Photo: Imagn Images

Wednesday Media Updates

***George Kittle has a chance to play through a knee sprain this week but after the Niners saw multiple players go down with season-ending leg injuries last week on the new turf at MetLife Stadium, they may choose not to risk an aggravation of his injury on the same field this week.

***The Saints did not practice Wednesday -- a planned off day after their road Monday night game in Las Vegas. Their estimated practice report suggests Michael Thomas would not have practiced. There were conflicting reports on Thomas' progress last week and it's unclear how meaningful today's DNP may be. Given Tom Pelissero's report that Thomas could miss multiple weeks with this high ankle sprain, I'm suspicious of the subsequent positive reports. Consider Thomas doubtful until he practices consecutively and there's clear indication he's nearing full strength.

***The Packers told reporters Davante Adams did not return to last week's blowout win for precautionary reasons. Adams, reassuringly cleared to talk to the media after not practicing today, said he was "making good progress every day" but is choosing "to wait it out and see" rather than committing to playing this week. We'll know more about Adams' status by Friday.

***You should be more concerned about Julio Jones this week. In previous weeks, Jones returned to practice by the end of the week and was not listed on the game status report -- indicating he was near full strength. Unfortunately, Jones aggravated a mild hamstring strain last week and is not practicing. Expect him to be a game-time decision at best.

***Darren Waller missed a handful of snaps with knee soreness on Monday night but returned and continued his highly-effective play. There are no reports of concern from around the team about Waller. Watch Thursday's practice participation and media interviews but expect Waller to play.

***Kenny Golladay did not practice last week but was reportedly reconditioning with a plan to return to football-related activity. Listed as limited today, Golladay participated in full-speed individual drills and looks to be tracking toward a return this week.

***Josh Jacobs was on the sideline receiving treatment for a tight hip flexor muscle during the second half of the Raiders' game Monday night. He did not practice today but there are no immediate indications he's at risk of a limited role this week. Another DNP on Thursday would raise concern.

***Jimmy Garoppolo won't play this week. The Niners felt he may have an outside chance at enough recovery time but Kyle Shanahan told reporters he would "be surprised if Garoppolo is ready." Nick Mullens will get the start this week.

***Multiple reports confirm that Tyrod Taylor experienced a collapsed lung after an injection to numb the nerves around his rib injury. A known, though rare, complication, Taylor will need at least a week to recover and there are indications he may need multiple weeks.

***Jalen Reagor has a torn ligament at the base of his thumb and will miss multiple weeks.

***The Rams held Malcolm Brown and Cam Akers out of practice. Brown had surgery to fixate a broken pinky finger and expected to play. Akers is considered day-to-day with a rib cartilage injury.

Injured Reserve additions through Wednesday transactions:

• RB Christian McCaffrey (ankle)
• RB Saquon Barkley (knee)
• WR Courtland Sutton (knee)
• WR Sterling Shepard (toe)
• WR Parris Cambell (knee)
• WR Phillip Dorsett (foot)
• TE Maxx Williams (ankle)

THURSDAY NIGHT INJURY EXPECTATIONS

Here are the key offensive players listed on the practice participation or game status report for Thursday Night Football:

Miami at Jacksonville

***D.J. Chark is listed questionable with a chest and back injury. With very little in the local media, projecting his availability is difficult. It's concerning to see the questionable tag after Chark did not practice on Wednesday. There didn't appear to be a significant injury last week and Chark played his usual 80% of the team's offensive snaps. Watch the news overnight Wednesday and through the day on Thursday for actionable notes. If Chark is active, he should be able to see his usual snap count and target share.

Thursday Update: Chark has been ruled out tonight.

Early week practice participation and playing expectations

The Wednesday and Thursday practice participation reports are our first chance to see which players each NFL team is limiting in practice after the previous week's games. Players limited in mid-week practice aren't necessarily in danger of missing that week's game. But they all need to be watched closely.

Note: Asterisk denotes Monday night players who practice Thursday/Friday/Saturday.

Follow me on Twitter @JeneBramel for breaking injury news and analysis throughout the week.