Houston Texans QB Matt Schaub may be done for the season after suffering a Lisfranc injury in his foot, leaving Matt Leinart as the Texans' quarterback.
Leinart, 28, has started one game in the last three-plus seasons, but it wasn't altogether awful (21-for-31, 220 yards at Tennessee, in 2009) so while he's a downgrade from Schaub, Leinart should be able to keep the Texans afloat.
There are a few factors working in Leinart's favour, not the least of which is that, after this week's bye, WR Andre Johnson is expected to return from a hamstring injury that has kept him out of the lineup since Week Five.
Additionally, Leinart does have the luxury of having Arian Foster at running back, a running and receiving threat in the backfield, and one of the game's better offensive lines protecting him.
While Leinart may keep the Texans in the playoff mix, it's fair to consider that that the value of Johnson, or TE Owen Daniels, would seem likely to have their value decline, at least a little, with the change at quarterback.
Schaub isn't the only quarterback on the shelf either.
Kansas City Chiefs QB Matt Cassel had surgery on his hand and, while he might return before season's end, it seems likely that he could be out for the rest of the season.
Tyler Palko moves into the starting job immediately, with rookie Ricky Stanzi moving into the backup role.
Palko is 9-for-13 for 82 yards in four brief apperances with the Chiefs over the last two seasons, but the 28-year-old has such a limited track record that it's fair to lower expectations for receivers Dwayne Bowe and Steve Breaston. For this week, at least, Palko and his receivers could benefit from going against New England's 32nd-ranked pass defence.
While Schaub and Cassel are out long-term, Eagles QB Michael Vick's status for the weekend is in doubt because he suffered broken ribs against Arizona last week.
If Vick is out, Mike Kafka and Vince Young are potential replacements and they have split reps in practice. While Vick's accuracy hasn't exactly been a strong suit, Kafka and Young aren't necessarily a step up in that regard, which leaves wide receivers Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson in a potentially tought spot if Vick can't play.
Maclin is additionally hampered by a shoulder injury, so even if he does play this week, he may not be at 100%, which might make Jackson, or TE Brent Celek more appealing against a Bears pass defence that ranks near the bottom of the league.
- Jets RB LaDainian Tomlinson is ruled out for Thursday night's game against Denver. Joe McKnight could see some touches as Shonn Green's backup.
- Broncos RB Knowshon Moreno out with a knee injury. RB Willis McGahee is questionable with a hamstring injury, which could leave Lance Ball in a prominent role alongside Tim Tebow in the Broncos' backfield. Ball rushed for 96 yards on 30 carries last week.
- Inserted into the starting lineup last week, Redskins WR Leonard Hankerson responded with eight catches for 106 yards, but also suffered a torn labrum in his hip, ending his season. With Santana Moss out already, that leaves Jabar Gaffney and Anthony Armstrong to start at wide receiver for the Redskins.
- Cowboys RB Felix Jones is expected to return to the Dallas lineup, but DeMarco Murray, who has run for 601 yards in the last four games, should still get more touches out of the Dallas backfield.
- A couple of star rookie wide receivers are questionable this week. The Bengals' A.J. Green hyperextended his knee last week, while a hamstring problem continues to plague the Falcons' Julio Jones. In Cincinnati, Andre Caldwell can start, but Jerome Simpson may see more looks if Green can't play. With Jones hurting, Harry Douglas is poised to build on his career-best eight catches for 133 yards last week.
- The Bills have been struggling on offence lately and it may not be any better this week as wide receivers Steve Johnson (shoulder) and David Nelson (ankle) have missed practice. Donald Jones and Naaman Roosevelt could be Ryan Fitzpatrick's primary targets in Miami on Sunday.
- While Chargers WR Malcom Floyd continues to deal with a hip injury, Vincent Brown is moving into a more prominent role, catching nine passes for 176 yards in the last two games.
- He's already slumping, as he tries to play through a knee injury, but don't expect big things from Cardinals RB Beanie Wells against San Francisco's league-leading run defence.
- The Bengals and the Ravens have the second-and-third-ranked run defences in the league and -- look at this -- they play each other this week. Potentially tough days at the office for Ray Rice and Cedric Benson.
- Atlanta's improving run defence held the Saints to 41 yards rushing last week and goes up against Tennessee and Chris Johnson, who broke through last week for 130 rushing yards, his best game of the season.
- Who gets to run against St. Louis' league-worst run D, that would be Seattle's Marshawn Lynch, who has gained 310 yards from scrimmage in the last two weeks.
- Cleveland's 30th-ranked run defence figures to be a good matchup for Jacksonville RB Maurice Jones-Drew, who gained 137 yards from scrimmage against Indianapolis last week. At the same time, the Browns have allowed a league-low 163.3 yards per game and that is a lofty total compared to the numbers put up by Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert, so the ground attack is the way to go.
- Detroit's fourth-ranked pass defence should cause problems for Carolina QB Cam Newton, who is finding it more challenging to put up the monster numbers that he did early in the season.
- This could be another good week for Oakland QB Carson Palmer, as well as WR Denarius Moore, going up against Minnesota's 30th-ranked pass defence which is also missing CB Antoine Winfield.
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