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Inseason injury coverage

Footballguys will again provide comprehensive injury coverage during the regular season.

My writing and podcast schedule will include:

Monday Injury Rounds > Published as soon as complete Sunday night and updated through Tuesday morning, this feature will review all the major injuries from the weekend's games, provide follow up analysis on injured players who have yet to return to play, and project when every injured player will return.

Waiver Wire Podcast > Tuesday morning release reviewing all injuries at the quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end positions with Cecil Lammey and Sigmund Bloom heading into your weekly waiver run.

Midweek Injury Expectations > Published late Wednesday night after the first weekly practice participation report and updated through Thursday's practice report, this feature will detail the current practice participation of every listed player and project the likelihood each player will play in the coming week.

Thursday Live Audible podcast > Joining Cecil Lammey, Sigmund Bloom, and Matt Waldman at 9:00 ET every Thursday night for a comprehensive Q&A updating all player injuries.

Gameday Injury Expectations > Published Saturday, this feature will review the practice status of every injured player, provide analysis on player/coach/beat writer comments throughout the week, and discuss how likely and how effective each injured player will be on Sunday.

Sunday Live Gameday podcast > Joining Sigmund Bloom and Matt Waldman at 10:00 ET every Sunday morning to discuss and interpret the week's practice participation reports and breaking weekend injury news.

Injury Rounds

Drew Brees | Multiple rib fractures with collapsed lung | 2-3+ Weeks | Out Week 11

Brees was injured late in the first half and did not return. Driven into the ground by a defender and later seen pointing to the right side of his chest, Brees was ruled out with a rib injury. He told Sean Payton he could not run the offense in the second half.

While speaking with the media after the game, Brees was unsure of this week's status. Payton said the team planned x-rays and an MRI on Monday to learn more about the injury. Expect Brees to try to ready himself to play but this may prove a difficult injury to play through. The Saints have been stingy with injury information all season and aren't likely to provide much information on Brees' injury this week.

Monday Update: Brees remains under evaluation but multiple reporters are already suggesting he may take time off to allow his ribs and ailing shoulder to heal.

Monday Update: After imaging on Monday, Brees was diagnosed with three rib fractures on the left side of his chest -- which apparently occurred in Week 9 -- and two rib fractures on the right side of his chest. Brees was also found to have a collapse of his right lung.

These are significant injuries and Brees will miss multiple weeks as his chest recovers. Ian Rapoport reported that injured reserve is not currently being considered. That could easily change by the end of the week. There's no chance Brees would be cleared to play within seven days of a collapsed lung and only the slimmest of chances he'd be cleared to play within two weeks. The rib fractures to both sides of his chest wall are equally concerning. Those will take weeks to heal, significantly restrict his movement, and may put his lungs at continued risk for some time.

Dan Graziano reports 2-3 weeks to be Brees' most optimistic timetable -- and that's likely too optimistic. It won't be surprising to see the Saints use injured reserve regardless of Payton's comments today. It could easily be six weeks before Brees is cleared to play.

Davante Adams | Left ankle injury | Awaiting Information | Probable Week 11

Adams got his feet tangled with a defender on a long incompletion in the third quarter but was able to return later in the game. A leaping grab in the end zone was reassuring and video did not show a worrisome injury event. Adams may be limited in practice this week. Hopefully, there will be no surprising Monday reports of a longer-term injury.

Teddy Bridgewater | Right MCL sprain | Day-to-Day | Probable Week 11

Bridgewater suffered a low-grade MCL sprain late in the game. The Panthers plan an MRI to further evaluate the injury but do not expect a significant sprain. Expect Bridgewater to play next week.

Monday Update: Bridgewater's MRI confirmed a low-grade injury. He will be evaluated in practice this week to determine if his knee is stable enough to play.

