Gameday Injury Expectations: Week 5

UNDERSTANDING THE NFL'S INJURY REPORT

The injury report released by the NFL is actually 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:

QUARTERBACK

Marcus Mariota | Hamstring | Questionable | Inactive

Practice Participation: Wed - Limited | Thursday - Limited | Friday - Limited

Mariota wants to play this week and he's optimistic he'll be able to play. The Titans allowed Mariota to speak with the media after practice on Friday and he told reporters, "If I'm able to move around, hand the ball off, and drop back, I'll definitely play." 

Unfortunately, what a player wants to do and what a player's injured body is able to do are often two different things.

Mike Mularkey told reporters on Thursday that Mariota would have to prove he was mobile enough to protect himself in the pocket and execute the team's game plan. At no point this week did Mariota show he could do that. Including Friday's limited practice, Mariota was only seen doing light throwing drills without much movement before going in for treatment. Mularkey has said the team will be smart with their decision. It's unlikely Mariota improves enough to play if he hasn't made much progress in the first five days after his injury.

I still believe he's on the doubtful side of questionable. If he does play, expect no designed runs or rollouts, no scrambling, and less downfield accuracy than usual.

***Sunday AM Update: Both Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport tweeted Mariota is not expected to play today. Rapoport tweeted Mariota was given an early timetable of 2-4 weeks, which suggests a higher grade injury and one the Titans will undoubtedly choose to rehab in the hopes of a Week 6 return rather than risk aggravation and a longer recovery time.

***Sunday AM Update: Mariota is inactive.

Derek Carr | Back | Questionable | Unlikely to Play

Practice Participation: Wed - DNP | Thursday - Limited | Friday - Limited

Ian Rapoport did a television interview on Friday and reported Carr was "truly questionable" and said there was a "chance" he could play this week.

Don't bet on it.

An isolated transverse process fracture is not a long-term injury. It's not a weight-bearing bone and it doesn't have to fully heal before a player can be cleared for contact. But it's still a painful injury and often causes spasm of attached muscles. It's possible Carr can play through these limitations against Baltimore. But it's pushing the limits of expectation -- both Tony Romo and Cam Newton needed two weeks to recover and missed a game each -- and may put Carr's availability at risk in the future. With divisional matchups against the Chargers and Chiefs in Week 6 and 7, I expect the Raiders to rest Carr and allow him more time to recover.

***Sunday AM Update: Both Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport tweeted Carr is not expected to play today.

*Sam Bradford | Knee | Questionable | Likely Inactive

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

The Vikings won't officially update Bradford's chances of playing Monday night but Mike Zimmer told reporters Saturday his quarterback wasn't significantly improved since Thursday's practice. Bradford returned to light individual drills this week but continues to throw without running or any pocket movement. He's shown no evidence he can protect himself in the pocket. Every game is important but risking a limited Bradford in Week 5 against Chicago with another division matchup against contender Green Bay in Week 6 doesn't make sense.

***Sunday AM Update: Stacey Dales reported this morning Bradford had taken the majority of first-team reps and has a chance to start. That's not consistent with any video, beat writer reports, or comments from Zimmer this week but notable nonetheless. I still think it's a stretch for Bradford to play but I'll adjust his expectation to game-time decision to account for this morning's note.

Others of note: Cam Newton (shoulder), Alex Smith (ankle), Blake Bortles (shoulder), Josh McCown (shoulder), and Ben Roethlisberger have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play without limitation. Andrew Luck (shoulder) has been declared out. I'll update return to play expectations on all inactive players in Monday's column.

RUNNING BACK

MELVIN GORDON | KNEE | Not Listed | Active

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

Gordon fully practiced this week and is expected to see a full workload. Last week, there was some concern the Chargers would lighten Gordon's usage by giving Branden Oliver more passing down snaps and change-of-pace work. Although Gordon had only ten rushes, the Chargers had only 13 total rushing attempts and his limited duty was game script dependent rather than game plan dependent. Oliver has been declared out with a hamstring injury this week. The light Week 4 duty, a full week of practice, and the absence of Oliver all argue strongly for a high workload for Gordon.

Jay Ajayi | Knee | Not Listed | Active

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

Ajayi had a day off on Thursday but otherwise fully practiced as the Dolphins continue to limit his practice time during the week. Miami followed through on plans to rest Ajayi on some passing downs last week against the Saints and he played on just 62% of the team's offensive snaps. For comparison, Ajayi played 94% of Miami's snaps in Week 2, then 52% in the two-score loss to the Jets in Week 3.

The Dolphins are at home this week against the Titans. Ajayi remains the primary back in all base offense and red zone alignments and will see as much workload as the game script allows. 

Carlos Hyde | Hip | Not Listed | Active

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

Hyde has been limited in practice with an oblique muscle strain over the past two weeks but it hasn't limited his workload and performance much. Hyde out-snapped Matt Brieda 56 to 14 last week after being listed questionable. He returned to a full practice on Friday and is not listed on the team's game status report this week. Breida is also expected to play through an ankle injury; he shouldn't be seen as any more of a threat than last week.

Ty Montgomery | Ribs | Doubtful | Likely Inactive

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

The Packers sounded optimistic this week but likely knew Montgomery would be doubtful -- at best -- from the start of practice this week. Montgomery practiced with a padded vest all week but multiple rib fractures are too limiting to play through in less than two weeks. Expect Montgomery to be on the inactive list on Sunday.

Wendell Smallwood | Knee | Questionable | Inactive

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

Smallwood is reportedly dealing with swelling in his right knee. Les Bowen reported the condition is likely related to residual laxity in Smallwood's knee after last season's MCL sprain. If that's accurate, Smallwood's absence shouldn't be extended but he'll be at risk of a flare-up in future weeks. It's unlikely Smallwood will play after not practicing all week but the Eagles did not add another running back to the roster. Consider Smallwood a game-time decision but I think he's more doubtful than questionable.

