Thursday update: News from around the league

Looks like two sleeper WRs are rehabbing at a quicker pace than initially projected. Both Donny Avery and Chaz Schilens are mending their respective broken feet nicely and both are lobbying for an earlier return to action. Avery is even talking like he wants to play in Week 1, but that still seems a remote possibility. Schilens, who was expected to miss 4-6 weeks, is hoping to see the field in the first 2-3 weeks of the regular season.

One thing is certain: Both are absolutely essential components to their team's passing game. In fact, without them, the Rams and Raiders will be virtually worthless through the air. You can bet that their coaches will do everything within reason to get their emerging-star wideouts back in action asap, though they obviously will not want to risk further injury.

Chargers WR Vincent Jackson, expected to be Philip Rivers' primary WR target, sprained a finger on his left hand in practice yesterday. This does not appear to be serious, but we'll keep our finger on the situation nevertheless (sorry...).

Still think Plaxico Burress is worth a late-round flier "just in case" he suits up later this season? Think again. Burress just reached a plea agreement that has him serving a two-year jail sentence stemming from his self-inflicted gun shot wound. Thus ends that unfortunate legal drama.

Brandon Marshall continues to spoil for a trade, and was quoted as saying that he is "not close" to learning the offensive playbook. With the Jets, Bears, Titans, Raiders and Chiefs all in need (stated or not) of WR help, don't be shocked when the announcement is made that Denver has reached a deal to unload their talented, but agitated, wideout.

Chris Wells keeps tweaking his ankle in practice, missing valuable reps and giving Tim Hightower more and more chances to secure the starting role. Feel free to use these negative tidbits to drive down Beanie's value with your competitors, then grab the future Cardinals workhorse in the 6th round or later. Yes, he's earned his "injury-prone" label, but he's still in an ideal situation where he will be expected, and needed, to carry the team's running game in 2009.

And this just in: Braylon Edwards keeps dropping passes.

Some things never change...