NFL Week 9 Picks: Monitoring Injuries Sure to Affect This Week's Results

Injuries probably have more to do with a team's chances at victory than anything else. 

We've seen a spike in them this season—is the lockout to blame?

In Week 9, injuries are plentiful and player's statuses will have a major bearing on a handful of games...

Andre Johnson

Johnson has been sidelined the past four games and for as tough as No. 80 is, there's a chance he won't go against the Browns this week. 

Kind of surprising if you ask me, although hamstrings can be very nagging. 

He's officially listed as "day-to-day" after he missed practice on Wednesday. Keep an eye on what he does for the next two days at the Texans facility. He reportedly will give his surgically-repaired hamstring a shot on Thursday in practice. 

We'll know more after that. 

Peyton Hillis

He'll play a major role in the Browns upset bid of the Texans this weekend, if he can get on the field. Pat Shurmur held Hillis out of practice on Wednesday. 

There's a chance he gets back on the practice field today, but the medical staff thought he'd be ready to go on Wednesday so he may be a few days behind schedule. 

If he can't go, Cleveland will be extremely thin at running back to face Houston. 

Ryan Mathews

If the Chargers have any chance at upsetting the Green Bay Packers, they'll need versatile runner Ryan Mathews in the lineup. 

With Philip Rivers struggling throwing the football down the field, Mathews has been a superb underneath option. 

He did not practice Wednesday with a groin injury he suffered late in the Chiefs game on Monday Night. It looks like Mike Tolbert, who returned to practice, will be the feature back on Sunday and Mathews won't play, but this is certainly a player worth monitoring all week.