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!