Injury Expectations | Midweek Update | Week 5 - Footballguys

Jene Bramel's Injury Expectations | Midweek Update | Week 5 - Footballguys Jene Bramel Published 10/03/2018

WEDNESDAY MEDIA UPDATES

***Leonard Fournette has already been declared out. This is no surprise. He will not practice this week and the Jaguars will not return him to practice or play until he's fully recovered. As I wrote Monday, next week is the critical practice participation report. If Fournette is not doing some positional work next week, a long flight to London in Week 8 and a bye in Week 9 loom. It's possible we don't see a fully recovered and ready to return Fournette until Week 10.

***Joe Mixon told reporters he wasn't yet cleared to return then was seen on the practice field in pads. Marvin Lewis pretty strongly hinted Mixon would return in his Wednesday comments, saying the outlook for Mixon against Miami this week was "sunny." Giovani Bernard suffered a knee injury on the final drive against Atlanta and didn't practice. It's not believed to be significant but another DNP on Thursday would be concerning.

***Davante Adams is listed on the Packers' practice report as limited with a calf injury. There are no indications he'll miss this week's game but Mike McCarthy may have hinted at some concern on Monday when he told reporters the team needed to reconsider Adams' heavy workload. He's played nearly every snap this season, including 75, 68, and 76 snaps over the past three weeks.

***Dalvin Cook did not practice on Wednesday. He told reporters on Monday he wasn't fully recovered. It's now been a week after Cook didn't finish a game after taking two weeks to rehab the initial hamstring strain. It's possible we see Cook increase his practice participation and sound more optimistic tomorrow but it seems unlikely. Prepare for Cook to miss at least this week's game.

***Reports on Ezekiel Elliott dealing with an ankle sprain and knee bursitis sound worrisome but they're simply putting a public name on some of the nagging injuries every running back must work through. While it warrants continued monitoring and could possibly lead to a cascade injury, Elliott is fully practicing and in no immediate danger of a decreased workload.

***Devonta Freeman was still limited on Wednesday but he expects to play. He has told reporters he feels explosive and at full strength. Barring a setback in practice, he should be able to immediately assume his pre-injury workload.

***Will Fuller was limited in practice but did little. It's a good sign he didn't suffer a significant aggravation but he's likely more doubtful than probable to play this week.

***Chris Carson did not practice today but Pete Carroll reiterated his Monday expectation that Carson would return to play this week. It would be nice to see a brisk increase in practice participation through Friday.

THURSDAY NIGHT INJURY EXPECTATIONS

Here are the key players listed on the practice participation or game status report for Thursday Night Football:

indianapolis at new england

***Though there have been repeated studies of the Thursday night game showing no change in injury rates or missed games, there's no question this week's teams are affected by the short turnaround.

***Rob Gronkowski is questionable with an ankle injury of known severity. He left last week's game early and did not practice all week. Gronkowski did not speak to reporters this week and the team elected to aggressively rehab rather than bring him out for walkthrough reps. There are no actionable reports on Gronkowski as of Wednesday night. I expect reports from Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport before game time. If Gronkowski does play, he's likely to be limited.

Thursday Morning Update: Adam Schefter tweeted Gronkowski is expected to be active tonight. He did not update his availability, however. I still think it's likely we'll see Gronkowski used in limited and high-leverage situations only. Unfortunately, that's a difficult to predict role that includes a wide range of possible outcomes. Continue to watch for context clues as the day progresses.

Thursday Evening Update: Gronkowski is active tonight.

***For Indianapolis, tight end Jack Doyle (hip), wide receiver T.Y. Hilton (chest, hamstring), running back Marlon Mack (hamstring), and cornerbacks Kenny Moore (concussion) and Quincy Wilson (concussion) have already been ruled out. Tackle Anthony Castonzo is questionable, as are center Ryan Kelly (hand), safety Clayton Geathers (knee) and linebacker Darius Leonard (ankle). Castonzo and Leonard are not yet fully healthy. They may be on the active roster and not play. Leonard participated in the walkthrough on Tuesday but was in a walking boot after suffering a low-grade high-ankle sprain. Watch for reports on the starting lineup -- not just the inactive list for Leonard.

Thursday Evening Update: Darius Leonard is active tonight -- but will NOT play.

EARly week PRACTICE PARTICIPATION & 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.

