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Browns starting QB Colt McCoy’s anticipated return to practice with the Cleveland Browns today did not happen, as the quarterback did not receive medical clearance to return from a concussion.

SOURCE: CLEVELAND PLAIN DEALER

Browns GM Tom Heckert indicated Thursday during a press conference that the future status of RB Peyton Hillis continues to remain “up in the air”.

SOURCE: CANTON REPOSITORY

-Ben Roethlisberger will not practice Thursday. Unfortunately for Big Ben owners, the game is Monday night, so there won’t be any clear indication as to what his status is. If you have better options this week, I would look to those against a tough San Francisco defense.

-Ahmad Bradshaw was held out of practice Thursday, but he had the same schedule last week. He should be probable for week 15 against Washington, so he should be good to go.

-Adrian Peterson is practicing Thursday and is looking good, so he’s looking safe to start this week, just in time for the semi-finals.

-Jeremy Maclin says he’s playing this week, but will be a risky play with his hamstring, especially after he re-aggravated the injury last week.

-James Starks’ ankle is not doing well and suffered a setback after his Tuesday workout. Starks is missing practices and it’s looking like he’ll miss this week, where Ryan Grant will get the start against the Chiefs.

-Cedric Benson is practicing Thursday and the league’s 8th leading rusher will start in a very favorable match-up against the Rams.

-Kevin Kolb has passed his neuro tests, but is still questionable this week against Cleveland. We’ll know more on Friday as to whether or not Kolb will start.

-Darren McFadden is not practicing again and beat writer, Jerry McDonald of the Contra Costa Times, thinks that week 17 will be his earliest return. Michael Bush owners can expect to start him throughout the rest of the fantasy playoffs with confidence.

-Denarius Moore is suffering from an injury similar to Darren McFadden’s and is questionable this week against the Lions. He did return to practice Thursday, which is a good sign, however, Moore owners, may want to look to healthier options and not rely on him.

-Julio Jones and Harry Douglas are listed as probable for Thursday night against the Jaguars. Jones has been limited, but sources say he’s close to being 100 percent. He torched the Panthers’ secondary and is a high upside WR2 against the Jags’ depleted secondary. You can do better than Douglas on your waiver wire at this point.

-Beanie Wells continues to be limited in practice but should be active and will find the sledding considerably more favorable against Cleveland than he did last week against Houston.

The NFL just announced Steelers LB James Harrison has been suspended for one game for his helmet-to-helmet hit on Browns QB Colt McCoy.

As expected, Harrison is appealing the suspension based on his claim that McCoy was a “ball carrier” and he “ducked” into the hit.

Raiders WRs Jacoby Ford and Denarius Moore have been ruled out for week 14 against the Packers.

Pro Football Weekly reports the Buffalo Bills could be the perfect choice to head west.

The St. Louis Rams have claimed quarterback Kellen Clemens off waivers from the Houston Texans, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Below are the NFL injury and practice participation reports for Wednesday, December 7, 2011:

Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens

Indianapolis

Out: QB Peyton Manning (neck)

Did not participate: LB Pat Angerer (knee), LB A.J. Edds (ankle), DE Dwight Freeney (not injury related), WR Anthony Gonzalez (groin), LB Ernie Sims (toe)

Full participation: TE Dallas Clark (fibula), TE Brody Eldridge (hand), TE Ryan Mahaffey (concussion)

Baltimore

Did not participate: C Matt Birk (shoulder), CB Chris Carr (back), G Ben Grubbs (toe), LB Ray Lewis (foot)

Full participation: RB Anthony Allen (thigh)

Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers

Atlanta

Out: CB Brent Grimes (knee)

Did not participate: DE John Abraham (not injury related), TE Tony Gonzalez (not injury related), CB Kelvin Hayden (toe), C Todd McClure (not injury related), LB Stephen Nicholas (quadriceps), T Will Svitek (groin), RB Michael Turner (groin)

Limited participation: T Sam Baker (back), WR Harry Douglas (groin), DE Ray Edwards (shoulder), C Joe Hawley (ankle), WR Julio Jones (hamstring), WR Roddy White (shoulder)

Full participation: DT Vance Walker (groin)

Carolina

Did not participate: S Charles Godfrey (shoulder), T Jordan Gross (ankle), TE Greg Olsen (knee), LB Jason Phillips (calf), TE Jeremy Shockey (not injury related), WR Steve Smith (not injury related), G Travelle Wharton (back)

Full participation: WR Kealoha Pilares (quadriceps)

