KEY WEDNESDAY MEDIA UPDATES
***As hoped, Devonta Freeman responded well to last week's individual drills and was cleared for contact by the Falcons on Wednesday. Assuming no unexpected setbacks this week, he'll return this week. Though Tevin Coleman has been effective, a healthy Freeman should see a healthy workload.
***Though Greg Olsen's imaging and examination were reassuring on Monday, the Panthers will remain cautious while returning him to action after last week's soreness held him out of the second half. There's a chance Olsen returns to practice and the field this week but Carolina won't push him to come back quickly. If active, the team will likely limit his snap count until he proves he can play without soreness and limitation.
***Jameis Winston's rehab is complete and the Buccaneers cleared him for a full Wednesday practice. It's the first time in over six weeks he's been cleared to throw on Wednesday and Dirk Koetter has already named him this week's starter. Tampa Bay elected to rehab Winston until he was at no risk of aggravation while throwing in practice. There may be a bit of rust to work through as he readjusts to the speed of the game.
***Christian McCaffrey has a shoulder injury. Ron Rivera told reporters McCaffrey took a hard hit to the shoulder and the team would re-evaluate him on Thursday. Most likely, he'll return to a limited practice by the end of the week, be listed questionable, but be available for close to his usual workload. Check back tomorrow for another data point.
***Sterling Shepard returned to a full practice on Wednesday. If he continues to practice through the week and does not have any recurrent symptoms with exercise, he'll be cleared to return.
***The Packers cleared Aaron Jones for individual drills on Wednesday, less than three weeks after an MCL sprain that was expected to keep him out 4-6 weeks. That's a great sign for his impending recovery but it doesn't guarantee he'll be available in Week 13. If he responds well to individual work, there's a chance the Packers will clear him for more by the end of the week. If active this week, he'll be limited. More likely, Green Bay will continue to increase his practice participation and return him in Week 14. Ty Montgomery is still not practicing and looks to be inactive again this week.
***Observers were surprised at Alex Collins' Wednesday DNP. Listed with a calf injury, there seemed to be no indication on Monday night of a leg injury. The Ravens have yet to update Collins' status outside of the injury report. Thursday's practice participation will be informative.
***Adrian Peterson did not practice with a neck injury of unknown severity. Bruce Arians told reporters he had "no clue" how his running back rotation might work this week, noting Kerwynn Williams -- who was not listed on the practice participation report -- is playing through cracked ribs.
***Mike Mularkey told reporters Rishard Matthews was day-to-day on Wednesday. The Titans have routinely rested players early in the week with injuries this season. Matthews hasn't practiced for a week now, however, and needs to show something soon to be confident he'll be able to return to his pre-injury snap count and usage.
THURSDAY NIGHT INJURY EXPECTATIONS
Here are the key offensive players listed on the practice participation or game status report for Thursday Night Football:
***Jordan Reed did not practice during the short week and will not play. He'll have ten additional days to recover from a lingering hamstring strain.
***Jamison Crowder (back/knee) and Samaje Perine (finger) both fully practiced and will play without limitation.
***Washington continues to struggle to field healthy offensive linemen. Trent Williams will continue to try to battle through his knee contusion and patellar ligament laxity. Morgan Moses, Ty Nsekhe, and Brandon Scherff were again limited in practice but expected to play. Dallas could be without La'el Collins, who has not practiced this week but hopes to play through a back injury. Tyron Smith and Zack Martin are expected to play.
***Dallas will be thin at linebacker. Sean Lee is still not practicing. Justin Durant is out with a concussion. Anthony Hitchens will likely be active but is limited by a groin strain.
