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The Chicago Blackhawks won their second Stanley Cup in four seasons and have a nucleus of a team that should contend for years to come. Off-Season Game Plan looks at what the Blackhawks could do this summer as they prepare for their title defence next season. While any team that wins is going to run into some challenges with a decreasing salary cap, the Blackhawks are in much better position compared to where they were following their 2010 Cup win, when they had to get rid of a lot of valuable players because they didnt have the financial flexibility to keep the roster intact. This year, once they exercise buyouts of Steve Montador and Rostislav Olesz, the Blackhawks should have some room to maneuver. Even if they lose unrestricted free agents Bryan Bickell, Viktor Stalberg, Michal Rozsival and Ray Emery, Chicago has prospects coming and could do some free agent shopping; after all, its a little easier to convince players to come play for the reigning champions. In any case, the Blackhawks have won two of the last four Cups and have a core together that should compete next year and the year after and, probably, the year after. When their two best players, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane, are 25 and 24, respectively, theres every reason to expect more great seasons in the future. The TSN.ca Rating is an efficiency rating based on per-game statistics including goals and assists -- weighted for strength (ie. power play, even, shorthanded) -- plus-minus, hits, blocked shots, giveaways, takeaways, penalty differential and faceoffs. (Stats are listed in this format: G-A-PTS, +/-, PIM, GP). Generally, a replacement-level player is around a 60, a top six forward and top four defenceman will be 70-plus, stars will be over 80 and MVP candidates could go over 90. Sidney Crosby finished at the top of the 2013 regular season ratings with a 93.65. Salary cap information all comes from the indispensable www.capgeek.com. GM/COACH Stan Bowman/Joel Quenneville Returning Forwards Player Rating GP G A PTS +/- Cap Hit Jonathan Toews 84.36 47 23 25 48 +28 $6.3M Patrick Kane 83.12 47 23 32 55 +11 $6.3M Marian Hossa 78.77 40 17 14 31 +20 $5.275M Patrick Sharp 75.04 28 6 14 20 +8 $5.9M Brandon Saad 68.27 46 10 17 27 +17 $894K Michael Frolik 64.76 45 3 7 10 +5 $2.333M Andrew Shaw 63.53 48 9 6 15 +6 $578K Dave Bolland 61.95 35 7 7 14 -7 $3.375M Daniel Carcillo 57.39 23 2 1 3 +1 $825K Brandon Bollig 52.25 25 0 0 0 -1 $575K Free Agent Forwards Player Rating GP G A PTS +/- Class 12-13 Cap Hit Bryan Bickell 73.70 48 9 14 23 +12 UFA $542K Viktor Stalberg 66.39 47 9 14 23 +16 UFA $875K Michal Handzus 62.72 39 2 6 8 -2 UFA $2.5M Marcus Kruger 59.33 47 4 9 13 +3 RFA $900K Jamal Mayers 53.82 19 0 2 2 +2 UFA $650K Blackhawks Forwards Usage Chart from somekindofninja.com Captain Serious, Jonathan Toews, continued his improved production during the regular season, scoring more than a point-per-game for the first time in his career and while he wasnt as productive in the playoffs, Toews came up big when the Western Conference Final and Stanley Cup were on the line. Over the last four years, Toews has been among the very best puck possession players in the league, he won the Selke Trophy as the leagues best defensive forward and can play and excel in all situations. Few, if any, would be a better player around which to build a team. Last offseason, Blackhawks wild child Patrick Kane went through some highly-publicized partying that raised the spectre of his being moved out of Chicago -- he was too much trouble for a player coming off his least productive season. But the Blackhawks stuck with him and Kane scored 55 points in 48 games, a career-best 1.17 points per game during the regular season. Now, Kane actually had fewer shots on goal per game than in 2011-2012, so he benefitted from some high percentage (16.7%) shooting, but it was a great response to adversity. Kane also won the Conn Smythe, as playoff MVP and, over the course of his six-year career, he has 424 points, which ranks 14th. In four seasons with the Blackhawks, Marian Hossa has 216 points and is plus-71, one of a dozen players to have 200 points and a plus-50 rating over that span. The 34-year-old is still an excellent two-way player, but its going to be fascinating to see how his contract plays out. With new cap penalties for back-diving contracts, and the Blackhawks using their two buyouts on Rostislav Olesz and Steve