by Chris Mooney

Here’s some info you may or may not already know:

12:14: Viking RB Chester Taylor is active and the official “starter,” but Adrian Peterson plays plenty as usual.

12:13: Packer RB Brandon Jackson is inactive, DeShawn Wynn starts and Vernand Morency is active and available.

12:10: Brown TE Kellen Winslow is active.

12:06: All key Ravens are active, that being: Steve McNair, Todd Heap, Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton, Demetrius Williams, Ray Lewis, and Ed Reed.

12:04: Falcon CB DeAngelo Williams has been benched to open the game (David Irons announced as starter), but Hall is active and should play after about one quarter. This is punishment for his debacle last week.

12:03: As expected, Texan RB Ahman Green is inactive. Ron Dayne starts with Samkon Gado getting carries off the bench.

12:01: Bill CB/KR Terrence McGee is active and expected to play his usual role.

11:58: Bear defenders Nate Vasher, Charles Tillman, LB Lance Briggs, and S Adam Archuleta are all inactive, as expected. DT Tommie Harris, however, is active.

11:57: As feared, Lion WR Calvin Johnson is inactive.

11:22: ESPN is reporting that Dolphin LB Zach Thomas (concussion) will not play today, which would be great news for Raider RB LaMont Jordan. We’ll have the official word in less than 60 minutes.

11:16: One note on the Giant RB situation. If you have Derrick Ward and can swap out Reuben Droughns with him pre-game tonight, you might want to pick Droughns up just in case Ward is out. There’s no strong indication that Ward will be out, but he’s not a lock to play, and you should protect yourself.

Panther QB Jake Delhomme (elbow) missed his third straight practice Friday with a strained right elbow, and all signs point to backup QB David Carr starting. Officially, this situation will come down to a game-time decision.
Eagle RB Brian Westbrook (abdominal) will warm up before the game tonight and his status will be determined then. We’d love to have a definitive word now, but he’s a true game-time decision. If Westbrook is inactive, backup Correll Buckhalter will start and rookie RB Tony Hunt would back up Buckhalter. We’ll have Westbrook’s status online at least 45 minutes prior to kickoff.
Giant RB Brandon Jacobs (knee) was able to practice Friday, opening up the possibility the he could play. From our research on this one, we’d be surprised if he did, but we’ll watch the situation and their inactives pre-game. RB Derrick Ward (ankle) actually missed practice Friday with a sore ankle and is now listed as questionable, but he is expected to start today.
Texan RB Ahman Green (knee) hasn’t practiced all week and will likely be inactive, although he won’t be officially ruled out until their hand in their inactive lists. RB Ron Dayne (ribs) practiced fully all week and is expected to start against the Falcons, with RB Sam Gado backing him up.
Chief RB Larry Johnson (hamstring) returned to practice Friday after sitting out with a sore hamstring the previous two days, according to the team’s web site, and he is expected to start on Sunday. One concern here is that he could lose time if he aggravates the injury or if he’s ineffective because of the injury. But he’s expected to be in their starting lineup.
Packer RB Vernand Morency (knee) practiced all week and is expected to be active and available today. RB DeShawn Wynn (ankle) will likely start, with RB Brandon Jackson (shin) likely out today.
Bronco FB Mike Bell is out, in case you were wondering.
Giant WR Plaxico Burress (ankle) was limited in practice Friday, but that’s expected to be the norm the next few weeks. Barring a pre-game setback, he’s expected to start.
Cardinal WR Anquan Boldin (hip) didn’t practice all week and is still listed as doubtful. He hasn’t been ruled out and downgraded to out, but while he’s not 100% out, you’d be taking an incredible risk starting him. Barring a pre-game miracle, backup WR Bryant Johnson will likely to start for him.
Bronco WR Javon Walker (knee) took in limited practice Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. However, NFL Network is reporting that he will likely miss the game. His status will be determined pre-game, but he’s a very risky start if you have to make a call on him by 1pm ET.
Lion WR Calvin Johnson (back) practiced Friday on a limited basis and is still listed as questionable. He’ll be a game-time decision, but even if he’s active and in the starting lineup he’s something of a risky play because he’s been limited all week (very limited mid-week) and the team does have a lot of other receivers to throw to. He could miss the game, and if he does, Mike Furrey would probably start for Johnson, but Shaun McDonald would likely see an increase in pass targets.
Colt TE Dallas Clark (quad) was added to the injury report Friday as questionable and didn’t practice. According to the Indy Star, coach Tony Dungy said Clark ran before Friday’s workout “and did pretty well, but we held him (out). He should be OK.” That they’re playing a late game today makes him a little tricky.

Weather Updates:

Early games:

Houston at Atlanta – Inside the Georgia Dome.
NY Jets at Buffalo – Mostly sunny and 68 degrees, with 11-mph winds and a 10% chance of rain is the forecast today up at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Baltimore at Cleveland – At Cleveland Browns Stadium this afternoon, it will be partly cloudy and 72 degrees, with 11-mph winds and a 10% chance of rain.
St. Louis at Dallas – It will be mostly cloudy and 82 degrees this afternoon down at Texas Stadium, with 11-mph winds and a 10% chance of rain.
Chicago at Detroit – Inside Ford Field
Oakland at Miami – There will be strong winds – 21 mph – and a possibility of scattered showers at Dolphin Stadium today. The temperature will be around 82 degrees, with a 30% chance of rain during the game.
Green Bay at Minnesota – Inside the HHH Metrodome

Late games:

Tampa Bay at Carolina – It will be sunny and 80 degrees for this late afternoon start at Bank of America Stadium, with 10-mph wind and a 10% chance of rain.
Seattle at San Francisco – It will be sunny and 66 degrees today at Walsh Field at Monster Park, with 7-mph wind and a 10% chance of rain.
Pittsburgh at Arizona – The retractable roof at University of Phoenix Stadium should be closed, the AC pumping, since the temperature in the area will be close to the 100-degree mark today.
Denver at Indianapolis – Inside the RCA Dome
Kansas City at San Diego – Out at Qualcomm Stadium this afternoon, it will be sunny and 78 degrees, with light 5-mph wind and no chance of rain.