by Chris Mooney

Here’s some updates for you:

Bengal RB Rudi Johnson (hamstring) was able to work out on Friday and is listed as probable for Sunday’s game against the Chiefs, according to the Cincinnati Inquirer. The paper reports that Johnson will likely split time with backup RB Kenny Watson on Sunday. If you’re hurting at RB this week, and Johnson gets through the pre-game warm-ups and is active tomorrow, we’d use him if we needed him despite his risk. This is an ugly week for RBs with the byes, the injuries, and the bad matchups.
Brown RB Jamal Lewis (foot) missed practice again Friday and is questionable for Sunday’s game against the Dolphins. RB Jason Wright would start against Miami if Lewis can’t play, backed up by RB Jerome Harrison. If Wright gets the start, he’s a desirable starter against the beatable Dolphins defense.
Patriot RB Laurence Maroney (groin) was limited in practice again Friday, and coach Bill Belichick said he will “probably be a game-time decision” for Sunday’s game against the Cowboys, the Boston Globe reports. Belichick said Maroney is “making progress” and “getting closer,” which doesn’t sound extremely optimistic for this week. RB Sammy Morris would again start if Maroney is inactive.
Raider RB LaMont Jordan (back) was limited again Friday in practice and is likely a game-time decision for Sunday’s game against San Diego, the San Francisco Chronicle reports, although he did not sound optimistic that he will be able to play. The team listed him as doubtful for the game. RB Dominic Rhodes is back after missing the first four games serving an NFL suspension, and Rhodes split first-team reps in practice this week with RB Justin Fargas, who would likely carry a heavier load than Rhodes if Jordan is out.
Cardinal WR Anquan Boldin (hip) missed practice again Friday and is doubtful and unlikely to play Sunday against Carolina, the Arizona Republic reports. Backup WR Bryant Johnson is likely to start for Boldin again, although he is hampered slightly by a bruised thigh.
Bear WR Bernard Berrian (foot) returned to practice Friday on a limited basis and is expected to play Sunday against the Vikings, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Backup WR Mark Bradley filled in for him last week after he got hurt against the Packers.
Eagle RB Brian Westbrook (abdominal strain) practiced again Friday and is probable for Sunday’s game against the Jets, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Earlier in the week, he said he feels better than he did before the bye week, and he expects to be able to play on Sunday unless he has a setback.
Ram WR Torry Holt (knee) practiced Thursday and Friday and is expected to start on Sunday against the Ravens, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. WR Isaac Bruce (hamstring) is out for Sunday’s game. WR Drew Bennett (thigh) will start for him again, although Bennett is a bit gimpy himself. KR/WR Dante Hall is out, so Marques Hagans will serve as the KR/PR as well as the #3 WR.
Jaguar RB Fred Taylor (groin) was limited in practice Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game but is expected to play.
Raven QB Steve McNair (back) missed practice again on Friday because of a stiff back, according to various reports. Head coach Brian Billick said Thursday he was not concerned about McNair’s availability for Sunday’s game, according to the Baltimore Sun, but McNair’s status for the game will now likely come down to a game-time decision. QB Kyle Boller would start if McNair can’t go.

Quarterbacks

Chief QB Damon Huard (shoulder) practiced fully again on Friday and will start on Sunday against the Bengals, the Kansas City Star reports. Huard hurt his shoulder in last week’s game and was replaced by second-year QB Brodie Croyle, but the injury was not as severe as originally thought.
Viking QB Tarvaris Jackson (groin) shared first-team reps again Friday with QB Kelly Holcomb but Jackson is listed as probable on the injury report, head coach Brad Childress said, so he is likely to be the starter, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Childress did not name a starter when he met with the media Friday.
Jet QB Chad Pennington (ankle) is listed as questionable but practiced most of the week and should play Sunday against the Eagles.
Panther QB David Carr (back) returned to practice on Friday and is expected to start on Sunday against Arizona, the Charlotte Observer reports. He’s listed as probable. 43-year-old QB Vinny Testaverde had been splitting the reps in practice with undrafted rookie Matt Moore.

Running Backs

Texan RB Ahman Green (knee) practiced fully this week and is not on the official injury report, so he will start Sunday against Jacksonville, according to the Houston Chronicle. RB Ron Dayne has started for him the last two weeks.
Redskin RB Clinton Portis (knee) practiced fully this week and is not on the official injury report, so he looks good to go against the Packers.
Dolphin RB Ronnie Brown (foot) is now probable for Sunday’s game but didn’t miss any practice time this week.
Giant RBs Brandon Jacobs (knee) and Derrick Ward (ankle) are both expected to be able to play on Monday against the Falcons. Ward returned to practice Friday after missing Thursday. Jacobs should start.
Packer RB Vernand Morency (knee) practiced fully on Friday and is probable for Sunday’s game. RB Brandon Jackson (shin) is also practicing fully but could be de-activated Sunday as the coaches will likely go with RB DeShawn Wynn and backup Ryan Grant. Morency and Grant help on special teams, and Jackson does not, which is why he’s the odd man out.

Receivers

Redskin WR Santana Moss (groin) practiced fully this week and is expected to start on Sunday against Green Bay. WR Antwaan Randle El (hamstring) missed practice again Friday and said he will test the injury Sunday morning before deciding if he can play. “If I’ve got any pain, I’m not going to push it,” he said, according to the Associated Press. “But I’m not expecting to have any (pain).” We’ll see what happens here, but we wouldn’t be optimistic about Randle El tomorrow. WR James Thrash started in Moss’s place last week, and would likely see increased playing time, along with Keenan McCardell, if Randle El can’t play.
Bengal WRs Chad Johnson (foot) and T.J. Houshmandzadeh (knee) are both practicing fully and will start on Sunday against Kansas City. WR Tab Perry (hamstring) is out.
Giant WR Plaxico Burress (ankle) did not take part in practice again Friday, as he continues to have his practice time limited because of a sprained ankle. He said earlier in the week that he hopes the additional day off this week (the Giants play on Monday against Atlanta) will help the ankle even more.
Charger WR Vincent Jackson (shoulder) practiced Thursday and Friday and is expected to start on Sunday against Oakland, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports. WR Eric Parker (toe) remains out, so WR Craig Davis (ankle) will start for him again.
Patriot WR Donte Stallworth (knee) was limited in practice again Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Cowboys. But he’s is expected to play.
Packer WR Greg Jennings (shoulder) practiced fully on Friday and is probable and expected to play against Washington, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports.
Buc WR Ike Hilliard (ankle) saw some practice time Friday is expected to start.
Brown WR Joe Jurevicius (knee) was limited in practice again Friday but is expected to be able to play on Sunday, the Cleveland Plain-Dealer reports.
Titan WR Brandon Jones (knee) missed practice all week with a sore knee and his status is a game-time decision.
Texan WR Jacoby Jones (shoulder) practiced fully on Friday and is probable and expected to play on Sunday, head coach Gary Kubiak said.
Raven TE Todd Heap (hamstring) was able to practice Friday and is expected to play Sunday against the Rams.
Eagle TE L.J. Smith (groin) practiced again Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. But he’s hopeful to play, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer, and likely will.
Seahawk TE Marcus Pollard (leg) did limited practicing Friday, so backup Will Heller might start for him.