Injury Expectations | Wednesday Update | Week 15

Photo: USA Today Sports

KEY WEDNESDAY MEDIA UPDATES

>>>> Note: Due to travel and time constraints over the next two weeks, the table will include offensive skill position players only.

***The Packers have yet to move Aaron Rodgers to the active roster yet. He remains exempt while on injured reserve. Rodgers announced late Tuesday night he's been cleared to return and will do so this week. There may be a brief period of erratic play and Rodgers reacclimates to game speed but his arm strength should be unaffected. Expect him to start this week.

***Alvin Kamara fully practiced on Wednesday and told reporters he was playing this week. The Falcons didn't have to submit an official practice participation report -- Thursday is the first official practice for teams playing Monday night -- but Tevin Coleman also returned to a full practice and will likely be cleared to play this week.

***The Jaguars held Leonard Fournette out of Wednesday's practice with a quadricep injury. There doesn't appear to be any concern around the team or local media about Fournette's status after his 28 touch performance last week. I'll have more in Thursday's article.

***Kyle Rudolph left the locker room in a walking boot after Sunday's game and did not practice Wednesday. The Vikings have yet to update his status this week.

***After a third consecutive limited practice, Robert Woods declared himself ready to return this week. Expect the Rams to expose him to contact in team drills as the week progresses and monitor how his shoulder responds. He will likely be ready for a full workload.

***Marcus Mariota fully practiced on Wednesday and may not be significantly limited by the knee injury he suffered last week. Mariota refused to blame his poor performance on the cumulative effect of knee and hamstring injuries but it's clear he's not fully healthy.

***Tyrod Taylor fully practiced and told reporters he was "feeling healthy" on Wednesday. With Nathan Peterman's status unclear while recovering from last week's concussion, Taylor is a near lock to start at quarterback for Buffalo.

THURSDAY NIGHT INJURY EXPECTATIONS

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

***The Broncos will again be without Paxton Lynch at quarterback but are otherwise healthy.

***Indianapolis listed Jacoby Brissett on the practice participation report with a quad strain but allowed him to fully practice. He will play with minimal limitation. Center Ryan Kelly has yet to pass an independent neurologist exam and will miss his third consecutive game. Donte Moncrief has not practiced for multiple weeks with an ankle injury and was also declared out.

>>>> I'll have official injury expectations for the Saturday games in the Thursday Injury Expectations column.

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.