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Thursday Injury Expectations

CeeDee Lamb | Concussion | Questionable | Inactive

Practice Participation: Mon - DNP | Tues - DNP | Wed - Limited

It is exceedingly rare for a player who suffers a concussion on Sunday to be cleared to return to play the following Thursday.

Players must progress through a physical exercise protocol as well as balance tests and cognitive exams to be cleared to return to contact by their team. When that happens, the player must then be cleared by a neurotrauma consult independent from the team. The exercise protocol includes five distinct steps from light exercise to football-specific exercise to non-contact individual drills before clearance for contact can be considered. A player isn't cleared to move to the next stage until they handle the previous stage without recurrent symptoms.

At the discretion of the medical staff, a player may be advanced through more than one stage within the same day. While this accelerated timeline does not happen often -- teams usually have a full 5-6 days to observe a player before the following week's game -- it's theoretically possible.

Lamb reportedly felt good after individual drills on Wednesday and the team plans to send him for his independent exam Wednesday evening or Thursday morning. All indications are that Lamb will be cleared to play on Thanksgiving Day.

Thursday update: I'm now beginning to wonder if the Cowboys had any intention of sending Lamb for the independent exam. Ed Werder tweeted this morning that Lamb's status remains undetermined. According to Mike McCarthy and the local media, Lamb passed the team's stages to be cleared to return to contact. It was assumed that meant the Cowboys planned an independent exam soon after and the tone of the team's comments since Tuesday implied as much.

Werder's report essentially means the team didn't schedule the exam last night. To have the exam on Thanksgiving morning and just hours before game time is not a practical expectation. Expect Lamb to be ruled out soon.

Thursday update: Jay Glazer reported Lamb is out during a FOX pregame interview. Tom Pelissero and Jane Slater are now reporting the same. Lamb will be inactive.

Mark Ingram | Knee | Questionable | Likely inactive

Practice Participation: Mon - Limited | Tues - DNP | Wed - Limited

There are conflicting reports on Ingram's status for Thursday afternoon. Ian Rapoport said Ingram was dealing with minor knee swelling in a report before Wednesday's practice and had a chance to play. Local writers were much less optimistic, with Nick Underhill stating Ingram was present for stretching and little else in practice.

The Saints haven't addressed Ingram's status and list him questionable. I'll update Thursday morning with overnight news.

Thursday update: Ingram was downgraded to doubtful this afternoon. Jay Glazer is reporting Ingram will not play.

Jared Goff | Oblique | Questionable | Expected to play

Practice Participation: Mon - Limited | Tues - Limited | Wed - Limited

Dan Campbell was hopeful earlier in the week Goff would make enough progress to play. The Lions list Goff questionable but Ian Rapoport tweeted Detroit expects Goff to start. Local beat writers confirmed Rapoport's expectation on Wednesday afternoon. Oblique muscle injuries make rotational movements difficult. Expect inaccuracy and difficulty with longer throws.

Allen Robinson | Hamstring | Doubtful | Likely inactive

Practice Participation: Mon - DNP | Tues - DNP | Wed - DNP

Marquise Goodwin | Shoulder | Questionable | $$

Practice Participation: Mon - Full | Tues - Full | Wed - Full

Robinson has not practiced in two weeks. He's listed doubtful but there's no indication he's close to returning. Expect him to be inactive.

Goodwin is listed questionable but fully practiced after seeing a season-high 71% of Chicago's offensive snaps last week. Expect him to play and see a similar workload.

Jermar Jefferson | Ankle / Knee | Questionable | $$

Practice Participation: Mon - Limited | Tues - Limited | Wed - Limited

Jefferson was able to return to limited practices after a Week 10 high ankle sprain. Expect him to be inactive and given another ten days to recover and recondition. If he is active, his role will be limited behind DAndre Swift and Jamaal Williams -- both of whom are off the Detroit injury report this week.

Not Listed | Expected to Play

• RB Ezekiel Elliott
• RB Kenyan Drake
• QB Trevor Siemian
• WR Cole Beasley
• WR Cedrick Wilson
• QB Taysom Hill
• WR Darnell Mooney
• WR Ty Montgomery

Declared Out

• RB Alvin Kamara
• WR Amari Cooper (COVID-reserve)
• QB Justin Fields
• RB Damien Williams

Wednesday Media Updates

***Aaron Jones returned to individual drills and did not appear significantly limited by his MCL sprain. It was an evaluation day for Jones. If his knee responds well, he'll continue in limited drills through the end of the week. He's still questionable to play -- the Green Bay medical staff is careful and the Packers have a Week 13 bye -- but Jones is trending in a good direction.

***A.J. Brown reportedly had no broken ribs on a weekend x-ray but his additional imaging studies haven't been reported on yet. Rib cartilage or joint injuries in the chest remain possible and would be as -- or more -- limiting than rib fractures. He remains at risk of missing this week's game.

***Marquise Brown returned to drills. Thursday's participation will inform whether this was an expected step in his return to play or an evaluation day as the team decided whether he's capable of returning. Another limited (or better) practice would be a promising sign for a full-strength return.

***Elijah Mitchell participated in drills in a no-contact jersey with a wrap over his injured hand. He's considered "iffy" to play.

***Cordarrelle Patterson was limited in practice last week but three days was not enough to recover from a high ankle sprain. Patterson was back to a limited practice on Wednesday and is trending toward playing. The next 48 hours will determine whether he's ready for significant snaps and touches.

***Kareem Hunt was designated to return from injured reserve and told reporters he needs to see how he feels this week is "definitely thinking" he's going to play Sunday night.

***Logan Thomas returned to practice on Wednesday after missing an additional two weeks with soreness in his hamstring. He's trending toward playing a limited role this week.

Added to injured reserve thru Wednesday transactions:

• WR Robert Woods
• WR Jamal Agnew
• WR Marcus Johnson
• TE Adam Trautman

Currently designated to return:

• RB Kareem Hunt
• TE Logan Thomas

COVID-reserve

• QB Joe Flacco
• QB Mike White
• WR Denzel Mims

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.

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.