NOTE: During the regular season, this column is a living document through Tuesday morning. I'll be updating as needed after team press conferences, imaging reports, Monday Night Football injuries, etc. Major changes to the content will be noted in red.
Scroll to the bottom of this article for a quick look table of the week's most pressing injury situations and a review of players on injured reserve / PUP / NFI.
Footballguys will have close and detailed coverage of all injuries this season. Here's a look at my expected schedule. I will do my best to stick to this. Work and family responsibilities may sometimes cause brief delays.
Monday Injury Rounds: Posted Sunday night, updated through Tuesday AM. Detailed analysis of the week's injuries with table for quick review. Offensive injuries will be live Sunday night. Critical defensive and offensive line injuries will be added throughout the day on Monday. I'll be updating with news and analysis through Tuesday.
Midweek Injury Expectations: Posted Wednesday night. Analysis of the practice participation report with a table including my projection of each injured player's likely game status. Will include discussion of any major breaking injury news.
Sunday Gameday Expectations: Posted by Saturday afternoon, updated through Sunday morning inactives. Will include individual player blurbs with detailed thoughts on the week's injury news and my speculation on player availability and limitations. Will include table highlighting each day's practice participation, official game status, and my availability expectation.
I'll be contributing to our waiver wire podcast (Tuesday release) and our live Sunday morning pregame show (10 ET Sunday on YouTube). I will also be retweeting key pieces of news and my own reaction and analysis, so make sure you're following me @JeneBramel and checking my timeline on Twitter throughout the week.
INJURY ROUNDS
Melvin Gordon | Right MCL sprain | Week-to-Week | Doubtful Week 13
After a concerning week of practice and a lukewarm Friday endorsement from Anthony Lynn, Gordon looked much healthier than I expected yesterday. Unfortunately, Gordon took a hard hit to his right knee on a reverse and left the game. Multiple reports indicate Gordon suffered a medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain on the play. Gordon's previous hamstring and knee injuries did not make Sunday's new injury more likely. Lynn told reporters it was Gordon's left knee that limited him in practice last week.
Gordon will have an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of his sprain and look for other damage. There's no apparent concern for an ACL tear and Gordon's injury is not expected to be season ending. Recovery from an MCL sprain depends on two factors. First, Gordon's knee will have to be stable on examination. That means his knee must not appear loose under stress. A higher grade sprain will take longer to heal and return to its pre-injury state. Second, Gordon will have to feel that his knee is stable when he cuts at football speed. Lower grade sprains may recover quickly enough to return to play in 1-2 weeks. Higher grade sprains can take 4-6 weeks of rehab.
It's too soon to know how long Gordon will be out. Expect him to miss at least one week. If the MRI images show a higher-grade injury, Gordon may miss multiple weeks.
Monday Update: The Chargers confirmed Gordon sustained a Grade 2 MCL sprain. A Grade 1 injury is more of a stretch than a discrete tear. A Grade 3 injury is a complete rupture of the ligament. Grade 2 injuries include everything in-between. The team tweeted that Gordon will be evaluated weekly. Ian Rapoport reported Gordon will be "out the next few weeks but should be back before the end of the season if all goes well." That sounds like a relatively significant mid-grade sprain. The Chargers would undoubtedly love to have Gordon back in time for their Thursday night matchup in Kansas City in Week 15. Based on these early reports, that's likely the best case scenario for his return.
Andy Dalton | Right thumb sprain | Awaiting Information | Out for Season
Dalton suffered a right thumb injury while tracking down an errant snap. Early reports are Dalton did not suffer a broken thumb and Marvin Lewis told reporters the injury "isn't a long term concern." However, Dalton will have further imaging on Monday and team website reporter Geoff Hobson tweeted Dalton will see a hand specialist. That suggests Dalton's exam may have shown some looseness in the joint between his thumb and hand. That's important as it may affect how well Dalton grips and releases the ball. Immobilization may be needed to help that ligament heal, which would likely put Dalton out next week and possibly beyond. Hopefully, further tests and exams will prove reassuring and Dalton will return sooner than later.
