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Inseason injury coverage

Footballguys will again provide comprehensive injury coverage during the regular season.

My writing and podcast schedule will include:

Monday Injury Rounds > Published as soon as complete Sunday night and updated through Tuesday morning, this feature will review all the major injuries from the weekend's games, provide follow up analysis on injured players who have yet to return to play, and project when every injured player will return.

Waiver Wire Podcast > Tuesday morning release reviewing all injuries at the quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end positions with Cecil Lammey and Sigmund Bloom heading into your weekly waiver run.

Midweek Injury Expectations > Published late Wednesday night after the first weekly practice participation report and updated through Thursday's practice report, this feature will detail the current practice participation of every listed player and project the likelihood each player will play in the coming week.

Thursday Live Audible podcast > Joining Cecil Lammey, Sigmund Bloom, and Matt Waldman at 900 ET every Thursday night for a comprehensive Q&A updating all player injuries.

Gameday Injury Expectations > Published Saturday, this feature will review the practice status of every injured player, provide analysis on player/coach/beat writer comments throughout the week, and discuss how likely and how effective each injured player will be on Sunday.

Sunday Live Gameday podcast > Joining Sigmund Bloom and Matt Waldman at 1000 ET every Sunday morning to discuss and interpret the week's practice participation reports and breaking weekend injury news.

Injury Rounds

Patrick Mahomes II | Right patella dislocation | Week 7 | 3-6 Weeks | Week 11+ Return | Out Week 8

Mahomes dislocated his right kneecap last Thursday night. The kneecap was returned to its position on the field and x-rays were negative. The good news continued through the weekend, as a follow-up MRI study reportedly showed minimal damage to the supporting ligaments of the kneecap.

The reassuring MRI finding is critical. It allows Mahomes a chance to rehab and delay any possible surgical repair until after the season. Pain, swelling, and stiffness may limit Mahomes rehab but reports on Sunday morning suggest the Chiefs and Mahomes now see his recovery as week to week.

There are not many NFL comps for patellar dislocations. One optimistic comp is a 2009 injury to Matthew Stafford, who only required four weeks to return to play and successfully delayed surgery until the offseason.

While an injury is never good news, there's another silver lining here. Mahomes' absence will allow the high ankle sprain he's aggravated multiple times to heal. While the Chiefs will continue to be cautious with Mahomes in the pocket to limit his chance of another dislocation, the recovery of Mahomes' ankle sprain should improve his in-pocket movement.

The Chiefs play in Mexico City in Week 11 and have a bye week in Week 12. If Mahomes rehab moves swiftly and the Chiefs are comfortable with him traveling and playing, Week 11 is possible. If not, expect Mahomes to return in Week 13.

Adam Thielen | Right hamstring strain | Week 7 | Awaiting Information | Questionable Week 8

Thielen didn't return after straining his right hamstring on a spectacular touchdown reception. Though he was reportedly close to returning, the Vikings ruled Thielen out after halftime. Predicting the severity of soft tissue injuries is difficult from video alone. The Vikings have an MRI planned for Thielen on Monday. Even a low-grade injury may be too much to overcome for Thielen to play this week. Minnesota plays Thursday night.

Monday update: Tom Pelissero reported Thielen has a low-grade hamstring strain. He remains unlikely to play Thursday but the MRI finding suggests Thielen may be able to return to play in Week 9.

Matt Ryan | Right high ankle sprain | Week 7 | Awaiting Information | Questionable Week 8

Ryan could not finish Sunday's game after suffering an ankle injury. Video showed a likely high ankle sprain and Ryan was immobilized in a boot after the game. Adam Schefter reports Ryan will have an MRI to further define the injury on Monday but the Falcons do not believe the injury to be serious.

In reality, the Falcons won't be able to set a recovery timetable until Monday's evaluation. Some high ankle sprains look low-grade initially only to develop more swelling and stiffness than expected after 24 hours. The MRI may also show more damage than the initial exam suggests. Playing through high ankle sprains are somewhat easier for pocket quarterbacks, giving Ryan a better chance to play than other players with injuries of similar severity.

Follow Up Appointments

Alvin Kamara | Right high ankle sprain / Left MCL sprain | Week 6 | Week-to-Week | Doubtful Week 8

Kamara injured his ankle in practice leading into Week 6. There were no details on his diagnosis and he was cleared to play in Week 7. This week, multiple writers reported Kamara's ankle injury was a high-ankle sprain. During the Week 6 game, Kamara also appeared to suffer a low-grade MCL sprain.

Either injury can be enough to keep a running back out of game action, even when of a lower grade. When both injuries exist together, there's a clear risk of aggravation or compensatory injury. The Saints had no intention of risking Kamara this week. He was not cleared for practice and was ruled out on Friday.

The same conditions exist for Kamara this week and a weekend report suggested the high ankle sprain was the more limiting injury. With Latavius Murray capable of handling a full workload against the Cardinals and a bye week to follow, Kamara will need to prove he's fully recovered to play. More likely, the Saints will rest Kamara in anticipation of him returning -- with Drew Brees -- closer to full strength in Week 10.

