Gameday Injury Expectations: Week 17

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

Gameday Decision

• WR Christian Watson
• TE Hunter Henry

Trending Doubtful (Likely Inactive)

• QB Jalen Hurts
• RB Travis Homer

Trending Probable (Expected to Play)

• QB Trevor Lawrence
• RB Ken Walker
• RB Rhamondre Stevenson
• WR Tyler Lockett
• WR Jerry Jeudy
• WR Chris Olave
• WR Julio Jones
• WR Tyquan Thornton
• TE Dawson Knox
• TE Hayden Hurst

Eligible to return from injured reserve

• WR Mecole Hardman -- remains on IR
• TE Irv Smith -- remains on IR

Ruled Out

• QB Lamar Jackson
• QB Tua Tagovailoa
• QB Colt McCoy
• QB Jimmy Garoppolo
• RB Antonio Gibson
• WR DeAndre Hopkins
• WR Deebo Samuel
• WR DeVante Parker
• WR Ben Skowronek
• TE Jonnu Smith
• TE Kylen Granson

Playing Sunday at 1:00 pm Eastern

Jalen Hurts | Shoulder | Doubtful | Inactive

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

Hurts returned to practice this week and is close to regaining full range of motion and strength in his injured shoulder. Despite his progress, Philadelphia will remain cautious and give Hurts at least one more week to rehab to ensure the joint between his collarbone and breastbone is stable enough for contact at game speed.

Gardner Minshew will start for the Eagles.

A.J. Brown | Knee | Not listed | Expected to play

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

Brown returned to a full Friday practice and is not listed on the Philadelphia game status report. A win clinches the top overall seed, homefield advantage, and a playoff bye for the Eagles. Expect Brown to see his usual workload.

Miles Sanders | Knee | Not listed | Expected to play

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

Sanders returned to a full Friday practice and is not listed on the Philadelphia game status report. A win clinches the top overall seed, homefield advantage, and a playoff bye for the Eagles. Expect Sanders to see his usual workload.

DeAndre Hopkins | Knee | Questionable >> Declared out

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

Hopkins left practice on Friday with what Kliff Kingsbury called "knee soreness." Kingsbury said the Cardinals wouldn't decide on Hopkins' status until later in the weekend. Although Hopkins has played effectively through injury in the past, the tone of national and local writers did not sound positive on Friday afternoon.

The Cardinals will start David Blough this week with Colt McCoy out with a concussion. Hopkins managed one late-game reception on ten targets in 71 snaps last week with Trace McSorley under center. His floor cannot be any worse this week, but his upside will be limited if he's active.

Saturday update: Hopkins will not travel with Arizona and has been declared out.

Rhamondre Stevenson | Ankle | Questionable | Expected to play

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

Stevenson is expected to continue to play through his Week 14 ankle sprain. After a 19-carry, 172-yard Week 15 performance, Stevenson played 91% of the Patriots' offensive snaps last week but was held to just 30 rushing yards by Cincinnati.

In a midweek press conference, Stevenson told reporters he was "feeling it" when asked if his workload was catching up with him. Expect Stevenson to be active against the Dolphins. The Patriots have shown no signs they'll limit his workload.

Trevor Lawrence | Toe | Questionable | Likely to play

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

There are concerns among some analysts in the fantasy community that Doug Pederson and the Jaguars may choose to limit Lawrence's snaps this week.

While Lawrence has played effectively through a toe sprain for weeks, the result of this week's game means very little to Jacksonville's playoff chances. Their Week 18 game against Tennessee is effectively a play-in game, with the winner claiming the AFC South division title.

There do not appear to be any local concerns about the Jaguars resting Lawrence this week, and there's been no recent aggravation of his toe injury. Watch for weekend news about Lawrence's status but current indications are he'll play his usual snaps.

Sunday update: Adam Schefter reports the Jaguars are "full steam ahead" with "no plans to rest any players" this week.

Jerry Jeudy | Ankle | Questionable | Expected to play

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

Interim coach Jerry Rosburg told reporters he "fully expects" Jeudy to play. Last week Jeudy played 60 snaps (90% of Denver's offensive snaps), his highest snap percentage since his Week 10 ankle sprain. Anticipate his usual workload this week.

Chris Olave | Hamstring | Questionable | Sunday decision

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

Olave did not play last week but returned to a full week of limited practice this week. Local reporters are expecting Olave to return but there's been no confirmation from the Saints. There's a risk of aggravation in his first week back, and Olave's target counts were variable prior to his Week 15 injury.

Watch for more reports on Olave's condition through the weekend.

Sunday update: Ian Rapoport tweeted Olave is expected to play.

Mecole Hardman | Abdomen | Will not return from injured reserve this week

Hardman had a setback in practice this week and will not be activated. The Chiefs have until next Wednesday to return Hardman to the active roster in time to have a role in the playoffs, but his regular season is almost certainly over.

