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NFL Nation reporters assess the biggest injuries across the league for Week 8.NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West AFC East | AFC North| AFC South | AFC WestNFC EASTDallas CowboysQuarterback?Tony Romo will not play Sunday against Philadelphia, but the fact that he was on the practice field Wednesday for some individual work and throwing shows that he is closer to being 100 percent. For Sundays game against Philadelphia, the biggest injury concern is left tackle Tyron Smith. He has been bothered by a bulging disc in his back that kept him out of full practices for much of the past three weeks. The Cowboys are doing what they can to manage him through the week to make sure he has enough work for the game. This weeks challenge is tough with?Brandon Graham, who is tied for the Eagles lead in sacks, with four. -- Todd ArcherNew York GiantsThe bye week couldnt have come at a better time for the Giants, with star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. dealing with a painful hip/abdominal injury. Beckham almost didnt play against the Rams in London and was pretty sore on Monday, when he spent the day in treatment. The two weeks between games should help him get healthier for the stretch run. Beckham is not expected to miss any time because of the injury. -- Jordan RaananPhiladelphia EaglesIt sounds like starting defensive tackle Bennie Logan (groin), one of the Eagles best run defenders, could be sidelined for this Sundays game against Ezekiel Elliott and the Cowboys. Coach Doug Pederson continues to describe him as week-to-week and noted that the recent waiver-wire addition of Taylor Hart is related to Logans situation. Wide receiver Jordan Matthews continues to deal with knee tendinitis and was limited Wednesday. Left tackle Jason Peters suffered a biceps injury against the Vikings on Sunday but is practicing this week. -- Tim McManusWashington RedskinsThe Redskins have multiple injury issues that must be settled by Thursday, when they board a flight to London. There are four key players dealing with injuries: tight end Jordan Reed (concussion), cornerback?Josh Norman (concussion), running back Matt Jones (knee) and left tackle Trent Williams (knee). Williams has been optimistic about playing, and Reed said, I feel back to normal. Jones injury was new and caused him to miss practice; the other three were limited. Coach Jay Gruden said Jones had issues trying to cut, so they held him out. Reed and Norman will visit an?independent doctor Thursday to see if theyll be cleared to play Sunday against the Bengals. -- John KeimNFC NORTHChicago BearsInactive four straight weeks, Bears running back Jeremy Langford (high ankle sprain) practiced Tuesday, which raised the possibility that he could play Monday night against Minnesota. Langford entered the year as Chicagos lead tailback, but he rushed for only 116 yards on 31 carries before suffering the?injury in Week 3 at Dallas. Langford will play when he returns, but the Bears have been pleased with rookie Jordan Howard and KaDeem Carey. How John Fox juggles the backfield is an interesting side story going forward. -- Jeff DickersonDetroit LionsCornerback?Darius Slay (hamstring) sat out Wednesdays practice after missing all of the second half in a win over Washington. If hes unable to go this weekend -- at this point, hes likely questionable -- it could hurt a Detroit team that has to try to?cover Texans receivers?DeAndre Hopkins and Will Fuller. Hopkins and Fuller would be a handful for the Lions if they had everyone healthy, so missing their top corner would be a big, big problem. In better news for Detroit, running back?Theo Riddick (ankle), tight end?Eric Ebron (knee/ankle) and defensive tackle?Haloti Ngata (shoulder) all practiced Wednesday, but they will be?monitored throughout the week. -- Michael RothsteinGreen Bay PackersThe Packers already know they wont have cornerback Damarious Randall, who underwent surgery last week to repair his groin injury. It looks like Quinten Rollins, who has the same injury, wont play, either. That means some combination of LaDarius Gunter and Demetri Goodson will be responsible for covering the NFLs leading receiver, Julio Jones, on Sunday in Atlanta. -- Rob DemovskyMinnesota VikingsSafety Andrew Sendejo sprained his ankle on a fumble recovery Sunday against the Eagles, and coach Mike Zimmer said Monday that Sendejo is day-to-day. The Vikings have an extra day before Mondays game in Chicago, so they wont start practicing for the Bears until Thursday, but Sendejos health is worth