If there's anything good to say about injuries this year, it's that we're tending to find out for sure if Sunday guys will be out on Saturday, rather than waiting until Sunday morning. So a lot of the stuff we're hearing this morning we already knew about. Some of the bigger ones are discussed below.
The Browns have officially activated Nick Chubb. He'll play in a tandem with Kareem Hunt against a really lousy Texans run defense.
Carlos Hyde and Chris Carson, "gametime decisions" several weeks ago, are officially out with their injuries. DeeJay Dallas, Travis Homer and Alex Collins should all play at running back, with Dallas likeliest to be the main runner.
David Johnson has been placed on IR with a concussion. Duke Johnson should be close to a full-time back this week, and probably the next two weeks after, at least. The fact that Johnson has been placed on IR with a concussion, guaranteeing he won't play the next three weeks, is sort of alarming. The fact that they can evaluate him right now as somebody who shouldn't play for three full weeks is a strong statement. Would be nice to believe the Texans just really need a roster spot, but that doesn't make much sense either. So, kind of a scary move by the team.
My weekly critique of Ian Rapoport: he reported that Patriots running back Damien Harris, questionable with ankle and chest injuries, is "hopeful" of playing against the Ravens tonight. What good does a report of that nature do anyone? Hopeful? New England hasn't activated Sony Michel off IR, but they could still do that. New England's backfield will be one of those guys, Rex Burkhead and James White in a committee against a good Ravens defense. White has the most appeal for the certain passing downs role.
Same game, Mark Ingram (ankle) should play. I wouldn't consider Ingram, but his presence is a negative for Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins, who would be a lot more appealing as a two-back committee than a three-back one.
T.J. Hockenson is expected to play, and the Lions tight end should be one of the team's top 2 or 3 receivers this week.
WEATHER: There are apparently going to be 25 mph winds in Cleveland and Green Bay, 20 mph in Pittsburgh. I think it's a reason to be concerned about Deshaun Watson and Aaron Rodgers, but I am not personally benching either player, because the alternatives I have are all ranked a lot lower. If you happen to have somebody who's really close in the rankings, the case can be made for starting that person in better weather. But as we usually say, these games aren't played in parking lots. I still think those teams will pass the ball, maybe favoring short passes over deep balls. Longer field goals might be less likely, as well.
If anything noteworthy shows up in the inactives in the next half hour, I will add to the comments below.
--Andy Richardson