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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)

• Zach Ertz (some optimism Sunday morning but limited at best) >> Ertz is ACTIVE

Trending Probable (Expected to Play)

• Tyreek Hill
• Adam Thielen
• Phillip Dorsett

Game-time Decisions

• Matt Breida (conflicting reports on availability)
• Mohamed Sanu (trending toward playing)

QUARTERBACK

Kyler Murray | Hamstring | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

The Cardinals added Murray to the game status report with a questionable tag after a full Friday practice. There were no updates from the team on Murray but local reporters expect him to play. Watch for overnight news suggesting the injury is more worrisome than expected but Murray should be able to play with minimal limitation.

Sunday Update: Murray is expected to play.

Others of note: Patrick Mahomes II (knee), Tom Brady (elbow), Carson Wentz (hand), Ryan Fitzpatrick (shoulder, forearm), Dwayne Haskins (hand), 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

Derrick Henry | Hamstring | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

Henry was limited early this week with a hamstring injury. There were no indications the injury occurred during practice and Henry was still carrying the ball last week with under five minutes remaining in a game the Titans led by 23 points.

Mike Vrabel and local reporters were optimistic throughout the week and Henry returned to a full practice on Friday. The Titans did not include Henry on the game status report. He looks ready to see his usual workload.

Matt Breida | Ankle | Questionable | Inactive

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

Breida returned to a full week of limited practice but remains listed questionable. Kyle Shanahan told reporters Breida "had a chance" to play if he progressed well during the week. Since then, there's been no official update and multiple local writers have remained quiet on Breida's status. The Niners have held Breida out for multiple weeks while his sprained ankle heals and it's unlikely they'll return him to game action until fully recovered. I'll update with overnight news.

Sunday Update: Overnight reports on Breida are conflicting. Adam Schefter posted a terse "expected to play" note in his overnight burst of tweets. Ian Rapoport tweeted Breida is not expected to play in favor of another week of rest and rehab. I'd generally lean toward Schefter's track record of accuracy but the Niners' offense has played well without Breida and presumably intend to rest him until fully recovered. Without a full practice, it's difficult to believe Breida has cleared that final hurdle.

Sunday Update: Adam Schefter now tweeting the Niners "want a healthy Breida for New Orleans next week" and will not have Breida active today. No surprise here but it's a great sign Breida will be ready to play next week.

Chris Thompson | Toe | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Bill Callahan told reporters Thompson would be active and return to play this week.

Others of note: Dalvin Cook (chest), Josh Jacobs (shoulder), Adrian Peterson (toe), Kalen Ballage (Achilles), Chase Edmonds (hamstring), and Justin Jackson (calf) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play. James Conner (shoulder), Jordan Howard (shoulder), Marlon Mack (hand), and Damien Williams (rib), 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

Tyreek Hill | Hamstring | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

All indications were that Hill's hamstring strain was minor in the days following the injury. Hill returned to a full week of practice without setback and is not listed on Kansas City's final game status report. While hamstring strains are tricky for speed receivers, Hill's full week of practice is reassuring.

When Hill returned from his SC sprain earlier this season, the Chiefs limited his snap count until he was fully reconditioned. It's possible Kansas City takes a similar approach. However, Hill's upside in a limited snap situation remains substantial.

*Adam Thielen | Hamstring | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

The Vikings reportedly targeted the week after their Week 12 bye for Thielen's return after he aggravated a low-grade hamstring injury in Week 9. Thielen was limited in practice but looked comfortable changing direction and along the sideline in drills. He'll likely return Monday night. The limited week of practice is reassuring about his conditioning and ability to play a sizable role in Minnesota's offense.

Sunday Update: Adam Thielen told reporters he may not trust himself to play if he's not fully recovered. With the limited practices and questionable tag, it's difficult to know whether this is a Minnesota injury report construct or a clear representation of Thielen's recovery. Thielen may be less likely to play than my initial forecast suggests. It's smart to find a Monday night hedge in case the Vikings remain cautious.

