BUSTED, BRUISED & BROKEN

By David Kaye,Fantasy Football Insiders

AFC Injury Report
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Peerless Price (neck) will be out for the remainder of the season after it was discovered that the disc problem he has in his neck will require surgery. As Price is placed on the injured reserve, he becomes the ninth Bills player who
will miss the rest of the season. In his absence, look for Roscoe Parrish and Josh Reed to see increased playing time as the number two receivers.

Laurence Maroney (ankle) did not play for the second consecutive week and his status for Sunday’s showdown at Dallas is still unknown. Sammy Morris has served as the quintessential backup for Maroney as he has had back-to-back 100-yard performances against the Bengals and Browns. He is a must have in all fantasy leagues.

While trying to tackle Houston Texans defensive lineman Travis Johnson, quarterback Trent Green was inadvertently kneed in the head and appeared motionless on the field for several seconds. Green (grade-three concussion) will most likely be out of action for
Sunday’s game at Cleveland and backup Cleo Lemon will make the start.

Jamal Lewis (foot) is experiencing considerable pain in his right foot and it has not been determined whether or not he’ll suit up for Sunday’s game against the woeful Dolphins.

Tight end Todd Heap (thigh) did not play in Sunday’s loss at San Francisco and is currently questionable for Sunday’s game against the 0-5 Rams.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh (knee) is listed as probable for this week’s game at Kansas City.

Hines Ward (knee) missed his second straight game, but will likely be able to start week seven following the Steelers bye week. Ward has been ineffective when healthy and should not be relied upon at all by fantasy owners this season.


Pro Bowl kick returner Jerome Mathis (leg) has been placed on injured reserve after it was discovered that he had a stress fracture in his left leg. Mathis has played an integral part in the Texans special teams over the past two seasons and it will be very difficult for them to provide any sort of stability to that position in the final eleven weeks of the season.

Running Back Ahman Green (knee) has missed the past two weeks and remains questionable for Sunday’s game at Jacksonville.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Damon Huard (shoulder) is probable for Sunday’s game with the Bengals after sustaining a right shoulder contusion in last week’s loss to the Jaguars.

Wide receiver Vincent Jackson (shoulder) is probable for Sunday’s game against the Raiders.

Denver Broncos center Tom Nalen (torn right biceps) will undergo surgery this week and be out for the remainder of the season.

NFC Injury Report
Washington Redskins wide receiver Antwaan Randle El (hamstring) left Sunday’s 34-3 victory over the Lions early with an apparent injury to his hamstring and is listed as questionable for this week’s matchup at Green Bay.

Brandon Jacobs (knee) returned to action for the first time after missing the last three weeks and rushed for 100 yards and a score. Look for his production to continue to rise and for Derrick Ward to receive less carries.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (elbow) will have season-ending surgery next week to repair his badly sprained right elbow. Once thought to be a week-to week injury, Delhomme was unable to show any considerable improvement while throwing on the side. The Panthers offensive leader is expected to face seven to nine months of recovery time.

Quarterback David Carr (back) left Sunday’s win over the Saints early and his status for this week at Arizona is unknown. Undrafted rookie Matt Moore out of Oregon State is the only remaining signalcaller on the roster.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Michael Pittman (broken fibula) will miss the next six-to-eight weeks after sustaining the injury in Sunday’s loss to the Colts. With Pittman and Carnell Williams out indefinitely, Earnest Graham will be thrusted into the starting role.

Matt Leinart (broken left collarbone) will be out for an indefinite period of time after being sacked in the first quarter of Sunday’s win by Will Witherspoon. Kurt Warner, who combined for two touchdowns in Leinart’s absence, becomes an attractive fantasy option.

Running back Steven Jackson (partially torn groin) has been ruled out for Sunday’s game at Baltimore by head coach Scott Linehan.

2005 Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch (foot) will be out of action for the next two weeks after sustaining a mid-foot sprain. With an already depleted wide receiver core, Bobby Engram is expected to receive the bulk of throwing opportunities.

Fifteen-year veteran Mack Strong (neck) played the last game of his football career Sunday after it was revealed that he has a pinched nerve in his neck.