By Rick Hawes
November 23, 2009 3:15pm CST

The National Football League is a meat grinder that chews up players and spits them out. Each year the combatants get larger, faster and stronger, while injuries become more prevalent with each passing season. Unfortunately, these battle wounds have become commonplace in our favorite spectator sport, making it extremely important for every fantasy enthusiast to stay abreast of this unfortunate information.

Offensive Players

QB

- Ben Roethlisberger exited the game at Kansas City in the overtime period with a concussion. This is the fourth concussion of his six-year career and Big Ben will undergo further baseline tests this week to determine the severity of the head injury. In other news, backup Charlie Batch suffered a serious wrist injury after replacing Roethlisberger in the Chiefs game, leaving second-year veteran Dennis Dixon as the only healthy quarterback on the roster. The Steelers have reportedly contacted free agents Cleo Lemon and Jeff Garcia, who they could bring in for a workouts this week. Stay tuned.

- Kurt Warner exited the game at St. Louis in the first half with a "mild" concussion. Not sure if there is a such thing as a "mild" concussion, but the Cardinals are optimistic that Warner will not have to miss time. The 12-year veteran will undergo neurological tests this week, which will be compared with baseline tests that every player undergoes before the season. "We were smart with it; we didn't take any chances," Warner said. "I feel good. I think I'm going be just fine, but we'll take it day by day." If he's unable to go in Week 12 at Tennessee, Matt Leinart will get the start.

- Matthew Stafford exited the game against Cleveland in the fourth quarter with a left shoulder injury, but returned and threw the game-winning touchdown pass in the Lions 38-37 victory over the Browns. X-rays came back negative but Stafford will undergo an MRI exam to determine the extent of the damage. If the rookie is unable to go on Thanksgiving Day against Green Bay, Daunte Culpepper will get the start.

- Tony Romo exited the game against Washington in the first quarter with a back injury, but returned and finished the contest. The seven-year veteran is expected to play on Thanksgiving Day against Oakland, but he could be limited in practice this week. If Romo can't go, veteran Jon Kitna will get the start.

- Marc Bulger sustained a hamstring injury in the game against Arizona and will undergo an MRI exam to determine the extent of the damage. The ailment is thought to be minor, so Bulger should be good to go for the Week 12 tilt against Seattle.


RB

- Ladell Betts exited the game at Dallas in the first quarter with a torn ACL and MCL in his left knee and will be placed on the season-ending, injured-reserve list. According to head coach Jim Zorn, Clinton Portis will not play in Week 12 at Philadelphia, leaving Rock Cartwright, who had 13 carries for 67 yards and seven receptions for 73 yards in relief of Betts, as the starter for the immediate future. The Redskins also re-signed running back Marcus Mason, who will be third on the depth chart behind Cartwright and Quinton Ganther.

- Ryan Grant exited the game against San Francisco late in the fourth quarter with a stinger, but the team is not concerned about the injury and expects their No.1 running back to start in Week 12 at Detroit despite the short workweek.

- Marshawn Lynch exited the game at Jacksonville in the first quarter with a shoulder injury and did not return. After the contest, Beast Mode said he was fine but he'll undergo a precautionary MRI to determine the extent of the damage. If Lynch is unable to go in Week 12 against Miami, Fred Jackson will handle a much larger load, albeit behind an offensive line decimated by injuries.

- Brandon Jacobs exited the game against Atlanta in the third quarter with a knee injury, but said he could have returned if necessary.

- Mike Bell exited the game at Tampa Bay in the second quarter with a knee injury, but returned and finished the contest.

- Michael Robinson exited the game at Green Bay in the second quarter with a shoulder stinger and did not return.

- Kolby Smith exited the game against Kansas City in the second quarter with an ankle injury and did not return.

- FB Lawrence Vickers exited the game at Detroit in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury.


WR

- Arnaz Battle exited the game at Green Bay in the second quarter with a right leg injury.

- Hakeem Nicks (foot) was seen leaving the X-ray room after the game against Atlanta. Nicks declined to comment on the situation and no additional information is currently available.


TE

- No new injuries to report.


PK/Punter

- No new injuries to report.


OL

- OG Eric Wood exited the game at Jacksonville in the third quarter with a fractured tibia and fibula, and was taken to a Jacksonville hospital where he had immediate season-ending surgery. It is not known when he will be able to travel back to Buffalo. The second of the Bills' two first-round draft picks, Wood started all 10 games and has been team's most consistent lineman.

- OC Seth McKinney exited the game at Jacksonville in the third quarter with a torn meniscus in his left knee and will be placed on season-ending injured reserve. Once McKinney went down, Andy Levitre moved back to left guard and Jonathan Scott came in to play left tackle. Kirk Chambers, who started at right tackle, slid inside to replace Wood and Jamon Meredith took over at right tackle. Look for Buffalo to use their eighth different offensive line combination next Sunday against the Miami Dolphins.

