Gameday Injury Expectations: Week 8

Understanding the NFL's Injury Report

(per Dr. Bramel - Footballguys OG)

"The injury report released by the NFL is [made up of] two reports. The first is the Practice Participation report, which lists which injured players practiced and their participation level. 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 and my expectations of their likelihood of playing."

If you are reading this article on Saturday, make sure to come back on Sunday morning as more updates trickle in within the next 24 hours.

Current Status on High-Impact Injured Players

Gameday Decision

• WR Tee Higgins
• RB Travis Etienne Jr. 
• QB Will Levis
• RB Tyjae Spears 
• WR Tyreek Hill 
• WR Zay Flowers
• QB Jayden Daniels
• WR Ladd McConkey
• WR Deebo Samuel Sr. 
• TE George Kittle

Trending Doubtful (Likely Inactive)

• QB Derek Carr
• WR DK Metcalf
• QB Andy Dalton (thumb)
• RB Jonathon Brooks 
• WR Jauan Jennings (groin)

Trending Probable (Expected to Play)

• RB Bucky Irving 
• WR Jakobi Meyers

Ruled Out

• WR Diontae Johnson (ribs)
• WR Adam Thielen (hamstring)
• TE Dallas Goedert (hamstring)
• WR Quentin Johnston (ankle)
• RB Jerome Ford (hamstring)
• WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring)

* Key:

Player | Injury | Game Status Listing | Playing Expectation 

Sunday 1:00 PM EST Games

WR Tee Higgins, Cinncinati | Quadriceps | Questionable | Projecting Inactive

Tee Higgins was a late addition to the injury report, popping up for the first time on Friday with a quadriceps injury. As I write this, it is still unclear if Higgins suffered a quadriceps strain or contusion (the two most common injuries).

Quadriceps strains can be more limiting and often result in more games missed – on average, 2.1. Contusions, however, are painful but can be played through.

If Higgins sustained a soft tissue strain, his chances of playing Sunday at full strength, if at all, are low. Add in the fact that Higgins got injured two days before gameday, and those odds are even lower. Unless we learn more before kickoff, I am not optimistic Higgins will play.

Update: Per ESPN's Dan Draziano, there is "a real chance" Tee Higgins sits Sunday. 

RB Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville | Hamstring | Questionable |  50/50

Travis Etienne Jr. was limited all week with the same hamstring injury that kept him out of Week 7. Since he seemed close to playing last week, one could assume he should be on track to play in Week 8. As it stands, Etienne is a true game-time decision.

Even if Etienne does suit up, I have little confidence in starting him this week. He has been rather disappointing when healthy, and historically, RBs suffer a 20% decline in fantasy production. Tank Bigsby is surging and figures to eat into Etienne's workload regardless. It all points to a murky outcome that I would feel more comfortable leaving on my bench.

Update: Travis Etienne Jr. is a long-shot to play in Week 8 according to Ian Rapoport.