Montador, they are committed to seeing his contract through and it runs through 2021. Injuries cost Patrick Sharp 20 games in the regular season and his goal-scoring rate (0.21 gpg) was his lowest since 2005-2006, but then Sharp came up big in the playoffs, leading with 10 goals in 23 games. Since 2007-2008, he has 160 goals, which ranks 21st. 20-year-old rookie Brandon Saad worked his way up the depth chart to spend the last couple months of the regular season skating alongside Toews and Hossa on Chicagos first line, scoring 24 points in his last 28 games. His size and physical presence adds a needed dimension to the Blackhawks forward lines. In Michael Froliks first couple years in the league, it appeared that he was going to be a scoring winger, scoring 42 goals, but hes managed a total of 19 goals in three seasons since and has found his niche as a checker and penalty killer in Chicago. Thats fine, but Frolik is paid a little much to be handling 12-13 minutes per game. Drafted in his final junior season, Andrew Shaw has been a terrific addition to the Blackhawks, already playing 85 games (only four players from the 2011 draft have played more), contributing 38 points. On top of that, points arent the real measure of Shaws contributions. Hes relentless and plays much bigger than he is and his energy (as well as his production) was crucial to the Blackhawks Stanley Cup win. Scoring the Stanley-Cup-winning goal was a nice way to redeem a down season for Dave Bolland, who scored at the lowest rate (0.40 ppg) of his career while finishing a career-low minus-7. While Bolland does get the tough checking assignments, hes handled much more difficult zone starts than what he had in 2013 and was more effective. When healthy, though, Bolland is usually a very good defensive centre who can contribute enough in an offensive role that the Blackhawks tried to have him fill their second-line centre spot. There is being more disciplined and then there is what was going on with Daniel Carcillo in 2013. A player who had 1068 penalty minutes in 310 career games (3.45 per game), had a total of 11 penalty minutes in 23 games last season. Hes a part-time player in Chicago, which can be a tough lineup to crack, but is Carcillo good enough to be anything more than that if hes not wreaking havoc? Brandon Bollig takes some playing time from Carcillo, as Bollig is a bigger, more physical presence and, while he has yet to record a point in 43 career games and has his ice time sheltered, he did have good possession numbers. The Blackhawks have tried to get Marcus Kruger to fill their second-line centre spot too, but the 23-year-old hasnt been up to that responsibility. Hes a decent two-way player, but hasnt provided the offence to fill a scoring role; at least not yet. Playoff hero Bryan Bickell is due for a substantial raise as an unrestricted free agent. Bickell is a complementary player, albeit one with good size and decent hands, but he can play in the top nine for just about any club, which means hes going to have no shortage of free agent suitors. If Bickell and Viktor Stalberg move on as free agents, there could be some openings up front. For years the Blackhawks have been just getting by in the second-line centre spot. If they want to make a push for a veteran free agent -- Stephen Weiss, Derek Roy, Vincent Lecavalier -- they might have the resources to make that kind of move and, as a championship contender, might be able to get players to take a little bit less to join the team. Returning Defence Player Rating GP G A PTS +/- Cap Hit Duncan Keith 77.11 47 3 24 27 +16 $5.538M Brent Seabrook 72.31 47 8 12 20 +12 $5.8M Johnny Oduya 71.38 48 3 9 12 +12 $3.383M Niklas Hjalmarsson 67.09 46 2 8 10 +15 $3.5M Sheldon Brookbank 59.86 26 1 0 1 -2 $1.25M Steve Montador $2.75M Free Agent Defence Player Rating GP G A PTS +/- Class 12-13 Cap Hit Michal Rozsival 71.43 27 0 12 12 +18 UFA $2.0M Nick Leddy 69.41 48 6 12 18 +15 RFA $1.167M Bruins Defence Usage Chart from somekindofninja.com One of the very best puck possession defencemen in the game when hes on, like he was in the playoffs, Duncan Keith actually played his fewest minutes per game (24:07) since 2006-2007 during the regular season. Brent Seabrook also played less, his 22 minutes per game his fewest since 2007-2008, which is a testament to the trust that the coaching staff has in Johnny Oduya and Niklas Hjalmarsson, yet at the same time, Seabrook was seeing his ice time cut early in the Blackhawks