The next two days are jam-packed with football. To help all fantasy managers prepare for the Week 13 slate, here are some key injuries for Turkey Day and beyond.
Understanding the NFL's Injury Report
(per Dr. Bramel - Footballguys OG)
"The injury report released by the NFL is [made up of] 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."
Current Status on High-Impact Injured Players
Thursday
Friday
Sunday
- QB Brock Purdy
- WR Josh Downs
- WR DeVonta Smith
- RB J.K. Dobbins
Ruled Out
- TE Jake Ferguson (concussion)
- WR Romeo Doubs (concussion)
* Key:
Player, Team | Injury | Game Status Listing | Playing Expectation
Thursday Games
RB David Montgomery, Detroit | Shoulder | Questionable | Projecting Active
David Montgomery is Questionable heading into Thursday but based on his practice progression, it would appear he is on track to play. I was concerned that Montgomery suffered an AC joint sprain but he was able to practice in full (FP) during Wednesday's practice. A FP indicates that Montgomery was able to take contact and if he can do that, he should be good to go today. It also helps that Montgomery has a little extra motivation this week.
Dan Campbell says he feels good about David Montgomery playing Thursday. Laughs and says he couldn’t hold Montgomery out of this game against his former team even if he wanted to lol #Lions
— Dannie (@dannierogers___) November 26, 2024
Update: Montgomery is active.
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit | Knee | Questionable | Projecting Active
Amon-Ra St. Brown was not originally on my radar with a knee injury since he was able to play the entire game in Week 12. St. Brown did not practice to start the week, but like Montgomery, he was also able to log a full practice on Wednesday. I expect him to be active and would be comfortable with him in lineups.
Update: St. Brown is active
WR Brandin Cooks, Dallas | Knee | No Designation | Expected Active
Dallas has activated Brandin Cooks from IR after opening his practice window last week. By all accounts, he is slated to be active.
Looking at WR performance post-knee injury, the data points to Cooks being able to return to form. However, given the question marks with Dallas' offensive minus Dak Prescott, I would avoid him in Week 13.
QB Tommy Devito NY Giants | Right Forearm | Questionable | Likely Inactive
Tommy DeVito strained his right (throwing arm) forearm and is currently on the wrong side of Questionable. Maybe flashing his Italian hand gesture has taken a toll.
In all seriousness, it would be difficult for any NFL QB to play with a forearm strain. This injury makes gripping a football and following through on throws difficult. Drew Lock figures to be under center on Thanksgiving day.
WR Tyreek Hill, Miami | Wrist | No Designation | Expected Active
Tyreek Hill continues to appear on the Dolphins' injury report with a wrist injury. Hill has been dealing with this injury all season, and Miami has said it will have to be addressed in the offseason. Hill remains a WR1 when Tua Tagovailoa is the quarterback.
Friday
RB Zamir White, Las Vegas | Quadriceps | Questionable | Projecting Inactive
Zamir White remains sidelined with his quadriceps injury and is yet to practice at all this week. Even a limited practice session on Thursday would not inspire a lot of confidence in me. I am projecting White to miss another week.
RB Alexander Mattison, Las Vegas | Anke | Questionable | 50/50
Unlike White, Alexander Mattison has been able to return to practice in a limited fashion. Should Mattion log another limited practice, I think he would be a true game-time decision come Friday. Given the short week, it would seem feasible that the Raiders give Mattison another few days to get right before returning.
RB Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City | Ankle | Questionable | Expected Active
Isiah Pacheco projects to return in Week 13 after missing the last nine games. If you held onto Pacheco this long, I understand wanting to eagerly insert him back into lineups. However, I would recommend exercising caution.
I do not have specific data to back this up since Pacheco's injury includes such a small sample, but this is usually a difficult injury to return from. Combine Pacheco's injury with his aggressive running style, and I could see him being eased back into game action. Kareem Hunt remains a hold and a viable flex play on Friday.
Looking Ahead to Sunday
While these players are not playing on Thursday to help you set lineups here are some high profile players that have been dealing with injury. Below I'll discuss how likely they are to play this weekend.
QB Brock Purdy, San Francisco | Shoulder | Unspecified | Projecting Active
Brock Purdy was limited to start the week but reports out of San Francisco further explained that Purdy barely threw at all.
Brock Purdy still isn’t throwing at practice. pic.twitter.com/7W7zc72Fgc
— Grant Cohn (@grantcohn) November 27, 2024
Although this is concerning, given what we know about Purdy's injury, managing his workload each week is going to be key. It will mostly come down to pain management, so I would not expect him to throw much or at all during Wednesday and Thursday practices.
I still think Purdy could play come Sunday, but if you have a better option at quarterback on Thursday who is guaranteed to play (Caleb Williams or Jared Goff—both rank inside the top 20 in our Footballguys Week 13 consensus rankings), then I understand wanting to pivot.
WR Josh Downs, Detroit | Shoulder | Unspecified | Projecting Inactive
Josh Downs appears to have suffered an AC joint sprain and is likely to miss at least two weeks. Early reports out of Indianapolis suggest that Downs will be a long shot to play this week. If you were relying on Downs this year, I'd make other arrangements this week.
WR DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia | Hamstring | Unspecified | Projecting Inactive
DeVonta Smith missed Week 12 due to a hamstring injury. Typically, WRs miss at least two weeks with this injury. Smith is not practicing to start the week. If you have alternative options at WR/flex who are playing earlier this week, it might be a good idea to play them in place of Smith.
RB J.K. Dobbins, LA Chargers | Knee | Unspecified | Projecting Inactive
J.K. Dobbins' knee injury was confirmed to be an MCL sprain. As a result, he is unlikely to play in Week 13 against the Falcons. Given Dobbins' medical history, including a left ACL tear in 2021 years prior, and the fact that, on average, NFL RBs miss four weeks with MCL sprains, I expect this to be a multi-week injury.