Others of note: LeSean McCoy (wrist), Ezekiel Elliott (chest), Leonard Fournette (ankle), Ameer Abdullah (ankle), Jonathan Stewart, Frank Gore, Jamaal Williams (knee), Marlon Mack (shoulder), Jerick McKinnon (ankle), Orleans Darkwa (back), and Matt Breida (ankle) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play without limitation. Matt Forte (toe), Branden Oliver (hamstring), Paul Perkins (ribs), and Dwayne Washington (quad) have been declared out, with C.J. Prosise (ankle) doubtful and likely inactive. I'll update return to play expectations on all inactive players in Monday's column.

WIDE RECEIVER

Odell Beckham | Ankle / Finger | Not Listed | Active

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

Images of Beckham's dislocated index finger weren't for the squeamish last week but the injury isn't a major issue. Beckham may not be attempting one-handed catches with his left hand this week but the finger can be taped and protected and shouldn't limit him much. I had more concern for the late fourth quarter aggravation of his mid-grade high ankle sprain. Thankfully, the tweak proved to be a minor setback and Beckham showed enough in a full week of limited practice to keep himself off the game status report. While he may not be 100% recovered, Beckham has played 123 snaps and been targeted 28 times over the past two weeks. He looks to be healthy enough for another significant workload.

Doug Baldwin | Groin | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

Baldwin was limited to just 69% of Seattle's offensive snaps last week. After Wednesday's DNP, there was reason to worry the Seahawks would again need to limit their top receiver. Baldwin returned to a full Thursday and Friday practice -- something the Seahawks have not done with veteran players with injury concerns this season -- and is not listed on the game status report. Barring an unexpected setback during pregame warmups, Baldwin should be ready for his pre-injury workload this week.

Michael Crabtree | Chest | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

Crabtree's lung contusion healed and he was cleared for contact by mid-week. There's no indication Crabtree suffered any other bony or soft tissue injury to the area overlying his lung injury and the full Thursday and Friday practices are reassuring. Expect Crabtree to see his usual number of routes run and targets.

Davante Adams | Concussion | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Adams traveled to Dallas on Saturday after clearing the concussion protocol and will play this week. Some may question how Adams was able to practice in pads earlier this week and clear protocol so quickly after a violent hit and losing consciousness last Thursday. It's important to remember the medical community no longer grades concussions. Loss of consciousness used to suggest a higher-grade injury. Studies of athletes who suffer concussions show other symptoms are associated with a higher risk of prolonged recovery -- amnesia, in particular. Whatever symptoms Adams may have had cleared quickly enough to allow him to progress through the later exercise stages of the protocol by mid-week. The Packers' medical staff, who are known to be cautious and deliberate, felt comfortable sending Adams to an independent neurologist and he's been cleared. Hopefully, Adams will avoid future injury.

Tyrell Williams | Neck | Questionable | Active

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

Jeremy Maclin | Hand | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

It's odd to see players listed questionable after a full week of practice. Both the Ravens and Chargers have a history of using the questionable tag as probable in some cases. There's been no indication Maclin or Williams are at risk of missing this week's game. Both should see their usual workload with minimal risk of in-game aggravation.

John Brown | Quad | Questionable | active

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

In his first game after missing time with recurrent quad soreness, Brown played 53 snaps. More importantly, he was able to practice all week. The Cardinals will likely continue to limit Brown's practice reps and his game usage but expect him to continue to see 60-70% of Arizona's offensive snaps.

J.J. Nelson | Hamstring | Questionable | Active

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

Nelson has been limited in practice and listed questionable in each of the past three weeks. Expect him to be active. Nelson played fewer snaps last week, however, and is at risk of continued rotation this week.

Marqise Lee | Ribs | Questionable | Active

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

Doug Marrone was encouraged by Lee's limited Friday practice but acknowledged Lee's injury was painful. Lee did not speak with the media and has been listed questionable. He's still considered a game-time decision as of Saturday afternoon. The Jaguars ruled out starting center Brandon Linder due to illness on Saturday but did not downgrade Lee before their trip to Pittsburgh. Expect the medical staff to evaluate Lee in pregame and decide if pain management and added padding will be enough for Lee to play effectively.

Marquise Goodwin | Concussion | Questionable | Active

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

Goodwin has an extensive history of concussions but progressed quickly through the return-to-play protocol this week. Kyle Shanahan told reporters he would "be surprised if [Goodwin] wasn't ready to go" this week.

Kenny Britt | Knee / Groin | Doubtful | Inactive

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

The Browns listed Britt doubtful after he missed practice all week and Hue Jackson sounding pessimistic on the wide receiver's status. Expect Britt to be inactive.

Others of note: Sammy Watkins (illness), Amari Cooper (knee), Kelvin Benjamin (knee), Brandon Marshall (toe), Robby Anderson, Brandon LaFell (knee) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play without limitation. Jordan Matthews (thumb), Corey Davis (hamstring), Kenny Golladay (hamstring), John Ross (knee), and Mike Williams (back) have been declared out. I'll update return to play expectations on all inactive players in Monday's column.

TIGHT END

Benjamin Watson | Calf | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

Watson followed the same practice participation last week and played over 40 snaps against the Steelers. I expect Watson to be active again this week.

Others of note: Jimmy Graham (ankle), Charles Clay, Jesse James (shoulder), and Tyler Kroft (neck/knee) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play without limitation. Tyler Eifert (back), Jack Doyle (concussion, neck) and Maxx Williams (ankle) have been declared out. I'll update return to play expectations on all inactive players in Monday's column.

*Note: Monday night players with asterisk practice Thursday/Friday/Saturday