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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 9:00 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 10:00 ET every Sunday morning to discuss and interpret the week's practice participation reports and breaking weekend injury news.

Injury Rounds

COVID-reserve

Despite increasingly tightened infection protocols, it was inevitable the NFL would see more cases of COVID as teams travel from city to city and among their own personal bubbles. Week 12 included a COVID outbreak in Baltimore that currently has 23 players either positive and in isolation or quarantined as high-risk contacts and an entire quarterback room in Denver lost to infection and contact tracing concerns.

A full accounting of every NFL player on the COVID-reserve list is beyond the scope of this feature. Here are the current quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends on the list:

• QB Lamar Jackson | Nov 27 | COVID+
• QB Jeff Driskel | Nov 26 | COVID+
• QB Drew Lock | Expected | High-Risk Contact
• QB Brett Rypien | Expected | High-Risk Contact
• QB Blake Bortles | Expected | High-Risk Contact
  
  
• RB James Conner | Nov 28 | COVID+
• RB J.K. Dobbins | Nov 23 | COVID+
• RB Mark Ingram | Nov 23 | COVID+
• RB Jonathan Taylor | Nov 28 | High-Risk Contact
• RB A.J. Dillon | Nov 2 | COVID+
  
  
• WR Adam Thielen | Nov 23 | COVID+
• WR Brandon Aiyuk | Nov 20 | COVID+
• WR Larry Fitzgerald | Nov 26 | COVID+
• WR Willie Snead | Nov 29 | COVID+
  
  
• TE Mark Andrews | Nov 28 | COVID+

The NFL return-to-play algorithm for those on the COVID-reserve list is as follows:

• COVID+ with symptoms: Cleared to return 10 days after symptoms first reported to team medical staff
• COVID+ without symptoms: Cleared to return 10 days after positive test or if two negative PCR tests 24 hours apart
• High-risk close contact: Cleared to return 5 days after last exposure to infected individual and negative daily PCR tests
• Low/medium risk close contact: Cleared to return if no symptoms after two negative PCR tests 24 hours apart

Each of these categories presumes a player without symptoms does not develop symptoms during the quarantine period and a COVID+ player has improvement in any symptoms after testing positive.

Some of the above players have been confirmed positive for COVID. Others are confirmed as close contacts. It's not clear which players are symptomatic and it's not known when symptoms were reported to medical staff. However, in general, you can use the above guidelines to get a rough idea of when a player is likely to return to the active roster.

Alternatively, you can refer to the table below.

This will be the new normal over the final five weeks of the regular season. Prepare for daily and unexpected adjustments to the active roster of all NFL teams.

Josh Jacobs | Right foot / ankle injury | Day-to-Day | Questionable Week 13

Jacobs was injured when a defender fell on his right leg and did not return. Video of the injury had elements of a low-grade high ankle sprain but was most suspicious for a midfoot injury. Jon Gruden told reporters there "was concern" about the injury but didn't elaborate after the game. Either injury will put Jacobs in jeopardy of missing this week's game.

Monday Update: Ian Rapoport is reporting the Raiders believe Jacobs suffered an ankle sprain and that the injury is not as bad as initially feared. Imaging studies are planned but Rapoport's report suggests Jacobs' follow up exam this morning was reassuring. I'll update after imaging studies are reported. Jacobs tends to play -- and effectively -- through painful injuries but anything other than a low-grade low ankle sprain will be tough to rehab in time to play this week.

Monday Update: Imaging studies confirmed a minor ankle sprain for Jacobs. Gruden told reporters Jacobs "felt confident" he would play this week. Expect limited practice as the Raiders evaluate his progress through the end of the week.

Phillip Lindsay | Right knee injury | Awaiting Information | Questionable Week 13

Lindsay twisted his right knee at the end of a third-quarter carry and did not return. It's possible the Broncos saw no upside in risking a further aggravation of Lindsay's injury in a 17-point deficit with no NFL-ready quarterbacks on the roster. But television replays raise concern for a meniscus injury or MCL sprain. Either injury could result in missed time.

Vic Fangio did not have a post-game update, telling reporters Lindsay "tweaked his knee a little bit." Watch for additional reports through Monday.