playoff run; then he scored two huge overtime goals on the way to a Stanley Cup win and winning tends to erase any concerns about a possible decline in Seabrooks play. Adding Johnny Oduya from Winnipeg at the 2012 trade deadline has turned out to be an outstanding addition to the Blackhawks, a much-needed presence with mobility and good passing skills to play in their top four on the blueline. Niklas Hjalmarsson rounds out the top four, playing a career-high 20:54 per game in 2013 and finishing a career-best plus-15. Hjalmarsson has good size, moves well and has been a strong possession player over the last four seasons. Sheldon Brookbank is a tough extra defenceman. As long as hes not asked to do too much, though, he can be a serviceable option on the third pair. Concussions have derailed Steve Montadors career, though he did get into 14 games with Rockford last season. With a couple years left on his contract, and questions about whether hell be a viable regular going forward, its understandable that hes going to get bought out this summer. A tremendous skater and puck mover whose role was greatly reduced last season, Nick Leddy has lots of potential, but will need to improve his play without the puck in order to earn the trust of the coaching staff. He still had nice possession stats in 2013, but played nearly five minutes fewer per game and his usage was much more sheltered. He was exposed at times in the playoffs, but hes 22, hell get better. If the Blackhawks promote prospect Adam Clendening to replace free agent Michal Rozsival, they could still have a very similar defensive core going into next season. With such a strong group, stability is a bonus. Returning Goaltender Player Rating GP W L OTL GAA SV% Cap Hit Corey Crawford 87.22 30 19 5 5 1.94 .926 $2.667M Free Agent Goaltender Player Rating GP W L OTL GAA SV% Class 12-13 Cap Hit Ray Emery 81.90 21 17 1 0 1.94 .922 UFA $1.15M Corey Crawford rebounded from a down 2011-2012 season to post a career-best .926 save percentage and even if his playoff performance had some ups and downs, he finished with a .932 save percentage while playing every minute of all 23 games for the Blackhawks. Winning a Stanley Cup should help Crawfords rep, but another strong season with a .920-plus save percentage would command more respect too. Since Ray Emery should have an opportunity to compete for a starting job somewhere as a free agent, Finnish goalie Antti Raanta may be given first crack at the backup job. Top Prospects Player Pos. Team/League Stats Teuvo Teravainen C Jokerit (SML) 13-18-31, +2, 44 GP Phillip Danault C Moncton (QMJHL) 23-62-85, +16, 56 GP Mark McNeill C Prince Albert (WHL) 25-42-67,+4, 65 GP Brandon Pirri C Rockford (AHL) 22-53-75, +11, 76 GP Adam Clendening D Rockford (AHL) 9-37-46, +17, 73 GP Jeremy Morin RW Rockford (AHL) 30-28-58, +2, 67 GP Antti Raanta G Assat Pori (SML) 29-10-11, 1.85 GAA, .943 SV% Jimmy Hayes RW Rockford (AHL) 25-20-45, even, 67 GP Ben Smith RW Rockford (AHL) 27-20-47, +17, 54 GP Drew LeBlanc C St. Cloud St. (WCHA) 13-37-50, +14, 42 GP The 18th pick in last summers draft, Teuvo Teravainen is on the small side, but hes a skilled playmaker who could be a first-line player if he gets strong enough to handle that role in North America. Drafted 26th in 2011, Phillip Danault doesnt have standout skills, but is a solid, smart player who will compete for a job with the Blackhawks soon. Mark McNeill is a physically strong two-way centre who should be quick to contend for a job soon, but its questionable whether hell score enough to fill an offensive role. Brandon Pirri has already played three AHL seasons, scoring nearly a point-per-game last season and just turned 22, which has to put him in consideration for an NHL job before much longer. A talented puck-moving defenceman, Adam Clendening had a terrific first pro season. If the Blackhawks want to improve their puck skills on the back end, hes a candidate to move up when there is ice time available. 22-year-old winger Jeremy Morin has scored 48 goals and racked up 207 penalty minutes over the last two years in the AHL. Perhaps hes a touch closer to the league than some of the younger prospects, having scored five points in 15 AHL games, but thats a lot of guys pushing for jobs. Signed as a free agent, 24-year-old Antti Raanta has been dominant in Finland over the last couple seasons, putting an exclamation point on his career there with a .955 save percentage in 16 playoff games. With Ray Emery an unrestricted free agent, its entirely possible that Raanta will open next season as the number two behind Corey Crawford. 