The San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins have issued their final injury reports for Sunday's game and defensive end Ray McDonald is officially listed as doubtful for the game. That puts him at approximately a 25% chance of playing. McDonald still expects to play, but doubtful players rarely are active on Sunday.
This injury means that Ricky Jean Francois would be the "next man up." RJF would get the start at left defensive end and Demarcus Dobbs would become the primary backup defensive end. It would be RJF's second start of the 2011 season. He started at nose tackle week five against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when Isaac Sopoaga was dealing wtih his staph infection. If McDonald is inactive on Sunday, this also likely means that rookie nose tackle Ian Williams would be active. While RJF can play all three defensive line positions, Dobbs is primarily a defensive end.
In other news, Moran Norris is listed as questionable and I would imagine Bruce Miller gets another start at fullback. He has stepped up in the role and has earned additional playing time even beyond Norris' injury. If Norris is inactive again this week, next week could give us a better idea of Norris' role through the rest of 2011.
Finally, Tramaine Brock is listed as probable this week. He has been inactive with a hand injury, but looks like he is once again ready to be activated. This past Sunday's inactives included Scott Tolzien, Brett Swain, Tramaine Brock, Moran Norris, Daniel Kilgore, Mike Person, Ian Williams. This week, McDonald and Williams would likely switch places. If Brock is activated, I'm guessing one of the dedicated special teams players will be deactivated. That could mean Tavares Gooden or Colin Jones would seem to be the most likely candidates to be inactive.
49ers
Doubtful
DE Ray McDonald (hamstring)
Questionable
FB Moran Norris (fibula)
Probable
WR Michael Crabtree (foot)
CB Tramaine Brock (hand)
CB Chris Culliver (shoulder)
WR Braylon Edwards (knee)
FS Dashon Goldson (knee)
CB Shawntae Spencer (toe)
Redskins
Out
RB Tashard Choice (hamstring)
WR Santana Moss (hand)
Questionable
S Oshiomogho Atogwe (toe, knee)
CB Phillip Buchanon (neck, knee)
TE Fred Davis (ankle)
T Trent Williams (ankle)
Probable
S Reed Doughty (chest)
LB London Fletcher (hamstring)
LB Rocky McIntosh (ankle)
TE Logan Paulsen (shoulder)
RB Mike Sellers (back)