Gameday Injury Expectations: Week 6

Photo: USA Today Sports

UNDERSTANDING THE NFL'S INJURY REPORT

The injury report released by the NFL is actually two reports. The first is the Practice Participation report, which lists which injured players were able to practice and how much. It also includes players who rested or missed practice for non-injury related reasons. The second is the Game Status Report, which gives the probability a player will play, i.e. Questionable, Doubtful, Out. The Practice Participation Report is released every day of the week (Monday through Saturday). The Game Status Report is released with the Friday participation report (Wednesday for Thursday games, Saturday for Monday games).

In this feature, I'll include the Game Status Listing, my expectation of their likelihood to play, and the player's practice participation throughout the week.

Key:

PLAYER | INJURY | GAME STATUS LISTING | FOOTBALLGUYS EXPECTATION

Practice Participation Listing by Day

* = playing on Monday night

I'll also include a table at the bottom of the article for easy reference.

Here's the latest on every relevant injured player on the practice participation and game status report this week:

QUARTERBACK

*Marcus Mariota | Hamstring | Questionable | Likely to Play

Practice Participation: Thurs - Limited | Fri - Limited | Sat - Limited

Mariota's Saturday practice participation and official game day status is still unknown. However, he's been able to do much more in practice this week and observers report his movement in drills is much better. The Titans have stopped short of saying Mariota will play but it looks like he's proven he'll be able to protect himself in the pocket this week. Whether Mariota will be able to manage a full playbook of run-pass option and rollouts remains to be seen but I expect him to be active Saturday night. I'll update after the Saturday practice participation and game status reports are released.

***Saturday Update: Mularkey told reporters "it might be a game-time decision" after the Titans listed Mariota questionable following Saturday's limited practice. The primary Tennessee beat writers -- Jim Wyatt and Cameron Wolfe -- both believe Mariota will play Monday night but be limited to a pocket passer. Nothing in today's team comments has dissuaded me from my earlier belief Mariota will play.

Derek Carr | Back | Not Listed | Expected to Play

Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Full

Carr will play just two weeks removed from a fracture to a bone in his spine. The broken bone is a painful injury but not a structural injury. The primary concern -- as it was for Tony Romo and Cam Newton, who also missed just one game with the same injury -- is pain management and limiting the possibility of muscle spasm around the fractured bone. Carr recovered quickly and was reportedly close to being cleared to play last week. This week, he returned to a full practice and isn't on the game status report. It'll take some bad luck for a kevlar-protected Carr to be hit in the same place in the same way severely enough to cause recurrent spasms and an early exit. While there may be some early inaccuracy as Carr readjusts to the pace of live action, expect the Raiders to game plan as they did before Carr was injured.

Matthew Stafford | Ankle | Questionable | Active

Practice Participation: Wed - Full | Thurs - Full | Fri - Full

The Lions list Stafford questionable but he will play after a full week of practice. It's no surprise -- Stafford has played through finger, shoulder, and multiple lower leg soft tissue injuries throughout his career. Stafford did not leave the pocket as much after his ankle and hamstring injuries last week and may be less likely to scramble again this week. But don't expect many limitations in the game plan or accuracy.

*Jacoby Brissett | Wrist | Not Listed | Expected to Play

Practice Participation: Thurs - Full | Fri - Full | Sat - Full

The Colts have yet to release Saturday's practice participation and game status report but Brissett has fully practiced through Friday and is expected to play without limitation.

***Saturday Update: Brissett again fully practiced on Saturday and is not listed on the Colts' game status report.

Others of note: Tom Brady (shoulder), Blake Bortles (wrist), and Josh McCown (shoulder) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play without limitation. Sam Bradford (knee) and Andrew Luck (shoulder) have been declared out. I'll update return to play expectations on all inactive players in Monday's column.

RUNNING BACK

Ty Montgomery | Ribs | Questionable | Active

Practice Participation: Wed - Full | Thurs - Full | Fri - Full

I wrote Thursday night the Packers had cleared Montgomery for contact. Despite the team listing him as a full Thursday participant -- traditionally a padded practice with contact and images of Montgomery in uniform and not wearing a red non-contact jersey -- there were reports Montgomery had yet to take hits on Friday. Packers running backs coach Ben Sirmans told reporters Friday Montgomery was "moving around at least enough that it seems like he can play. But that's without taking any hits to make that call."

