WEDNESDAY MEDIA UPDATES
***Todd Gurley missed practice today as he rests a sore knee. Sean McVay told reporters he expects Gurley to play after Gurley reported feeling better early this week. McVay then left the door open for Gurley to miss time saying, "If there's a chance he's going to do something that's going to set him back for the playoffs, that's where we have to make smart decisions." If Gurley doesn't return to limited practice on Thursday, his availability for this week will be in doubt.
***After a limited Friday practice and some slim hope of a return last weekend, James Conner did not practice on Wednesday. Multiple reports suggest Conner has not made enough progress with his high ankle sprain to return this week. That's not surprising -- the injury seemed to be a 3-4 week injury as soon as the Steelers ruled him out the first week. Watch for limited practice and a more optimistic expectation by Friday but Conner remains well to the doubtful side of questionable.
***Odell Beckham Jr missed another practice on Wednesday and Pat Shurmur wasn't reassuring about Beckham status. The most optimistic thing Shurmur said was that the Giants weren't yet planning to put Beckham on injured reserve. Beckham looks doubtful to return this week.
***The Falcons were not as openly optimistic about Julio Jones this week as they have been in past weeks without a Wednesday practice. While Dan Quinn told reporters he was encouraged about Jones' hip injury but acknowledged the team would continue to be cautious with Jones until Friday and then evaluate his health for game day. Expect Jones to play but he may be listed questionable on Friday rather than taken off the injury report.
***Melvin Gordon III has fully practiced this week and is on track to play Saturday. Gordon reportedly would have played last week had the game not been on Thursday night. With a full week to monitor Gordon in practice and game plan with his return in mind, expect the Chargers to give Gordon a full workload.
***T.Y. Hilton told reporters he made his ankle "mad" last week. He's unlikely to practice this week and his status may be more in doubt than in previous weeks.
***Cam Newton will not play again this season as he starts rehab to address ongoing soreness in his throwing shoulder. Expect Newton to work on strengthening and range of motion in the coming weeks. He will likely seek out additional opinions while deciding whether surgery is the best course of action this offseason.
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: Saturday night players practice Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday.
|
Quarterbacks
|
Team
|
Injury
|
Practice Participation
|
Game
Status |
FBGs
Expects |
||
| Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |||||
| Aaron Rodgers | GB | Knee / Groin | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Cam Newton | Car | Shoulder | DNP | DNP | Inactive | ||
| ^Marcus Mariota | Ten | Foot | ^Limited | ^Full | ^Full | Not Listed | Expected to Play |
| Matthew Stafford | Det | Back | Limited | Limited | Expected to Play | ||
| Carson Wentz | Phi | Back | DNP | DNP | Inactive | ||
| Ryan Tannehill | Mia | Shoulder / Ankle | Limited | Limited | Expected to Play | ||
| Sam Darnold | NYJ | Foot | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| ^Josh Johnson | Was | Ankle | ^Full | ^Full | ^Full | Not Listed | Expected to Play |
| ^Colt McCoy | Was | Fibula | ^DNP | ^DNP | ^DNP | Declared Out | Inactive |
|
Running Backs
|
Team
|
Injury
|
Practice Participation
|
Game
Status |
FBGs
Expects |
||
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
|||||
| Todd Gurley | LAR | Knee | DNP | DNP | Likely Inactive | ||
| ^Melvin Gordon III | LAC | Knee | ^Full | ^Full | ^Full | Not Listed | Expected to Play |