I'll update with more after Monday's evaluations are reported.
Monday Update: Imaging and specialist evaluations on Dalton today revealed torn ligaments as feared. The Bengals placed Dalton on injured reserve today. While it's not yet known whether Dalton will need surgery to repair the ligaments, his season is over. He should return for offseason workouts in 2019.
Evan Engram | Hamstring strain | Awaiting Information | Questionable Week 13
Engram injured his hamstring during pregame warmups. It's not clear whether Engram was hurt before inactives were reported and the Giants didn't announce the injury until after the game started. Engram didn't play and the team didn't address his condition after the game. I'll update with any news on Monday but reports that an MRI is necessary would be concerning.
Monday Update: Engram told reporters he's hopeful to play in Week 13
Others of note:
Monday Update: The Colts announced Jack Doyle will go on injured reserve after having a procedure to address a kidney injury suffered on Sunday. It's likely Doyle suffered a laceration to the kidney that continued to bleed and required further intervention. Doyle should fully recover for offseason workouts.
***Marlon Mack was diagnosed with a concussion and will have to successfully progress through the return-to-play protocol to be cleared this week.
Monday Update: Denver announced Jeff Heuerman has multiple fractured ribs and a bruised lung. He will go on injured reserve.
Offensive line and defensive notes:
***The Jaguars' offensive line is again battling injury. Both starting guards -- Andrew Norwell (left with ankle injury) and A.J. Cann (ongoing hamstring concerns) -- were unable to finish Sunday's game. It's not known whether either will miss additional time. Jacksonville did designate tackle Josh Wells to return from injured reserve last week.
***Cincinnati tackle Cordy Glenn hurt his back in practice last week and did not play. Backup tackle Jake Fisher left yesterday's game with a back injury.
***Standout cornerback Donte Jackson left Carolina's game early yesterday with a quad strain and did not return.
Follow-up Appointments
A.J. Green | Right foot injury | Week-to-Week | Questionable Week 13
Green was reportedly cleared to return to practice by Dr. Robert Anderson last week. He did not. That seemed unexpected to Marvin Lewis who, if he's to be believed, thought Green would play as late as his Wednesday press conference last week. There's no indication of an unreported setback. Rather, it appears Green decided on another week of cautious rehab. Josina Anderson reported Green's healing process continued but the plan for Green was "to look to next week" at home against Denver.
While Green may in fact be close to playing, we've now heard a similar refrain from reporters for two consecutive weeks. The reality is Green has yet to return to practice. Until he does, don't expect to see him on game day.
Joe Flacco | Hip injury | Week-to-Week | Questionable Week 13
Flacco has yet to be cleared to practice after a Week 9 hip injury. John Harbaugh told reporters Flacco's injury was expected to require a 3-4 week recovery period -- which he's now met -- and Flacco could be cleared to return this week. If Flacco is not practicing on Wednesday, he'll be unlikely to play this week. If Flacco is practicing, the Ravens will be put to a quarterback decision. Harbaugh wouldn't budge on his decision-making process, though. He told reporters he wouldn't share any information on whether Flacco would regain his starting job.
Kerryon Johnson | Left knee sprain | Week-to-Week | Questionable Week 13
Johnson was not able to recover from his knee sprain in time to play on Thanksgiving Day. Reports last week suggested Johnson would only "miss a game or two." The Lions can be a difficult team to read, with Matt Patricia rarely dishing useful injury information to the media. Practice participation will be our only guide. If Johnson isn't practicing on Wednesday or Thursday, expect him to sit another week.
Others of note:
***Marvin Jones was not ready to return on Detroit's short Thanksgiving Day week. He should be closer to returning this week after suffering a bone bruise somewhere around his knee. There was at least some concern for a longer-term injury with Jones electing to see a specialist in the days after his bruise, however. If Jones is not participating in drills by Thursday, he's unlikely to play this week.
