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."
If you are reading this article on Saturday, make sure to come back on Sunday morning as more updates trickle in within the next 24 hours.
Current Status on High-Impact Injured Players
Gameday Decision
- WR Amari Cooper
- RB Brian Robinson Jr
- RB Tony Pollard
- WR Brian Thomas Jr.
- RB Travis Etienne Jr.
- RB Tank Bigsby
- QB Jordan Love
- RB Josh Jacobs
- WR Puka Nacua
Trending Doubtful (Likely Inactive)
- RB Jonathon Brooks
- WR Adam Thielen
- WR Tee Higgins
- RB Zack Moss
- WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
Trending Probable (Expected to Play)
Ruled Out
- WR DK Metcalf (knee/MCL sprain)
- TE Noah Fant (groin)
- RB Tyjae Spears (hamstring)
- TE Dallas Goedert (hamstring)
- RB Kendre Miller (hamstring)
- WR Mike Evans (hamstring)
* Key:
Player | Injury | Game Status Listing | Playing Expectation
Sunday 1:00 PM EST Games
QB Lamar Jackson, Baltimore | Knee/Back | Questionable | Likely Active
Despite not being listed on the Baltimore Ravens' final injury report, most fantasy football sites still have Lamar Jackson listed as Questionable heading into Sunday. Jackson missed Wednesday and Thursday due to injury but was a full participant on Friday.
All signs point to the former MVP playing in Week 9. Regardless of injury specifics, if Jackson is active he should be in all lineups.
WR Amari Cooper, Buffalo | Wrist | Questionable | Projecting Active
Amari Cooper is officially Questionable heading into Week 9 with a wrist injury. Buffalo has said the decision about whether Cooper will play or not will be made prior to kickoff.
If Cooper's wrist is not broken (which there is not indication it is) then he should be able to start this week.
Update: Cooper is inactive.
RB Jonathon Brooks, Carolina | Knee | Questionable | Likely Inactive
Jonathon Brooks has been practicing the past few weeks, but Carolina has still not activated the rookie RB from the PUP. Friday we leared that Brooks is unlikley to play in Week 9.
In late August I expressed concerns about drafting Brooks as ACL tears can be difficult for NFL RBs, not to mention those who are rookies. Towards the start of the season, this risk was baked into Brooks' ADP but thus far he has been a roster clogger.
The Panthers have already opened Brooks' 21-day practice window, meaning they have until Tuesday, November 5 to activate him. If Brooks is not removed from the PUP, he will be placed on season-ending IR and ineligible to play in 2024. Managers who drafted Brooks will know one way or the other if he will play this year.
WR Adam Thielen, Carolina | Hamstring | Doubtful | Likely Inactive
Adam Thielen was limited in practice to start the week, but on Friday the veteran wideout did not practice at all. The Panthers had officially listed Thielen as doubtful, meaning he is unlikely to play. Missing Week 9 would be Thielen’s 6th consecutive game missed – the higher end of the timeline, but still not unusual. Carolina has a bye in Week 11. It’s possible Thielen returns after that.
Update: Thielen won't play in Week 9.
Xavier Legette, Carolina | Toe | Questionable | 50/50
Xavier Legette is Questionable with a toe injury. Nothing out of Carolina has clarified if the rookie has a case of turf toe – which would likely result in time missed.
I expect Legette to be a true game-time decision unless more news surfaces on Saturday. With Diontae Johnson traded and Thielen likely out, Legette could be primed for a healthy target share if active.
Update: Legette is expected to play.
TE Tee Higgins, Cincinnati | Quadriceps | Doubtful | Likely Inactive
After missing Week 8 with a quadriceps strain, Tee Higgins is Doubtful for Week 9 with the same injury. >95% of players listed as “Doubtful” in the final injury report do not play. I expect this trend to continue.
RB Zack Moss, Cincinnati | Neck | Doubtful | Likely Inactive
Similar to Tee Higgins, Zack Moss is listed as Doubtful and unlikely to play with a neck injury. The Bengals backfield likely belongs to Chase Brown in Week 9.
RB Zamir White, Las Vegas | Quadriceps | Projecting Active
Zamir White started the week limited with a quadriceps injury. However, after missing Thursday, he was able to practice in full on Friday. There is not a lot of information to dig up on White, but based on his participation progression this week, it looks like he is set to play. Whether White will be the Raiders' starter is a discussion for another day.
