I hope you were able to enjoy the Thanksgiving and Black Friday games and generate a lead in your fantasy football matchup, but for most managers there is still work to be done. I examine the injury status of relevant fantasy football players heading into Sunday and get you ready for the remainder of Week 13.
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 DeMario Douglas
- WR DeVonta Smith
- QB Brock Purdy
- WR Keon Coleman
Trending Doubtful (Likely Inactive)
Trending Probable (Expected to Play)
- RB Breece Hall
- QB Trevor Lawrence
- RB Tyjae Spears
- QB Bo Nix
Ruled Out
- RB Austin Ekeler (concussion – on IR)
- WR Josh Downs (shoulder)
- RB J.K. Dobbins (knee – on IR)
- TE Ja'Tavion Sanders (neck)
- WR Jalen Coker (quadriceps)
- TE Dalton Kincaid (knee)
* Key: Player, Team | Injury | Game Status Listing | Playing Expectation
Sunday 1:00 PM EST Games
WR DeMario Douglas, New England | Ankle | Questionable | Projecting Active
The Patriots appeared to be managing DeMario Douglas' workload this week as the 2nd year WR did not log a full practice at all. Douglas was limited all week due to an ankle injury.
Examining historical comps the Patriots tend to be fairly loose with the Questionable tag. Since 2017 74% of fantasy football players listed as "Questionable" ended up starting that week. Additionally, over that same time period, 86% of NFL WRs that were limited in the final practice with an ankle injury also ended up playing.
Update: Douglas is expected to play.
RB Breece Hall, NY Jets | Knee | Questionable | Likely Active
Breece Hall gave Jets fans and fantasy managers alike a scare earlier this week when he was not practicing due to knee "soreness" / potential injury. Given Hall's history (2 years removed from an ACL tear) it was an understable concern.
Breece Hall says he feels fine after two days of practice. “Not sore or anything, so I’ll be good” for Sunday. Says he tweaked his knee in the second quarter vs Indy, played through it. #Jets
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) November 29, 2024
Friday Hall told New York reporters that he was feeling good and planned to play on Sunday. Hall was a full practice participant on Friday, further supporting his claim. I suspect Hall will be active come kickoff and remain in the Jets' RB1 role.
Update: As expected, Hall is active.
QB Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville | Shoulder (Non-Throwing) | Questionable | Likely Active
After missing the last two weeks with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder, Trevor Lawrence is set to return Sunday. Lawrence was diagnosed with a labral tear in his left shoulder – a painful injury but one that does not typically negatively impact QB performance. Lawrence does have a slightly higher injury risk as a hard hit or blow that causes him to fall on his injured shoulder could result in more time missed.
Update: Lawrence is offically active.
RB Tyjae Spears, Tennessee | Concussion | Questionable | 50/50
Tyjae Spears was able to practice in full (FP) on Thursday and Friday after missing Week 12 with a concussion. On average, RBs miss 1 week due to concussion injuries, and the fact that Spears was able to log two FPs bodes well for his availability in Week 12.
The only lingering factor at this point is the flight to Washington. We have seen players in the past be cleared for return but experience a flare-up in symptoms following the team flight.
Assuming this does not happen to Spears, I would project him to be active in Week 13.
Update: Tyjae Spears is "good to go."
Sunday 4:25 PM EST Game
WR DeVonta Smith, Philadelphia | Hamstring | Questionable | Projecting Inactive
After missing last week with a hamstring strain, DeVonta Smith was able to return to practice this week but was not a full participant in any practice. Typically NFL wideouts miss 2 weeks with hamstring injuries, so although this is good progression there is still some doubt that he is able to play in Week 13. When asked about his status, Smith did not appear too confident, therefore I currently have him projected to sit out this week.
Update: It appears Smith is on the wrong side of questionable .
Sunday Night 8:20 PM EST Game
QB Brock Purdy, San Francisco | Shoulder | Questionable | Projecting Active
As the week progressed, Brock Purdy was more and more involved in practices. Friday Purdy was a full participant and threw a full complement of passes. By all accounts, he plans to be active come Sunday night, but Kyle Shanahan has left a sliver of doubt barring a setback.
49ers QB Brock Purdy is listed as questionable for Sunday night’s game at Buffalo, but after being a full participant at practice today, Kyle Shanahan expects him to play.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 29, 2024
“Lots of things can happen between now and then, but right now he's playing,” Shanahan said. pic.twitter.com/zMnRLwTi88
If you don't want to risk it until Sunday night, I understand but I believe Purdy should be at the helm in Week 13.
WR Keon Coleman, Buffalo | Wrist | Questionable | Projecting Inactive
Keon Coleman returned to practice this week following his wrist injury – the specifics have yet to be revealed. The mystery around his wrist injury makes it difficult to project a more accurate return-to-play timeline.
Coleman was sporting a red non-contact jersey all week, suggesting that he is not 100% quite yet. It would seem like Coleman is close to being active but because he is not practicing in full just yet, it would seem he is at least 1-2 weeks away.
Monday Night 8:15 PM EST Game
QB Bo Nix, Denver | Back | Questionable | Likely Active
Bo Nix was limited Thursday due to a back injury, but with Denver playing on Monday, it appears that the team was giving their rookie QB an extra day of rest. Nix was able to return on Friday and practiced in full. Expect Nix active come Monday night.
WR Cedric Tillman, Cleveland | Concussion | Questionable | Likely Inactive
Cedric Tillman is yet to practice following his concussion. The Browns do not play till Monday so Tillman still has a few days to clear the concussion protocol but the fact that he is not practicing at all is not promising.
Examining the NFL's Return to Play Protocol (seen below) it would appear that Tillman is likely still in Phase 2 and would need to complete the remaining steps in accelerated time to be ready for Monday night.
Update: Cedric Tillman has been ruled out.