6-foot-6 winger Jimmy Hayes has 13 points in 41 career games with the Blackhawks and finished the AHL season strong, scoring 28 points in his last 29 games. While the Blackhawks have a very strong group of forward prospects, Ben Smith is a 24-year-old that has a little more experience and has fit, from time-to-time in a fourth-line role with the Blackhawks. Reigning Hobey Baker winner Drew LeBlanc had a very productive career at St. Cloud State, scoring 101 points in 90 games over the last three seasons. Lots of forwards in the mix for jobs in Chicago over the next few seasons. Additionally, defencemen Stephen Johns and Dylan Olsen, winger Garret Ross and goaltenders Kent Simpson and Mac Carruth are all worth tracking. For a team that just won the Stanley Cup, the Blackhawks prospect cupboard is quite well stocked. DRAFT 30th - Morgan Klimchuk, Ryan Hartman, J.T. Compher. FREE AGENCY According to www.capgeek.com, the Blackhawks have approximately $60.0M committed to the 2013-2014 salary cap for 18 players. Check out my possible Blackhawks lineup for next season on Cap Geek here. Needs: One top six forward, depth forwards, one or two defencemen, backup goaltender. What I said the Blackhawks needed last year: One top six forward, depth forwards, depth defencemen. They added: Brandon Saad, Jamal Mayers, Michal Rozsival. TRADE MARKET Dave Bolland, Michael Frolik, Daniel Carcillo, prospects. Scott Cullen can be reached at Scott.Cullen@bellmedia.ca and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. 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NFL Nation reporters assess the biggest injuries across the league for Week 11.AFC East | AFC North| AFC South | AFC West NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC WestAFC EASTBuffalo BillsRex Ryan says the Bills are healthier than theyve been in a while, and hes right. DT Marcell Dareus, however, remains the biggest injury question mark. He was limited in Wednesdays practice because of a groin injury that kept him out of a Nov. 7 loss to Seattle. Signs are pointing to him being available this Sunday in Cincinnati, though. -- Mike RodakMiami DolphinsStarting left tackle Branden Albert is ruled out for Sundays game in Los Angeles because of a wrist injury. Albert dislocated his left wrist and returned to last weeks game with a cast, but Miami figured the long-term risk continuing to play Albert, who is one of the teams most important offensive linemen, was too much this week. -- James WalkerNew England PatriotsTom Brady (right quad) said he should be ready for action, but one thing that bears monitoring is how much he practices this week. Meanwhile, Rob Gronkowski (chest) took a big hit from safety Earl Thomas and said the wind was knocked out of him, but that isnt all, as he is injured and it could affect his status for Sundays game. It doesnt get much bigger than those two players for the Patriots, who also have WR Chris Hogan (back) on the injury report. Gronkowski was the only player not present at Wednesdays practice.?-- Mike ReissNew York JetsThe Jets have a bye week to get healthy. The headline injury is Ryan Fitzpatricks left-knee sprain, which kept him on the bench last week. He looked fine Tuesday in practice, but Fitzpatrick has said there could be stability issues. On Monday, Todd Bowles will announce his QB decision: Fitzpatrick or Bryce Petty.?-- Rich CiminiAFC NORTHBaltimore RavensCornerback Jimmy Smith missed Wednesdays practice because of a back injury, but the Ravens dont seem too concerned. He should be out there Sunday, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. Baltimore plays the Cowboys on Sunday and will rely on Smith to match up against Dez Bryant. Overall, it was a good day for the Ravens, who watched four injured players (guard Marshal Yanda, linebackers Elvis Dumervil and Kamalei Correa and cornerback Shareece Wright) return to practice. -- Jamison HensleyCincinnati BengalsRey Maualuga (fibula) appeared at practice for the first time since last week, but he was simply working off to the side. That doesnt change their game plan much, as Maualugas playing time is dependent on the game and has been sporadic. The Bengals also have to make a decision as to whether they want to activate Brandon Thompson, who tore his ACL last season, off the physically unable to perform list. -- Katherine TerrellCleveland BrownsRobert