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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
^ = playing on Tuesday 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.

Game-time Decision

• RB Leonard Fournette (lean probable but limited)
• WR John Brown
• WR Curtis Samuel - INACTIVE

Trending Doubtful (Likely Inactive)

Trending Probable (Expected to Play)

• WR Julio Jones
• WR Chris Godwin
• WR D.J. Chark
• QB Baker Mayfield
• QB Drew Lock
• WR Jarvis Landry
• WR Darius Slayton
• WR Breshad Perriman

Added to Active Roster From Injured Reserve or COVID list

• QB Cam Newton
• WR Adam Humphries

Ruled Out

• RB Dalvin Cook
• WR Diontae Johnson
• RB Melvin Gordon
• TE Noah Fant
• WR DeSean Jackson
• WR Alshon Jeffery
• QB Sam Darnold
• TE Dawson Knox
• TE Jordan Akins
• TE Mo Alie-Cox

QUARTERBACK

Baker Mayfield | Chest | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

The Browns list Mayfield questionable and Kevin Stefanski told reporters his quarterback was trending in the right direction but the Browns are planning to continue treatment until gameday. Mayfield has told reporters all week he expects to play and observers uniformly noted he was throwing well in a full Friday practice.

Rib injuries can be difficult to play through for quarterbacks. There's a risk of poor accuracy and an aggravation if Mayfield is hit in the same area but expect Mayfield to start on Sunday.

Drew Lock | Shoulder | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Although the Broncos suggested Lock had a chance to play last week, there were indications he had yet to fully recover and it's unlikely Lock would have been cleared to go. This week, after a full practice and continued indications his throwing motion is clean and painless, all local writers expect Lock to start.

When asked why the team listed Lock questionable, Vic Fangio said, "They took away the probable category, so it was questionable or noting...we're choosing questionable."

That's not concerning, however. Many teams use questionable when they mean probable and there's still a chance -- albeit very small -- that Lock experiences discomfort before game time. The bigger concern is whether Lock can immediately return to effective play. The full week of practice is reassuring and you can expect Lock to adjust to game speed quickly.

Others of note: Josh Allen (shoulder), Cam Newton (COVID), Jimmy Garoppolo (ankle), and Kyle Allen (shoulder) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play. Sam Darnold (shoulder) has 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

Leonard Fournette | Ankle | Questionable | Likely to Play / Limited Role

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

Fournette continues to recover from a Week 3 high ankle sprain. Although the Bucs allowed Fournette to dress last Thursday night, he was not close to playing. This is his first week of limited practice and reconditioning.

Tampa Bay allows players to play with limited or no practice, making it difficult to read whether they're resting healthier players or holding still injured players out for intensive treatment. Fournette's case could be read either way, but it's more likely he's not fully recovered.

Bruce Arians told reporters Fournette was a game-time decision. Beat writers believe Fournette is likely to play.

If Fournette is active, it's possible he'll immediately return to his pre-injury role as a rotational player with a chance at extended playing time if he's outplaying Ronald Jones II. More likely, Fournette will have a more limited role and it's possible he'll suffer an aggravation or learn he's not ready for gameday stress yet.

Sunday Update: Adam Schefter reported Fournette is expected to be active but limited. Fournette is said to be improving but "still not 100 percent."

Melvin Gordon | Illness | Questionable Declared Out | Game-time Decision Inactive

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

Gordon was sent home from team facilities on Friday after failing a symptom check. His initial COVID testing was negative but the league now mandates any players with fever or respiratory symptoms remain away from the team until multiple COVID tests are negative and symptoms begin to improve.

It's unclear whether Gordon was sent home with fever, a symptom that would keep him out of the facility through gameday if it continues. If Gordon's symptoms do not include fever, consecutive negative COVID tests and improvement in his symptoms could allow him to play.

The Broncos travel to New England on Saturday, compressing Gordon's timeline to recover. He's likely more doubtful than questionable unfortunately.

Saturday Update: Gordon did not improve in time to make the team's flight to New England this morning. He will not play this week.