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 | |||||
Tom Brady | NE | Achilles | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Cam Newton | Car | Thumb / Shoulder | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Matthew Stafford | Det | Ankle | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Jameis Winston | TB | Shoulder | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Blake Bortles | Jac | Wrist | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Josh McCown | NYJ | Wrist | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Paxton Lynch | Den | Ankle | DNP | Inactive | |||
C.J. Beathard | SF | Knee / Hip | DNP | Active / Backup | |||
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 | Concussion | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Christian McCaffrey | Car | Shoulder | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Lamar Miller | Hou | Knee | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Isaiah Crowell | Cle | Shoulder | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Alex Collins | Bal | Calf | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Adrian Peterson | Ari | Neck | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Ty Montgomery | GB | Ribs / Wrist | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Aaron Jones | GB | Knee | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Doug Martin | TB | Concussion | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Matt Forte | NYJ | Knee | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Damien Williams | Mia | Shoulder | DNP | Inactive | |||
Ameer Abdullah | Det | Neck | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Dwayne Washington | Det | Hip | Full | Likely to Play | |||
Mike Tolbert | Buf | Hamstring | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Malcolm Brown | LAR | Knee | Limited | Likely Inactive | |||
Lance Dunbar | LAR | Knee | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Mike Davis | Sea | Groin | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Wide Receivers
|
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Player | Team | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |||||
Julio Jones | Atl | Ankle | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
DeAndre Hopkins | Hou | Foot | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Robert Woods | LAR | Shoulder | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Emmanuel Sanders | Den | Ankle | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
Robby Anderson | NYJ | Ankle | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Rishard Matthews | Ten | Hamstring | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Sterling Shepard | NYG | Illness | Full | Likely to Play | |||
Chris Hogan | NE | Shoulder | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Danny Amendola | NE | Knee | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Alshon Jeffery | Phi | Foot | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Amari Cooper | Oak | Ankle / Concussion | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Cordarelle Patterson | Oak | Hip | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Devin Funchess | Car | Toe | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Marqise Lee | Jac | Knee | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Allen Hurns | Jac | Ankle | DNP | Inactive | |||
DeSean Jackson | TB | Foot | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Kelvin Benjamin | Buf | Knee | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Jordan Matthews | Buf | Knee | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Will Fuller | Hou | Ribs | DNP | Unlikely to Play | |||
Mike Williams | LAC | Back (Likely Error = Knee) | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Sammie Coates Jr | Cle | Knee / Ankle | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Kenny Britt | Cle | Knee | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Albert Wilson | KC | Hamstring | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Jermaine Kearse | NYJ | Shoulder | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Josh Bellamy | Chi | Concussion | Full | Likely to Play | |||
John Brown | Ari | Toe | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Josh Reynolds | LAR | Ankle | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Tight Ends
|
|||||||
Player | Team | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |||||
Greg Olsen | Car | Foot | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Jimmy Graham | Sea | Ankle | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Charles Clay | Buf | Knee | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Trey Burton | Phi | Back | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Tyler Higbee | LAR | Illness | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
George Kittle | SF | Ankle | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Coby Fleener | NO | Concussion | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Jeff Heuerman | Den | Knee | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Nick O'Leary | Buf | Back | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Offensive Line
|
|||||||
Player | Team | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |||||
Andy Levitre | Atl | Knee | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Jermaine Eluemunor | Bal | Shoulder | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Ronnie Stanley | Bal | Knee | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Cordy Glenn | Buf | Foot | DNP | Inactive | |||
Ryan Kalil | Car | Neck | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Josh Sitton | Chi | Concussion | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Tom Compton | Chi | Ankle | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Ronald Leary | Den | Back | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
T.J. Lang | Det | Foot | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Travis Swanson | Det | Knee | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Lucas Patrick | GB | Hand | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Chris Clark | Hou | Ankle | IR | IR | IR | IR | Injured Reserve |
Julien Davenport | Hou | Shoulder | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Jeff Allen | Hou | Hand | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Ryan Kelly | Ind | Concussion | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Patrick Omameh | Jac | Quad | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Jermey Parnell | Jac | Knee | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Spencer Pulley | LAC | Knee | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Jermon Bushrod | Mia | Foot | DNP | Inactive | |||