Griffin III was cleared for non-contact work Wednesday, but the Browns did not designate him to return, and he cant practice until they do. The signs all point to Griffin returning -- if he can -- on Dec. 11 against Cincinnati. That would give him two weeks plus a bye to get himself fully healthy. -- Pat McManamonPittsburgh SteelersWith defensive end Cam Heyward out for the season because of a pectoral injury, the Steelers could use former first-round pick Bud Dupree to crack the lineup. Dupree is still on injured reserve because of a groin injury but is practicing with the team. He wants to play this week. Getting his game-ready explosion back is the final step, he says. After the Steelers run-defense issues against Dallas, the group needs support, and a few sacks. -- Jeremy FowlerAFC SOUTHHouston TexansNT Vince Wilfork (groin), WR Will Fuller (leg) and CB A.J. Bouye (ankle) all practiced Wednesday after missing Sundays game against the Jaguars. All three are day-to-day, and because the Texans play Monday night, there was no injury report Wednesday. RB Lamar Miller said his shoulder was feeling a lot better than it did the past two games, but he still has been limited, playing less than he was at the beginning of the season. On Sunday, he had 15 carries for 83 yards. -- Sarah BarshopIndianapolis ColtsThe Colts are dealing with some minor injuries but nothing they didnt expect. In fact theyre on pace to have their entire starting offensive unit for the first time since Week 1 against Tennessee on Sunday. The only lingering question mark is guard Denzelle Good, who missed practice Wednesday because of an illness. Continuity is great, having all the playmakers that you have on the outside, all the skill positions available and healthy certainly doesnt hurt, coach Chuck Pagano said. -- Mike WellsJacksonville JaguarsThe Jaguars are surprisingly healthy considering how late in the season it is. Several players have nagging injuries -- such as RT Jermey Parnell (groin), LT Kelvin Beachum (knee) and WR Marqise Lee (ankle) -- but they are all expected to play against Detroit on Sunday. The Jaguars cant use injuries as an excuse for being 2-7. ?-- Mike DiRoccoTennessee TitansThe Titans remain exceptionally healthy. Only one player is on the injury report so far this week. And Wednesdays off might be the way things go for DeMarco Murray the rest of the way. The Titans havent had their bye yet, and while Mike Mularkey said Monday that Murrays toe was better the day after the game than it was the week before, the team is being cautious with the player who gets the most touches on offense. -- Paul KuharskyAFC WESTDenver BroncosThe Broncos are on their bye and one player who could certainly use that rest is QB Trevor Siemian. Siemian has missed one start, then played with a left shoulder injury he suffered in the teams Week 4 win in Tampa. He was battered last Sunday in the win over New Orleans, having been sacked six times and hit another 11 times in the pocket. He received an injection in his non-throwing shoulder before adjourning for the bye, as the team hoped the injury would settle down a bit during the time off. He was also held out of most of Tuesdays practice to give him a break from throwing. Siemian said, just before the team left for the days off that the rest will be good, but Ill be ready to go when we come back. -- Jeff LegwoldKansas City ChiefsCB Marcus Peters didnt practice Wednesday because of a hip pointer, but the Chiefs dont appear concerned he will miss Sundays game against the Buccaneers. Peters was injured in Sundays win over Carolina. After missing a couple of snaps, Peters not only finished the game but made one of the biggest plays by forcing and recovering a fumble in the final minute to set up the winning field goal. -- Adam TeicherOakland RaidersThe Raiders returned from their bye Wednesday with a light walkthrough given that they are essentially a day behind with a Monday Night Football affair in Mexico City against the Texans up next. As such, there were no updates on the injured duo of DT Stacy McGee, who has missed the past two games because of a hurt ankle, and CB Sean Smith, who sat out Oaklands most recent game because of a shoulder issue. Thursdays practice should tell more of the tale. -- Paul GutierrezSan Diego ChargersThe Chargers could use a boost to the passing game from receiver Travis Benjamin, who has been dealing with a sprained right knee he suffered late in the game against the