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:

Current Status on High Impact Injured Players

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:

Sunday Decision

• RB Antonio Gibson (trending doubtful - Sunday night)
• WR Adam Thielen (trending probable - ACTIVE)
• RB DAndre Swift (trending doubtful - INACTIVE)
• WR Kalif Raymond - ACTIVE

Trending Doubtful (Likely Inactive)

• QB Lamar Jackson
• QB Justin Fields
• TE Darren Waller
• WR Jamison Crowder
• TE Pat Freiermuth
• WR Nelson Agholor
• TE Donald Parham
• WR Tajae Sharpe

Trending Probable (Expected to Play)

• WR D.J. Moore
• RB Damien Harris
• WR Kadarius Toney

Activated to return from injured reserve / PUP

• RB Cam Akers (will not play)
• QB Sam Darnold
• WR Danny Amendola

Ruled Out

• TE Travis Kelce
• WR Mike Evans
• QB Teddy Bridgewater
• QB Andy Dalton
• WR Jakeem Grant

Remains on injured reserve / PUP

• RB Malcolm Brown (Monday decision)
• TE Dan Arnold
• RB Trey Sermon

QUARTERBACK

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

Lamar Jackson | Ankle | Questionable | Inactive

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

Tyler Huntley | Illness | COVID-reserve | Inactive

Jackson has not practiced in two weeks. He has a bone bruise in his ankle and is unlikely to be cleared to play until he can move without difficulty in the pocket and handle his usual rushing workload. Expect him to be inactive.

Huntley reportedly has a non-COVID illness and is expected to play. If he continues to have symptoms this weekend, he will be tested again for COVID and is still at risk of missing this week's game. For now, there are no indications Baltimore will need an alternative plan. Huntley should be the starting quarterback again this week.

Saturday update: Unfortunately, Huntley did test positive for COVID and is now on the reserve list.

Saturday update: Jackson did not travel to Cincinnati and will be inactive.

Justin Fields | Ankle | Questionable | Backup if active

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

Fields did not practice on Thursday or Friday after being evaluated in Wednesday's practice. Matt Nagy has named Nick Foles the starter but wouldn't rule out Fields as backup. Nagy said the Bears were concerned about pain management. It is unlikely Fields will be active, even as the backup.

Sam Darnold | Activated from injured reserve | Expected to play

The Panthers plan to use Darnold in some situations this week. Matt Rhule told reporters Darnold "will play" but would not elaborate on the team's plan.

Sunday update: Ian Rapoport tweeted Darnold is "expected to play...and likely play a lot." The Panthers see him as the starting quarterback for the rest of the season.

Currently on COVID-reserve

• Taysom Hill - NO
• Trevor Siemian - NO
• Tyler Huntley - Bal
• Jared Goff - Det
• Joe Flacco - NYJ

Others of note: Josh Allen (foot), Aaron Rodgers (toe), Jalen Hurts (ankle), Joe Burrow (finger), Kirk Cousins (ribs), Russell Wilson (ankle), and Ben Roethlisberger (pectoral, shoulder) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play. Teddy Bridgewater (concussion) and Andy Dalton (hand, groin) 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

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

Antonio Gibson | Toe | Questionable | Sunday decision

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

Gibson suffered a turf toe injury last week. Ron Rivera told reporters the injury is "very similar" to what Gibson dealt with in 2020 and is again limiting his explosiveness and agility.

Washington has Gibson listed questionable but his inability to practice all week is concerning. Injections and orthotics can help manage the condition but aren't certain to keep Gibson comfortable enough to play and be effective. Local reporters believe Gibson is unlikely to play.

If active, Gibson will be at high risk of in-game aggravations. Watch for overnight news but plan for Gibson to be inactive.

Sunday update: Gibson traveled to Dallas with the team and "there is some optimism he goes" according to Ian Rapoport. His status remains in question.

