KEY WEDNESDAY MEDIA UPDATES
***Multiple reports suggest Ty Montgomery has multiple broken ribs. That's a difficult injury to play through, particularly for running backs. But there were hints through the weekend Montgomery would try to play Sunday against Dallas and he was at practice -- in pads with extra protection around his ribs -- today. If Montgomery responds well to the extra padding and movement today, there's a chance he'll be able to play. He'll be at significant risk of an in-game aggravation and, with Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones full participants on Wednesday, could see his workload scaled back significantly.
***Davante Adams was cleared for drills in pads on Wednesday. This is one of the last stages of the return-to-play protocol and suggests the Packers are very comfortable with his progress since last Thursday night's violent hit. Adams has three more days to recover before needing to visit an independent neurologist for formal clearance this week. His return is looking probable.
***Jack Del Rio is optimistic Michael Crabtree will return this week after a limited Wednesday practice. Crabtree will need an imaging study to be certain his lung bruise has healed before he will be cleared for contact. Whether that study has already been performed or the team is waiting until later in the week isn't yet known. Like last week, Crabtree's Friday practice participation will be most important.
***Marcus Mariota was limited but did little in practice on Wednesday. Mike Mularkey told reporters Mariota could play without practicing this week but said the team wouldn't risk further injury. Mariota and the Titans will look for interval improvement without worsening soreness between practices. If that happens, Mariota has a chance to play this week. Unless he's able to return to a full practice by Friday -- and I think that's unlikely -- you can expect Tennessee to scale back the playbook to limit Mariota's zone reads and rollouts.
THURSDAY NIGHT INJURY EXPECTATIONS
Here are the key offensive players listed on the practice participation or game status report for Thursday Night Football:
Rob Gronkowski | Thigh | Questionable
Gronkowski was truly a surprise add to the Patriots' game status report. Multiple reporters saw no concerns when Gronkowski practiced and was seen in the locker room through Tuesday. The Patriots didn't provide any injury updates other than the official release. Of note, the Patriots have not had a padded practice this week. Tuesday's workout was a walkthrough and the team traveled to Tampa on Wednesday. There are no concerning reports from the national media, including former Boston sports media member Ian Rapoport. Watch for news on Thursday but there doesn't appear to be much concern with Gronkowski.
The Buccaneers will likely be without three vital defenders again this week. Linebackers Kwon Alexander (out) and Lavonte David (doubtful) did not practice all week. T.J. Ward did manage limited practice but is listed doubtful again this week. Rex Burkhead remains out for New England but may have a chance to return last week after another week of limited practice this week.
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
|
Quarterbacks
|
|||||||
| Player | Team | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
| Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |||||
| Marcus Mariota | Ten | Hamstring | Limited | Game-time Decision | |||
| Derek Carr | Oak | Back | DNP | Inactive | |||
| *Sam Bradford* | Min | Knee | MNF | Likely Inactive | |||
| Cam Newton | Car | Shoulder | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
| Andrew Luck | Ind | Shoulder | Limited | Inactive | |||
| Alex Smith | KC | Ankle | Full | Expected to Play | |||
| Blake Bortles | Jac | Shoulder | Full | Expected to Play | |||
| Josh McCown | NYJ | Shoulder | Full | Expected to Play | |||
| Ben Roethlisberger | Pit | Not Injury Related | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
|
Running Backs
|
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| Player | Team | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
| Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |||||
| LeSean McCoy | Buf | Wrist | Full | Expected to Play | |||
| Ezekiel Elliott | Dal | Chest | Full | Expected to Play | |||
| Melvin Gordon | LAC | Knee | Full | Expected to Play | |||
| Jay Ajayi | Mia | Knee | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
| Carlos Hyde | SF | Hip | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
| *Jordan Howard* | Chi | Shoulder | MNF | Expected to Play | |||
| Leonard Fournette | Jac | Ankle | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
| Ty Montgomery | GB | Ribs | Limited | Game-time Decision | |||
| Ameer Abdullah | Det | Ankle | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
| Matt Forte | NYJ | Knee / Toe | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
| Jamaal Williams | GB | Knee | Full | Likely to Play | |||
| Wendell Smallwood | Phi | Knee | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
| Marlon Mack | Ind | Shoulder | Full | Likely to Play | |||
| Jerick McKinnon | Min | Likely to Play | |||||
| Branden Oliver | LAC | Hamstring | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
| Matt Brieda | SF | Ankle | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
| C.J. Prosise | Sea | Ankle | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
| Orleans Darkwa | NYG | Back | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
| Paul Perkins | NYG | Ribs | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
| Mike Tolbert | Buf | Thumb | Full | Expected to Play | |||
| Dwayne Washington | Det | Quad | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
