blog.

Congratulations to all who took home the championship trophy in Week 16 and, frankly, to all who gutted out the season, regardless of how you ended up placing in your league(s). We appreciate those who play hard right up until the bitter end. Speaking of which, a number of fantasy leagues take their championship matches right through the bitter end, otherwise known as Week 17, seeking a challenge by playing in a week where teams may alter their rosters either because they have nothing to lose or everything to gain by fielding backups. If you're playing for glory this Sunday, then the injury news is of import, but be forewarned: The picture of who sits and who starts may be even cloudier with the playoffs looming next month.

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Geoff Burke/US PresswireAdrian Peterson is obviously out for the rest of 2011, but his 2012 future is also very hazy.

One player we already know will not be present on Sunday has been a staple in virtually every fantasy football league for several years running. Unfortunately, the most dramatic -- and devastating -- injury of Week 16 was the one suffered by Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, who took a blow to his left knee that left him visibly in pain and on the ground. The video, difficult as it was to watch, showed Peterson's knee moving into an awkward combination of valgus (bowing inward) and rotation, finally coming to rest at an odd angle underneath the weight of his body. Even in the absence of any specific knowledge of anatomy, the visceral reaction viewers collectively experienced while watching a knee bend in ways that it shouldn't told us something had gone terribly wrong. Peterson officially has a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and a torn medial collateral ligament (MCL) along with some damage to both the medial and lateral meniscus. He is expected to undergo reconstructive surgery in the next week to 10 days. The true extent of the damage within the joint may not be fully appreciated until that surgery takes place. For now, the Vikings remain hopeful that Peterson will be ready to contribute early next season, but understandably the timeline must remain fluid to allow for the many unpredictable variables that accompany this type of injury and subsequent rehabilitation.

Working in Peterson's favor are his youth (he is 26 years old with only five NFL seasons under his belt), his physical fitness and his work ethic. He has also shown resilience in responding to past injuries that were expected to either keep him down longer or potentially hint at future problems. While a junior in college at Oklahoma, Peterson broke his clavicle, which forced him to miss the last seven weeks of the season. He entered the NFL the following year with some concern about whether the collarbone would be a problem. It was not. In Peterson's first NFL season (2007), he did suffer a less common knee ligament sprain, a lateral collateral ligament (LCL) injury (incidentally, which was to his right knee). Not only was Peterson back on the field within three weeks, the knee healed well and did not prove to be a liability going forward. In fact, since that time, Peterson had missed only one game until suffering a left high ankle sprain just five weeks ago. Peterson returned in Week 15 after missing three games, but just one short week later, his world turned upside down with this latest injury.

Peterson will be challenged to return to form in 2012. There is no reason at this moment to believe he cannot be back to playing football next season. It is also reasonable, however, to allow for the possibility that it will take some time for him to show the explosiveness and aggressive style for which he is known. It's not just the physical recovery; there is the mental aspect of regaining confidence in a leg that has been severely damaged, believing it will hold up to the physical demands of the game, including, of course, the contact it will naturally be expected to absorb. Not only do the stats show that players typically perform better in the second year following reconstructive knee surgery, but athletes will often say it takes a year of playing on that leg until they get their "feel" back or until they believe they are playing like themselves again.

At this point, we simply wish Peterson well on his road to recovery and hope for positive updates along the way.

Quick hits

All the games for Week 17 will come your way Sunday, with the season ending that night with New York Giants hosting the Dallas Cowboys for the NFC East title.

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Brett Davis/US PresswireAndre Johnson wants to get some work in the regular-season finale to get him ready for the playoffs.

• There is a possibility, a probability even, that Houston Texans wide receiver Andre Johnson will make an appearance Sunday. Johnson has missed three games while recovering from his second hamstring injury of the season and has made it clear he would like to see some regular-season action before entering the playoffs. Last Friday, following a loss to the Indianapolis Colts, coach Gary Kubiak told the Texans official website, "I'm hoping [Johnson] is back out there this week." Johnson did return to practice Monday and said, "We're just trying to see how this week goes, see if I can make it through the week, first of all, without any soreness or anything like that. … I'll be doing a little rehab tomorrow and I'll go back at it on Wednesday." If Johnson has a good week of practice, expect him to see some time Sunday. How much time that will be is unclear, but hopefully we'll get a better hint later in the week.

• Dallas Cowboys running back Felix Jones was removed from Saturday's game as soon as the announcement came that the New York Giants had won (rendering the Cowboys' game essentially meaningless). The good news for Jones is that his hamstring held up for the four carries he managed, but the rest he got afterward probably served him better. Expect Jones to be ready to go this weekend.

• The bigger question for the Cowboys this week might be the status of quarterback Tony Romo, who hit his right (throwing) hand against Jason Babin's helmet Saturday, causing the hand to swell to roughly twice its normal size. Fortunately, tests were negative for any fracture and, presuming the swelling resolves enough to allow Romo to function effectively, he will indeed play Sunday night. Coach Jason Garrett, a former quarterback who innately understands the physical demands of the position, captured the issue perfectly when he spoke to reporters Monday. "I don't think it's that complicated," Garrett said. "Can you take a snap? Can you grip the ball? Can you throw it? What's the ball look like when you throw it? Can you hand off? Quarterbacks that have had injuries in the past, and really, it's a functional type thing. … How accurate is he when he's throwing it? Does everything have to be perfect for him to throw it well? Because, as you know, that position is a spontaneous one and he's certainly a spontaneous quarterback. So we'll evaluate all those things as the week goes on." And that pretty well sums it up.

• It is unclear whether the Pittsburgh Steelers will have Ben Roethlisberger under center Sunday or whether there will be another Charlie Batch sighting. Roethlisberger sat out Week 16 to rest his left ankle following a high ankle sprain suffered in Week 14. Roethlisberger played the Monday night game in Week 15 but struggled to step into his throws and was clearly limited in his mobility. There won't be any clues as to a decision until the Steelers can evaluate what Roethlisberger can do in practice.

• New Orleans Saints wide receiver Lance Moore was questionable coming into Monday night's game because of a sore hamstring injured late last week in practice. He did end up playing but didn't last through the first half, as the injury forced him out in the second quarter. It remains to be seen whether he will be well enough to play Sunday.

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Debby Wong/US PresswireLeSean McCoy is the leading fantasy scorer among running backs this year, but will he be around in Week 17 to secure that honor?

• The Philadelphia Eagles saw LeSean McCoy leave Saturday's game for a period of time with an ankle injury. McCoy was able to return after X-rays were negative, but there seemed to be some discrepancy between McCoy's opinion as to whether he'd be available this week and coach Andy Reid's thought on the matter. For now, we'll go with Reid's interpretation, which is that McCoy has a "slight" ankle sprain and should be available Sunday.

• Detroit Lions running back Kevin Smith played Saturday and posted decent fantasy numbers, but at times looked to be struggling with his right ankle. The Lions signed running back Joique Bell on Monday, which certainly gives pause as to Smith's availability for this week. With the playoffs looming, it would seem the Lions would not want to risk Smith's health for when it is most needed. Fantasy owners may want to avail themselves of other options.

• Miami Dolphins running back Reggie Bush injured his right leg late in Saturday's game, but the non-specific injury appears mild. As Bush told the Palm Beach Post, "I don't think it's serious. I mean, I'm walking." Good point. So far, there's no indication Bush will be forced to miss this week's game. Meanwhile teammate Anthony Fasano missed Week 16 due to a concussion. He will need to be medically cleared to return to practice before his game status can be evaluated.

• Green Bay Packers running back James Starks suffered yet another setback with his injured right ankle. It's tough to imagine him playing this week when the Packers' biggest goal might be trying to maximize the health of their team going into the playoffs.

• And finally, if you were holding out any hope for the return of either Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler or running back Matt Forte, you can now let it go. The Bears officially ended their seasons Tuesday, and they can focus on getting healthy for next year.

