UNDERSTANDING THE NFL'S INJURY REPORT

The injury report released by the NFL is two reports. The first is the Practice Participation report, which lists which injured players were able to practice and how much. It also includes players who rested or missed practice for non-injury related reasons. The second is the Game Status Report, which gives the probability a player will play, i.e. Questionable, Doubtful, Out. The Practice Participation Report is released every day of the week (Monday through Saturday). The Game Status Report is released with the Friday participation report (Wednesday for Thursday games, Saturday for Monday games).

In this feature, I'll include the Game Status Listing, my expectation of their likelihood to play, and the player's practice participation throughout the week.

Key:

PLAYER | INJURY | GAME STATUS LISTING | FOOTBALLGUYS EXPECTATION

Practice Participation Listing by Day

* = playing on Monday night

I'll also include a table at the bottom of the article for easy reference.

Here's the latest on every relevant injured player on the practice participation and game status report this week:

Fast Track News and Notes

Scroll down for full details, extensive updates, and the complete table of projected availability. Here are the most important notes for this week's games:

***Drew Brees returns this week. Matt Ryan likely to see his consecutive games streak end.

***Alvin Kamara is a game-time decision. There are positive trends this week but I lean toward the Saints resting him through the bye week.

***Keenan Allen is a game-time decision. There's very little information here but lean toward him being limited if he's active.

QUARTERBACK

Drew Brees | Thumb | Questionable | Expected to Play

Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Limited

Brees targeted this week as his preferred return since having surgery after his injury in Week 2. A six-week return is a reasonable expectation based on the recoveries of professional athletes -- albeit in other sports. Brees will be the test case for an NFL quarterback's recovery from a newer surgical procedure to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in the thumb.

Every report on Brees' rehab has been positive. However, the repair won't be full anatomic strength for another few weeks, he's only begun throwing a regulation football in the past ten days, and he hasn't been cleared to throw without a molded splint on the outside of his thumb for support.

While he's been cleared to play, all involved -- including Brees -- understand the importance of not returning to contact until his thumb regains enough strength and range of motion to be effective. While the season is short and every player wants to play every game, the Saints' Week 9 bye may also factor into this decision.

Brees practiced all week and split reps in team drills with Teddy Bridgewater. He's preparing to start. But the Saints have repeatedly said they're unlikely to make a decision until close to game time as they observe how Brees responds to the week of practice.

If Brees does return this week, expect the Saints to frequently use max protection schemes and it won't be surprising to see more snaps with Taysom Hill in the huddle -- either at tight end or quarterback.

Media members will be all over this story through the weekend. Expect multiple updates on Brees' availability and condition through game time.

Saturday Update: Brees will meet his return goal. Dianna Russini reports Brees will start this week.

Matt Ryan | Ankle | Questionable | Inactive

Practice Participation: Wed - DNP | Thurs - DNP | Fri - Limited

High ankle sprains are extremely tough to play through -- even when low grade and sustained by a player who doesn't regularly put the ankle under stress. If Ryan didn't have a 150+ consecutive game streak motivating him, it's unlikely the Falcons would have pushed him through a Friday practice as a test case for playing this week.

Adam Caplan is reporting the Falcons will sign a quarterback off their practice squad on Saturday, essentially sealing Ryan's fate to the inactive list this week.

Saturday Update: Ryan has been ruled out.

Others of note: Aaron Rodgers (knee), Russell Wilson (knee), Matthew Stafford (hip), Baker Mayfield (hip), Mason Rudolph (concussion), and Sam Darnold (toe) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play. Patrick Mahomes II (knee) and Cam Newton (foot) have been declared out and will not play. Return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players will be updated in Monday's column.

RUNNING BACK

Alvin Kamara | Ankle / Knee | Questionable | Game-time Decision

Practice Participation: Wed - DNP | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Limited

Kamara is rehabbing a high ankle sprain and MCL sprain. He was able to return to a limited Thursday practice and responded well enough to return to Friday's walkthrough. Sean Payton would not specifically comment on Kamara's status on Friday.

It's likely that Kamara's ankle is the limiting injury but the sprain to the opposite knee isn't helping. Even though Kamara has an extra week to recover if he plays, there's not much upside in risking an additional 3-4 week recovery by playing through a limiting injury with a bye week looming in Week 9. The presence of capable and healthy backup Latavius Murray also argues against taking unnecessary risk.

I'm expecting the Saints to rest Kamara through the bye week. If he's determined to be trending toward the active roster, I'll update with thoughts on how the New Orleans may limit his workload.

Sunday Update: Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport report Kamara will not play today.

David Johnson | Ankle | Questionable | Likely Inactive

Practice Participation: Wed - DNP | Thurs - DNP | Fri - DNP

Kliff Kingsbury told reporters Johnson is a game-time decision. I'll not include an extensive debriefing here, but very little of what Kliff Kingsbury has said on Johnson has been accurate over the past two weeks. Let's focus on the facts of the case.

• Johnson was limited in practice last week, then managed just two snaps of game action
• Johnson could barely put weight on his left ankle during those two plays
• Johnson did not participate in practice this week
• Chase Edmonds is healthy and was very effective in a 30+ touch effort last week
• The Cardinals signed two veteran running backs early this week

I'm not cherry-picking data here. The only optimistic factor here is the game-time decision comments from Kingsbury. Although Johnson played more effectively than I expected through back spasms two weeks ago, this is a different injury and a different set of circumstances.

Expect Johnson to be inactive.

Sunday Update: Adam Schefter is reporting Johnson won't play today and is also considered doubtful to play Thursday night.