RB Brian Robinson Jr, Washington | Hamstring | Questionable | Projecting Active
Brian Robinson Jr., who battled a knee injury earlier this year, has now popped up on the injury report with a hamstring injury, although it is unclear if this is the same injured leg.
RBs who are limited all week with a hamstring strain typically end up playing (>60%). It seems like Robinson should be active come Sunday.
Update: Brian Robinson Jr. is INACTIVE.
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr., NY Giants | Concussion | No Injury Designation | Expected Active
Tyrone Tracy Jr. cleared the concussion protocol Friday and will play in Week 9. RBs who sustained a concussion averaged a 10% decline in fantasy points the following week. This dip in production could be due to the limited practice reps.
Consider your options, but a 10% decline for Tracy would put him closer to a top-20 RB than the top-12 RB he has been performing at lately.
RB Tony Pollard, Tennessee | Foot | Questionable | Projecting Inactive
Tony Pollard did not practice all week due to a foot injury. Pollard is no stranger to foot injuries—he suffered a plantar fascial tear in 2021 (although it is unknown if this is the same foot).
Foot injuries typically result in multiple weeks missed and can be very limited for NFL RBs. The fact that Pollard has not practiced does not bode well for his Week 9 availability. The Titans have already ruled Tyjae Spears out, meaning Julius Chestnut would be the next man up if Pollard sat.
Update: Per Ian Rapoport, Pollard is expected to play.
Sunday 4:05 PM EST Games
WR Brian Thomas Jr., Jacksonville | Chest | Questionable | 50/50
Brian Thomas Jr. will be a true game-time decision due to his chest/rib injury. Thomas was limited all week suggesting he is not ready or cleared for contact. If possible, have a backup option for Thomas should he sit since the Jaguars play in the afternoon slate of games.
Update: Thomas is expected to be active.
RB Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville | Hamsting | Questionable | Projecting Inactive
Travis Etienne Jr. has not played since Week 6 due to a hamstring injury. On average, NFL RBs miss 2.6 weeks with hamstring strains, so a Week 9 return would make sense in theory. Jaguars' head coach Doug Peterson said Etienne would be a game-time decision.
Etienne has battled injuries all season, so ideally I'd like to see him log a full practice (FP) before being confident in him starting. Given his injury and how this season has gone, I lean towards Jacksonville and Etienne being cautious.
Update: Etienne plans to play.
RB Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville | Ankle | Questionable | Projecting Active
Tank Bigsby has also been limited all week due to an ankle injury. By all accounts, Bigsby's ankle injury seems minor, and historically, NFL running backs play through low ankle sprains. I project Bigsby to play.
Update: Tank Bigsby is active.
Sunday 4:25 PM EST Games
QB Jordan Love, Green Bay | Groin | Questionable | Projecting Active
After missing most of Week 8 with a groin injury, Jordan Love projects to be active in Week 9. This is an injury that QBs can play through. Love might be less mobile, but he is still startable in all formats.
Update: Per Adam Schefter, Jordan Love is expected to be active.
RB Josh Jacobs, Green Bay | Ankle | Questionable | Projecting Active
Josh Jacobs is also nursing an ankle injury, but similar to Tank Bigsby (above) I expect him to be active in Week 9. Jacobs has been reliable/consistent this year and I expect that to continue.
WR Puka Nacua, LA Rams | Knee | Questionable | 50/50
Puka Nacua sustained an injury during practice this week. Nacua reportedly banged his knee on the ground and needed to exit practice. This is the same that has caused him to miss most of the season.
Nacua’s injury is to the same knee that necessitated him going on IR earlier this season, a team official said.
— Gary Klein (@LATimesklein) October 31, 2024
Falling on a bent knee is the mechanism for a PCL sprain/tear. Considering this is the same injury Nacua had following Week 1, his outlook is ominous.
#Rams WR Puka Nacua, who was limited today in practice after suffering a knee injury, is expected to be fine, source says. Not a major injury. Huge sigh of relief after his 106-yard game in his return to the lineup last week. pic.twitter.com/CCQKWP7zMX
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) November 1, 2024
Although there is optimism that this is "not a major injury", the Rams still have Nacua listed as Questionable for Week 9. Managers should proceed with caution.
Update: Nacua is still a game time decision, but he is expected to play.
Monday Night 8:15 PM EST Games
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kansas City | Hamstring | Projected Inactive
Juju Smith-Schuster is Doubtful heading into Monday night. Similar to Tee Higgins and Zack Moss (above) I would not expect Smith-Schuster to play Monday. There’s no point waiting till Monday to see if Juju will play, although I’m not sure why anyone would.
