Understanding the NFL's Injury Report

(per Dr. Bramel)

The injury report released by the NFL is two reports. The first is the Practice Participation report, which lists which injured players practiced and their participation level. 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 and my expectations of their likelihood of playing.

If you are reading this article on Saturday, make sure you circle back on Sunday morning as more updates trickle in within the next 24 hours

Key:

Player | Injury | Game Status Listing | Footballguys Expectation

Current Status on High-Impact Injured Players

Gameday Decision

• WR Keenan Allen
• TE Trey McBride
• WR Treylon Burks
• WR Tank Dell
• WR Chris Olave
• RB Breece Hall
• WR Jayden Reed
• RB Travis Etienne Jr.

Trending Doubtful (Likely Inactive)

• TE Dallas Goedert
• WR Noah Brown

Trending Probable (Expected to Play)

• WR Marquise Brown
• WR Tee Higgins

Eligible to return from injured reserve

• NA

Ruled Out

• RB Jonathan Taylor (thumb)
• QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (concussion)
• RB Aaron Jones (knee)
• WR Rashid Shaheed (quadriceps)
• WR Michael Wilson (shoulder)
• TE Hayden Hurst (concussion)
• RB Jerick McKinnon (groin)

Sunday 1:00 PM EST Games

Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers | | Questionable | 50/50

Keenan Allen did not practice to start the week due to a quadriceps injury before he was able to practice in a limited fashion on Friday. We never like to see soft tissue injuries for players over the age of 30, and in Allen's case, he has been hampered by these types of injuries lately prior to the perfect bill of health in 2023.

Older WRs (WRs >29 years old) tend to miss more games, have higher re-injury rates, and suffer lingering effects following soft tissue injuries (quadriceps/hamstring strains). These are all issues to consider for Allen the rest of the season, but given the lack of depth in Los Angeles, he is the clear-cut #1 target, which gives him an extremely high floor.

Sunday Update: Allen is slated to play Sunday.

Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals | Groin | Questionable | 50/50

After catching fire the past few weeks, Trey McBride may be cooling off due to a groin injury that resulted in two straight limited practices heading into Week 13. It's a small sample but dating back to 2017, groin strains can be moderately limiting for NFL tight ends. It sounds like McBride is on track to play Sunday, but after finishing as a top-12 TE in 4 of the last 5 weeks, I am concerned that this injury may lower his ceiling. Depending on your other options, McBride could be a TE to fade this week.

Sunday Update: According to Adam Schefter, McBride should play today.

Marquise Brown, Arizona Cardinals | Heel | Questionable | Likely Active

Marquise Brown has not practiced all week due to a heel injury. Brown was hampered by the injury last week as well before earning 12 targets in Week 12. The three straight DNPs are ominous, but considering Brown played last week, I think he will go again in Week 13. Arizona has a bye next week, and that may be enough time for Brown to get fully healthy as we head into the fantasy football playoffs.

Sunday Update: Adam Schefter confirms that Brown will be active.

Treylon Burks, Tennessee Titans | Concussion | Questionable | 50/50

Treylon Burks logged two full straight practices after missing the last three weeks due to a concussion. Burks really has not been fantasy-relevant all season, and I would not suggest him in any lineups this week, but an added field stretcher could help out his QB, Will Levis. The Titan's rookie QB is top in air yards per game, and Burks has averaged 20.9 yards per pass attempt.

Sunday Update: Treylon Burks is expected to play.

Tank Dell, Houston Texans | Calf | Questionable | 50/50

It sounds like Tank Dell is dealing with a moderately serious calf strain, considering that Houston wanted the rookie wideout to get an MRI earlier this week. Calf strains can be tricky to manage and sometimes limiting for WRs, especially those who play through the injury and do not miss any time (average decrease in fantasy points by 26%). At times, Dell and Nico Collins have substituted with who is going to be the alpha WR on their team. Due to Dell's injury, Collins may be the guy this week.

Sunday Update: Adam Schefter reporting that Tank Dell will play.

Noah Brown, Houston Texans | Calf | Questionable | Likely Inactive

Noah Brown was limited to start the week with the knee injury that sidelined him last week and he followed that up by not practicing Friday. He appears to be trending in the wrong direction. As mentioned above, Nico Collins could be in a store for a big week.

Sunday Update: Despite not practicing on Friday, Brown is expected to be active Sunday.

Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints | Concussion | Questionable | 50/50

It would appear that Chris Olave has cleared the concussion protocol as he was a full practice participant Friday. For whatever reason, in terms of fantasy points scored, WRs can struggle upon return from their concussion. However, considering Olave is the only healthy starter among Saints' WRs, he should be in store for a monster performance.

Sunday Update: The full practice Friday was a good sign. Olave is expected to play.

Breece Hall, New York Jets | Hamstring | Questionable | Likely Active

Hamstring injuries following ACL reconstruction can be commonplace and, at times, lead to missed games, so when Breece Hall popped up on the injury report this week, I was nervous. However, Hall was able to practice in full on Friday and really put any doubt of him not playing to rest. I expect Hall to be active on Sunday.

Sunday 4:25 PM EST Games

Dallas Goedert | Arm | Doubtful | Likely Inactive

The Eagles have not ruled out Dallas Goedert yet following his arm fracture but it would be a miracle if he plays in Week 13.

Sunday Night 8:20 PM EST Game

Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers | Chest | Questionable | 50/50

Jayden Reed is another player who did not practice all week before getting in a limited practice on Friday. Reed is dealing with a chest issue - very similar to that of a rib injury. It's difficult to roll the dice given the fact that Green Bay plays on Sunday night and the Packers have not relayed too much information regarding the severity of Reed's injury other than he has been dealing with the injury for a few weeks now. Given this context, it's likely the rookie WR was resting to start the week, and I would lean towards him starting in Week 13.

Monday Night 8:15 PM EST Game

Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars | Ribs | Questionable | Likely Active

Per Jaguars head coach Doug Peterson, Etienne is expected to play. This means that Etienne is unlikely to have a rib fracture and, more likely, a rib contusion. This early news is great, considering the late game for Jacksonville. It's possible the Jaguars manage Etienne's workload some, but he is safe to leave in all lineups.

Sunday Update: All reports are indicating that Etienne will be active.

Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals | Hamstring | Questionable | Likely Active

After missing three straight games, Tee Higgins is slated to return Monday night. It's difficult to predict his fantasy production, as the offense is not the same without Joe Burrow under center. You might not have any other option but to play Higgins, but he is at risk of disappointing any week, given the current state of the Bengals' offense.

Sunday Update: Adam Schefter confirming Sunday that Higgins will play on Monday.