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
Gameday Decision
Trending Doubtful (Likely Inactive)
Trending Probable (Expected to Play)
- QB Trevor Lawrence
- RB Josh Jacobs
- WR Tee Higgins
- WR Tyler Boyd
- WR D.J. Moore
- WR Jakobi Meyers
- WR Kadarius Toney
- TE Daniel Bellinger
Eligible to return from injured reserve
- WR Hunter Renfrow -- activated
- WR Mecole Hardman -- remains on IR
- WR Quintez Cephus -- remains on IR
- TE Darren Waller -- activated
- TE Dallas Goedert -- remains on IR
- TE Donald Parham -- activated
Ruled Out
- QB Lamar Jackson
- QB Russell Wilson
- QB Mike White
- RB Damien Harris
- RB Dameon Pierce
- WR Courtland Sutton
- WR Treylon Burks
- WR Nico Collins
- WR Corey Davis
- WR Brandin Cooks
- WR Chase Claypool
- WR DeVante Parker
- TE Hayden Hurst
Playing Sunday at 1:00 pm Eastern
Trevor Lawrence | Toe | Questionable | Expected to play
Practice Participation: Wed - DNP | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Limited
Lawrence continues to manage his practice reps as he plays through a toe injury. He has continued to put up impressive statistical performances despite his practice limitations, and the injury should not threaten his production this week, either.
D.J. Moore | Ankle | Questionable | Sunday decision
Practice Participation: Wed - Full | Thurs - Full | Fri - Limited
Moore fully practiced on Wednesday and Thursday after a reassuring MRI following last week's ankle injury. The Panthers backed him off to a limited Friday workout in a non-contact jersey.
Steve Wilks said Moore did not suffer a setback, but the Panthers were unsure "whether or not [Moore can] sustain and be efficient with what we're asking him to do." Carolina believes they'll know more about Moore's status on Saturday.
Sunday update: Ian Rapoport tweeted Moore is expected to play.
Dallas Goedert | Shoulder | Remains on injured reserve
Goedert has had four weeks to recover from a Week 10 shoulder injury. His rehab progressed smoothly, and beat writers all expect him to return to the active roster. Conditioning should not be an issue and there are no indications Goedert is concerned about the health of his shoulder.
It's possible Goedert immediately returns to his pre-injury role. Watch the Saturday transactions for confirmation he's eligible to play.
Sunday update: The Eagles did not move Goedert to the active roster on Saturday. He will rehab one more week.
Kenny Pickett | Concussion | Doubtful | Likely inactive
Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Limited
Pickett was limited in practice all week, but the Steelers will remain cautious with their rookie quarterback after his second concussion in the past eight weeks. He will be inactive this week.
Mecole Hardman | Abdominal illness | Remains on injured reserve
Andy Reid said the Chiefs were "leaning away" from returning Hardman this week and preferred to continue working on his recovery and conditioning from an abdominal illness/condition. Expect him to be activated for Week 16.
Kadarius Toney | Hamstring | Questionable | Sunday decision
Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Limited
Andy Reid told reporters he had yet to meet with the team's medical and training staff about Toney's status. Most beat writers believe Toney will be inactive this week. If Toney is cleared to play, he'll have a very limited role and few, if any, touches.
Sunday update: Adam Schefter reports Toney will play today.
Playing Sunday at 4:05 pm Eastern
Josh Jacobs | Quadricep / Hand | Questionable | Expected to play
Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Limited
Jacobs will continue to play through injury. The Raiders will likely limit his practice reps to manage his high workload in the final weeks of the regular season. Jacobs says he can grip and catch the ball and expects to be able to take hits without issue.
Expect Jacobs to see his usual 20+ touches.
Darren Waller | Hamstring | Expected to play
Josh McDaniels would not commit to Waller returning this week. Most beat writers believe Waller will be cleared to play. If he returns, 5-8+ targets could be possible immediately.
Sunday update: Waller was returned to the active roster and will play.
Marquise Brown | Illness | Questionable | Expected to play
Practice Participation: Wed - Not listed | Thurs - DNP | Fri - Full
Brown missed Thursday's practice due to illness and returned on Friday. He is expected to play.
Rhamondre Stevenson | Ankle | Questionable | Sunday decision
Practice Participation: Wed - DNP | Thurs - DNP | Fri - Limited
Stevenson was unable to finish last week's game and could not practice on Wednesday or Thursday. Most local observers were surprised to see Stevenson in pads on Friday and earn a questionable tag.
