Gameday Injury Expectations: Week 12

Photo: USA Today Sports

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

• WR Allen Robinson

Trending Doubtful (Likely Inactive)

• WR JaMarr Chase
• QB Justin Fields
• RB Raheem Mostert

Trending Probable (Expected to Play)

• WR Deebo Samuel
• RB Josh Jacobs
• RB Gus Edwards

Eligible to return from injured reserve

• WR Marquise Brown -- Activated
• QB Carson Wentz
• RB Giovani Bernard -- Activated
• RB Joshua Kelley -- Activated

Ruled Out

• RB Joe Mixon
• WR Mike Williams
• QB Matthew Stafford
• RB Leonard Fournette
• WR Jerry Jeudy
• WR Rondale Moore
• WR Romeo Doubs
• WR Russell Gage
• TE Isaiah Likely
• WR Kadarius Toney
• WR K.J. Hamler
• TE Zach Ertz

Playing Sunday at 1:00 pm Eastern

JaMarr Chase | Hip | Questionable | Likely inactive

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

Chase is recovering from an avulsion fracture and soft tissue damage around his hip joint. He was kept on crutches for a month, continued rehabbing without crutches last week, and returned to drills this week. Chase was expected to need 4-6 weeks of recovery time and is now five weeks into rehab after trying to play through the injuries in Week 7.

The Bengals list Chase questionable but have said they will not rush players back if they're not ready. Joe Burrow told reporters he thinks Chase will play and limited video of practice drills showed Chase to be moving well. However, it's difficult to believe Chase is conditioned for contact and live game action just 1-2 weeks after spending a month on crutches. If Chase is active, expect a limited snap count. High-leverage opportunities are possible but there's a low floor if Chase is active.

Sunday update: All overnight sources agree Chase will not be active today. With another strong week of conditioning, Chase is likely to play next week.

Justin Fields | Shoulder | Questionable | Likely inactive

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

Fields told reporters his shoulder was sore while throwing but was able to participate in drills and managed limited team reps through Friday practice. He's considered a game-time decision.

Matt Eberflus said the team's preference was to clear Fields if he's "100% ready to play." That's a high bar for a shoulder sprain -- even the non-throwing shoulder -- but Eberflus told reporters the medical staff would make the decision through the weekend. Fields will need to prove he has enough range of motion and strength in his shoulder to protect himself.

Padding and pain management on game day may be helpful but won't ensure Fields will be comfortable enough to play. If active, Fields may not take as many chances as a runner.

Watch for more information through the weekend.

Sunday update: Fields traveled with the team on Saturday but the Bears also promoted Nathan Peterman. Tom Pelissero, Ian Rapoport, and Adam Schefter all report Fields is unlikely to play.

Leonard Fournette | Hip | Doubtful | Inactive

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

Despite a full week of limited practices, the Buccaneers list Fournette doubtful to play. While players have been active after a doubtful listing in recent seasons, it's rare.

Todd Bowles said Fournette was "very sore" and if he was unable to run full speed he would not be cleared to play. Unless Fournette is upgraded to questionable this weekend, expect him to be inactive. If Fournette does join the very limited number of players active on game day after a doubtful listing, expect Rachaad White to take most of the workload.

Sunday update: Fournette was ruled out Saturday.

Gus Edwards | Hamstring / Knee | Questionable | Likely to play

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

Edwards missed last week's game after a late-week knee concern stalled his recovery from a hamstring strain. Back-to-back full practices to end the week have him trending probable. Beat writers and teammates expect him to return.

Rotational duty is likely in his first game back, but 10-12+ touches are possible.

Raheem Mostert | Knee | Doubtful | Likely inactive

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

Mostert was able to practice Friday but Mike McDaniel strongly suggested the team would rest him this week. Miami listed Mostert doubtful after the limited Friday workout. Expect him to be inactive.

Logan Thomas | Rib / Illness | Questionable | Sunday decision

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

Thomas was limited with a rib injury during the week, but there was no indication he would miss this week's game. An illness kept him from practicing on Friday and he's listed questionable. Local writers did not comment on Thomas' condition on Friday.

Playing Sunday at 4:05 pm Eastern

Josh Jacobs | Calf | Questionable | Likely to play

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

Jacobs was added to the Friday injury report with a calf condition and listed questionable. The Raiders did not address his condition after practice and his status is not clear.

It's possible the team was cautious with a little muscle tightness, but late-week soft tissue injuries are always concerning. Without clear evidence the team is concerned and Jacobs' long history of playing effectively through injury, it's likely Jacobs will play. Overnight reports should be informative.

Sunday update: Adam Schefter reports Jacobs is "likely to play barring any setbacks in his pregame warmup."

Marquise Brown | Foot | Activated from injured reserve | Expected to play

Brown is in his second week of practice after being designated to return from injured reserve. Kliff Kingsbury says Brown wants to return and beat writers are reporting the team expects him to play.

The team must activate him by the Saturday afternoon roster deadline. Kingsbury suggested Brown will be on a snap count in his first week back.

Sunday update: Brown was activated on Saturday and will play.

Playing Sunday at 4:25 pm Eastern

Deebo Samuel | Hamstring | Questionable | Likely to play

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

Samuel continues to battle a hamstring strain and was limited in practice all week.

He played 59% of the Niners' offensive snaps last week -- down from his usual 80% workload -- and the team's training staff was working on his calf and hamstring during the game. Kyle Shanahan told reporters Samuel reported he felt fine on Tuesday, then experienced soreness on Wednesday.

After posting a video of Samuel moving well in individual drills on Friday, Matt Maiocco tweeted he expected Samuel would not be listed on the team's game status report. There are no indications Samuel is in danger of being inactive. Ongoing soreness and last week's limited snap count are concerning for further aggravations.

Sunday update: Both Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport tweeted Samuel is expected to play.

Alvin Kamara | Illness | Questionable | Expected to play

Practice Participation: Wed - Not listed | Thurs - DNP | Fri - Full

Kamara missed Thursday's workout but returned to a full Friday practice. He's listed questionable, but Dennis Allen did not have any concerns about his availability. Kamara will play.

Allen Robinson | Ankle | Questionable | Sunday decision

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

Robinson missed a few snaps last week and was limited in practice with an ankle injury. The team did not show much concern for his injury, and Sean McVay was optimistic Robinson would play. Beat writers expect Robinson to be active.

Sunday update: Ian Rapoport tweeted Robinson is "not likely to play today" while "dealing with a foot injury." The report is not corroborated by other reporters and the team listed Robinson with an ankle injury this week. It's difficult to keep Robinson in lineups but to continue to monitor for additional information if you have no other options.

Tyler Higbee | Knee | Questionable | Likely to play

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

Higbee is listed questionable but was considered day-to-day earlier in the week. On Friday, Sean McVay was optimistic Higbee would play.

Mark Ingram | Knee | Questionable | Sunday decision

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

Ingram was expected to miss at least a month with an MCL sprain. After three weeks of rehab, Ingram returned to limited practices this week. His status isn't known, but limited snaps are possible if he's active.

Playing Monday at 8:15 PM Eastern

Jaylen Warren | Hamstring | Declared out

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

Warren has yet to practice this week with a hamstring strain. The Steelers have not yet released their Saturday practice and status report, but Warren is likely to be ruled out.

Sunday update: Warren was ruled out on the final injury report.

Footballguys injury coverage will return Monday with a review of the most important Week 12 injuries.