Injured stars Mendenhall, Harrison, Polamalu ready to return for Steelers

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers will be at full strength on Sunday for the first time this season.

Running back Rashard Mendenhall, linebacker James Harrison and safety Troy Polamalu completed a full week of practice on Friday. They are all listed as probable and will play Sunday for the Steelers (1-2) against the Philadelphia Eagles (3-1).

Mendenhall and Harrison will make their season debuts; Polamalu will play for the first time since a season-opening loss in Denver.

Harrison had minor surgery on his left knee in August and Polamalu has had a calf injury. Each has been named NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and they have combined to be named All-Pro nine times. Their returns are welcomed on a defense that has blown fourth-quarter leads during each of its losses.

Harrison has not played in a game of any kind since January, so his snaps will be limited.

A two-time 1,000-yard rusher, Mendenhall has recovered from tearing his right ACL on Jan. 1. He has been practicing for more than three weeks.

Copyright 2012 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and The Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

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Steelers defensive stars Polamalu, Harrison questionable for Jets visit

PITTSBURGH -- Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu and linebacker James Harrison did not practice on Friday and are questionable for Sunday's game against the New York Jets.

Neither Polamalu, who is nursing a strained right calf, and Harrison, who is recovering from a minor procedure on his left knee, practiced this week. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin typically does not let players who did not participate during the week play in the ensuing game.

Harrison, who hasn't suited up for a game since a playoff loss to Denver last January, said he "felt great" but allowed there's a risk in coming back too quickly. The knee has been bothering Harrison since minicamp and he underwent arthroscopic surgery on Aug. 15.

"What it comes down to is that there's no need to hurry up and rush yourself back and end up doing more damage so you have to deal with the injury for the rest of the season, instead of saying that you'll sit out a few weeks and get it back healthy rather than to go play a game, re-injure it," Harrison said.

Polamalu declined to speculate on his status but added while he could "do mental repetitions on the sideline" while watching the defense, it "would be better to be on the field."

The All-Pro has made 18 straight regular-season starts dating back to 2010.

Running back Rashard Mendenhall, who is recovering from a torn ACL in his right knee suffered in the 2011 regular-season finale against Cleveland, practiced all week but has been listed as doubtful while linebacker Stevenson Sylvester is out with a left knee injury.

Copyright 2012 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and The Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

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Breakout stars: Broncos' Thomas at top of list of guys ready to shine

On the play that made him (almost) famous, Demaryius Thomas burned the Steelers in OT. (Getty Images)

It was one of the marquee plays of the 2011 NFL season, and the guy who truly made it was essentially reduced to a footnote, a victim of Tebow-mania.

You might have heard about Tim Tebow throwing a game-winning touchdown pass in overtime to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers last January in the playoffs, but the guy who made it possible, turning an easy throw into an 80-yard TD catch, was the player I see as the Rob Gronkowski-like breakout player of 2012.

Say hello to future star, Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas.

"It's exciting to have somebody think that," Thomas said.

Why not? Thomas has all the tools. He's big. He's fast. He's strong. And he now has a quarterback in Peyton Manning who will see him when he's running open, rather than forcing him to put his hand up every time he crossed the field.

That's the way it was for much of 2011 for Thomas, dealing with Tebow's blind spots in the passing game, while dealing with a broken pinky that limited his ability to catch the football.

I told him that after watching tape of his games, I came to the conclusion that his favorite pattern of all was the many he ran with his hand up, just hoping Tebow would see him.

Thomas laughed. He wasn't going to take a shot at Tebow, even though he did so earlier this year in a radio interview before backtracking because God forbid somebody question Tebow.

This is what he said at the time: "You gotta go back and look at the rest of the games [other than the Steelers game]. I wasn't getting no balls and you had to make some of these plays where some players were open and he is not making the throws. But I don't want to talk bad about Tim, but hey I am happy we got Peyton."

That's because the Broncos will run a real offense, not some gimmicked-up crap that wasn't kind to the receivers.

"I am so excited to get out there in a pro-style offense," Thomas said.

In 11 games, including five starts, Thomas caught 32 passes for 551 yards and four touchdowns last season. But he really came on down the stretch. In December, he had 22 catches for 414 yards and three touchdowns. He followed that up with 10 catches for 297 yards and the one touchdown in two playoff games.

With Manning, in a much more receiver-friendly offense, expect to see the end-of-year numbers for Thomas all season long in 2012. Aside from the addition of Manning, Thomas is healthy for the first time in his Denver career.

