Coach Jim Caldwell said the Colts will play their healthy starters in Thursday's game against the Jaguars. But who's healthy? The Colts put 29 players on their Monday injury report. Like the Jaguars, the Colts didn't have a practice on Monday, but the league mandates that teams estimate which players may or may not practice. The big concern remains at offensive tackle. Right tackle
Ryan Diem is playing despite a hamstring injury. Left tackle
Charlie Johnson wore down on Sunday against the Broncos because a foot injury was bothering him. Backup left tackle
Tony Ugoh is on the injury report with a hip injury.
Another setback for Lions: The Lions might be in the market for a halfback because of the horrible knee injury suffered by starter
Kevin Smith in Week 14. All the Lions said was Smith suffered a season-ending knee ligament injury, but you get the feeling this injury will carry into next summer. So add running back to the long list of Lions needs for next season. Talk about being cursed. Injuries robbed the Lions of
Kevin Jones, a former first-round pick.
Cable leaning toward Frye? This could be an interesting week for Raiders coach Tom Cable. Starting QB
Bruce Gradkowski suffered MCL injuries on both knees in Week 14 and is probably done for the season.
JaMarcus Russell was horrible replacing him. But if Cable decides to go with
Charlie Frye as the starter -- and he just might -- that is a clear sign that Russell falls into the bust category.
Wild times in NFC: The wild-card round of the NFC playoffs could be really, really wild. The Eagles and Cardinals are on the verge of winning their divisions, but they aren't going to catch the Saints or Vikings for first-round byes. The Packers, at 9-4, should claim the top wild card. That leaves the Giants and Cowboys battling for the last spot with the Giants holding the edge if the Cowboys lose to New Orleans on Saturday. What the Cowboys can't do is have the same record as the Giants. Dallas would lose the tiebreaker because of its two losses to New York. The Cardinals host Green Bay in Week 17; the teams might have to play again in the wild-card round under one scenario. The other wild one involves the Cowboys and Eagles, who meet in Week 17. If Dallas claims the last wild-card spot, it might have to come back and play the Eagles again. It could happen. If not, the Eagles could be forced to play the Giants a third time.