Houston Texans at Cincinnati Bengals

Houston

Did not participate: DE Tim Bulman (calf), LB Brian Cushing (ribs, knee), WR Andre Johnson (hamstring)

Limited participation: CB Jason Allen (thumb, head), G Mike Brisiel (ankle), RB James Casey (chest), QB Jake Delhomme (calf), TE Joel Dreessen (groin), RB Lawrence Vickers (hamstring)

Full participation: LB Mister Alexander (shoulder), TE Garrett Graham (hamstring), S Glover Quin (elbow), DE Antonio Smith (shoulder)

Cincinnati

Did not participate: CB Nate Clements (hamstring), S Chris Crocker (knee), DE Carlos Dunlap (hamstring), LB Dontay Moch (not injury related), T Andre Smith (ankle)

Limited participation: RB Cedric Benson (foot), C Kyle Cook (shoulder), LB Brandon Johnson (knee)

Full participation: TE Donald Lee (foot)

Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions

Minnesota

Out: CB Chris Cook (not injury related)

Did not participate: G Steve Hutchinson (illness), RB Adrian Peterson (ankle), QB Christian Ponder (hip), DE Brian Robison (concussion)

Limited participation: CB Asher Allen (shoulder), LB Chad Greenway (elbow), DE Everson Griffen (quadriceps), TE Visanthe Shiancoe (hand)

Full participation: LB E.J. Henderson (shoulder), G Anthony Herrera (knee)

Detroit

Did not participate: S Louis Delmas (knee), DT Nick Fairley (foot), CB Chris Houston (knee), DE Lawrence Jackson (thigh), RB Kevin Smith (ankle), DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (not injury related)

Limited participation: LB Justin Durant (hamstring), CB Brandon McDonald (thigh), G Rob Sims (shoulder), DE Willie Young (ankle)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Jacksonville Jaguars

Tampa Bay

Did not participate: DE Tim Crowder (concussion), DE Albert Haynesworth (knee), T James Lee (knee), TE Luke Stocker (hip), CB Aqib Talib (hamstring), TE Kellen Winslow (not injury related)

Limited participation: QB Josh Freeman (right shoulder)

Full participation: DE Michael Bennett (groin), LB Adam Hayward (foot), DT Brian Price (ankle)

Jacksonville

Did not participate: DE Aaron Kampman (hamstring), DE Matt Roth (concussion)

Limited participation: DT Tyson Alualu (not injury related), FB Greg Jones (not injury related), RB Maurice Jones-Drew (not injury related), TE Marcedes Lewis (ankle), CB Dwight Lowery (shoulder), WR Cecil Shorts III (hamstring), OL Guy Whimper (thigh)

Philadelphia Eagles at Miami Dolphins

Philadelphia

Limited participation: WR Jeremy Maclin (hamstring, shoulder), CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (ankle)

Full participation: CB Nnamdi Asomugha (concussion, knee), T King Dunlap (concussion), T Todd Herremans (biceps), DT Trevor Laws (knee), QB Michael Vick (ribs)

Miami

Limited participation: S Yeremiah Bell (foot), G Vernon Carey (ankle)

Kansas City Chiefs at New York Jets

Kansas City

Limited participation: QB Kyle Orton (right finger), C Casey Wiegmann (finger)

Full participation: LB Demorrio Williams (groin)

NY Jets

Did not participate: DE Mike DeVito (knee), CB Ellis Lankster (low back), G Brandon Moore (hip)

Limited participation: DT Marcus Dixon (hip), LB David Harris (ankle), RB Joe McKnight (elbow), S Eric Smith (knee)

Full participation: OL Vladimir Ducasse (knee), RB Shonn Greene (rib), WR Jeremy Kerley (knee), C Nick Mangold (ankle), LB Calvin Pace (groin), LS Tanner Purdum (low back), G Matt Slauson (knee), RB LaDainian Tomlinson (knee), DL Muhammad Wilkerson (shoulder)

New Orleans Saints at Tennessee Titans

New Orleans

Did not participate: LB Jonathan Casillas (knee), RB Mark Ingram (toe), DE Turk McBride (ankle)

Limited participation: DT Sedrick Ellis (hamstring), LB Scott Shanle (shoulder)

Full participation: LB Jonathan Vilma (knee)

Tennessee

Did not participate: C/G Eugene Amano (knee), CB Jason McCourty (concussion), LB Barrett Ruud (groin), WR Nate Washington (ankle)

Limited participation: LB Patrick Bailey (hamstring)

New England Patriots at Washington Redskins

New England

Did not participate: RB Stevan Ridley (not injury related), LB Brandon Spikes (knee), T Sebastian Vollmer (ankle, back)