Raiders in Week 5. Benjamin played only seven snaps two weeks ago against the Titans, and sat out San Diegos loss to the Dolphins last week. The Chargers hope with another seven days rest during the bye week that Benjamin can return to the field for a Week 12 contest against the Texans. -- Eric D. WilliamsNFC EASTDallas CowboysThe Cowboys are at the point in the season when its about maintenance. Tyron Smith has back and hip flexor injuries he is playing through. Doug Free has had leg issues. DeMarcus Lawrence has back and shoulder issues. The Cowboys want to make sure those players are ready for game day, if not a practice. Because they have played a lot of games, the Cowboys are confident they will be able to handle limited practice work and still be able to play effectively. Safety Barry Church has started doing resistance training in his rehab from forearm surgery. -- Todd ArcherNew York GiantsWWR Victor Cruz is trying to make it back after missing Monday nights win over the Bengals because of an ankle injury.ddddddddddddCruz was listed as a limited participant in practice Wednesday, but barring a setback, should be able to play Sunday against the Bears. The Giants missed him against the Bengals as rookie Roger Lewis struggled in his place. Cruz is unlikely to return in a full-time role this weekend, but he would be a welcome addition to the rotation. -- Jordan RaananPhiladelphia EaglesTE Zach Ertz was limited in practice Wednesday because of a hamstring injury. With 14 catches for 152 yards over his past two games, Ertz has been a bigger factor in the offense of late. This is a key injury to watch in front of Sundays game against Seattle. Starting CB Nolan Carroll remains in concussion protocol. Fellow corner Leodis McKelvin says hell play despite a hamstring injury. -- Tim McManusWashington RedskinsWR DeSean Jackson was limited Wednesday because of a rotator cuff injury in his left shoulder. Thats a good sign, but Redskins coach Jay Gruden said they still have no idea if Jackson will be available for Sundays game against Green Bay. Jackson did not play last week but also never attempted to practice. The Redskins want to make sure his range of motion has fully returned and that, because they play again four days later, he wont hurt himself worse. At one point this appeared to be a two-week injury, but there is a level of hope. How much so, though, remains to be seen. -- John KeimNFC NORTHChicago BearsThe Bears finally got some good news, as RB Jordan Howards name did not appear on Wednesdays injury report. Coach John Fox said after Chicagos 36-10 loss to Tampa that Howard suffered either an ankle or Achilles injury. But Howard practiced without restrictions Wednesday, meaning he should start Sunday in New York. NT Eddie Goldman (ankle) and RT Bobby Massie (concussion) were among the players to sit out. Fox hinted Massie could be back soon, but defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said Goldman had a setback versus the Bucs. Goldman missed six weeks this year because of a high ankle sprain. -- Jeff DickersonDetroit LionsDeAndre Levy (knee) returned to practice Wednesday for the first time since Week 1, but practicing and playing in a game are two different things. Detroit has typically been conservative when players are coming back from injuries, so his practice level will be monitored throughout the week. This, though, is a good sign the Lions will have their best linebacker -- and their top coverage linebacker -- back for their attempted run at the playoffs. Detroit is pretty healthy overall as the bye gave players time to rest. -- Michael RothsteinGreen Bay PackersClay Matthews has been down this road before: less than two weeks ago, he returned to practice and proclaimed himself ready to play, only to experience a setback with his hamstring injury. The Pro Bowl outside linebacker was back on the practice field Wednesday, but until he makes it through an entire week without a problem, it wont be safe to assume hell return. The concern on the other side of the ball is with the offensive line, where LT David Bakhtiari (knee) and RG T.J. Lang (ankle) couldnt finish last Sundays game. Bakhtiari practiced with a brace on his right knee Wednesday, but Lang was not on the field. -- Rob DemovskyMinnesota VikingsCaptain Munnerlyn (ankle) missed last Sundays game because of an ankle injury, and the Vikings got a reminder of how much they need their nickel cornerback in a loss to the Redskins. Munnerlyn wasnt able