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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

Tom Brady | Knee / Illness | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Brady's missed Friday practice raised concern about a knee injury suffered on a trick play in last week's game. The official injury report lists Brady's DNP as due to illness and multiple reporters believe Brady is in no danger of missing Sunday's game. Don't expect another throwback pass to Brady any time soon.

*Marcus Mariota | Neck | Not Listed | Expected to play

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

Following Mariota's injury status this week was confusing. Mariota left last week's game shaking his throwing hand with what was initially reported as an elbow injury. That prompted worries Mariota aggravated an ulnar nerve injury that limited him for over a month. After the game, Mike Vrabel told reporters Mariota had a stinger -- which is more of a shoulder / neck condition than elbow injury -- and wasn't cleared to return to the game. A nerve injury, regardless of location, that does not heal within minutes often requires days to weeks to recover. As of Wednesday, Vrabel was "hopeful" Mariota would return to play on Monday night. None of this inspired optimism.

On Friday, however, Mariota fully practiced and video shows him moving well, with good range of motion, a clean throwing motion, and strong velocity. After practice, both Vrabel and offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur gave strong endorsements. LaFleur told reporters he "couldn't tell anything was wrong...he's ready to roll."

In hindsight, the hope here is that the Titans chose to be more cautious than usual with a throwing arm stinger given Mariota's recent injury down three touchdowns in the second half on the road. Another full practice on Saturday would confirm no after-effects from Friday's full practice and be even more reassuring.

Saturday Update: Mariota fully practiced on Saturday and is not listed on the injury report.

Ryan Tannehill | Shoulder | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

On Tuesday, Tannehill told reporters he was not yet pain-free when he threw the football. Later in the week, Ian Rapoport -- while acknowledging Tannehill had been making 30-yard throws in practice -- suggested Tannehill was not yet fully healthy after 5-6 weeks of rest and rehab. That's not surprising. The totality of evidence, as noted by Dr. David Chao, points to a torn capsule for Tannehill. It's an injury that wouldn't be fully healed yet.

Other observers of this week's practice wrote that Tannehill was driving the ball over shorter distances. And the Dolphins clearly believe Tannehill is their best current option to win games. He's not listed on the injury report and will play. Whether he will be able to make NFL-caliber throws down field and avoid an in-game aggravation remains a question.

Others of note: Aaron Rodgers (knee), Cam Newton (shoulder), and Josh Allen (elbow) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report and will play without limitation. Joe Flacco (hip) and Sam Darnold (foot) have been declared out. Return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players will be updated in Monday's column.

RUNNING BACK

Melvin Gordon | Hamstring / Knee | Questionable | Game-time Decision

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

Gordon is listed questionable with hamstring and knee injuries. Anthony Lynn told reporters on Friday that Gordon was dealing with a sore knee and didn't seem too concerned, saying "most starting runners this time of year are sore or something's wrong." He then hedged a bit and said, "We'll have to decide if it's worth holding him back or just letting him go."

There's a difference between soreness and an injury significant enough to put the team to a decision about whether a player should be given more time to recover.

Gordon was listed only with a hamstring condition on Wednesday. As has been hammered home so often this season while tracking the Leonard Fournette and Dalvin Cook and Darren Sproles and Keke Coutee -- you get the idea -- injuries, aggravated hamstring strains are serious concerns. It's good that Gordon fully practiced on Wednesday. And Gordon had been able to take his usual 75+% of the Chargers' offense snaps in each of the three weeks since he returned from his Week 7 absence. Even though the knee seems to be the primary concern here, the team is telling us Gordon is still dealing with hamstring soreness, too.

As of Saturday afternoon, I think Gordon is on the doubtful side of questionable. The team has already erred on the side of caution with Gordon once this season. Lynn's Friday comments weren't as optimistic as they could be. And the risk of a hamstring aggravation remains possible. If Gordon is active, I'd expect fewer touches than usual. There's also a strong chance the Chargers shutting a healthier-than-expected Gordon down early if they jump ahead of a weak Arizona team at home.

Don't expect a Saturday roster move to provide any clues. The lack of a practice squad promotion won't be helpful. Justin Jackson is on the roster now and the Chargers gave Austin Ekeler 95% of the offensive snaps with Gordon out in Week 7. The Chargers are at home, which means no travel updates to guide us.

Look for tweets from Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport updating Gordon's status overnight. But plan for Gordon to be limited at best unless we get a clearly optimistic report to the contrary.