Others of note: Kareem Hunt (groin), Phillip Lindsay (foot), Adrian Peterson (illness), Zack Moss (toe), LeSean McCoy (ankle), Antonio Gibson (toe), and 22 (22) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play. Dalvin Cook (groin) has been ruled out and will not play. Ryquell Armstead remains on the COVID list 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 | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

Jones will play this week. The Falcons did not list him on the game status report and every national and local writer believes he'll be active.

Generally, reading Julio's health and availability is straight forward. If he's practicing and off the injury report, he's healthy enough to be productive. If he's not practicing and questionable, there's reason for concern about his effectiveness.

I'm not convinced it's that simple this week.

Jones has been listed on the injury report with a hamstring injury since Week 1

• W1: Limited Friday | Not Listed | 9 catches, 157 yards
• W2: Limited Friday | Not Listed | 2 catches, 24 yards - admitted he was not full strength
• W3: DNP Friday | Questionable | Did not play
• W4: Limited Friday | Questionable | 4 catches, 32 yards - left with aggravated strain
• W5: DNP Friday | Questionable | Did not play
• W6: Limited Friday | Not Listed

The Pessimistic Case: Jones hasn't been full strength since Week 1. He's admitted he's not confident in his health multiple times this year. Aggravated hamstring strains take longer to heal and there's been no on-field indication his injury has improved. He managed only a limited Friday practice and did not speak with the media this week.

The Optimistic Case: When Jones is not listed on the game status report, the Falcons are telling us there's little concern. Jones has proven he can be effective with limiting soft-tissue injuries in the past. His huge Week 1 performance came in a similar situation.

My Take: Jones has a low-grade strain that has very likely not fully healed. He's still well within the window of aggravation and limitation -- as he's shown for over a month. The game status designation tells us he'll play but can no longer necessarily be trusted to signify he's healthy enough to be productive. Unfortunately, unlike other elite offensive players, Jones rarely sees high-leverage usage around the red zone. Consider Jones a WR3 w/ WR1 upside with a low floor.

Mike Evans | Ankle | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

Evans will play Sunday. He battled through his Week 4 high ankle sprain effectively then returned to a nine-target Thursday night game a few days later. Evans showed no concern about his condition in media interviews this week, saying he was "definitely feeling better" and that his soreness was "nothing I can't play through."

Evans was back at practice at the end of the week and is not listed on the game status report. He may not be entirely outside the window of aggravation risk but he's likely to remain effective over his usual number of snaps on Sunday.

Chris Godwin | Hamstring | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

Godwin returned to practice for the first time after a Week 3 hamstring strain. Bruce Arians told reporters Godwin "looked as good as he has in awhile" and reminded them of how important Godwin was to the offense.

The full Friday practice and Arians' comments are reassuring. The Bucs kept Godwin off the injured reserve list knowing he had little chance of playing in one week or the short turnaround to the following Thursday night game. The conditioning and return to full practice this week was likely always part of the return plan. It's reasonable to expect Godwin to return to close to his usual snap count and usage.

D.J. Chark | Ankle | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

Chark injured his ankle away from the play and television and All-22 angles did not clearly show the injury. From limited video, it appears his left foot rolled over a defender's foot and he most likely suffered a low left ankle sprain. That's generally not a long-term injury.

The Jaguars returned Chark to a limited Friday practice and Doug Marrone said he felt good about Chark playing after seeing him run routes during the team session. The limited video and Marrone's comments have me leaning toward Chark playing. I'll update with any weekend news.

Sunday Update: Adam Schefter reports Chark is "likely to play but Jacksonville first wants to test him pregame."

Sunday Update: Chark is active.

Odell Beckham | Illness | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Beckham was sent home from the team facilities on Thursday with an illness. He was reportedly feeling better on Friday and his COVID tests were negative. The league is now requiring consecutively negative COVID tests 24 hours apart and improvement in symptoms for players and staff to return to the team.

If Beckham's Saturday COVID test is negative, he'll likely be cleared to return given his improvement in symptoms.

Saturday Update: All Cleveland COVID tests were negative Saturday. Beckham has been cleared to return.

