The Detroit Lions are optimistic wide receiver Calvin Johnson will be able to play in Week 6 at Cleveland, but after he was a late scratch for Week 5 in Green Bay, he's looking at another game-time decision for Sunday. ESPN's Adam Schefter reports Johnson has swelling in his knee and is expected to miss practice the entire week.
Lions coach Jim Schwartz says given Johnson's ability to play without practicing, that doesn't rule him out for Browns. The team is willing to send him out there a little less than fully healthy, given how big a difference-maker he is to their passing game.
He was on the practice field on Thursday, but didn't participate in every drill. He did some footwork drills and pass-catching exercises.
If Johnson plays, he steps into a tough matchup with cornerback Joe Haden. The Lions need him to stretch the field, as they have limited reliable receiving options beyond him. Their No. 2 target for Matt Stafford is running back Reggie Bush, but Bush, like he was against the
Packers, would become the center of the Browns defense's attention without Johnson occupying safeties.
Detroit is 3-2 in a tie for first place in the NFC North, but the team needs Johnson to have a good chance at staying there after this weekend.
JOHNSON GAME-TIME DECISION
Texans receiver Andre Johnson may not be available to help his quarterback get out of a serious funk.
Johnson did not practice on Wednesday and missed most of Thursday's work due to a hamstring injury, coach Gary Kubiak said. Johnson will be a game-time decision ahead of Houston's kickoff against the St. Louis Rams.
That's not good news for Matt Schaub, who received only a mild endorsement from Kubiak following a fourth-consecutive week in which the quarterback threw an interception that was returned for a touchdown.
The Texans are also without standout tight end Owen Daniels, who will likely miss four-to-eight weeks with a fractured fibula. Schaub's best receiving option in Johnson's absence is DeAndre Hopkins, who has played well in his rookie campaign.
The bottom line is Schaub needs all the help he can get right now - and it may not come from his best offensive weapon.
VIKINGS QB CONTROVERSY
Earlier this week, Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said that Christian Ponder is the team's starting quarterback as long as he's healthy.
...On second thought.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Ponder has been cleared to play after recovering from a broken rib near his heart.
Nevertheless, Matt Cassel is expected to start on Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. Newly signed Josh Freeman wasn't expected to start anyway, but with Cassel jumping a reportedly healthy Ponder, it appears Ponder's status is precarious at best.
Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman said that the signing of Freeman - who comes at only $2 million - wasn't an indication of the team setting the stage for Ponder's departure. Rather, he said, it was an opportunity to build the team's talent base.
The Vikings are 1-3 and Ponder has completed just 59 percent of his passes, with two touchdowns and five interceptions.
"I've spoken with Christian. I've spoken with Matt. I've spoken with (McLeod) Bethel-(Thompson) as well as Josh knows the situation," Spielman said. "This is no determination on where Christian Ponder is. We think Christian Ponder has a bright future."
That doesn't mean that future is with Minnesota. Time will tell.
WILSON TO MISS MULTIPLE GAMES
The New York Giants know that starting running back David Wilson will at least miss Thursday night's game at Chicago with a neck injury. The New York Daily News reports Wilson is dealing with a disc-related issue that needs to settle down before he can play again. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Wilson will miss a few weeks.
Without Wilson, the 0-5 Giants are going with the combination of Brandon Jacobs and recently re-signed Da'Rel Scott in their backfield.
Given that they have a bye coming up in Week 9, it's likely the earliest Wilson will return to action is Week 10. That's also when their original No. 2 back to start 2013, Andre Brown, is due to come back from his leg injury.
Wilson's season started with him quickly landing back in coach Tom Coughlin's unofficial doghouse with his fumbling problems in the Week 1 loss at Dallas. In recent weeks, however, Wilson has shown more life, and just scored his first touchdown of the season in the Week 5 loss to Philadelphia before getting hurt.
There were once big plans for Wilson, but now just like the rest of the Giants, '13 is looking more like an unlucky lost cause.
GARRARD RE-SIGNS WITH JETS
The David Garrard Era with the New York Jets is not over, as it turns out. Neither is his career, even though he announced his retirement in May.
