{"id":219433,"date":"2009-12-17T19:54:26","date_gmt":"2009-12-18T00:54:26","guid":{"rendered":"urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,yhoo:20050301:fantasy,article,yhoo-ept_sports_fantasy_experts-209644:1"},"modified":"2009-12-17T19:54:26","modified_gmt":"2009-12-18T00:54:26","slug":"thursday-practice-wrap-megatron-missing-yet-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/219433","title":{"rendered":"Thursday Practice Wrap: Megatron missing (yet again)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"http:\/\/a323.yahoofs.com\/ymg\/ept_sports_fantasy_experts__22\/ept_sports_fantasy_experts-199873968-1261101790.jpg?ymebHYCDn7coA5EB\" hspace=\"8\" src=\"http:\/\/a323.yahoofs.com\/ymg\/ept_sports_fantasy_experts__22\/ept_sports_fantasy_experts-199873968-1261101790.jpg?ymebHYCDn7coA5EB\" \/> <\/p>\n<p>Playoffs are here, guys are hurt, practices are done. Let&#8217;s go over the news. <\/p>\n<p><strong>&bull;<\/strong> <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/8256\/\">Calvin Johnson<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/8256\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.8256\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> (knee) and <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/9265\/\">Matthew Stafford<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/9265\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.9265\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> (shoulder) <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mlive.com\/lions\/index.ssf\/2009\/12\/calvin_johnson_louis_delmas_do.html\">were both held out of Thursday&#8217;s practice<\/a>. You can pretty much eliminate Stafford right now &#8211; warm up, <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/4659\/\">Daunte Culpepper<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/4659\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.4659\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> &#8211; but Johnson has a shot to play against the Cardinals if he can show something Friday. The frustrating season for Megatron owners continues. <\/p>\n<p><strong>&bull;<\/strong> <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/6762\/\">Larry Fitzgerald<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/6762\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.6762\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> (knee) <a href=\"http:\/\/www.azcentral.com\/sports\/cardinals\/articles\/2009\/12\/17\/20091217spt-cardinals-larry-fitzgerald-CR.html\">did a little more work in Thursday&#8217;s practice<\/a> but he&#8217;s far from a sure thing for Sunday&#8217;s match at Detroit. We should know a lot more about Fitzgerald after the Cardinals have the key Friday workout. <\/p>\n<p><strong>&bull;<\/strong> <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/5977\/\">Brian Westbrook<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/5977\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.5977\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> (post concussion) was limited in Thursday&#8217;s practice and the context clues around Eagles camp <a href=\"http:\/\/www.philly.com\/philly\/hp\/sports\/79477827.html\">point to him sitting out another week<\/a>. We&#8217;ll see what Andy Reid offers to us Friday. In the meantime, <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/9317\/\">LeSean McCoy<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/9317\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.9317\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> is a reasonable play Sunday (even against a surging San Francisco defense) and <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/7481\/\">Leonard Weaver<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/7481\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.7481\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> isn&#8217;t the worst reach play in the world (he&#8217;s got 189 total yards over the last three weeks, and his touch count could be heading up). <\/p>\n<p><strong>&bull;<\/strong> <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/8780\/\">Matt Ryan<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/8780\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.8780\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> (toe) and <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/6913\/\">Michael Turner<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/6913\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.6913\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> (ankle) both got back on the practice field Thursday in what <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/7410\/\">Mike Smith<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/7410\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.7410\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> termed an &quot;<a href=\"http:\/\/jmike.blogs.atlantafalcons.com\/\">extremely limited<\/a>&quot; fashion. I don&#8217;t see any reason to wait around for Ryan&#8217;s status this week &#8211; not against the Jets pass defense &#8211; and I&#8217;d only look to Turner in Week 15 if I were completely sunk at the position. <\/p>\n<p><strong>&bull;<\/strong> The Vikings <a href=\"http:\/\/www.startribune.com\/sports\/vikings\/blogs\/79564692.html\">have a slew of receiver injuries<\/a>: <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/6837\/\">Bernard Berrian<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/6837\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.6837\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> (ankle) had another limited day, while <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/8298\/\">Sidney Rice<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/8298\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.8298\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> (illness) and <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/9286\/\">Percy Harvin<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/9286\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.9286\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> (migraines) didn&#8217;t practice at all. We&#8217;ll pay close attention