Daniel Jones | Right hamstring strain | Week-to-Week | Doubtful Week 13

Jones strained his hamstring on a scramble and struggled to plant and throw on multiple attempts after the injury. The team downplayed the injury in post-game press conferences but beat writers are reporting Jones is likely to miss time. The Giants plan on MRI on Monday. Prepare for Jones to be out this week.

Monday Update: Jones reportedly wants to play but the Giants are expected to be cautious. Jones isn't likely to be re-evaluated until later in the week. He'll need a quicker than expected recovery to be available this week.

Follow Up Appointments

Christian McCaffrey | Right AC sprain | Week-to-Week | Bye Week 13

The Panthers allowed McCaffrey to participate in individual drills last week but elected to remain cautious with his shoulder sprain. He'll continue to rehab through the team's Week 13 bye and is expected to return at full strength in Week 14.

Julio Jones | Left hamstring strain | Week-to-Week | Questionable Week 13

After two limited midweek practices, Jones was shut down and did not practice Friday. He was inactive on Sunday after the most recent aggravation of his left hamstring strain. Most teams and players would choose to rest until fully recovered but that's not been Jones' approach in most seasons. He's twice missed a single game this season and returned the following week. Practice participation and media availability will define Jones' status for Week 13.

Todd Gurley | Knee injury | Week-to-Week | Questionable Week 13

Raheem Morris told reporters Gurley suffered some "battle wounds" in the Week 11 game against New Orleans. Gurley played a season-low 23 snaps in Week 11 and did not practice last week.

If this is a flare-up of Gurley's known arthritic left knee condition, it's difficult to see him recovering to full strength without missing time. If this is a new injury to either knee and Gurley is unable to practice, a multiple-week absence is also possible. The former is the more likely possibility. Expect Gurley's practice reps and usage to be managed carefully in coming weeks. There's no guarantee he's available this week.

Tua Tagovailoa | Left thumb injury | Day-to-Day | Questionable Week 13

Tagovailoa continued to experience swelling -- and presumably decreased range of motion and grip strength -- in this throwing hand after a thumb injury in practice on Wednesday. Mike Garafolo suggested the injury could keep Tagovailoa out multiple weeks on Sunday morning. Brian Flores told reporters Tagovailoa was close to playing but there were indications the team was concerned after practice on Friday.

Flores said Tagovailoa would be re-evaluated during the week and remains the starter if healthy enough to play.

DAndre Swift | Concussion | Concussion protocol | Questionable Week 13

Swift was not cleared to play on Thanksgiving after two limited practices. There were no reports of recurrent symptoms and it's reasonable to assume the Lions were not comfortable advancing him through the return to play protocol in less than seven days -- he first reported symptoms after Thursday's practice leading into Week 11. Consider him questionable for now but he's likely on track to play.

Eligible to Return from Injured Reserve

George Kittle | Right cuboid fracture | Eligible Week 13 - Remains on IR | Out Week 13 | Target = Week 16+

Nov 29: Kittle suffered a fractured cuboid bone in his foot in Week 9. Reported timetables for his return varied but Kittle is expected to need 6-8 weeks to recover. Even the most optimistic timetable would mean he's likely to have a limited impact in Week 16. More likely, Kittle will not return until 2021.

Zach Ertz | Left high ankle sprain | Eligible Week 11 - Designated to Return Week 11 | Questionable Week 13 | Target = Week 13

Nov 15: Ertz was expected to need 4-6 weeks to recover and the Eagles have yet to update his condition since he was moved to injured reserve. He remains multiple weeks from returning.

Nov 22: The Eagles returned Ertz to practice this week but plan to advance him to return slowly. Expect one more week of conditioning with Week 13 as his likely earliest return date.

Nov 29: Ertz was not activated on Saturday after some positive trends earlier in the week. Doug Pederson told reporters Ertz did not suffer any setbacks and the team was hopeful Ertz would return in Week 13. If Pederson's comments are accurate, look for Ertz to be activated this week and return in a limited role.

David Johnson | Concussion | Eligible Week 13 - Remains on IR | Doubtful Week 13 | Target = Week 13++

Nov 29: The Texans have not addressed Johnson's condition since November 16 when Romeo Crennel told reporters he "wasn't sure when" Johnson would return. Moving Johnson to injured reserve within days of his concussion was a worrisome development. Consider Johnson doubtful to return in 2020 until we hear he's been cleared to return to drills.

