Injury Expectations | Wednesday Update | Week 17

Photo: Raj Mehta, USA Today Sports

KEY WEDNESDAY MEDIA UPDATES

>>>> Note: Due to travel and time constraints over the next two weeks, the table will include offensive skill position players only.

Week 17 is an unusual week for injury analysis. Some teams and players choose not to risk playing through nagging and serious injuries they may otherwise have gutted through. Other players continue to play through to reach team and individual goals. Some teams choose to rest players in anticipation of more important playoff games to come. Other teams continue to play starters to keep continuity in the weekly routine. Unfortunately, we don't always know which players and which teams fall into which bucket.

Here's what we do know on Wednesday night:

***Philadelphia, Jacksonville, and Kansas City are locked into their current playoff seeding. Doug Marrone has told reporters he will not rest starters. Kansas City will start Pat Mahomes over Alex Smith at quarterback. I think it's likely the key starters on all three teams will see fewer snaps than usual.

***The Rams will not start Jared Goff or Todd Gurley. Goff will be active -- he's the only other quarterback currently on the roster -- but will play only in an emergency. Cooper Kupp didn't practice with a knee injury but Sean McVay didn't seem concerned in Wednesday's press conference and didn't single Kupp out as a likely candidate to skip this week's game.

I'll continue to update this list as it changes.

***It's hard to know which reports on DeMarco Murray's knee injury are accurate. Adam Schefter initially tweeted about the team's concern for an LCL sprain -- an injury diagnosis that was not supported by video replay. More recently, Schefter reported the injury to be a high-grade MCL sprain -- which was the most likely diagnosis supported by video replay. There have been multiple reports suggesting Murray wants to play through his injury. Mike Mularkey told reporters Wednesday he hadn't been told Murray's injury was a high-grade sprain and considered Murray a game-time decision.

Murray has played through everything over the past two seasons -- aggravated hamstring strains, foot injuries, ankle sprains, and more -- but an MCL sprain is a different scenario. Based on video analysis of the mechanism of injury and the tone of the reports thus far, it's very likely Murray has at least a mid-grade sprain. That means the inside of his knee is not stable. Even with a brace, Murray's ability to cut and recover between plays will be significantly affected. And he'll be at risk of additional injury to the MCL, other knee ligaments, meniscus, cartilage, and more. Murray is a warrior and the Titans are in a must-win situation. But playing through this injury is an impossible ask.

***Not surprisingly, Davante Adams was not cleared for individual drills on Wednesday. Neither was Jordy Nelson. Adams will not play this week as he recovers from his second concussion this season. I remain nervous Nelson may have an injury that will require offseason surgery. He's also doubtful at best.

***Tom Brady continues to deal with left shoulder soreness and a bruised Achilles tendon. He did not practice on Wednesday but is expected to play. The Patriots need a win to ensure home field advantage throughout the conference playoffs.

***Melvin Gordon did not practice Wednesday but told reporters he would play against Oakland. Video angles were suspicious for a high ankle sprain, however. I would not feel comfortable projecting Gordon to play until we see him return to practice. 

***There are a ton of wide receivers who will be limited in practice this week. While subject to change after Thursday's participation report, I think DeAndre Hopkins, Michael Thomas, Kelvin Benjamin, and DeVante Parker are probable to play while Emmanuel Sanders, Jeremy Maclin, Kevin Hogan, Marquise Lee, and Sterling Shepard are closer to doubtful.

EARLY WEEK PRACTICE PARTICIPATION REPORT AND EARLY EXPECTATIONS

The Wednesday and Thursday practice participation reports are our first chance to see which players each NFL team are 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.

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