to practice Wednesday, and given how many ways the Cardinals can attack Minnesotas defense, the Vikings will hope Munnerlyn is able to return for Sundays game at U.S. Bank Stadium. He did some work in practice last Friday, and was working on the side with members of the Vikings training staff on Wednesday. -- Ben GoesslingNFC SOUTHAtlanta FalconsThe timing for the return of Pro Bowl CB Desmond Trufant remains up in the air as Trufant continues to recover from a shoulder/pectoral injury. Falcons coach Dan Quinn says he firmly expects Trufant back this season despite the alarming pectoral aspect related to the injury. In fact, Quinn is hopeful Trufant will return to practice next week after the bye in preparation for the Falcons next game against Arizona on Nov. 27. If Trufant remains sidelined, second-year player Jalen Collins will continue to receive increased time as the starter. -- Vaughn McClureCarolina PanthersCenter Ryan Kalil is listed as questionable for Thursday nights game against New Orleans, but coach Ron Rivera called it a good questionable. In other words, Kalil will start after missing the past two games because of a shoulder injury. Thats good news for QB Cam Newton, who took two sacks and threw a pick-six on Sunday because of pressure up the middle due to miscommunication. Thats also good for the running game that has struggled without the five-time Pro Bowler. As Newton said, Kalil is his hidden jewel. -- David NewtonNew Orleans SaintsCB Delvin Breaux is questionable after missing practice this week. Its unclear if he suffered a setback after returning two weeks ago from a broken fibula, or if the Saints are just giving him extra rest on a short week. But it would be a big blow if he is out or limited on Thursday night, since hes their best and most physical cornerback -- their best bet to match up against physical Panthers WR Kelvin Benjamin. -- Mike TriplettTampa Bay BuccaneersCenter Joe Hawley missed last weeks game because of a knee injury, and his replacement, Evan Smith, could be out multiple weeks because of a Grade 2 MCL sprain. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken said Wednesday that he was hopeful Hawley could play. Last week, Ben Gottschalk, who got his first time in an NFL game, had to take over for Smith. Gottschalk hadnt snapped the ball to QB Jameis Winston since training camp last year. Going into such a hostile place like Arrowhead Stadium, where nonverbal communication is imperative for Winston and his offensive line, they really need Hawley back. -- Jenna LaineNFC WESTArizona CardinalsTheres really no way WR Larry Fitzgerald would miss Sundays game in Minnesota despite being sore with ankle and knee injuries. But no one should be surprised if Fitzgerald plays through whatever pain hes in to have a monster game. Thats just how he is. But other question marks will be S Deone Bucannon (ankle) and DT Corey Peters (foot). -- Josh WeinfussLos Angeles RamsDE Robert Quinn admitted himself to a local hospital Monday morning with a non-football-related illness, and though he was back observing practice by Tuesday, Quinns status for Sundays game against the Dolphins remains in question. Quinn is the Rams best edge rusher, a man who can steal some of the attention away from star defensive tackle Aaron Donald. The Rams could also be without their main backup defensive end, Eugene Sims, who is going through the concussion protocol. -- Alden GonzalezSan Francisco 49ersCB Rashard Robinson made significant progress in his return from a sprained knee last week when he returned to practice on a limited basis and was questionable for the game against Arizona. Robinson even went through a light workout before that game. He looks as if hes progressing toward getting back in this week, which would be good for a 49ers secondary that was scorched for 376 yards by Carson Palmer last week, and now faces Tom Brady & Co. this week. -- Nick WagonerSeattle SeahawksRB Thomas Rawls (fibula) is expected to play Sunday for the first time since Week 2. If he makes it through the week, hes going to play considerably because hes in great shape, and hes ready to do that, Pete Carroll said. But were not going to overplay him or try to take it too far too soon. The Seahawks will most likely ease Rawls back in. Expect C.J. Prosise to lead the team in touches against the Eagles, but Rawls should be in the mix. And the coaches are hoping the tandem can lead the run game down the stretch. -- Sheil Kapadia ' ' '