| ^Austin Ekeler | LAC | Neck | ^DNP | ^DNP | ^Limited | Doubtful | Inactive |
| James Conner | Pit | Ankle | DNP | DNP | Inactive | ||
| Joe Mixon | Cin | Wrist / Thigh | Limited | Limited | Likely to Play | ||
| Leonard Fournette | Jac | Foot | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| ^Adrian Peterson | Was | ^Shoulder | ^Limited | ^Limited | ^Full | Not Listed | Expected to Play |
| Spencer Ware | KC | Hamstring | Limited | Limited | Game-time Decision | ||
| Matt Breida | SF | Ankle | Limited | Limited | Likely to Play | ||
| Kenyan Drake | Mia | Shoulder | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Kalen Ballage | Mia | Hip | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Jamaal Williams | GB | Toe | Limited | Limited | Expected to Play | ||
| Rashaad Penny | Sea | Knee | DNP | DNP | Likely Inactive | ||
| LeSean McCoy | Buf | Hamstring | Limited | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Chris Ivory | Buf | Shoulder | Limited | Full | Game-time Decision | ||
| Lamar Miller | Hou | Ankle | Limited | Limited | Likely to Play | ||
| LeGarrette Blount | Det | Calf | Not Listed | Limited | Awaiting Information | ||
| Elijah McGuire | NYJ | Ankle / Quadricep | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Trenton Cannon | NYJ | Toe | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
|
Wide Receivers
|
Team
|
Injury
|
Practice Participation
|
Game
Status |
FBGs
Expects |
||
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
|||||
| DeAndre Hopkins | Hou | Ankle | Limited | Limited | Expected to Play | ||
| Keke Coutee | Hou | Hamstring | Limited | Limited | Game-time Decision | ||
| Julio Jones | Atl | Hip / Ribs | DNP | DNP | Game-time Decision | ||
| JuJu Smith-Schuster | Pit | Groin | Not Listed | Limited | Awaiting Information | ||
| Odell Beckham Jr | NYG | Quadricep | DNP | DNP | Likely Inactive | ||
| Russell Shepard | NYG | Ankle | DNP | DNP | Inactive | ||
| Tyreek Hill | KC | Heel | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Sammy Watkins | KC | Heel | DNP | DNP | Likely Inactive | ||
| T.Y. Hilton | Ind | Ankle | DNP | DNP | Game-time Decision | ||
| Zach Pascal | Ind | Knee | Not Listed | Limited | Awaiting Information | ||
| ^Keenan Allen | LAC | Hip | ^DNP | ^Limited | ^Limited | Questionable | Expected to Play |
| Kenny Golladay | Det | Chest | Limited | Limited | Likely to Play | ||
| Bruce Ellington | Det | Hamstring | Limited | Limited | Awaiting Information | ||
| Doug Baldwin | Sea | Hip | DNP | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Alshon Jeffery | Phi | Illness | DNP | DNP | Awaiting Information | ||
| Randall Cobb | GB | Concussion | DNP | DNP | Likely Inactive | ||
| Cordarrelle Patterson | NE | Illness | Not Listed | DNP | Awaiting Information | ||
| *Courtland Sutton | Den | Quadricep | *Limited | Expected to Play | |||
| Tyler Boyd | Cin | Knee | DNP | DNP | Likely Inactive | ||
| John Ross | Cin | Knee | Limited | Limited | Awaiting Information | ||
| Robby Anderson | NYJ | Ankle / Back | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Quincy Enunwa | NYJ | Ankle | DNP | DNP | Likely Inactive | ||
| Jermaine Kearse | NYJ | Calf | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| DeSean Jackson | TB | Thumb | Limited | Full | Likely to Play | ||
| DeVante Parker | Mia | Shoulder | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Danny Amendola | Mia | Knee | DNP | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| ^Josh Doctson | Was | Back | ^Not Listed | ^Not Listed | ^DNP | Questionable | |
| ^Maurice Harris | Was | Illness | ^Not Listed | ^DNP | ^DNP | Questionable | |
| ^Tajae Sharpe | Ten | Ankle | ^DNP | ^DNP | ^DNP | Questionable | |
| Cole Beasley | Dal | Foot | Limited | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Tavon Austin | Dal | Groin | Limited | Limited | Game-time Decision | ||
