Gameday Injury Expectations: Week 1

Jene Bramel's Gameday Injury Expectations: Week 1 Jene Bramel Published 09/10/2022

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

Here's the latest on key injured players 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

Trending Doubtful (Likely Inactive)

Trending Probable (Expected to Play)

Ruled Out

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J.K. Dobbins | Knee | Questionable | Likely Inactive

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

Dobbins is adamant he's recovering well from last August's multiple-ligament knee injury (ACL and LCL). The Ravens chose to temper expectations throughout the summer.

John Harbaugh told reporters Dobbins was "ascending quickly in the last week, week and a half" and said the Ravens would decide on Dobbins' availability at the end of the week. Player interviews generally provide more clarity and the Baltimore locker room was no exception this week. Dobbins did not speak to the media -- usually a sign the player won't be on the active roster. And Lamar Jackson told reporters he was hopeful Dobbins would "be out in a couple of weeks."

Expect Dobbins to be inactive. Kenyan Drake and Mike Davis will share the rushing workload.

Chris Godwin | Knee | Questionable | Likely to play

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

Godwin returned to practice in early August, and his recovery from a December ACL injury is progressing well. But all indications -- from the team, trusted beat writers, and Godwin himself -- suggest the Buccaneers believe Godwin needs more time before returning to game action.

The Thursday DNP looks like a planned rest day during the final stages of rehab and reconditioning. Godwin practiced in a no-contact jersey on Friday, essentially declaring he's not yet cleared to play.

In a midweek podcast interview, Godwin said he "would love to be there for the entire season, but ... what's more important is being there for the second half." Todd Bowles said Godwin was a game-time decision.

It's possible Godwin will be active on Sunday night, but he would be used in limited packages and is not guaranteed to be targeted. More likely, he won't make the trip to Dallas. Expect him to be inactive with a hopeful return in next week's divisional matchup against the Saints.

Sunday update: Godwin traveled to Dallas and is expected to play. Adam Schefter reports Godwin "could be on a pitch count." The Buccaneers should have all their receiving options available today and Godwin will have a wide range of possible outcomes. Add him to your lineup with caution.

Russell Gage | Hamstring | Questionable | Likely to play

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

The Buccaneers allowed Gage three weeks off before returning him to practice this week. Last weekend, Todd Bowles told reporters Gage was "on track to play," and the full week of limited workouts looks optimistic. Chris Godwin referenced Gage when reporters asked him if Tampa Bay's receiver depth would make it easier for the team to allow Godwin extra time to recover.

Gage is officially a game-time decision but is trending to play. It's reasonable to expect 5-8 targets in Week 1.

Michael Thomas | Hamstring | Questionable | Likely to play

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

After battling a slow-to-recover ankle injury that eventually required surgery, Thomas started camp healthy and looked likely to return to form in 2022. Unfortunately, a hamstring injury in camp slowed his summer progress and left him limited in practice this week.

Dennis Allen told reporters Thomas "looked good" and progressed through the week of practice as hoped. Thomas was cleared to speak to the media and was optimistic about playing while sharing his goals of topping his career-best 2019 season.

Projecting Week 1 workloads for receivers recovering from hamstring injuries in camp is often guesswork. It's possible Thomas' injury was higher grade and still carries a high risk of aggravation, and the game plan calls for a limited snap count/workload in his first week back. It's also possible the injury was low grade, the limited week of practice was cautious reconditioning, and Thomas is fully recovered and ready to play.

The tone of this week's reporting leans optimistic. Thomas looks likely to play, and 6-8+ targets are a reasonable expectation.

George Kittle | Groin | Questionable | Likely inactive

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

Kittle suffered a groin strain during practice Monday, and initial reports uniformly suggested he was unlikely to recover in time to play. His inability to return to individual drills by Friday indicates he's more likely doubtful than questionable.

Kittle told reporters he's "doing everything he can" to play and pointed out he's played without clearance to practice in the past. While true, those instances did not include a recent soft tissue injury.

Expect Kittle to be inactive. If he does play, he may see a low number of high-leverage targets but will be at risk of aggravation and very limited production.

Sunday update: Overnight reporting from Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport suggest Kittle will not play.

Zach Ertz | Calf | Questionable | Game-time decision

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

Ertz has battled a calf strain since early August and remains limited in practice six weeks after the injury.

The Thursday DNP followed by a return to limited drills on Friday is odd. Usually, a Wednesday practice followed by a Thursday DNP by a player with a higher-grade muscle strain means midweek football activity did not go well, and the team has decided another week (or more) is needed.

Before Friday's practice, Kliff Kingsbury told reporters the Cardinals would have a better idea of how much Ertz could contribute after the workout but hinted that Ertz would be used in a limited role even if cleared to play.

Even with DeAndre Hopkins (suspended) and Rondale Moore (hamstring) inactive this week, it's unlikely Ertz will see enough snaps and targets for reliable statistical production.

Sunday update: Ertz is likely to play according to Adam Schefter. Kingsbury's late week comments and the deep tight end depth chart likely mean Ertz will be used situationally and may not see his baseline target expectation.

Jakobi Meyers | Knee | Questionable | Likely to play

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

As usual, the Patriots provide little context in their injury reports. Meyers reportedly left the final preseason game earlier than planned and has been practicing with a sleeve on his left leg.

Generally, New England players cleared for two weeks of limited practice are cleared to play on Sunday, and there's been no hint of more concern from those on the Patriots' beat. Expect Meyers to be active.

Drake London | Knee | Questionable | LIkely to play

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

London suffered a knee injury four weeks ago and was still receiving treatment during a week of limited practices. He's considered a game-time decision by the Falcons.

Arthur Smith shared the usual variations of coach-speak with the media this week. Smith said London was progressing, and the team would make a decision after a Saturday fitness test with the rest of the season in mind rather than a single game. Smith also said if the Falcons choose to put a player on the gameday roster, it means "we have a lot of confidence in him."

Most local writers expect London to play but would not commit to a full snap count or workload. Watch for additional weekend news before early inactive lists are released Sunday morning.

Sunday update: London is expected to play.

Logan Thomas | Knee | Questionable | Likely to play

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

Last December, Thomas suffered a complicated ACL injury with associated LCL and meniscus damage. While his clearance to practice during camp was a great sign for his eventual recovery, expecting a full workload in live game action nine months after surgery is unwise.

Thomas told reporters he was working toward playing in Week 1 or 2 and was still "feeling things here and there." Local writers observed Thomas working in red zone drills on Friday. That shows the team is still considering Thomas for situational work but doesn't guarantee he'll be on the active roster.

If Thomas is active, he'll have an outside chance at a red zone chance but shouldn't be counted on for more than 1-3 targets.

Sunday update: Ian Rapoport tweeted Thomas will play.

Footballguys injury coverage will return Monday with a review of the most important Week 1 injuries.

Photos provided by Imagn Images
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