With the majority of NFL matchups taking place on Saturday, there is one fewer day for teams, coaches and, most importantly, fantasy owners to prepare! Never fear, championship contenders. We won't let something as small as a schedule change get in the way of bringing you all the latest information. With the NFL injury reports hot off the presses, here are the players whose status may have you concerned heading into this week's games.

Good luck in Week 16, everyone! May your players stay healthy and win for you.

Quarterbacks

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Frank Victores/US PresswireBen Roethlisberger likely will play against the Rams only in case of an emergency.

Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers, ankle (Q): The Steelers have been preparing Charlie Batch all week to face the St. Louis Rams, with Roethlisberger active only in an emergency scenario. This is not a huge surprise, as Roethlisberger is coming off a short week following the Monday night game in which he was clearly limited. With the playoffs forthcoming, the extended rest can only help. It's too soon to say whether the Steelers plan to have him active or not in the final week of the regular season.

Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles, ribs, (P): Vick will probably be on this list through the end of the regular season as his rib injury continues to heal. There's no question, however, that Vick will be the quarterback for the Eagles against the Dallas Cowboys.

Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, right shoulder, (P): Freeman is now at the point where he can play despite the shoulder soreness. He practiced fully this week and will start against the Carolina Panthers.

Kevin Kolb, Arizona Cardinals, head, (Q): Kolb suffered a concussion in Week 14 and has still only returned to limited practice. It's expected that John Skelton will start again.

Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams, ankle, (D): Bradford has been struggling with his ankle, saying it feels as if it's "going backwards." Not good. Neither is a doubtful tag. With backup A.J. Feeley already ruled out, it appears recently signed Kellen Clemens will get the start.

Running Backs

Chris Johnson, Tennessee Titans, ankle, (Q): Johnson sprained his ankle Sunday and has been gradually increasing his activity throughout the week in an effort to return. While Johnson escaped major structural injury, the ankle has still been sore and could affect his overall performance, particularly with lateral movement and cutting. Johnson returned to limited practice Thursday and Friday and is expected to play, but likely will not be at top form.

Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants, foot, (P): Bradshaw is following the same pattern of limited work during the week and playing on Sunday. Expect him to play again this week.

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Douglas Jones/US PresswireThe oft-injured Felix Jones is once again a question mark for fantasy owners.

Felix Jones, Dallas Cowboys, hamstring, (Q): Jones hasn't done much ... and that's the worry. Although he has been doing some running on the side, he has not fully tested the hamstring. While the Cowboys hold out hope he'll be available, it's Sammy Morris who has taken all the first-team reps in practice. As another signal the Cowboys want insurance, they promoted running back Chauncey Washington from the practice squad, according to ESPNDallas.com. To complicate matters, this is a late game and the decision will not likely be announced until inactives are due. Even if Jones plays, there has to be some concern about what exactly one can expect in live game conditions.

Michael Bush, Oakland Raiders, shoulder, (Q): Bush has been on the injury report but it seems only logical he would be. After all, there are many other Raiders there to keep him company but, most importantly, he has been the workhorse of the backfield, enduring a physical toll. After he has been limited in practice each day, the questionable tag does raise some eyebrows. The signals out of Oakland all week have been that the Raiders expect to have Bush play, but it will be important to check pregame inactives.

Willis McGahee, Denver Broncos, hamstring, (P): McGahee has been bothered intermittently by the hamstring since hyperextending his knee but the probable tag tells us the Broncos plan to have him on the field. McGahee practiced in full every day, which should also help put fantasy owners' collective minds at ease.

Kevin Smith, Detroit Lions, ankle, (P): Smith's status is an upgrade over last week, indicating the team is feeling far more confident about his ankle. Smith's activity this week was a positive sign, as he was able to practice in full each day. While there's no way to be certain he can get through the game unscathed, this is certainly a better situation than last week.

Roy Helu, Washington Redskins, toe/knee, (Q): Helu downplayed his injuries, but according to The Washington Post, he felt much better after practice Thursday than he did earlier in the week. Despite the questionable tag, it appears Helu will play.

Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars, ankle, (P): His ankle got tangled up during the Week 15 game, but Jones-Drew, one of the most durable and productive running backs this season, was never really in danger of missing the game. He was given fewer reps in practice but participated on a limited basis every day. Jones-Drew is expected to start against Tennessee.

Beanie Wells, Arizona Cardinals, knee, (Q): After he was listed as probable the past couple of weeks, it's a little concerning that Wells has been downgraded this week to questionable. He did practice daily, but on a limited basis; however, that has been the pattern for some time as the team has been attempting to manage his knee condition. The Arizona Republic reports that Wells is expected to play Saturday, despite the questionable tag.

James Starks, knee/ankle and Brandon Saine, concussion, Green Bay Packers, (P): Starks sat out last week's game to give his ankle some additional rest. It only made sense after Starks struggled for several weeks in a row. This week has gone much better for Starks, who was able to participate fully in practice each day. Saine missed Week 15 with a concussion but returned to limited practice Wednesday, then full practice Thursday and Friday. Both backs are expected to be available along with Ryan Grant. Unfortunately for fantasy owners, there is likely to be a shared workload in place.

Shonn Greene, New York Jets, rib/shoulder, (P): Greene has been on the injury report for a few weeks now and his latest injury (torn tendon in finger) isn't even listed. The probable tag indicates the Jets expect him to play.

Marion Barber, Chicago Bears, calf, (D): Barber is listed as doubtful, meaning there is little doubt that Kahlil Bell will be carrying the load for the Bears on Saturday.

Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints, toe, no designation yet: Ingram is still not practicing, and with the game on Monday night, fantasy owners should avoid him in their lineups.

Wide Receivers

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Scott Rovak/US PresswireAfter missing part of last week's game with an injury, A.J. Green appears poised to carry a full load this week.

A.J. Green, Cincinnati Bengals, shoulder, (P): Knowing that Green comes into this game fresh off a Grade 3 shoulder separation, the probable tag is very encouraging. Green has maintained all along that he would be able to play this weekend, and now it appears all but certain that he will. He was catching passes as early as Tuesday, practiced on a limited basis Wednesday and Thursday, and returned to a full practice Friday. If Green lands hard on the recently injured shoulder, it certainly won't feel terrific and he may be challenged to reach directly overhead, but he managed to finish the game last week after suffering the injury. It's hard to imagine it being much worse Saturday.

Steve Johnson, Buffalo Bills, groin, (P): Last Sunday Johnson appeared to aggravate the groin injury that has plagued him throughout the season and was removed from the game as a result. Johnson said he could have re-entered the game and expressed little doubt that he would be back in Week 16. He practiced on a limited basis daily and appears on track to play as usual. It's worth noting that Johnson has performed well this season despite the presence of injury.

Laurent Robinson, Dallas Cowboys, shoulder (Q): Robinson was listed this way last week but we all know he played. Expect him to do the same again after practicing daily.

Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles, hamstring/shoulder (P): Maclin looked better last week than he did the week before and the probable tag tells us the Eagles are confident he'll be out there again. Maclin practiced fully each day and looks to be overcoming the injury.

Mario Manningham, New York Giants, knee, (D): Manningham has managed to play through his knee issue for the last two weeks but it appears he will miss this one. Swelling in the knee has returned, and he did not practice at all this week. Fantasy owners should make other plans.

Nate Washington, Tennessee Titans, ankle, (P): Washington has already shown he can play through the ankle injury, even coming in at far more questionable status. After practicing in full daily, Washington appears good to go against Jacksonville.

Brandon Marshall, Miami Dolphins, knee, (P): Marshall apparently had been dealing with some knee soreness but nothing so serious that he might have to miss this matchup against the New England Patriots. Marshall didn't practice Wednesday but returned to light work Thursday and full practice Friday. Expect him to play.

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Kirby Lee/US PRESSWIREA groin injury may keep out Vincent Jackson at the worst time for fantasy owners.

