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
- QB Trevor Lawrence
- WR Amari Cooper
- WR Noah Brown
- QB Geno Smith
- RB Ken Walker III
- RB Zach Charbonnet
- WR Christian Watson
- WR Jayden Reed
- RB Aaron Jones
- RB AJ Dillon
Trending Doubtful (Likely Inactive)
Trending Probable (Expected to Play)
- RB Travis Etienne Jr.
- WR Chris Olave
- QB Derek Carr
- RB Raheem Mostert
- WR Tyreek Hill
Eligible to return from injured reserve
- TE Dawson Knox
- WR Darren Waller
Ruled Out
- RB Isiah Pacheco (shoulder)
- WR Joshua Palmer (knee)
- TE Dalton Schultz (hamstring)
- QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson (concussion)
- WR Christian Kirk (groin - added to IR)
- RB Jonathan Taylor (thumb)
- RB Kendre Miller (ankle)
- TE/QB Taysom Hill (foot/hand)
Sunday 1:00 PM EST Games
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars | High Ankle Sprain | Questionable | 50/50
Trevor Lawrence is a true game-time decision heading into Week 14. Fortunately for fantasy managers, we will not have to make any difficult lineup decisions as the Jaguars kick off at 1:00 PM Eastern Time.
In this week's Monday Injury Report, I wrote this regarding Lawrence:
"Early reports out of Jacksonville is that Lawrence is dealing with an ankle sprain. No word of a fracture. If you watched the game live, the injury was certainly concerning, but assuming further testing does not reveal a fracture, Lawrence could play in Week 14."
Because the QB position can be less demanding, there is a real chance Lawrence plays in Week 14, but I would expect him to be very limited, with a very low rushing floor and a higher chance of re-injury. Start him with caution, but if you have better options, it might be smarter to pivot in Week 14.
Sunday Update: Trevor Lawrence is projected to start today.
Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars | Chest/Ribs | Questionable | 50/50
After limited practices all week, Travis Etienne Jr. is officially questionable for Week 14, but I would expect him to play. Etienne was questionable heading into Week 13 with the same injury and also played.
From Weeks 4-8, Etienne averaged 85% of the team's offensive snaps. After the Jaguars' Week 9 bye: 63%.
Historically, there is not a lot of data that shows RB performance declining following rib/chest injuries, but it is clear that Jacksonville wants to manage Etienne's workload. As a result, Etienne's ceiling might be capped (if you remember, he logged 50+ PPR points in Week 5), but he is still a must-start RB in all formats.
Sunday Update: Jaguars expect Etienne to play today.
Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns | Concussion | Questionable | 50/50
Until recently, most players who had a concussion missed at least one game the following week. However, as we enter the later part of the season and teams' rosters become more shallow, there has been a spike in players clearing the concussion protocol in < 1 week.
I still lean towards Cooper missing Week 14, but he has another day to clear the protocol.
Sunday Update: Cooper has cleared concussion protocol and is in line to start.
Noah Brown, Houston Texans | Knee | Questionable | 50/50
Noah Brown was questionable last week with a knee injury. He was able to play and logged 81% of the Texans' snaps but finished with a season-low two targets and 0.0 fantasy football points.
Brown should be active in Week 14, but even with rookie wideout Tank Dell missing the rest of the season, I would not be confident in starting Brown until we get confirmation that his knee is right.
Sunday Update: Brown is expected to be active.
Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints | Concussion | Questionable | Likely Active
Derek Carr has cleared the concussion protocol and will suit up this week despite the Saints still listing him as questionable.
Sunday Update: Carr should be active Sunday.
Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints | Illness | Questionable | Likely Active
Chris Olave has been battling the flu so he was not able to practice this week. It sounds like he stayed away from the team to quarantine but is in line to start Week 14. I don't have any sound data on players playing through illness, but if he dresses, I think you have to start him.
Chris Olave has the flu. He has stayed at home this week to prevent it spreading to the rest of the team. He’ll be back in the building later today to meet with team doctors.
— Brooke Kirchhofer (@brookechesney) December 8, 2023
Sunday Update: Olave is expected to play.
Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans Saints | Thigh/Groin | Questionable | Likely Inactive
Rashid Shaheed is questionable heading into Week 14 despite not practicing all week. I do not expect him to play, as his injury (thigh/groin) can take a couple of weeks to recover from.