Coming out of Georgia Tech, he had a tough rookie season in 2010. He broke his foot in a pre-draft workout, aggravated it early in the season and was limited to just two starts. Last February, he tore his Achilles tendon while doing conditioning drills at Georgia Tech, which kept him on the sidelines for the first month of the season. It didn't help that he fractured his pinkie during the season, playing through the pain.

"I have no problems now," Thomas said.

He has worked with Manning and he's excited about the chance to catch passes from him. Working on route running -- something he has done little of because of his injuries -- will help him improve as a receiver.

"It's so much different now," Thomas said. "If you know what he [Manning] did with the Colts, you know it's different. It's new routes and new terminology. He's so passionate about the game. He's helped me with things like running routes and doing it the way he wants it. You have to know what you are doing or he'll get on you."

Thomas said he sometimes will watch the play that beat the Steelers and think about how important it truly was for the team. It won a huge game in overtime, stamping him as a player to watch in 2012, even if he didn't get the credit he deserved.

He got lost in Tebow-mania, even if that 235 pounds streaking away from the Pittsburgh defense is the image most true football evaluators will remember.

"Once I caught stride, I knew I was going to be hard to catch," Thomas said.

That's what will make him one of the NFL's breakout stars this season.

C.J. Spiller, RB, Bills: I know they just re-signed Fred Jackson and he's healthy again, but he doesn't have the same explosive ability that Spiller has. The Bills need to get Spiller the ball more in 2012, and they will.

Tyron Smith, T, Cowboys: He is moving to the left tackle spot after a dominating rookie season at right tackle. He will be a fixture in the Pro Bowl for years to come.

Jimmy Smith, CB, Ravens: When he was on the field last season, he showed big-time cover skills. Now that he will have an offseason, I look for a huge year from this talented second-year corner.

Joe Haden, CB, Browns: Haden has great man-cover skills and probably could have gone to the Pro Bowl last season. It's too bad his talents get lost in Cleveland.

Nick Fairley and a guy named Suh give the Lions two dominant interior linemen. (Getty Images) Nick Fairley, DT, Lions: In the second half of the 2011 season, he was starting to show why he was a first-round pick. He will be a force next to Ndamukong Suh.

Derek Cox, CB, Jaguars: When he was on the field last year, he was emerging as a good cover corner. He has to stay on the field.

Nate Solder, T, Patriots: When he played as a rookie, he was impressive. Now that he's entrenched as the left tackle with Matt Light retiring, he will be even better. He did some really good things in his 14 starts as a rookie.

Linval Joseph, DT, Giants: He was a force in the second half of the season for the Giants and appears ready to do even more. He is strong and can penetrate.

Patrick Peterson, CB, Cardinals: Yes, he flashed as a return man, but I think he will take a huge step forward as a cover corner this season. You saw more of it in the second half last season.

Richard Sherman, CB, Seahawks: Here's another corner who flashed as a rookie in 2011. He plays with a swagger and his size (6-feet-3) really helps.

Adrian Clayborn, DE, Buccaneers: He plays with a relentless style and had 7? sacks as a rookie. I see double-digits this season and maybe even 15.

Robert Quinn, DE, Rams: He had five sacks as a rookie and playing opposite Chris Long he has the look of a double-digit sack player.

Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Raiders: Surprised to see him here? Don't be. He showed his speed off late last season. With an offseason working with Carson Palmer, watch out in 2012.

Roy Helu, RB, Redskins: Mike Shanahan is known for finding runners and having them put up big numbers in his offense. Helu will be the latest. He had 640 yards as a rookie last season.

Orlando Franklin, T, Broncos: He was good as a run blocker in Denver's run-oriented offense, but I think he will be just as good in pass protection with the move to a more pass-friendly scheme.

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NFL's best (51-100): More rising stars than past prime

Editor's note: The first of two installments. Check back for 1-50 Tuesday.

Since I've been working for CBSSports.com, dating back to the days when it was SportsLine.com, one of my summer staples has been to rank the top-50 players in the NFL.

Those rankings are based on my own eyes, as well as talking to coaches, players and personnel men. Mostly, it's my eyes.

I usually wait until the summer to unveil the list, but this year it's earlier and you get more.

 Pass-rush star Terrell Suggs is a game-changer. (US Presswire) With the NFL in lockout mode, and the draft not until next week, I thought this would be a good time to release my top-100 list. Yep, it includes 50 more players.