watching. He has gained more of the coaching staffs trust in recent years, and though rookie Jayron Kearse had a promising preseason, Zimmer said he was just average in his first meaningful regular-season action. -- Ben GoesslingNFC SOUTHAtlanta FalconsThe biggest injury concern was and still might be running back Tevin Coleman, who is unlikely to play Sunday against the Packers, after he suffered a hamstring strain Sunday. Then starting running back Devonta Freeman popped up on the injury report with a hip injury Wednesday and was limited. Freeman is expected to handle a full load -- if hes healthy. If not, the Falcons might have to turn to newly signed Stevan Ridley and recently elevated Terron Ward to help Freeman carry the load against the Packers top-ranked run defense. Stay tuned. -- Vaughn McClureCarolina PanthersLeft tackle Michael Oher looks like he will miss his fourth straight game since he entered the concussion protocol. Starting cornerback James Bradberry (toe) and defensive tackle Vernon Butler (ankle) were limited in practice. Their workloads will increase Thursday if they dont experience setbacks. Look for both to play Sunday against Arizona. -- David NewtonNew Orleans SaintsLeft tackle Terron Armstead missed practice Wednesday after admitting that his knee wasnt yet back to where it needs to be in Sundays game. The Saints fared pretty well without Armstead when he missed three games because of the injury, but with Seattle coming into the Superdome, theyre facing by far the most imposing pass rush theyve seen all year. They could really use Armstead back close to his usual self. If Armstead cant play, the Saints will hope backup Andrus Peat is close to 100 percent healed from a hamstring injury that sidelined him last week. Peat was back on the practice field Wednesday. -- Mike TriplettTampa Bay BuccaneersThe Bucs got some encouraging news Wednesday, with defensive end Robert Ayers returning to practice in a limited capacity for the first time in nearly three weeks and just the second time since he suffered an ankle injury in Week 2. It might?be too soon for him to return this week, but its a step in the right direction for a defensive line that two weeks ago was without three starters. -- Jenna LaineNFC WESTArizona CardinalsThere are a few significant injury concerns for the Cardinals this week. Left tackle?Jared Veldheer has a fractured finger and will wear a paddle Sunday against Carolina, while Arizona is still waiting to see how wide receiver?Michael Floyds hamstring and cornerback?Patrick Petersons ribs are?this week. Their status for Sunday has not been determined. Arizona is also keeping a close eye on wide receiver?John Brown, whos expected to go through a full practice Thursday, a week after he was diagnosed as a carrier of the sickle-cell trait. -- Josh WeinfussLos Angeles RamsThe Rams have a chance to be healthy coming out of their bye week. Their No. 1 cornerback, Trumaine Johnson, missed the past two weeks because of a sprained right ankle. One of their starting defensive tackles, Michael Brockers, has missed two of the past three, first with an injury to his hip and then with an injury to his thigh. Both have a chance to be ready when the Rams play Nov. 6 at home against the Panthers, Rams coach Jeff Fisher said. Everybody else is basically available. -- Alden GonzalezSan Francisco 49ersThe 49ers have a lot of banged up players who theyre hoping will use the bye week to recover from injuries. Running back Carlos Hyde (shoulder), receiver Torrey Smith (back), defensive tackle Arik Armstead (shoulder) and linebacker Aaron Lynch (ankle) are just a few of the key Niners battling ailments. The bye is coming at a good time, in terms of the teams health, but well see if its enough for those players to return next week. -- Nick WagonerSeattle SeahawksFor the first time in his career, Russell Wilson was listed as a limited practice participant. He is dealing with a knee injury and a right pectoral injury. The knee injury stems from the sprained MCL suffered in Week 3, but the pectoral injury was presumably sustained Sunday in the teams tie with the Cardinals. Its Wilsons third injury of the season. He also suffered a right high ankle sprain in Week 1. Wilson will address the media Thursday and likely say hes fine, as he always does. But the injuries are mounting for the Seahawks starting quarterback, and Wilsons health continues to a major storyline for the team this season. -- Sheil KapadiaAFC EASTBuffalo BillsRunning back LeSean McCoy was riding an exercise bike at the start of Wednesdays practice but did not