Julian Edelman | Shoulder | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Phillip Dorsett | Concussion | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Mohamed Sanu | Ankle | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

Edelman continues to play 90+% of the Patriots' offensive snaps despite his now-routine questionable tag. Expect the same this week.

Dorsett completed the exercise stages of the return to play protocol early in the week and traveled with the team to Houston. Though listed questionable, he's a near lock to play barring a Sunday morning setback.

There were conflicting reports about Sanu's status heading into Week 12. After reportedly making significant progress through the week, Sanu was inactive. It was then suggested the Patriots might hold him out multiple weeks to ensure his full recovery for the final weeks of the regular season. Sanu also traveled with the team on Saturday. Trusted beat writer Mike Reiss tweeted that Sanu "played coy" when asked about his weekend status. Reiss then speculated the team could have a fully healthy wide receiver depth chart this week.

I'll update Sanu's status after the overnight news reports are in.

Sunday Update: Ian Rapoport tweeted both Dorsett and Sanu are expected to play today.

Demaryius Thomas | Hamstring | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Routinely active and playing despite being listed questionable with the same hamstring condition, Thomas can again be expected to see his usual 35-45 snaps this week.

Parris Campbell | Hand | Questionable | Likely Inactive

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

Campbell continues to make progress in his recovery from hand surgery but may not be fully comfortable with the modified splint he'd need to wear to play. Frank Reich suggested Campbell remained iffy but said the Colts would continue to evaluate through the weekend. Campbell looks more doubtful than questionable.

Others of note: Davante Adams (toe), Tyler Lockett (shin), DK Metcalf (knee), Josh Gordon (ankle), Odell Beckham (groin), Jarvis Landry (hip), D.J. Moore (ankle), Curtis Samuel (knee), Deebo Samuel (shoulder), Emmanuel Sanders (ribs), Alshon Jeffery (ankle), Nelson Agholor (knee), Will Fuller (hamstring), Chris Conley (hamstring), Mike Williams (knee), and Sammy Watkins (illness) are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play without limitation. JuJu Smith-Schuster (concussion, knee), T.Y. Hilton (calf), Golden Tate (concussion), Hunter Renfrow (ribs), Paul Richardson Jr (hamstring), Dante Pettis (knee), and A.J. Green (ankle) 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 | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

Kittle's Week 9 injuries included a knee contusion and ankle fracture. He was effective for three quarters after the injury in Week 9, then returned to a similarly productive 38 snaps last week. Kittle rested on Wednesday then returned to practice on Thursday and Friday. The Niners did not include Kittle on the game status report and he will play.

Kittle's 38 snaps were his lowest raw total of the season. But Kittle wasn't on a limited snap count. The San Francisco offense played just 48 total snaps and Kittle's 79% share was not far under his baseline expectation. Expect Kittle to be a significant contributor to the Niners' offense again this week.

Zach Ertz | Hamstring | Questionable | Active

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

Ertz played through a hamstring strain last week but was barely able to practice this week. Despite the expected return of Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor, the Eagles promoted a tight end from the practice squad on Saturday. Dallas Goedert took a positive tone on Ertz's status when asked if he was likely to see more routes with Ertz out. But there's been little from the Eagles to suggest Ertz will be active or see his usual workload.

Sunday Update: The overnight news trended positively on Ertz. Multiple local writers believe Ertz could play and Ian Rapoport tweeted Ertz was "pushing to play." The tone of these reports doesn't inspire optimism, however. Each report contains language that strongly suggests Ertz isn't close to fully recovered -- he'll "attempt to play" or his "intention is to play." Ertz is a player who can be productive in a limited snap, high-leverage role but it's difficult to expect more than 2-4 targets today without a more confident report between now and game time.

Sunday Update: Ertz is active today.

Others of note: Jimmy Graham (calf) has practiced, is not listed on the game status report, and is expected to play without limitation. Evan Engram (foot), Rhett Ellison (concussion), and Gerald Everett (knee) 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.