Photo: USA Today Sports

NOTE: During the regular season, this column is a living document through Tuesday morning. I'll be updating as needed after team press conferences, imaging reports, Monday Night Football injuries, etc. Major changes to the content will be noted in red.

Scroll to the bottom of this article for a quick look table of the week's most pressing injury situations and a review of players on injured reserve / PUP / NFI.

Footballguys will have close and detailed coverage of all injuries this season. Here's a look at my expected schedule. I will do my best to stick to this. Work and family responsibilities may sometimes cause brief delays.

Monday Injury Rounds: Posted Sunday night, updated through Tuesday AM. Detailed analysis of the week's injuries with table for quick review. Offensive injuries will be live Sunday night. Critical defensive and offensive line injuries will be added throughout the day on Monday. I'll be updating with news and analysis through Tuesday.

Midweek Injury Expectations: Posted Wednesday night. Analysis of the practice participation report with a table including my projection of each injured player's likely game status. Will include discussion of any major breaking injury news.

Sunday Gameday Expectations: Posted by Saturday afternoon, updated through Sunday morning inactives. Will include individual player blurbs with detailed thoughts on the week's injury news and my speculation on player availability and limitations. Will include table highlighting each day's practice participation, official game status, and my availability expectation.

I'll be contributing to our waiver wire podcast (Tuesday release) and our live Sunday morning pregame show (10 ET Sunday on YouTube). I will also be retweeting key pieces of news and my own reaction and analysis, so make sure you're following @JeneBramel and checking my timeline on Twitter throughout the week.

INJURY ROUNDS

Jerick McKinnon | Right ACL tear | Out for 2018 season

It was expected to be a quiet week of practice before all 32 teams began preparing in earnest for Week 1. Unfortunately, on the last play of the final weekend practice leading into the 53-man roster cutdown, McKinnon suffered a non-contact knee injury and was quickly confirmed to have suffered an ACL tear.

There were no reports of additional injuries to the knee, which bodes well for an early 2019 offseason return for McKinnon. The Niners will now rely on a combination of Alfred Morris and Matt Breida.

Follow-up Appointments

Carson Wentz | Left ACL reconstruction / LCL repair | Week-to-Week | Out Week 1

The Eagles continued to allow Wentz to participate in team drills last week but did not clear him for contact, essentially ruling him out for Thursday night's opening game. On Sunday, Doug Pederson gave no indication Wentz would gain clearance this week. Barring an injury to Nick Foles in Week 1, the ongoing caution with Wentz's practice participation makes it doubtful we'll see him in Week 2.

Earlier this offseason, multiple Philadelphia coaches -- and beat writers who often know things but can only hint around them -- suggested Wentz would not return until he was recovered to pre-injury form. In other words, the team had no plans to play Wentz until he was cleared to play inside and outside the pocket. Despite a smooth rehab to date, the added complications of Wentz's LCL repair extend the usual ACL recovery timetable. Players with Wentz's injury need nine months or longer to recover. With that timetable, Wentz shouldn't be expected to return until sometime in September -- at the earliest.

So, we're now on a week-to-week vigil with Wentz that may eventually remind us of the frustration over Andrew Luck's unknown return last year.

That's not to suggest Wentz may be unable to return this year. Barring an unexpected setback, Wentz will play in 2018. But if the Eagles don't crash and burn with Nick Foles, it's now clear Philadelphia will not clear their franchise quarterback to play until the reward well outweighs the risk.

Monday Update: Albert Breer posted thoughts on Monday morning after speaking to orthopedic surgeons familiar with the type of rehab Wentz is working through. Breer didn't get any closer to an answer than we currently have, noting that the Eagles medical and training staff are continuing to strike the best balance between the time Wentz's knee would be anatomically full strength (as long as 18 months post-surgery) and when the stabilizing muscles are strong enough to limit his risk of re-injury.

We have no way of knowing where Wentz is along that continuum. It's reasonable to believe he's close or the Eagles would not be allowing him to run positional drills which involve planting and twisting.

