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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

Joe Flacco | Hip | Doubtful | likely Inactive

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

Lamar Jackson | Illness | Not LIsted | expected to Play

Practice Participation: Wed - Not Listed | Thurs - DNP | Fri - Full

Flacco was seen on crutches and reportedly getting multiple specialist opinions after a Week 9 hip injury. The Ravens list him doubtful but he will be inactive. Jackson needed an emergency evaluation for abdominal pain on Thursday, then returned to a full Friday practice and was not listed on the game status report. Despite some brief whispers the Ravens could be planning to start Robert Griffin III III and use Jackson in his current change-of-pace role, Baltimore is now expected to start Jackson. John Harbaugh told reporters Jackson's missed practice was "not ideal" and has yet to confirm a starter.

Jackson's full Friday practice removes any injury or illness concern. But it may impact how the Ravens approach their quarterback decisions. In short, we'll be relying on Sunday reporting about Baltimore's plan.

Sunday Update: All reports indicate Jackson remains healthy enough to start on Sunday. Expect Griffin to see some snaps but the situations and projected snap count are still unclear. Most likely, Griffin will serve as a backup should Jackson struggle.

Others of note: Patrick Mahomes II (foot) and Cam Newton (shoulder) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report and will play without limitation. Return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players will be updated in Monday's column.

RUNNING BACK

James Conner | concussion | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

Conner fully practiced this week and is not included on Pittsburgh's game status report. He will see his usual workload on Sunday.

Joe Mixon | Knee | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

Mixon was an unexpected addition to Thursday's injury report with a knee condition. It wasn't clear whether he aggravated his early-season injury, sought treatment for something new, or was getting a day off. His full Friday practice was a welcome sight. The Bengals chose not to list him on the game status report. Mixon will play and there are no indications Thursday's missed practice is of any concern. Expect Mixon to see his usual workload.

Royce Freeman | Ankle | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

Vance Joseph told reporters early in the week the Broncos expected to get Freeman back this week. After a full week of practice, Freeman was not listed on the game status report. While the injury may not limit Freeman, Joseph told reporters the offense would continue to distribute touches based on how each back was playing during the game. Freeman may be healthy enough for 10-15 touches but there's no guarantee he'll get them.

Others of note: Adrian Peterson (shoulder), Peyton Barber (ankle), Doug Martin (hip), and Kapri Bibbs (shoulder) have fully practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play. Darren Sproles (hamstring), Chris Thompson (rib), and Ronald Jones II II (hamstring) have been declared out. I'll update return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players in Monday's column.

WIDE RECEIVER

Sunday Update: Ian Rapoport has a source who continues to express optimism on A.J. Green. After a report last weekend that Green had a chance to play as early as this week, Rapoport tweeted overnight the Bengals will allow Green to work out to see if he can play today. It's extremely unlikely the team would risk an aggravation of a toe injury that required evaluation for surgery. And Adam Schefter, who has reported a November return remains a tough ask for Green, continues to report Green is not expected to play today. It will be a shock if Green is active today.

Adam Thielen | Calf / Back | Not listed | Expected to play

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

It's not clear whether the Vikings are significantly concerned about Thielen's injury. Although his snap count wasn't affected by the calf injury in Week 9, Thielen didn't look as explosive as usual and he finished with a season-low four catches and just 22 yards. Thielen wouldn't discuss his status with reporters after his limited Wednesday practice. Neither Thielen nor the Vikings have discussed his status since. But Minnesota didn't list Thielen on the game status report. That all but guarantees Thielen will play this week. It also strongly suggests he's ready for his pre-injury workload despite managing only limited practice time after a bye week to rehab.

*Sammy Watkins | Foot | Questionable | Game-time Decision

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

Watkins missed last week's game but reportedly close to playing. After a limited practice last Friday and this Thursday, the Chiefs chose to "back off and just let [Watkins] rest here a bit." There were reports Watkins was still likely to play as of Friday but the Saturday DNP and Reid's suggestion that Watkins remains "day-to-day" seems ominous. Watch for further weekend reports but have a hedge in place if you were planning to use Watkins in fantasy lineups.

Keke Coutee | Hamstring | Questionable | Game-time Decision

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

Bill O'Brien told reporters Coutee would be a game-time decision but "has a chance" to play. Coutee didn't address his status this week. Last week, however, Coutee said he would not play until he's 100%. O'Brien comments strongly suggest Coutee isn't fully recovered. Unless we get a very optimistic overnight report, consider Coutee to the doubtful side of questionable.

Sunday Update: Coutee made the trip with Houston on Saturday. Both Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter are reporting Coutee is expected to play.

Chris Godwin | ankle | Questionable | game-time decision

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

Godwin's practice participation line is odd. It's unusual for a young player to miss multiple practices with a previously unreported injury then fully practice on Friday. There were also local reports on Friday that Godwin didn't look like a player preparing to play -- but that was before the non-media portion of practice and the official participation release. Ordinarily, the full Friday practice would be a strongly positive sign. But watch weekend reports closely here.

Sunday Update: Ian Rapoport is reporting Godwin is expected to play.

John Ross | Groin | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

Ross returned to a full practice on Friday, typically a good sign for Cincinnati's injured players. And the Bengals need receivers with A.J. Green out again. But Marvin Lewis has been frustrated with Ross often over the past two seasons. If there's any health concern during pregame warmups, Ross may still find his was to the inactive list. For now, expect Ross to play.

Others of note: DeAndre Hopkins (foot), Stefon Diggs (rib), Keenan Allen (hip / finger), Mike Williams (groin), and Mohamed Sanu (hip) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play without limitation. A.J. Green (toe), Marvin Jones (knee), Jordy Nelson (knee), Martavis Bryant (knee), Jamison Crowder (ankle), Tavon Austin (groin), and Torrey Smith (knee) have been declared out. I'll update return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players in Monday's column.

TIGHT END

Antonio Gates | Knee | Questionable | Game-time Decision

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

The Chargers are one of the league's most under-reported teams. This week, most of the reporting resources were spent chasing the possible return of Joey Bosa, and very little attention paid to the multiple missed practices by Gates. The limited Friday practice puts Gates in the game-time decision category but there's no clear read on whether he's healthy enough to play or be productive.

Sunday Update: Gates is expected to play today, per Adam Schefter.

Others of note: Greg Olsen (foot), Vernon Davis (ribs), and Geoff Swaim (knee) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play without limitation. Michael Roberts (knee) and Erik Swoope (knee) have been declared out. I'll update return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players in Monday's column.

PRACTICE PARTICIPATION, GAME STATUS REPORT, AND PLAYING EXPECTATIONS

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