- OT Jeromey Clary exited the game at Denver in the fourth quarter with a left ankle injury. The four-year veteran had to be carted off the field and head coach Norv Turner said he believes the "injury is going to be more serious than I'd like it to be." Brandyn Dombrowski replaced Clary, who left last week's game with a right ankle sprain, and will likely start going forward, though the Chargers did sign signed tackle Corey Clark from the practice squad last week.

- OT Jason Smith exited the game against Arizona with a possible concussion and did not return. As a result, Adam Goldberg was moved from right guard to right tackle and reserve Mark Setterstrom handled the right guard duties.

- OT Chad Rinehart exited the game at Dallas in the second half with a broken fibula and underwent surgery this morning. He will almost certainly be placed on season-ending injured reserve and be replaced in the starting lineup by rookie Edwin Williams, who has played in one game with no starts.

- OG David Baas exited the game at Green Bay in the second quarter with a sprained right ankle and did not return.

- OG Chris Kemoeatu exited the game at Kansas City in the fourth quarter with a sprained MCL in his right knee.

- OG Rich Seubert (shoulder) was seen leaving the X-ray room after the game against Atlanta. Seubert declined to comment on the situation and no additional information is currently available.

- OT David Diehl exited the game against Atlanta in the second half with a right ankle injury, but returned and finished the contest.

- OT Sebastian Vollmer exited the game against the New York Jets with a head injury, but was able to return and finish the contest.

- OT Max Starks exited the game at Kansas City with an undisclosed injury, but was able to return and finish the contest.

Individual Defensive Players (IDP)

DL

- DT Domata Peko exited the game at Oakland in the second half with a strained MCL in his right knee. At this juncture, Peko is day to day and uncertain to play in Week 12 against Cleveland.

- DE Richard Seymour exited the game against Cincinnati in the second half with a lower back injury and did not return.

- DE Johnny Jolly exited the game against San Francisco in the fourth quarter with an undisclosed injury.

- DE Juqua Parker exited the game at Chicago with an undisclosed injury and was replaced by Victor Abiamiri.

- DT John McCargo exited the game at Jacksonville in the second half with a calf injury.

- DE Luis Castillo exited the game at Denver in the second quarter with a calf injury.


LB

- Aaron Kampman exited the game at Dallas in the third quarter with a torn ACL in his left knee and will be placed on season-ending injured reserve. Rookie Brad Jones will take Kampman's place in the starting lineup at outside linebacker.

- Bryan Smith exited the game against Buffalo in the second quarter with a sprained shoulder.

- Isaiah Ekejiuba exited the game against Cincinnati with a "serious" knee injury. He is not a starter on defense, but is one of the Raiders better special team's players.


DB

- CB Al Harris exited the game against San Francisco in the fourth quarter with a torn ACL in his left knee and will be placed on season-ending injured reserve. Tramon Williams will assume Harris' role in the starting lineup.

- CB DeAngelo Hall exited the game at Dallas in the first quarter with a knee contusion, but was able to return and finished the contest. However, the Redskins best cover corner is expected to miss the Week 12 game at Philadelphia with a sprained knee.

- CB Mike Jenkins exited the game against Washington in the fourth quarter with a biceps injury, but is expected to be ready for Week 12 against Oakland.

- CB Asante Samuel exited the game at Chicago in the second half with a neck strain. According to head coach Andy Reid, the Eagles best cover corner was reportedly "feeling good after the game" and is expected to play in Week 12 against Washington.

- CB Dwight Lowery exited the game at New England in the second half with an ankle injury and was getting around on crutches after the contest. If he is unable to go in Week 12 against Carolina, Lito Sheppard will likely get the start and be targeted often on the opposite side of shutdown cornerback Darrelle Revis.

- CB Fabian Washington exited the game against Indianapolis in the fourth quarter with a left knee injury and is scheduled to undergo an MRI exam early this week. If Washington can't go in Week 12 against Pittsburgh, rookie Lardarius Webb will get the start.

- SS Ko Simpson exited the game against Cleveland in the second half with a knee injury that could force him to miss the Week 12 game against Green Bay. If Simpson is unable to go, Marvin White will likely get the start.

- CB Bryant McFadden exited the game at St. Louis in the first half with a knee injury and did not return.

- CB Randall Gay exited the game at Tampa Bay in the second quarter with a hamstring injury and did not return..

- FS Mark Roman exited the game at Green Bay in the second quarter with a rib contusion.

- CB Leigh Torrence exited the game at Tampa Bay in the fourth quarter with a separated shoulder.

- CB Maurice Leggett exited the game against Pittsburgh in the second quarter with an arm injury and did not return.

- SS Patrick Chung exited the game against the New York Jets in the fourth quarter with a head injury.

- CB Tarell Brown exited the game at Green Bay with a left knee contusion.

- CB Corey Webster exited the game against Atlanta with a rib injury, but returned and finished the contest.

- CB Donald Strickland exited the game at New England with a head injury and did not return.

- FS Brian Dawkins exited the game against San Diego with a neck injury and did not return.