| DeAndre Washington | Oak | Hamstring | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
|
Wide Receivers
|
|||||||
| Player | Team | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
| Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |||||
| Odell Beckham | NYG | Finger / Ankle | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
| Doug Baldwin | Sea | Groin | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
| Michael Crabtree | Oak | Chest | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
| Davante Adams | GB | Concussion | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
| Amari Cooper | Oak | Knee | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
| Kelvin Benjamin | Car | Knee | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
| Sammy Watkins | LAR | Illness | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
| Jeremy Maclin | Bal | Hand | Full | Expected to Play | |||
| Brandon Marshall | NYG | Toe | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
| John Brown | Ari | Quad | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
| J.J. Nelson | Ari | Hamstring | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
| Mike Williams | LAC | Back | Limited | Likely Inactive | |||
| Tyrell Williams | LAC | Neck | Full | Expected to Play | |||
| Jordan Matthews | Buf | Thumb | DNP | Inactive | |||
| Marqise Lee | Jac | Ribs | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
| Marquise Goodwin | SF | Concussion | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
| Kenny Golladay | Det | Hamstring | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
| John Ross | Cin | Knee | DNP | Inactive | |||
| Brandon LaFell | Cin | Knee | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
| Curtis Samuel | Car | Back | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
| Kenny Britt | Cle | Knee / Groin | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
| Corey Davis | Ten | Hamstring | DNP | Inactive | |||
|
Tight Ends
|
|||||||
| Player | Team | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
| Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |||||
| Jimmy Graham | Sea | Ankle | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
| Charles Clay | Buf | Not Injury Related | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
| Tyler Eifert | Cin | Back | DNP | Inactive | |||
| Tyler Kroft | Cin | Neck / Knee | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
| Jesse James | Pit | Shoulder | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
| Jack Doyle | Ind | Concussion | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
| Benajmin Watson | Bal | Calf | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
| Maxx Williams | Bal | Ankle | DNP | Inactive | |||
|
Offensive Line
|
|||||||
| Player | Team | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
| Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |||||
| D.J. Humphries | Ari | Knee | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
| Alex Boone | Ari | Chest | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
| Cordy Glenn | Buf | Ankle | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
| Ryan Kalil | Car | Neck | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
| Trai Turner | Car | Knee | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
| Tyler Larsen | Car | Shoulder | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
| Trey Hopkins | Cin | Knee | Full | Likely to Play | |||
| Joe Thomas | Cle | Knee | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
| Kevin Zeitler | Cle | Thumb | Full | Expected to Play | |||
| Tyron Smith | Dal | Back | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
| La'el Collins | Dal | Ankle | Full | Expected to Play | |||
| T.J. Lang | Det | Back | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
| Travis Swanson | Det | Ankle | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
| David Bakhtiari | GB | Hamstring | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
| Bryan Bulaga | GB | Ankle | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
| Xavier Su'a-Filo | Hou | Knee | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
| Ryan Kelly | Ind | Foot | Full | Expected to Play | |||
| Brandon Linder | Jac | Illness | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
| Laurent Duvernay-Tardif | KC | Knee | DNP | Inactive | |||
| Mitch Morse | KC | Foot | DNP | Inactive | |||
| Eric Fisher | KC | Back | Full | Expected to Play | |||
| Joe Barksdale | LAC | Foot | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
| Matt Slauson | LAC | Tricep | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
| Russell Okung | LAC | Groin | Full | Expected to Play | |||
| Jamon Brown | LAR | Groin | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
| John Sullivan | LAR | Not Injury Related | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
| Andrew Whitworth | LAR | Not Injury Related | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
| Mike Pouncey | Mia | Hip | Full | Expected to Play | |||
| Weston Richburg | NYG | Concussion | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
| Brian Winters | NYJ | Abdomen | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
| Kelvin Beachum | NYJ | Knee / Back | Full | Expected to Play | |||
| James Carpenter | NYJ | Shoulder | Full | Expected to Play | |||
| Gabe Jackson | Oak | Foot | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
| Ramon Foster | Pit | Thumb | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
| Marcus Gilbert | Pit | Hamstring | Full | Expected to Play | |||
| Luke Joeckel | Sea | Knee | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
| Rees Odhiambo | Sea | Chest | Full | Likely to Play | |||
| Joe Staley | SF | Not Injury Related | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
