National Football League

Doc Talk: A look at NFL Week 8 injuries

Published Oct. 27, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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Each week, Dr. Mark Adickes shares his analysis of the key injuries in each the NFL weekend's upcoming games.

Arizona Cardinals at Baltimore Ravens

Cardinals WR Early Doucet (quadriceps): Doucet returned to practice Thursday after not practicing Wednesday, The Arizona Republic reports. He is expected to play on Sunday in Baltimore.

Health Rating: Early Doucet @ 85%

Minnesota Vikings at Carolina Panthers

Vikings WR Percy Harvin (ribs): Harvin practiced on Wednesday and Thursday, but is still listed as questionable, The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. His ribs have been bothering him the past couple of weeks, but he has continued to play through the pain. Expect to see him in the starting lineup on Sunday.

Health Rating: Percy Harvin @ 80%

Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans

Texans WR Andre Johnson (hamstring): Coach Gary Kubiak said Thursday that Johnson will be a game-time decision for Sunday's game in Jacksonville, the official Houston Texans website reports. Although there is a chance we may see Johnson on the field, don't expect to see him get too many reps.

Health Rating: Andre Johnson @ 65%

Miami Dolphins at New York Giants

Dolphins QB Matt Moore (ribs): Moore received some bruised ribs last week against Denver. He's been limited in practice, so there is a good chance he'll play. However, the Giants have a fierce pass rush, so there's a chance the Dolphins may rely on backup J.P. Losman.

Health Rating: Matt Moore @ 77%

New Orleans Saints at St. Louis Rams

Rams QB Sam Bradford (ankle): Bradford is unlikely to play against the Saints on Sunday. He hasn't practiced all week, the official Rams website reports, and I don't expect to see him get any playing time against the Saints.

Health Rating: Sam Bradford @ 35%

Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans

Colts RB Joseph Addai (hamstring): The Indianapolis Star reports that Addai's availability for the game in Tennessee depends on clearance by doctors over an injured hamstring. Even then, if he plays, I don't expect to see him anywhere near 100 percent.

Health Rating: Joseph Addai @ 60%

Washington Redskins at Buffalo Bills

Redskins WR Santana Moss (hand): Moss said Wednesday he expects to miss three to six weeks, The Washington Post reports. Moss said he's supposed to have the three pins removed from his broken left hand in roughly two weeks, so if he was on my fantasy team, he'd be on the bench for at least five weeks.

Health Rating: Santana Moss @ 0%

Detroit Lions at Denver Broncos

Lions QB Matthew Stafford (ankle): Although starting quarterback Matthew Stafford was able to practice Wednesday, backup Shaun Hill took reps with the first-team offense. However, Stafford was the first-team quarterback in Thursday's practice drills, the Detroit Free Press reports. He was still limited in Thursday's practice, according to the Lions official website.

Health Rating: Matthew Stafford @ 80%

New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers WR Hines Ward (ankle): The Steelers veteran didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday, the NFL Network reports. Ward was carted off the field to the locker room in the third quarter of last Sunday's game in Arizona. I don't expect to see him play Sunday.

Health Rating: Hines Ward @ 45%

Cincinnati Bengals at Seattle Seahawks

Bengals RB Cedric Benson (suspension): Benson will serve his one-game suspension Sunday against Seattle, The Associated Press reports. This resulted from serving five days in jail before the season started for two misdemeanor assault cases. He'll return next week.

Health Rating: Cedric Benson @ 0% ( for this week only )

Cleveland Browns at San Francisco 49ers

Browns RB Peyton Hillis (hamstring): Hillis didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday, according to The Cleveland Plain Dealer. Hillis explained that he's "feeling a little sore," a factor that may question his workload this week in San Francisco.

Health Rating: Peyton Hillis @ 55%

Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles

Cowboys RB Felix Jones (ankle): Jones didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday, the official Dallas Cowboys website reports. Given DeMarco Murray's performance last week, coupled with Jones' recurring ankle injury, I would bench Jones this week if he were on my fantasy team.

Health Rating: Felix Jones @ 45%

San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs

Chargers TE Antonio Gates (foot): Gates has been struggling with a foot injury the entire season, but he caught a touchdown pass last week in New York. He practiced Wednesday and Thursday in a limited fashion, so I expect to see him on the field Monday night.

Health Rating: Antonio Gates @ 75%

Health Ratings: So what do the numbers mean?

100-85% = NFL players are tough and despite injuries still perform at a high level. Let's be honest, when is an NFL athlete really physically 100% ... practically never. With a rating in this range expect players to perform at peak levels.

70-85% = In this range a players performance will be affected but they can still get the job done.

55-70% = Players with a rating this low will require assistance to do their jobs. The team might be better served by placing these warriors on the inactive list. Only some All-Pros can get the job done when rated this poorly.

40-55% = These players need some more time to heal. Unlikely to be active unless miraculous healing occurs or my rating was based on erroneous information.

25-40% = Players will not play but show signs of recovery opening the door for a return to the active roster the following week.

< 25% = Players will not play and there is concern that additional games may be missed.