to their Friday practice. <a name=\"remaining-content\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>&bull;<\/strong> <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/4323\/\">Hines Ward<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/4323\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.4323\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> (hamstring) had a full day with the Steelers and should be in line for a full game against Green Bay. <\/p>\n<p><strong>&bull;<\/strong> <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/7752\/\">Vince Young<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/7752\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.7752\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> (hamstring) and <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/3115\/\">Kerry Collins<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/3115\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.3115\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> both took reps at Tennessee&#8217;s workout Thursday. &quot;I thought [Young] moved pretty well,&quot; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.tennessean.com\/article\/20091217\/SPORTS01\/91217056\/2072\/SPORTS\">Jeff Fisher told the Nashville Tennessean<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p><strong>&bull;<\/strong> <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/7203\/\">Roddy White<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/7203\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.7203\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> (knee) took all the reps Thursday and looks fine to start against the Jets. But from a fantasy perspective, you can&#8217;t be happy to see shutdown ace <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/8268\/\">Darrelle Revis<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/8268\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.8268\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> waiting for him on the other side. <\/p>\n<p><strong>&bull;<\/strong> Josh Cribbs (ankle) has been limited in practice this week and is no sure thing to go at Kansas City. If he has an encouraging session Friday, he makes for an interesting Hail Mary reach in Week 15. <\/p>\n<p><strong>&bull;<\/strong> <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/8416\/\">Brent Celek<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/8416\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.8416\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> (back\/thumb) was limited at practice Thursday. He&#8217;s been playing through these nicks for a while. <\/p>\n<p><strong>&bull;<\/strong> <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/8504\/\">Ahmad Bradshaw<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/8504\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.8504\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> (foot\/ankles) was held out of Thursday&#8217;s work but he&#8217;s got time on his side given that the Giants play Monday night in Washington. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nj.com\/giants\/index.ssf\/2009\/12\/ny_giants_without_three_starte.html\">He&#8217;s expected to play<\/a>. <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/8872\/\">Mario Manningham<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/8872\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.8872\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> (illness) was also held out Thursday. <\/p>\n<p><strong>&bull;<\/strong> <a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players?type=lastname&#038;first=1&#038;query=Aaron+Brown&#038;q=Aaron+Brown\">Aaron Brown<\/a> (shoulder) had a limited practice with the Lions Thursday. If you&#8217;re chasing for production in this backfield, I&#8217;d look to <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/5940\/\">Maurice Morris<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/5940\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.5940\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> first. Granted, this is for the desperados in the crowd. <\/p>\n<p><strong>&bull;<\/strong> <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/5900\/\">Jeremy Shockey<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/5900\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.5900\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> (toe) did some work at Thursday&#8217;s practice after sitting out the previous day. He&#8217;s been a dud over his last six games, with a measly 17 catches for 193 yards over that span (with no touchdowns). <\/p>\n<p><strong>&bull;<\/strong> <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/6427\/\">Visanthe Shiancoe<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/6427\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.6427\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> (foot\/ribs) had a limited day Thursday but no one seems to be concerned yet about him sitting in Week 15. That said, keep in mind the Vikings play Sunday night at Carolina, so you might want to stash an alternate tight end on the bench now (<span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/8825\/\">Fred Davis<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/8825\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.8825\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> or <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/8407\/\">Kevin Boss<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/8407\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.8407\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> waiting in the Monday game would do nicely, if it&#8217;s available to you; heck, you might want to play Davis over Shiancoe anyway). <\/p>\n<p><strong>&bull;<\/strong> <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/3988\/\">Derrick Mason<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/3988\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.3988\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> (finger) skipped some of the reps Thursday but he&#8217;s still expected to play against the Bears. Unless the news is ominous Friday, I&#8217;d use