Mike Pouncey | Mia | Hip | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Mike Remmers | Min | Back | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Marcus Cannon | NE | Ankle | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
LaAdrian Waddle | NE | Ankle | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
David Andrews | NE | Illness | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Terron Armstead | NO | Thigh / Shoulder | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Ryan Ramcyzk | NO | Elbow | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Larry Warford | NO | Shoulder | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Justin Pugh | NYG | Back | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Brian Winters | NYJ | Abdomen / Ankle | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
James Carpenter | NYJ | Knee | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Gabe Jackson | Oak | Ankle | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Jason Kelce | Phi | Ankle | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Luke Joeckel | Sea | Knee | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Oday Aboushi | Sea | Shoulder | DNP | Inactive | |||
Duane Brown | Sea | Ankle | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
Trent Brown | SF | Shoulder | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Evan Smith | TB | Concussion | Full | Likely to Play | |||
Demar Dotson | TB | Knee | IR | IR | IR | IR | Injured Reserve |
Eli Marpet | TB | Knee | IR | IR | IR | IR | Injured Reserve |
Brian Schwenke | Ten | Illness | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Edge Players
|
|||||||
Player | Team | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |||||
Clay Matthews | GB | Groin | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Nick Perry | GB | Foot | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Jadeveon Clowney | Hou | Shoulder / Ankle | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Dee Ford | KC | Back | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Tamba Hali | KC | Knee | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Trey Flowers | NE | Rib | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Robert Ayers | TB | Concussion | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Brian Orakpo | Ten | Shoulder | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Defensive Line
|
|||||||
Player | Team | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |||||
Corey Peters | Ari | Ankle | DNP | Unlikely to Play | |||
Domata Peko Sr | Den | Knee | DNP | Unlikely to Play | |||
Kenny Clark | GB | Ankle | Limited | Unlikely to Play | |||
Allen Bailey | KC | Knee | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Bennie Logan | KC | Knee | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Corey Liuget | LAC | Toe | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Damon Harrison | NYG | Elbow | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Muhammad Wilkerson | NYJ | Foot | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Solomon Thomas | SF | Knee | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Gerald McCoy | TB | Shoulder | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Linebackers
|
|||||||
Player | Team | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |||||
Deone Bucannon | Ari | Ankle | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
C.J. Mosley | Bal | Ankle | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Thomas Davis | Car | Hamstring | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Shaq Thompson | Car | Foot | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Danny Trevathan | Chi | Calf | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Todd Davis | Den | Shoulder / Ankle | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Shane Ray | Den | Wrist / Illness | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Brennan Scarlett | Hou | Foot | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Telvin Smith Sr | Jac | Concussion | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Eric Kendricks | Min | Hip | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
Kyle Van Noy | NE | Calf | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Jonathan Casillas | NYG | Neck / Wrist | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
B.J. Goodson | NYG | Ankle | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Calvin Munson | NYG | Quad | Full | Likely to Play | |||
Bobby Wagner | Sea | Hamstring | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
Defensive Backs
|
|||||||
Player | Team | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |||||
Desmond Trufant | Atl | Concussion | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Brian Poole | Atl | Back | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
Jimmy Smith | Bal | Achilles | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Daryl Worley | Car | Foot | DNP | Unlikely to Play | |||
Mike Adams | Car | Knee | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Adrian Amos | Chi | Hamstring | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Kevin King | GB | Shoulder | DNP | Unlikely to Play | |||
Morgan Burnett | GB | Groin | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Kareem Jackson | Hou | Shoulder | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Tashaun Gipson | Jac | Knee | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Jalen Ramsey | Jac | Ankle | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Casey Hayward | LAC | Calf | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
Kayvon Webster | LAR | Ankle | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Nickell Robey | LAR | Thigh | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Andrew Sendejo | Min | Groin | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Ken Crowley | NO | Abdomen | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Marshon Lattimore | NO | Ankle | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Janoris Jenkins | NYG | Ankle | IR | IR | IR | IR | Injured Reserve |
David Amerson | Oak | Foot | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Shaq Griffin | Sea | Concussion | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Kam Chancellor | Sea | Neck | DNP | Inactive | |||
Eric Reid | SF | Knee | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Vernon Hargreaves | TB | Hamstring | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
T.J. Ward | TB | Concussion | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Robert McClain | TB | Shoulder | 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.