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 Nico Collins
- QB Will Levis
- RB Zack Moss
- WR Jayden Reed
- WR Dontayvion Wicks
- WR Zay Jones
- QB Trevor Lawrence
- TE Cole Kmet
- WR Tyreek Hill
- TE Hunter Henry
- RB Josh Jacobs
- RB Jerick McKinnon
- WR Kadarius Toney
Trending Doubtful (Likely Inactive)
Trending Probable (Expected to Play)
- RB Ken Walker III
- WR Michael Pittman Jr
- RB AJ Dillon
Eligible to return from injured reserve
- NA
Ruled Out
- QB C.J. Stroud (concussion)
- RB Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle)
- WR Ja'Marr Chase (shoulder)
- WR Keenan Allen (unknown)
- RB Brian Robinson Jr (hamstring)
- RB Zack Moss (forearm)
- WR Marquise Brown (heel)
- QB Zach Wilson (concussion)
- QB Kenny Pickett (ankle)
- WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (ankle)
- TE Michael Mayer (toe)
Sunday 1:00 PM EST Games
WR Nico Collins, Houston Texans | Calf | Questionable | Likely Active
After missing last week, Nico Collins' calf injury appears to be healing well, and he is on track to start in Week 16. If active, Collins figures to be the primary passing option; however, Houston will be without C.J. Stroud.
WRs who do not miss any games with calf strains average a 26% decrease in fantasy production, but those who miss at least one game half cut that regression in half (-13%). This is not a great sign for Collins but given the circumstances of the offense, he is still viable for fantasy football lineups.
Sunday Update: Nico Collins projects to play Sunday.
RB Ken Walker III, Seattle Seahawks | Shoulder | Questionable | Likely Active
Seattle has listed Ken Walker III as questionable with a shoulder injury, but this appears to be merely precautionary as head coach Pete Carroll has already come out and said Walker will play. Start Walker in Week 16.
Sunday Update: Per Adam Schefter, Walker is expected to be active.
QB Will Levis, Tennessee Titans | Ankle | Questionable | 50/50
Will Levis is dealing with a high ankle sprain, making his status for Week 16 uncertain. On Friday, Levis was limited in practice. A promising sign that he was able to participate in some capacity.
Typically, players miss time with high ankle sprains, but QBs can play through this injury. A recent example of that this season is Trevor Lawrence. Levis is likely a true game-time decision, as it will be up to him and the Titans if he can play through this injury and if it is worth risking further damage to his ankle.
Sunday Update: Jeremy Fowler from ESPN, reports the Levis is unlikely to play.
RB Michael Pittman Jr, Indianapolis Colts | Concussion | Questionable | Likely Active
If you watched the Colts' Week 15 Saturday game or saw the replay of the Michael Pittman Jr hit you might be surprised to see him active in Week 16. Pittman took a nasty blow to the head and was ruled out with a concussion.
Concussions are highly variable, and determining the length of time missed depends on how the player responds to symptoms. Heading into Week 16, Pittman was able to clear the concussion protocol and should be active this Sunday.
Sunday Update: Pittman was originally slated to play but following the flight to Atlanta, he experienced post-concussion symptoms. He has now been ruled out.
Michael Pittman cleared protocol Friday, traveled with the team today but picked up symptoms that led him being placed back into concussion protocol. He is now out. https://t.co/gIs0IsjM70
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 23, 2023
RB AJ Dillon, Green Bay Packers | Thumb | Questionable | Likely Active
The Packers have AJ Dillon listed as questionable with his thumb injury, but Dillon was able to play through this injury last week. I expect him to be active in Week 16.
WR Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers | Hamstring | Doubtful | Likely Inactive
Christian Watson is still dealing with a lingering hamstring issue that has kept him out for the last few weeks. The Packers currently have Watson listed as doubtful, meaning he is more likely to miss Week 16 as well.
