Gameday Injury Expectations: Week 10

Jene Bramel's Gameday Injury Expectations: Week 10 Jene Bramel Published 11/12/2022

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

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

Sunday Decision

Trending Doubtful (Likely Inactive)

Trending Probable (Expected to Play)

Eligible to return from injured reserve

Ruled Out

Playing Sunday at 9:30 AM Eastern

Cameron Brate | Neck | Questionable | Likely to play

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

Brate fully practiced and traveled with the Buccaneers to Germany but is listed questionable. He's likely to return in a supporting role behind Cade Otton.

Playing Sunday at 1:00 pm Eastern

Josh Allen | Elbow | Questionable | Likely to play

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

Allen has a ligament sprain in his throwing elbow. Early-week imaging showed a low-grade sprain. That was welcome news but doesn't guarantee a return to play this week.

The Bills allowed Allen to throw early in Friday's practice before pulling him from the field when beat writers arrived. Sean McDermott told reporters Allen was "hour-to-hour" after practice, and the Bills are likely to give Allen as much time as needed to rehab prior to Sunday's game.

If Allen was comfortable throwing in practice and continues to recover through the weekend, there's a chance he'll be cleared to play. More likely, the Bills will choose caution and continue to rehab through next week.

Sunday update: Weekend reports strongly suggest Allen will play today. Ian Rapoport tweeted Allen is able to grip the football and throw. The Bills did not elevate another quarterback to the active roster. And Adam Schefter reported Sunday morning that orthopedic specialists told Allen and the team the injury was not at risk of aggravation. Look for Allen to play -- with the Bills likely limiting their downfield routes and possibly asking Allen to remain in the pocket more than usual.

Already a subscriber?

Continue reading this content with a PRO subscription.

Join Now

Ryan Tannehill | Ankle | Questionable | Expected to play

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

Tannehill progressed to a full Thursday practice and looks likely to return after missing two weeks with an ankle injury. Beat writers noted Tannehill was moving much better in practice and appeared capable of protecting himself in the pocket.

The Titans have a short turnaround to a road game in Green Bay on Thursday night in Week 11. That may affect Tennessee's decision but the strong week of practice likely has Tannehill more probable than doubtful.

Sunday update: Tannehill is expected to start.

Jerick McKinnon | Shoulder / Knee / Hamstring | Questionable | Sunday decision

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

McKinnon was fully practicing with shoulder and knee conditions on Wednesday and Thursday before leaving with a hamstring injury during Friday's workout. Late-week soft tissue injuries are always concerning. The Chiefs will re-evaluate McKinnon through the weekend, but the questionable tag seems optimistic for a new hamstring strain.

Watch for updates through the weekend.

Brandin Cooks | Wrist | Questionable | Sunday decision

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

Cooks returned to practice this week and is listed questionable. It's unclear whether last week's off-field concerns are settled and Cooks is ready to return to game action. The wrist injury is likely a secondary concern.

Nico Collins | Groin | Questionable | Sunday decision

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

Collins returned to three consecutive limited practices this week and is questionable to play after missing two weeks with a groin strain. The Texans did not address his injury status during the week. Watch for weekend updates.

Treylon Burks | Toe | Activated from injured reserve

Burks returned to practice after four weeks on injured reserve with a toe strain. Practice reportedly went well. Burks told reporters the toe isn't painful, and he believes he's ready to play. ESPN's Turron Davenport tweeted, "it's pretty safe to say [Burks] gets activated" this week.

The Titans have to add Burks to the roster on Saturday to have him eligible for the game-day roster on Sunday. If active, expect Burks to see time in limited packages as he gets comfortable with live game action.

Sunday update: Burks was activated and will play.

Playing Sunday at 4:05 pm Eastern

Jonathan Taylor | Ankle | Not listed | Expected to play

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

Taylor fully practiced on Thursday and Friday and is not listed on the game status report. It's a great sign after he needed a week off to rehab an aggravation of his early-season ankle sprain.

