We know Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers isn’t playing this week after suffering a fractured collarbone. But another surprise development from Monday’s Bears upset of the Packers was the outstanding play of backup quarterback Josh McCown.
Because of that performance, McCown is likely to start this week against Detroit giving Jay Cutler another week to rest his injured groin.
This is what Cutler was quoted as saying about the situation: “I think the way that Josh is playing, we feel good about that and we don’t want to get into the situation where I’m out there and I get back a week too soon and I’m set back another four to six weeks. So I’m just gonna be smart with it.”
That makes me feel good since I’m in a 12-team fantasy football league that requires two starting quarterbacks with a third one eligible to use as flex. I was in a desperate situation being a starting quarterback short and traded Michael Vick for McCown.
E.J. Manuel is practicing this week for the Buffalo Bills and should get his first start since injuring his knee back in Week 5. Manuel is an upgrade on limited career backup Thad Lewis and several levels above undrafted rookie Jeff Tuel. Still, keep in mind Manuel is a rookie and the
Steelers are 16-2 against rookie quarterbacks since Dick LeBeau became their defensive coordinator in 2004.
Bills running back C.J. Spiller also appears fully healthy for the first time in several weeks.
Two other key RBs – Arian Foster of the Houston Texans and Darren McFadden of the Oakland Raiders – are not healthy.
Foster not only has a hamstring injury but is dealing with a sore back. He’s far from 100 percent. It wouldn’t be surprising if he sat out against the Cardinals. McFadden, to the shock of no one, reinjured his hamstring this past Sunday and isn’t likely to play this week
either.
The news is better for Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor. He looked fine during practice on Wednesday after leaving a blowout loss to the Eagles early in the fourth quarter with a knee injury.
New Orleans Saints RB Darren Sproles practiced in full, too, on Wednesday after suffering what apparently was a mild concussion against the Jets last week. He could put up big numbers against Dallas in the Sunday night game.