Vincent Jackson, San Diego Chargers, groin, (Q): Jackson did not practice at all this week because of the groin issue, making his Saturday status far less certain. Jackson has played through injuries before, but this time may be different. It seemed like a foregone conclusion earlier in the week that Jackson would go, but Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported that Jackson's groin has not responded as hoped to treatment during the week. Late game alert.

Wes Welker, knee and Deion Branch, groin, New England Patriots, (Q): Once again the Patriots have roughly half their roster at questionable after limited practice all week. Welker has been at this status for several weeks and has played without incident. Branch, however, missed last week and there is legitimate question as to whether he is ready to return. Branch says he's improving, but the team will make the final decision, just before game time.

Santonio Holmes, New York Jets, hip, (P): Holmes was an addition to the Thursday injury report after being limited in practice, but coach Rex Ryan said the Jets expected him to be ready by Saturday. The probable tag supports that, and fantasy owners can put him in their lineups.

Denarius Moore, Oakland Raiders, foot, (P): Moore was able to make it back last week but didn't do too much. Another week of practice (full practices daily) should have him on track for more action.

OUT

This space is intended for a list of key fantasy players, not including those who have been moved to injured reserve status, who are officially listed as "out" for the upcoming game.

Anquan Boldin, WR, Baltimore Ravens, knee: Boldin underwent knee surgery this week and will miss the remainder of the regular season.

Greg Jennings, WR, Green Bay Packers, knee: Jennings suffered a sprained MCL in Week 14 and is likely out for the remainder of the regular season.

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Jim Rogash/Getty ImagesJake Ballard won't be able to take advantage of a Jets defense that struggled to stop fellow tight end Brent Celek last week.

Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears, knee: Forte suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain, and the Bears still hope he will be able to return before the regular season is complete, but it is far from certain.

Jay Cutler, QB, Chicago Bears, thumb: The Bears' starting quarterback remains out alongside their starting running back. Cutler is recovering from surgery to repair his broken right thumb.

Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland Raiders, foot: McFadden is still removed from practice but the team still holds out hope he can return at some point. It won't be this week.

Jacoby Ford, WR, Oakland Raiders, foot: Ford has still not been able to practice this week as he recovers from a foot injury.

Jake Ballard, TE, New York Giants, knee: Ballard injured his PCL and, as expected, will miss this week.

Anthony Fasano, TE, Miami Dolphins, head: Fasano was diagnosed with a concussion Thursday, at which point it appeared obvious he would sit out this week. The team made it official Friday.

Be sure to check out Fantasy Football Now on Saturday this week, on ESPN2 at 11:30 a.m. ET and Fantasy Surround on ESPN.com starting at 10 a.m. ET on Saturday for last-minute inactives, rankings, injury impact and more!

For those playing in their fantasy football championships, there aren't too many injury dilemmas heading into Thursday night's game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Houston Texans. In fact, Texans coach Gary Kubiak made it a little easier by ruling out wide receiver Andre Johnson in advance of the game.

Johnson has continued to make progress with his injured hamstring but, as noted Tuesday, the team has already secured a playoff berth and is understandably inclined to protect its key player for the postseason. According to the Texans' website, Johnson has indicated he would like to play again before the end of the regular season, an understandable wish as athletes often get the best measuring stick of their progress by participating in a game. "I would like to play, at least play before we get into the playoffs," said Johnson, adding, "[I'm] feeling real good." He should get his chance to find out just how healthy his legs feel in Week 17.

One Texans player whose status has yet been decided is tight end Owen Daniels. Daniels is listed as questionable with a sore knee, and the determination as to whether he plays or not will come down to game time. He participated in a limited practice Wednesday after sitting out Tuesday, improving his chances of playing, but the team will make its final assessment before kickoff. Fellow tight end Joel Dreessen is also on the injury report with a sore knee and wrist, but he is listed as probable.

The Colts are again expected to be without top tight end Dallas Clark as he continues to recover from a neck injury sustained in Week 14. Clark has not practiced all week and is listed as doubtful, making it all but certain he will sit this one out as well. Jacob Tamme would start again in his place.

Given the altered NFL schedule this week with most games happening Saturday, the big end-of-week injury blog for Week 16 will appear here Friday after final league injury reports are posted.

There will still be a Friday morning chat at 11 a.m., so hope to see you there!

Week 15 is in the books, and if you're still alive in your fantasy league, then it is a happy holiday season indeed. Everything right side up was upside down Sunday as there was an abundance of upsets around the NFL. Who should you be concerned about heading into Week 16?

Quick hits:

• For Thursday night's game, the Houston Texans will once again be without the services of wide receiver Andre Johnson. This does not come as a huge surprise, but coach Gary Kubiak maintains Johnson is very close to a return. The Texans have sustained so many significant injuries this season, it's understandable that they would be reluctant to be anything but conservative in managing their star offensive weapon in advance of the playoffs. Still, between Johnson stating he would like to see some regular-season game action and Kubiak talking about Johnson's near readiness to return, it appears there is a solid chance he is back in Week 17. That is, if you're still playing.

• Also in Houston, tight end Owen Daniels will be a game-time decision Thursday night, according to Kubiak. Daniels took a helmet to the knee in Sunday's game and was still experiencing soreness that kept him out of practice Tuesday.

• Dallas Cowboys running back Felix Jones was held out of Tuesday practice with a tight hamstring. Naturally that raises some concern, given the recent loss of DeMarco Murray to injury. According to Bryan Broaddus of ESPNDallas, head coach Jason Garrett says he expects to have Jones back in practice Wednesday. It sounds like it was a proactive measure to rest him for a day in the hope it doesn't turn into something more.

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Joe Robbins/Getty ImagesAJ Green left last Sunday's game with a shoulder injury but later returned.

• Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green suffered a third-degree shoulder separation in Sunday's contest, but came back and finished the game! It certainly couldn't have felt good, and Green was wearing a sling to support his arm afterward, but the impressive rookie has already said he will be back this week. Green suffered a similar injury to his opposite shoulder in college and since the Cincinnati Enquirer reports it is a Grade 3 (complete) tear of the acromioclavicular ligaments that connect the clavicle (collarbone) and the acromion (tip of the shoulder blade), it doesn't present a huge risk. Unlike throwers who often choose to have these injuries surgically repaired (Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford comes to mind), non-throwers can often function just fine without surgery. One of the primary issues will be discomfort and whether Green can elevate his arm enough to be effective. As if to answer that question, Green told reporters on a conference call that he was catching passes Tuesday, although he did not formally practice. It's worth watching to see if there are any signs of change during the week, but right now Green appears to be on track.

• Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson sprained an ankle late in Sunday's game, but no one in Tennessee seems to be particularly concerned about his status. In fact, head coach Mike Munchak was clear about Johnson's availability according to the Tennessean. "He'll be questionable this week, but we saw him [Monday] and we don't think there's any reason he'll be out for the game," Munchak said. Fantasy owners would like him to not only play this week, but also play better.

• There was some question as to just how much Willis McGahee's hamstring was bothering him Sunday and whether that played a role in him spending a lot of time on the sideline. McGahee returned to limited practice Tuesday, making it look as if he will be ready to go on Saturday.

• Buffalo Bills receiver Stevie Johnson aggravated the groin injury that has nagged at him for a good portion of the season. Johnson did not practice Tuesday, but the Buffalo News reports he is expected to play in Week 16. Johnson has played fairly effectively despite the injury throughout the season, so it comes as little surprise he plans to press forward.

Jason Bridge/US PresswireBen Roethlisberger's status for Monday night's game at San Francisco remains uncertain.

The biggest injury question of the week is perhaps the one that is most difficult to answer since it involves a Monday night game. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suffered a left high ankle sprain when he last played a week ago Thursday and it looked at the time as if it could threaten his season. But as is often the case with Roethlisberger, he seemed to override the obvious pain in a superhuman manner and came back in the second half of that game to lead his team to victory.

