Injury Expectations | Wednesday Update | Week 16

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.

***Leonard Fournette fully practiced on Wednesday and looks to be preparing for his pre-injury workload this week. Hopefully, there will be no confusing hiccups in his practice participation this week.

***Julio Jones is back on the injury report with ankle and thumb injuries. Dan Quinn didn't mention the thumb injury as a concern in his Wednesday media session, noting the ankle injury as something the team wanted to be sure was recovered well. Jones is tentatively expected to participate in Thursday's session.

***Tevin Coleman has been cleared for individual drills and hopes to return to play this week. Until he is cleared for a full practice or the Falcons are ready to send him for an independent exam, he should still be considered questionable.

***I don't think Marqise Lee has much chance to play after suffering a high-ankle sprain last week. Doug Marrone told reporters he was "holding out" that there was "a chance" Lee would play this week. That suggests -- as is often the case -- Lee's progress through the first 48 hours was not as reassuring as hoped.

***Joe Mixon fully practiced last week but was not ready for his independent exam. Wednesday's full practice was a reassuring sign there were no unreported setbacks last week.

***There have been no updates on Chris Hogan after his surprise appearance on the gameday inactive list in Week 15. Hogan was back to a limited practice on Wednesday, making it less likely the Patriots see the setback as a long-term consideration.

Saturday INJURY EXPECTATIONS

Here are the key players listed on the practice participation or game status report for this week's Saturday games:

***There will be no Thursday injury column this week. Make sure to check the Thursday practice report, game status report, and media interviews for additional notes this week. I'll have the full Gameday notes column prepared by early Sunday morning.

Indianapolis vs Baltimore

***Jim Harbaugh told reporters Jeremy Maclin is day-to-day with a knee injury. Maclin has yet to practice this week, however, and will be listed questionable at best. 

***Donte Moncrief has not practiced in multiple weeks with an ankle injury. He's likely to be declared out on Thursday's game status report.

Minnesota vs Green Bay

***Davante Adams remains in the concussion protocol after his second concussion this season and his third in fourteen months. The Packers haven't officially ruled him out but there's no chance Adams will play this week. It's rare for an NFL medical staff to allow a player to progress through multiple exercise stages in the same day if they've suffered a concussion earlier in the season. The Packers are no exception. Adams will not be cleared to play within six days of his most recent injury. Now out of playoff contention, there will have to be a very compelling reason to clear Adams in Week 17.

***Kyle Rudolph was highly motivated to play in his return to his hometown in Cincinnati last week. Although he caught a touchdown pass, he aggravated his ankle sprain and managed just 21 of Minnesota's 67 offensive snaps. Rudolph has participated in individual drills this week and proven himself capable of talking himself onto the active roster. To feel fully comfortable with Rudolph in what should be an excellent matchup, a full Thursday practice, and reassuring media interview. Most likely, Rudolph will be limited on Thursday and have a limited but high-leverage role on Saturday.

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.