by Chris Mooney

CHECK BACK TO THIS POST ON THE WEBSITE THROUGHOUT THE DAY FOR MORE UP TO THE MINUTE UPDATES.

3:11: Colts Marvin Harrison, Antoine Bethea, Robert Mathis, Raheem Brock, and Ryan Diem are inactive

3:10: Raiders LaMont Jordan, Daunte Culpepper, and Andrew Walter are inactive.

3:09: Eagle RB Correll Buckhalter and TE L.J. Smith are inactive. Matt Schobel starts for him.

3:08: Charger TE Antonio Gates and Philip Rivers are active.

12:27: Regarding Charger TE Antonio Gates: A few media outlets (ESPN and Fox) are reporting that it’s not looking good for Gates. He is still a true game time decision, so we have no way of knowing if he’ll play or not until after the pre-game warm-ups.

12:19: Raven TE Todd Heap is inactive, Daniel Wilcox starts. CB Samari Rolle is inactive, so they are down both starting corners, good news for Miami’s passing game. LB Ray Lewis is active.

12:18: Dolphin RB Jesse Chatman is inactive. Sam Gado starts with Lorenzo Booker seeing action in the passing game.

12:16: Falcon WR Roddy White is active. QB Jeff Garcia, WR Ike Hilliard, and RB Michael Pittman are active.

12:15: Brown WR Joe Jurevicius is active.

12:14: Bill DE Chris Kelsay is active.

12:12: Saint TE Eric Johnson, DT Brian Young, and S Josh Bullocks are inactive. Backup Billy Miller will start for Johnson.

12:10: Cardinal WR Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are active. Boldin’s time on the field could be limited, but he’s dressing and will play.

12:09: The only Packer inactives of note is TE Bubba Franks.

12:08: Chiefs Tony Gonzalez, Kolby Smith, and Donnie Edwards are active.

12:05: Titans LenDale White, Albert Haynesworth, and David Thornton are active.

12:03: The Panthers have made QB Vinny Testaverde and WR Keary Colbert inactive, so rookie QB Matt Moore and WR Drew Carter will start. Moore in is not good news for WR Steve Smith, but he at least has a functional arm, unlike Testaverde, which gives Smith a chance to do something down the field.

12:00: No inactives of note for the Jets. WRs Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery, TE Chris Baker, and QB Kellen Clemens are active.

11:59: Patriot TE Ben Watson is inactive, which should be good news for WRs Wes Welker and WR Jabar Gaffney. TE Kyle Brady starts for Watson, so he’s not a horrible reach if a cheap TD will make you happy.

11:58: Steeler QB Ben Roethlisberger will start, as expected.

Here updates for some of the more prominent injuries:

Charger TE Antonio Gates (back) took in limited practice time Friday and is listed as questionable. According to the North County Times, Gates looks like he’ll be able to play, but he’s not a lock to start and he plays in a late game so if you can make a late switch it would behoove you to have a replacement standing by. TE Brandon Manumaleuna would start if Gates couldn’t go.

Cardinal WR Anquan Boldin (toe) was limited in practice all week and is listed as questionable, although he said on Thursday that he expects to play. WR Bryant Johnson would start for him again if he can’t play, and Jerheme Urban would also get increased work. If Boldin does play, he could give up time to these receivers. WR Larry Fitzgerald (groin) was limited again on Friday and will be a game-time decision on Sunday, but he is expected to be able to play. He’s listed as questionable. Johnson or Urban would start for him if he can’t play.

Steeler QB Ben Roethlisberger (shoulder) was able to practice Friday after missing the previous two days and is expected to start on Sunday against Jacksonville. If he can’t play, backup Charlie Batch would start for the first time since Opening Night last season.

Charger QB Philip Rivers (knee) practiced for the second day in a row on Friday and is listed as questionable. Rivers seems optimistic that he’ll be able to play, but he’s realistic about not having to talk head coach Norv Turner into playing time. “I don’t want to do that,” Rivers said, about talking his way into the lineup. “I want to play if I’m right and it’s best for the team. I don’t want to play if it’s selfish of me just wanting to play. We’ll do what’s best for the team.” If you’re counting on him to play tomorrow, you have to have a replacement ready and able to stand by in case Rivers is announced as inactive (he plays in a late game). If he is unable to play, Billy Volek would start for the first time in more than two years.

Falcon WR Roddy White (knee) took in limited practice time Friday and is questionable to play. He’ll likely give it a go, but it’s not a good sign that he’s iffy here late in the week. If he can’t play, rookie Laurent Robinson would start for him.

Patriot TE Ben Watson (ankle) was limited in practice this week and is questionable for Sunday’s game. He could be a game-time decision. TE Kyle Brady would fill in if Watson couldn’t play.

Giant TE Jeremy Shockey (abdominal) missed practice again Friday and is now considered a game-time decision on Sunday. He’s listed as questionable.

Dolphin RB Jesse Chatman (ankle) is a game-time decision for Sunday and is listed as questionable. RB Sam Gado could get another start if Chatman can’t play. Rookie RB Lorenzo Booker should be involved in the passing game regardless of who starts.

Ram QB Marc Bulger (concussion) practiced fully again Friday and was named the starter for Sunday’s game against Green Bay. Backup QB Gus Frerotte (shoulder) is also ready to play and would start if Bulger has a setback.

Saint TE Eric Johnson (groin) missed practice again Thursday, and backup Billy Miller could start for him.

