• The Patriots remain hopeful that both RB Fred Taylor (knee) and WR Julian Edelman (broken arm) will return to the team this season. Both are significant losses, though Laurence Maroney's breakout against the Titans might be the wake-up call he needed. A key figure in the next few weeks could be old reliable Kevin Faulk. Not only can he fill the need as a runner but as a receiver (the Patriots are short on pass catchers right now) and pass blocker. He also can return punts, which Edelman did, in a pinch.

• Although the Bills were widely reported to have put WR Roscoe Parrish on the trading block, we hear a deal didn't get done prior to last week's deadline because the team didn't receive any serious offers. Too small at 171 pounds to be more than a gimmick player on offense, Parrish's main responsibilities are in the return game, but a blunder in Week Five that likely cost Buffalo the game against Cleveland certainly didn't help boost Parrish's trade value.

• Dolphins OLB Matt Roth said he wants to contribute after becoming eligible to return from the physically-unable-to-perform list on Oct. 21, but sources say it will take some time before the fifth-year veteran gets many opportunities on game day, and there's no guarantee he'll suit up this season. He'll need to regain the confidence of his coaches before he sees substantial snaps, and there are some who suggest he's not in good standing with Bill Parcells and other members of the front office. Roth is stuck behind Jason Taylor and Cameron Wake, who are firmly entrenched in their positions, on the depth chart and is already dealing with an ankle injury after a groin injury nagged him while he was on the PUP list.

• Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed what was widely suspected after Rashard Mendenhall got the bulk of the carries vs. Cleveland in Week Six: Mendenhall, not Willie Parker, will get most of the work going forward. While Tomlin left open the possibility that Parker could eventually regain his role as the featured back, we hear Mendenhall would have to significantly struggle for that to happen. The starting job became his to lose when Parker missed a pair of games with turf toe.

• Ravens QB Joe Flacco missed practice leading up to the bye because of an ankle injury, but the injury is not regarded as serious, and he's expected to be back on the field when Baltimore begins preparations for the Nov. 1 game vs. Denver.

• When the Browns drafted Hawaii DE David Veikune in April, they were expected to move him to outside linebacker. Instead, head coach Eric Mangini moved him to inside linebacker, and he could see more playing time with D'Qwell Jackson out for the season with a shoulder injury. "I saw a lot of parallels with him and (Tedy) Bruschi, in terms of body type, in terms of the ability to rush from an inside position, which is unique in itself," Mangini recently said of Veikune. "... I'm not saying that the lines are going to follow exactly the same way; I'm just saying body type, past experience, speed, the ability to come up and take on guards, all those things I thought David would do a real nice job with."

• Bengals rookie ORT Andre Smith (foot) returned to practice this past week and appears on schedule to play after the Week Eight bye. In the interim, the club turned to Dennis Roland at right tackle after Anthony Collins disappointed in the starting role. Collins has not been able to build upon a successful rookie season.

• The way we hear it, the Jaguars were interested in moving second-year DE-OLB Quentin Groves before last week's trade deadline, but there wasn't a market because teams feel Jacksonville will end up cutting Groves, who has been a huge disappointment after being drafted 52nd overall in 2008.

• We hear the Colts feel pretty confident newly acquired Matt Stover will be a more-than-adequate replacement for injured PK Adam Vinatieri, who is expected to miss anywhere from four to eight weeks after undergoing knee surgery. "He's a veteran kicker who can handle pressure," one team insider said of Stover, who also happens to be "real tight" with his hunting buddy Vinatieri. "Stover was the best guy available."

• Titans RB LenDale White left the Week Six loss at New England with a knee injury, but he's expected back for the Nov. 1 game vs. Jacksonville. If White is healthy, he will continue to get carries spelling starter Chris Johnson, and he will remain ahead of rookie Javon Ringer in the pecking order. Ringer was one of the few Titans to play well in the 59-0 debacle vs. the Patriots, breaking a 32-yard run and racking up 47 yards on seven carries. Eventually, Ringer could replace White, who will be an unrestricted free agent if the 2010 league year is under a salary cap and would likely draw interest from other clubs looking for a physical, between-the-tackles runner. But it's not slated to happen this season.

• Daily team observers don't expect Colts CB Marlin Jackson, who is currently out with a strained ACL in his left knee, to be ready to play until the Nov. 8 game against the Texans.

• The shake-ups continue in the Chargers' secondary. After releasing starting SS Clinton Hart following their bye week, the Bolts have now moved rookie Kevin Ellison into the lineup at that spot after it was initially said he would split time there with Steve Gregory. Gregory, meanwhile, is expected to take over as the team's nickel corner for Antoine Cason, who has been benched for still-unknown reasons.

• Feeling as though they were getting sufficient production out of veteran DT Ron Edwards, the Chiefs opted to trade Tank Tyler to the Panthers last week in exchange for a 2010 fifth-round pick. Tyler, a third-round choice in '07, started two games this season but is yet another early selection of the Chiefs' previous regime with whom GM Scott Pioli has parted ways. To fill the void created by Tyler's loss, K.C. signed 32-year-old DT Kenny Smith, who last played an NFL game in '03.

• DT Tommy Kelly disappointed last season after having received a stunning new contract that most observers considered far above his market value. This season, however, Kelly has played better. The addition of Richard Seymour has made an impact on Kelly, as he has been a more consistent performer with the ex-Patriots defensive end providing a steadying presence.

• Some observers are surprised the Raiders have not given Michael Bush more of an opportunity with Darren McFadden sidelined while recovering from knee surgery, but we hear it goes to show just how partial head coach Tom Cable is to Justin Fargas. Cable likes Fargas' violent running style and also feels more comfortable with him than any of his other backs when it comes to pass blocking. Bush missed time in Week Six after suffering what's been described as a blow to the head, but it appears that Cable would have been playing Fargas regardless.

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