Then the adrenaline wore off, the swelling and pain had a chance to kick in and the reality of the type of injury Roethlisberger sustained became obvious. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said he would like to see Roethlisberger practice before game day and, sure enough, Roethlisberger -- after sitting out for an entire week following the injury -- returned to a limited practice Friday followed by another on Saturday. It wasn't enough to ensure his start on Monday night but it was certainly enough to tease fantasy owners who are debating whether to hold out for him or not. Roethlisberger is officially listed as questionable.

The challenges and concerns for Roethlisberger are the following: Stiffness and soreness in the injured ankle will make it difficult for him to fully step into his throws, making deep throws particularly challenging. One need look no further than St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford's struggles in last Monday night's game to see how this injury can compromise a signal-caller. Bradford, who suffered a left high ankle sprain earlier this season, came back to play for four games, then was forced to sit out again after a setback. Looking stiff and uncomfortable in his return, Bradford said the following day that he felt his ankle was going backward. Bradford told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch the injury made it difficult for him to put his entire body into his throws.

But Big Ben is not like other humans, even in the world of elite athletes. He has shown time and again that not only can he play in the presence of injury but he can be effective even when he looks to be moving slowly and awkwardly. He has played through a broken bone in his foot, a broken thumb, and more.

High ankle sprains are particularly limiting, however, and have sidelined players at all positions, including running backs Felix Jones and Adrian Peterson. Even Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey will have to sit out this week's game with his second incidence of this injury. Roethlisberger and the Steelers' medical staff and coaches will take into consideration how his ankle is responding to the limited work he is giving it, how well he can perform in the presence of injury and, perhaps most importantly, how well he can protect himself from incurring further injury which would threaten his status for the remainder of the season.

Sorry fantasy owners, but this will likely come down to a game-time decision. Even after Roethlisberger practiced Saturday, there was the flight to the West Coast and 48 hours in between where things can change. And if there's one certainty in medicine, it's that nothing is guaranteed.

There are plenty of other injuries to concern fantasy owners heading into Week 15.

Don't forget to make the necessary lineup adjustments before the Saturday night game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Good luck in Week 15, everyone! May your players stay healthy and win for you.

Quarterbacks

Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles, ribs (P): Vick has already shown that he can play, so there is little to discuss here. He's not yet at 100 percent, so the Jets undoubtedly will try to take advantage, but expect him to be on the field.

Kyle Orton, Kansas City Chiefs, finger (P): Orton dislocated his right index finger on his first play as a Chief and sat on the sideline in Week 14. Orton was able to return to limited practice Wednesday and Thursday and a full practice Friday. Interim coach Romeo Crennel has already proclaimed that Orton will start, so there is not much to worry about here.

Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, right shoulder (P): Freeman did not play in Week 13 because of the shoulder but returned in Week 14, albeit at less than full strength. After a week of full practices and a probable designation, Freeman was expected to start Saturday night, but what can be expected from him is unclear. ESPN's Bob Holtzman reported Saturday that Freeman said his shoulder is still sore but that he believes he can be effective.

Matt Hasselbeck, Tennessee Titans, calf (Q): When Hasselbeck injured his calf in Week 14, it looked as if it might threaten his season. By Thursday, however, he was back in practice and now appears as if he could start. Whether he can last the entire game is another matter, as he's not likely fully recovered.

Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings, hip (P): Ponder played last week when his status was more questionable. This week he practiced fully each day and is expected to start.

Matt Moore, Miami Dolphins, neck (Q): Moore suffered a concussion and neck spasms in Week 14 but passed the tests, allowing him to return to practice by Thursday. Moore was held to limited work Thursday and Friday and his status still depends on him having no setback in advance of Sunday's kickoff. It appears Moore will start but it's worth checking pregame inactive reports.

Kevin Kolb, Arizona Cardinals, head (Q): Kolb suffered a concussion in Week 14 and has been progressing through the stages of recovery. Kolb was able to return to limited practice daily after passing his neurological tests, but Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic believes John Skelton will get the start.

Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams, ankle (D): As noted above, Bradford has been struggling of late with his ankle, saying it feels as if it's "going backwards." Not good. Neither is a doubtful tag. With backup A.J. Feeley already ruled out, it appears recently signed Kellen Clemens will get the start.

Running backs

Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings, ankle (P): Peterson clearly is better off for not having played in Week 14. This week he practiced on a limited basis Wednesday and Thursday, then managed a full practice Friday. He was noted to be moving easier and cutting better, two things suggesting his ankle is on the mend. While there's no way to be sure it survives an entire game without a setback, fantasy owners can feel far more confident this week than they would have had he returned sooner.

Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants, foot (P): Bradshaw is following the same pattern of limited work during the week and playing on Sunday. Expect him to play again this week.

Kevin Smith, Detroit Lions, ankle (Q): After sitting out Week 14, Smith returned to practice this week and appears in line to play Sunday. Smith participated in limited practice sessions Thursday and Friday. According to the Detroit Free Press, Smith felt sitting out last week's game helped him "tremendously" and he could move and cut better this week. Of course, practice is never the same test as a game so it remains to be seen how well Smith will hold up, assuming he does take the field as planned.

Beanie Wells, Arizona Cardinals, knee (P): Wells is again listed as probable after practicing on a limited basis Wednesday and Thursday followed by a full practice Friday. He has a favorable matchup against Cleveland this week.

Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals, back (P): Benson has been on the injury report for the last couple weeks because of his foot. This week it's his back, but Cincinnati hasn't made much noise about it, suggesting the injury is not serious. Benson sat out Wednesday, then returned to limited practice Thursday and Friday. It's expected, at probable, that he will play.

James Starks, Green Bay Packers, knee/ankle (Q): Starks may be listed as questionable, but the sentiment in Green Bay early on seemed to be that he would sit out this week's game. Starks now feels differently. Starks did not practice Wednesday or Thursday after aggravating his ankle Tuesday in a workout but he did return to limited practice Friday.

Starks would like to play, but the team will make the decision for him after pregame warmups. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that Starks is a game-time decision (along with Brandon Saine, who is on the injury report with a concussion). Starks told the Journal-Sentinel the ankle has been "feeling better each day" and knows he needs to show coaches before the game that he can run like himself, cut and break tackles.

Taking the field may be a risky proposition for Starks given that the ankle has been problematic in the last few games in which he's played. Thankfully for fantasy owners this is an early game, so be sure to check whether Starks is active or whether Ryan Grant will get the primary workload.

Shonn Greene, New York Jets, rib (P): Greene has been on the injury report for a few weeks now and has been making progress each week. The probable tag indicates the Jets expect him to play.

Montario Hardesty, Cleveland Browns, calf (Q): Hardesty had a setback with his calf injury and went from full practice Wednesday to limited work Thursday and Friday. He has not been at full health since injuring his calf over a month ago. Peyton Hillis is off the injury report and expected to start, but Hardesty may not provide much confidence as a backup given his limitations.

Wide receivers

Laurent Robinson, Dallas Cowboys, shoulder (Q): While Miles Austin is no longer on the injury report (and his hamstring apparently held up well following last week's game), Robinson is still there because of his mildly separated shoulder. Last week Robinson was also listed as questionable after very little work during the week, but came out and delivered a big game for fantasy owners. This week Robinson was limited in practice each day, again he enters the game with a questionable tag but the sense is that he will play. This is a Saturday night game, so be sure to check pregame inactive reports!

Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles, hamstring, shoulder (Q): Maclin tried to play last week but couldn't make it through the entire game. This week Maclin was able to increase his practice work (limited Wednesday, full Thursday and Friday) which supports his claim that his hamstring is improving. Although he's listed as questionable, expect Maclin to play against the Jets. Still, until Maclin makes it through a full game without incident, it's hard to be entirely confident in his return.

Nate Washington, Tennessee Titans, ankle (Q): Washington played through the ankle injury last week while experiencing back spasms as well. If he could make it through that, it's likely he'll manage to be out there again Sunday.

Wes Welker, New England Patriots, knee (Q): The Patriots have roughly half their roster at questionable after limited practice all week and Welker is just one of the players. There is no indication that Welker's status is in real jeopardy.