participate. Coach Rex Ryan said McCoy will continue to receive treatment for his injured left hamstring, and well see how he progresses, which leaves the door open for McCoy to be out Sunday against the Patriots. If he cant go, Mike Gillislee will be the starter. Gillislee was limited in practice Wednesday because of a foot injury, but Ryan believes his top backup will be fine. -- Mike RodakMiami DolphinsThe Dolphins got out of Week 7 healthy, with the exception of starting safety Isa Abdul-Quddus, who suffered an ankle injury. Miami is thin at the position, after Pro Bowl safety Reshad Jones (shoulder) was lost for the season as well. The good news is Miami is on a bye and will have two weeks to try to get Abdul-Quddus healthy. The Dolphins signed free-agent safety Bacarri Rambo as insurance. -- James WalkerNew England PatriotsThe Patriots biggest questions entering Week 8 are with defensive tackle depth, as No. 3 man Vincent Valentine (back) and No. 4 option Woodrow Hamilton (shoulder) both missed Sundays win over the Steelers. They were the only players to not be cleared for action. -- Mike ReissNew York JetsOf the season-high 11 players who didnt practice Wednesday due to injury, the biggest concerns are running back?Bilal Powell (turf toe), center?Nick Mangold (ankle) and defensive end?Muhammad Wilkerson (ankle). Without Powell, the Jets would be down to Matt Forte and undrafted rookie Troymaine Pope. Chances are Mangold wont play, which means?Wes Johnson would start. Wilkersons situation will crystallize based on practice Thursday and Friday. -- Rich CiminiAFC NORTHBaltimore RavensThe Ravens are expecting to be close to full strength when they come off their bye. The one injured player who might not be ready is linebacker Elvis Dumervil. Hes dealing with a foot injury and hasnt practiced in three weeks. Dumervil said this month that he expects to play again this season. -- Jamison HensleyCincinnati BengalsTight end Tyler Eifert said he felt great following his return from injury in Week 7. The only question for the Bengals this week is left tackle Andrew Whitworth, who left Sundays game with a head injury and is in the concussion protocol. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said he thinks Whitworth will be fine and out of the protocol by the time the team leaves for London on Thursday, but the team is?preparing a backup plan in case Whitworth is unable to make the flight. The Bengals declined to say who would take his place, but it would likely be last years second-round pick,?Jake Fisher. -- Katherine TerrellCleveland BrownsThe Browns appear on track for quarterback?Josh McCown to return from his broken collarbone and start against the Jets this weekend. McCown was full-go in practice Wednesday. Joe Haden (groin) and Terrelle Pryor (hamstring) are still working through issues. First-round pick Corey Coleman was on the field with his broken hand in a brace, but he did not catch passes and likely wont play. -- Pat McManamonPittsburgh SteelersThis ones easy: The injury spotlight will remain on quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (left knee) the next 10 days, as the Steelers return from the bye week and prepare for the Ravens in Week 9. That Roethlisberger did some light throwing Tuesday and Wednesday is a good sign, but Big Ben said hed like to get at least one full practice in before playing a game. The clock starts Wednesday, the teams first practice after the bye. Quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtner said Roethlisberger is capable of playing a game on fewer reps because of his in-house perspective from 13 years in the league. -- Jeremy FowlerAFC SOUTHHouston TexansThe Texans lost right tackle Derek Newton for the season after he injured both knees Monday against the Broncos. He will be replaced by veteran tackle Chris Clark, who filled in at left tackle for the first five games of the season while Duane Brown was on the PUP list. At running back, starter Lamar Miller is day-to-day with a shoulder injury. After he injured his shoulder against the Broncos, he split carries with Alfred Blue, who will likely get most of the carries if Miller cant play?Sunday against the Lions. -- Sarah BarshopIndianapolis ColtsReceiver Donte Moncrief returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since he injured his shoulder against Denver in Week 2. Coach Chuck Pagano is hopeful that Moncrief will be able to play Sunday against Kansas City. Moncrief, the teams No. 2 receiver, took it a step further by saying hell be surprised if he doesnt play. Moncrief wont know how his shoulder responds