Montgomery is officially questionable. And it's absolutely questionable whether the Packers would clear a running back to play in a game without clearing him for contact first. If Montgomery is active, he'll see a limited role with Aaron Jones earning an expanded role after last week's strong performance. But don't be surprised if the Packers decide Montgomery needs to prove himself ready to take hits in practice before clearing him for the gameday roster.

***Sunday Update: Overnight reports from Adam Schefter, Ian Rapoport, and Tom Pelissero have a clear consensus. The Packers are preparing to rotate carries between Montgomery and Jones. It's very tough to handicap the distribution, however. I expect that will be dependent on how Montgomery feels, whether he takes a hard hit to the protected area, how effective Jones runs, and whether the Packers plan to use one more than the other in passing situations. Proceed with caution and consider both RB2 plays w/ upside.

Bilal Powell | Calf | Questionable | Inactive

Practice Participation: Wed - DNP | Thurs - DNP | Fri - DNP

Matt Forte | Toe | Not Listed | Active

Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Full

Todd Bowles told reporters Powell would work out Sunday and should be considered a game-time decision. There's no reason to believe Powell has a good chance to play, however, and he certainly has no chance for a significant role. Running backs struggle to play through calf injuries and Powell wasn't healthy enough to practice all week. He may make an appearance during pregame warmups but expect him to be inactive.

Forte said his toe injury has healed enough to allow him to cut at speed this week for the first time and he's confident in his ability to return. Even with Powell likely out, a healthy Forte may not be trusted to see a full workload. Elijah McGuire played a season-high 36 snaps last week. Though he wasn't effective against Cleveland's front seven, his performance against Jacksonville -- 12 effective touches on 19 snaps -- has earned him a rotational role, especially on passing downs. Reliably projecting a game script this week is difficult but it's unlikely Forte will see 50+ snaps or 15+ touches. 

Others of note: Jay Ajayi (knee), Leonard Fournette (ankle/shoulder), Chris Ivory (hip), and D'Onta Foreman (hip) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play without limitation. Terrance West (calf) and Paul Perkins (ribs) have been declared out, with Rob Kelley (ankle) doubtful and likely inactive. I'll update return to play expectations on all inactive players in Monday's column.

WIDE RECEIVER

Julio Jones | Hip | Not Listed | Expected to Play

Practice Participation: Wed - Limited |Thurs - Limited | Fri - Limited

Jones is not listed on the Falcons' game status report and will play. He specifically told reporters on Thursday to ignore the practice participation report, saying the team had a plan to limit his reps during the week and he was "ready to go" this week. Usually, when Jones either returns to a full Friday practice or is not listed on the game status report, the Falcons have used Jones in his usual role. What's always difficult to project is whether Jones will suffer an aggravation of a minor soft tissue injury or a compensatory injury. This week is no different, unfortunately. If Jones avoids both scenarios, he has a chance to reach a ceiling expectation of 10+ targets and a big statistical day.

Jordy Nelson | Back | Not Listed | Active

Practice Participation: Wed - Full | Thurs - Full | Fri - Full

There was no video evidence of a significant injury to Nelson last week. While concerning Nelson wasn't on the field for the deciding drive late in the fourth quarter, he was able to return to a full week of practice and told reporters on Wednesday he was fine. The practice participation line supports his assertion and the Packers did not list Nelson on the game status report. Other players have had spasm associated with back injuries recur at inopportune times so Nelson isn't completely certain of a full workload this week. But it's reasonable to expect him to see his usual workload with only a slim risk of an in-game setback.

Tyreek Hill | Hamstring | Not Listed | Expected to Play

Practice Participation: Wed - Not Listed | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Limited

Hill was added to the practice participation report on Thursday with a hamstring injury. He went to the locker room with what was reported as cramps on Sunday night but showed no limitation after he returned. The Chiefs allowed Hill to return to a limited Friday practice and didn't list him on the game status report. Hamstring strains of any kind in a player whose greatest asset is top end speed should make you nervous. But all indications suggest Hill's current injury is minor.

