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Some returns from injury likely to be happier than others

By Bob Harris, Special to SI.com

Anquan Boldin, who had 101 catches last season, has missed all season with a knee injury. Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images

Trying to turn the inordinate number of offensive skill players injured so far this season into a positive, one notion pops immediately to mind: The injured tend to return to action.

Of course, some returns will be happier than others.

Here's a look at three legitimate fantasy threats slated to return to action over the next two weekends and an assessment of the potential impact each will have.

Joe Jurevicius, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: According to The Associated Press, the veteran receiver practiced for the first time this season Wednesday and expects to play Sunday against the Chicago Bears after being sidelined most of the past year by knee and back injuries.

One of the keys to the Bucs' Super Bowl run two years ago, Jurevicius was poised to have a breakout season in 2003 when he tore the medial collateral ligament in his right knee in the second game.

He played sparingly in three other games before being placed on injured reserve on Dec. 2 and undergoing surgery. He was optimistic about being healthy for the start of training camp, but hurt his back in June and wound up having surgery the first week of August and going on the reserve non-football injury list.

Injuries to Jurevicius, fellow receiver Joey Galloway and running back Charlie Garner have hurt the offense, as has the contract holdout by last year's leading receiver, Keenan McCardell, traded Tuesday to San Diego.

However, after putting up at least 20 points in each of the last two weeks, hopes in Tampa are running high and Jurevicius' return seems to add to the excitement.

"I thought he looked good," head coach Jon Gruden said after watching the former Penn State star practice. "I expect him to go out and play.

"He impacted our offense a couple of years ago and was off to a great start [in 2003]. ... If he's right physically, there's no telling how he can impact the game."

Although Jurevicius isn't sure how much he'll be able to play against the Bears, he's confident he will be able to contribute.

"As much running as I have been doing, nothing is going to get me in shape except playing the game of football," Jurevicius said. "I don't know if I can go out this Sunday and play 60 plays.

"I told [Gruden], I can give you some solid plays, whether it's blocking, catching or just being an instrumental part of the offense."

With Charles Lee listed as doubtful and unable to practice, some observers believe Jurevicius will see considerable action opposite Mark Clayton in two-receiver sets starting this Sunday.

Even if they don't click this weekend, the notion of two big, physical receivers with the kind of big-play capabilities Clayton and Jurevicius bring to the table has to be very appealing to fantasy owners.

Anquan Boldin, WR, Arizona Cardinals: Boldin is nearly ready to return to the lineup for the first time since being sidelined two months ago by knee surgery.

According to the AP, last season's NFL Rookie of the Year put on the pads Wednesday for the first time since injuring his right knee in training camp. He went through two hours of individual rehabilitation, then said he expects to resume practice Monday and should be ready to play at Buffalo on Oct. 31.

Head coach Dennis Green has said Nov. 7 might be the return date, but Boldin doesn't think he needs any extra time.

"Not the way my body feels," he said. "I think whenever you go through an injury like this, your body tells you when you're ready. My body hasn't told me anything different yet."

For what it's worth, Pro Football Weekly advised readers Monday that -- judging by the way he was moving around in informal passing drills during the Cardinals' bye week -- sources in Arizona believe the odds that Boldin will be ready to go in time for the Oct. 31 game at Buffalo keep improving.

According to the Arizona Republic, Boldin insists he won't need more than a week of practice, and that if he plays next week, it wouldn't be unfair to expect him to perform like the Boldin who caught a rookie-record 101 passes last season.

"It's not unfair, because that's what I'm expecting," Boldin said. "I wouldn't come back if I wasn't healthy. I'm looking to go out there and make plays.

"I'm comfortable with that [a week's practice]. I've had numerous weeks of working on it, and a lot of it has been football specific. One week of practice -- actually, one week of official practice -- and I'll be more than comfortable."

By all accounts, rookie receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who would almost certainly see fewer double-teams, will benefit greatly from Boldin's return.

Adding to the interest here would be the fact that Josh McCown has compiled a quarterback rating in the 90s the past three weeks and has thrown three touchdown passes and been intercepted just once.

Michael Bennett, RB, Minnesota Vikings: According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Bennett remains on track to make his 2004 debut Sunday against Tennessee. Coaches project he will take between five and seven carries behind rookie starter Mewelde Moore and veteran backup Moe Williams.

But for the first time since the team selected him with the 27th overall pick of the 2001 draft, Bennett's status as the team's No. 1 back is in question.

Moore has played well enough in two starts to remain on the field, and the suspended Onterrio Smith will return in two weeks to further complicate the backfield picture.

Because of those complications, Bennett, who has missed 13 of the team's past 21 games because of various injuries, has little choice but to compete with the others for a starting role that once appeared to be his alone.

Perhaps Bennett, the Vikings and fantasy owners can find comfort in this injury-related fact: Of his 2,425 career rushing yards, almost 76 percent have come in games later than Oct. 26.

But given the remarkable surplus of post-trade deadline backfield talent currently stuck on Minnesota's roster, Bennett's return will only muddy the fantasy waters, making it more difficult for owners to gauge the true weekly potential of all involved -- a situation that will only worsen when Smith comes off suspension.

Bob Harris is Editor and Webmaster of the TFL Report and Senior Editor for Fantasy Sports Publications.