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

cam newton | shoulder | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

Newton was limited all week in practice as the Panthers work to protect his surgically-repaired throwing shoulder. Ron Rivera told reporters "there is no doubt" Newton will play this week. There's been no indication of any decline in Newton's play. He's running as often as he ever has -- 24 rushing attempts over the past four weeks -- and his completion percentage is on a career-best pace. It's worth watching Newton's next weeks carefully to make sure there is no new evidence of pain with throwing but there's no immediate reason to expect the Panthers to restrict Newton on game days.

*Derek Anderson | Back / Calf | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

Anderson was limited by back and calf injuries this week. Sean McDermott said Anderson was "held back a little bit" but was able to do more as the week progressed. Buffalo did not list him on the game status report. Anderson will start Monday night.

Others of note: Aaron Rodgers (knee), Carson Wentz (back), and Josh Rosen (toe) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report and will play without limitation. Josh Allen (elbow) has been declared out. Return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players will be updated in Monday's column.

RUNNING BACK

*Sony Michel | Knee | Doubtful | Likely Inactive

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

Michel managed a limited Saturday practice and the Patriots left the door ever-so-slightly ajar for him to play by listing him doubtful on their game status report. In the only video of his Saturday practice participation, Michel looked to moving stiffly in warmups. It's very unlikely he'll play Monday night but his return to practice is reassuring for his return before the Patriots' Week 11 bye.

Sunday Update: Jeff Howe reported Michel's Saturday practice was not to assess his status for Monday night. Rather, it's meant to give the team a read on how well his knee responds to football activity in advance of next week's short turnaround after Monday night. The report should not be a surprise, but it's further confirmation Michel will be inactive on Monday night.

*LeSean McCoy | Concussion | Questionable | expected to Play

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

*Chris Ivory | Hamstring | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

McCoy was still in a non-contact jersey on Saturday. Sean McDermott would not speculate on McCoy's status. When asked, McDermott said, "We'll see. We're taking it one day at a time right now." Still in the concussion protocol and not cleared for contact by the team yet, it's unclear when the team plans on an independent exam. It's possible that exam is planned for Monday and McCoy is on track to play. It's also possible that McCoy will not be cleared for contact in time to play. McDermott's comments are tough to read. The full week of limited practices looks reassuring and I'd lean toward the probable side of questionable -- but it would be nice to get a more positive report before Monday afternoon.

Ivory was limited early in the week but fully practiced on Saturday and is expected to play.

With Taiwan Jones out with a neck injury, watch for the Bills to activate a running back from the practice squad. Should that happen, McCoy's status would be in serious doubt.

Sunday Update: Adam Schefter is reporting McCoy is expected to play on Monday. That's a strong sign Saturday's practice went well and the Bills plan to have him cleared by the independent neurologist on Monday.

Marlon Mack | Ankle | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

When the practice participation looks odd, it's generally the most recent participation that's most informative. In Mack's case, that means a full Friday practice is reassuring. The Colts list Mack questionable. But it's reasonable to see that listing as more probable than questionable. The Colts are not shy about listing players doubtful or declaring them out on Friday. In past weeks, they've elevated players at positions of depth chart need. That didn't happen at running back -- where Robert Turbin has already been declared out. And there's no indication Mack hasn't traveled to Oakland with the team.

Expect Mack to play. It's likely he's healthy enough to see his recent 15-20 touch workload.

Matt Breida | Ankle | Questionable | likely to play / limited

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

On Wednesday, Kyle Shanahan told reporters Breida was "looking a lot better" than he had earlier in the week and the team was giving him a day off. Breida was again unable to practice on Thursday before a limited session on Friday. Breida and the Niners have not readdressed his status since Wednesday. They chose to list him questionable on the game status report. After working to play through a high-ankle sprain for multiple weeks, Breida managed just five snaps before aggravating his ankle sprain last week. San Francisco has repeatedly allowed Breida to play through the injury and could do so again this week. If Breida chooses to play again -- just days after his most recent aggravation -- he will be at risk of ineffective play and further aggravation.

Sunday Update: Adam Schefter tweeted that Breida will play on Sunday in a limited role.

Chris Thompson | Rib / Knee | Questionable | expected to Play

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

Last week, Thompson was limited in practice but his comments to reporters clearly showed he was not yet confident in his recovery. He was inactive. This week, Thompson told reporters after taking some snaps in team drills on Wednesday he planned on playing this week. After a full practice on Friday, every indication is that Thompson expects to return.