| Isaiah McKenzie | Buf | Ankle | Limited | Full | Expected to Play | ||
|
Tight Ends
|
Team
|
Injury
|
Practice Participation
|
Game
Status |
FBGs
Expects |
||
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
|||||
| Eric Ebron | Ind | Quadricep | DNP | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Zach Ertz | Phi | Ankle | Limited | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Rob Gronkowski | NE | Ankle / Back | Not Listed | Limited | Expected to Play | ||
| David Njoku | Cle | Knee / Thigh | Limited | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Austin Hooper | Atl | Ankle / Knee | Limited | Limited | Likely to Play | ||
| Jimmy Graham | GB | Knee / Thumb | DNP | Limited | Expected to Play | ||
| ^Jordan Reed | Was | Ankle / Foot | ^DNP | ^DNP | ^DNP | Declared Out | Inactive |
| ^Vernon Davis | Was | Concussion | ^Not Listed | ^Not Listed | ^DNP | Questionable | Inactive |
| *Matt LaCosse | Den | Ankle | *DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
| Geoff Swaim | Dal | Wrist | DNP | DNP | Likely Inactive | ||
|
Offensive Tackles
|
Team
|
Injury
|
Practice Participation
|
Game
Status |
FBGs
Expects |
||
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
|||||
| Tyron Smith | Dal | Neck | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Bryan Bulaga | GB | Knee | Limited | Limited | Likely to Play | ||
| Terron Armstead | NO | Pectoral / Knee | Limited | Limited | Game-time Decision | ||
| Ryan Ramczyk | NO | Shoulder | Limited | Limited | Expected to Play | ||
| Jermon Bushrod | NO | Hamstring | DNP | DNP | Likely Inactive | ||
| Mitchell Schwartz | KC | Knee | DNP | Limited | Likely to Play | ||
| Cam Erving | KC | Knee | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| ^Trent Williams | Was | Thumb / Wrist | ^Limited | ^Limited | ^Full | Not Listed | Expected to Play |
| ^Morgan Moses | Was | Ankle | ^Limited | ^Limited | ^Full | Not Listed | Expected to Play |
| Cordy Glenn | Cin | Back | Limited | Limited | Likely to Play | ||
| Laremy Tunsil | Mia | Knee | Limited | Limited | Expected to Play | ||
| Ja'Wuan James | Mia | Shoulder | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Rick Wagner | Det | Concussion | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Jermey Parnell | Jac | Knee | DNP | DNP | Likely Inactive | ||
| Kelvin Beachum | NYJ | Knee | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Demar Dotson | TB | Knee | Limited | Limited | Likely to Play | ||
|
Offensive Guards
|
Team
|
Injury
|
Practice Participation
|
Game
Status |
FBGs
Expects |
||
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
|||||
| Zack Martin | Dal | Knee | DNP | Limited | Likely to Play | ||
| Xavier Su'a-Filo | Dal | Eye | Limited | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Mark Glowinski | Ind | Ankle | DNP | Limited | Game-time Decision | ||
| Andrus Peat | NO | Shoulder | Limited | Limited | Expected to Play | ||
| D.J. Fluker | Sea | Hamstring | DNP | DNP | Likely Inactive | ||
| Stefan Wisniewski | Phi | Thumb | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Mike Remmers | Min | Back | Limited | Limited | Expected to Play | ||
| Brian Winters | NYJ | Finger | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| ^Alex Lewis | Bal | Shoulder | ^Limited | ^Limited | ^Limited | Questionable | Game-time Decision |
| Zach Fulton | Hou | Hand | Limited | Limited | Likely to Play | ||
| Senio Kelemete | Hou | Elbow / Rib | Limited | Limited | Likely to Play | ||
| ^Josh Kline | Ten | Knee | ^Limited | ^Full | ^Full | Not Listed | Expected to Play |
| ^Tony Bergstrom | Was | Knee / Ankle | ^Limited | ^Limited | ^Limited | Questionable | |
| Alex Redmond | Cin | Illness | DNP | Full | Likely to Play | ||
