Chargers coach Norv Turner really wants to give Ryan Mathews a bigger role. But will the rookie ever get a chance to get on the field to earn it?

Marcedes Lewis joined Paul Burmeister via Jaguars Cam on Wednesday to discuss his fast start to the season, his chemistry with David Garrard and the AFC South.

NFL Network’s Albert Breer was on location in Foxborough, Mass., where the Patriots are moving on from Randy Moss and preparing to avenge last season’s playoff loss to the Ravens.

Vikings WR Sidney Rice is off the crutches according to Jeff Zulgad (via Twitter). There is no word on when he will be able to resume football activities.

Saints coach Sean Payton told reporters today that Pierre Thomas still has soreness and swelling with his ankle injury. When the Saints signed Julius Jones, I figured this was a bad sign that Thomas was not as close to returning as we would all hope. And that might be the case.

Are the Bears legitimate contenders? It’s been one of the hottest topics around the NFL Network offices. Analyst Mike Mayock believes that until the Bears play better along the offensive line, he doesn’t consider them a legitimate contender.

Will the Patriots miss Randy Moss? That question won’t be answered for a few weeks, but our three Playbook analysts expect New England to get off to a rocky start without their former No. 1 receiver.

Brett Favre said Wednesday the tendinitis in his elbow did impact the accuracy in some of this throws against the Jets, and he would consider sitting out to give his sore arm a rest.

Matt Ryan is going to be that type of quarterback where there are games that statistics just don’t matter. I don’t care what his numbers tell me during games, because I feel like at some point he’s going to make winning plays.

Well if you will all excuse me, I will go take a Lambeau Leap into a brick wall, following the news that Jermichael Finley is going to be out for the rest of the season. Finley was one of the top tight ends in fantasy, and — if you are like me — you probably scooped him up early during the dreaded tight-end run during your draft.

Eagles coach Andy Reid told reporters Wednesday that QB Michael Vick has started lifting weights as he recovers from his rib cartilage injury, but has not started throwing yet. Kevin Kolb took all of the first-team reps in practice.

Hall of Fame coach John Madden had a problem with the way Mike Singletary verbally undressed Alex Smith on national television.

What have we learned through five weeks of the NFL season? A lot. NFL Network analysts Daryl Johnston and Charles Davis shared their thoughts on that question Tuesday on “NFL Total Access.”

The backfield situation in Seattle has been about as appetizing for fantasy enthusiasts as the free sushi they were giving away at the gas station a few weeks back.

NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora went Around the League on Tuesday, updating the latest on the contract talks between the Chargers and LT Marcus McNeill and Mike Singletary’s job security in San Francisco.