Injury Expectations | Wednesday Update | Week 3

Photo: USA Today Sports

KEY WEDNESDAY MEDIA UPDATES

***Sam Bradford threw to receivers today and looked more comfortable than he did on Sunday during his brief pregame warmup. That's not saying much, however, as Bradford wasn't comfortable walking on Sunday. Gentle five-step drops and throws without defenders around him may be a positive sign but it's a long way from full speed action in a disrupted pocket. The Vikings likely wanted to see how Bradford's knee responded to the little he did today. If he's able to do more tomorrow, there's a chance we'll see him this week. If not, it's unlikely he'll be available.

***Multiple reporters tweeted Rob Gronkowski was participating in blocking drills and brief pass-catching drills on Wednesday. The Patriots listed him as a DNP after practice, however, presumably because he did not participate in team drills after the media portion of practice ended. Many reporters also noted that the practice field was wet today. It's unlikely the Patriots would risk an aggravation of a groin strain on an uncertain surface. Gronkowski has also repeatedly said his injury is not serious. He'll need to be upgraded on the practice report to be fully reassured; there's still a chance he'll be limited this week. But the current trend remains positive.

***Jordy Nelson fully practiced on Wednesday and confirmed his injury was a muscle contusion. He acknowledged that swelling prevented his return on Sunday night but that he was "trending in the right direction" over the past 24 hours. The full practice is reassuring that the medical staff has effectively treated the bleeding inside the muscle and has minimal concern for a compensatory injury or aggravation. Barring an unexpected change in his recovery, Nelson will play and likely play without limitation. 

***Randall Cobb's status is less clear. After reports of a mild shoulder injury after his Monday MRI, Cobb told reporters today he remained in a lot of pain on Wednesday. He said, "I'm just trying to manage the pain and figure out how I can play with it." We've seen Cobb struggle to play through shoulder injuries in past years. Currently listed with a chest injury, Cobb may have a similar injury to Jordan Reed. It won't be surprising to see him miss a week. The best case scenario here may be a limited Friday practice and re-evaluation during pregame warmups.

***Interestingly, Mike Mularkey told reporters only one of Corey Davis and DeMarco Murray had an MRI to reassess an aggravated hamstring strain. That's odd. I'm not sure why Mularkey would be specifically misleading here and I'm not sure why the team would not want to image Davis or Murray. The smart money should be on Davis having the MRI if Mularkey is accurate. We already know that's a long-term injury; Davis has been ruled out this week. Mularkey told reporters the team was hopeful Murray would be available this week. If Murray didn't have an MRI, the team may not be concerned about his injury and it's likely he'll be able to practice soon and ready himself to play on Sunday. The Thursday practice report is critical here. If Murray doesn't practice, there's no chance he'll be better than limited this week. If he's limited, this will likely remain a game-time decision.

***Jimmy Graham didn't practice Wednesday. There won't be confirmation from the team specifically but Graham has a high ankle sprain. The mechanism was clear at the time of his injury and Pete Carroll all but confirmed the injury by telling reporters Graham "has had this same injury before." Carroll also said the Seahawks are in wait-and-see mode with Graham. The Seahawks travel to Tennessee this week but have the benefit of a late afternoon game. Expect Graham to be a game-time decision.

***Jordan Reed didn't practice Wednesday. Jay Gruden called Reed day-to-day, with reporters writing Reed has a sprain of the ligament between his sternum and collarbone and possibly a rib injury. The combination of injuries may limit his recovery. If Reed does not return to a limited practice tomorrow, it's unlikely he'll be full strength this weekend.

***Tyler Eifert didn't practice on Wednesday. He's been officially listed with a back injury but Adam Schefter tweeted Eifert is dealing with ongoing knee tendinitis, too. The back is a major concern. Eifert took over seven months to return from December back surgery and is already struggling to practice. Schefter called Eifert's status "uncertain" on Monday. If Eifert doesn't practice tomorrow, it's highly likely he'll be inactive on Sunday rather than travel to Green Bay. It'll also be time to worry about an extended absence.

***Andrew Luck will not be cleared to practice. That sets his timetable back another week and means -- at best -- he will be out through Week 5 with an outside chance of playing in Week 6. With no evidence he'll be practicing soon, it could easily be longer than that.

***There are a huge number of offensive line questions this week. Many key offensive linemen are already out for the season or recovering from long-term injury. I'm watching Arizona's Mike Iupati (tricep), Atlanta's Ryan Schraeder (concussion), Buffalo's Cordy Glenn (foot/ankle), Green Bay's Bryan Bulaga (ankle) and David Bakhtiari (hamstring), and many others over the next 48 hours. It's rare for national media members and local beat writers to get a good read on offensive linemen. Many play through difficult injuries. I hope to have more on these by Friday.

THURSDAY NIGHT INJURY EXPECTATIONS

Here are the key offensive players listed on the practice participation or game status report for Thursday Night Football:

Gerald Everett | Thigh | Questionable

George Kittle | Hip | Questionable

Both San Francisco and Los Angeles have young tight ends listed questionable. Kittle has been playing through soft tissue injuries in both early regular season games. Everett's injury is new. There are no indications from either team of concern. Both are likely to play Thursday night.

Reuben Foster | Ankle | Out

Eric Reid | Knee | Out

The Niners will be out without two members of their back seven. Foster has an outside chance of returning in Week 4. Reid will miss multiple weeks with a PCL sprain.

KaYvon Webster | Shoulder | Questionable

Jaquiski Tartt | Neck | Questionable

Each team also has a starter in the secondary questionable. Tartt is likely to play and start with Reid out. Webster has a chance to return to play after missing last week's game.

EARLY WEEK PRACTICE PARTICIPATION REPORT AND EARLY EXPECTATIONS

The Wednesday and Thursday practice participation reports are our first chance to see which players each NFL team are limiting in practice after the previous week's games. Players limited in mid-week practice aren't necessarily in danger of missing that week's game. But they all need to be watched closely.

*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.