Monday Update: There was indeed concern for a longer-term injury. Matt Patricia told reporters Jones would be moved to injured reserve today. His season is over.
***Rex Burkhead was designated to return by New England and has returned to practice. He eligible to return next week and expected to be added to the active roster. Though he's reportedly back to full strength, it's not yet clear whether Burkhead will be ready to join the active game day roster.
***D'Onta Foreman was reported to be close to returning as early as Week 7 against Jacksonville. A minor setback and ongoing conditioning concerns pushed the Texans to delay starting the three-week practice period as long as possible and Foreman was not cleared to return to workouts until last week. Foreman says he's making progress. The Texans have two more weeks to decide whether to activate Foreman off the PUP list. There's no indication yet whether the Texans think Foreman can return.
***Mitchell Trubisky injured his shoulder against the Vikings in Week 11. After initial optimism, he was unable to play on Thanksgiving Day and may now be doubtful for Week 13. On Sunday morning, Adam Schefter reported Trubisky as "hopeful" to play this week but his return is not certain. Schefter further reported Trubisky would be expected to play in Week 14 at the latest.
***The Jets are likely to hold Sam Darnold out one more week. Ian Rapoport tweeted Sunday morning that Darnold could return to practice this week but the medical staff may want more than one week of practice to assess Darnold's recovery. If he practices without incident this week, Darnold should be ready to return in Week 14.
Offensive line and defensive notes:
***There are reports Eric Berry could be cleared to practice as the Chiefs return from their bye week. Berry's return has been hinted multiple times this year and not come to fruition. Hopefully, we'll see Berry on the practice field this week.
***The Falcons have moved Deion Jones to their active roster but were not yet comfortable playing him on game day. Another ten days of reconditioning after last week's Thursday night game should be sufficient to get him back this week.
INJURED PLAYERS ON ACTIVE ROSTER
Quarterbacks Injured | On the Active Roster
|
||||||
Player
|
Team
|
Injury
|
Date
|
Player/Team Says
|
FBG Expects
|
Notes
|
Andy Dalton | Cin | Right thumb sprain | Week 12 | Injured reserve | IR| 2019 return | Out for Season |
Mitchell Trubisky | Chi | Right shoulder injury | Week 11 | Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Questionable Week 13 |
Joe Flacco | Bal | Hip injury | Week 9 | Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Questionable Week 13 |
Sam Darnold | NYJ | Right foot sprain | Week 9 | Week-to-Week | Week 14 Return | Doubtful Week 13 |
Running Backs Injured | On the Active Roster
|
||||||
Player
|
Team
|
Injury
|
Date
|
Player/Team Says
|
FBG Expects
|
Notes
|
Melvin Gordon
|
LAC
|
Right MCL sprain
|
Week 12
|
Week-to-Week | Week 15+ Return | Out Week 13 |
Det
|
Left knee sprain
|
Week 11
|
Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Questionable Week 13 | |
Ind
|
Concussion
|
Week 12
|
Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Questionable Week 13 | |
Bal
|
Knee injury
|
Week 12
|
Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Questionable Week 13 | |
TB
|
Hamstring strain
|
Week 8
|
Week-to-Week
|
Week 13+ Return
|
Questionable Week 13
|
|
Was
|
Rib / Knee injuries
|
Week 6/8
|
Week-to-Week
|
Week 13+ Return
|
Questionable Week 13
|
|
Phi
|
Hamstring strain aggravation
|
Week 9
|
Week-to-Week
|
Week 14+ Return
|
Out Week 13
|
|
Wide Receivers Injured | On the Active Roster