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

Quarterbacks
Team
Injury
Practice Participation
Game
Status
FBGs
Expects
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Aaron Rodgers GB Knee DNP Full Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Russell Wilson Sea Hamstring Full Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Marcus Mariota Ten Elbow Full Full Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Running Backs
Team
Injury
Practice Participation
Game
Status
FBGs
Expects
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
*Alvin Kamara NO Knee *Limited *Limited
Ezekiel Elliott Dal Knee Full Full Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Leonard Fournette Jac Hamstring DNP DNP DNP Declared Out Inactive
Joe Mixon Cin Knee Limited Limited Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Giovani Bernard Cin Knee DNP DNP DNP Declared Out Inactive
Dalvin Cook Min Hamstring DNP DNP Limited Questionable
Devonta Freeman Atl Knee Limited Full Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Tevin Coleman Atl Shin Limited Full Full Not Listed Expected to Play
*Adrian Peterson Was Ankle *Limited *Limited
Marshawn Lynch Oak Shoulder / Abdomen DNP Limited Limited Not Listed Expected to Play
Chris Carson Sea Hip DNP Limited Not Listed Expected to Play
Matt Breida SF Shoulder Limited Limited Limited Questionable
Alfred Morris SF Knee Full Full Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Lamar Miller Hou Chest Limited Limited Limited Questionable
Alex Collins Bal Knee Limited DNP Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Darren Sproles Phi Hamstring DNP DNP DNP Declared Out Inactive
Corey Clement Phi Quadricep DNP DNP DNP Questionable
T.J. Yeldon Jac Ankle Limited Limited Full Not Listed Expected to Play
LeGarrette Blount Det Illness DNP Limited Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Wide Receivers
Team
Injury
Practice Participation
Game
Status
FBGs
Expects
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
DeAndre Hopkins Hou Thumb / Ankle / Hamstring Limited Limited Limited Not Listed Expected to Play
Julio Jones Atl Hand / Ankle DNP Limited Limited Not Listed Expected to Play
Davante Adams GB Calf Limited DNP Limited Questionable
Doug Baldwin Sea Knee Not Listed Limited Not Listed Expected to Play
Marvin Jones Det Ankle Not Listed Not Listed Limited Questionable
Jarvis Landry Cle Knee DNP Limited Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Will Fuller Hou Hamstring Limited Limited Limited Questionable
Amari Cooper Oak Foot Limited Limited Limited Not Listed Expected to Play
Larry Fitzgerald Ari Hamstring / Back DNP Limited Limited Questionable
Alshon Jeffery Phi Chest DNP Full Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Marquise Goodwin SF Hamstring / Quadricep DNP Limited Limited Questionable
Corey Davis Ten Illness DNP Full Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Sterling Shepard NYG Back DNP Full Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Quincy Enunwa NYJ Hip Not Listed Limited Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Randall Cobb GB Hamstring DNP DNP DNP Declared Out Inactive
Sammy Watkins KC Hamstring Limited Limited Limited Questionable
Antonio Callaway Cle Knee DNP Limited Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Keke Coutee Hou Hamstring Limited Limited Limited Questionable
*Paul Richardson Jr Was Shoulder *Limited *Limited
*Josh Doctson Was Heel *DNP *DNP
John Ross Cin Groin Limited DNP DNP Declared Out Inactive
Cole Beasley Dal Ankle Limited Limited Full Not Listed Expected to Play
*Ted Ginn Jr NO Knee *DNP *DNP
Geronimo Allison GB Concussion / Hamstring DNP DNP DNP Questionable
Dante Pettis SF Knee DNP DNP DNP Declared Out Inactive
Chris Conley KC Ankle Full Full Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Mohamed Sanu Atl Hip Limited Full Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Tavon Austin Dal Shoulder Full Full Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Curtis Samuel Car Illness Full Full Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Laquon Treadwell Min Finger Full Full Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Travis Benjamin LAC Foot DNP DNP DNP Declared Out Inactive
Cody Latimer NYG Knee Limited Full Full Not Listed Expected to Play
DeVante Parker Mia Quadricep Limited Limited Limited Questionable
Tight Ends
Team
Injury
Practice Participation
Game
Status
FBGs
Expects
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Evan Engram NYG Knee DNP DNP DNP Declared Out Inactive
Greg Olsen Car Foot DNP Limited Limited Declared Out Inactive
Jimmy Graham GB Knee DNP Limited Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Charles Clay Buf Ankle Limited DNP Full Questionable Expected to Play
Tyler Eifert Cin Ankle DNP DNP DNP Declared Out Inactive
Austin Seferian-Jenkins Jac Core muscle DNP Limited Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Jeff Heuerman Den Knee Limited Limited Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Tyler Higbee LAR Knee DNP DNP Limited Questionable
Hayden Hurst Bal Foot Limited Limited Limited Questionable
Jermaine Gresham Ari Achilles Limited Limited Full Not Listed Expected to Play
A.J. Derby Mia Foot DNP DNP DNP Declared Out Inactive
Offensive Tackles
Team
Injury
Practice Participation
Game
Status
FBGs
Expects
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Jason Peters Phi Quadricep Limited Full Full Not Listed Expected to Play
*Andrus Peat NO Ankle *Limited *Full Expected to Play
*Terron Armstead NO Knee *Limited *Full Expected to Play
Bryan Bulaga GB Back Limited Full Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Joe Staley SF Knee DNP DNP Full Questionable
Joe Barksdale LAC Knee / Illness DNP Limited Limited Doubtful Likely Inactive
Russell Okung LAC Groin DNP Limited Limited Questionable
Riley Reiff Min Foot Full Full Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Jermey Parnell Jac Knee Limited Limited Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Mike McGlinchey SF Knee DNP Limited Full Questionable
Marcus Gilbert Pit Knee Not Listed DNP Full Not Listed Expected to Play
*Trent Williams Was Knee *Limited *Limited Likely to Play
*Morgan Moses Was Concussion *Full *Full Expected to Play
Jared Veldheer Den Knee DNP DNP DNP Declared Out Inactive
Kolton Miller Oak Knee Limited Limited Limited Not Listed Expected to Play
Kendall Lamm Hou Shoulder Full Full Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Ja'Waun James Mia Pectoral Full Full Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Kelvin Beachum NYJ Foot Full Full Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Andre Smith Ari Elbow Limited Full Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Offensive Guards
Team
Injury
Practice Participation
Game
Status
FBGs
Expects
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Trai Turner Car Concussion Full Full Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Rodger Saffold LAR Knee DNP DNP Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Andrew Norwell Jac Foot DNP Limited Full Not Listed Expected to Play
A.J. Cann Jac Photos provided by Imagn Images
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