We will do so in two parts: 100-51 in the first part below and 1-50 in the second part to follow. So if you don't see Titans running back Chris Johnson or Texans receiver Andre Johnson in the first 50, don't fret. They are both in the next group with 48 other top players.

The second 50 consists of a lot of younger players on the way up and some older ones on the way down.

Just remember as you look through it: There are 50 more players to come.

51. Terrell Suggs, OLB, Baltimore Ravens: If anyone doubted his impact, just flip on his two playoff tapes from last January. He has that change-the-game pass rush ability.

52. Michael Turner, RB, Atlanta Falcons: After an off 2009 season, he got in shape and played well for the Falcons. He is a chain mover.

53. Robert Mathis, DE, Indianapolis Colts: Playing opposite Dwight Freeney, he doesn't always get the credit he deserves, but he has real speed coming from the left side. He's also improved as a run player.

54. Darren McFadden, RB, Oakland Raiders: He showed last season what he can do when he stays on the field. He is the latest in the line of explosive runners to come into the league in the past four years.

55. Lawrence Timmons, ILB, Pittsburgh Steelers: He gets lost playing in between LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison, but he emerged last season as a special player. His speed allows him to cover a lot of ground.

56. Devin McCourty, CB, New England Patriots: He played at a high level as a rookie, especially in the second half of the season. He will be higher on this list in the coming years.

57. Chad Greenway, OLB, Minnesota Vikings: He isn't flashy, but he gets the job done. Greenway led the Vikings in tackles last season. Now you know why they put the franchise tag on him.

58. Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis Rams: His yards-per-carry number was down under 4.0, which is a concern. But he remains one of the better backs in the NFC.

59. Jared Allen, DE, Minnesota Vikings: He started slowly last season, but came on late. The slow start had some scouts wondering if he might only have a few years left.

60. Vince Wilfork, NT, New England Patriots: He played both end and nose tackle last season because of depth issues and played well at both spots. His only issue is keeping his weight in check.

61. John Abraham, DE, Atlanta Falcons: He had 13 sacks last season after a down 2009 season. He is still capable of making the big sack-fumble play.

62. Jerod Mayo, ILB, New England Patriots: He led the league in tackles, despite playing with a bunch of young players around him. He knows how to find the football.

63. D'Brickashaw Ferguson, T, New York Jets: He has improved every year since coming into the league. His athleticism sets him apart from some other left tackles.

64. LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia Eagles: He is an all-purpose back who is perfect for the Eagles offense. He led the NFC in yards from scrimmage.

65. Ryan Clady, T, Denver Broncos: He went to the Pro Bowl in 2009, but tore up his knee last April and didn't play as well. But another year removed should put him back in the Pro Bowl.

66. Matt Schaub, QB, Houston Texans: He's had back-to-back big seasons, showing when he's on the field he's a top passer.

 Hakeem Nicks gives the Giants sudden impact on offense. (Getty Images) 67. Ray Lewis, MLB, Baltimore Ravens: He isn't the Ray Lewis of old, but he is still a good linebacker. The speed isn't there like it once was, which does show up at times.

68. Jahri Evans, G, New Orleans Saints: He had problems with penalties last season, which drops him down this list. He was the team's second-best guard in 2010 to Carl Nicks.

69. Richard Seymour, DE, Oakland Raiders: For stretches last season, he was as good as any defensive lineman in the league. He just needs to do it more consistently. Age could be a factor in that.

70. Hakeem Nicks, WR, New York Giants: He is a big, fast receiver who scores down the field. He's only scratching his potential.

71. B.J. Raji, NT, Green Bay Packers: He had 6 1/2 sacks and was a force inside against the run in his second season in the league.

72. Steve Hutchinson, G, Minnesota Vikings: He wasn't as dominant as he's been in his career, which is why he's down this list some. But he's still a good player. Ended the season sitting out with a broken thumb.

73. Darnell Dockett, DT, Arizona Cardinals: Dockett was better in 2008 and 2009, but he still played at a high level. He plays hard all the time.

74. Vernon Davis, TE, San Francisco 49ers: It's a shame he doesn't get to play with better quarterbacks. He is a real threat in the middle of the field.

75. Justin Smith, DE, San Francisco 49ers: He is an effort player who brings it every week. He holds up against the run and he's a good pass rusher for a 3-4 end.

