A toe injury caused Chargers tight end Antonio Gates to miss practice this week. San Diego is pretty banged up on offense, meaning Gates knows that getting back out onto the field against the Patriots on Sunday is extremely important.
Gates has a history of playing through pain, but even he says that he can’t guarantee that he’ll play. On Friday, Gates said that he “hates to make assumptions,” meaning he is truly a game-time decision on Sunday. He’ll go out prior to the game and test things out. He’s listed as questionable, but if I were a betting man, I’d pick the play side.
(Update: Gates is ACTIVE for today’s game. Start fantasy’s best TE in Week 7.)
Raiders running back Darren McFadden hasn’t played since Week 4 but head coach Tom Cable said that he’s “likely to play.”
McFadden is trying to come back from a hamstring injury and is listed as questionable on the injury report. Cable says that he believes McFadden has a 70-percent chance of playing, which is only five percent away from the necessary 75-percent chance needed to be moved to probable.
All signs point towards McFadden carrying the rock on Sunday.
(Update: McFadden is ACTIVE for today’s game. Start him as needed.)
As we always do with “Injury Central,” we’ll keep this post updated with all the latest pre-kickoff information on the players listed. And don’t forget to stop by our Fantasy Football Tailgate chat if you need last-minute help.
Post Last Updated: 3:00 p.m. ET
Quarterback
• Michael Vick, Eagles – (Update: Michael Vick is listed as the emergency QB.) Vick will suit up on Sunday but head coach Andy Reid has yet to determine whether Vick will be the No. 2 quarterback or the emergency quarterback.
• Vince Young, Titans – (Update: Kerry Collins will start for the Titans.) Young was held out of practice all week with knee and ankle injuries and is likely not going to play on Sunday.
Running Back
• LeSean McCoy, Eagles – McCoy says that his fractured rib has still not fully healed. He’s still sore but is expected to play on Sunday.
• Ryan Mathews, Chargers – Mathews got the day off on Wednesday but practiced in full on both Thursday and Friday. He’ll be the “go-to” guy in San Diego on Sunday.
• Chris Johnson, Titans – Johnson was limited in practice on Wednesday because of a thigh injury but practiced in full on Thursday and Friday. He will play and have a normal workload on Sunday.
• Fred Taylor, Patriots – Taylor has, once again, been ruled out for Sunday’s game. This is one mean case of turf toe.
• Peyton Hillis, Browns – (Update: Peyton Hillis is ACTIVE.) Hillis is listed as probable with a quadricep injury. He’s a likely start on Sunday.
• Pierre Thomas, Saints – (Update: Pierre Thomas is INACTIVE. Chris Ivory starts.) Thomas didn’t practice all week and has been ruled out for Week 7.
• Reggie Bush, Saints – Bush will not make it back in Week 7 but the Saints say they are targeting a Week 8 return. Bush has officially been ruled out.
Wide Receiver
• Mohamed Massaquoi, Browns – (Update: Massaquoi is INACTIVE.) Massaquoi will not play on Sunday against the Saints. He has officially been ruled out because of his concussion.
• Dez Bryant, Cowboys – Bryant has been dealing with multiple injuries all week bit practiced in full on Saturday and should be ready to go on Monday night.
• Hakeem Nicks, Giants – Nicks was only able to participate on a limited basis on Saturday because of his hamstring but said there was no doubt he’d be ready to go on Monday night. He is listed as questionable.
• Donald Driver, Packers – Driver was limited in practice on Friday with a quadricep injury and didn’t practice during the week before Friday. This was all planned to keep Driver fresh and he insists that he’ll play on Sunday.
• Malcom Floyd, Chargers – (Update: ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Floyd will likely be sidelined the next two games.) Floyd is listed as doubtful because of a hamstring injury and expect him to be added to the inactive list prior to Sunday’s game.
• Steve Breaston, Cardinals – (Update: Breaston is INACTIVE.) Breaston has been limited in practice all week but does have a shot at playing for the first time since Week 3. He will be a game-time decision.
Tight End
• Chris Cooley, Redskins – (Update: Chris Cooley is ACTIVE.) Cooley’s concussion isn’t as severe as was originally thought and even though he’s listed as questionable, the Redskins expect him to play on Sunday.
• Todd Heap, Ravens – (Update: Todd Heap is ACTIVE.) Heap is listed as questionable for Sunday but expects to play against the Bills. After missing practice early in the week he returned on Thursday in a limited fashion.
Kicker
• Lawrence Tynes, Giants – Tynes has said he’s ready to go for Monday Night Football. He practiced in full on Friday.