John Brown | Left high ankle sprain | Awaiting Information | Doubtful Week 11

Brown came down awkwardly on his left leg and suffered a high ankle sprain. Replays suggest a higher-grade injury. The Bills will have a clearer sense of Brown's Week 11 status after they re-evaluate him on Monday but expect this to be a multiple-week injury.

Follow Up Appointments

Christian McCaffrey | Right AC sprain | Week-to-Week | Doubtful Week 11

The Panthers revealed McCaffrey's injury to be an AC sprain last week. The injury was significant enough to prompt McCaffrey to seek out multiple opinions on a rehab and treatment plan. Ultimately, it was decided McCaffrey's injury did not require surgery or a long-term rehab period. Carolina did not move McCaffrey to injured reserve and the team is hopeful he'll be able to play this week.

These injuries can be tough to gauge in the early days after the injury, especially at positions where the player needs to take and deliver hits frequently. Sometimes, players are able to be managed on game day successfully with padding and pain management. Other times, aggravations and pain prevent players from their usual effectiveness -- as we saw with James Conner last season.

Watch McCaffrey's practice participation. If he's cleared for contact by the end of the week, his Week 11 usage should be close to his pre-injury numbers. If not, it may be another week before McCaffrey returns to form.

Monday Update: Adam Schefter and others are reporting McCaffrey is unlikely to play this week as he continues to recover.

Joe Mixon | Right foot injury | Week-to-Week | Questionable Week 11

Mixon has now been unable to practice for three weeks. The team has yet to provide a specific diagnosis or any indication of why Mixon's recovery has progressed slowly. Mixon's ability to return to play effectively in the same game after the injury and the team's decision not to use an injured reserve slot both suggested a relatively low-grade injury but that's not been the case.

Without any new information, we're left to continue to track Mixon's practice participation. Until he returns to individual drills, Mixon remains doubtful to return.

Calvin Ridley | Left foot sprain | Day-to-Day | Probable Week 11

Ridley was lobbying hard to play last week and Raheem Morris told reporters the Falcons kept Ridley out of last week's game to protect him from himself. An extra two weeks of rehab through the team's bye week is likely to have Ridley close to full strength this week. Midfoot sprains are tricky recoveries but Ridley is expected to return to practice and play. If he's not returned to practice by Thursday, his status should move toward doubtful.

Eligible to Return from Injured Reserve

Austin Ekeler | Left hamstring strain | Eligible Week 9 - Remains on IR | Out Week 11 | Target = Week 12+

Nov 1: Ekeler was observed doing light conditioning and stretching on a side rehab field last week. He is not close to returning, however, with a higher-grade hamstring strain that's closer to a 6+ week recovery than a four-week return. Expect Ekeler to need a week of reconditioning on the active roster before returning.

Nov 8: There was no news on Ekeler last week. He's yet to be designated to return and remains at least two weeks from returning.

Nov 15: Ekeler posted video of him running straight-line sprints last week. He did not look full strength and remains in the early stages of the reconditioning process. If Ekeler is designated to return this week and starts football-related activity, a Week 12 return is possible. More likely, he'll have another week of rehab before starting football-related activity.

Raheem Mostert | Left high ankle sprain | Eligible Week 10 - Remains on IR | Bye Week 11 | Target = Week 12

Nov 8: Kyle Shanahan told reporters the Niners were hopeful Mostert could return to practice this week. If he's designated to return to practice early this week, it's a good sign San Francisco could give him a sizable role in Week 10.

Nov 15: Mostert wasn't quite ready to practice last week but the Niners expect him to return after the Week 11 bye. Expect him to be designated to return and start practicing this week.

Zach Ertz | Left high ankle sprain | Eligible Week 11 - Remains on IR | Out Week 11 | Target = Week 13+

Nov 15: Ertz was expected to need 4-6 weeks to recover and the Eagles have yet to update his condition since he was moved to injured reserve. He remains multiple weeks from returning.