WR Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers | Toe| Questionable | Likely Inactive
Jayden Reed has not practiced all week due to a toe injury. Green Bay has not specifically come out and said that the injury is turf toe, but given Reed's lack of participation this week, it would appear that turf toe could be the diagnosis. If you have not yet, I would make contingency plans for Sunday, as all signs point to Reed missing Week 16 and potentially more time after that.
WR Dontayvion Wicks, Green Bay Packers | Ankle | Questionable | 50/50
Unlike Dontayvion Wicks counterpart Jayden Reed, Wicks has been able to practice all week on a limited basis with an ankle injury. Assuming Wicks is dealing with an inversion (low) ankle sprain, there is a good chance he will play this week. Since 2017, 48% of NFL WRs have been able to play through inversion ankle sprains without any games missed. Wicks could be in for another big week, with Reed and Christian Watson trending towards sitting in Week 16.
Sunday Update: Wicks is slated to be active Sunday.
Sunday 4:05 PM EST Game
WR Zay Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars | Hamstring | Questionable | 50/50
After dealing with a knee injury for most of the season, Zay Jones finds himself on the injury report with a hamstring injury. Injuries have afflicted Jones, and although I do not think he plays in Week 16, if he somehow was active, I would avoid starting him in most fantasy football lineups.
Sunday Update: Zay Jones is trending towards missing Week 16.
QB Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars | Concussion | Questionable | 50/50
Trevor Lawrence was a late addition to the injury report with a concussion. It all comes down to how he is able to respond to concussion symptoms if he is going to be active. It's a difficult sport since the Jaguars have the afternoon slot, but this figures to be a down-to-the-wire game-time decision.
Sunday Update: Trevor Lawrence was able to clear the concussion protocol and should be active Sunday afternoon.
Sunday 4:25 PM EST Games
TE Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears | Quadriceps | Questionable | 50/50
Cole Kmet has been limited for most of the week with a quadriceps injury. Reports out of Chicago make it appear as if the injury is not overly serious. I lean towards Kmet being active this Sunday.
Sunday Update: Cole Kmet is expected to play.
WR Tyreek Hill, Miami Dolphins | Ankle | Questionable | 50/50
After missing last week with a high ankle sprain, it's looking like Tyreek Hill could return in Week 16, as he was a limited practice participant on Thursday and Friday. If you are new to this column, I have discussed many times this season how high ankle sprains can be very limited for players upon their return. On average, WR fantasy output drops by 17% following a high ankle sprain.
Obviously, if you have Tyreek Hill and you're still alive in your fantasy football playoffs, you have to start him, but should Hill be on the field, Miami may limit his snaps. Hill might not have the same "boom" performance that his fantasy managers have become accustomed to in 2023.
Sunday Update: Tyreek Hill will test his ankle pregame but reports from Miami suggest he will be active.
Sunday Night 8:15 PM EST Game
TE Hunter Henry, New England Patriots | Knee | Questionable | 50/50
Hunter Henry is questionable with a knee injury that caused him to miss most of Week 15. Looking at historical trends for TEs with knee injuries, I lean towards him missing Sunday Night's game.
Monday 1:00 PM EST Game
RB Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders | Quadriceps | Questionable | 50/50
Josh Jacobs has not fully returned to practice yet due to his quadriceps injury. Jacobs was limited on Friday, and his Saturday participation is pending. The good sign is interim head coach Antonio Pierce said he expects Jacobs to play, but fantasy managers will have to wait a few more days before we get the final word.
RB Jerick McKinnon, Kansas City Chiefs | Groin | Questionable | 50/50
Jerick McKinnon has been dealing with a groin injury for the past few weeks, and despite playing last week, I lean towards him sitting in Week 16. Isiah Pacheco is also set to return, which severely limits McKinnon's viability in fantasy leagues if he does play.
Sunday Update: Jerick McKinnon is out.
WR Kadarius Toney, Kansas City Chiefs | Groin | Questionable | 50/50
Another Chief dealing with a groin injury is Kadarius Toney. Toney has not practiced all week and is trending towards missing Week 16 as well.
Sunday Update: Kadarius Toney will not play Monday.