Limited participation: CB Kyle Arrington (foot), S Patrick Chung (foot), C Dan Connolly (groin), WR Julian Edelman (back), LB Dane Fletcher (thumb), S James Ihedigbo (shoulder), CB Devin McCourty (shoulder), WR Matthew Slater (shoulder), RB Shane Vereen (hamstring), WR Wes Welker (knee), C Ryan Wendell (calf), RB Danny Woodhead (abdomen)

Washington

Did not participate: DT Chris Baker (quadriceps), S LaRon Landry (groin), DT Chris Neild (not injury related), P Sav Rocca (left ankle)

Limited participation: WR Terrence Austin (hamstring), DE Stephen Bowen (knee), T Jammal Brown (hip), LB London Fletcher (ankle), S Dejon Gomes (knee), CB DeAngelo Hall (back), G Maurice Hurt (knee)

Full participation: QB Rex Grossman (left shoulder), FB Darrel Young (head)

San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals

San Francisco

Did not participate: CB Carlos Rogers (knee), LB Patrick Willis (hamstring)

Limited participation: CB Tarell Brown (ankle), WR Braylon Edwards (knee)

Arizona

Did not participate: RB Beanie Wells (knee)

Limited participation: S Sean Considine (Achilles), DT Darnell Dockett (quadriceps), TE Todd Heap (hamstring), LB Joey Porter (knee), S Kerry Rhodes (foot), P Dave Zastudil (biceps)

Full participation: CB Michael Adams (hamstring)

Chicago Bears at Denver Broncos

Chicago

Out: QB Jay Cutler (thumb)

Did not participate: RB Matt Forte (knee), S Major Wright (shoulder)

Limited participation: DT Anthony Adams (back), CB Charles Tillman (quadriceps), LB Brian Urlacher (quadriceps)

Full participation: DL Henry Melton (knee)

Denver

Did not participate: S David Bruton (Achilles), T Ryan Clady (knee), RB Willis McGahee (knee), WR Eddie Royal (concussion)

Limited participation: LB Von Miller (thumb)

Full participation: S Quinton Carter (heat cramps), RB Jeremiah Johnson (ankle), DT Mitch Unrein (back)

Oakland Raiders at Green Bay Packers

Oakland

Did not participate: QB Jason Campbell (collarbone), WR Jacoby Ford (foot), DT John Henderson (knee), CB Chris Johnson (not injury related), RB Taiwan Jones (hamstring), RB Darren McFadden (foot), WR Denarius Moore (foot), WR Chaz Schilens (foot)

Limited participation: TE Kevin Boss (hip), DT Tommy Kelly (toe), DE Jarvis Moss (hamstring), DE Trevor Scott (shoulder), DT Richard Seymour (knee)

Full participation: S Michael Huff (ankle)

Green Bay

Out: T Chad Clifton (hamstring, back), G Josh Sitton (knee)

Did not participate: LB Desmond Bishop (calf), LB A.J. Hawk (calf), RB James Stark (knee, ankle)

Limited participation: CB Charles Woodson (concussion)

Buffalo Bills at San Diego Chargers

Buffalo

Did not participate: S Jairus Byrd (shin), TE Scott Chandler (ankle), K Rian Lindell (shoulder), CB Aaron Williams (calf)

Limited participation: S George Wilson (neck)

San Diego

Did not participate: LB Donald Butler (foot), S Darrell Stuckey (groin)

Full participation: LB Na’il Diggs (chest), T Brandyn Dombrowski (foot), C Nick Hardwick (neck), DE Corey Liuget (fibula), G Tyronne Green (hand), LB Shaun Phillips (foot), G Louis Vasquez (ankle)

New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys

NY Giants

Did not participate: C David Baas (neck/headaches), LB Michael Boley (hamstring), RB Ahmad Bradshaw (foot), LB Mark Herzlich (ankle), RB Brandon Jacobs (hamstring), LB Spencer Paysinger (hamstring), S Kenny Phillips (knee), DE Dave Tollefson (knee), DE Osi Umenyiora (ankle, knee)

Limited participation: CB Prince Amukamara (back), WR Mario Manningham (knee)

Dallas

Did not participate: TE Martellus Bennett (ribs), DT Josh Brent (knee), QB Jon Kitna (back), G Kyle Kosier (foot), S Danny McCray (ankle), WR Laurent Robinson (shoulder), RB Phillip Tanner (hamstring), LB DeMarcus Ware (neck)

Limited participation: WR Miles Austin (hamstring), FB Tony Fiammetta (illness)

Full participation: LB Sean Lee (wrist), P Mat McBriar (left foot)

-Andre Johnson won’t practice Wednesday and coach Kubiak said he’ll be a game-time decision Sunday against the Bengals. MRI revealed a mild strain. We think he’ll be held out a few games, maybe the rest of the season, to avoid reaggravation.