Here some other notable Injury Updates:

Quarterbacks

Buc QB Jeff Garcia (back) practiced all week and is probable for Sunday’s game.

Titan QB Vince Young (ribs) is ready to go for Sunday’s game, coach Jeff Fisher said Thursday. Young was able to practice all week and isn’t listed on the injury report.

Panther QB Vinny Testaverde (general soreness) missed practice again Friday and is a game-time decision on Sunday, and he’s listed as probable. If he can’t play, Matt Moore would make his first NFL start Sunday against Seattle.

Running Backs

Bill RB Marshawn Lynch (ankle) is not on the injury report and will start again this week. He said he expects to continue sharing the carries with RB Fred Jackson.

Eagle RB Brian Westbrook (knee) was limited in practice again Friday but is probable and expected to start Sunday. Backup RB Correll Buckhalter (concussion) is out, so rookie RB Tony Hunt will back up Westbrook.

Titan RB LenDale White (knee) didn’t miss any practice time this week and is probable for Sunday’s game.

Buccaneer RB Michael Pittman (ankle) was limited in practice this week and is questionable for Sunday’s game. He should come down to a game time decision.

Chief RB Kolby Smith practiced Friday and is probable for Sunday’s game.

Raven RB Willis McGahee (foot) practiced all week and is probable for Sunday’s game.

Colt backup RB Kenton Keith (hand) is probable for Sunday’s game.

Receivers

Jet WRs Laveranues Coles (ankle) and Jerricho Cotchery (finger) are both expected to play on Sunday against the Patriots. Both players are listed as questionable. Coles is limited by a very sore ankle. TE Chris Baker (back) is also questionable.

Giant WR Plaxico Burress (ankle) did not practice this week but is expected to be able to play on Sunday. He’s listed as questionable.

Chief TE Tony Gonzalez (ankle) is probable for Sunday’s game.

Buc WR Ike Hilliard (shoulder) is probable for Sunday’s game.

Brown WR Joe Jurevicius (knee) was limited in practice this week and is questionable for Sunday’s game. He might be a game time decision. If he can’t play, backup Tim Carter would fill in.

49er WR Arnaz Battle (ankle) is probable for Saturday’s game.

Cowboy WR Patrick Crayton (foot) is probable for Sunday’s game.

Cowboy WR Terry Glenn (knee) has been going through some drills this week but hasn’t officially returned to practice. He has a chance to play in the last two games of the regular season but won’t play on Sunday against the Eagles.

Raven TE Todd Heap (hamstring) missed practice most of the week and is not expected to play, despite being listed as questionable.

Viking WR Troy Williamson (head) has been cleared to practice but is likely out again this week, as backups Robert Ferguson and Sidney Rice have filled in well for him in a committee approach to the position.

I’ll try to update as I get it, but here some weather updates:

– Wintery Mix & Wind for Tonight’s Giants-Redskins Game –

The National Weather Service reports there will be sleet and freezing rain changing to rain by mid morning in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Total accumulation around an inch. Ice accumulation of less than one quarter of an inch. Brisk with highs in the upper 30s. East winds 15 to 25 mph… becoming south 15 to 20 mph late. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent. Snow is expected by tonight’s kickoff for the Giants-Redskins game. Brisk and cold with lows in the mid 20s. West winds 15 to 25 mph. Chance of precipitation 30 percent.

– Wintery Mix & Wind for Patriots-Jets Game –

The National Weather Service reports there will be sleet, freezing rain, and snow this morning in Foxboro. There will be rain likely with possible freezing rain and sleet for this afternoon’s Patriots-Jets game. Precipitation may be heavy at times this morning. Total accumulation of 3 to 5 inches. Windy with highs in the mid 30s. Northeast winds 15 to 20 mph… increasing to 20 to 30 mph this afternoon. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.

– Wind, Rain & Snow in Pittsburgh –
The National Weather Service reports there will be rain showers this morning in Pittsburgh. The rain will change to snow for this afternoon’s Steelers-Jaguars game. Snow accumulation around an inch. Breezy with highs in the upper 30s. South winds around 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph…becoming west 15 to 25 mph with gusts up to 50 mph this afternoon. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.

– Wind Expected for Panthers-Seahawks Game –

The National Weather Service reports there will be patchy drizzle this morning in Charlotte, and then sunny this afternoon for today’s Panthers-Seahawks game. It will be windy with highs around 50. West winds 10 to 20 mph… increasing to 20 to 25 mph with gusts up to 40 mph this afternoon. Chance of rain 30 percent.

– Wind & Rain Expected for Dolphins-Ravens Game –

The National Weather Service reports isolated showers continue to develop from time to time across the eastern half of the South Florida peninsula for today’s Dolphins-Ravens game. The showers will move quickly northeastward at 35 mph and produce brief periods of moderate rainfall…as well as wind gusts up to 30 mph. Overall rainfall amounts will be limited due to the fast movement of the showers.

– Snow & Wind in Cleveland –

The National Weather Service reports there will be a mixture of rain and freezing rain changing to snow this morning in Cleveland. There will be considerable snow and blowing snow this afternoon for today’s Browns-Bills game. Snow accumulation of 4 to 6 inches. Very windy with highs in the lower 30s with temperature falling into the upper 20s this afternoon. Northeast winds 15 to 25 mph…increasing to west 25 to 35 mph this afternoon. Gusts up to 50 mph. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.