Denarius Moore, Oakland Raiders, foot (Q): Moore was a limited participant in practice daily this week and appears on track to play. Moore has missed three games with the injury and the San Francisco Chronicle reports that Moore believes his return will "open up the offense." It sounds as if there is plenty of confidence that Moore will play, but be sure to check pregame inactives. This is a late game so it would also be wise to have insurance for Moore.

Darrius Heyward-Bey, heel, Chaz Schilens, foot and Louis Murphy, hip, Oakland Raiders (P): All three receivers were active in Week 14 (although Schilens exited early after aggravating his foot) and all appear on track to play again this week. The Raiders are fighting widespread injuries among their receivers and running backs, making it hard to know whose number will be called on the most from week to week.

Tight ends

Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints, back (P): Graham struggled with back spasms in pregame warmups last week but managed to gut it out through the game. This week he practiced in full each day and made it clear the back would not keep him from playing.

Dallas Clark, Indianapolis Colts, neck (D): Clark finally makes it back from his injured leg and suffers a neck injury. The doubtful tag tells you everything you need to know. Clark is not expected to play.

Out

This space is intended for a list of key fantasy players, not including those who have been moved to injured reserve status, who are officially listed as "out" for the upcoming game.

Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis Colts, neck: Manning remains out following neck surgery.

Andre Johnson, WR, Houston Texans, hamstring: Even though Johnson is clearly making progress from his latest hamstring injury, the Texans have also made it clear they will not rush him, as they want him healthy for the playoffs. Next week the Texans play on Thursday night, which begs the question of whether the Texans would bring him back for that matchup. It doesn't seem likely.

Mark Ingram, RB, New Orleans Saints, toe: Ingram is still not practicing, proving these toe injuries are never really minor. He is already ruled out, meaning Chris Ivory will again be active for the Saints.

Greg Jennings, WR, Green Bay Packers, knee: Jennings suffered a sprained MCL and has been projected to miss two to three weeks. The Packers are targeting his return for their playoff run.

Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears, knee: Forte suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain and is expected to miss anywhere from two to six weeks. The Bears still hope he will be able to return before the regular season is complete but it is far from certain.

Jay Cutler, QB, Chicago Bears, thumb: The Bears' starting quarterback remains out alongside their starting running back. Cutler is recovering from surgery to repair his broken right thumb.

Colt McCoy, QB, Cleveland Browns (head, left hand): McCoy's head injury last Thursday night following a hit from Steelers linebacker James Harrison was the topic of much discussion this week. Harrison will sit out with a one-game suspension for the helmet-to-helmet hit and McCoy will sit out as he recovers from the concussion.

Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland Raiders (foot): McFadden's progress has clearly hit a roadblock, and at this point his return appears highly questionable.

Jacoby Ford, WR, Oakland Raiders, foot: Ford has still not been able to practice this week as he recovers from a foot injury.

Ben Watson, TE, Cleveland Browns, head: Watson is not only out this week, the team has placed him on injured reserve after he suffered his third concussion of the season.

Be sure to check out Fantasy Football Now, Sundays on ESPN2 at 11:30 a.m. ET, and Fantasy Surround on ESPN.com starting at 10 a.m. ET Sunday for last-minute inactives, rankings, injury impact and more!

The only players fantasy owners are wondering about heading into the Thursday night game are Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones and running back Michael Turner. Jones, who has strained both hamstrings this season, put on a nice display Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. Limited practice for Jones on a short week did not likely come as a surprise to most, but seeing the word "back" next to his name on the injury report may have. While the Falcons have not said much about Jones with regards to this back ailment, it's not uncommon to have low back and hamstring issues simultaneously. The large sciatic nerve in the back of the thigh is formed from nerve roots in the lumbar (low back) region (which is why herniated disks in the back often result in leg pain when the sciatic nerve is affected). That is not to suggest by any stretch that is the case here, only that it is not unusual to have overlapping back and hamstring conditions. There is no reason to expect any limitations with Jones, but until he survives the remainder of the season incident-free, it's only natural to be a little nervous. Meanwhile Turner has also been on the injury report for several weeks because of his groin but has managed to play nonetheless. He is expected to do so again Thursday night.

Quick Hits

Not Practicing Thursday

Jason Bridge/US PresswireIt appears fantasy owners may have to wait until Monday night to figure out whether to use Ben Roethlisberger in their lineups.

Here is a list of players who are worth monitoring based on the fact that they are not practicing as of Thursday afternoon:

Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers: Roethlisberger's high ankle sprain sustained a week ago is no secret, but his status for Monday night remains murky. Roethlisberger is in a walking boot and may not practice at all before Monday's game. If anyone has defied all medical logic when it comes to returning from injury, it's Roethlisberger, but this one could prove to be a huge challenge. Roethlisberger need only look at Sam Bradford's struggles over a month removed from a similar injury. (Bradford now says he feels like he's "going backwards") Bradford had difficulty stepping into his throws and was clearly hampered with his mobility in Monday night's game. If Roethlisberger is similarly limited, is it worth playing him and risking a setback besides? That will be the question the Steelers will be considering as Monday approaches. This could come down to a game-time decision.

Andre Johnson, WR, Houston Texans: Despite the fact the Texans are referring to Johnson as day-to-day with his latest hamstring injury, all the signals out of Texas suggest he will not return to action this week. Johnson has resumed some running but is not practicing with the team. After he sustained his second hamstring injury of the season (and with the Texans having earned a playoff berth), the team is bound to exercise caution.

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Jim O'Connor/US PRESSWIREAhmad Bradshaw is still slowed down a bit but still looks like he will play this weekend.

Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, New York Giants: Last week Bradshaw did not practice Wednesday or Thursday but still suited up for Sunday. Of course, fantasy owners weren't expecting him to be benched for the first half of the game for violating team rules, but one has to imagine that won't happen twice in a row. Bradshaw should return to some form of practice Friday and play on Sunday against the Washington Redskins.

Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland Raiders: We summed up the latest discourse regarding and nothing has really changed. He is not practicing and there is no timetable on his return. It's worth noting that Taiwan Jones also remains out with a hamstring injury. The Raiders have to be crossing their fingers on Michael Bush staying healthy.

Jacoby Ford, WR, Oakland Raiders: Like his running back brethren, Ford has not yet returned to practice as he recovers from a foot injury.

James Starks, RB, Green Bay Packers: Starks attempted to work out Tuesday but according to the Green Bay Post-Gazette, his ankle did not respond well. Starks did not practice Wednesday or Thursday and is not looking likely to play Sunday. Brandon Saine remains out of practice as well following a concussion sustained in Week 14. Ryan Grant is likely to get the bulk of the work.

Mark Ingram, RB, New Orleans Saints: Ingram's turf toe kept him out of last week's game and he did not practice Wednesday or Thursday. At this point, it appears Chris Ivory will make another appearance for the Saints alongside Pierre Thomas and Darren Sproles.

Nate Washington, WR, Tennessee Titans: Washington was clearly in pain near the end of Sunday's game but he fought through it to deliver some nice playoff points for fantasy owners. Washington had been dealing with a sprained ankle, which kept him out of practice the entire week. According to the Titans' website, Washington had back spasms to go along with his balky ankle. It shouldn't come as any surprise then that Washington has not yet practiced to allow him some recovery time. Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean reported Washington is expected to return to practice Friday. If Washington does play, it looks as if he might have Matt Hasselbeck to throw him the ball. Hasselbeck, who left last Sunday's game early after feeling a "pop" in his calf, returned to limited practice Thursday and the team is encouraged.

Practicing Thursday:

Here is a list of several key fantasy players who were back in the mix by Thursday.

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AP Photo/Andy KingAdrian Peterson has missed three games so far with an ankle injury but may finally return in time for the fantasy playoffs.

Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings: Peterson seems to have turned a corner with regards to his ankle health. He has been in practice both Wednesday and Thursday and, according to Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com, offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave noted Peterson was cutting better, even answering in the affirmative when asked if he was confident Peterson would play. Last week, Peterson had initiated running but still exhibited a limp and struggled with cutting maneuvers. The Vikings wisely gave him an additional week off (he has now missed three games) and it appears the time has helped. Barring a setback, Peterson looks to be making his return in Week 15.

Michael Vick, QB, and Jeremy Maclin, WR, Philadelphia Eagles: Vick returned to action in Week 14, but his ribs are still sore. Since he is still on the mend, the Eagles did not have him practice Wednesday, but he returned to a full workout Thursday. The good news is the Eagles expect him to start; the not-so-good news is that the Eagles face the New York Jets this weekend. The Jets will have to account for Jeremy Maclin at the receiver position, as he is also expected to play despite not being able to finish last week's game. Maclin, who had missed the previous three games with both a hamstring strain and a shoulder separation, had only one catch in the game and was clearly at less than full strength. Maclin had a limited practice Wednesday followed by a full practice Thursday. As long as there are no setbacks between now and Sunday, Maclin will play. The big question for fantasy owners is whether he can deliver a full 60 minutes or whether the hamstring will act up again.

Kevin Smith, RB, Detroit Lions: Smith made an early exit from the Week 13 game after aggravating his high ankle sprain and was not able to make it back for last Sunday's contest. This week, Smith has taken an encouraging step in returning to practice Thursday, albeit on a limited basis. If all continues well, the Lions plan to have him on Sunday. It will be interesting to see how the workload shapes up since Smith will still not likely be at full health.

Jimmy Graham, TE, New Orleans Saints: Graham fought through back spasms last Sunday but still managed to be productive. More importantly, Graham returned to full practice Wednesday and has all but assured his fantasy owners that he will be back in Week 15.

See you at the injury chat Friday at 11 a.m. and we'll have the latest injury updates affecting Week 15 in the Saturday morning blog!

Week 14 wasted no time making its injury impact felt. Both quarterbacks suffered injuries Thursday yet both continued to play. The returns of Ben Roethlisberger and Colt McCoy have been the topic of much discussion in recent days, for different reasons.

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AP Photo/Gene J. PuskarBen Roethlisberger somehow toughed out a high ankle sprain to beat the Browns last week.

Roethlisberger suffered a high ankle sprain, an injury that typically sidelines players for multiple weeks, yet he managed to return to complete the game once it was determined no fracture was present. The adrenaline might have helped him get through Thursday night, but what about the Pittsburgh Steelers' next contest, a Monday night matchup against the San Francisco 49ers? Given Roethlisberger's history of beating the odds and managing to suit up even in the presence of significant injury, it's impossible to rule him out. Still, it's difficult to imagine him being able to perform effectively, given the nature of what's ailing him. Sam Bradford also suffered a left high ankle sprain, and was sidelined for two games because of his inability to step into throws and move out of the pocket. After Bradford returned, he suffered a setback that again resulted in missed time, and even though he played Monday night, it's clear he is not fully recovered.

Cleveland Browns quarterback McCoy took a shot to the head from Steelers linebacker James Harrison, which left him momentarily flat on his back. Harrison has since been suspended for one game by the NFL, and the circumstances surrounding McCoy's return to the game (he missed just a few plays following the hit) have become the subject of an investigation. The Browns maintain McCoy was evaluated on the sideline before being allowed to return and that his concussion-like symptoms appeared later (McCoy has since been diagnosed with a concussion). Members of both the NFLPA and the NFL are expected to meet with members of the Browns' medical staff this week to clarify exactly what happened following the hit and how decisions about return to play were made. In an email response to The Associated Press, league spokesman Greg Aiello said the purpose of the meeting "is to examine procedures and identify areas for further discussion with other medical experts, Commissioner Goodell and the union."

Perhaps the most notable aspect of this incident so far is that we are seeing the first suspension of a player based on a hit to the head (a punishment directed in part by this particular player's history of similar hits) and an investigation into the circumstances surrounding an in-game medical decision. A couple of years ago, this incident likely would have been just another play in the game. While there still is a long way to go in terms of understanding how to best manage and protect against these injuries, the fact that they are gaining attention and being discussed is, in itself, a sign of progress.

After Thursday night …

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AP Photo/Tony GutierrezDeMarco Murray, who became the Cowboys' go-to back in midseason, is now done for the year after fracturing his ankle.

… The injuries continued to mount. Particularly brutal was the injury suffered by Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray, whose legs got trapped awkwardly underneath him as he was tackled. The right leg got the worst of it, as Murray suffered a fractured ankle and a high ankle sprain. As reported by ESPN Dallas, Murray will need surgery, confirming the obvious conclusion that his season is over. It's hard not to feel for Murray, who had provided a spark in the running game after Felix Jones was sidelined with his own high ankle sprain in October. Murray tweeted that he'll be back "a better football player," but we will have to wait until 2012 to see proof of that. With Murray out, Jones now resumes the starting role in Dallas. The Cowboys also signed Sammy Morris on Tuesday as insurance.

• The Green Bay Packers also lost one of their key offensive weapons for what it appears will be the remainder of the regular season. Greg Jennings sustained a sprained medial collateral ligament, and his obvious pain had everyone concerned. Following an MRI on Monday, the team projected his absence at two to three weeks (the standard timetable for MCL sprains ranges from two to six weeks), suggesting a mild to moderate sprain. Coach Mike McCarthy seemed to intimate at his news conference Monday that Jennings would not return for the regular season. "I would think it would be safe to say he'd be back for the playoffs," McCarthy said. Meanwhile, running back James Starks missed Week 14 because of his knee and ankle injuries, but he might return this week if he can return to practice. Rookie Brandon Saine saw some playing time in Starks' absence but left the game early with a concussion. Saine will have to receive medical clearance in order to return.

Quick Hits

• The Minnesota Vikings are sounding as if they expect to have Adrian Peterson on the field in Week 15, but we'd like to see him run without a limp before penciling him into the lineup. Peterson made further progress last week, doing some individual drills. Still, Peterson rated himself at only 80 percent, although he was willing to try to "gallop" if necessary. It was a good move to rest him this past week, and that rest might well be what allows him to go in Week 15. Stay tuned.

• The Philadelphia Eagles saw the returns of Michael Vick and Jeremy Maclin in Week 14. While Vick managed to get through the entire game (even though he could be seen lying on a treatment table getting worked on at one point while the defense was on the field), Maclin did not fare so well. His hamstring tightened up on him, according to coach Andy Reid, and Riley Cooper took Maclin's place for much of the second half. Until Maclin shows he has recovered enough to get through a full game without incident, it's going to be hard to have confidence.

• Tennessee Titans quarterback Matt Hasselbeck suffered a calf injury Sunday, and it was not known immediately how severe the injury was. Jake Locker took over for the remainder of the game (with the exception of a single play in the fourth quarter that Hasselbeck handled), and Hasselbeck is now being called day-to-day. Calf strains are typically slow to heal, even when minor, and will limit a quarterback's ability to push off as well as his all-around mobility. It will be no surprise if Locker gets the start this week.

• New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham showed some toughness playing through major back spasms Sunday. Fantasy owners knew something wasn't right when Graham left the pregame warmups early and headed into the locker room. He came out to join his team for the game and managed to garner 55 yards. Graham, during an appearance "Rome is Burning" on Tuesday, called the spasms "crippling" but said it would take more than spasms to keep him out of a game. He also noted he had undergone an MRI and everything was "fine." He sure sounds like someone who is planning on being out there again in Week 15.

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Jed Jacobsohn/Getty ImagesDarren McFadden has not played since Week 7.