Drew Brees | Right thumb ligament repair | Week 2 | Day-to-Day | Doubtful Week 8

Initially given a timetable in the six-week range, Brees has targeted Week 8 as his return. Rehab has reportedly progressed smoothly and a return this week is possible. However, the Saints have no incentive to rush Brees back to play against Arizona with Teddy Bridgewater continuing to lead the Saints to wins and a bye in Week 9. New Orleans may choose to rest Brees and continue to rehab and build strength in the thumb.

Interestingly, Erin Andrews reported the Saints may choose to have Brees on the active roster in Week 8 -- as a backup -- while starting Teddy Bridgewater at quarterback and using Taysom Hill at tight end while Jared Cook recovers from an ankle injury. Brees told local reporters he's planning to practice this week and hopes to play.

There's much more to come on Brees this week. I'll update here through Monday and have additional details in Wednesday's injury review.

Davante Adams | Right big toe sprain | Week 4 | Day-to-Day | Questionable Week 8

Adams told reporters he was "a million times better" last week than the previous week. He was still unable to practice, however, and is questionable to play this week. Until Adams is able to practice without limitation, the Packers are unlikely to clear him to play. Even if that's not this week, Adams' comments last week suggest he'll be back before Green Bay's Week 11 bye.

David Johnson | Left ankle injury | Week 6 | Day-to-Day | Doubtful Week 8

Johnson was on the active roster after two limited practices last week while recovering from a Week 6 ankle injury. The Cardinals had only Johnson and Chase Edmonds on the active roster, choosing not to add another player for depth. That suggested the team was comfortable with Johnson's availability.

Johnson played just two snaps on Sunday. After the game, Kliff Kingsbury said the game plan was to use Johnson in emergency situations only and to spell Edmonds early. Kingsbury denied Johnson aggravated his ankle injury.

That explanation doesn't pass muster.

Johnson could barely bear weight on his left foot, hopping twice then falling down on his only carry during the first offensive series. Johnson limped off and didn't return while Edmonds polished off a career day on 27 carries and four targets.

Barring significant improvement this week, Johnson should be considered doubtful to see significant snaps next week.

Monday update: Ian Rapoport had Edmonds on his podcast on Monday. According to Rapoport, Edmonds said Johnson tried to play and realized he could not perform within two snaps. Not surprisingly, the Cardinals worked about multiple veteran running backs on Monday afternoon. Johnson should be now considered doubtful for Week 9.

Cam Newton | Left Lisfranc sprain | Week 2 | Week-to-Week | Out Week 8

There were reports last week Newton's rehab was in the final stages, hinting at the beginnings of a possible quarterback controversy in Carolina coming out of their Week 7 bye. While a six-week recovery period is within the range of reasonable expectations, there have been no reports that Newton has returned to football-related activity. Unlike the accelerated return to practice and play Newton attempted prior to Week 1, the Panthers and Newton have no interest in rushing his current recovery.

It's possible we'll see Newton begin limited individual drills this week, but it's unlikely he'll be ready to play until Week 9 at the earliest -- and his return could easily stretch into mid-November.

Monday update: Ron Rivera told reporters Newton would continue to rehab this week rather than returning to practice.

A.J. Green | Left ankle surgery | Late July | Week-to-Week | Week 10+ Return | Out Week 8

After two limited practices leading into Week 6, Green did not practice at all last week. It's not clear whether Green suffered a setback in his recovery or decided to slow his rehab down rather than push to return before the team's Week 9 bye.

On Sunday morning, Adam Schefter reported Green was unlikely to return until after the NFL trade deadline passed at the end of October. That would coincide with a return after Cincinnati's bye week and is not a surprising expectation. Green seemed frustrated at any suggestion he may be delaying his rehab rather than returning to a floundering 0-7 team or seeking to preserve any possible trade value he may have. He told reporters he would play when he's ready.

Expect Green to need at least one full week of practice before returning. It's likely we'll see Green return to individual drills in one week then full practice the following week. That also points to Week 10 as his earliest return date.

Fast Track News and Notes

***James Conner left his Week 6 game early with a quad strain. Mike Tomlin told reporters last week Conner would be limited in practice but there's been no indication Conner is in danger of missing this week's game.

***Kerryon Johnson was spelled twice in the first quarter before finally leaving after limping through two consecutive mid-quarter carries. He was later seen on an exercise bike wearing a brace but did not return to the game. I'll update should Matt Patricia be unexpectedly generous with injury updates on Monday.

Monday update: Adam Schefter and Matt Patricia both called Johnson's injury "week-to-week" and suggested he would "miss some time." I'll be watching the All-22 tape for clues on possible injury severity. For now, expect Johnson to miss at least this week.

***Will Fuller's hamstring strain is "significant" according to Ian Rapoport. He's likely to miss multiple weeks. Don't expect to see Fuller until after Houston's Week 10 bye.

Designated to Return by Team

• Green Bay (1): Jace Sternberger (W7)
• New England (1): WR N'Keal Harry (W7)
• New York Giants (1): DB Sam Beal (W7)
• Oakland (1): DB Isaiah Johnson (W7)

Injured Players on Active Roster