to contact until he gets hit in a game because the Colts do not tackle in practice. -- Mike WellsJacksonville JaguarsNose tackle Roy Miller is done for the season with a torn right Achilles tendon, and its a huge loss for the Jaguars rush defense. Miller was good at holding up at the point of attack and eating up double-teams, which freed linebackers Paul Posluszny and Telvin Smith?to make tackles. Fourth-year player Abry Jones will take Millers place in the starting lineup, but expect to see SenDerrick Marks, a three-techique tackle, getting reps as well. -- Mike DiRoccoTennessee TitansFree safety Rashad Johnson is out for Thursday nights game against the Jaguars. The Titans, when healthy, rotate through four safeties. Johnsons absence should mean more work for rookie Kevin Byard, who has been a solid performer. Hes also a key special-teamer. The Titans are terrible on special teams. If they need to rely?on Curtis Riley or another young, inexperienced player with Byard out of the equation, they cannot use him as an excuse for special-teams failures. Every team in the league has to turn to such players on special teams while enduring injuries. -- Paul KuharskyAFC WESTDenver BroncosRunning back C.J. Anderson suffered a right knee injury in the teams win over the Texans on Monday and is expected to miss multiple games. The question is the severity of the injury and whether the Broncos get any more bad news. Anderson was getting a second opinion Wednesday for additional exams. The worst-case scenario is that the injury requires surgery. It will put rookie Devontae Booker in the starting lineup Sunday against the Chargers. -- Jeff LegwoldKansas City ChiefsThe Chiefs have lost rookie cornerback D.J. White?to?a broken hand for Sundays game against the Colts and perhaps beyond. This happened just as White, who has been playing a lot as the third cornerback, was improving after a horrible game earlier this month against Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers. The Chiefs might get starting corner Phillip Gaines back against the Colts after he missed most or all of the past three games because of a sore knee. If not, the Chiefs will have to dig deep into their reserves at corner and go with either of two players who havent seen much action this year, Kenneth Acker and Terrance Mitchell. -- Adam TeicherOakland RaidersNose tackle Stacy McGee has been the Raiders best interior defensive lineman this season, but he was limited to only seven snaps at the Jaguars last weekend after injuring an ankle. McGee, whose 2.5 sacks are second on the team, did not practice Wednesday. If he cannot play Sunday at the Buccaneers,?the Raiders need Justin Ellis to regain his form and hold the point of attack on the inside. -- Paul GutierrezSan Diego ChargersThree days after reporting concussion-like symptoms to the training staff after the Chargers?win over the Falcons, rookie tight end Hunter Henry was a limited participant in practice Wednesday. Coach Mike McCoy said hes hopeful Henry can play Sunday, when the team hits the road to face the Broncos for the second time in three weeks. Henry leads the Chargers in touchdown receptions (three) and is third on the team in receptions (20) and receiving yards (326). -- Eric D. Williams . Coach Mike Munchak says Fokou stretched ligaments in his left knee Oct. 13 against Seattle, which could keep out up to five weeks even though the linebacker didnt need surgery. . - Chris Tierney snapped a tie with a power-play goal late in the third period as the London Knights rallied from a 3-0 deficit to beat the Erie Otters 5-3 in Ontario Hockey League action on Wednesday. . The recently retired Stern was elected Friday to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and will be enshrined with the class of 2014 on Aug. . Emery skated the length of the ice and fought an unwilling Holtby during the third period of the Flyers 7-0 loss Friday night in Philadelphia. He was given 29 penalty minutes, including a game misconduct. But Emery did not face even a disciplinary hearing with NHL senior vice president of player safety Brendan Shanahan because rules 46. . Colin Wilson had two goals and an assist, and Mike Fisher scored a goal and helped set up two others in the Predators 6-4 victory over the Red Wings on Monday night.Paris, France (Sports Network) - Former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka was an easy second-round winner, while American Bethanie Mattek-Sands stunned former champion Li Na in Thursdays action at a rain-plagued French Open. The third-seeded Azarenka handled young German Annika