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UNDERSTANDING THE NFL'S INJURY REPORT

The injury report released by the NFL is 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:

Fast Track News and Notes

Scroll down for full details, extensive updates, and the complete table of projected availability. Here are the most important notes for this week's games:

Trending Doubtful (Likely Inactive)

• George Kittle

Trending Probable (Expected to Play)

• Amari Cooper
• Le'Veon Bell

Game-time Decisions

• Matthew Stafford (likely to play)

QUARTERBACK

Patrick Mahomes II | Knee | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

Mahomes fully practiced this week and will return to the starting lineup. While this is the first week Mahomes was cleared for full practice, he's been throwing for two weeks and won't need much time to readjust to game speed.

Regardless of the reassuring MRI findings and successfully quick recovery, Mahomes remains at risk of another kneecap dislocation. The risk is small, however, and the Chiefs will likely take precautions to limit the risk further. Expect Mahomes to remain in the pocket with additional protection or roll out only on designed plays. Kansas City remains without tackle Eric Fisher. Guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is a game-time decision.

Though the Chiefs may limit Mahomes movement outside the pocket, do not expect them to limit the routes his receivers will run or call more running plays than their usual baseline. There may be a somewhat lower floor than usual, but Mahomes' pre-injury ceiling projections are within the range of expectation immediately.

Matthew Stafford | Hip / Back | Questionable | Inactive

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

Stafford has been dealing with hip and back soreness for weeks. Frequently listed on the injury report only to return to full practice by the end of the week, Stafford remained limited all week and the Lions have him listed questionable. Stafford reassuringly told reporters he felt good midweek and has routinely been effective through injury in the past. Expect him to be active with a good chance to be productive.

Saturday Update: Ian Rapoport reported Saturday afternoon that "there is concern about the status" of Stafford. Rapoport tweeted Stafford "could be a real game-time decision." Multiple beat writers quickly acknowledged that Stafford may be ailing but still expect him to play. Back spasms can worsen quickly and sporadically and resolve slowly. The Lions may not know Stafford's status with certainty until Sunday. But his history of playing through injury would argue he's still on the probable side of questionable.

Sunday Update: Adam Schefter reports "Stafford is being told by some not to play." The back injury is the primary concern and he'll have to play through pain per Schefter. The Lions will decide this morning whether Stafford can go.

Sunday Update: Ian Rapoport is reporting Stafford will not play today against Chicago. The team has not made an official announcement. Inactives will be released 90 minutes before game time but expect Stafford to be inactive.

Sunday Update: Adam Schefter reporting Stafford is dealing with "fractured bones in his back" and will not be cleared to play today. I'll have more on Stafford's injury in Monday's Injury Rounds column.

Jacoby Brissett | Knee | Questionable > Declared Out | Inactive

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

Brissett fully practiced this week, leading to an optimistic local consensus that Brissett may be able to play through his MCL sprain. The Colts elected to remain cautious with Brissett, though, promoting Chad Kelly from the practice squad and declaring Brissett out. I'll have more on Monday after Frank Reich discusses the decision-making process with Brissett.

Others of note: Lamar Jackson (illness), Aaron Rodgers (knee), Drew Brees (thumb), Matt Ryan (ankle), Ryan Fitzpatrick (shoulder), Kyle Allen (shoulder), and Sam Darnold (thumb) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play. Return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players will be updated in Monday's column.

RUNNING BACK

Christian McCaffrey | Knee | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

Though McCaffrey has been on the injury report early in the week more often as the season has progressed, this is the first week he's not returned to a full practice by the end of the week. McCaffrey told reporters he felt fine and there was no reason for worry about his decreased practice participation. Expect McCaffrey to continue to see 90% or more of the Panthers' offensive snaps.

David Johnson | Ankle | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

Johnson returned to full practice after missing multiple games with an ankle injury and is not listed on the injury report. The Cardinals acquired Kenyan Drake prior to last week's game and used him heavily with Johnson (and Chase Edmonds) sidelined. Johnson's workload may change -- Arizona is expected to use him in a wider variety of alignments in the passing game -- but he's likely to see a full complement of snaps. His practice participation suggests his ankle injury is near full strength.

Le'Veon Bell | Knee | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Bell had another MRI early last week to re-evaluate a balky knee. The imaging study was reassuring and Bell returned to practice on Thursday. Though the Jets list Bell questionable, he's expected to play.