-Brandon Jacobs is dealing with a hamstring strain, in addition to being a bad running back. You can do better than him this week.

-Fred Davis has been officially suspended for four games for a failed drug test. As of now, there is no appeal as they’d have to go through, both the NFL and NFLPA. Davis, is however, looking into options other than serving. Not sure how he’d even think he’d win an appeal. Owners in re-draft leagues can look to the wire for other options.

-Steve Corkran think that Darren McFadden has an 85-90 percent shot at playing in week 15 against the Lions. McFadden hasn’t been officially ruled out for week 14, but week 15 does seem more realistic, however, coach Jackson has not offered any type of timetable.

-Adrian Peterson said his ankle is only 70 percent right now. The Vikes are 2-10, so there’s little reason to rush their franchise player back too soon. ADP will test his running and cutting on Friday, but it’s looking like Toby Gerhart will start his third straight game.

-Matt Forte has undergone the platelet rich plasma injection therapy so that he can speed up the healing. It really depends on how his body responds.

-Peyton Hillis was limited in practice, but did take first-team reps. Coach Pat Shurmer expects him to start against the Steelers, but is a risky fantasy play against the stout Steeler defense.

-Jerry Jones is planning on Miles Austin to be a full go in practice this week.

-A trio of Raiders missed Wednesday practice; Jacoby Ford, Denarius Moore and Darren McFadden. Ford didn’t receive his medical clearance like he hoped he would and Moore is still battling an ankle injury that is putting his week in doubt. DMC doesn’t come as too much of a surprise, with week 15 looking like his target return.

-Laurent Robinson held out of practice with a shoulder injury. Definitely keep an eye on this one.

-Mark Ingram missed practice today with turf toe, and these injuries are usually nagging in nature. He looked to be healthy, finally, in Sunday’s game but that doesn’t appear to be the case. Check his status throughout the week, but he could be doubtful this week.

Lots going on today, so here’s a summary of the news that can have an impact on your fantasy rosters…

-Coach Mike Shanahan confirmed that Rex Grossman will remain starting QB. Grossman was his abysmal self on Sunday. He may not be an NFL starter, but he’s better than John Beck…I know, not saying much.

-Gary Kubiak is calling Andre Johnson’s latest injury ‘mild.’ It does sound like he avoided a serious injury, because just like his first hamstring injury, he crumpled in a heap untouched. I don’t expect Johnson to be available week 14, and if the Texans were smart, they should hold him out the rest of the season and get ready for the playoffs.

-Miles Austin is expected to practice Wednesday and play against the Giants barring any setbacks. The Cowboys need to do everything they can do keep Laurent Robinson on the field.

-Kevin Smith’s status for week 14 is up in the air at this point. Smith wasn’t looking comfortable on his ankle, so it’s no surprise he re-injured it. Consider him week-to-week and questionable at best.

-Ahmad Bradshaw was no worse for wear after Sunday’s game. Bradshaw looked good, but the Packers did a good job bottling him up. The offensive line struggled to open the holes for him. Bradshaw is a low-end RB2 heading into the fantasy playoffs.

-Hakeem Nicks had his ankle wrapped, so he’s dealing with a tweak or sprain here. He’ll miss some practice time, but as of now, is no danger of missing a game.

-Adrian Peterson is close to returning, according to coach Frazier. This could be some coach-speak, as ProFootballTalk was reporting he could miss week 14, and possibly, the season.

-Matt Forte was diagnosed with a grade 2 MCL sprain, and he’s expected to miss 2-6 weeks. The Bears are expected to use an RBBC approach with Khalil Bell and Marion Barber while he’s out. Lovie Smith expects Forte to play this season, but I wouldn’t be so optimistic.

-Michael Vick participated in Monday practice and expects to play Sunday against Miami. Jeremy Maclin missed Monday, but said he’s planning on returning Wednesday and playing in week 13. Not sure if I’d trust Maclin for the first week of the playoffs.

-Peyton Hilis is day-to-day with a hip strain. His hamstring came out in decent shape, so this new injury is a concern. Hillis should be left on benches for the first week of the playoffs, against the no. 7 rush defense in Pittsburgh. The Browns offense is a mess and he’s really only a desperation flex play.