him. The Ravens certainly need Mason in this spot; <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/7198\/\">Mark Clayton<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/7198\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.7198\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> (hamstring) and <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/6401\/\">Kelley Washington<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/6401\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.6401\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> (ankle) <a href=\"http:\/\/weblogs.baltimoresun.com\/sports\/ravens\/blog\/2009\/12\/no_qualms_about_wide_receiver_depth.html\">were both held out of Thursday&#8217;s practice<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p><strong>&bull;<\/strong> <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/9269\/\">Mark Sanchez<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/9269\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.9269\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> (knee) <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nj.com\/jets\/index.ssf\/2009\/12\/ny_jets_quarterback_mark_sanch_13.html\">took three-quarters of the Thursday reps<\/a> and has a good chance to start against the Falcons, not that you want your playoff life to be tied to the Jets passing game. I suppose <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/7179\/\">Braylon Edwards<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/7179\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.7179\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> and <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/6867\/\">Jerricho Cotchery<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/6867\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.6867\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> get a mild upgrade if Sanchez can go, but it&#8217;s nothing substantial. <\/p>\n<p><strong>&bull;<\/strong> <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/7806\/\">Devin Hester<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/7806\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.7806\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> (calf) was held out of Thursday&#8217;s practice, as expected. He hasn&#8217;t scored a touchdown since Week 7 and I can&#8217;t see why anyone would risk their playoff life on him at Baltimore. <\/p>\n<p><strong>&bull;<\/strong> <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/5228\/\">Tom Brady<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/5228\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.5228\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> (various) and <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/4262\/\">Randy Moss<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/4262\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.4262\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> were both back at practice Thursday, if you wanted to know. It&#8217;s hard to trust the Patriots passing game this week from a fantasy perspective, however; Brady doesn&#8217;t seem healthy, Moss has been in a funk and Buffalo&#8217;s defense practically begs opponents to run the ball as much as possible. Also pay attention to the forecast here; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.wunderground.com\/US\/NY\/Buffalo.html\">the Buffalo area is expecting snow on Monday<\/a> but you never know with upstate New York in December. <\/p>\n<p><strong>&bull;<\/strong> <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/4555\/\">Jake Delhomme<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/4555\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.4555\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> (finger) missed another practice so it looks like the <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/8544\/\">Matt Moore<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/8544\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.8544\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> show again this week. Good luck with that against the Vikings defense. <\/p>\n<p><strong>&bull;<\/strong> A swine flu outbreak caused the Rams to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stltoday.com\/blogzone\/around-the-horns\/around-the-horns\/2009\/12\/st-louis-rams-cancel-practice-due-to-swine-flu\/\">cancel their entire practice Thursday<\/a>. Head coach Steve Spagnuolo said &quot;five or six&quot; of his players are dealing with the bug, but he didn&#8217;t name any names. <\/p>\n<p><strong>&bull;<\/strong> <span class=\"ysp-player\"><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/3664\/\">Terrell Owens<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players\/3664\/news\" class=\"ysp_playernote_icon\" id=\"ysp_playernote_nfl.p.3664\">(notes)<\/a><\/span> is dealing with an undisclosed illness and didn&#8217;t work Thursday.<\/p>\n<p><strong>&bull;<\/strong> <a href=\"http:\/\/sports.yahoo.com\/nfl\/players?type=lastname&#038;first=1&#038;query=Zach+Miller&#038;q=Zach+Miller\">Zach Miller<\/a> (post concussion) is unlikely to play this week and it won&#8217;t be a shock if he&#8217;s done for the year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Playoffs are here, guys are hurt, practices are done. Let&#8217;s go over the news. &bull; Calvin Johnson(notes) (knee) and Matthew Stafford(notes) (shoulder) were both held out of Thursday&#8217;s practice. You can pretty much eliminate Stafford right now &#8211; warm up, Daunte Culpepper(notes) &#8211; but Johnson has a shot to play against the Cardinals if he [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4321,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-219433","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/219433","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4321"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=219433"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/219433\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=219433"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=219433"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=219433"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}