KEY WEDNESDAY MEDIA UPDATES
***The rest through the Jaguars' Week 8 bye was more than sufficient for Leonard Fournette, who returned to a full practice today. That's a strong sign he'll be ready to return to a full workload this weekend. It won't be surprising if the Jaguars back off his practice participation on Thursday. If that happens, Friday participation becomes our most informative note. But today's practice tells us the Jaguars are comfortable with Fournette in their game plan.
***Delanie Walker is dealing with a bone bruise on his ankle. The injury initially caused numbness in his foot and he struggled to get off the field. He's yet to practice this week but says he's optimistic he'll be able to play through pain. Though not unexpected, it's not a great sign Walker is continuing to have pain. Walker may be able to play but he'll need to be near pain-free to play without limitation. We'll know more by Friday.
***Devonta Freeman suffered a shoulder injury late in the fourth quarter last week. It's been reported as a stinger and video analysis suggests a stinger or an AC sprain. Freeman was in a no-contact jersey on Wednesday and the team said he would not be limited on game day. Watch his practice participation carefully. If the injury was a stinger and he continues to be limited in practice, there's concern for the weekend. For now, expect Freeman to be ready to play.
***It's early to expect formal confirmation but Emmanuel Sanders, DeVante Parker, Sterling Shepard, and Mike Wallace are all expected to return this week. Corey Davis fully practiced and will have a good chance to start the process of easing back into the offense this week.
THURSDAY NIGHT INJURY EXPECTATIONS
Here are the key offensive players listed on the practice participation or game status report for Thursday Night Football:
Charles Clay | Knee | Inactive
Clay has a chance to return in a limited role next week if he can begin conditioning this weekend. More likely, we'll see him begin limited practices next week with a plan to return in Week 10 or beyond.
There are no other offensive skill position players who missed practice for the Bills or Jets. On defense, the Bills will be without cornerback E.J. Gaines but are likely to have safety Jordan Poyer back. The Jets could be without Muhammad Wilkerson, who continues to battle through multiple injuries. Wilkerson has been active in every game this year but there are concerns about his availability on a shortened week.
EARLY WEEK PRACTICE PARTICIPATION REPORT AND EARLY EXPECTATIONS
The Wednesday and Thursday practice participation reports are our first chance to see which players each NFL team are limiting in practice after the previous week's games. Players limited in mid-week practice aren't necessarily in danger of missing that week's game. But they all need to be watched closely.
*Note: Monday night players with asterisk practice Thursday/Friday/Saturday.
Quarterbacks
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Player | Team | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |||||
Jameis Winston | TB | Shoulder | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Cam Newton | Car | Shoulder | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Joe Flacco | Bal | Concussion | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Jay Cutler | Mia | Ribs | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Andrew Luck | Ind | Shoulder | DNP | Inactive | |||
Blake Bortles | Jac | Wrist | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Running Backs
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Player | Team | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |||||
Leonard Fournette | Jac | Ankle | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Devonta Freeman | Atl | Neck/Shoulder | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Lamar Miller | Hou | Knee | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Rob Kelley | Was | Ankle | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Terrance West | Bal | Calf | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Jonathan Stewart | Car | Toe | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Andre Ellington | Ari | Quadricep | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Paul Perkins | NYG | Ribs | Full | Likely to Play | |||
C.J. Prosise | Sea | Ankle | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Matt Breida | SF | Knee | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Wide Receivers
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Player | Team | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |||||
Dez Bryant | Dal | Knee | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
*Golden Tate* | Det | Shoulder | MNF | Expected to Play | |||
Emmanuel Sanders | Den | Ankle | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
DeVante Parker | Mia | Ankle | Full | Likely to Play | |||
Pierre Garcon | SF | Neck | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
Sterling Shepard | NYG | Ankle | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Jeremy Maclin | Bal | Shoulder | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Marqise Lee | Jac | Knee | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
Mike Wallace | Bal | Concussion | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Jamison Crowder | Was | Hamstring | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Brandon LaFell | Cin | Hamstring | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Cole Beasley | Dal | Concussion | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Corey Davis | Ten | Hamstring | Full | Likely to Play | |||
Terrelle Pryor | Was | Ankle | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Taylor Gabriel | Atl | Tooth | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Tyler Boyd | Cin | Knee | DNP | Inactive | |||
Albert Wilson | KC | Hamstring | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Seth Roberts | Oak | Illness | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Tight Ends
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Player | Team | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |||||
Jimmy Graham | Sea | Ankle | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
Delanie Walker | Ten | Ankle | DNP | Game-time Decision | |||
Jordan Reed | Was | Hamstring | DNP | Inactive | |||
Ryan Griffin | Hou | Hip | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Niles Paul | Was | Concussion | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Maxx Williams | Bal | Ankle | Full | Likely to Play | |||
Offensive Line
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Player | Team | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |||||
Ryan Jensen | Bal | Shoulder | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Ronnie Stanley | Bal | Shoulder | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Ryan Kalil | Car | Neck | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Trai Turner | Car | Knee | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
John Theus | Car | Concussion | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Andre Smith | Cin | Triceps | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Trey Hopkins | Cin | Knee | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Tyron Smith | Dal | Back/Hip | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