|
||||||
Player
|
Team
|
Injury
|
Date
|
Player/Team Says
|
FBG Expects
|
Notes
|
Cin
|
Right foot injury
|
Week 8
|
Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Questionable Week 13 | |
Marvin Jones
|
Det
|
Right knee contusion
|
Week 10
|
Injured reserve (exp) | IR | 2019 return | Out for season |
GB
|
Hamstring strain aggravation
|
Week 9
|
Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Questionable Week 13 | |
Car
|
Back injury
|
Week 11
|
Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Questionable Week 13 | |
TreQuan Smith
|
NO
|
Foot injury
|
Week 11
|
Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Questionable Week 13 |
SF
|
Knee injury
|
Chronic
|
Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Questionable Week 13 | |
TB
|
Thumb injury
|
Week 10
|
Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Questionable Week 13 | |
Was
|
Ankle injury
|
Week 5
|
Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | Questionable Week 13 | |
Mia
|
Right knee injury
|
Week 12
|
Awaiting Information | Week-to-Week | Doubtful Week 13 | |
Dal
|
Groin strain
|
Week 6
|
Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | Questionable Week 13 | |
Oak
|
PCL sprain
|
Week 10
|
Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | Doubtful Week 13 | |
Ten
|
Toe injury
|
Week 9
|
Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | Questionable Week 13 | |
Tight Ends Injured | On the Active Roster
|
||||||
Player
|
Team
|
Injury
|
Date
|
Player/Team Says
|
FBG Expects
|
Notes
|
Ind
|
Kidney injury
|
Week 12
|
Injured reserve
|
IR | 2019 return
|
Out for Season | |
NYG
|
Hamstring strain
|
Week 12
|
Day-to-Day
|
Week 13+ Return
|
Questionable Week 13 | |
Buf
|
Right hamstring strain
|
Week 9
|
Week-to-Week
|
Week 13+ Return
|
Questionable Week 13 | |
Den
|
Rib fractures / Lung contusion
|
Week 12
|
Injured reserve (exp)
|
IR | 2019 Return
|
Out for Season | |
Dal
|
Wrist fracture fixation
|
Week 11
|
Week-to-Week
|
Week 14++ Return
|
Out Week 13 | |
Ind
|
Knee injury
|
Week 6
|
Week-to-Week
|
Week 13+ Return
|
Questionable Week 13 | |
Offensive Linemen Injured | On the Active Roster
|
||||||
Tackles
|
Team
|
Injury
|
Date
|
Player/Team Says
|
FBG Expects
|
Notes
|
Terron Armstead | NO | Right pectoral strain | Week 10 | Week-to-Week | Week 14+ Return | Out Week 13 |
David Bakhtiari | GB | Left knee injury | Week 12 | Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Questionable Week 13 |
Marcus Gilbert | Pit | Knee injury | Week 7 | Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Questionable Week 13 |
Cordy Glenn | Cin | Back injury | Week 12 | Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Questionable Week 13 |
Jake Fisher | Cin | Back injury | Week 12 | Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Questionable Week 13 |
D.J. Humphries | Ari | Knee injury | Week 10 | Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Questionable Week 13 |
James Hurst | Bal | Back injury | Week 7 | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | Doubtful Week 13 |
Demar Dotson | TB | Knee / hamstring injuries | Week 12 | Awaiting Information | Week 13+ Return | Questionable Week 13 |
Guards
|
Team
|
Injury
|
Date
|
Player/Team Says
|
FBG Expects
|
Notes
|
Andrew Norwell | Jac | Ankle injury | Week 12 | Injured reserve (exp) | IR | 2019 return | Out for season |
A.J. Cann | Jac | Hamstring strain | Week 11 | Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Questionable Week 13 |
James Carpenter | NYJ | Shoulder injury | Week 10 | Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Questionable Week 13 |
Centers
|
Team
|
Injury
|
Date
|
Player/Team Says