Sunday Update: Adam Schefter reported overnight that Gordon plans to play today. He reportedly "convinced coaches this weekend to give him a chance despite organizational interest in resting him for maintenance." Schefter's report significantly muddies the outlook for the Chargers' backfield today. Convincing your coaches you can play is not a rousing endorsement of your health. And the coaches are still in charge of Gordon's snap count and workload. Should Gordon look less than full strength in the early stages of the game or the Chargers have a lead, it's likely to coaches will revert to their plan to rest Gordon. Even if active, Gordon's floor is significantly lower than his ceiling.

Sony Michel | Knee | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Michel told reporters he feels stronger now than he did when returning from his preseason injury in Week 2. The Patriots listed Michel questionable but he is expected to play and should see his usual workload.

Alex Collins | Foot | Questionable | Inactive

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

Collins missed Thursday's practice with a foot injury before returning on Friday. The Ravens list Collins questionable, which they will often do with players are probable to play. Baltimore has done this with Collins multiple times already this season, though he's been rested with a knee injury. This foot condition is new and the exact nature of injury is unclear, which makes assessing risk of aggravation difficult. The full practice is reassuring, but the strong play of Gus Edwards may also play a role. Expect Collins to play but recognize the injury and depth chart could conspire to limit his snap count and workload.

Sunday Update: Collins will play today, per Ian Rapoport.

Sunday Update: Multiple late Sunday morning reports that Collins will not play today. May not be injury related despite listed questionable. Had fully practiced and there were overnight reports he was expected to go.

Ronald Jones II II | Hamstring | Questionable | Awaiting Information

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

Jones returned to individual drills last week and had a full week of practice this week. The Buccaneers commonly list players they expect to play as questionable. Whether that applies to Jones -- who may not yet be back ahead of Jacquizz Rodgers on the depth chart and is unlikely to contribute on special teams after missing more than a month with a hamstring strain -- remains to be seen. He'll be a change of pace option behind Peyton Barber at best.

Others of note: Isaiah Crowell (ankle), Elijah McGuire (foot), Mike Davis (knee), Peyton Barber (ankle/shoulder), Kenyan Drake (shoulder), Austin Ekeler (neck), Doug Martin (ankle), and Chris Ivory (shoulder) have fully practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play. Darren Sproles (hamstring) has been declared out. I'll update return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players in Monday's column.

WIDE RECEIVER

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

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

Thielen played every offensive snap last week despite limited practices and was back to his usual double-digit targets. This week, Thielen returned to a full Friday practice and is off the injury report. His home matchup against Green Bay should be better than last week's. Expect him to be closer to his pre-injury production this week.

*DeAndre Hopkins | Foot | Not Listed | eXPECTED TO pLAY

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

*Keke Coutee | Hamstring | Not listed | Expected to Play

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

Hopkins is commonly listed on the Texans' injury report with a foot injury. The team has not yet released their weekend game status report but it's likely Hopkins will not be listed and healthy enough to see his usual workload.

Coutee may be listed questionable but there's no indication of a setback after he returned to take two-thirds of Houston's offensive snaps this week and had nine targets on those 42 snaps. He's also expected to play and could see his snap count increase.

Saturday Update: Hopkins and Coutee are not listed on this week's game status report. It's an especially reassuring sign for Coutee, who fully practiced. Both will play and should see full workloads on Monday night.

A.J. Green | Toe | Questionable > Doubtful | Likely Inactive

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

Earlier this week, multiple reports suggested Green had been cleared for football-related activity by Dr. Robert Anderson. After missing Wednesday's practice, there were reports Green did not plan to practice anyway. Marvin Lewis told reporters Green was still likely to play. By Friday afternoon, Green hadn't practiced all week. The Bengals then listed Green as questionable and said he may still be able to play.

On Saturday, he was downgraded to doubtful. None of Green's actions suggested he'd play this week. He'll be inactive.

I'll have much more on Green's status and chances of playing in Week 13 on Monday.

Doug Baldwin | Groin | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

Before practice on Tuesday, Pete Carroll told reporters Baldwin proved he was healthier than he'd been all season -- including the preseason -- last week in a season-high ten target, seven catch performance. Baldwin then suffered a groin strain in practice and did not participate in any official workouts the remainder of the week. Baldwin reportedly ran on Friday but little else. Carroll said Baldwin would work out before the game and hadn't been ruled out yet -- but he's clearly to the doubtful side of questionable.