Friday's workout was likely a test run to see Stevenson's ankle responded to football activity. The Patriots travel to Las Vegas on Saturday. If Stevenson is with the team, he has a chance for 10+ touches this week.
Sunday update: Ian Rapoport tweeted that Stevenson has "a good chance to go" and "a pregame workout will determine his fate."
Damien Harris | Thigh | Questionable | Declared out
Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Limited
Harris has missed two weeks while recovering from a Week 12 soft-tissue injury but looks likely to return this week. The Patriots are always a difficult team to read, but most local writers believe Harris is trending toward returning.
Watch for travel decisions on the New England running backs on Saturday afternoon and for overnight media reports on the Patriots' backfield. It will be tough to trust any Patriot running backs to get double-digit touches without a very reassuring Saturday-Sunday report.
Sunday update: Harris was ruled out on Saturday.
Jakobi Meyers | Concussion | Questionable | Sunday decision
Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - DNP | Fri - Limited
Meyers sandwiched two days of individual drills around a Thursday DNP. The missed Thursday practice is not a good sign for Meyers' availability after a Monday night concussion. Expect him to be inactive and continue to work through the concussion protocol next week.
Sunday update: Multiple sources now expect Meyers to play today.
Hunter Renfrow | Oblique | Expected to play
Josh McDaniels would not commit to Renfrow returning this week but seemed optimistic that another practice on Friday would be enough to convince the medical staff Renfrow could play. Las Vegas must activate Renfrow from injured reserve on Saturday to have him available on Sunday.
Sunday update: Renfrow was returned to the active roster and will play.
Playing Sunday at 4:25 pm Eastern
Tee Higgins | Hamstring | Questionable | Sunday decision
Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Full
Higgins played only one snap last Sunday. It's still unclear whether Higgins didn't feel comfortable after the pregame warmup or felt something in his first snap of the game. The Bengals said Higgins was still available for red zone snaps last week.
His return to individual drills on Wednesday was reassuring that Sunday's issue was not an aggravation and the full Friday practice suggests Cincinnati will be comfortable clearing him to play. On Friday, Zac Taylor said the team "felt good" about Higgins playing on Sunday.
Last week's unexpectedly limited snap count is worrisome, but Higgins' practice participation suggests he'll play and see 3-5+ targets. A reassuring report from Adam Schefter would be a welcome indicator that Higgins could return to his pre-injury workload.
Sunday update: Weekend reporting included multiple short, terse "expected to play" tweets. Those are usually strong indicators a player is ready to resume his usual workload. After last week's pregame issue, it's hard to be fully confident in Higgins' status. But there are no reports Higgins will have a snap count today.
Tyler Boyd | Finger | Questionable | Expected to play
Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Full
Boyd's dislocated finger broke through the skin and required wound irrigation and stitches. He was cleared to return to practice this week and reportedly had no bone or ligament injuries requiring a longer rehab period. The finger may limit his ability to catch the ball cleanly, but Boyd told reporters he's playing and "will make it work."
If Tee Higgins is available for his usual workload this week, Boyd's target count may be limited.
Julio Jones | Knee | Questionable | Expected to play
Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Full
Jones continues to play through chronic knee pain. Since Tampa Bay's Week 11 bye, Jones has played 43, 52, and 55 offensive snaps. A similar workload is likely this week against Cincinnati.
Playing Sunday at 8:25 PM Eastern
Daniel Bellinger | Rib | Questionable | Expected to play
Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Limited
Bellinger told reporters his rib injury affected his sleep this week, but he doesn't expect to be limited on Sunday night. The Giants medical staff will use protective padding and may give Bellinger a pain-killing injection. An aggravation is possible, but Bellinger is expected to be active.
Playing Monday at 8:15 PM Eastern
Aaron Jones | Ankle | Not listed | Expected to play
Practice Participation: Thurs - Limited | Fri - Limited | Sat - Limited
Local reporters expect Jones to play Monday night after back-to-back limited practices on Thursday and Friday. Hopefully, Jones will increase in practice reps on Saturday and stay off the game status report. If he remains limited and is listed questionable, look for press conference details and overnight reports for guidance on his Monday night availability.
Sunday update: Jones finished the week with another limited practice but there are no local reports of concern. Expect Jones to see 10+ touches.
Romeo Doubs | Ankle | Not listed | Expected to play
Practice Participation: Thurs - Full | Fri - Full | Sat - Full
Doubs is fully practicing this week and has said he expects to return and feels ready to play as many snaps as the team asks. Look for another full practice on Saturday to confirm Doubs will be back on Monday night.
Footballguys injury coverage will return Monday with a review of the most important Week 15 injuries.
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