|
Edge Players
|
|||||||
| Player | Team | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
| Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |||||
| Shaq Lawson | Buf | Groin | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
| Mario Addison | Car | Knee | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
| Julius Peppers | Car | Not Injury Related | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
| Myles Garrett | Cle | Ankle | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
| Charles Tapper | Dal | Foot | Limited | Inactive | |||
| Ezekiel Ansah | Det | Knee | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
| Nick Perry | GB | Hand | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
| J.J. Watt | Hou | Finger | Full | Expected to Play | |||
| Dee Ford | KC | Back | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
| Jason Pierre-Paul | NYG | Shoulder / Knee | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
| Olivier Vernon | NYG | Ankle | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
| Mario Edwards | Oak | Back | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
| Bud Dupree | Pit | Shoulder | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
| Cliff Avril | Sea | Neck | DNP | Inactive | |||
|
Defensive Line
|
|||||||
| Player | Team | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
| Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |||||
| Kyle Williams | Buf | Not Injury Related | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
| Marcell Dareus | Buf | Ankle | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
| Star Lotulelei | Car | Shoulder | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
| Danny Shelton | Cle | Calf | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
| Mike Daniels | GB | Hip | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
| Malik Jackson | Jac | Groin | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
| Bennie Logan | KC | Knee | Full | Expected to Play | |||
| Muhammad Wilkerson | NYJ | Shoulder | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
| Leonard Williams | NYJ | Wrist | Full | Expected to Play | |||
| Fletcher Cox | Phi | Calf | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
| Stephon Tuitt | Pit | Biceps | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
|
Linebackers
|
|||||||
| Player | Team | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
| Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |||||
| Karlos Dansby | Ari | Knee | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
| Lorenzo Alexander | Buf | Not Injury Related | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
| Ramon Humber | Buf | Thumb | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
| Thomas Davis | Car | Rib | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
| Jamie Collins | Cle | Concussion | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
| Sean Lee | Dal | Hamstring | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
| Anthony Hitchens | Dal | Knee | Full | Expected to Play | |||
| Jarrad Davis | Det | Neck | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
| Tahir Whitehead | Det | Pectoral | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
| Anthony Walker | Ind | Hamstring | Full | Expected to Play | |||
| Jatavis Brown | LAC | Ankle | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
| Jordan Hicks | Phi | Ankle | Full | Expected to Play | |||
| Ryan Shazier | Pit | Shoulder | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
| NaVorro Bowman | SF | Not Injury Related | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
| Reuben Foster | SF | Ankle | DNP | Inactive | |||
|
Defensive Backs
|
|||||||
| Player | Team | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
| Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |||||
| E.J. Gaines | Buf | Groin | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
| Kurt Coleman | Car | Knee | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
| Adam Jones | Cin | Hip | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
| Dre Kirkpatrick | Cin | Shoulder | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
| Glover Quin | Det | Groin | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
| Davon House | GB | Quad | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
| Kevin Johnson | Hou | Knee | DNP | Inactive | |||
| Marcus Burley | Hou | Knee | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
| Matthias Farley | Ind | Quad | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
| Jalen Ramsey | Jac | Ankle | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
| Lamarcus Joyner | LAR | Hamstring | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
| Janoris Jenkins | NYG | Ankle | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
| Jamal Adams | NYJ | Ribs | Full | Expected to Play | |||
| David Amerson | Oak | Concussion | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
| Ronald Darby | Phi | Ankle | DNP | Inactive | |||
| Rodney McLeod | Phi | Hamstring | Full | Expected to Play | |||
| Sean Davis | Pit | Ankle | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
| Michael Mitchell | Pit | Hamstring | Full | Expected to Play | |||
| Jeremy Lane | Sea | Groin | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
| Richard Sherman | Sea | Groin | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
| Earl Thomas | Sea | Knee | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
| Eric Reid | SF | Knee | DNP | Inactive | |||
| Johnathan Cyprien | Ten | Hamstring | DNP | Inactive | |||
Note: Monday night players with asterisk practice Thursday/Friday/Saturday.
Follow me on Twitter @JeneBramel for breaking injury news and analysis throughout the week.