Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo has a punctured lung in addition to his fractured rib, ESPN.com reported Monday night.

The report cited a source within the organization and said that the lung puncture does not change Romo's prognosis for next week's game, a Monday night affair vs. Washington.

“I would not think there's any reason to think that he won't play Monday,” coach Jason Garrett told reporters Monday. “We're certainly hopeful.”

Romo, who wears a rib protector beneath his uniform, also said that he will play vs. Washington.

Romo suffered the injury in the first half of Sunday's win over San Francisco when he was hit from behind by cornerback Carlos Rogers. Romo returned from the locker room before the start of the third quarter, but veteran backup Jon Kitna began the second half.

Romo returned to the locker room, then returned to the contest after Kitna threw a second interception. He completed 12 of his final 15 passes for 201 yards.

Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak told reporters Monday that Ben Tate will take over as the team's lead running back until Arian Foster is healthy.

Foster led the NFL in rushing last season. He has been bothered by a hamstring injury since preseason, missing the season opener and aggravating the injury in Sunday's win at Miami after collecting 33 yards on 10 carries.

Tate has been spectacular in Foster's absence, running for 116 yards and a touchdown in the season opener vs. Indianapolis and adding 103 at Miami.

The Texans also have Derrick Ward and Steve Slaton at running back, but Ward missed Sunday's game with an ankle injury and Slaton is used primarily on third down.

Kubiak also said that wide receiver Kevin Walter, who missed Sunday's game with a shoulder injury, likely will return next Sunday vs. New Orleans.

Green Bay Packers safety Nick Collins is out for the season with a neck injury.

The Packers did not immediately put Collins on the injured reserve list. An initial CT scan of his neck came back negative.

Collins was carted off the field on a stretcher in the fourth quarter of Sunday's win at Carolina after his head slammed into the thigh of Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart. He remained hospitalized overnight in Charlotte, N.C.

Collins has made the Pro Bowl after each of the last three seasons. He returned an interception for a touchdown in Green Bay's Super Bowl win over Pittsburgh.

The Packers likely will use Charlie Peprah at strong safety and Morgan Burnett at free safety. Last season, they won the Super Bowl despite placing 13 players on injured reserve.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick argued his case to return to Sunday night's game at Atlanta with the coaching staff after being sidelined with a concussion, NBCSports.com reported Monday.

Vick left the game late in the third quarter when he was tackled into his own teammate, snapping his neck back and causing him to bite his tongue. He went to the locker room but returned to the sidelines in the fourth quarter.

Vick was replaced by third-stringer Mike Kafka, who completed 7-of-9 passes for 72 yards. His only incompletions were a fourth-down drop by Jeremy Maclin that would have extended a potential go-ahead drive and a “Hail Mary” on the game's final play.

Without Vick, the Eagles surrendered a 10-point lead and lost, 35-31.

On Monday, Eagles trainer Rick Burkholder classified Vick's concussion as “minor,” adding that the star quarterback was “just a little bit off” when tested after taking the shot to the head. Burkholder also said it was too early to say whether Vick would play vs. the New York Giants on Sunday.

Injuries are always a concern with Vick, who is as dangerous as a runner as he is as a passer. He is 15th in the NFL in rushing with 122 yards on just 17 carries.

Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles, who suffered a torn left ACL on Sunday, was placed on the injured reserve list Monday, ending his season.

Charles suffered the injury during the first quarter of Sunday's loss to Detroit. The fourth-year back was running toward the sideline when he took a pair of awkward steps and tumbled into a mascot. He was carted off the field and did not return.

The loss of Charles is a huge blow to the reeling Chiefs, who have been outscored, 89-10, in their first two games after winning 10 games and a division title a year ago.

Charles ran for 1,467 yards and five TDs last season, averaging a staggering 6.4 yards per carry.

Kansas City's rushing duties will be shared by Thomas Jones and Dexter McCluster, who combined for 91 yards on 20 carries vs. Detroit.

The Cincinnati Bengals on Monday placed wide receiver Jordan Shipley on the injured reserve list with a torn left ACL.

Shipley will miss the rest of the season. He suffered the injury in the third quarter of Sunday's 24-22 loss at Denver after catching four passes for 14 yards in the season's first two games.

Shipley had been splitting time as the slot receiver with Andre Caldwell. He caught 52 passes for 600 yards and three TDs as a rookie last season.

Jacksonville Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio refused to name a starting quarterback for next week's game at Carolina.

Del Rio spoke to reporters Monday, one day after starter Luke McCown was benched for poor play in a 32-3 loss to the New York Jets and replaced by rookie Blaine Gabbert.

“If we decide to make a change at any position, I will let you know when it's appropriate,” Del Rio said.

The admitted that McCown “struggled” but his staff was still “evaluating tape.”

There won't bee much to see from McCown, who was just 6-of-19 for 59 yards and four interceptions before being replaced by Gabbert. The first-round pick was 5-of-6 for 52 yards in mop-up duty.

The Jaguars overhauled their quarterback position when they waived starter David Garrard less than a week before the season opener in a cost-cutting move. That seemed to clear a path for Gabbert, but Del Rio named McCown the starter.

McCown threw for 175 yards without a pick in a season-opening win over Tennessee.

Carolina Panthers middle linebacker Thomas Davis has torn his right ACL for the third straight season, an injury that could jeopardize his career.

Davis underwent an MRI on Monday that revealed the tear. He suffered the injury in Sunday's loss to Green Bay.

From 2005-08, Davis missed just two games while increasing his tackles and sacks each season. He first tore his right ACL in Week 9 of the 2009 season and missed all of last season due to the second tear.

NBCSports.com reported that the Panthers can cut Davis after this season and incur no more costs on the five-year, $36.5 million contract he signed this summer.

According to the report, Davis has an $8 million option bonus for 2012 that can be voided if the Panthers cut him within the first three days of the next NFL fiscal year beginning in March.

The injury is terrible news for the Panthers, who already had lost fellow linebacker Jon Beason for the season to an Achilles' injury.

To plug the growing hole, the Panthers claimed linebacker Jason Phillips off waivers from the Baltimore Ravens. Phillips was a 2009 fifth-round pick who played nine games last season.

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll confirmed Monday that wide receiver Sidney Rice is dealing with a damaged labrum in his shoulder.

The team initially denied reports that Rice had suffered a labrum injury, but Carroll reversed course during Monday's weekly news conference.

Rice has yet to play this season, and will likely miss at least one more week.

The 25-year-old is in his first season with Seattle after spending his first four years with the Minnesota Vikings.

The New York Jets will be without Nick Mangold indefinitely after the veteran center suffered a high ankle sprain Sunday.

Mangold was injured late in the first quarter of the Jets' one-sided win over Jacksonville after his leg was rolled over by a Jaguars player.

An MRI confirmed the injury, which will likely keep the 27-year-old out of action for several weeks.

Undrafted rookie Colin Baxter took over after Mangold went down, and will likely get the start this weekend against the Oakland Raiders.