DAndre Swift | Shoulder | Questionable | Likely inactive

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

Swift returned to practice for the first time in four weeks and participated sparingly in drills throughout the week. Dan Campbell said Swift looked "pretty good" in practice but hadn't been cleared for contact.

Prior to Friday's workout, Campbell said the team planned to evaluate Swift in contact workouts before deciding his playing status. Local reporters would later note Swift did not catch passes or take handoffs during the portion of practice they were able to see. That suggests the Lions have still not cleared Swift for contact.

With Jamaal Williams returned from his COVID illness and Craig Reynolds impressing in his first week of action, it's unlikely Swift will be active.

Miles Sanders | Quadricep | Not listed | Expected to play

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

Sanders did not practice all week but Nick Siranni told reporters the Eagles rested Sanders rather than put him through any practices after their Tuesday night game.

Philadelphia split touches evenly between Sanders and Jordan Howard last week. Sanders was previously playing through a frequently-aggravated ankle sprain but is now listed with a quad injury. Tackle Jordan Mailata was the only other player held out of practice all week. Every other player -- including Howard and quarterback Jalen Hurts -- participated in Friday's workout.

Siranni expects Sanders to be fine. Even with Howard and Kenneth Gainwell seeing double-digit touches, Sanders has battled through injury and had 20+ touches in each of his past two weeks. Expect his usage to be similar this week.

Damien Harris | Hamstring | Questionable | Likely to play

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

Brandon Bolden | Knee | Questionable | Likely to play

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

The Patriots moved Rhamondre Stevenson to the COVID-reserve list on Friday, limiting the depth chart again this week. As usual, New England hasn't addressed the status of any of their injured players.

Mike Reiss, a trusted beat writer from ESPN, struck an optimistic tone multiple times this week. On Friday, Reiss wrote that Harris was vocal and active at the team's workout "which might be an indication he's good to go." New England writers know better than to specifically write about player status but these notes are usually meaningful. Consider Harris probable to return.

Bolden is routinely listed on the injury report with a knee. Unfortunately, there are times where the condition is bothering him enough to keep him inactive. There are no current indications Bolden will be out but we may not know until inactives are released.

Sunday update: The Patriots did not elevate a running back from the practice squad on Saturday. With Stevenson out on COVID-reserve, the lack of a practice squad move is a strong indication both Harris and Bolden will be active in their usual roles.

Cam Akers | Achilles | Activated from Non-Football Injury | Inactive

Akers was designated to return to practice and then moved to the active roster on Saturday. Akers is not ready to play. The Rams made this procedural move to allow Akers to accrue a year on the active roster for his NFL pension.

Akers may return in a limited role during the NFL playoffs but is very unlikely to see any regular-season snaps.

Currently on COVID-reserve

• Dalvin Cook - Min
• Austin Ekeler - LAC
• Kareem Hunt - Cle
• Rhamondre Stevenson - NE

Others of note: Joe Mixon (ankle), Ezekiel Elliott (knee), Tony Pollard (foot), Saquon Barkley (ankle), Miles Sanders (ankle), Melvin Gordon (thumb, hip), Javonte Williams (knee), James Robinson (knee), Josh Jacobs (illness), and Alex Collins (abdomen) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play. Return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players will be updated in Monday's column.

WIDE RECEIVER

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

Adam Thielen | Ankle | Questionable | Likely to play

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

The Vikings haven't addressed Thielen's status yet but the questionable listing and his media comments suggest he's trending toward playing.

Earlier in the week, Thielen said he was close to playing Monday night but wasn't quite ready. Thielen said he's "made the mistake in the past of trying to push it too fast" and missed more time than he would have otherwise. He told reporters he thinks he's "on a faster track than most of these [high ankle sprains]."

If Thielen is active, he'll have a good chance to see his usual workload. Overnight reports will give a better sense of Thielen's playing status and effectiveness.

Sunday update: Adam Schefter reports Thielen is expected to play today.