Doug Baldwin | Knee soreness | Day-to-Day | Questionable Week 1

Baldwin told reporters he was 80-85% healthy last week. Ignore the percentage and focus on the overall sentiment of his comments. Though Baldwin has returned to run routes at speed and looks likely to play in Week 1, he's acknowledging he's not fully healthy. That shouldn't be surprising. Knee soreness requiring any kind of procedure, whether it be arthroscopic surgery, fluid drainage, or the anti-inflammatory injection Baldwin likely underwent in early August often suggests a degenerative condition at risk of chronic pain and swelling. The Seahawks and Baldwin will have to manage the health of the knee all season long.

However, that does not mean Baldwin cannot be productive. Many players are effective despite similar knee conditions. Some are managed throughout the season without anyone outside the locker room knowing about the issue.

We'll know more about Baldwin's early-season projection after seeing how the Seahawks approach his practice participation. Seattle commonly rests veterans without practice and allows them to play. Don't be shocked if Baldwin has at least one DNP this week.

Saquon Barkley | Left hamstring strain | Day-to-Day | Probable Week 1

Barkley has participated in multiple consecutive practices over the past week without aggravating his early preseason hamstring strain. The Giants may be careful with him this week but it wouldn't be surprising to see Barkley fully practice and avoid the game status report altogether. He looks likely to see a full Week 1 workload.

Alshon Jeffery | Rotator cuff repair | Week-to-Week | Out Week 1

The Eagles moved Jeffery from the PUP list to their active roster this week, a clear sign they expect him to be ready within 4-6 weeks. Adam Schefter suggested Jeffery would miss the first two weeks of the season on Twitter and his report hasn't been contradicted by anyone close to the team. Jeffery has continued to make progress in his strength-based rehab. He will not need multiple weeks of reconditioning. When he is cleared for contact, he's likely to practice and play the same week.

Josh Gordon | Hamstring soreness | Day-to-Day | Probable but Limited Week 1

Cleveland gave Gordon extra rest this week, which should raise suspicion he was dealing with more than hamstring soreness. He's expected to return to practice this week. If he can avoid aggravation, the Browns have said they'll use him in limited packages. Don't expect him to see a full offensive workload until later in September.

Marlon Mack | Left hamstring strain | Week-to-Week | Doubtful Week 1

Mack has reportedly made progress in his recovery but hasn't yet been cleared for more than individual drills and conditioning. As with all mid-grade strains requiring multiple weeks of rehab, Mack will need longer than one week of practice to fully recondition and limit the risk of aggravation. He's doubtful to play this week and should be considered questionable for Week 2.

Sony Michel | Fluid aspiration knee joint | Week-to-Week | Questionable Week 1

Michel was back to practice in pads last week and impressed his position coach with his return to individual drills. It's unclear whether Michel can prove himself ready for Week 1. The Patriots are a hard team to read and the practice reports are largely unhelpful. Without any past history to guide us, it's likely we'll see Michel considered a game-time decision.

Evan Engram | Concussion | Day-to-Day | Probable Week 1

Engram returned to individual drills within 24 hours of his concussion and has had no reported setbacks. He should practice fully by the end of the week, be cleared for contact, and play in Week 1.

Vance McDonald | Right foot injury | Week-to-Week | Doubtful Week 1

The Steelers have yet to clear McDonald for a full practice. There continues to be hope he'll avoid the inseason injured reserve list but he does not appear likely to play in Week 1.

DOnta Foreman | Left Achilles repair | Reserve-PUP | Eligible to Return Week 7

Foreman did not practice during the preseason and was moved the inseason PUP list. He will be eligible to return in Week 7, nearly 12 months after his November 2018 Achilles tear.

Hunter Henry | Right ACL reconstruction | Reserve-PUP | Eligible to Return Week 7

The Chargers believe there is a good chance Henry will rehab successfully and quickly. Though he will be eligible to return in Week 7, late October is just five months after his ACL reconstruction and not a realistic return expectation. Week 12 to Week 14 seems to be the most optimistic return date for a limited workload.

Monday Update: General manager Tom Telesco elaborated on Monday saying, "It does give us the small opportunity that if his rehab comes along very, very well late in the year he could possibly come back to play. The odds are much more he'll play next year and not this year...We'll be very...smart with it. Everything would have to perfectly line up."

INJURED PLAYERS ON ACTIVE ROSTER