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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

^ = playing on Saturday

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

Marcus Mariota | neck / foot | Questionable | Likely inactive

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

The Titans play a must-win game on Sunday night. Mariota suffered his third nerve-related injury of the season last week, this time telling reporters his entire right side went numb. Generally, players who have continued symptoms of weakness or numbness aren't cleared to play. But the Titans have allowed Mariota to practice and remain hopeful his symptoms will improve enough to allow him to play. Were this a mid-season game, it's unlikely Mariota would practice or play. However, if the Tennessee medical staff determines another aggravation won't harm Mariota's career, he may play despite his limitations. Expect grip strength and throwing velocity to be issues throughout the game should Mariota play.

Sunday Update: Chris Mortensen is reporting Mariota will not play today. While Mariota and the team likely did everything possible to prepare Mariota to play, recovery from nerve-related injuries cannot be accelerated. Mortensen's report also notes the potential risk for permanent damage with contact. That's a very concerning phrase. Should the Titans win, Mariota should be considered doubtful for next week's playoff game, too.

Others of note: Aaron Rodgers (knee / groin), Matthew Stafford (back), Sam Darnold (foot), Josh Johnson (ankle), and Ryan Tannehill (shoulder) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report and will play without limitation. Cam Newton (shoulder) and Carson Wentz (back) have been declared out. Return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players will be updated in Monday's column.

RUNNING BACK

James Conner | Ankle | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

The Steelers list Conner questionable but he's fully practiced this week and within the expected range of recovery after a mid-grade high ankle sprain. In a must-win game, expect every Pittsburgh player capable of suiting up to play. Conner's consecutive full practices mean his ankle responded to every drill throughout the week. It's possible Jaylen Samuels did enough to earn more than the usual rare change-of-pace snaps the Pittsburgh backup running back usually gets but Conner looks ready to see his pre-injury workload.

Sunday Update: Adam Schefter reports Conner is determined to play but will be tested pregame. Ian Rapoport also tweeted that Conner is expected to play with the caveat that the Steelers will "see how he is after warmups to be sure." While the overnight reports suggest Conner is less healthy than his full practices suggest, expect Conner to be active and have a good chance to play effectively.

Carlos Hyde | Knee | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

Leonard Fournette (doubtful) is not expected to play through a foot injury. Hyde did not finish Friday's practice and was listed questionable with a knee injury. There are no published concerns in the local media about Hyde's availability and the Jaguars did not add a running back to the active roster on Saturday. T.J. Yeldon was a healthy scratch last week but may be asked to suit up in Week 17.

Spencer Ware | Hamstring | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

Darrel Williams | Hamstring | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

Both Ware and Williams practiced fully but have been listed questionable by the Chiefs. Hamstring injuries are tricky -- Ware has missed multiple weeks with a strain the team didn't seem to have much concern on initially -- and the Chiefs' game status report reflects that. An aggravation to one or both running backs would be tough to overcome during the playoff weeks so expect the Chiefs to remain cautious. It's hard to project which back the Chiefs may risk. Ware was been the primary backup to Kareem Hunt and got the bulk of the carries before his hamstring strain. Williams has been tremendous since Ware's injury and was just given a contract extension. I'll update with any news about these injuries or workload on Sunday morning.

Tevin Coleman | Groin | Not Listed | Expected to play

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

Coleman managed only a limited Friday practice but Dan Quinn told reporters Coleman would play. The Falcons did not include Coleman on the game status report on Friday but he is still within the window of aggravation. Consider him ready to play but there's some risk of an early exit if he feels any discomfort.

Rashaad Penny | Knee | Questionable | game-time Decision

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

The Seahawks consider Penny a game-time decision but he fully practiced this week. If he has no knee soreness on Sunday morning, expect him to play in a rotational role.

LeGarrette Blount | Knee | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

The Lions provide no actionable information about their injured players and their local writers rarely speculate. Blount was on last week's injury report and played a limited role in the Detroit running back committee. The same is likely this week.

Others of note: Adrian Peterson (shoulder), Lamar Miller (ankle), and Austin Ekeler (neck) have fully practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play. Todd Gurley (knee), Leonard Fournette (ankle / foot), and Matt Breida (ankle) are doubtful or have been declared out. I'll update return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players in Monday's column.

WIDE RECEIVER

Antonio Brown | knee | questionable | game-time decision

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

Brown didn't practice on Wednesday and his absence was listed as not injury related. On Thursday, the team listed Brown as DNP with a knee injury and Mike Tomlin told reporters on Friday that Brown would miss practice again while having "tests" on his knee. The Steelers provided no additional information and there have been no reports since Friday's comments from Tomlin. As noted often this season, the Steelers almost always keep players who cannot practice on the gameday inactive list. However, this week is different. Pittsburgh must win and there's no reason to be cautious with players who a chance to be effective despite injury.

