Here's the latest news on key injuries going into Week 3:

AFC East
Team	Comment
	The Bills didn't have an early injury list to report and they go into the Broncos game healthy. Left tackle Jonas Jennings had some cramping problems because of dehydration. Though he didn't practice Friday, he has been announced as the starter for Sunday's game against the Broncos. Right tackle Mike Williams had a little scare with a knee injury Thursday but he was fine Friday and took part in all of the first team work. He faced defensive end Trevor Pryce.
	The decision on the status of Dolphins cornerback Patrick Surtain purely comes down to game time. Surtain didn't do anything this week in practice because of a bruised knee and a strained PCL ligament. If this game weren't as important as it was, Surtain would probably sit. But he wants to play and may try to give it a go. The Dolphins need him against the Jets offense. Jamar Fletcher would replace Surtain if he can't play. The Dolphins won't have tight end Desmond Clark (forearm), safety Scott McGarrahan (groin) and linebacker Twan Russell (knee). Defensive end David Bowens will be available after recovering from a broken hand. Defensive end Jason Taylor is okay after hurting his neck this week.
	Patriots linebacker Roman Phifer was the only player missing from Friday's practice. He's listed as questionable because of his hamstring injury and is expected to miss his second consecutive game. The big question is whether coach Bill Belichick will use the same linebacking corps who without Phifer beat the Jets 44-7. Last week, the Patriots used Ted Johnson at middle linebacker, Tedy Bruschi and Mike Vrabel started on the outside. The Patriots host the Chiefs Sunday.
	Jets wide receiver Laveranues Coles returned to the practice field Friday after missing Thursday because of bruised knee. Coles injured the knee during Wednesday's practice. His return Friday gives him the confidence that he will start against the Dolphins on Sunday. Safety Damien Robinson missed practice Friday and isn't expected to play because of a groin injury. Rookie Jon McGraw is expected to replace him in the starting lineup.

AFC North
Team	Comment
	The Bengals may be banged up but they don't have major injury concerns heading into their Sunday night game against the Falcons. Defensive end Vaughn Booker, who is questionable with a leg injury, practiced and, according to coach Dick LeBeau, looked good. He may return to the starting lineup after missing last week and being replaced by Bernard Whittington. Adrian Ross gets the start at outside linebacker. It is expected that Peter Warrick and T.J. Houshmandzadeh will be the starting receivers, with Michael Westbrook being the third receiver. Chad Johnson is expected to get a little more playing time.
	Browns coach Butch Davis didn't announce his starting quarterback Friday afternoon but he gave strong indication that Tim Couch would make his 2002 debut as the starter. First, Davis said that Couch had worked with the first unit the past couple of days. Second, he said that Couch suffered no setback to his elbow problem, which sidelined for two games because of tearing of scar tissue in the elbow. Third, he had that Couch was throwing the ball well. Davis joked that he would make his decision following the results of the Kentucky-Middle Tennessee State game. Couch went to Kentucky. Backup Kelly Holcomb went to Middle Tennessee State. Each better the other a steak dinner at Morton's about the outcome. All in all, it sounds as though Couch will start and confirm the timetable that his elbow injury needed two to three weeks to heal. The rest of the injury report looks encouraging. Defensive end Courtney Brown should be back after missing a game because of a neck injury. He was upgraded from questionable to probable Thursday. Tight end Aaron Shea (shoulder) and tackle Roger Chanoine (knee) also practiced and should play. The Browns aren't expected to have starting offensive linemen Ryan Tucker (knee) and center Dave Wohlabaugh (hand).