| Isaac Seumalo | Phi | Pectoral | DNP | DNP | Likely Inactive | ||
|
Centers
|
Team
|
Injury
|
Practice Participation
|
Game
Status |
FBGs
Expects |
||
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
|||||
| Max Unger | NO | Concussion | DNP | Limited | Awaiting Information | ||
| ^Chase Roullier | Was | Knee | ^Full | ^Full | ^Full | Not Listed | Expected to Play |
| Weston Richburg | SF | Knee | Limited | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| J.C. Tretter | Cle | Ankle | DNP | DNP | Likely to Play | ||
| Travis Swanson | Mia | Ankle | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Spencer Pulley | NYG | Calf | DNP | DNP | Likely Inactive | ||
| Spencer Long | NYJ | Toe / Knee / Finger | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
|
Edge Rushers
|
Team
|
Injury
|
Practice Participation
|
Game
Status |
FBGs
Expects |
||
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
|||||
| J.J. Watt | Hou | Knee | Limited | Limited | Expected to Play | ||
| Jason Pierre-Paul | TB | Knee | DNP | Limited | Likely to Play | ||
| Frank Clark | Sea | Elbow | DNP | Limited | Awaiting Information | ||
| Bud Dupree | Pit | Knee | DNP | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Samson Ebukam | LAR | Illness | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
| Markus Golden | Ari | Ankle | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
| ^Brian Orakpo | Ten | Elbow | ^DNP | ^DNP | ^DNP | Declared Out | Inactive |
|
Defensive Linemen
|
Team
|
Injury
|
Practice Participation
|
Game
Status |
FBGs
Expects |
||
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
|||||
| Fletcher Cox | Phi | Hip | Limited | DNP | Expected to Play | ||
| Akiem Hicks | Chi | Illness | Not Listed | DNP | Awaiting Information | ||
| ^Jurrell Casey | Ten | Knee | ^DNP | ^DNP | ^Limited | Not Listed | Expected to Play |
| Grady Jarrett | Atl | Shoulder / Groin | Limited | Limited | Likely to Play | ||
| Damon Harrison | Det | Ankle | DNP | DNP | Awaiting Information | ||
| Linval Joseph | Min | Knee | Not Listed | DNP | Awaiting Information | ||
| David Irving | Dal | Ankle | DNP | DNP | Likely Inactive | ||
| Gerald McCoy | TB | Shoulder | Limited | Limited | Expected to Play | ||
| Michael Bennett | Phi | Foot | DNP | DNP | Likely to Play | ||
| Kenny Clark | GB | Elbow | DNP | IR | IR | IR | Injured Reserve |
| Jarran Reed | Sea | Oblique / Groin | DNP | DNP | Awaiting Information | ||
| Cameron Heyward | Pit | Knee | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Kyle Williams | Buf | Back | DNP | Limited | Awaiting Information | ||
| Leonard Williams | NYJ | Elbow | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Margus Hunt | Ind | Foot | DNP | Limited | Likely to Play | ||
| Larry Ogunjobi | Cle | Biceps | DNP | Limited | Likely to Play | ||
| ^Matt Ioannidis | Was | Shin | ^Limited | ^Limited | ^Limited | Questionable | Likely to Play |
| Timmy Jernigan | Phi | Back | Limited | Limited | Awaiting Information | ||
|
Linebackers
|
Team
|
Injury
|
Practice Participation
|
Game
Status |
FBGs
Expects |
||
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
|||||
| Deion Jones | Atl | Foot | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Sean Lee | Dal | Hamstring | Limited | Limited | Likely to Play | ||
| Jordan Hicks | Phi | Calf | Limited | Full | Likely to Play | ||
| ^Wesley Woodyard | Ten | Back | ^Not Listed | ^DNP | ^Limited | Not Listed | Expected to Play |
| Joe Schobert | Cle | Knee | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Eric Kendricks | Min | Hamstring | DNP | DNP | Awaiting Information | ||
| K.J. Wright | Sea | Knee | Limited | Limited | Likely to Play | ||
| Kiko Alonso | Mia | Knee / Hamstring | Limited | Limited | Likely to Play | ||