Others of note: Alvin Kamara (ankle / knee), Aaron Jones (shoulder), Trey Edmunds (ribs), and Malcolm Brown (ankle) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play. James Conner (shoulder), Chase Edmonds (hamstring), and Benny Snell (knee) are doubtful or have been declared out and will not play. Return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players will be updated in Monday's column.

WIDE RECEIVER

Davante Adams | Toe | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

Adams returned after missing four weeks with a mid-grade toe sprain and played 45 snaps (83%). The Packers were not shy about immediately re-involving Adams in the offense, targeting him eleven times.

Adams told reporters he's not full strength yet but did not aggravate the toe injury on those 45 snaps. Another full week of limited practices is reassuring. While Adams may still need some time to completely recover, he should be much closer to reaching full football conditioning this week. Expect him to again see 80% of the Green Bay offensive snaps and approach double-digit targets. His task may be somewhat easier with Carolina cornerback James Bradberry limited -- and possibly inactive -- with a groin injury.

Amari Cooper | Knee / Ankle | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Cooper has been playing through plantar fascia pain, an ankle sprain, and knee issues all season. Cooper had an MRI on his ailing knee during the week. The MRI reportedly showed a knee contusion, which Cooper implied was not a structural concern and would not limit him this week.

Cooper effectively played through the injury last week, including a long second-half touchdown reception in which he ran away from the defense to score. There is a risk of aggravation for Cooper this week, but he's planning to play and see his usual snap count and target load.

JuJu Smith-Schuster | Foot | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Smith-Schuster was added to the injury report on Friday with a foot injury and listed questionable. Smith-Schuster has missed practice multiple times this season with toe and foot soreness but played through pain. He's expected to do so again this week. He'll be matched up against a healthy Jalen Ramsey, making a potentially tough task even more difficult.

Marquise Brown | Ankle / Thigh | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

The Ravens limited Brown's practice on Friday then listed him questionable with ankle and thigh injuries. Baltimore frequently lists players questionable when they're more correctly considered probable. And the dual ankle and thigh designations suggest this isn't an injury suffered on Friday. There is no local concern about Brown's availability.

I'm expecting Brown to play and see his usual workload. I'll update with any overnight news.

Demaryius Thomas | Hamstring | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

Thomas has been listed on the injury report with a hamstring injury for most of the past two months. He's not missed any games with the injury after joining the Jets and his snap counts have remained in the 40-55 snap range. There are no local reports of concern and Thomas is likely to play in a favorable matchup against a banged-up Miami secondary.

Others of note: Tyler Lockett (hip), Odell Beckham (groin), Jarvis Landry (shoulder), Michael Gallup (knee), Curtis Samuel (hamstring), Marquez Valdes-Scantling (ankle/knee), Jamison Crowder (knee), Josh Gordon (ankle), and Tre'Quan Smith (ankle) are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play without limitation. Adam Thielen (hamstring), T.Y. Hilton (calf), Parris Campbell (hand), A.J. Green (ankle), Sterling Shepard (concussion), Brandin Cooks (concussion), and Corey Davis (hip) are doubtful or have been declared out and will not play. Return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players will be updated in Monday's column.

TIGHT END

*George Kittle | Knee / Ankle | Doubtful | Likely Inactive

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

Kittle did not practice all week after suffering knee and ankle injuries in last week's Thursday night game. Kyle Shanahan told reporters Kittle was doubtful to play. Although he has an extra day to rehab, Kittle was unable to get clearance for individual drills within ten days of the injury. It's unlikely another 24 hours will allow for enough healing to play.

Chris Herndon | Hamstring | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

After requiring multiple weeks of rehab and limited practice while recovering from a hamstring injury suffered while he was suspended, local reporters are expecting Herndon to be available for the first time this season.

Adam Gase told reporters it was "looking good" for Herndon to play. Herndon was similarly optimistic in a Friday media session. With Ryan Griffin playing well and off the injury report after missing reps with an ankle injury this week, it's not clear how many snaps or routes Herndon will see.

Others of note: Jared Cook (ankle), O.J. Howard (hamstring), Cameron Brate (ribs), and Ryan Griffin (ankle) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play without limitation. Delanie Walker (ankle) and Robert Tonyan Jr (hip) are listed doubtful or have been declared out and will not play. Return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players will be updated in Monday's column.

Practice Participation, Game Status Report, and Playing Expectations

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