AFC South
Team	Comment
	The Texans again will be without three starting offensive linemen -- tackles Ryan Young and Tony Boselli and guard Ryan Schau. They will try to get more playing time for outside linebacker Keith Mitchell. Jeff Posey is currently the starter, but Mitchell got a lot of playing time in the second half of last week's game against the Chargers.
	The big question mark for the Colts is outside linebacker Mike Peterson, who didn't practice Friday because of the knee injury suffered this week and is questionable for the game against the Texans. If Peterson can't go, the Colts will start rookie David Thornton. Halfback Edgerrin James took it a little easy Thursday on a sore ankle, but he was fine on Friday and will start. Tight end Marcus Pollard practiced now that his rib problems are behind him and he should start. He was upgraded from questionable to probable Friday. The Colts will still be without two defensive tackles -- Josh Williams (foot) and James Cannida (knee). Both should be back after next week's bye.
	Titans halfback Eddie George practiced a little bit Friday and plans to play against the Browns Sunday. The question will be how long can he play. George has been bothered all week with swelling in a foot that was wrapped too tightly and forced him to see a doctor Friday night. Quarterback Steve McNair had his second full day of practice and will start. If George can't go the whole game, the Titans will use Mike Green and rookie John Simon. Cornerback Andre Dyson took about half of the snaps in practice on his sore hamstring and hopes to play. Tight end Erron Kinney may not be able to go on his sore ankle, but Shad Meier, another tight end, should play. Linebacker Randall Godfrey remains limited on his sore shoulder and may not be able to play.

AFC West
Team	Comment
	Broncos coach Mike Shanahan thought that linebacker Al Wilson would be able to play Sunday against the Bills. Wilson was hit on the side of a knee during Thursday's practice. He had an x-ray and an MRI. Each were negative. Wilson returned to practice Friday and pronounced fit to start. The Broncos listed five other players on the report as probable. They all practiced Friday.
	Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez looks as though he will play despite his sore right wrist. Remember a week ago, Gonzalez injured the wrist and came back to catch a touchdown pass despite the injury. On Friday, Gonzalez took the cast and protective covering off the wrist and caught another touchdown pass. He plans to play against the Patriots. The Chiefs won't have defensive tackle Eric Downing, who tweaked his shoulder Thursday after returning to the field following an abdomen injury.
	The Chargers activated cornerback Quentin Jammer from the exempt list and plan to use him in the nickel pass defense against the Cardinals Sunday. To make room for him on the roster, the Chargers placed cornerback Tony Okanlawon on the injured reserve list with a leg injury. The Chargers will have two young starters in the lineup. Rookie Vernon Fox will start for Rodney Harrison at strong safety. Harrison will miss his second game because of a pulled groin. Michael Keathley will get his second start at right guard for Toniu Fonoti, the second-round choice who is out with a shoulder injury.

NFC East
Team	Comment
	The Cowboys probably will be without Pro Bowl guard Larry Allen for the Eagles game although he says that he will play. Allen has missed practice all week, including Friday, after having his left ankle bent back in a play of last week's victory over the Titans. Allen hasn't missed a game since 1999 and is one of the most dominating blockers in the NFL. If he can't play, the Cowboys will start Matt Lehr. Coach Dave Campo says it will be a gametime decision about Allen. If Allen is deactivated, that will open a spot for Reggie Swinton, the team's star punt-returner, to return and give the Cowboys six receivers. Swinton had been bothered by hamstring problems.
	Giants cornerback William Peterson did some work in team drills despite a toe injury and should be able to start against the Seahawks. Peterson has been limited the past couple of days because of the toe. Center Dusty Ziegler (knee) and wide receiver Tim Carter (ribs) are expected to be inactive Sunday against the Seahawks because of their injuries. Ziegler, who had microfracture knee surgery during the offseason, is getting closer to playing. He may be a week or two from trying to reclaim a starting job.
	The Eagles aren't sure whether or not to activate cornerback Lito Sheppard, who missed to games because of a hamstring injury. Sheppard practiced Friday and is available, but he missed valuable practice time. Sheppard is listed as questionable. The Eagles should have halfback Brian Westbrook, who has been listed as questionable because of an abdomen problem. Westbrook practiced Friday. He had also practiced on Thursday.
	The Redskins only had a walkthrough Friday before leaving for San Francisco for Sunday's game against the 49ers. Their health situation isn't bad. Quarterback Shane Matthews will start despite his sore shoulder, but don't be surprised if coach Steve Spurrier has a quick hook. If Matthews struggles, he could go to Danny Wuerrfel and then maybe even rookie Patrick Ramsey, who got a little more practice time this week. Defensive tackle Daryl Gardener says that his chronic back problems have subsided enough for him to play. Defensive tackle Big Daddy Wilkinson will play despite wrist and finger problems. He practiced Friday. Backup linebacker Antonio Pierce continued to practice with a bad ankle, and despite being listed as questionable, plans to be available.