Donald Stephenson | Den | Calf | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Ronald Leary | Den | Elbow | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
*Greg Robinson* | Det | Knee | MNF | Awaiting Information | |||
*Bryan Bulaga* | GB | Ankle | MNF | Likely to Play | |||
*David Bahktiari* | GB | Hamstring | MNF | Likely to Play | |||
Chris Clark | Hou | Calf | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Jeff Allen | Hou | Knee | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Anthony Castonzo | Ind | Knee | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Cam Robinson | Jac | Ankle | Limited | Game-time Decision | |||
Brandon Linder | Jac | Illness | Full | Awaiting Information | |||
Laurent Duvernay-Tardif | KC | Knee | Full | Likely to Play | |||
Mitch Morse | KC | Foot | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Bryan Witzmann | KC | Abdomen | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Jermon Bushrod | Mia | Hand | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Mike Pouncey | Mia | Hip/Knee | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Terron Armstead | NO | Shoulder | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
Andrus Peat | NO | Hip | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
Larry Warford | NO | Abdomen | DNP | Inactive | |||
Justin Pugh | NYG | Back | DNP | Game-time Decision | |||
Weston Richburg | NYG | Concussion | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Gabe Jackson | Oak | Ankle | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Halapoulivaati Vaitai | Phi | Hip | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Luke Joeckel | Sea | Knee | DNP | Inactive | |||
Justin Britt | Sea | Ankle | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
Trent Brown | SF | Concussion | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Brandon Fusco | SF | Bicep | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
Joe Staley | SF | Eye | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Shaun Lauvao | Was | Stinger | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Spencer Long | Was | Knee | DNP | Inactive | |||
Ty Nsekhe | Was | Core Muscle | DNP | Inactive | |||
Brandon Scherff | Was | Knee | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Trent Williams | Was | Knee | DNP | Inactive | |||
T.J. Clemmings | Was | Ankle | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Morgan Moses | Was | Ankle | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Edge Players
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Player | Team | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |||||
Demarcus Lawrence | Dal | Calf | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Shane Ray | Den | Wrist | Full | Expected to Play | |||
*Ezekiel Ansah* | Det | Knee | MNF | Expected to Play | |||
Jadeveon Clowney | Hou | Knee | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
John Simon | Ind | Neck | DNP | Inactive | |||
Jabaal Sheard | Ind | Quadricep | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Dee Ford | KC | Back | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Justin Houston | KC | Knee | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Olivier Vernon | NYG | Ankle | DNP | Unlikely to Play | |||
Brandon Graham | Phi | Shoulder | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Ryan Kerrigan | Was | Groin/Hand | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Defensive Line
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Player | Team | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |||||
Grady Jarrett | Atl | Ankle | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Michael Johnson | Cin | Back | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Bennie Logan | KC | Knee | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Michael Bennett | Sea | Heel | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
Solomon Thomas | SF | Knee | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Linebackers
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Player | Team | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |||||
Karlos Dansby | Ari | Finger/Hamstring | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Duke Riley | Atl | Knee | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Deion Jones | Atl | Ankle | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Thomas Davis | Car | Knee | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Kevin Minter | Cin | Elbow | DNP | Inactive | |||
Todd Davis | Den | Ankle | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
*Joe Thomas* | GB | Ankle | MNF | Awaiting Information | |||
B.J. Goodson | NYG | Ankle | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Jonathan Casillas | NYG | Neck | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Cory James | Oak | Knee | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
Bobby Wagner | Sea | Hamstring | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Reuben Foster | SF | Ankle/Ribs | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Kendell Beckwith | TB | Knee | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Zach Brown | Was | Back | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
Martrell Spaight | Was | Shoulder | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Will Compton | Was | Elbow | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Defensive Backs
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Player | Team | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |||||
Brian Poole | Atl | Neck | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Lardarius Webb | Bal | Concussion | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Dre Kirkpatrick | Cin | Shoulder | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
*Morgan Burnett* | GB | Hamstring | MNF | Awaiting Information | |||
Johnathan Joseph | Hou | Shin | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
Kevin Johnson | Hou | Knee/Back | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Quincy Wilson | Ind | Knee | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
David Amerson | Oak | Foot | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Karl Joseph | Oak | Groin | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Ronald Darby | Phi | Ankle | Limited | Unlikely to Play | |||
Kam Chancellor | Sea | Ankle | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
Earl Thomas | Sea | Hamstring | DNP | Game-time Decision | |||
Richard Sherman | Sea | Achilles | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Eric Reid | SF | Knee | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Brent Grimes | TB | Shoulder | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Johanthan Cyprien | Ten | Hamstring | Full | Likely to Play | |||
Bashaud Breeland | Was | Knee/Groin | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Josh Norman | Was | Ribs | Full | Expected to Play |
Note: Monday night players with asterisk practice Thursday/Friday/Saturday.
Follow me on Twitter @JeneBramel for breaking injury news and analysis throughout the week.