Wednesday Media Updates
***The Saints won't officially practice until Thursday. Expect Michael Thomas to be limited again this week. Anything is possible, unfortunately. If Thomas progresses better than expected before Monday night, he could return this week. However, with New Orleans on bye in Week 6, they may choose to be cautious and give Thomas until Week 7 to recover.
***Julio Jones and the Falcons took a calculated risk last week and attempted to play despite a recently aggravated and not fully recovered hamstring strain. Jones did not finish the game and his health is likely back where it was prior to missing Week 3. Expect him to be inactive this week.
***Lamar Jackson did not practice today for "precautionary reasons" with a knee injury that "is not considered serious" according to Adam Schefter. Monitor his practice participation to confirm Schefter's report.
***Calvin Ridley played just 64% of Atlanta's offensive snaps last week and continues to battle multiple issues. Last week, Ridley was limited with an ankle injury before suffering a calf injury in practice. This week, Ridley is listed as limited with thigh and knee conditions. There are no local concerns about his Week 5 availability but he may not be full strength.
***Raheem Mostert has begun the reconditioning process to return to play but Kyle Shanahan said he was not optimistic about Mostert's return yet.
***Jimmy Garoppolo practiced for the first time in two weeks. Kyle Shanahan has told reporters repeatedly that Garoppolo would have to prove he can protect himself in the pocket to be cleared to play. Wednesday's limited drills were the first positive step in that direction.
***Laviska Shenault was limited with a hamstring injury. Doug Marrone told reporters Shenault has a chance to play. Continue to monitor his practice participation.
***Drew Lock has begun throwing in practice but the Broncos are still preparing for Brett Rypien to start. Do not expect Denver to clear Lock to return until he has full range of motion and strength and no risk of further injury.
Injured Reserve additions through Wednesday transactions:
- RB Nick Chubb
- RB Sony Michel
- TE O.J. Howard
- WR Corey Davis (COVID list)
THURSDAY NIGHT INJURY EXPECTATIONS
Here are the key offensive players listed on the practice participation or game status report for Thursday Night Football:
Tampa Bay at Chicago
***The Buccaneers declared Chris Godwin and LeSean McCoy out. Neither were expected to play. Justin Watson is also out. Leonard Fournette did not practice with a high ankle sprain. He's listed doubtful but won't play.
***Mike Evans is listed questionable with a high ankle sprain and did not practice this week. As is often the case, Evans fought through the high ankle sprain during the game only to struggle with stiffness and swelling in the 24 hours after the injury. Evans does not have to practice to play and he did travel with the team to Chicago. However, without a positive media report before inactives tomorrow night, it's hard to trust Evans to see his usual number of snaps or play effectively.
***The Bears' offense is healthy. Darnell Mooney is questionable with a shoulder injury but fully practiced and will play.
Early week practice participation and playing expectations
The Wednesday and Thursday practice participation reports are our first chance to see which players each NFL team is 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.