NFC North
Team	Comment
	Bears coach Dick Jauron decided to start Reggie Austin at cornerback over Todd McMillon. Last week, McMillon, filling in for the injured R.W. McQuarters, started last week and alternated with Austin. Each had some difficulty with bigger receivers. Right tackle James ``Big Cat'' Williams did a little bit in Friday's practice, and his status for playing will be determined Sunday afternoon. The Bears play the Saints. Williams vows to start but if he can't -- and this late you start to wonder -- rookie Marc Colombo would start at right tackle. Quarterback Jim Miller isn't on the injury report but he is still bothered by the ankle injury that has nagged him the past couple of weeks. Wide receiver Marcus Robinson remains a backup, but he did get some practice time in Friday without his knee brace. The Bears are down three key starters on defense _ defensive linemen Phillip Daniels and Ted Washington and McQuarters.
	The Lions may be getting a little younger than they would like for Sunday's game against the Packers. Cornerback Eric Davis missed Friday's practice and may not play because of a hamstring injury suffered Thursday. If he can't start, the Lions would go with sixth-round choice Chris Cash against Packers quarterback Brett Favre. Davis is listed as questionable, but it doesn't look encouraging. Kick-returner Desmond Howard missed Friday's workout with a neck injury and is very questionable. His spot would be taken by free agent rookie Eddie Drummond. Wide receiver Bill Schroeder return to the practice field but was clearly aching because of his sore ribs. He's listed as doubtful, so there will be a game day decision whether or not he can play. If he can't, Scotty Anderson would get the start. The Lions may have linebacker Clint Kriewaldt available for special teams duty. He has been listed as questionable because of a foot injury. He did a little work at practice Friday. The Lions also could be without linebacker Barrett Green, who suffered an elbow injury and is listed as questionable. Backup halfback Aveion Cason was added to the list as questionable because of a knee injury.
	An MRI taken Friday on Packers halfback Ahman Green showed some healing in his injured quad muscle, but his status remains very much in question for Sunday's game against the Lions. Coach Mike Sherman is thinking about giving him some reps Saturday morning, but Sherman is normally caution when it comes to injuries. Green want to play, but Sherman can't risk losing him for an extended period of time with a badly pulled quad. Of the five players listed as probable, the biggest question mark is cornerback Bhawoh Jue, who has an ankle injury.
	Looks as though the Vikings may go into the Panthers game minus two tight ends. Pro Bowl tight end Byron Chamberlain wants to play on his sore knee but it's not certain that coach Mike Tice will let him. He was limited during Friday's practice. Backup Jim Kleinsasser will miss a month with a knee injury. Hunter Goodwin is expected to start. Defensive lineman Talance Sawyer will need surgery on a knee that will sideline him two or three weeks. Rookie Nick Davis will return kicks. Lewis Kelly is expected to start at left tackle.