76. Brandon Marshall, WR, Miami Dolphins: Marshall played in an outdated offense and with little help from his quarterback. He still caught 86 passes for over 1,000 yards.

77. Osi Umenyiora, DE, New York Giants: He had 11 1/2 sacks to help the Giants have one of the better pass rushes in the league.

78. Jason Peters, T, Philadelphia Eagles: After a so-so 2009 season, Peters rebounded to play well last season.

79. James Laurinaitis, MLB, St. Louis Rams: He is a steady, sure tackler who is on the verge of a Pro Bowl appearance. He is a football junkie, and it shows.

80. Greg Jennings, WR, Green Bay Packers: He averaged 16.6 yards per catch and scored 12 touchdowns.

 Packers receiver Greg Jennings specializes in big plays. (Getty Images) 81. Vincent Jackson, WR, San Diego Chargers: He missed most of the season in a contract dispute, so it's tough to have him higher. But he proved in 2009 that he is a big-play receiver.

82. Brian Urlacher, MLB, Chicago Bears: After missing all but one game in 2009 with an injury, he bounced back to lead the Bears in tackles with his highest total in four seasons.

83. Brian Orakpo, OLB, Washington Redskins: It's too bad he doesn't have more help on the defensive front. He put up 8 1/2 sacks last season, even though he was doubled a ton.

84. Chris Snee, G, New York Giants: Tom Coughlin's son-in-law is a good player who had one of his best seasons in 2010.

85. Brandon Flowers, CB, Kansas City Chiefs: He really played well early last season, earning rave reviews. He did tail off some, but he has the tools to be a consistent player on this list.

86. Jay Ratliff, NT, Dallas Cowboys: He didn't play as well in 2010 as he did the year before, but he remains a top interior lineman.

87. Jordan Gross, T, Carolina Panthers: Gross was selected to the Pro Bowl and again played at a high level for a bad team.

88. Leon Hall, CB, Cincinnati Bengals: He had four interceptions early, but didn't get any the rest of the way. He remains a top cover player, even though he doesn't have great speed.

89. Mike Wallace, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers: He piled up 1,186 yards on 62 catches, which shows his big-play ability. He also had nine touchdowns and should be even better with his quarterback for a full season.

90. Josh Sitton, G, Green Bay Packers: He is the best of the players on a good line, but doesn't get the attention he deserves.

91. Trent Cole, DE, Philadelphia Eagles: Want to know how good he is? Ask the players he faces. He is a handful.

92. Josh Freeman, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: He joined this list with a 25-touchdown, five-interception season in 2010. He will only get better and go higher on this list.

93. Marcedes Lewis, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars: He can block and he blossomed as a receiver last season. He would put up bigger numbers in a better pass offense.

94. Ray Rice, RB, Baltimore Ravens: He had a second consecutive 1,000-yard season and also caught 63 passes. Why don't they use him more?

95. Brandon Lloyd, WR, Denver Broncos: He had 23 catches of 20 yards or longer and averaged 18.8 per catch. He was one of the surprise players of the year.

96. Kevin Williams, DT, Minnesota Vikings: He had a bit of an off year for a team that also had an off year, which is why he's down this list. The players around him didn't play as well either.

97. Santana Moss, WR, Washington Redskins: On a bad offense, he put up some big numbers with 93 catches for 1,115 yards.

98. Peyton Hillis, RB, Cleveland Browns: He was the Browns' offense last season, rushing for 1,177 yards and averaging 4.4 per rush.

99. Mike Williams, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Surprised to see him here? He was a dominant rookie who should be even more productive going forward. The kid has star written all over him.

100. Andrew Whitworth, OT, Cincinnati Bengals: He played at a high level last season, but few noticed. He is a mauler in the run game, but also has developed as a quality pass protector.

Just missed: Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore Ravens; Wes Welker, WR, New England Patriots; Zach Miller, TE, Oakland Raiders; Eric Weddle, S, San Diego Chargers; Matt Cassel, QB, Kansas City Chiefs; Logan Mankins, G, New England Patriots; Steve Johnson, WR, Buffalo Bills; Kris Dielman, G, San Diego Chargers; Donald Penn, T, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Alex Mack, C, Cleveland Browns; Shaun Phillips, OLB, San Diego Chargers; Brent Grimes, CB, Atlanta Falcons; Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans Saints; Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers; DeAngelo Hall, CB, Washington Redskins; Malcolm Jenkins, S, New Orleans Saints.

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