Gameday Injury Expectations: Week 11

Jene Bramel's Gameday Injury Expectations: Week 11 Jene Bramel Published 11/19/2022

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

Monday Decision

Trending Doubtful (Likely Inactive)

Trending Probable (Expected to Play)

Eligible to return from injured reserve

Ruled Out

Playing Sunday at 1:00 pm Eastern

Mark Andrews | Knee / Shoulder | Questionable | Expected to play

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

Andrews is recovering from a painful AC sprain in his shoulder. He was cryptic with reporters on Thursday, saying, "you never know" when asked if he would return this week. John Harbaugh was more optimistic. He told reporters he "planned on having [Andrews] back." The full Friday practice suggests Andrews will play. Expect a full workload.

Sunday update: Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter confirm Andrews will play.

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Lamar Jackson | Illness | Questionable | Expected to play

Practice Participation: Wed - Not listed | Thurs - Not listed | Fri - Limited

Jackson did not practice Friday due to illness. Although he has missed games with illnesses in the past, John Harbaugh told reporters Jackson would play Sunday.

Gus Edwards | Hamstring / Knee | Questionable | Sunday decision

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

Edwards may have been trending toward returning after last week's bye, but another limited Friday practice and the addition of a knee designation is notable. Edwards joins a long line of players with limited by a combination of soft-tissue injury and maintenance needs after ACL reconstruction.

John Harbaugh didn't rule out Edwards on Friday. If Edwards goes, don't expect more than 20 snaps in a rotational role.

Sunday update: Adam Schefter reports Edwards is expected to play in a limited role.

David Njoku | Ankle | Questionable | Likely to play

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

Njoku told reporters he was "ready to go" and "excited to finally be back" after limited practices went well at the end of the week. Observers reported Njoku looked comfortable running routes during workouts.

The Browns did not confirm Njoku would return. If active, it's likely Njoku will see limited snaps in his first week back. Do not expect his pre-injury 80+% workload or targets.

D.J. Chark | Ankle | Activated from injured reserve

Chark returned to practice after missing six weeks with a high ankle sprain. Dan Campbell told reporters Chark looked more comfortable during Thursday's practice, and his progress Friday and Saturday would determine his gameday status.

Chark will have to be returned to the active roster on Saturday. His status will be known well before game time. If active, anticipate a limited role and a ceiling of 3-5 targets.

Sunday update: Chark was activated and will play.

Josh Reynolds | Back | Questionable | Inactive

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

Reynolds had a limited workout on Thursday but did not practice on Friday. He is trending doubtful again this week.

Sunday update: Reynolds was ruled out Saturday.

WanDale Robinson | Hamstring | Questionable | Sunday decision

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

Brian Daboll said Robinson was "trending in the right direction" after returning to practice Friday. Robinson was hopeful the rest day of Thursday would prove to be more precautionary than necessary.

Robinson may be more probable than questionable but watch for overnight news before counting on him for his recent increased workload.

Playing Sunday at 4:05 pm Eastern

Davante Adams | Abdomen | Questionable | Likely to play

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

There's little information on Adams' status after a week of limited practice due to an abdominal condition. That's likely good news.

Adams has a history of playing through minor injuries and the limited practices suggest the team was comfortable with him working out through the injury. Adams has a difficult matchup with the Broncos' top corner Pat Surtain this week, however. If there is any doubt reported overnight, Adams may struggle to reach elite WR1 production this week.

Sunday update: Adams is expected to play.

Playing Sunday at 4:25 pm Eastern

Ezekiel Elliott | Knee | Questionable | Likely to play

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

Unlike last week, when Jerry Jones told reporters he expected Elliott to play while Mike McCarthy and local writers expressed doubt, everyone connected to the Cowboys (front office, coaching staff, and writers) believes Elliott will return this week.

Dallas is expected to return Elliott to his pre-injury role as the lead back ahead of Tony Pollard. Still, it's difficult to see Elliott receive 20 touches in his first week back from injury. Expect 10-15 touches and closer to an even split with Pollard.

Sunday update: Elliott is said to be "light years ahead" of where he was last week. He is expected to play.

Playing Sunday at 8:20 pm Eastern

Mike Williams | Ankle | Questionable | Likely to play

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

Officially, Williams is a Sunday night decision. However, the return to a full Friday practice is a strong indication the Chargers expect to have him back.

When asked after Friday's practice if he was returning, Williams simply said, "I'm ready" and "I should be out there." With four weeks of rehab and rest after a Week 7 high ankle sprain, Williams may not be completely recovered. But the full week of practice is reassuring. If active, there may be some downside but Williams is capable of immediately returning to his pre-injury workload.

Keenan Allen | Hamstring | Questionable | Likely to play

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

Allen has battled a hamstring injury since Week 1 and has aggravated the strain multiple times. This week, Allen sounded as optimistic as he's been in months, telling reporters he felt "confident" and "explosive" and did everything he wanted to do to feel comfortable returning to play.

Brandon Staley would not commit to Allen playing but the full Friday workout puts Allen in line to return. Do not expect an immediate return to his baseline snaps and targets yet, however. The Chargers are likely to rest Allen and hope he's able to return to a full snap count next week.

Playing Monday at 8:15 PM Eastern

Kyler Murray | Hamstring | Questionable | Monday decision

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

Kliff Kingsbury told reporters Murray was "progressing" but remains a game-time decision. Observers reported Murray was sprinting under observation in Friday's workout. If he responds well to the midweek testing and is cleared to do more in practice on Friday, he's likely to return.

The Cardinals have proven -- with this injury and a late 2021 season hamstring strain -- they will not clear Murray to play unless he's fit enough to participate in the run game. Hopefully, Saturday's practice and media sessions will provide enough clarity in advance of Monday night.

For now, Murray looks to be trending to the probable side of questionable.

Sunday update: Murray practiced Saturday and is listed questionable. The Cardinals did not address his status after practice. The full week of practice and Kingsbury's comments suggest Murray may be trending toward playing but his status is still unclear. Colt McCoy is not listed on the injury report after last week's knee injury and is available to start.

DeAndre Hopkins | Hamstring | Questionable | Likely to play

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

Hopkins has a history of playing through soft-tissue strains. Kliff Kingsbury told reporters the limited practices are "more of a maintenance deal" than an indication Hopkins needs more recovery time to play Monday night.

Saturday's practice report should confirm Hopkins' status for Monday night.

Sunday update: Hopkins practiced Saturday, is listed questionable, but his history suggests he's likely to play.

Marquise Brown | Foot | Eligible to return from injured reserve

Brown was designated to return to practice after four weeks of recovery from a fractured bone in his foot. The initial timetable suggested a 4-6 week period of rehab. Although Brown is reportedly moving well in practice, the Cardinals may not activate him on Monday with a short turnaround to a Week 12 matchup to follow (and then a Week 13 bye).

Unfortunately, the Cardinals do not have to return Brown to the active roster until Monday and may not share their intentions before then. If Brown is active, expect a limited package of plays on Monday night.

Footballguys injury coverage will return Monday with a review of the most important Week 11 injuries.

Photos provided by Imagn Images
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