NFC South
Team	Comment
	The Falcons will be down four players for Sunday night's game against the Bengals. Guard Roberto Garza is out with a foot fracture for six-to-eight weeks and will be replaced by Kynan Forney at right guard. Defensive end Travis Hall (groin), linebacker Will Overstreet (shoulder) and cornerback Allen Rossum (hamstring). Damon Gibson and Travis Jervey will handle the kickoff returns, one of Rossum's former spots. Gibson, signed last Monday, will handle the punt returns.
	Panthers kicker John Kasay had surgery to repair a sports hernia Friday. The injury requires a 6-8 week recovery, but it's likely that he will go on the injured reserve list Saturday and Jon Hilbert will be activated off the practice squad. Kasay missed most of training camp because of a groin injury, and he reinjured the area during Wednesday's practice. Hilbert, in fact, boomed a 52-yard field during Friday's practice to give the team a little more confidence in him. The rest of the Panthers lineup looks healthy. Backup guard Jeno James had a cyst removed Thursday from under his shoulder and should be available for backup duty. Backup safety Jarrod Cooper suffered back spasms Thursday but he was fine on Friday and should help on special teams. Halfback DeShaun Foster is out with his knee injury but he may start to do some running next week.
	The Saints upgraded cornerback Fred Thomas from doubtful to questionable but it looks as though he will be able to play against the Bears Sunday. Thomas missed last week's victory over the Packers with a broken hand, which required surgery. Thomas will be used as the third cornerback. Veteran Ken Irvin gets his second start. His return is timely because the Saints lost promising rookie Keyuo Craver last week with a knee injury. Fullback Fred McAfee is out with a hamstring injury. John Carney will continue to kickoff because punter Toby Gowins will only punt because of his hip flexor injury. The Saints will put halfback Curtis Keaton on the active roster after two weeks of being deactivated. Keaton was acquired from the Bengals from the Bengals to be the backup halfback. He needed a couple of weeks to learn the offense.
	The Bucs are as healthy as coach Jon Gruden could wish heading into the Monday night game against the Rams. Backup safety David Gibson was upgraded from questionable to probable despite an ankle injury. Six other Bucs who were listed as probable practiced and should play. Guard Cosey Coleman has gone two days on the left knee he strained during Wednesday's practice and should start. Tight end Ken Dilger expects to play with his tricep injury. Defensive end Simeon Rice, who was limited Thursday, practiced more Friday and will play and start despite a shoulder injury.

NFC West
Team	Comment
	The Cardinals may be without cornerback Duane Starks for Sunday's home-opener against the Chargers. Starks is a mess. He's been playing with a sore knee. On Friday, his hamstring was bothering him and he needed an epidural shot in his back. If he can't play, he will be replaced by Jacoby Rhinehart. The rest of the team appears to be set. Left tackle L.J. Shelton practiced on his sore ankle and should start. Wide receiver David Boston has been nursing a sore ankle and he worked on Friday. He will play. The Cardinals activated first-round choice Wendell Bryant from the exempt list and released fourth-round draft choice Nate Dwyer.
	The 49ers may have free safety Zack Bronson back in the starting lineup Sunday after his incredible comeback from a shoulder injury suffered last week. Bronson had been listed as questionable, but he practiced the past two days. The offensive line should be at full strength even though it has some issues. Center Jeremy Newberry had the cast taken off his broken right hand and worked some snaps. He should be able to start and even handle some shotgun snaps. Right guard Ron Stone practiced after suffering a hamstring injury earlier this week. Coach Steve Marriucci expects Stone to start. Linebacker Jeff Ulbrich has recovered enough from a knee injury that he should be able to get into some plays at linebacker. The 49ers play the Redskins.
	The Seahawks, who have surrendered 235 yards a game on the ground, are expected to be without two defensive tackles for Sunday's game against the Giants. Pro Bowler tackle John Randle is out with a knee injury, but his replacement, Brandon Mitchell is out with a calf injury. Mitchell missed practice all week. That means that rookie Rocky Bernard will get the start. The Seahawks defensive line is thin. Rookie defensive end Anton Palepoi has been limited in contract work because of a concussion suffered last week. The Seahawks do get John Hilliard back after missing two games because of a knee injury. The Seahawks are also without outside linebacker Anthony Simmons. Left tackle Walter Jones, fresh off the exempt list, will start and Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack, despite a broken hand, will start at right tackle. Womack blocks Michael Strahan, the Giants defensive end. Coach Mike Holmgren is not sure if Jones, who ended a 53-day holdout, will be able to play the entire game. If he doesn't, Womack will move to left tackle and Jerry Wunsch will handle the right tackle assignment.
	The Rams added backup cornerback Dexter McCleon to the injury list Friday because of a leg injury. He is listed as probable and didn't practice Friday. The only Rams who will miss the game against Tampa Bay Monday night for sure is fullback James Hodgins, who has a broken foot.

John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.