| Malcolm Smith | SF | Achilles | Limited | Limited | Likely to Play | ||
| Shaq Thompson | Car | Shoulder | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
| Alec Ogletree | NYG | Concussion | DNP | DNP | Likely Inactive | ||
| Vontaze Burfict | Cin | Concussion | Limited | Limited | Awaiting Information | ||
| Jordan Evans | Cin | Ankle | DNP | DNP | Likely Inactive | ||
| *Brandon Marshall | Den | Knee | *Limited | Likely to Play | |||
| Kevin Pierre-Louis | NYJ | Shoulder | DNP | DNP | Likely Inactive | ||
| Anthony Walker | Ind | Shoulder | DNP | DNP | |||
| Devon Kennard | Det | Hip | Limited | Limited | Likely to Play | ||
| ^Matt Judon | Bal | Knee | ^DNP | ^Limited | ^Full | Questionable | Expected to Play |
| Jamie Collins Sr | Cle | Shoulder | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
|
Defensive Backs
|
Team
|
Injury
|
Practice Participation
|
Game
Status |
FBGs
Expects |
||
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday
|
Friday
|
|||||
| Eddie Jackson | Chi | Ankle | DNP | DNP | Likely Inactive | ||
| Budda Baker | Ari | Knee | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
| Eric Berry | KC | Heel | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Clayton Geathers | Ind | Knee | DNP | DNP | Game-time Decision | ||
| Malik Hooker | Ind | Hip | Limited | Limited | Expected to Play | ||
| Michael Mitchell | Ind | Calf | Limited | Limited | Awaiting Information | ||
| ^Kenny Vaccaro | Ten | Concussion | ^Limited | ^Full | ^Full | Not Listed | Expected to Play |
| Reshad Jones | Mia | Shoulder | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| T.J. McDonald | Mia | Ankle | DNP | DNP | Likely Inactive | ||
| Jabrill Peppers | Cle | Neck | Not Listed | DNP | |||
| Ronnie Harrison | Jac | Knee | DNP | DNP | Inactive | ||
| Terrell Edmunds | Pit | Concussion | Limited | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Bradley McDougald | Sea | Knee | DNP | DNP | Game-time Decision | ||
| Jaquiski Tartt | SF | Shoulder | Limited | DNP | Likely Inactive | ||
| Justin Reid | Hou | Shoulder / Wrist | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Desmond Trufant | Atl | Ankle | DNP | Limited | Awaiting Information | ||
| Denzel Ward | Cle | Concussion | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Terrance Mitchell | Cle | Wrist | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Xavien Howard | Mia | Knee | Limited | Limited | Game-time Decision | ||
| Kendall Fuller | KC | Thumb | DNP | DNP | Inactive | ||
| Johnathan Joseph | Hou | Hip | Limited | Limited | Expected to Play | ||
| Kareem Jackson | Hou | Knee | Limited | Limited | Expected to Play | ||
| Kenny Moore II | Ind | Shin | Not Listed | Limited | |||
| Quincy Wilson | Ind | Elbow | Limited | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| Dre Kirkpatrick | Cin | Ankle | Not Listed | Limited | Likely to Play | ||
| Sidney Jones | Phi | Hamstring | DNP | DNP | Likely Inactive | ||
| Morris Claiborne | NYJ | Shoulder | Full | Full | Expected to Play | ||
| *Isaac Yiadom | Den | Shoulder | *Limited | ||||
| Ryan Lewis | Buf | Concussion | DNP | Limited | Awaiting Information | ||
| Captain Munnerlyn | Car | Knee | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
|
Kickers
|
Team
|
Injury
|
Practice Participation
|
Game
Status |
FBGs
Expects |
||
|
Wednesday
|
Thursday | Friday | |||||
| Jake Elliott | Phi | Illness | Not Listed | DNP | Expected to Play | ||
| Steven Hauschka | Buf | Hip | Limited | Full | |||
| Josh Lambo | Jac | Groin | DNP | DNP | Likely Inactive | ||
Note: Asterisk denotes Monday night players who practice Thursday/Friday/Saturday.
^Note: Saturday night players practice Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday.
Follow me on Twitter @JeneBramel for breaking injury news and analysis throughout the week.