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UNDERSTANDING THE NFL'S INJURY REPORT

The injury report released by the NFL is actually two reports. The first is the Practice Participation report, which lists which injured players were able to practice and how much. 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, my expectation of their likelihood to play, and the player's practice participation throughout the week.

Key:

PLAYER | INJURY | GAME STATUS LISTING | FOOTBALLGUYS EXPECTATION

Practice Participation Listing by Day

* = playing on Monday night

I'll also include a table at the bottom of the article for easy reference.

Here's the latest on every relevant injured player on the practice participation and game status report this week:

QUARTERBACK

Teddy Bridgewater | Knee | Not Listed | Expected to Play

Practice Participation: Wed - Full | Thurs - Full | Fri - Full

Fourteen months after a knee dislocation necessitating a 9-1-1 call and reconstruction of multiple knee ligaments, Bridgewater returns to Minnesota's active gameday roster this week. He'll back up starter Case Keenum but he is ready to play if needed. Bridgewater told reporters he's confident in his recovery and has done everything necessary in practice to be ready for live game action. It's an inspiring and impressive recovery from a career-threatening injury.

Others of note: Cam Newton (shoulder), Jay Cutler (ribs), and Blake Bortles (chest) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play without limitation. Jameis Winston (shoulder) has been declared out. I'll update return to play expectations on all inactive players in Monday's column.

RUNNING BACK

Devonta Freeman | Knee | Not listed | Expected to Play

Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - Full | Fri - Full

After a cryptic Monday press conference during which Dan Quinn told reporters Freeman would be limited in practice but wouldn't say why, Freeman fully practiced on Thursday and Friday and is not listed on Atlanta's game status report. This is the second consecutive week Freeman has been limited by injury but cleared for a full return by game day. His snap counts and usage have been very consistent since the Falcons' Week 5 bye -- 40-45 snaps, 10-12 rushes, 3-5 targets per game. Expect that snap percentage and workload to continue this week.

C.J. Anderson | Ankle / Illness | Not Listed | Expected to Play

Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - DNP | Fri - Full

Anderson missed Thursday's practice due to illness but was back to a full practice on Friday. The full Friday practice is a strong indication Anderson's ankle injury will not significantly limit his this week. Anderson's usage has been inconsistent recently, however, and it's not clear whether the Broncos will trust him with more than 10-15 touches even if he's fully recovered from last week's ankle sprain.

Damien Williams | Illness | Questionable | Expected to Play

Practice Participation: Thurs - DNP | Fri - DNP | Sat - Full

Williams told reporters he felt much better after Saturday's practice. The Dolphins list him questionable but expect him to play.

Others of note: Jonathan Stewart (toe) have practiced, is not listed on the game status report, and is expected to play without limitation. Matt Forte (knee) and Jeremy Hill (ankle) has been declared out. I'll update return to play expectations on all inactive players in Monday's column.

WIDE RECEIVER

Dez Bryant | Knee / Ankle | Questionable | Likely to Play

Practice Participation: Wed - DNP | Thurs - DNP | Fri - Limited

Bryant plans to play through a minor knee contusion and low-grade high ankle sprain. He told reporters on Thursday he expected to play and was able to participate in drills on Friday. Observers felt he was moving well in practice and Stephen Jones felt good about Bryant's availability when interviewed after practice. It's not clear whether Bryant may be limited. The public comments from Bryant and the team have remained positive since Monday's press conference. It's reasonable to assume Bryant plans to play his usual role. There will be a risk of aggravation during the game or some limitation in his play. I'll update with any overnight notes from Ian Rapoport or Adam Schefter.

***Sunday AM Update: Both Schefter and Rapoport report Bryant is expected to play.

Julio Jones | Ankle | Not Listed | Expected to Play

Practice Participation: Wed - DNP | Thurs - DNP | Fri - Limited

Jones returned to practice on Friday. Although he was listed as limited, he was observed to be moving without difficulty and Dan Quinn said he looked explosive in his route-running. Jones was certain he'd play earlier in the week and the Falcons removed any lingering doubt about his availability by removing Jones from the game status report. Jones will be at risk of aggravation or compensatory injury this week but his ceiling expectation is always in play when he's not listed on the game status report.

T.Y. Hilton | Groin | Questionable | Active

Practice Participation: Wed - Not Listed | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Limited

Hilton left practice on Thursday with a groin injury. Midweek muscle strains are always a difficult read, even when the team clears the player to return to practice the following day. It's difficult to know whether the injury was minor and unlikely to limit the player or the team is concerned about the player's availability and is looking to see how well the injury responds to a limited practice. Multiple Colts' beat writers expect Hilton to play but it's best to consider him a game-time decision until we know more. Look for a Schefter/Rapoport note in the early hours of Sunday morning for more detail.

***Sunday AM Update: Hilton is expected to play according to overnight reports. However, I'd still watch for news around pregame warmups to be certain.

Michael Thomas | Ankle | Not Listed | Expected to Play

Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Not Listed

The Saints didn't list Thomas on either Friday report -- injury or game status -- and he's expected to play. Thomas said he has been "managing inflammation" his knee over the past 2-3 weeks but implied the limited practice reps during the week were not a major concern. It's reasonable to expect Thomas to see his usual snap count and workload.

