It's DECEMBER: Injury Report

By: Christian Hardy

Quarterbacks
- After the Texans signed two veteran quarterbacks in the past week, the Dolphins decided to release Sage Rosenfels from the non-football illness list. I do not expect him to be claimed on waivers, but could see a team signing him after he goes through the NFL's waiver process.
- Buccaneers QB Josh Freeman (thumb on throwing hand) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice and he was never seen throwing the football. Coach Raheem Morris said that this situation will go all the way up to game-time. Freeman has a great matchup against Carolina this week, so it would be a shame, should he have to miss it. If Freeman were to miss it, Josh Johnson would be the starter at quarterback for the Bucs.
- Per ESPN's Adam Schefter, Kevin Kolb (toe, foot) will start this week against the Cowboys, despite John Skelton going 3-1 as a starter.
- Sam Bradford missed practice on Thursday after suffering a setback with his injured ankle. He is "day to day", according to the Rams official Twitter account.
- Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger did not finish practice today after taking a bad snap that hit his fractured right thumb in the wrong spot. After practice he said that he is "OK".
- Former Eagles, Redskins, and now Vikings quarterback Donovan McNabb was released by the Vikings on Thursday. As of now, Leslie Frasier said he does not know a team that will take McNabb on waivers. I do know, however, that the Cowboys, who put a claim in on Kyle Orton last week, are not interested, according to multiple sources. Looks like the Vikings will stick with their rookie Christian Ponder for the rest of the year.
- According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Peyton Manning's doctor said that Manning is ready to move onto the next stage of his rehab. He also stated that his neck fusion has "achieved firm fixation." Manning is still waiting on nerve regeneration before he can return to football.


Running Backs
- The player of the day: Lesean McCoy. He was talked about all day long, leading up to Thursday Night Football, because of his sprained toe. He was listed as questionable and was determined to be a game-time decision for the game. It held up in warm ups and he was named the starter just about an hour before the game. Seattle has a tough run defense, but there is no way that I would even consider benching McCoy, not even with an injury that could limit him.
- Darren McFadden and Adrian Peterson both did not practice. They are both not expected to play this week, and their status for week 14 is in question.
- Ahmad Bradshaw did not practice and will likely miss this week's game, at the least. The foot still does not feel completely healed, and the Giants know that they have to be real careful with an injury like this; once rumored to be gone for the season. Looks like Brandon Jacobs will continue to fill in for Bradshaw, with DJ Ware taking a back seat.
- Michael Turner did not practice on Thursday, and he has not all week. His groin, that was surgically repaired in the offseason, has bothered him all season, but it has gotten worse and worse. Definitely keep an eye on Turner's status for Sunday.
- Lions running back Kevin Smith was a limited participant in practice on Thursday, but multiple beat writers reported that he ran very well on his sprained ankle.
- Cedric Benson (groin) missed practice on Thursday, but Joe Reedy, beat writer for the Bengals, said that Benson will likely be probable for Sunday.
- Cowboys FB Tony Fiammetta is still down with an illness and missed practice on Thursday.


Wide Receivers
- Miles Austin was not at Thursday's practice and is not expected to play this week.
- Hakeem Nicks did not participate in Thursday's practice but is expected to be back for Friday.
- Playing opposite of Nicks, Mario Manningham also did not practice. He acknowledged that he could be done for the season due to a swollen knee that feels "weak and not stable," according to Ralph Vacchiano on Twitter. Sounds like Manningham is going to at least miss this week, and as he said, could be done for the season. It's a good thing they found another gem (Victor Cruz) in the wide receiver corps.
- Texans WR Andre Johnson was a limited participant in practice for the second consecutive day on Thursday with a knee injury. Johnson returned from a hamstring injury in week 12 that had kept him out for six weeks.
- Falcons rookie wide receiver Julio Jones did not practice today with a hamstring injury.
- Denarius Moore (foot) did not participate in practice. Jacoby Ford, also, did not practice.
- Patriots wide receiver (if you still call him that) Chad Ochocinco (hamstring) was limited in practice, as was WR Taylor Price.
- After missing practice on Wednesday, Victor Cruz (hip) returned to limited practice on Thursday.
- 49ers WR Braylon Edwards did not practice today with a knee injury.


Tight Ends
- Dallas Clark was ruled out for this week's game against the Patriots.


Defense/Others
- Ravens LB Ray Lewis (turf toe), you might of hear of him, sat out practice again on Thursday.
- Lions CB Chris Houston (knee) did not practice for his third consecutive day on Thursday.
- Cowboys CB Mike Jenkins and S Gerald Sensabaugh were both limited in practice on Thursday.
- Patriots S Patrick Chung was limited in practice, as was WR/DB Julian Edelmen.
- Packers LBs AJ Hawk and Desmond Bishop both did not practice, as expected, on Thursday.