The Colts offense remains in transition after Sam Ehrlinger replaced Matt Ryan at quarterback and the trade of Nyheim Hines to Buffalo. Last week's lead back, Deon Jackson, is out with injury, and it's likely Taylor immediately returns to a full workload after his full practices.

Playing Sunday at 4:25 pm Eastern

Kyler Murray | Hamstring | Questionable | Likely inactive

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

Murray was able to practice on both Thursday and Friday. That's often reassuring and shows that Murray responded well enough to the Thursday workout to return on Friday. Kliff Kingsbury said Murray was a game-time decision after Friday's practice.

Kingsbury told reporters Murray wouldn't have to be healthy enough to run and could be cleared to play as a pocket quarterback. Kingsbury said, "we'll make sure he feels fully comfortable...and we won't know until we get him out there and run him around on game day."

If Murray is cleared to play, expect his rushing attempts and upside to be limited.

Sunday update: Ian Rapoport tweeted overnight that Murray will work out pregame but is considered "unlikely" to play. Adam Schefter reports Colt McCoy's friends requested tickets to today's game, a clear sign the Cardinals are planning to start McCoy and rest Murray today.

Matthew Stafford | Concussion | Questionable | Likely inactive

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

The Rams elected to put Stafford into the return-to-play protocol early this week after he reported concussion symptoms. He returned to a limited Friday practice and still has time to progress through the final steps in the protocol and get clearance from an independent neurologist on Saturday.

While possible, starting the protocol more than 24 hours after his last physical contact will make it tough to earn clearance to play. If Stafford remains listed questionable on Saturday, his chances of playing Sunday increase considerably.

Sunday update: Overnight reports did not completely close the door on Stafford's availability but all indications are that he did not seek clearance from the independent neurologist on Saturday. He's likely inactive today.

Ezekiel Elliott | Knee | Questionable | Sunday decision

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

The Cowboys have been publicly optimistic about Elliott's Week 10 status since before their Week 9 bye. A full week of limited practices looks promising but MCL sprains are difficult injuries for running backs to recover and play through -- assuming that's the extent of Elliott's injuries after his Week 8 knee hyperextension.

Jerry Jones told reporters he expected Elliott to play, but Mike McCarthy said Dallas wanted to see how Elliott responded to Friday's workout before clearing him to play. Some local reporters still believe the Cowboys may choose to rehab Elliott one more week.

If active, it's likely Tony Pollard will see a significant portion of Dallas' running back workload. Watch for updates through the weekend.

Sunday update: Overnight reports are unanimous -- the Cowboys plan to rest Elliott one more week if there's any doubt in his health. The limited week of practice and notes that the team was still unsure of Elliott's status on Saturday show that doubt remains. Expect him to be inactive this week.

Playing Sunday at 8:20 pm Eastern

Deebo Samuel | Hamstring | Not Listed | Expected to play

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

Samuel immediately returned to full practice after last week's bye. Kyle Shanahan told reporters Samuel was "good by Wednesday's practice" and the Niners "didn't have to [adjust] his reps" during the week.

There's a slight risk of aggravation within the first days of full-speed work, but Samuel looks ready to resume his pre-injury usage.

Elijah Mitchell | Knee | Returned to practice | Expected to play

The Niners intend to active Mitchell on Saturday after a strong week of practice. The addition of Christian McCaffrey will keep Mitchell in a minor rotational role.

Playing Monday at 8:15 PM Eastern

Jahan Dotson | Hamstring | Not listed | Expected to play

Practice Participation: Thurs - Limited | Fri - Full | Sat - Full

Dotson fully practiced on Friday and is trending toward returning on Monday night. Offensive coordinator Scott Turner said the Commanders are not yet sure whether Dotson will return to play.

It's possible Dotson will be listed questionable regardless of his Saturday practice participation. A full Saturday workout means he's likely to play.

Sunday update: Dotson fully practiced Saturday and is not listed on the game status report. He will return to action Monday night.

Footballguys injury coverage will return Monday with a review of the most important Week 10 injuries.

Photos provided by Imagn Images
Share This Article