Backup Plans for NFL's Top Injured Stars in Week 9

Every NFL team implements the "next man up" mantra. 

With a rash of starters dealing with injuries heading into Week 9, there's a good chance an assortment of depth players will be thrust into prominent roles.  

Here's are the "backup plans" who might be asked to contribute in a major way this week for their respective teams. 

Cole Beasley

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According to ESPN's Todd Archer, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Miles Austin did not practice on Thursday as the team prepared for a Week 9 game against the Minnesota Vikings. 

He last played on October 20 in the win over the Philadelphia Eagles, but a hamstring injury flare-up kept him out of the game against Detroit Lions in Week 8. 

Rookie wideout Terrance Williams has become a productive replacement—26 receptions, 444 yards and four touchdowns this season—but the Cowboys could use another wideout to complement Dez Bryant. 

How about Cole Beasley? 

The slippery slot receiver has 19 catches for 175 yards and one score on the year. 

Oddly, he had six grabs for 53 yards on seven targets against the Eagles when Austin was in the lineup but only one catch for eight yards a week ago. 

Though he's a different type of receiver than Austin, Beasley needs to emerge as a relatively larger feature of Dallas' passing game in Week 9 against the Vikings if Austin can't go.

Jeff Tuel

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Buffalo Bills quarterback Thad Lewis returned to practice on Friday, but during the portion the media was permitted to watch, he didn't throw the football, per Mark Gaughan of The Buffalo News. 

While getting back on the field is an encouraging development for Lewis' chances to play against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, the possibility of Jeff Tuel getting the start shouldn't be ruled out just yet. 

Tuel was forced into Week 5's game against the Browns in Cleveland on Thursday Night Football after starter EJ Manuel was knocked out of the game with a knee injury. 

He completed eight of 20 passes for 80 yards in the relief outing but threw a pick-six that essentially sealed the victory for Rob Chudzinski's team. 

Bills head coach Doug Marrone could be exercising some gamesmanship in regard to which quarterback will be under center for his team this week, but Tuel might get his first NFL start against Kansas City's dominant pass-rushing defense. 

Jarrett Boykin

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Jarrett Boykin has been a godsend over the past two weeks for the Green Bay Packers, a team ravaged by injury at the wide receiver position. 

In Week 7 against an underrated Cleveland Browns defense, with James Jones and Randall Cobb out, the former undrafted free agent out of Virginia Tech caught eight passes for 103 yards with a touchdown on 10 targets from Aaron Rodgers. 

Last week, Boykin snagged five passes for 89 yards in a victory over the division-rival Minnesota Vikings. 

According to Tom Silverstein of The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, Jones did not practice on Thursday, which could mean he'll be out for the team's Monday Night Football clash with the Chicago Bears. 

Boykin has proven to be a reliable replacement for Jones on the outside in Green Bay's high-octane offense, and he'll have to piece together another solid performance in another road game against another NFC North opponent in Week 9.

Lavon Brazill

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Kevin Bowen of Colts.com tweeted that Darrius Heyward-Bey practiced on Friday after he was listed on the injury report Thursday with a hamstring injury. 

To follow up Bowen's report, Rotoworld.com added "he should be fine for Sunday night's game against the Texans."

However, there's a chance Heyward-Bey won't be 100 percent for the huge divisional battle. 

With Reggie Wayne done for the season, Indianapolis' entire receiving corp has to improve, and if Heyward-Bey is even the slightest bit hobbled, Lavon Brazill will have to make his presence known. 

He hasn't registered any statistics during the 2013 season, but ESPN's Colts reporter, Mike Wells, listed the second-year wideout as the "wild card" of the group that needs to replace Wayne's production. 

Timothy Wright

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a mess at 0-7, but they would still like to see development from rookie quarterback Mike Glennon. 

The 2013 fourth-round pick got bad news this week when wideout Mike Williams was placed on injured reserve with a serious hamstring injury. 

Though Williams didn't routinely create separation, his ball skills are among the best in the league at his position. 

Vincent Jackson will likely continue to get a relatively high percentage of targets from Glennon, but rookie tight end Tim Wright is the prime candidate to replace Williams in Tampa Bay's offensive attack. 

Against the Carolina Panthers in Week 8, the Rutgers alum caught five passes for 48 yards. Two weeks prior, he had seven receptions for 91 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles. 

Right now, Wright isn't a well-known pass-catcher, but he could become one down the stretch for the Buccaneers.

Harry Douglas

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With Julio Jones and Roddy White out, Atlanta Falcons wideout Harry Douglas has really come to play. 

Against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on October 20, the fifth-year receiver caught seven passes for 149 yards with one touchdown. 

Last week in a loss to the Arizona Cardinals, the former Louisville standout saw a ridiculous 18 targets and caught 12 of them for 121 yards. 

ESPN's Falcons writer, Vaughn McClure, tweeted a picture of White practicing on Friday, but Rotoworld.com wrote "his status for Week 9 remains up in the air."

If the veteran receiver misses his third straight game, Douglas will again be one of the focal points in Atlanta's offense.

At 2-5, the season hangs in the balance in Week 9 on the road against the Carolina Panthers. 

The Falcons need another strong showing from Douglas.

Jermaine Kearse

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The Seattle Seahawks lost outside receiver Sidney Rice for the remainder of the season after he tore his ACL in Week 8's win over the St. Louis Rams. 

Many are waiting for Percy Harvin to make his debut with his new team, but Lindsay Jones of USA Today tweeted the following about the shifty wideout's availability this Sunday: 

"

Pete Carroll didn't have media availability today in Seattle, but he told Sirius that Percy Harvin won't play this week vs. Tampa.

"

Therefore, Jermaine Kearse will likely find himself in a prominent offensive role against the Buccaneers. 

The University of Washington product has only eight receptions for 128 yards with two touchdowns in 2013, but he's been buried on the depth chart until now. 

At 6'1'' and 209 pounds, Kearse is the most physically imposing wideout on Seattle's active roster.