By Bob Harris, Special to SI.com, FootballDiehards

2. No Better Excuse Than An Injury. With all indications currently pointing toward David Garrard replacing Byron Leftwich as the Jaguars' starting QB this Sunday, the long-time backup could get a prime chance to showcase his talents on the same field with the league's leading touchdown-passes and yards-passing leader, Donovan McNabb.

Not that demonstrating his ability is the prime objective.

"I'm really tired of trying to showcase," Garrard said of using Sunday's game to interest teams in trading for him. "I want to help this team get a win. If it's just having an OK game and pulling out a win, then a win is a win."

Garrard's mobility might be an asset against the Eagles pass rush, which has produced 25 sacks. Powerfully built and athletic, some observers will tell you Garrard has raw skills similar to those of McNabb, who is also the NFL's second-leading rusher among quarterbacks.

"If they don't think he can do it here, I'm pretty sure he can do it somewhere else. He can start in Dallas," running back Fred Taylor said of Garrard.

Taylor might be right. But I still think the real question isn't whether Garrard can start for another team. Right now the question is how hard he can make it for Leftwich to move back in as the starter once the former first-round draft pick's ailing ankle is better?

Let's face it, Leftwich's lack of mobility, while certainly not helped by a bad wheel, isn't anything new. I'll also remind you the Jags have lost three of their past four games -- the team's worst stretch since losing four of five during the 2004 season.

While Leftwich has completed 59 percent of his passes and has seven touchdown passes, he's been sacked nine times and has a rather pedestrian passer rating of 79.0.

That's not going to work for head coach Jack Del Rio. Asked if there's a concern about Leftwich being more consistent, the coach said on Monday: "Playing good is a whole lot better than not. Questions are raised when you don't play well."

Of course, we'll get a whole new set of questions if Garrard starts and leads the Jaguars to victory this weekend.

3. Suspension Over -- Or Is It? Bengals receiver Chris Henry returned to the practice field Wednesday for the first time since his two-week suspension, but head coach Marvin Lewis said a decision to play him wouldn't come until Sunday. The Bengals have a roster exemption this week, but would have to make room on the roster for him if he's going to play.

Henry was benched by the Bengals for one game and suspended by the NFL for two more. He's eligible to play Sunday against Atlanta, a decision that is up to Lewis.

Kelley Washington (hamstring) is out. Antonio Chatman (groin) was downgraded to doubtful on Thursday. The remaining healthy bodies at wideout in Cincinnati are starters Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh and rookies Glenn Holt and Reggie McNeal.

You have to imagine it will be hard to sit Henry. Consider this: Johnson has yet to match Henry's two-TD output, despite playing three more games. Lewis owes it a team that's been held to 13, 13 and 17 points without Henry while going 1-2 in his absence.

4. Playmaker On The Rise? Raider running back LaMont Jordan was a late scratch last Sunday after his sore back tightened up in pre-game warmups and the former Jet has yet to hit the practice field this week. But injured or not, Jordan is going to continue losing time to Justin Fargas.

According to those who follow the team closely, coaches are convinced Fargas provides the offense a big-play threat Jordan -- and so far this season, the passing attack -- simply can't match.

5. Getting His Wish. Cedric Benson wants the ball more and the Bears are going to oblige him. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Benson's number has been called more in practice and in walk-throughs, a tip of more responsibilities to come. Don't expect a change in the lineup -- Jones is not going to relinquish his job -- but for a variety of reasons Benson will get more steady work.

One reason: The Bears are ranked 24th in rushing, averaging only 97.7 yards per game and some are suggesting that Jones is part of the problem. According to Pro Football Weekly, Jones had trouble getting to the edge and making even one defender miss against Arizona.

I noticed the same thing. The veteran simply didn't seem to have the burst necessary to make a move.

Another reason: The club's $16 million investment in Benson. At some point, money does talk.

Whatever the case, Benson's undeniable talents will make him a factor if coaches make good on their promise to play him more. And all indications are they will.

Bob Harris is co-founder of the FootballDiehards Web site and senior editor at FSP Inc., publisher of Fantasy Football Pro Forecast, DraftBook, CheatSheets and Football Diehards magazines. He is a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association.