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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

Kyler Murray | Right AC sprain | Day-to-Day | Probable Week 12

Murray suffered a sprain of his throwing shoulder in the first half of last Thursday night's game. After looking uncomfortable heading into half time, Murray was considerably better in the second half, completing 20 of his 28 passes in the final two quarters. The Cardinals did limit his rush attempts in the second half, however, with Murray rushing only twice.

After the game, Kliff Kingsbury told reporters the team was not sure about the extent of Murray's sprain but subsequent reports suggest he's unlikely to miss time. There's been no indication of a concerning x-ray or MRI study and Murray will have an extra three days to recover. Expect him to play this week. Practice participation will help determine whether Murray will see his usual rushing workload.

Joe Burrow | Left knee injury | Season-ending injury

Burrow took a violent hit to the outside of his planted left knee. After Burrow tweeted he would "see ya next year" following the game, Ian Rapoport reported the Bengals expect Monday's imaging studies to confirm a torn ACL.

Video of the injury strongly suggests the ACL tear won't be an isolated injury. Expect Burrow to also have an MCL sprain and, likely, some injury to his meniscus. It may be a month before Burrow's surgery and the start of rehab. A smooth recovery could have Burrow ready for the start of 2021 training camp but he's unlikely to participate in any offseason workouts.

Monday Update: Burrow's MRI confirmed an ACL and MCL injury. While not specifically discussed, tweets from Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport imply Burrow also has meniscus and cartilage damage. The additional injuries complicate Burrow's rehab. It could be at least nine months before he's cleared to return.

Julio Jones | Left hamstring strain | Awaiting Information | Questionable Week 12

Jones continues to struggle with recurrent left hamstring soreness. He managed only two targets on Sunday while working to play through his latest aggravation. This hamstring injury has forced Jones out of two games this season and limited him in three others. Expect limited practice again this week and his availability for Week 12 may come down to a game-time decision.

DAndre Swift | Concussion | Day-to-Day | Questionable Week 12

Swift was added to last week's injury report on Thursday with a concussion and ruled out on Friday.

The Lions did not reveal when Swift's injury occurred. Facing a quick turnaround to an early Thursday game, Swift will need to be cleared for individual drills early this week to have a chance to play. Watch Monday's practice report for guidance here.

JuJu Smith-Schuster | Right toe injury | Day-to-Day | Probable Week 12

Smith-Schuster was limited at times on Sunday, then slipped on a penalty flag and turned his foot. He limped off and did not return. Already limited on the injury report this season with knee soreness, Mike Tomlin told reporters Smith-Schuster is dealing with a toe injury. The injury is not believed to be significant but Smith-Schuster must recover in time to play Thursday night.

Follow Up Appointments

Christian McCaffrey | Right AC sprain | Week-to-Week | Doubtful Week 12

After some early-week optimism McCaffrey could play in Week 11, the Panthers ruled him out for a second consecutive week. Matt Rhule said he didn't know "whether it will be next week or the next" last Friday.

Carolina expects McCaffrey to return this week but is unlikely to clear him to play until his risk of aggravation is minimal and his strength and range of motion have recovered. Monday's press conference and Wednesday's practice participation will be informative.

Monday Update: McCaffrey is still considered week-to-week. Adam Schefter tweeted McCaffrey is unlikely to play this week.

Joe Mixon | Right foot injury | Week-to-Week | Eligible to return Week 14

Mixon suffered a midfoot sprain in Week 6. Despite an effective return to play in the same game, Mixon had yet to return to practice. After five weeks of rehab without improvement, the Bengals moved Mixon to injured reserve last week.

Cincinnati has been evasive on Mixon's recovery timetable but national media reports following the injured reserve move suggest Mixon feels he's week to week and likely to return before the end of the season. Without clear improvement to date and the Bengals likely to have little to play for after the season-ending injury to Joe Burrow, a Week 14 return isn't a sure thing if Mixon remains less than full strength in three weeks.

Drew Brees | Multiple rib fractures / pneumothorax | Week-to-Week | Eligible to return Week 14

Brees has eleven fractured ribs -- eight on the left side and three on the right -- and is still recovering from a partially collapsed right lung.

After additional scans and imaging studies this week, the Saints and Brees believe the left-sided injuries occurred during the Week 9 game against Tampa Bay and the right-sided injuries occurred in Week 10.

Not surprisingly, New Orleans moved Brees to injured reserve last week. There's a chance Brees could return before the end of the regular season but the team wants him healthy for the playoffs. His earliest return from injured reserve would be Week 14 but don't expect him back until Week 15 or 16 -- at the earliest.

Kenny Golladay | Hip injury | Week-to-Week | Questionable Week 12

The Lions haven't discussed Golladay's return but it's reasonable to assume they've targeted the early Thursday game on Thanksgiving for his return knowing he'll have a ten-day recovery period to follow.

Eligible to Return from Injured Reserve

Austin Ekeler | Left hamstring strain | Eligible Week 9 - Remains on IR | Questionable Week 12 | 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.

Nov 22: Ekeler remained on injured reserve last week. Expect him to be designated to return early this week and begin individual drills. If he's made significant progress in the past two weeks and handles the return to football activity well, there's a chance he'll be active in a limited role this week. Do not expect a full-strength, pre-injury workload until closer to Week 13-14.

Raheem Mostert | Left high ankle sprain | Eligible Week 10 - Remains on IR | Probable Week 12 | 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.

Nov 22: Mostert is expected to be designated to return from injured reserve and is likely to be activated and play this week.

Jeff Wilson | Left high ankle sprain | Eligible Week 12 - Remains on IR | Doubtful Week 12 | Target = Week 13+

Nov 22: Wilson could be designated to return and begin practicing this week. He's not likely to return to play until early December.

Zach Ertz | Left high ankle sprain | Eligible Week 11 - Designated to Return Week 11 | Doubtful Week 12 | 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.

Nov 22: The Eagles returned Ertz to practice this week but plan to advance him to return slowly. Expect one more week of conditioning with Week 13 as his likely earliest return date.

Myles Gaskin | MCL sprain | Eligible Week 12 - Remains on IR | Awaiting Information | Target = Week 13+

Nov 22: Gaskin was initially reported to need 2-3 weeks to recover from an MCL sprain. The Dolphins refused to put a timetable on his return when asked last week. If he's designated to return early in the week, his chances of returning in Week 12 increase.

Julian Edelman | Arthroscopic knee surgery | Eligible Week 11 - Remains on IR | Questionable Week 12 | 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.

Nov 22: Bill Belichick said Edelman is making progress. The Patriots have yet to designate him to return.

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

***Pete Carroll told reporters Chris Carson would return in Week 12 and is looking forward to the added balance Carson will return to the Seattle offense.

***Teddy Bridgewater seemed to have convinced the Panthers he was able to play on Sunday morning before a last moment change of heart found him back on the inactive list. He remains questionable to play this week but looks likely to return.

***Eligible to Return From Injured Reserve in Week 13

• TE George Kittle -- Remains doubtful to return in 2020 unless Niners make a run toward the playoffs
• QB Jimmy Garoppolo -- Expected to need at least six weeks to recover, mid-December is his earliest possible return
• RB Justin Jackson -- Doubtful to return in Week 13
• RB David Johnson -- Move to injured reserve with concussion symptoms always ominous
• WR Preston Williams -- Dolphins refused to set a timetable for his return

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