|
FBG Expects
|
Notes
|
Ryan Kelly | Ind | Left MCL sprain | Week 11 | Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Questionable Week 13 |
Mitch Morse | KC | Concussion | Week 6 | Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Questionable Week 13 |
Travis Swanson | Mia | Ankle injury | Week 12 | Awaiting Information | Awaiting Information | Questionable Week 13 |
Defensive Players Injured | On the Active Roster
|
||||||
Edge Rushers
|
Team
|
Injury
|
Date
|
Player/Team Says
|
FBG Expects
|
Notes
|
Marcus Davenport | NO | Right foot injury | Week 8 | Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Questionable Week 13 |
Defensive Linemen
|
Team
|
Injury
|
Date
|
Player/Team Says
|
FBG Expects
|
Notes
|
David Irving | Dal | High ankle sprain | Week 7 | Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Questionable Week 13 |
Taco Charlton | Dal | Shoulder injury | Week 9 | Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Questionable Week 13 |
Mike Daniels | GB | Foot injury | Week 11 | Week-to-Week | Week 14++ Return | Out Week 12 |
Stephon Tuitt | Pit | Elbow injury | Week 10 | Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Questionable Week 13 |
Marcell Dareus | Jac | Back injury | Week 11 | Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Questionable Week 13 |
Linebackers
|
Team
|
Injury
|
Date
|
Player/Team Says
|
FBG Expects
|
Notes
|
Sean Lee | Dal | Hamstring strain | Week 9 | Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Doubtful Week 13 |
Deion Jones | Atl | Fractured Foot | Week 1 | Day-to-Day | Week 13+ Return | Probable Week 13 |
Jordan Hicks | Phi | Calf injury | Week 11 | Week-to-Week | Week 14+ Return | Doubtful Week 13 |
Lavonte David | TB | Right MCL sprain | Week 10 | Week-to-Week | Week 13++ Return | Doubtful Week 13 |
K.J. Wright | Sea | Chronic knee injury | Week 10 | Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Questionable Week 13 |
Josh Bynes | Ari | Thumb injury | Week 12 | Injured reserve (exp) | IR | 2019 return | Out for season |
Brandon Marshall | Den | Knee injury | Week 8 | Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Questionable Week 13 |
Nick Vigil | Cin | Left MCL sprain | Week 6 | Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Doubtful Week 13 |
Defensive Backs
|
Team
|
Injury
|
Date
|
Player/Team Says
|
FBG Expects
|
Notes
|
Budda Baker | Ari | Knee injury | Week 10 | Week-to-Week | Week 13+ Return | Questionable Week 13 |
Eric Berry | KC | Heel injury | Photos provided by Imagn Images
Tags
Injuries
Kwon Alexander
Ricardo Allen
Geronimo Allison
Danny Amendola
Tavon Austin
Budda Baker
Derek Barnett
Martavis Bryant
Rex Burkhead
Josh Bynes
Taco Charlton
Randall Cobb
Alex Collins
Jamison Crowder
Andy Dalton
Mike Daniels
Ronald Darby
Sam Darnold
Marcus Davenport
Lavonte David
Will Dissly
Jack Doyle
Evan Engram
Justin Evans
Joe Flacco
D'Onta Foreman
Devonta Freeman
Will Fuller V
Jimmy Garoppolo
Melvin Gordon III
Jakeem Grant Sr.
A.J. Green
Vernon Hargreaves III
Hunter Henry
Jordan Hicks
Mack Hollins
O.J. Howard
Mike Hughes
DeSean Jackson
Donte Jackson
Tony Jefferson
Kerryon Johnson
Deion Jones
Marvin Jones Jr
Ronald Jones II
Sidney Jones IV
Kevin King
Christian Kirksey
Dre Kirkpatrick
Tyler Kroft
Jake Kumerow
Cooper Kupp
Carl Lawson
Marlon Mack
Avonte Maddox
Marcus Maye
Jerick McKinnon
Rodney McLeod Jr.
Jalen Mills
Terrance Mitchell
Raheem Mostert
Keanu Neal
Denzel Perryman
Xavier Rhodes
Andrew Sendejo
Tre'Quan Smith
M.J. Stewart
Geoff Swaim
Mitch Trubisky
Jason Verrett
Nick Vigil
Jimmie Ward
Kyzir White
Albert Wilson
Cedrick Wilson Jr.
K.J. Wright
just now
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