Emmanuel Sanders | Ankle | Questionable | Expected to Play

Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - Full | Fri - Full

Sanders returned last week and played 29 of the team's 65 offensive snaps in the blowout loss to Philadelphia. Sanders was limping after his lone catch on five targets and limited in practice early this week. The Broncos listed Sanders questionable but the consecutive limited practices on Thursday and Friday suggest he'll play. However, he'll still be working through what was reportedly first expected to be a six-week recovery. It's possible Denver will continue to limit Sanders' snaps as they did last week.

Marqise Lee | Knee | Questionable | Active

Practice Participation: Wed - DNP | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Limited

Lee has been limited in practice for three weeks but continues to play through a knee injury. Lee is coming off his best game of the season and his Thursday practice was an upgrade from last week. He is expected to play this week and should see his usual workload.

Danny Amendola | Knee | Questionable | Expected to Play

Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Limited

Amendola played through his knee injury in Week 8 but remains limited in practice. Amendola has had only one week with more than 40 snaps but his target counts were consistently in 4-8 range. With Chris Hogan ruled out with a shoulder injury, Amendola will likely be asked to take a higher number of snaps this week.

Jamison Crowder | Hamstring | Questionable | Active

Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Limited

Crowder looked fluid in individual drills and told reporters throughout the week he was planning to play against Minnesota. Watch for unexpected news through Sunday morning but Crowder should return and see close to his usual workload.

Kenny Golladay | Hamstring | Questionable | active

Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Limited

Golladay returned to a limited practice last Friday and has finally managed to string together a run of consecutive practices. The Lions rarely provide information about their injured players but beat writers tentatively expect Golladay to return. I'd be more confident in that assessment if Golladay had been cleared for a full practice. If Golladay is active, he'll likely see time in a limited number of packages.

Others of note:  Stefon Diggs (tooth), Demaryius Thomas (hamstring), Eric Decker (illness), Will Fuller (knee), Curtis Samuel (ankle), and Brandon LaFell (hamstring), have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play without limitation. Chris Hogan (shoulder), Kamar Aiken (hamstring), and Trent Taylor (ribs) have been declared out. I'll update return to play expectations on all inactive players in Monday's column.

TIGHT END

Delanie Walker | Ankle | Questionable | Active

Practice Participation: Wed - DNP | Thurs - DNP | Fri - Limited

Walker was more effective than I expected last week after barely practicing for two weeks with a bone bruise near his ankle. The Titans again limited Walker in practice this week but have proven time and again they are willing to play veterans regardless of practice time. I expect Walker to play and likely see his usual workload -- but the Titans have a quick turnaround to a road Thursday night game in Pittsburgh. That may play into their decision-making with Walker this week.

***Sunday AM Update: Walker is expected to play today.

Jordan Reed | Hamstring | Questionable | Inactive

Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - Limited | Fri - DNP

Reed was back to practice on Wednesday and Thursday for individual drills but did not practice on Friday. Jay Gruden told reporters the team wanted to give him more rest and planned to continue evaluating his progress through the weekend. While that may prove true, it's still rare to see a player not practice at the end of the week and play. We should know more on Sunday morning but plan on Reed playing a limited role at best.

***Sunday AM Update: Not surprisingly, there were multiple overnight reports that Reed will be out today.

Charles Clay | Knee | Questionable | Active

Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - Limited | Fri - Limited

Video on Clay last week showed he was still recovering from his knee injury. His straight-line speed looked to be close to form but there was no indication he was cleared to cut or for contact. Clay's multiple limited practices are reassuring and most team observers have expected him to return to play since watching Wednesday practice. He's listed questionable and the Bills haven't said anything about his availability yet. Watch the pregame inactives for clarity. If Clay is active, his role could be limited but expect him to see close to his usual targets.

***Sunday AM Update: Clay is expected to play today.

Niles Paul | Concussion | Questionable | Likely inactive

Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thurs - DNP | Fri - DNP

Paul admitted to amnesia of the hit that resulted in his concussion. That's often a symptom that leads to a longer recovery period. Paul was limited on Wednesday after not practicing last week but did not return to practice on Thursday or Friday. That's not the profile of a player who is expected to see the independent neurologist for clearance. Expect him to be inactive this week.

Martellus Bennett | Shoulder | Questionable | Awaiting Information

Practice Participation: Wed - DNP | Thurs - FA | Fri - Limited

Bennett was released by the Packers, posted a scaldingly derisive opinion of his treatment by the Packers, signed with the Patriots, then practiced with New England on Friday after announcing he would have surgery on his shoulder earlier in the week. If Bennett has a torn rotator cuff as reported earlier this week, he may be able to play despite limited range of motion. It's not yet known whether the Patriots will clear him to play a limited role.

***Sunday AM Update: Ian Rapoport tweeted Bennett has "a shot" to play.

Others of note: Vernon Davis (hand) practiced, is not listed on the game status report, and is expected to play without limitation. George Kittle (ankle) have been declared out. I'll update return to play expectations on all inactive players in Monday's column.

*Note: Monday night players with asterisk practice Thursday/Friday/Saturday.

Note: Monday night players with asterisk practice Thursday/Friday/Saturday.

Follow me on Twitter @JeneBramel for breaking injury news and analysis throughout the week.