Sunday Update: Per Adam Schefter, Shaheed is not expected to play Sunday.
Sunday 4:05 PM EST Games
Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks | Groin | Questionable | 50/50
Geno Smith is in real danger of missing Week 14 due to a groin injury. Smith popped up late on the injury report with this injury. If Smith has a true groin strain, not just "tightness/soreness", then I think he sits and Drew Lock gets the start. Seattle has said Smith is a game-time decision, so given their late kickoff, I would avoid him where possible.
Sunday Update: Geno Smith figures to be a game-time decision. Reports emerged out of Seattle that Smith is dealing with what is considered "a two-week injury" but the team is going to see if can play through it. It's possible Smith plays but I would try to avoid this situation if possible.
Ken Walker III, Seattle Seahawks | Oblique/Core| Questionable | 50/50
Ken Walker III was able to get a full practice in on Friday, a great sign for his availability this Sunday. My original prognosis had Walker slated to return this week based on his injury.
Should Walker suit up, he is very risky this week. Walker has dealt with this type of injury before and upon his return, the Seahawks held his snap share <40% his first three weeks back. Additionally, Seattle squares off with the stout 49ers' defense this week.
Sunday Update: Per Adam Schefter, both Seattle RBs (Walker and Charbonnet) are expected to play.
Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks | Knee Bruise | Questionable | Likely Active
It's looking like Zach Charbonnet is in line to start in Week 14. The rookie RB has been dealing with a knee contusion, which can be painful but not overly limiting. Charbonnet practiced in full on Friday, suggesting he should be good to go.
I think Charbonnet is a sneaky start this week despite the injury. It's possible the Walker returns but is limited (description above), and I expect Seattle to have a heavy passing game plan that favors Charbonnet in PPR leagues.
Sunday Update: Per Adam Schefter, both Seattle RBs (Walker and Charbonnet) are expected to play.
Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers | Knee | Doubtful | Likely Inactive
Elijah Mitchell is doubtful heading into Week 14 with a knee injury. Historically, 94% of fantasy football players listed as doubtful miss that week. Jordan Mason would be the next man up should something happen to Christian McCaffrey. Mason might be worth a stash on your benches if you could afford it.
Sunday 4:05 PM EST Games
Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills | Hand/Wrist | Questionable | Likely Active
Dawson Knox is eligible to return from IR this week, and reports suggest that he is slated to play. Knox's presence likely hurts Dalton Kincaid's fantasy football output.
Appreciate Matt getting a shot of Knox blocking.
— Banged Up Bills (@BangedUpBills) December 7, 2023
Looks like he’s blocking evenly, don’t see him pushing off to one side or blocking with the forearm, also noted wrist extension when blocking.
I don’t see him shaking out wrist either after.
Excellent sign to play Sunday. #Bills https://t.co/s86FW9n3MS
Monday Night Games
Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers | Hamstring | Questionable | Likely Inactive
After re-injuring his hamstring, Christian Watson likely misses some time. Watson has not practiced yet this week, and I am skeptical he is active in Week 14. I project Watson to return around Week 17.
Sunday Update: Packers rule out Christian Watson early. He will not play Monday.
Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers | Chest | Questionable | Likely Active
Jayden Reed was limited to start the week with a chest injury. However, this is another example of a player who played the previous week with the same injury. Reed's chest injury did not appear to limit him in Week 13, and I expect the same this week.
Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers | Knee | Questionable | 50/50
After not practicing at all last week with a knee injury, Aaron Jones is trending in the right direction with back-to-back limited practices. Jones is dealing with an MCL sprain, and the data suggests he will miss one more week.
AJ Dillon, Green Bay Packers | Groin | Questionable | Likely Active
AJ Dillon has also been limited this week with a groin injury, but I would expect him to play. Dillon was also dealing with a groin injury in Week 13.
Darren Waller, New York Giants | Hamstring | Questionable | Likely Inactive
Darren Waller is eligible to return from IR this week, but reports out of New York indicate that he is unlikely to play. Week 15 seems to be his target return date.
Raheem Mostert, Miami Dolphins| Knee | Questionable | Likely Active
Raheem Mostert was back at practice Friday. His absence appears to be related to a veteran rest day. He should be active in Week 14.
Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins | Ankle | Questionable | Likely Active
Tyreek Hills' ankle injury designation seems to be precautionary. I expect him to play in Week 14.