NFL injury notebook: Packers' Rodgers questionable for Vikings

"Aaron's getting better," Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy told reporters on
Friday. "He was in the meeting this morning. I would say he feels better than
he did at the beginning of the week."

The Packers didn't practice on Friday but will hold their typical light
Saturday on-field workout. Whether or not Rodgers will be a participant
remains unknown. Still, Rodgers could play Sunday even if he doesn't
participate in the physical phase as he has been doing the mental preparation
all week.

Also, receiver Davante Adams (shoulder) is listed as questionable for the
Minnesota game. Linebacker Oren Burks (shoulder) also is questionable while
safety Josh Jones (ankle) will miss the contest.

--Jacksonville Jaguars running back Leonard Fournette missed practice Friday
for the third straight day and was listed as questionable for Sunday's game
against the New England Patriots.

Fournette suffered a right hamstring injury during last Sunday's game against
the New York Giants. Jaguars coach Doug Marrone termed Fournette as a
game-time decision.

"We'll see where he is," Marrone told reporters. "If he's ready go out there,
he'll be full go."

Marrone said earlier this week that he was comfortable with Fournette playing
even if he didn't practice. T.J. Yeldon will start if Fournette can't play.
Yeldon (ankle) was a limited participant in Friday's practice.

--Ben Roethlisberger practiced with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the first time
this week, making him the likely starting quarterback Sunday when the Kansas
City Chiefs visit Heinz Field.

Roethlisberger missed Wednesday and Thursday practices with an elbow injury
but worked with the starting offense on Friday. Roethlisberger declined
comment and head coach Mike Tomlin provided no additional details.
Roethlisberger was intercepted three times and lost two fumbles in a 21-21 tie
in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns.

Backup quarterback Josh Dobbs took the first-team reps Wednesday and Thursday,
Tomlin said. Dobbs said he will be ready "if my number is called."

--Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota is listed as questionable for
Sunday's game against the Houston Texans with a right elbow injury.

Mariota was a limited practice participant for the second straight day on
Friday after being listed as a full participant on Wednesday. Titans coach
Mike Vrabel was unable to firm up Mariota's chances of playing. Vrabel offered
that backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert will likely see action as well.

Two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Taylor Lewan (concussion) hasn't cleared the
protocol and won't play Sunday. He was injured against the Dolphins. Tennessee
is still missing right tackle Jack Conklin (knee), meaning the Titans will
have two backup tackles trying to slow down the Houston trio of J.J. Watt,
Jadeveon Clowney and Whitney Mercilus.

--Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman will miss Sunday's against the
Carolina Panthers because of a lingering knee injury, the Atlanta
Journal-Constitution reported.

Per the report, coach Dan Quinn ruled out his starting running back when he
was sidelined for practice again Friday after missing practice all week.
Freeman was later listed as out on the team's injury report.

Backup Tevin Coleman will handle the starter's workload when the Falcons host
the Panthers on Sunday, with Ito Smith serving as the main backup and Brian
Hill to be called up from the practice squad. Also, wide receiver Russell Gage
(knee) and guard Ben Garland (calf) also were ruled out of Sunday's game.

--Carolina Panthers Pro Bowl guard Trai Turner was ruled out of Sunday's game
against the Atlanta Falcons due to a concussion.

Turner suffered the injury in the season-opening victory over the Dallas
Cowboys. He was placed in the concussion protocol and did not practice all
week.

Receiver Damiere Byrd (knee) will miss the game after also being hurt against
the Cowboys. Receiver Curtis Samuel (heart) will miss his second straight
game.

--Indianapolis left tackle Anthony Castonzo experienced a "minor setback" in
his recovery for a hamstring injury and will miss Sunday's game against the
Washington Redskins, according to coach Frank Reich. It will be the second
straight game Castonzo has missed.

Also ruled out for Sunday's game are defensive lineman Denico Autry (ankle),
cornerback Chris Milton (concussion) and offensive lineman Denzelle Good
(knee, wrist).

Running back Marlon Mack (questionable, hamstring) is on track to make his
season debut. Reich was pleased with what he saw from Mack during Friday's
practice.

"He looked good. He's got that explosiveness, that quickness," Reich told
reporters. "He's really made good progress. [I} feel confident for the game
that if Marlon is up, ready to go, we will use him accordingly."

--Philadelphia Eagles running back Darren Sproles' status for Sunday's game
against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is up in the air after missing his second
straight practice, per multiple reports.

Sproles, 35, was sidelined Thursday and Friday because of a "slight hamstring
issue," according to coach Doug Pederson. The 13-year veteran took the bulk of
the team's running back snaps in the first half of the Eagles season-opening
win over Atlanta, rushing five times for 10 yards and adding four catches for
22 yards. He also served as the team's main punt returner against the Falcons.

If Sproles is out Sunday, the Eagles expect to give more touches to Jay Ajayi
and Corey Clement. Pederson admitted easing Ajayi's workload against Atlanta
after he had battled a foot injury during the preseason. But Ajayi became what
Pederson called the second-half "workhorse" against the Falcons, finishing
with 15 carries for 62 yards and two touchdowns.

Clement and wide receiver DeAndre Carter are both candidates to handle
punt-return duties Sunday if Sproles can not play.

--The New York Giants had hoped to have pass rusher Olivier Vernon back for
Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys, but coach Pat Shurmur said the team
has ruled him out.

Vernon missed the season opener with a high ankle sprain suffered near the end
of training camp. Shurmur said earlier this week he expected to see Vernon on
the field, but after the linebacker missed a third straight practice on
Friday, the coach declared he will not dress for the game.

Vernon had 37 tackles, 6 1/2 sacks, an interception and two forced fumbles in
12 games for the Giants in 2017.

--Detroit Lions Pro Bowl guard T.J. Lang will miss Sunday's game against the
San Francisco 49ers due to a back injury.

Lang missed most of the preseason with a foot injury before suffering a back
injury during Monday night's season-opening loss to the New York Jets.

Defensive end Ezekiel Ansah (shoulder) and running back LeGarrette Blount
(shoulder) are listed as questionable. Ansah also left the Jets' game and an
MRI exam didn't reveal any significant damage.

--Field Level Media