Beck 6-4, 6-3 on Court Lenglen. The shrieking Belarusian star is the reigning Australian Open champion and was last years U.S. Open runner-up. Up next for Azarenka will be French crowd favorite Alize Cornet. Meanwhile, the oft-injured Minnesota native Mattek-Sands recorded the biggest win of her career by dousing the sixth-seeded Li in 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 fashion in 2 hours, 16 minutes on Court 1 at Stade Roland Garros. The 67th-ranked Mattek-Sands won seven straight games at one point to grab a commanding 5-0 lead in the final set on yet another wet, chilly day in Paris. "Shes a champion, and I had to play some of my best tennis ever to beat her," Mattek-Sands said. "Im really proud of myself that I was able to close out the match the way I did." The 31-year-old Li refused to make any excuses after the loss. "I know for sure that I dont normally lose seven games in a row," she said. "It was very tough conditions, coming back to the court three times. But for both players it was the same. "I should find out what happened and Ill talk to myself, my team to see what happened." The 28-year-old Mattek-Sands posted the fourth top-10 win of her career and her second of 2013. She upset 2012 French Open runner-up Sara Errani on some red clay in Stuttgart last month. Li was this years Aussie Open runner-up to Azarenka and captured the lone Grand Slam title of her career at the 2011 French Open. Second-seeded and defending champion Maria Sharapova was leading promising Canadian Eugenie Bouchard 6-2, 4-2 when play was halted on Day 5. Rain interrupted the tennis several times on Thursday, forcing the suspension or postponement of five womens singles matches. The former No. 1 Sharapova completed a career Grand Slam by titling here a year ago, including a victory over Errani in the final. Seventh-seeded former Wimbledon champ Petra Kvitova improved to 7-1 in her last two trips to the French Open with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over last weeks Brussels runner-up Peng Shuai of China, while ninth-seeded former Roland Garros finalist Sam Stosur reached the third round with a 6-4, 6-3 handliing of Frances Kristina Mladenovic.dddddddddddd The former U.S. Open champion Stosur was the runner-up here three years ago. Sloane Stephens, seeded 17th at this fortnight, improved to 7-1 in Grand Slam action this year with a workmanlike 6-1, 6-3 spanking of fellow American Vania King, while 18th-seeded former world No. 1 Jelena Jankovic of Serbia drubbed Spaniard Garbine Muguruza 6-3, 6-0 to reach the round of 32. "I know that when Im healthy and free of injuries Im still capable of playing great tennis," said Jankovic, a former U.S. Open runner-up. She will meet Stosur on Saturday. In other action involving seeds, New Zealands Marina Erakovic upended No. 16 Dominika Cibulkova of the Slovak Republic 6-2, 2-6, 6-4, Argentine Paula Ormaechea took out No. 27 Yaroslava Shvedova of Kazakhstan 6-4, 7-6 (8-6), and a No. 31 Cornet dispensed Spaniard Silvia Soler-Espinosa 6-1, 6-3. Cornet is fresh off her clay-court title in Strasbourg, France. Erakovic will encounter Stephens, while Ormaechea will face Mattek-Sands in an unlikely third-rounder on Saturday. Also, American Jamie Hampton beat Slovak Anna Schmiedlova 7-5, 6-2 and Chinese Zheng Jie leveled American Melanie Oudin 6-3, 6-1. The 23-year-old Hampton is rewarded with a third-rounder against the formidable Kvitova. Twelfth-seeded Russian Maria Kirilenko was tied with Aussie Ashleigh Barty 3-3 in the opening set and last weeks Brussels champion Kaia Kanepi of Estonia was ahead of Swiss Stefanie Voegele 6-5 in the first set when play was called for the day. The third round will get underway Friday, including matches for world No. 1 Serena Williams, fourth-seeded Wimbledon runner-up Agnieszka Radwanska and a fifth-seeded Errani. The 15-time Grand Slam singles titlist Williams will take on 26th-seeded Romanian Sorana Cirstea, while Radwanska will meet German Dinah Pfizenmaier and Errani will be opposed by 32nd-seeded German Sabine Lisicki. The red-hot 31-year-old Williams, the 2002 French Open champion, is currently riding a 26-match winning streak and is 69-3 overall since suffering a shocking first-round loss at the hands of French journeywoman Virginie Razzano at last years French Open. Williams and her older sister Venus were forced to pull out of the doubles draw, as Venus is nursing a sore back. The mighty sisters were seeded 12th at this fortnight and are two-time French Open champions (1999, 2010). ' ' '
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