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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:

Current Status on High Impact Injured Players

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:

Game-time Decision

• WR Marquise Brown (ankle)
• WR Parris Campbell (abdomen)
• TE Jonnu Smith (hip)
• WR Gabriel Davis (ankle)
• WR Keelan Cole (knee)
• WR Preston Williams (knee, foot)
• TE Anthony Firkser (knee)

Trending Doubtful (Likely Inactive)

Trending Probable (Expected to Play)

• RB DAndre Swift (groin)
• RB Jamaal Williams (chest)
• WR Michael Pittman (ankle)
• WR Anthony Schwartz (knee)
• WR Jamison Crowder (groin)
• WR Devin Duvernay (groin)

Ruled Out

• RB Josh Jacobs
• WR Odell Beckham
• WR Tyrell Williams
• WR Dee Eskridge (listed doubtful - likely inactive)
• RB Rashaad Penny (listed doubtful - likely inactive)

QUARTERBACK

Joe Burrow | Knee | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

Burrow told reporters his knee was "pretty sore" after last week's 69 snaps but he felt better overall than he did during training camp. Burrow was listed on this week's injury report but fully practiced.

Cincinnati clearly chose an offensive game plan to limit Burrow's passing attempts -- analytics on the team's expected pass rate show the Bengals threw about 20% less than expected based on down, distance, and situation. Expect more of the same this week on the road against a solid Chicago defensive front after Burrow was sacked on five of his 32 dropbacks last week.

Others of note: Return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players will be updated in Monday's column.

RUNNING BACK

*DAndre Swift | Groin | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

*Jamaal Williams | Chest | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

Running backs coach Duce Staley told reporters neither injury is concerning. Williams has been cleared to talk to the media all week and should be ready for a full workload. However, it's worrisome to see Swift limited again after his first live action. A full Saturday practice would be welcome reassurance.

Swift played 68% of Detroit's offensive snaps last week after weekend reports suggesting Williams (35%) would be the lead back. It's unclear whether last week's early multiple-touchdown deficit led to Swift's advantage or the reporting was inaccurate. Analysts are split on how the workload will be divided in future weeks. With the Lions headed to Green Bay to face a Packers team that was embarrassed last week, it's likely the game script will again favor Swift.

Unfortunately, the Lions routinely list any player limited in practice as questionable and you can expect Swift -- and likely Williams, too -- to be listed questionable after Saturday's practice. For now, expect both to play. Swift will have a higher risk of an aggravation than Williams but the coaching staff decision on how to operate the committee is the more pressing workload consideration.

I'll update with more through the weekend.

Sunday Update: Swift fully participated in Saturday's walkthrough. The Lions have listed him questionable. Staley has said the Lions will not manage his reps on gameday -- despite the team managing his practice throughout the week. The extra day of rest should help his recovery for Monday night. Expect him to be active. Williams also practiced fully on Saturday. He is not listed on the game status report and will play.

Others of note: Clyde Edwards-Helaire (ankle) and Miles Sanders (ankle) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play. Josh Jacobs (toe, ankle) and Rashaad Penny (calf) 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

Marquise Brown | Ankle | Questionable | Game-time Decision

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

Brown did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday with an ankle injury. Brown was playing in the overtime period on Monday night and did not appear limited in his final snaps. It's possible Baltimore was resting Brown on a short week and local beat writers reported his Friday limited practice as a reassuring sign.

Watch the overnight reports carefully, however. Limited video of Brown shows a higher brace on the ankle than a typical low ankle taping and there were hints of limitation in his gait. There may be no worry here but consider having a hedge on the roster in case there are unexpectedly concerning reports prior to Sunday night's game.

Michael Pittman | Ankle | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

Parris Campbell | Abdomen | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

The Colts did not address the limited practice for either player in Friday's press conference and there is no local media concern for their availability.

It's likely the team did not release the team's practice report until after the press conference. If that's the case, Reich likely wasn't worried enough to address the issues and the local media didn't see anything during open practice to raise a question. Generally, that's a reassuring situation.

Of the two injury designations, the abdomen condition for Campbell is the more open-ended and potentially worrisome situation. Abdominal muscle strains can be anything from oblique muscle injuries to core abdominal muscle conditions. Those tend to be limiting injuries, even if players can play through them. It's also possible Campbell's condition is not a muscle strain and not concerning.

Watch for additional updates through the weekend.

Sunday Update: Adam Schefter reports both Pittman and Campbell are expected to play if there are no concerns during pregame warmup.

Anthony Schwartz | Knee | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

Schwartz looks likely to play after a full week of limited practice. With Odell Beckham ruled out early in the week, it's reasonable to assume the Browns were more cautious with Schwartz in practice. There is no local media concern about his availability.

Jamison Crowder | Groin | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Keelan Cole | Knee | Questionable | Game-time Decision

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

Robert Saleh was optimistic about the status of both Crowder and Cole, telling reporters both were on track to play. Crowder was cleared to speak to the media and expressed excitement about playing with rookie quarterback Zach Wilson.

Cole could not return to practice after last Thursday's knee injury but was back to practice this week. His status is likely closer to a game-time decision.

Darnell Mooney | Back | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

The Bears commonly list players who appear on the injury report as questionable when they're clearly expected to play. Mooney fully practiced, addressed the media on Friday, and played 100% of the team's offensive snaps last week. Barring a pregame setback, he will play.

Others of note: Tyreek Hill (toe), A.J. Brown (knee), Antonio Brown (knee), Nelson Agholor (ankle), Emmanuel Sanders (foot), DeVante Parker (shoulder), Bryan Edwards (elbow), and Josh Reynolds (foot) are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play without limitation. Odell Beckham (knee), Tyrell Williams (concussion), and Dee Eskridge (concussion) 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

Jonnu Smith | Hip | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

The Patriots rarely discuss injuries during the week. Beat writers often slant their reporting on Friday to give hints as to player availability but that's not been the case with Smith this week. Added to the injury report on Thursday with a hip condition, Smith is listed questionable.

Watch for overnight reports but Smith's status may remain unclear until pregame inactives are released.

Anthony Firkser | Knee | Questionable | Game-time Decision

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

Tennessee is careful with injured players during the week but the trend from limited midweek practice to a Friday DNP is concerning. There are no local media reports on Firkser's condition.

Others of note: Noah Fant (knee), Eric Ebron (hamstring), and Zach Ertz (hamstring) fully 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.

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.

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.