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 High Impact 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:

Game-time Decision

• WR Julio Jones (hamstring) >>> INACTIVE

Trending Doubtful (Likely Inactive)

• WR Davante Adams (hamstring)
• RB Duke Johnson Jr (ankle)

Trending Probable (Expected to Play)

• RB Josh Jacobs (hip)
• TE Darren Waller (knee)
• WR Kenny Golladay (hamstring)
• WR Jerry Jeudy (ribs)
• WR Sammy Watkins (concussion/neck)

Ruled Out

• WR Michael Thomas (ankle)
• TE George Kittle (knee)
• RB Raheem Mostert (knee)
• RB Tevin Coleman (knee)
• RB Phillip Lindsay (toe)
• RB Cam Akers (ribs)
• RB Zack Moss (toe)
• QB Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle)
• QB Drew Lock (shoulder)
• QB Tyrod Taylor (chest)

QUARTERBACK

There are no injured quarterbacks questionable to play this week.

Others of note: Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle), Drew Lock (shoulder), and Tyrod Taylor (ribs/chest) 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.

RUNNING BACK

Josh Jacobs | Hip | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

Jacobs was briefly on the sideline having a hip flexor stretched during the fourth quarter of Monday night's game. Although Jacobs looked frustrated by the injury, it did not prevent him from carrying the ball on five of seven offensive snaps on the Raiders' final drive. That's not surprising -- Jacobs effectively gutted through a fracture in his shoulder blade last season.

On a short week, Jacobs managed only a limited Friday practice. The Raiders list him questionable to play but are among a handful of teams comfortable clearing a player for a full workload with limited practice.

Most local writers believe Jacobs will play. National media analyst Adam Caplan agreed, tweeting the Raiders are "optimistic [Jacobs] ... will be available."

Hip flexor strains can be limiting injuries for Jacobs and it's possible the Raiders may give him a series off in each half if needed. Given the Las Vegas running back depth chart and the team's willingness to continue to feed him the ball during last season's injury, a 25+ touch projection remains in play. I'll update with any specific overnight reporting about Jacobs' condition.

For now, I lean toward Jacobs playing without a significant decrease in snap expectation.

Sunday Update: Adam Schefter reports Jacobs is expected to play.

Duke Johnson Jr | Ankle | Questionable | Likely Inactive

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

Johnson continues to improve from a Week 1 high ankle sprain. Bill O'Brien told reporters Johnson was "trending in the right direction" but wouldn't commit to Johnson playing. If he's improved enough to travel with the team to Pittsburgh, he could have a limited role this week.

Sunday Update: Johnson is a longshot to play per Ian Rapoport.

Others of note: Malcolm Brown (finger), Darrel Williams (hamstring), Corey Clement (illness), and Kalen Ballage (hamstring) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play. Ryquell Armstead remains on the COVID list and will not play. Raheem Mostert (knee), Tevin Coleman (knee), Phillip Lindsay (toe), Cam Akers (ribs), Zack Moss (toe), and Justin Jackson (quad) 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

Julio Jones | Hamstring | Questionable | Game-time Decision

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

In the past two weeks, I've argued we can trust Jones to be active and likely effective if he's listed limited in practice but not listed on the game status report. Unfortunately, the opposite is also true. Jones tends to be limited (or inactive) if he's unable to practice during the week and listed questionable.

That's the case this week.

Dan Quinn told reporters Jones would work on the side on Friday. But Jones did not participate in any individual drills and test his hamstring in football-related activities. Quinn also said the Falcons had included Jones in the game plan meetings this week. That's reassuring but not particularly telling. There aren't many game plan adjustments to include a franchise wide receiver who's played in the same offense with the same quarterback for years.

When asked about his two catch, four target performance last week, Jones told reporters he "couldn't run like he wanted to" -- a clear indication his hamstring injury worsened through the game and suggests the possibility of aggravation.

The Falcons say Jones is a game-time decision. But he's more doubtful than questionable and there's very little chance he'll see more than a handful of lower-leverage targets if he's active. It'll take a very positive overnight report to change his current outlook.

Sunday Update: According to Adam Schefter, a source says Jones' status is "nip and tuck, up in the air." Ian Rapoport tweeted a similar report. The Falcons reportedly won't decide until their inactive list is due 90 minutes before game time, but there has yet to be a report suggesting he's healthy enough to be productive today.

Sunday Update: Jones is inactive.

Davante Adams | Hamstring | Doubtful | Likely Inactive

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

The Packers were hopeful Adams would be able to play this week. Early reports suggested Adams was lobbying to return to last week's game but the Packers chose caution in a game they led by multiple scores.

Unfortunately, Adams didn't progress well this week and was never cleared to practice. Listed doubtful, Adams is highly unlikely to play. We've seen elite wide receivers change course quickly once this year already -- Mike Evans played over 90% of Tampa Bay's Week 1 offensive snaps after a Friday doubtful tag. But there were more positive notes on Evans than we've seen with Adams this week.