Antonio Brown | Ankle | Not listed | Expected to play

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

Brown completed rehab and recovery from a complicated ankle sprain during his three-game suspension and is ready to return.

Bruce Arians said Brown "looked as good as he did before the injury" in practice this week. The Buccaneers did not give Brown an injury designation on Friday. Expect him to return and be heavily targeted with Chris Godwin (IR-knee) and Mike Evans (declared out-hamstring) unavailable.

D.J. Moore | Hamstring | Questionable | Likely to play

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

Moore was limited by a hamstring strain in practice last week but played nearly every snap in Week 15. He was targeted eleven times and had six catches -- a typical workload for him.

While there were no indications of a setback, Moore did not practice until Friday and Matt Rhule considers Moore a game-time decision. It's likely Moore is prepared to play and capable of his usual workload but monitor the overnight news reports to confirm his status.

Sunday update: Ian Rapoport tweeted Moore is expected to play.

Kadarius Toney | Oblique | Questionable | Sunday decision

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

Toney is listed questionable but he has multiple hurdles to overcome to play.

An oblique strain prevented him from practicing for multiple weeks and was likely still in need of rehab when Toney tested positive for COVID. A single Friday workout likely isn't enough evaluation time for Toney to be cleared to play. It's also notable the team used "COVID ramp-up" on Toney's injury status on Friday. Symptomatic players sometimes need additional conditioning and testing before earning clearance to return to play.

If Toney is active, he's unlikely to see a full complement of snaps.

Sunday update: Ian Rapoport tweeted Toney "has a good chance of playing" after his conditioning evaluation went well. Toney reportedly must "clear a final hurdle today" to play.

Josh Reynolds | Thigh | Questionable | Likely to play

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

Kalif Raymond | Shoulder | Questionable | Sunday decision

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

Reynolds has been limited in practice frequently in recent weeks but has had his usual snap count and targets on game day. He was speaking to the media late in the week and is likely to play. Raymond injured his left shoulder while trying to recover a teammate's fumble last week. Video didn't show the injury clearly but Raymond immediately went to the locker room and did not return. Raymond is also listed questionable but his status is in doubt.

Curtis Samuel | Hamstring | Questionable | Sunday decision

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

Samuel returned to practice and is listed questionable. This is his third prolonged stint on the injury reports this season. Local reporters previously tracked Samuel's status daily but he's becoming an afterthought in recent weeks. If Samuel is active, the 10-20 snaps he was playing in his most recent return from injury is again his likely ceiling.

Currently on COVID-reserve

• Tyreek Hill - KC
• Mike Williams - LAC
• Jalen Guyton - LAC
• Cole Beasley - Buf
• Gabriel Davis - Buf
• Brandin Cooks - Hou
• Allen Robinson - Chi
• Zach Pascal - Ind
• Marquez Valdes-Scantling - GB
• Bryan Edwards - LV
• Laviska Shenault - Jac
• John Ross - NYG

Others of note: DK Metcalf (foot), Darnell Mooney (ankle), Marquise Goodwin (foot), Emmanuel Sanders (knee), Courtland Sutton (wrist), and Zay Jones (toe) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play without limitation. Mike Evans (hamstring), Jamison Crowder (calf), Nelson Agholor (concussion), Tajae Sharpe (foot), and Jakeem Grant (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.

TIGHT END

There are no tight ends listed questionable or with unclear playing status this week.

Sunday update: The Chiefs removed Travis Kelce from the COVID-reserve list on Saturday in the hopes he'd clear protocol and be able to play. He did not test negative on Sunday and cannot play today.

Currently on COVID-reserve

• Adam Trautman - NO

Others of note: Foster Moreau (abdomen, thigh), Kyle Rudolph (ankle), Albert Okwuegbunam (knee), and Brevin Jordan (hand) fully practiced, is not listed on the game status report, and is expected to play. Darren Waller (back, knee), Pat Freiermuth (concussion), and Donald Parham (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: * denotes Monday night players who practice Thursday/Friday/Saturday.