Sunday Update: The Seahawks promoted a wide receiver to the active roster yesterday afternoon. But both Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter are reporting Baldwin still has a chance to play today.

Sunday Update: Baldwin ran well in warmups then joined his wide receiver group this morning. He is active and will play.

Randall Cobb | Hamstring | Questionable | Game-time Decision

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

Mike McCarthy was still unsure of Cobb's availability on Friday, hinting the Packers wanted to see how he responded to a week of limited practices before clearing him to play. Cobb has already missed an additional two games with his most recent aggravation. If the Packers aren't convinced he's healthy, they'll continue to rest him. Unfortunately, unless we get an overnight report on his status, we won't know whether Cobb is playing until Sunday evening.

DeSean Jackson | Thumb | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Jackson is questionable but that's a Tampa Bay formality. After full Thursday and Friday workouts, media members reported Jackson was participating without a brace and had no difficulty catching passes. Expect him to see his usual workload against San Francisco.

Tyrell Williams | Quad | Questionable | Game-time Decision

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

Williams returned to two limited practices but his status remains unclear. Consider him a game-time decision with a slight lean toward playing.

Robby Anderson | Ankle | Questionable | Game-time Decision

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

Anderson returned to play in Week 9, then missed Week 10 with an ankle injury. He managed only a limited Friday practice coming out of the Jets' Week 11 bye. Anderson has missed practice and played with prior injuries but his current ankle injury has been troublesome. He's still considered a game-time decision.

Sunday Update: Robby Anderson is expected to play in a limited role today, per Ian Rapoport.

Jordy Nelson | Knee | Questionable | Game-time Decision

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

Nelson has struggled to recover from a painful knee contusion. Though Nelson returned to practice and has a "pretty good chance to play" per Jon Gruden, it's not clear how many snaps he'll be able to play. The Raiders have a limited depth chart at receiver but Nelson isn't likely to play a full complement of snaps if active.

Sunday Update: Nelson is expected to be active today. Adam Schefter reports Nelson will have a limited role.

DeVante Parker | Shoulder | Questionable | Game-time Decision

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

Danny Amendola | Hamstring | Questionable | Game-time Decision

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

Parker remained in a no-contact jersey in practice on Friday but multiple reporters read Adam Gase's positive post-practice comments as a sign Parker would play. Gase said Parker would likely play unless "some surprise happens." However, it would be unusual for a player not cleared for contact to be deemed ready to play. Watch for overnight reports on Parker's status.

Amendola was also limited in practice all week and considered a game-time decision.

Torrey Smith | Knee | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

Smith had a good week of practice and Ron Rivera sounded confident Smith would return to play this week. Expect Smith to return. His target count could be sizable immediately, with Devin Funchess out with a back injury.

Others of note: Keenan Allen (finger), Julian Edelman (foot), Chris Godwin (ankle), and Quincy Enunwa (ankle) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play without limitation. Devin Funchess (back), Martavis Bryant (knee), and Pierre Garcon (knee) have been declared out. I'll update return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players in Monday's column.

TIGHT END

Rob Gronkowski | Ankle / Back | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Gronkowski was his usual silly self in a Friday press conference. He declared himself "good to go" and will play. Unfortunately, there's no indication whether Gronkowski's back condition has sufficiently recovered to allow him to return to his former explosiveness. It's a big week for Gronkowski. If he does not look recovered or suffers an in-game aggravation, it's a very poor sign for the rest of his 2018 season.

Jimmy Graham | Knee / Thumb | Questionable | Likely to play

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

Graham's return to practice on Thursday was critically important. In order to have any chance of playing through a broken thumb, Graham needed to gain comfort with whatever splint the team's medical staff fashioned for him. Mike McCarthy told reporters Graham took his usual number of Thursday and Friday practice reps and caught the ball fine. The Packers list Graham questionable but he looks likely to play.

Sunday Update: Graham is likely to play today, per Ian Rapoport.

David Njoku | Knee | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Cleveland continues to limit Njoku's weekly practice reps. After returning to a full Friday practice, expect Njoku to play. His snap percentages have dropped from the 80% range to 73% and 66% in the past two weeks. It's reasonable to assume Njoku improved through the bye week, however, and his matchup against a decimated and struggling Cincinnati back seven is very attractive.

Others of note: Charles Clay (hamstring), Erik Swoope (knee), and Mo Alie-Cox (calf) are doubtful or 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.