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WEDNESDAY MEDIA UPDATES

***Both Leonard Fournette and Dalvin Cook continue to miss practice with hamstring injuries. Neither is expected to return until after their team's midseason bye week. That's no surprise. Neither has been confident in their recovery recently. Fournette's earliest return will be Week 10; Cook's earliest return will be Week 11. Both will need to begin reconditioning and individual drills early in the bye week to feel comfortable returning.

***Reading between the limited lines of New England's injury report is always a challenge. It'll be even more so this week with the Monday night football game looming. Expect Sony Michel to be listed DNP all week and inactive. Rob Gronkowski's status will not be as clear. He'll be limited at the end of the week and likely considered a game-time decision. Last week's weekend reports were reassuring enough to expect Gronkowski to play Monday night -- but back spasms are tricky.

***Cooper Kupp is doubtful to return this week according to Sean McVay.

***Cam Newton was limited with a shoulder injury on Wednesday. That's always a concern given Newton's history of rotator cuff surgery but Ron Rivera told reporters Newton was having his practice reps managed -- and may continue to have them managed over the second half of the season -- due to general soreness.

THURSDAY NIGHT INJURY EXPECTATIONS

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

Miami at houston

***Deshaun Watson remains limited by a painful chest injury. His passing attempts remain decreased as the Texans rely on the run. Though more willing to run the ball, Watson wasn't effective last week, gaining just 13 yards on seven carries. Expect more of the same this week. The Dolphins' pass rush will have Cameron Wake and Andre Branch as healthy as they've been in over a month.

***The Texans ruled Keke Coutee out after last week's aggravation of a nagging hamstring strain. Ryan Griffin is again out with illness. Will Fuller (hip), Lamar Miller (chest), and DeAndre Hopkins (foot) were again on the injury report throughout the week but will play.

***The Dolphins will be without Kenny Stills (groin) and Albert Wilson (hip - injured reserve). DeVante Parker is now off the injury report and will play. Mike Gesicki (shoulder) is listed questionable but fully practiced and will play. A.J. Derby (foot) has had an up-and-down recovery from an early season foot injury and is also questionable. Brock Osweiler again starts for Ryan Tannehill (shoulder).

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.

Note: Asterisk denotes Monday night players who practice Thursday/Friday/Saturday.

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