DeVante Parker | Ankle | Doubtful | Inactive

Practice Participation: Wed - DNP | Thurs - DNP | Fri - DNP

Video didn't show an obvious mechanism of injury as Parker's right foot was tangled with a defender's foot on a shallow drag route last week. After trying to loosen up on the sideline multiple times, Parker was not able to return. Low ankle sprains are generally easy to see on video and rarely result in a missed week of practice. The Dolphins weren't optimistic on Parker's status on Wednesday and have listed him doubtful. It's a formality -- Parker will be inactive on Sunday. The more pressing question is whether Parker is dealing with a high ankle sprain that will limit him in future weeks. Miami's post-game and early week press conferences will provide more information.

Jeremy Maclin | Shoulder | Questionable | Inactive

Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Limited

There's been little information from Baltimore on Maclin's injury. He was able to return and finish last week and there are no reports of a fractured bone. I expect Maclin to play but will watch the Sunday morning media notes for any developments.

***Sunday Update: I misread the injury report on Maclin and erroneously believed he was still dealing with a hand injury. It's a shoulder injury and he will be inactive today.

Willie Snead | Hamstring | Questionable | Active

Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Limited

Snead was inactive in Week 4 after he returned to practice not yet fully recovered from a preseason hamstring injury. This week, Snead told reporters he was "definitely ready" to return but acknowledged he hasn't earned a full-time role in the New Orleans offense. Expect Snead to be active but he's unlikely to see a significant role yet.

Mike Williams | Back | Questionable | Expected to Play

Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Limited

Williams will return this week after a protracted recovery from a herniated disc that required multiple steroid injections this offseason. Williams has spent three weeks working on conditioning before earning clearance for contact this week. The Chargers are unlikely to use him extensively but Williams should see time in multiple receiver packages and around the red zone. If he responds positively and effectively, the playbook may open up for him in future weeks.

Kenny Britt | Knee / Groin | Questionable | Inactive

Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Limited

The Browns are hopeful Britt can play this week after his groin strain began bothering him again on Thursday. The return to a limited Friday workout is a good sign. However, the team may choose not to risk a longer term aggravation of the injury and Hue Jackson told reporters Britt would have to be fully recovered to be active. Consider him a game-time decision but likely inactive.

Others of note:  Amari Cooper (knee), John Brown (quad), J.J. Nelson (hamstring), Marqise Lee (ribs), and Josh Doctson (shoulder) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play without limitation. Stefon Diggs (groin), Sterling Shepard (ankle), Mohamed Sanu (hamstring), and Markus Wheaton (groin) have been declared out. I'll update return to play expectations on all inactive players in Monday's column.

TIGHT END

Rob Gronkowski | Thigh | Not Listed | Active

Practice Participation: Wed - DNP | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Full

The Patriots game status report was a welcome sight this week. Ordinarily, New England lists 5-10 players as limited throughout the week and questionable on Friday's game status report. This week, Bill Belichick allowed nearly everyone to be listed as a full practice participant and didn't list any of the potential questionables on the game status report. There wasn't much concern for Gronkowski's availability this week but the full Friday practice leaves no doubt he'll be active this week. It also provides reassurance about his likely return to a pre-injury workload.

Travis Kelce | Concussion | Not Listed | Expected to Play

Practice Participation: Wed - DNP | Thurs - Full | Fri - Full

The Chiefs fooled me earlier this week. I cannot recall another player who didn't practice on Wednesday with a concussion who was cleared to play by Friday. Most likely, Kelce was asked to do a significant amount of exercise on Wednesday -- but not in any practice-related capacity. When he was cleared to practice in pads on Thursday then again listed as a full Friday participant, it was clear that Wednesday's practice line was of little concern. Kelce was not listed on the Chiefs' game status report and will play.

Others of note: George Kittle (chest) and Jack Doyle (concussion/neck) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play without limitation. I'll update return to play expectations on all inactive players in Monday's column.

*Note: Monday night players with asterisk practice Thursday/Friday/Saturday

Note: Monday night players with asterisk practice Thursday/Friday/Saturday.

Follow me on Twitter @JeneBramel for breaking injury news and analysis throughout the week.