Manning will play, but will Painter make debut?

Dec 26, 2009

Curtis Painter hasn't played a down on game day, but the Indianapolis Colts quarterback has prepared with the same diligence every week of his rookie NFL season. This week was no exception.

"I don't think you really can change it," he said. "I think this week more than ever, there's the possibility."

Coach Jim Caldwell said Friday that "all healthy players" will play against the New York Jets on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium.

But exactly whom that will include with six starters questionable or doubtful, in addition to two out, is unclear.
"I'm still not going to assign any time period," Caldwell added, leaving open the possibility that a player like quarterback Peyton Manning might play two series or two quarters or go all the way. If Painter knows, he's denying it. The Colts have approached similar situations in different fashions in recent years.

With the AFC's No. 2 playoff seed clinched and No. 1 out of reach in 2007, they played their healthy starters all the way while beating Houston 38-15 in their 15th game of the season.

Two years earlier, with the No. 1 seed locked up, Manning and select starters played only briefly the same week during a 28-13 loss at Seattle.

With the No. 1 seed in hand, at some point Sunday the Colts' 14-0 season could be in Painter's hands.

"The overall goal is to win the game no matter who's in or however long the starters play," said Painter, a sixth-round draft choice from Purdue. "Whatever, the goal is to win."

Fantasy Impact:

today

Chiefs WR Hollywood Brown's practice window to open "Friday or Monday"

Ian Rapoport

2 hours ago

Chiefs WR Hollywood Brown has received final clearance to practice, paving the way for him to play before the regular season ends.

Brown, who is recovering from surgery to repair his SC joint, should have his window opened Friday or Monday. The team will be cautious.

Fantasy Impact:

If Brown were cleared by Week 17, he would be incredibly tough to start in pretty much any sort of fantasy league with Championships on the line. However, he could be an interesting click for Playoff-only leagues if he can ramp up in time.

Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker misses second straight practice

Adam Schefter

2 hours ago

For a second straight day today, Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III didn’t practice due to his calf injury.

Related Players: Zach Charbonnet, Kenny McIntosh

Fantasy Impact:

Looks like things should be cleared out for Charbonnet once again in what could be a very close game against the Packers. If Walker misses Week 15, fire Charbs up as a high-end RB2.

49ers RB Isaac Guerendo, Nick Bosa, and Dre Greenlaw active for Week 15

Lindsey Pallares

3 hours ago

In Week 15, the red and gold have defensive lineman Nick Bosa and linebacker Dre Greenlaw active and ready for the team's second meeting with their NFC West rival, the Los Angeles Rams.

On the other side of the ball, the 49ers will have rookie running back Isaac Guerendo available against the Rams. He was listed as questionable on Wednesday on account of a foot sprain but was given the green light to play ahead of "Thursday Night Football."

Fantasy Impact:

We do expect Guerendo to handle the majority workload for TNF, but you do have to wonder if he gets the same type of workload he would have, had he avoided the injury report all week. Consider him closer to an RB3 than a locked-in RB2 he otherwise would have been.