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Quarterbacks
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Team
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Injury
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Practice Participation
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Game
Status |
FBGs
Expects |
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Wednesday
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Thursday
|
Friday
|
|||||
| Lamar Jackson | Bal | Knee / Illness | DNP | DNP | Expected to Play | ||
| Josh Allen | Buf | Shoulder | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Jimmy Garoppolo | SF | Ankle | Limited | Limited | Likely to Play | ||
| Drew Lock | Den | Shoulder | Limited | Limited | Likely Inactive | ||
| Sam Darnold | NYJ | Shoulder | DNP | DNP | Inactive | ||
| *Tyrod Taylor | LAC | Chest | *Limited | Backup if Active | |||
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Running Backs
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Team
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Injury
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Practice Participation
|
Game
Status |
FBGs
Expects |
||
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Wednesday
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Thursday
|
Friday
|
|||||
| Josh Jacobs | LVR | Hip | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Jalen Richard | LVR | Ankle | Limited | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Joe Mixon | Cin | Shin | Not Listed | Limited | Likely to Play | ||
| Raheem Mostert | SF | Knee | Limited | Limited | Likely to Play | ||
| Chris Carson | Sea | Knee | Limited | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Carlos Hyde | Sea | Shoulder | Limited | Limited | Awaiting Information | ||
| Kareem Hunt | Cle | Groin | Limited | Limited | Expected to Play | ||
| *Austin Ekeler | LAC | Hamstring | *DNP | Inactive | |||
| Kenyan Drake | Ari | Chest | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Phillip Lindsay | Den | Foot | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Cam Akers | LAR | Ribs | Limited | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Zack Moss | Buf | Toe | Limited | Limited | Awaiting Information | ||
| Darrynton Evans | Ten | Hamstring | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
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Wide Receivers
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Team
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Injury
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Practice Participation
|
Game
Status |
FBGs
Expects |
||
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Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
|
|||||
| *Michael Thomas | NO | Ankle | *Limited | Likely Inactive | |||
| Julio Jones | Atl | Hamstring | DNP | DNP | Likely Inactive | ||
| Calvin Ridley | Atl | Thigh/Knee | Limited | Limited | Expected to Play | ||
| Tyreek Hill | KC | Heel | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Mecole Hardman | KC | Hamstring | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Adam Thielen | Min | Shoulder | Limited | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Terry McLaurin | Was | Thigh | DNP | Limited | Expected to Play | ||
| Steven Sims Jr | Was | Toe | DNP | DNP | Likely Inactive | ||
| A.J. Brown | Ten | Knee | Limited | Limited | Awaiting Information | ||
| Diontae Johnson | Pit | Toe | DNP | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| JuJu Smith-Schuster | Pit | Knee | DNP | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Odell Beckham | Cle | Toe | Limited | Limited | Expected to Play | ||
| Jarvis Landry | Cle | Hip | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Deebo Samuel | SF | Illness | Not Listed | DNP | Expected to Play | ||
| Trent Taylor | SF | Ankle | Limited | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Dante Pettis | SF | Knee | Limited | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Marquise Brown | Bal | Knee | Limited | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| John Brown | Buf | Calf | DNP | Limited | Expected to Play | ||
| Cole Beasley | Buf | Foot | Limited | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| DeVante Parker | Mia | Ankle | Limited | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Julian Edelman | NE | Knee | Limited | Limited | Expected to Play | ||
| *Mike Williams | LAC | Hamstring | *DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
| DeSean Jackson | Phi | Hamstring | Limited | Limited | Awaiting Information | ||
| Alshon Jeffery | Phi | Foot / Illness | Limited | DNP | Awaiting Information | ||
| J.J. Arcega-Whiteside | Phi | Calf | Full | Full | Likely to Play | ||
| Jamison Crowder | NYJ | Hamstring | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Breshad Perriman | NYJ | Ankle | DNP | DNP | Likely Inactive | ||
| Chris Hogan | NYJ | Ribs/Knee | Limited | Limited | Expected to Play | ||
| Laviska Shenault | Jac | Hamstring | Limited | Limited | Awaiting Information | ||
| Henry Ruggs | LVR | Knee/Hamstring | Limited | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Bryan Edwards | LVR | Ankle/Foot | DNP | DNP | Likely Inactive | ||
| K.J. Hamler | Den | Hamstring | DNP | DNP | Likely Inactive | ||
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Tight Ends
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Team
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Injury
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Practice Participation
|
Game
Status |
FBGs
Expects |
||
|
Wednesday
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Thursday
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Friday
|
|||||
| Mark Andrews | Bal | Thigh | Not Listed | Limited | Likely to Play | ||
| Nick Boyle | Bal | Thigh | Not Listed | Limited | Awaiting Information | ||
| Darren Waller | LVR | Knee | Limited | Limited | Expected to Play | ||
| *Jared Cook | NO | Groin | *Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
| Noah Fant | Den | Ankle | DNP | DNP | Inactive | ||
| Tyler Eifert | Jac | Neck | Not Listed | Limited | Awaiting Information | ||
| Jordan Akins | Hou | Ankle/Concussion | DNP | Limited | Awaiting Information | ||
| Will Dissly | Sea | Achilles | Limited | Limited | Expected to Play | ||
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.