It's not clear what kind of tests Brown may have had and the extent of his injury is unknown. Brown will play without practicing if the team decides an aggravation is worth the risk. If Brown plays, his ceiling expectation likely remains in play.

Brown's condition is the most critical injury situation of the week. Expect multiple updates from Adam Schefter, Ian Rapoport, and others overnight Saturday through game time Sunday.

Sunday Update: Adam Schefter reports there is "not a lot of optimism [Brown] will play" and that Brown's knee did not respond well to last week's game. That means the Steelers knew Brown's knee was a problem all week and the hoped-for improvement never came. Brown will likely give it a go if he's anywhere close to playing, but it's difficult to expect him to be effective. Ian Rapoport did not provide as many details but essentially tweeted the same concerns.

Sunday Update: Both Schefter and Rapoport now reporting Brown will be in pregame warmups in the hopes he can play today.

Julio Jones | Hip / Ribs | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

Jones worked out before last week's game and convinced the team's medical staff he was healthy enough to play. Clearly limited, Jones managed just 24 snaps -- but had four catches on five targets with a short touchdown reception. Jones returned to a limited Friday practice and was not listed on the game status report. When that happens, Jones is usually able to see a full workload. The Falcons called Jones a game-time decision last week but told reporters he'd play on Friday this week. While there's still some risk of aggravation, all indications are Jones is healthier this week and should see a higher snap count and target share.

Davante Adams | Knee | Questionable | inactive

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

Former NFL team physician David Chao thought Adams' injury looked like a contusion to the outside of the knee on video replay. Though Chao tweeted earlier in the week that Adams would likely feel well enough to play, it appears his contusion was more significant than the video suggested. Adams did not practice this week but intends to play, telling reporters "That's the plan."

Adams has multiple team records within reach -- needing two receptions to set the team record for catches in a season and 134 yards to for the team record in receiving yards in a season. Those records may be motivating but the Packers are conservative with injuries and may not clear Adams to play if they feel he's at risk of further injury. If Adams does play, he does not seem healthy enough to see the targets needed to get to 134 yards -- especially against the solid corner play of Darius Slay. It's very possible the team schemes a way to get Adams two catches early and then shut him down.

I'll update with any overnight news on Adams but expect him to be limited at best.

Sunday Update: Adams is inactive.

T.Y. Hilton | Ankle | Questionable | expected to play

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

Hilton has barely practiced since Thanksgiving but continues to be very effective while playing the majority of his team's offensive snaps. Team physicians have acknowledged Hilton's "superhuman way of playing through stuff" and Hilton has said he'll play again this week. There's no reason to doubt him after a month of missed practice and huge statistical performances.

Keke Coutee | Hamstring | Questionable | inactive

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

Another week with the same practice line and game status for Coutee. In each previous case, Coutee has not been active. There seems to be more optimism than usual this week but until we see Coutee active and playing a significant number of snaps, it's hard to project a full workload.

John Brown | Hamstring | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

The Ravens often use the questionable tag as a proxy for probable. The Wednesday DNP looks more like a veteran day of rest than an injury concern and Brown returned to a full Friday practice. The Ravens clinch a playoff berth with a win. Expect Brown to be active and play through the hamstring strain.

Others of note: DeAndre Hopkins (ankle), Tyreek Hill (heel), Keenan Allen (hip), Randall Cobb (concussion), Doug Baldwin (shoulder), Sterling Shepard (hip), Danny Amendola (knee), Robby Anderson (ankle), and Jamison Crowder (wrist) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play without limitation. Odell Beckham (quad), Allen Robinson (ribs), Equanimeous St. Brown (concussion), Tyler Boyd (knee), Quincy Enunwa (ankle), Sammy Watkins (heel), DeSean Jackson (Achilles), Marquise Goodwin (calf), Dante Pettis (knee), Russell Shepard (ankle) and Jermaine Kearse (Achilles) have been declared out. I'll update return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players in Monday's column.

TIGHT END

Eric Ebron | Concussion / Foot | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

Ebron was not scheduled to see the independent neurologist for clearance until Saturday. The full Friday practice is reassuring but there's always a possibility of recurrent symptoms after a practice -- see Vernon Davis this week. However, there were no reports that Ebron did not travel with the team to Tennessee and he has likely been cleared to play.

Others of note: Jared Cook (ribs), David Njoku (knee), Austin Hooper (knee), and Jimmy Graham (thumb/knee) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play without limitation. Jordan Reed (foot), Vernon Davis (concussion), and Ricky Seals-Jones (shoulder) 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