Myles Gaskin | MCL sprain | Eligible Week 12 - Designated to Return Week 12 | Probable Week 13 | Target = Week 13

Nov 22: Gaskin was initially reported to need 2-3 weeks to recover from an MCL sprain. The Dolphins refused to put a timetable on his return when asked last week. If he's designated to return early in the week, his chances of returning in Week 12 increase.

Nov 29: Gaskin was close to returning after a full week of practice but the Dolphins chose to remain cautious. He's likely to return this week.

Julian Edelman | Arthroscopic knee surgery | Eligible Week 11 - Remains on IR | Questionable Week 13 | Target = Week 13+

Nov 15: Edelman had a clean up procedure on his chronically sore knee three weeks ago. Trusted local reporter Mike Reiss expressed optimism on Edelman's recovery last week, noting a source who watched Edelman moving well with on-field rehab work. If Edelman is designated to return when eligible this week and participates in practice, a Week 11 return is possible.

Nov 22: Bill Belichick said Edelman is making progress. The Patriots have yet to designate him to return.

Nov 29: Bill Belichick continues to tell reporters Edelman is "headed in the right direction" but the Patriots have yet to designate him to return to practice. If that doesn't happen early this week, consider Edelman doubtful again.

Jimmy Garoppolo | Right high ankle sprain | Eligible Week 13 - Remains on IR | Out Week 13 | Target = Week 15+

Nov 29: Garoppolo was in a walking boot for over a week and given a 3-6 week timetable to return from an aggravated high ankle sprain. The Niners remain hopeful for a return sometime in December but it's unlikely Garoppolo will be cleared to return to practice this week.

Justin Jackson | Right MCL sprain | Eligible Week 13 - Remains on IR | Doubtful Week 13 | Target = Week 14++

Nov 29: The Chargers have not discussed Jackson's rehab from an MCL sprain. It's not clear whether he has a lower-grade 3-4 week injury or a longer-term 4-6 week injury. With Austin Ekeler returned and healthy, Jackson is unlikely to be returned until full strength.

Preston Williams | Right foot sprain | Eligible Week 13 - Remains on IR | Doubtful Week 13 | Target = Week 14++

Nov 29: Brian Flores refused to put a timetable on Williams' return last week.

Parris Campbell | Left PCL repair / MCL sprain | Eligible Week 8 - Remains on IR | Doubtful 2020 return

Oct 25: Campbell had knee surgery in early October. Any surgical procedure involving the PCL requires a careful and usually long-term rehab. It will be surprising to see Campbell cleared to return in 2020.

Nov 15: Frank Reich told reporters it remained "too early to tell" whether Campbell could return in 2020. A 2021 return remains the most likely outcome.

Fast Track News and Notes

***D.J. Moore rolled his right ankle violently on an incomplete pass in the end zone and needed help to get off the field. The mechanism did not suggest a serious joint injury but expect the Panthers to rehab him carefully through their bye week.

***Teddy Bridgewater favored his left arm and shoulder after completing his final pass of the game. He didn't seem to be bothered during a post-game handshake with Mike Zimmer and told reporters he was fine after the game. His reaction is consistent with a stinger-type injury or muscle contusion. It's not likely to limit him this week and he should return after the Panthers' Week 13 bye.

***Eligible to Return From Injured Reserve in Week 14

• QB Drew Brees -- Unlikely to return before Week 15
• RB Joe Mixon -- No trustworthy reports on Mixon's injury or timetable, could be Week 14 return, could struggle to return this season

Injured Players on Active Roster

To support players with illness and provide a roster buffer, the NFL implemented new injured reserve rules and roster exemptions for players exposed to or diagnosed with COVID.

2020 injured reserve list changes:

• Teams may return an unlimited number of players from injured reserve in 2020
• A player may return to the active roster after three weeks on injured reserve
• Teams have three weeks of practice to decide whether to activate a player designated to return

2020 COVID-related illness list and roster exemptions:

• A player diagnosed with COVID or required to quarantine after exposure to COVID may be placed on a separate exempt list
• Teams will be given a roster exemption after a player with COVID receives medical clearance to return
• Roster exemption for one week if the player was on the exempt list for less than 4 weeks
• Roster exemption for two weeks if the player was on the exempt list for 4+ weeks

Injured Players Not on Active Roster