• From last Tuesday: Things are not looking good for running back Darren McFadden. Despite all the positive-speak initially from coach Hue Jackson, his latest remarks have a different tone suggesting progress is not being made as expected. McFadden has already missed more than a month because of a midfoot sprain and his absence is expected to continue. Steve Corkran of the Contra Costa Times reported via Twitter that Raiders coach Hue Jackson does not expect McFadden to miss the rest of the season. Well, neither did we. In fact, it had not been a real thought until Jackson introduced it as a possibility. Jackson also noted that there was no timetable for McFadden's return. Those two comments cause concern as to what the real status of McFadden and his foot is going forward. After the initial MRI, Jackson said there was no major structural damage and hinted at a speedy recovery. While the structure of the midfoot is complex and pain or inflammation in the area, even in the absence of major disruption to the anatomy, can be severely limiting, the slow progress of McFadden after such early optimism is frustrating. At this point it is difficult to have confidence in McFadden's status, especially as long as he is absent from the practice field.

This Tuesday: Things still don't look good. The poor outlook noted at the start of last week has become grimmer as another week has passed with no obvious signs of progress from McFadden. If anything, there is less clarity about McFadden's injury than ever. On Sunday, CBS analyst Phil Simms commented that McFadden was dealing with a Lisfranc injury. Steve Corkran of the Contra Costa Times best captures the semantics issue around the term "Lisfranc" and coach Hue Jackson's response as it relates to McFadden in his Monday post on the topic.

In an attempt to interpret the cause of the confusion, it should be noted that the term Lisfranc is an anatomical description of a region of the foot, specifically a complex joint comprising the bones and ligaments that connect the midfoot to the forefoot. An injury in this area could technically be called a midfoot sprain or a Lisfranc injury, and both would be correct. Injuries range from minor ligament tearing involving a single joint to multijoint severe injuries including fracture and dislocation. The latter type require surgery to fix; the former do not.

As Lisfranc injuries have become more common in the NFL and have led to season-ending surgeries for some (Ronnie Brown, Dwight Freeney and most recently Matt Schaub), when the term is used, the implication is that the athlete has suffered the most severe, season-ending variety. That degree of injury does not always result. Since the Raiders insist McFadden does not need surgery, it would appear that his injury is of the less severe type and that, perhaps, is why the term "Lisfranc" was avoided. For any injury to the midfoot, it is important that full healing occur in order to restore normal gait and prevent future problems, which can render the recovery process slow. In McFadden's case, his recovery appears to be taking longer than the Raiders initially projected it would, adding to the frustration of all looking from the outside in. At this point, despite Jackson's statement that he expects McFadden to return, it's hard to imagine a full-strength McFadden resurfacing within the next three weeks.

AP Photo/Michael PerezIt remains to be seen how effective Michael Vick will be in his return.

Hold on a minute -- what is going on in Southern California? While every other team in the NFL is getting increasingly bruised and battered as the season marches on, the San Diego Chargers are looking remarkably healthy as far as their key offensive weapons are concerned. It took a mere 14 weeks, but there are no Chargers running backs or wide receivers or tight ends on the injury report!

Not only did it look like the Chargers had returned to form in their MNF victory, they also demonstrated sound fantasy football strategy by ensuring their key players would be available for your fantasy playoffs. Nice going, Chargers. You have now created a dilemma for fantasy owners. With all those healthy players, who is going to rack up the fantasy points this week?

Fortunately, or rather unfortunately, most of the other teams have rounded out this week's injury report, forcing some tough fantasy start/sit decisions.

Good luck in Week 14, everyone! May your players stay healthy and win for you.

Quarterbacks

Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles, ribs (P): Vick is going to be back, but will he be back to being Vick-like? That is the big question as the Eagles head to Miami for this week's contest. Vick demonstrated early in the week that he was healthy enough to throw the ball well and put in full practices daily.

But as the Philadelphia Inquirer reported, Vick is conceding that he will now force himself to slide more to avoid contact, yet he doesn't sound completely comfortable with the adjustment. And let's not forget, his rib injury came while he was in the pocket making a throw (when he took a helmet to his side underneath his throwing arm).

Vick is expected to wear familiar protective gear over his still-healing torso, something he did in the past following a rib cartilage injury. What may not be as familiar for him is how he will react to impending contact and how he will finish out a play where he is forced to scramble. While fantasy owners cringe at the potential for lower points, the Eagles are hoping the transition will be smooth and injury-free.

Kyle Orton, Kansas City Chiefs, right finger (D): It took only one play for Orton to be welcomed to his new team with an injury, a dislocated index finger on his throwing hand. Residual discomfort and swelling in the finger have made it difficult for Orton to do much in practice (he has been limited daily), and he is not expected to be available for much, if any, duty on Sunday.

Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, right shoulder (Q): Freeman did not play in Week 13 because of the shoulder but has been back in practice this week, making throws, hinting at his readiness to return. Although Freeman was held to limited work each day, the Buccaneers' website indicates he threw "extensively both Thursday and Friday," and coach Raheem Morris sounded optimistic. Morris said he would like to see how Freeman is on Saturday, but the back-to-back workouts are encouraging.

Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings, hip (Q): Ponder suffered a hip pointer early in Sunday's game against the Broncos but managed to play through it. The deep bruising associated with a hip pointer can lead to inflammation, pain, stiffness and, ultimately, ineffectiveness when attempting to contract some of the hip and abdominal muscles in the region.

Ponder was not in practice Wednesday or Thursday but did manage to take a few reps Friday. As reported by Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com, Ponder thinks he could play but admits he doesn't know how effective he'd be. Honest, but not encouraging. Joe Webb, who took most of the first-team reps this week, may be in line for the start, but we won't know until game time.

Sam Bradford, ankle and A.J. Feeley, right thumb (no designation yet): Bradford suffered a setback with his left ankle and has not been in practice this week. His replacement in Week 13, Feeley, sustained a small fracture in his throwing (right) thumb and cannot yet grip the ball, causing him to miss practice daily. While the Rams don't play until Monday night, it appears Tom Brandstater will get the start after taking snaps with the first team all week.

Running backs

Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings, ankle (Q): Peterson isn't 100 percent recovered from his high-ankle sprain; he will openly acknowledge that he cannot cut on his ankle the way he normally would, nor can he run with a normal gait. According to 1500ESPN.com, Peterson still would like to try to play after increasing his workload this week despite lingering soreness in the ankle. After not practicing Wednesday, Peterson put in limited work Thursday and Friday, primarily in the form of individual drills, and coach Leslie Frazier said he was "encouraged."

Peterson is doing what he should: getting treatment, doing the work he can do on the field and lobbying to play. But the barrage of setbacks around the league with players who have returned (apparently too soon) after high-ankle sprains (Sam Bradford, Kevin Smith) should signal caution. Drills are performed in a controlled environment without contact. After all, Smith reportedly looked good cutting and doing cone drills before he returned to game action. But running and cutting at the speed required in a live game combined with the unpredictable nature of the unavoidable contact a running back draws make Peterson's return from this injury risky.

If Peterson does play, he may very well put up nice numbers. Or he may find out that his ankle does not respond as hoped, or, worse yet, he could incur further injury. High-ankle sprains are particularly problematic because they threaten the integrity of the ankle joint itself, and lingering issues here can be career-threatening for a running back. In other words, it would not be a surprise if the Vikings decided to hold out the eager Peterson another week, even if he believes he can play.

Ahmad Bradshaw, foot, and Brandon Jacobs, hamstring, New York Giants (P): Bradshaw got back on the field in Week 13 without a setback. Limited practice during the week will be a likely scenario for him going forward, so the fact that Bradshaw did not show up until Friday is not especially worrisome. Teammate Jacobs was also absent Wednesday and Thursday because of a sore hamstring but returned for limited practice Friday. At probable, both backs are expected to play.

Kevin Smith, Detroit Lions, ankle (Q): Smith suffered a setback when he aggravated his high-ankle sprain in the Week 13 contest and was not in practice Wednesday or Thursday. When he tried to return to practice Friday, he was forced to leave early when, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, he could not cut. Those aren't exactly the signs you want to see heading into a game. It seems highly likely Smith will sit out and Maurice Morris will get the start in his place.