Jarvis Landry | Hip / Rib | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

Landry has routinely been given practice reps off early in the week after offseason hip surgery. The rib condition is new and the likely reason he missed Thursday's practice this week.

Landry looked to be moving fluidly while catching passes from Baker Mayfield at less than full speed on Friday. Kevin Stefanski said Landry was "progressing" and "making a push to play Sunday like he always does." Landry finished last week's game after the big hit that injured his ribs and hasn't missed a game in his seven-year career. He's likely to play.

Sunday Update: Landry is expected to play, per Adam Schefter.

*John Brown | Knee | Questionable | Game-time Decision

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

After an encouraging full week of practice through Friday, Brown was limited in Saturday's practice. Sean McDermott included Brown with a number of other key players he considers in the "we'll see" category.

There was a strongly optimistic trend earlier in the week from local writers. It's hard to see the limited Saturday workout as reassuring. Without a clearly positive overnight tweet from Adam Schefter or someone closely connected to the team, it's hard to trust Brown on Monday night.

Darius Slayton | Foot | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

Slayton was limited in practice all week with a foot injury. Slayton was on the field for 94% of the Giants' offensive snaps last week and saw a team-high 11 targets without an obvious injury.

Joe Judge told reporters he expects Slayton to play unless the trainers tell him otherwise. No local writer expressed any concern about Slayton's availability. Expect him to see his usual snap count and usage.

Breshad Perriman | Ankle | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

At the beginning of the week, most team observers expected Perriman to return to play this week. After a full week of limited practice, Perriman continues to trend toward playing. Adam Gase was similarly optimistic after Friday's practice and was looking forward to his added dimension to the team's offense, noting that the Jets don't have anyone with "his kind of speed" on the roster.

Others of note: Tyreek Hill (heel), Mecole Hardman (ankle), A.J. Brown (knee), JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee), Laviska Shenault (hamstring), DeVante Parker (ankle), Laviska Shenault (hamstring), and A.J. Green (hamstring) are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play without limitation. Diontae Johnson (back), Sammy Watkins (hamstring), DeSean Jackson (hamstring), Alshon Jeffery (foot), and K.J. Hamler (hamstring) are doubtful or have been declared out and will not play. Corey Davis remains on the COVID list and will not play. Return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players will be updated in Monday's column.

TIGHT END

Noah Fant | Ankle | Questionable | Game-time Decision Declared Out

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

Fant suffered a high ankle sprain two weeks ago that was expected to keep him out at least one week. Limited practice video can be difficult to read but Fant did not look fully comfortable in low-speed individual drills. Vic Fangio told reporters Fant was "truly questionable, 50-50" to play. It's unlikely Fant is fully recovered and would be at risk of limited usage and aggravation if he plays.

I'll update with any weekend news.

Saturday Update: Fant did not travel to New England. He's out this week.

Jordan Akins | Ankle / Concussion | Questionable | Inactive

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

The team continues to include concussion on the injury report for Akins but it's a high ankle sprain that continues to jeopardize Akins' chances of returning. Romeo Crennel said Akins was improving but remained a game-time decision. Deshaun Watson told reporters Akins was critical to their offense but "we want him healthy." That's often code for "we know he's not playing this week."

Sunday Update: Akins did not travel to Tennessee with the team and has been ruled out.

Tyler Eifert | Neck | Questionable | Game-time Decision

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

Eifert's neck condition is a stinger -- and likely a recurrent one. Eifert was listed on the injury report with a neck injury last week and left the game early after trying to play. The Jaguars revealed this week that Eifert has had more than one stinger this year already. It's unusual for a player to be cleared within seven days in these situations but the limited Friday practice might suggest the Jaguars will give Eifert a chance to play. More likely, he's reconditioning rather than likely to play.

Others of note: Jonnu Smith (quad), Hayden Hurst (back), Eric Ebron (hand), Rob Gronkowski (shoulder), and Marcedes Lewis (knee) fully practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play. Mo Alie-Cox (knee) and Dawson Knox (calf) has 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: Tuesday night players with carat practice Thursday/Friday/Saturday.