Sunday Update: Adam Schefter tweeted Thompson is expected to play.

Others of note: Adrian Peterson (ankle / shoulder), Isaiah Crowell (foot), Peyton Barber (ankle), Ameer Abdullah (ankle), Rashaad Penny (finger), and Spencer Ware (ankle) have fully practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play. Leonard Fournette (hamstring), Dalvin Cook (hamstring), Royce Freeman (ankle), Theo Riddick (knee), Darren Sproles (hamstring), Robert Turbin (shoulder), and Giovani Bernard (knee) have been declared out. I'll update return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players in Monday's column.

WIDE RECEIVER

Cooper Kupp | Knee | Doubtful | Inactive

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

Kupp has yet to return to practice, two weeks after suffering an MCL injury and returning to play. The Rams list him doubtful this week but there's no chance he'll play. The lack of practice means the team's medical staff has not cleared him for football-related activity and/or Kupp himself doesn't feel healthy enough for more than rehab activity. I'll update Kupp's status on Monday.

*Josh Gordon | Hamstring | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Gordon has played more than 60 snaps for two consecutive weeks as he continues to assimilate himself into the Patriots' offense. As with many New England offensive players, Gordon has his snaps limited when there's any concern for aggravation. While Gordon isn't completely free from the risk of aggravation, the past two weeks are reassuring. Expect Gordon to continue to see his recent workload.

Randall Cobb | Hamstring | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

Geronimo Allison | Hamstring | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

Allison never returned to a full practice this week but was not listed on the Packers' game status report and will play. Cobb did return to a full Friday practice but remains on the game status report as questionable. Cobb was very positive in the locker room and on social media about his likely return to play. Cobb's status may be somewhat affected by the strong play of his replacement in the slot, Marquez Valdes-Scantling. If Cobb isn't fully healthy, it's likely we'll see a higher percentage of rotational snaps.

Allen Robinson | groin | Questionable | likely inactive

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

Robinson played through a groin strain last week and was able to play his usual number of snaps. He was not effective, managing just one catch on five targets. The Bears severely limited his practice time this week, allowing only a limited Friday practice. Robinson told reporters after Friday's practice, "I actually do feel better. Just taking it how they've been telling me." That's a reassuring note from Robinson but you should consider him at risk of continued ineffective play until his stat lines or practice participation show otherwise.

Sunday Update: Despite the more reassuring quote from Robinson, Adam Schefter reports Robinson is not expected to play today. Ian Rapoport tweeted the same.

Paul Richardson Jr | Shoulder / Knee | Questionable | Game-time decision

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

Richardson is considered "hopeful" to play on Sunday after missing last week's game with a knee injury. Earlier in the season, when Richardson was able to manage multiple limited practices, he played. That was a shoulder concern and knee issues may be approached differently, but the trend looks good for Richardson this week.

Others of note: Demaryius Thomas (wrist), Golden Tate (ankle), and Larry Fitzgerald (hamstring) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play without limitation. Robby Anderson (ankle), Quincy Enunwa (ankle), Pierre Garcon (knee), Jamison Crowder (ankle), Ryan Grant (ankle), Torrey Smith (knee), John Ross (groin), and Rashard Higgins (knee) have been declared out. I'll update return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players in Monday's column.

TIGHT END

Rob Gronkowski | back / ankle | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

Last Saturday, we were surprised to hear Gronkowski was not traveling to Chicago due to a late-developing back condition. This Saturday, Gronkowski was hamming it up with Tom Brady and reporters in an end-of-the-week press conference. Though the told reporters he expects to travel to Buffalo with the team, he also suggested he may not yet be fully recovered saying "One step at a time. Doing whatever I need to do to get back on the field." Expect Gronkowski to return on Monday night.

Jack Doyle | Hip | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

Doyle very quickly ramped up his practice participation after nearly six weeks of inactivity, progressing to a full Friday practice. Notably, Doyle was taking the first reps in every drill later in the week, clearly working to put himself not only in position to return but be effective. With Erik Swoope out, there's room for Doyle to get re-involved in the offense immediately.

Others of note: David Njoku (knee), Greg Olsen (foot), Jimmy Graham (knee), Nick Vannett (back), Ed Dickson (quadricep), Ricky Seals-Jones (forearm), and Xavier Grimble (concussion) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play without limitation. Erik Swoope (knee) and Tyler Kroft (foot) have been declared out. I'll update return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players in Monday's column.

PRACTICE PARTICIPATION, GAME STATUS REPORT, AND PLAYING EXPECTATIONS

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