Injury Expectations | Wednesday Update | Week 6

Photo: USA Today Sports

KEY WEDNESDAY MEDIA UPDATES

***Adam Schefter reported Tyler Eifert will undergo another back surgery this week and will miss the rest of the season. The Bengals have said only that Eifert's current condition isn't related to last season's back surgery. In the strictest sense, that's likely an accurate statement, i.e. this surgery isn't intended to re-address a degenerative condition at the same vertebral level as the previous surgery. But this surgery is likely to an adjacent level and it's not uncommon for players with degenerative back conditions to require surgical procedures more than one surgical procedure. The early timetable here is 4-6 months, which includes rehab to regain core strength and conditioning. Players have recovered fully from multiple back surgeries but it's unlikely Eifert will have a career arc and length of Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez, and others.

***A full practice for Ty Montgomery is a reassuring sign. However, Wednesday's practice didn't involve much contact. Tomorrow's participation is much more important. If the Packers clear Montgomery for more than limited work in their most physical Thursday practice, it's a clear sign he'll be active this week. Don't expect a return to his pre-injury workload, however. Aaron Jones is healthy and coming off a very productive week.

***Travis Kelce did not practice today. Most players who advance through the return-to-play protocol within one week are doing some limited work on Wednesday and increasing exercise through the end of the week. The DNP isn't the only poor prognostic sign for a Week 6 return. Kelce was entered into the protocol due to "memory problems" -- a symptom known to be associated with a longer recovery in some athletes. And Kelce has had multiple past concussions. It's too soon to say for certain but I think Kelce is on the doubtful side of questionable this week.

***Rob Gronkowski is expected to play this week. Today's report from Jeff Howe suggests Gronkowski was injured against Carolina and was unable to recover enough to limit the risk of additional injury last Thursday. Although he did participate in individual drills on Wednesday, the Patriots listed him as DNP after holding him out of team drills.

***There are multiple quarterbacks on the injury report again. However, the news is mostly positive this week. Tom Brady (left AC sprain) and Matthew Stafford (low-grade grade high ankle sprain) are both expected to play through injuries that should not limit them. Derek Carr will very likely be ready to play with a little extra padding to protect his back. Marcus Mariota is reportedly doing much more in practice this week and has already shown signs he'll be better able to protect himself in the pocket this week. I expect both Carr and Mariota to play. The news isn't as good for Sam Bradford. While Bradford didn't aggravate his injury on Monday night, he clearly showed he was not healthy enough to play. He may be out through the Vikings' Week 9 bye.

***It wasn't a hamstring injury for Jordy Nelson last week. Green Bay listed Nelson as a full participant with a back injury. Nelson spoke with the media and had no concern about his availability this week. We'll see if the Packers give him any practice time off later in the week but all signs are currently positive for a full Week 6 workload.

***Jay Gruden said Rob Kelley was unlikely to play after a week off to rest an ankle injury. Bilal Powell was not seen on the practice or rehab field and looks unlikely to play through a calf injury. Matt Forte did some limited work but may only be in the re-conditioning phase of rehab and may not be ready to return yet after missing multiple weeks with turf toe.

***Wednesday's practice report information was limited on DeVante Parker and Stefon Diggs. Neither receiver was at practice and neither receiver's coach sounded optimistic about this week's availability. Consider both doubtful with an outside chance of earning a game-time decision notation by the end of the week. Sterling Shepard was also a DNP on Wednesday has very little chance to play.

THURSDAY NIGHT INJURY EXPECTATIONS

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

DEvin Funchess | Knee | Not Listed

Funchess did not practice until Wednesday. He worked out fully, however, and is not listed on the Panthers' game status report. There's no indication he'll be limited on Thursday night.

Cam Newton has improved with each passing week. He'll again be without center Ryan Kalil but the rest of his offensive line and skill position players are healthy. The Eagles will be without Ronald Darby in the secondary but are otherwise healthier on defense and are expected to have Fletcher Cox back on Thursday night. The Eagles' offense will be without Lane Johnson (concussion) and Wendell Smallwood -- who is listed questionable but hasn't practiced in two weeks with knee swelling.

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.