Garrard, who spent two months last spring on the Jets roster before retiring because of troublesome knees, re-signed with the Jets Thursday morning and was placed on the exempt list, the team announced. The 35-year-old Garrard, who took the Jaguars to the playoffs twice in his nine years there, can have a roster exemption for two weeks, although the Jets can add him to the roster at any time.
"I was able to take the whole summer off and let my body heal. I started training a couple of months ago and my knee feels great," Garrard told the Jets' official website. "I'm sitting at home, watching games thinking, 'Why am I at home? Why am I doing this to myself?' I didn't want to have any regrets one day."
At the moment, the 3-2 Jets have four quarterbacks under contract: starter Geno Smith, Matt Simms (who has not taken a snap yet this season), Brady Quinn (inactive in four of the five games), Garrard and Mark Sanchez (out for the season after shoulder surgery Tuesday).
Garrard has not played an NFL game since Jacksonville cut him on the eve of the 2011 season. He was expected to compete with Smith and Sanchez for the starting job until his surprise decision to retire.
Garrard said he contacted general manager John Idzik: "He has given me another chance, so it's truly a blessing.''
SANDERS ACCUSSED OF ASSAULT
Police are investigating an alleged assault by Deion Sanders at the charter school he founded in Texas, Prime Prep Academy, the Dallas Morning News first reported.
A school administrator, Kevin Jefferson, says that Sanders grabbed him by the throat during a heated argument between the two at the school.
Sanders was meeting with the administrators and teachers and was reportedly upset about some of the student athletes not doing well in school, the DMN reports.
"He was a little upset and a little emotional," Jefferson told the paper. "He walked back to the back of the classroom to where I was sitting in a desk. As he got closer to me, I stood up because he was kind of standing over me and he just kind of kept talking to me and at me and then he just grabbed me by my throat and kind of threw me to the ground. Some people had to get him off me."
It wasn't long before Sanders took to Twitter to defend himself.
-- "I won't sit and witness my PrimePrep kids receive 2nds when they deserve the BEST EDUCATION! There was NO assault but a definite confrontation."
-- "The person claiming assault is a fake administrator whom does absolutely nothing to help the school, kids or teachers reach our goals. Truth."
Jefferson said he went to the hospital where he was checked for any injuries. He told the Dallas Morning News that he and Sanders had not had any previous confrontations.
"I'm going to pursue my options with my attorney," Jefferson added.
Sanders urged inquiring minds to ask students and teachers at Prime Prep "who I am and what I'm about!"
BUCS' GUARD FIGHTS MRSA
Buccaneers lineman Carl Nicks is again dealing with a MRSA infection in his foot, Fox Sports reported.
The staph infection, which is resistant to antibiotics, hit Nicks and kicker Lawrence Tynes during training camp. Apparently, Nicks has a recurrence of the very dangerous infection.
Bucs general manager Mark Dominik told Fox Sports that Nicks is seeing an infectious disease specialist.
Tynes is on the non-football injury list. Nicks has started all but the first two games, which he sat out.
Even before the infection, Nicks dealt with a toe injury that had limited him. It has been a rough year for the All-Pro lineman.
PLAYING FOR CHARITY
What are the odds the winless Jacksonville Jaguars take down the Denver Broncos, arguably the hottest team in football?
Well, you don't have to guess: The point spread is 27.5 points in the Broncos' favor. If the Jags were to win, it would be the biggest regular-season upset by a winless team in NFL history.
It'd also be a pretty huge win for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
According to ESPN.com, SCA promotions out of Dallas has agreed to donate $100,000 to the charity of the Jaguars pull out a miracle at Mile High Stadium.
Even with a loss, the charity will win.
The company says it will donate $100 for every point the Jaguars score.
At their worst, the Jaguars lost 28-2 to the still-unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs. They've otherwise scored 9, 17, 3 and 20 points. And these Broncos just gave up 48 points in a 51-48 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
Contributors: Rana L. Cash, Vinnie Iyer, David Steele