Josh Jacobs | Shoulder | Questionable | Likely to Play

Practice Participation: Wed - DNP | Thurs - DNP | Fri - Limited

Jon Gruden tentatively expects Jacobs to play. Jacobs told reporters his shoulder "would have to be broke" for him to miss games. Jacobs needed an injection to play last week but was effective through 24 touches and the Raiders didn't appear to limit him.

Expect Jacobs to play and continue to see his usual workload. However, shoulder injuries are easily aggravated in running backs and injections and padding can be less effective as the game progresses.

Rex Burkhead | Foot | Questionable | Game-time Decision

Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Limited

Burkhead has missed two games with a foot injury. He continues to be listed as limited in practice but there are no reports Burkhead is close to returning.

Others of note: Saquon Barkley (ankle) and Jalen Richard (ankle) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play. Malcolm Brown (ankle), Darren Sproles (quad), and Ito Smith (concussion) are doubtful or have been declared out and will not play. Return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players will be updated in Monday's column.

WIDE RECEIVER

Keenan Allen | Hamstring | Questionable | Game-time Decision

Practice Participation: Wed - Not Listed | Thurs - DNP | Fri - DNP

Allen strained his left hamstring during practice this week and did not return to practice. The Chargers are the least-reported team in the league and Anthony Lynn rarely provides any information during press conferences. Other than practice participation, the only potentially useful details are a single observation about Allen participating in rehab agility drills on Friday and Lynn saying Allen is a game-time decision.

That's not much to go on.

Allen has a history of playing through nagging knee inflammation and has played through soft-tissue injuries and limited practice in past weeks. But the consecutive DNPs after a mid-week hamstring strain suggest Allen did not recover quickly. Without a reassuring report this weekend, it's much easier to argue Allen will be limited or inactive rather than the more optimistic alternative.

I'll update through the weekend but expect Allen to be inactive.

Sunday Update: Adam Schefter reports Allen will test his fitness in pregame warmups but was not optimistic he would play after Friday's workout. Ian Rapoport later reported Allen to be a "true game-time decision," tweeting Allen was "walking around well" and "had some optimism." I still believe Allen is to the doubtful side of questionable.

Sunday Update: Allen is active and will play today.

Julian Edelman | Chest | Questionable | Expected to Play

Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Limited

The Patriots continue to list Edelman questionable so I'll continue to include him in these blurbs despite having no concern for his availability or workload. Edelman has played 90% of the Patriots' offensive snaps in each of the three weeks he's been listed questionable with a chest injury and can be expected to do the same this week.

Tyrell Williams | Foot | Questionable | Expected to Play

Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Limited

Williams returned to a full week of limited practice after missing multiple weeks to rehab a plantar fascia injury. Williams was cleared to speak to the media all week and felt he was likely to play. Offensive coordinator Greg Olson confirmed Williams would return on Friday, telling reporters he was "excited to get [Williams] back."

Williams had no setbacks during practice and Olson said Williams looked good on both Thursday and Friday. There's a possibility of an in-game setback or limitation but the Raiders did not return Williams to practice until his movement improved and he looks likely to see his usual number of targets.

Dede Westbrook | Shoulder / Neck | Questionable | Expected to Play

Practice Participation: Wed - DNP | Thurs - DNP | Fri - Limited

Westbrook was questionable after a late-week shoulder injury last week. He played 54 snaps with nine targets and was asked to run the ball twice against Cincinnati. The Jaguars added a neck designation to the injury report and didn't return Westbrook to practice until Friday. The minimal practice seems to be precautionary, however, and Doug Marrone told reporters the team listed Westbrook questionable because he didn't practice all week rather than out of concern he may not play.

Westbrook is well to the probable side of questionable and can be expected to see his usual targets.

Christian Kirk | Ankle | Questionable | Likely Inactive

Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Limited

The Cardinals have repeatedly said Kirk would not return until he was able to move laterally without pain. Kliff Kingsbury's Friday comments suggested Kirk still hasn't met that criteria for return but said Kirk would be re-evaluated through the weekend. Barring a surprisingly positive weekend report, expect Kirk to be inactive on Sunday.

Sunday update: Ian Rapoport is reporting Kirk will play today.

Others of note: Odell Beckham (groin), JuJu Smith-Schuster (illness), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (ankle/knee), Allen Lazard (back), Sammy Watkins (hamstring), Phillip Dorsett (hamstring), Demaryius Thomas (hamstring), Jamison Crowder (knee), Kenny Stills (hamstring), Dante Pettis (knee), Deebo Samuel (groin), and Marqise Lee (ankle) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play without limitation. Davante Adams (toe), A.J. Green (ankle), Sterling Shepard (concussion), DeSean Jackson (abdomen), Sterling Shepard (concussion), Will Fuller (hamstring), and Tre'Quan Smith (ankle) are doubtful or have been declared out and will not play. Return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players will be updated in Monday's column.

TIGHT END

Jack Doyle | Groin | Questionable | Awaiting Information

Practice Participation: Wed - Not Listed | Thurs - Not Listed | Fri - Limited

Doyle was added to Friday's injury report with a groin injury and listed questionable to play. The Colts haven't commented on his status and there are no local reports about his likelihood to play. I'll update with weekend reports.

Others of note: George Kittle (groin), Vance McDonald (shoulder), Jimmy Graham (ankle), and Greg Olsen (finger) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play without limitation. Jared Cook (ankle), Delanie Walker (ankle), O.J. Howard (hamstring), and Chris Herndon (hamstring) are listed doubtful or have been declared out and will not play. Return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players will be updated in Monday's column.

Practice Participation, Game Status Report, and Playing Expectations

*Note: Monday night players with asterisk practice Thursday/Friday/Saturday.