Injury Expectations | Midweek Update | Week 4

Jene Bramel's Injury Expectations | Midweek Update | Week 4 Jene Bramel Published 09/29/2021

Wednesday Media Updates

***Dalvin Cook was limited but more hopeful to play than last week. Cook said he "woke up and couldn't play" last week. Another limited practice on Thursday would confirm he felt okay after his first workout this week and put him on track to play on Sunday. Don't expect full usage for Cook if he's active.

***Tyler Lockett was able to participate in practice. Pete Carroll was optimistic after Sunday's game and again in Wednesday's press conference. Expect Lockett to be active.

***Rob Gronkowski is reportedly still sore from a hard hit to the ribcage last week. Expect him to do everything possible to be ready to play against New England.

***Elijah Mitchell was back to individual drills but has yet to be cleared for contact. It's a positive sign for Mitchell's availability but he's not yet certain to return.

***Darrell Henderson was cleared for individual drills. Sean McVay anticipates Henderson will play but isn't "100 percent sure." Expect Sony Michel to see a larger portion of the workload than in Week 1 and 2 even if Henderson is active.

***Lamar Jackson was on the injury report with a back condition. Local reporters believe this is more general soreness and veteran rest rather than something likely to limit him on gameday.

***Both A.J. Brown and Julio Jones missed practice with hamstring strains. Brown is likely to miss 1-2 weeks minimum. Jones could play this week but if he's unable to return from "tightness" to practice by Friday the Titans will be without both top wideouts.

***Diontae Johnson will be cleared to practice this week but his availability remains in question. JuJu Smith-Schuster did not practice but is expected to return.

***Odell Beckham told reporters his shoulder briefly dislocated during last week's game. It's reassuring to see him cleared for Wednesday drills but watch for signs he's not cleared for contact before trusting him in lineups this week.

***Aaron Jones, Jonathan Taylor, Tyreek Hill, and George Kittle were all limited or out on Wednesday but are expected to play.

Added to injured reserve thru Wednesday transactions:

  • WR K.J. Hamler

Designated to return thru Wednesday transactions:

COVID-reserve


THURSDAY NIGHT INJURY EXPECTATIONS

Here are the key offensive players listed on the practice participation or game status report for Thursday Night Football:

Jacksonville at Cincinnati

***This injury report is thankfully straightforward. Jacksonville is healthy on offense. Cincinnati will again be without wide receiver Tee Higgins. The Jaguars passing offense gets a Cincinnati secondary without safety Jessie Bates and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie.


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.

Quarterbacks
Team
Injury
Practice Participation
Game
Status
FBGs
Expects
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Lamar Jackson Bal Back DNP Expected to play
Carson Wentz Ind Ankles Limited Expected to play
Jameis Winston NO Knee Full Expected to play
Justin Fields Chi Thumb Full Expected to play
Andy Dalton Chi Knee Limited Likely inactive
Running Backs
Team
Injury
Practice Participation
Game
Status
FBGs
Expects
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Christian McCaffrey Car Hamstring DNP Inactive
Dalvin Cook Min Ankle Limited Game-time decision
Aaron Jones GB Ankle Limited Expected to play
Saquon Barkley NYG Knee Limited Expected to play
Jonathan Taylor Ind Knee Limited Expected to play
DAndre Swift Det Groin Limited Expected to play
Elijah Mitchell SF Shoulder Limited Game-time decision
Darrell Henderson LAR Ribs Limited Likely to play
*Josh Jacobs LV Ankle Game-time decision
James White NE Hip DNP Inactive
Melvin Gordon Den Ribs Limited Likely to play
Giovani Bernard TB Knee DNP Likely inactive
Rashaad Penny Sea Calf DNP Likely inactive
Wide Receivers
Team
Injury
Practice Participation
Game
Status
FBGs
Expects
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Tyreek Hill KC Rib Full Expected to play
Mecole Hardman KC Hip Full Expected to play
Demarcus Robinson KC Knee Full Expected to play
Tyler Lockett Sea Limited Likely to play
Dee Eskridge Sea DNP Likely to play
DeAndre Hopkins Ari Ribs DNP Expected to play
A.J. Brown Ten Hamstring DNP Likely inactive
Julio Jones Ten Hamstring DNP Game-time decision
Diontae Johnson Pit Knee Limited Game-time decision
JuJu Smith-Schuster Pit Ribs DNP Likely to play
Chris Godwin TB Thumb Full Expected to play
Antonio Brown TB COVID+ C-reserve Expected to play
Odell Beckham Cle Shoulder Limited Likely to play
Sterling Shepard NYG Hamstring DNP Awaiting information
Kenny Golladay NYG Hip Limited Expected to play
Darius Slayton NYG Hamstring DNP Awaiting information
Will Fuller Mia Chest / Elbow DNP Awaiting information
DeVante Parker Mia Shoulder Full Expected to play
Russell Gage Atl Ankle DNP Likely inactive
Jamison Crowder NYJ Groin Limited Game-time decision
Elijah Moore NYJ Concussion DNP Likely inactive
Darnell Mooney Chi Groin Limited Likely to play
Terrace Marshall Car Thumb Full Expected to play
Danny Amendola Hou Thigh DNP Likely inactive
Tight Ends
Team
Injury
Practice Participation
Game
Status
FBGs
Expects
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Rob Gronkowski TB Ribs DNP Likely to play
George Kittle SF Calf DNP Expected to play
Gerald Everett Sea COVID+ C-reserve Likely inactive
Tyler Conklin Min Glute / Elbow DNP Awaiting information
Anthony Firkser Ten Knee Full Likely to play
Kaden Smith NYG Knee Limited Expected to play
Jack Doyle Ind Back DNP Awaiting information
Tyler Kroft NYJ Rib Limited Likely 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.

Photos provided by Imagn Images