Julio Jones | Knee | Questionable | Likely to play

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

Jones remains limited with a chronic knee condition. He was active last week but played just 22 snaps. He'll again have a limited role as the Bucs' fourth receiver if active.

Tyquan Thornton | Knee | Questionable | Likely to play

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

Thornton has played 88+% of the Patriots' offensive snaps for the past three weeks. The three limited practices are not of concern to any local reporter. Expect Thornton to be active.

Hunter Henry | Knee | Questionable | Sunday decision

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

Henry returned to limited practice on Wednesday after taking a helmet to the knee and leaving last week's game. Local reporters see that as a positive sign he'll be available this week. The full week of limited practice looks reassuring but is never a guarantee a New England player will be active. Watch for additional reporting through the weekend.

Playing Sunday at 4:05 pm Eastern

Christian McCaffrey | Knee | Not listed | Expected to play

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

The Niners continue to manage McCaffrey's practice reps during the week. A full Friday practice is reassuring, and McCaffrey is not listed on the team's game status report. He will be active and play.

With San Francisco locked into a home playoff game in Week 19, there is speculation the Niners could limit McCaffrey's workload in the final two weeks of the regular season. Last week, Tyrion Davis-Price had nine rushes in a blowout win over Washington.

Should the game script allow San Francisco to rest McCaffrey, it's possible he'll see fewer than 20 touches this week. If that happens, there's a good chance McCaffrey already had a productive game. Unless there's a weekend report McCaffrey will see fewer series early in the game, there's no reason to fear limited snaps due to injury.

Ken Walker | Ankle | Questionable | Expected to play

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

Pete Carroll told reporters Walker would play and is expected to have "fresh legs" after a week of limited practices. Walker had 28 touches while playing through his ankle injury last week. With Travis Homer limited, expect Walker to see 20+ touches again this week.

Tyler Lockett | Hand | Questionable | Expected to play

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

Lockett told reporters he'd play through a fractured hand that required 10 screws to stabilize, saying he'd worry about the healing process in the offseason. The full Friday practice suggests Lockett and the Seahawks have found a splint that allows Lockett the ability to catch the ball and protect himself through contact.

Conditioning will not be an issue for Lockett. If he can reliably catch the ball, a return to his pre-injury snap count and target share is a reasonable expectation.

Travis Homer | Ankle | Questionable | Likely inactive

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

Homer played just one snap last week and did not practice this week. Although he's not been officially ruled out, he's clearly more doubtful than questionable.

Playing Sunday at 4:25 pm Eastern

Austin Ekeler | Knee | Not listed | Expected to play

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

Ekeler was limited early in the week with knee soreness but returned to a full Friday practice, is not listed on the game status report, and is expected to play. Expect to see his usual split with Joshua Kelley -- 20+ touches are likely again this week.

Aaron Jones | Knee / Ankle | Not listed | Expected to play

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

Jones played 25 snaps and had just six touches last week and looked limited by injury. After a full week of limited practice, Jones is not listed on the game status report and will play. Unfortunately, recent trends make it difficult to predict his usage. This week, Jones hinted his limited duty last week was injury related.

The Packers are at home against Minnesota in a divisional rivalry game they must win to keep their playoff hopes alive. If Jones is capable, expect him to see 12-15+ touches this week.

Christian Watson | Hip | Questionable | Sunday decision

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

Watson only managed a limited Friday practice after leaving last week's game with a hip flexor strain. Matt LaFleur told reporters the team would not decide on Watson's status until later in the weekend.

Sunday update: Adam Schefter reports the Packers will allow Watson to warm up this morning before deciding whether he'll play. Watson will be at high risk of an aggravation or limited performance if he's active.

Irv Smith | Ankle | Eligible to return from injured reserve | Saturday decision

Smith likely needs another week of reconditioning and will be a rotational player behind T.J. Hockenson when he is cleared to return. Expect him to remain on injured reserve.

Playing Sunday at 8:20 pm Eastern

No offensive players listed questionable

Playing Monday at 8:30 PM Eastern

Dawson Knox | Hip | Not listed | Expected to play

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

Knox has been practicing in a no-contact jersey after suffering a hip pointer last week. He's likely trending toward playing but could be listed questionable after Saturday's practice. Watch for more news through the weekend.

Sunday update: Knox fully practiced on Saturday, is not listed on the game status report, and will play.

Hayden Hurst | Calf | Not listed | Expected to play

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

Hurst was reportedly close to returning last week, but the Bengals chose to rest him one more week. Hurst told reporters he felt "100%" and is excited to return. Zac Taylor is "very optimistic" Hurst will play. Taylor said the team targeted Monday night's game for Hurst's return to have him fully recovered.

Expect a full Saturday practice, and it's likely Hurst will not be listed on the game status report. He could see his pre-injury workload immediately.

Footballguys injury coverage will return Monday with a review of the most important Week 17 injuries.