Allen Lazard | Core abdominal muscle repair | Eligible Week 8 - Designated to Return W9 | Questionable Week 11 | Target = Week 11

Oct 25: Lazard participated in the rehab group last week and he may be close to a return. Core abdominal procedures generally require 4-6 weeks of rehab. If Lazard fits the usual pattern, he may be cleared to practice this week. It's possible he will play in Week 8; more likely he'll return in Week 9.

Nov 1: Lazard was designated to return last week and returned to position drills but the team did not add him to the active roster. The Packers play on Thursday night this week and the turnaround may be too quick for Lazard to return. I'll update with news on Monday but consider Lazard questionable this week.

Nov 8: The Packers chose not to activate Lazard on the short week but he is expected back this week.

Nov 15: Lazard experienced soreness in his abdomen last week. According to Ian Rapoport, there's no concern for a setback but the cautious Green Bay medical staff did not clear him to return. If he improves early this week, Lazard could be back for Week 11. This is Lazard's last week with a roster exemption. He'll be moved to the active roster regardless of his status.

Julian Edelman | Arthroscopic knee surgery | Eligible Week 11 - Remains on IR | Doubtful Week 11 | Target = Week 12+

Nov 15: Edelman had a clean up procedure on his chronically sore knee three weeks ago. Trusted local reporter Mike Reiss expressed optimism on Edelman's recovery last week, noting a source who watched Edelman moving well with on-field rehab work. If Edelman is designated to return when eligible this week and participates in practice, a Week 11 return is possible.

Sony Michel | Quad strain | Eligible Week 9 - Designated to Return W9 | Questionable Week 11 | Target = Week 11

Nov 1: Michel tested positive for COVID nearly two weeks ago and was only recently activated from COVID-reserve. He has been in isolation away from the team and it's not yet clear whether he's healthy enough to be designated to return. Prior to his COVID diagnosis, reports suggested he would be ready to return shortly after he was eligible.

Nov 8: Michel sounds likely to return this week but in a diminished role assuming Damien Harris continues to be productive Monday night.

Nov 15: Michel was not added to the active roster last week but continues to practice. He must either be activated this week or his season will be over.

Parris Campbell | Left PCL repair / MCL sprain | Eligible Week 8 - Remains on IR | Doubtful 2020 return

Oct 25: Campbell had knee surgery in early October. Any surgical procedure involving the PCL requires a careful and usually long-term rehab. It will be surprising to see Campbell cleared to return in 2020.

Nov 15: Frank Reich told reporters it remained "too early to tell" whether Campbell could return in 2020. A 2021 return remains the most likely outcome.

Fast Track News and Notes

***Mike Davis injured his thumb and reacted as if the injury may be significant. Fortunately, he returned to the game. I'll update with any news on Monday.

***Travis Homer injured his left hand and the television broadcast showed a large wrap. That's suspicious for a fracture. Should Homer require surgery, he'll need multiple weeks to recover.

***Eligible to Return From Injured Reserve in Week 12

• RB Myles Gaskin --Dolphins haven't addressed Gaskin's condition since he moved to injured reserve with what Ian Rapoport called a "somewhat minor" injury
• WR DeSean Jackson -- Not expected back until at least Week 15 and may not return this season

Injured Players on Active Roster

To support players with illness and provide a roster buffer, the NFL implemented new injured reserve rules and roster exemptions for players exposed to or diagnosed with COVID.

2020 injured reserve list changes:

• Teams may return an unlimited number of players from injured reserve in 2020
• A player may return to the active roster after three weeks on injured reserve
• Teams have three weeks of practice to decide whether to activate a player designated to return

2020 COVID-related illness list and roster exemptions:

• A player diagnosed with COVID or required to quarantine after exposure to COVID may be placed on a separate exempt list
• Teams will be given a roster exemption after a player with COVID receives medical clearance to return
• Roster exemption for one week if the player was on the exempt list for less than 4 weeks
• Roster exemption for two weeks if the player was on the exempt list for 4+ weeks

Injured Players Not on Active Roster