Expect Adams to be inactive on Sunday night. If the trend changes, I'll update with thoughts on his snap and effectiveness expectations.

Sunday Update: Adam Schefter reported Packers will give Adams "up to game time to try to recover...and prove he can play." Ian Rapoport tweeted Adams has a "very minor hamstring strain" but is a "longshot" to play. Adams remains doubtful to go.

Kenny Golladay | Hamstring | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

Last Sunday, multiple media members reported Golladay was targeting Week 3 as his return. After three days of limited practice and clearance to speak with the media Friday afternoon -- not something Matt Patricia would allow if Golladay was considered unlikely to play -- it looks like Golladay will return.

Golladay tempered expectations a bit on Friday, however. While he said he was "definitely feeling a lot better," he told reporters he's "not 100 percent."

A full week of limited practice is reassuring but Golladay is still within the window of risk of aggravation. There's no guarantee he'll play a full complement of snaps or be statistically effective, but a 6-10 target expectation is reasonable. If he finishes this game without a setback, he will be even closer to full strength for Week 4.

*Sammy Watkins | Concussion / Neck | Questionable | Likely to Play

Practice Participation: Thurs - DNP | Fri - Limited | Sat - Full

The Chiefs advanced Watkins along the return-to-play protocol on Friday. It's evidence the team will allow Watkins to play if he continues to make progress. The neck condition should not be dismissed, though. It's possible Watkins has no concussion symptoms by Saturday afternoon but is unable to be cleared for contact because the neck strain has not healed enough.

I'll update after Saturday's practice report.

Saturday Update: Watkins fully practiced and looks likely to play. Andy Reid told reporters Watkins did well with rehab and "feels pretty good right now." A recurrence in symptoms is possible before Monday night all signs point to Watkins being active.

Jerry Jeudy | Ribs | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Jeudy returned to a full practice on Friday. That's an indication the limited practices earlier in the week went as expected and the Broncos are likely to clear him to play.

Rib injuries are painful and easily aggravated. Although Courtland Sutton is out, the rib injury and transition to backup quarterback Jeff Driskel make projecting Jeudy's targets difficult. It may be another week before you can reliably expect a double-digit target expectation. Consider Jeudy a boom-bust WR3 candidate this week.

Sunday Update: Ian Rapoport tweeted Jeudy is dealing with bruised ribs but is expected to play.

Others of note: Chris Godwin (concussion), JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee), Diontae Johnson (toe), Allen Robinson (knee), Anthony Miller (calf), Jarvis Landry (hip), John Brown (foot), Chris Hogan (rib), and Brandon Cooks (quadricep) are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play without limitation. Michael Thomas (ankle), A.J. Brown (knee), Alshon Jeffery (foot), Jalen Reagor (thumb), Henry Ruggs (knee, hamstring), Jamison Crowder (hamstring), Breshad Perriman (ankle), Christian Kirk (groin), and Justin Watson (shoulder) 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

Darren Waller | Knee | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Waller's status is the toughest call of the weekend.

Film review showed Waller take multiple concerning hits to the outside of his knees. However, he didn't appear to be limited other than a slight wince after his final catch of the game. Still, Waller was setting the edge and blocking on all six runs on the Raiders' final series. Jon Gruden has become very tight-lipped with injuries -- he told reporters his offensive line starters were "a mystery" on Friday -- and the Raiders have not commented on Waller at all. General soreness or a low grade MCL sprain are the most likely conditions here.

As noted in the Jacobs' discussion above, the Raiders are comfortable clearing players for a full workload without practice. Waller would certainly fit that category this week. Adam Caplan tweeted "optimism" that Waller would play on Friday.

Like Jacobs, I lean toward Waller seeing close to his usual workload and playing effectively but I'll be watching weekend reports carefully and adjust expectations if warranted.

Sunday Update: Adam Schefter reports Waller is expected to play. There was no hedge in Schefter's tweet and no apparent concern from local media this week. It seems the limited information reported through the week was because there was little reason to worry.

Jack Doyle | Knee | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

There was concern Doyle's knee injury would require multiple weeks of recovery but he returned to a full Friday practice and is trending towards playing. Mo-Alie Cox played well last week and will see a sizable role even if Doyle returns. It's possible the loss of Parris Campbell could shunt more targets to the tight ends, but expect a limited snap count for Doyle in his first week back.

Others of note: Jonnu Smith (ankle), Hunter Henry (ankle), Greg Olsen (heel), Will Dissly (Achilles), and Jake Butt (hand) fully practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play. George Kittle (knee) and Dawson Knox (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.

Practice Participation, Game Status Report, and Playing Expectations

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

Note: Asterisk denotes Monday night players who practice Thursday/Friday/Saturday.

Follow me on Twitter @JeneBramel for breaking injury news and analysis throughout the week.