Michael Turner, Atlanta Falcons, groin (P): Turner played last week despite the groin injury, and the probable tag suggests he will again. Turner rested Wednesday but returned to limited practice Thursday and Friday without incident.

Beanie Wells, Arizona Cardinals, knee/thumb/hamstring (P): Why three injuries on this week's report for Beanie? He's been running hard, and the physical toll is making itself known. There really isn't much in the way of news here; Wells has indicated the knee will be a management issue for the remainder of the season, and the thumb and hamstring are just minor additions.

More problematic might be his matchup against a team that has not yet allowed a rushing touchdown this year. The 49ers, however, will be without All-Pro Patrick Willis, so Wells may see some light down that tunnel.

Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals, foot (P): Benson played in Week 13 after being limited early because of his foot. A full practice Friday and a probable tag indicate he will do so again.

Willis McGahee, Denver Broncos, knee (Q): McGahee has been banged up of late between the recent hand surgery, a knee hyperextension that resulted in a hamstring strain and a bout of a flu-like illness last week. McGahee rested his knee because of soreness early in the week but returned to a limited practice Friday. The expectation is that he will play.

Shonn Greene, rib, and LaDainian Tomlinson, knee (P) and Joe McKnight (Q), New York Jets: Greene and Tomlinson practiced fully every day and are expected to play. McKnight, however, is indeed questionable after hyperextending his elbow, and his status will be a game-time decision. With both Greene and Tomlinson in the mix, McKnight doesn't figure to factor in that much anyway, making a fantasy decision about him much easier.

Wide receivers

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AP Photo/Tony GutierrezMiles Austin has had a hard time staying on the field this season.

Miles Austin, hamstring, and Laurent Robinson, shoulder, WRs, Dallas Cowboys (Q): Austin is on track to make his return Sunday night after missing four games with his second hamstring injury of the season. The Cowboys have benefited from the play of Robinson, allowing Austin an opportunity to gradually recover with less pressure to return. Robinson suffered a mild separated shoulder in Week 13 but finished the game.

This week Robinson did not practice Wednesday or Thursday but returned for a limited workout Friday. According to ESPN Dallas, Robinson says he is "ready to roll" Sunday night against the New York Giants. It appears the Cowboys will have both Austin and Robinson available.

Mario Manningham, New York Giants, knee (P): What a difference a week makes. From doubtful in Week 13 (to out) to probable a week later, Manningham and his knee have made progress. Apparently the problematic swelling is less so this week, as Manningham was able to turn in limited practice sessions daily. Just a week ago Manningham was hinting at an early end to his season and possible surgery. Now, barring a setback, it appears he will be available for the Giants when they face the Cowboys.

This does not mean the knee issues are behind him; it simply means that this week is better than last. There is also the possibility the swelling worsens before game time, so be sure to have insurance with this being a night game on Sunday.

Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons, hamstring (P): Jones put in a full practice Friday for the first time in recent memory. Given the probable tag and the positive work week, Jones should be set to go Sunday.

Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles, hamstring (Q): Maclin's questionable tag came down Saturday morning after he was initially listed on Friday's injury report as probable. A Saturday downgrade is never a good sign, especially when the athlete in question had a setback with the same hamstring one week ago that delayed his return. There has to be serious concern about his playing status or his ability to get through an entire game should he be active.

Percy Harvin, Minnesota Vikings, finger (P): Harvin played last week after dealing with an illness. This week Harvin injured a finger during practice, but it appears to be no threat to his game status. Expect Harvin to play.

Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons, shoulder (P): White spent much of the early part of the season on the injury report because of his knee but never missed a game. Now he is listed there with a shoulder injury, but it doesn't appear to be of much concern, either. White put in full practices Thursday and Friday and, at probable, is expected to play.

Nate Washington, Tennessee Titans, ankle (Q): Washington has had his share of injury issues this year, especially of the hamstring variety. Last Sunday he suffered an ankle injury in the third quarter and, after trying to play through it briefly, left the game after turning it again. This week Washington was unable to practice, and although he remains a game-time decision, there seems to be dwindling hope about his ability to override the injury to play.

Wes Welker, New England Patriots, knee (P): Welker showed up one day with a splint on his wrist but seemed unfazed. Typical Welker. He might have appeared on the injury report for more body parts than any other player this season, but he has not missed a game. The knee report is not new and is not expected to be an issue. He's probable. Expect him to play Sunday.

Chaz Schilens, Oakland Raiders, foot (P): Given the injury-induced lack of depth in the Raiders' receiving corps, seeing Schilens listed as probable is about as encouraging as it gets. Although Schilens did only limited work Thursday and Friday, he is expected to play.

Braylon Edwards, San Francisco 49ers, knee (Q): Edwards has struggled to return to form since undergoing meniscus surgery. He is expected to play this week but may see limited action.

Tight ends

Visanthe Shiancoe, Minnesota Vikings, hand (P): Shiancoe injured his hand in Week 13, and swelling limited his practice early in the week. He returned to full practice Friday, however, and at probable, he is expected to play.

Dallas Clark, Indianapolis Colts, fibula (Q): Clark could sneak back into the lineup after being away for four games. Clark practiced fully every day this week, and although he is listed as questionable, it's worth noting the Colts tend to list their players who aren't "out" as questionable. Clark has a real shot at playing, but it's also worth remembering how the Colts' offense looks this season.

Out

This space is intended for a list of key fantasy players, not including those who have been moved to injured reserve status, who are officially listed as "Out" for the upcoming game.

Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis Colts, neck: Manning remains out after neck surgery. This week team owner Jim Irsay acknowledged what many have suspected for some time now -- he does not expect Manning to play this season.

Andre Johnson, WR, Houston Texans, hamstring: This announcement does not come as a big surprise given that Johnson suffered his second hamstring injury of the season in unlucky Week 13. This time it was Johnson's left leg that caused him to pull up while running a route, and the injury was reported to be mild. Nonetheless, there is no sense in rushing Johnson back at the risk of a further setback ... to either leg. The Texans hope that this absence remains relatively brief.

Mark Ingram, RB, New Orleans Saints, toe: Ingram was hit with a case of turf toe in Week 13 and did not practice this week. Ingram said early in the week he would do whatever was best to help his team. This week that means he will sit out. Chris Ivory, who has been a healthy inactive for several weeks, will play instead.

Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears, knee: Forte suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain and is expected to miss anywhere from two to six weeks. The Bears hope he will return before the regular season ends, but it is too early to determine whether that will be possible. In the meantime, it's Marion Barber and Kahlil Bell.

Jay Cutler, QB, Chicago Bears, thumb: The Bears' starting quarterback will join their starting running back on the sideline. Cutler is recovering from surgery to repair his broken right thumb.

Darren McFadden, foot, and Taiwan Jones, hamstring, RBs, Oakland Raiders: At this point, McFadden's return is looking anything but certain. What seemingly was a minor midfoot sprain has turned into an extensive absence and many questions. Meanwhile, Taiwan Jones remains out three weeks after injuring his hamstring.

Jacoby Ford and Denarius Moore, WRs, Oakland Raiders: Foot problems continue to plague the Raiders at the wide receiver and running back positions. Neither Ford nor Moore was able to practice this week, again. Even Chaz Schilens had a foot injury that kept him out of practice Wednesday, but after returning to limited work Thursday and Friday, he is expected to play. Darrius Heyward-Bey somehow has managed to avoid the injury report ... for now.

James Starks, RB, Green Bay Packers, knee/ankle: Starks has tried to play through his ailments, but after getting forced out of a game early for the third straight week, it was clear the current plan was not working out. Starks will get some more extended rest in the hope that he can get better -- and stay better -- for the playoffs, seeing as the undefeated Packers already know they're headed that route. In the meantime, ground duties will be handled by Ryan Grant and Brandon Saine.

Be sure to check out "Fantasy Football Now," Sundays on ESPN2 at 11:30 a.m. ET, and Fantasy Surround on ESPN.com starting at 10 a.m. ET Sunday for last-minute inactives, rankings, injury impacts and more!