Sunday News and Notes

Sunday, November 5, 2006

 

We will update injuries and weather Sunday morning at JoeDuffy.net

NFL

Texans-Giants

Newsday

Plaxico Burress’ back spasms dropped him from probable to questionable Friday. The Giants could face the Texans without their leading receiver, their leader in sacks (Osi Umenyiora), their leader in interceptions (Sam Madison) and one of their veteran defensive leaders (Brandon Short).

Cowboys-Redskins

Washington Post

Dressed in a gray sweat shirt and sweat pants yesterday, Washington Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss effectively ruled himself out of tomorrow’s key NFC East game with the Dallas Cowboys at FedEx Field because of a strained left hamstring. Although Moss is quarterback Mark Brunell’s favorite receiver, he has looked increasingly to Randle El on third-down plays. Lloyd has been less visible, though against Indianapolis he caught a season-high four passes. He has 11 receptions this season.Brunell likely will rely on tight end Chris Cooley, who caught three touchdowns against the Cowboys at FedEx Field last season in a 35-7 Redskins win. Cooley also has touchdown receptions in his last two games.

Titans-Jaguars

Times-Union

While players learn to deal with quarterback issues, this one has several Jaguars wondering how much Garrard starting Sunday against the Titans is because of Leftwich’s medical impairment, and how much is a combination of Del Rio’s ire and Leftwich’s ineffectiveness two weeks ago at Houston.

Dolphins-Bears

Miami Herald

The Dolphins’ secondary will undergo changes again Sunday because the starting lineup has been changed and injuries continue to be a factor. Coaches expect to make a game-day decision on how much to use Travis Daniels against the Bears now that the cornerback apparently is recovered from a knee injury that sidelined him the past two weeks. Linebacker Derrick Pope, who missed five of the past six games with a hamstring injury, apparently is healthy now.

Chicago Sports

The Dolphins, though stumbling, have the best ranking in yardage allowed (No. 5 overall) and second-best scoring defense (16^th) of any Bears opponent so far.

Vikings-49ers

Pioneer Press

The Vikings will head to San Francisco without their defensive signal caller and their offensive playmaker.Middle linebacker Napoleon Harris and receiver Marcus Robinson, keys to each unit, were downgraded Friday from questionable to out.Harris dislocated his left wrist in the second quarter Monday against the New England Patriots. Robinson injured his lower back in Seattle on Oct. 22. Vikings coach Brad Childress would not put a timetable on either player’s return, but there is optimism that both could return Nov. 12 when the Vikings host the Green Bay Packers at the Metrodome. Childress said Harris now wears a cast instead of a splint.

Texans-Giants

Houston Chronicle

Quarterback David Carr’s home and road numbers vary little. Last season, he fumbled the ball three times on the road and at home. Seven of his 11 interceptions in 2005 were thrown at Reliant Stadium.Carr’s first two fumbles away from home this season came at Tennessee last Sunday. He has one fumble at home.

Broncos-Steelers

Post-Gazette

The Steelers are 2-5 and ready to juggle their offensive line again, just in time for the Broncos to come to Heinz Field for a rematch of the AFC championship game in January. This time, some of the changes are not being mandated because of injuries. Chukky Okobi will make his first start in four years because Pro Bowl center Jeff Hartings is out with a sprained knee, which was injured in the loss Sunday in Oakland. But Kendall Simmons likely will return to start at right guard in what has become some kind of weekly rotation with Chris Kemoeatu, who played most of the second half in Atlanta and started against the Raiders.