NOTE: During the regular season, this column is a living document through Tuesday morning. I'll be updating as needed after team press conferences, imaging reports, Monday Night Football injuries, etc. Major changes to the content will be noted in red.

Scroll to the bottom of this article for a quick look table of the week's most pressing injury situations and a review of players on injured reserve / PUP / NFI.

Footballguys will have close and detailed coverage of all injuries this season. Here's a look at my expected schedule. I will do my best to stick to this. Work and family responsibilities may sometimes cause brief delays.

Monday Injury Rounds: Posted Sunday night, updated through Tuesday AM. Detailed analysis of the week's injuries with table for quick review. Offensive injuries will be live Sunday night. Critical defensive and offensive line injuries will be added throughout the day on Monday. I'll be updating with news and analysis through Tuesday.

Midweek Injury Expectations: Posted Wednesday night. Analysis of the practice participation report with a table including my projection of each injured player's likely game status. Will include discussion of any major breaking injury news.

Sunday Gameday Expectations: Posted by Saturday afternoon, updated through Sunday morning inactives. Will include individual player blurbs with detailed thoughts on the week's injury news and my speculation on player availability and limitations. Will include table highlighting each day's practice participation, official game status, and my availability expectation.

I'll be contributing to our waiver wire podcast (Tuesday release) and our live Sunday morning pregame show (10 ET Sunday on YouTube). I will also be retweeting key pieces of news and my own reaction and analysis, so make sure you're following me @JeneBramel and checking my timeline on Twitter throughout the week.

INJURY ROUNDS

Carson WEntz | Vertebral fracture | Week-to-Week | Doubtful Week 16

There was much controversy surrounding Wentz's back injury last week. In the end, the answer is relatively straightforward. Wentz has a fracture in a vertebrae in his lower back. It likely started as a stress injury and progressed to a fracture after last week's game. This type of fracture is more significant than the vertebral process fractures that we've seen hold Derek Carr and Cam Newton out for a week or two. But it's not career-threatening. In fact, it's an extremely common condition in offensive lineman. One study estimated around 50% of NFL offensive lineman have a similar chronic change in their spine. While not every injury of this type heals with rest, the vast majority are expected to improve with core strengthening and rehab.

The Eagles haven't placed Wentz on injured reserve but it's highly unlikely they'll allow him to risk further injury this season. These injuries usually require a minimum of six weeks to heal. And there are reports Wentz may have had a similar injury in college. Again, that's common and should not be seen as a sign of trouble or complicate his current recovery process. But it's likely we've seen Wentz play his last down in 2018.

Keenan Allen | Right hip pointer | Day-to-Day | Questionable Week 16

Allen fell hard on his right hip during the first half on Thursday night and was unable to finish the game. He suffered a hip pointer, which is a bruise to the top of the pelvic bone. There's not much tissue there but the combination of bruising, muscle spasm, and pain often make these injuries difficult to manage and play through. Allen has the benefit of an extra two days of recovery -- the Chargers play on Saturday this week -- and will have a good chance to play without much limitation this week. Expect the Chargers to limit his practice participation until later in the week.

Aaron Jones | Right MCL sprain | WEek-to-Week | Doubtful Week 16

There have been many MCL injuries this season at every position. That's not unusual. Ball carriers often get hit on the outside of the knee. Offensive linemen get rolled up on the outside of the knee. That stresses the inside of the knee where the MCL lives. Most MCL injuries are low- or mid-grade injuries with a recovery expectation somewhere between one and four weeks. Return depends on the stability of the knee when examined and when the player no longer feels the knee is loose when cutting at speed. Jones has had this injury before and required multiple weeks of recovery. It's unlikely he'll be able to play in Week 16. The Packers are not in playoff contention. If the medical staff believes Jones will need more than one week to recover after Monday's MRI, he'll likely be moved to injured reserve.

Others of note:

Monday Update ***Todd Gurley missed parts of Monday night's game with knee pain. The Rams have not provided specifics on Gurley's injury. Ian Rapoport reported that Gurley is "on track to play this week."

Monday Update ***Aaron Rodgers suffered a groin injury in the second half and was limited at times. Rodgers will undoubtedly try to play through his injury but there are hints among the media that the Packers could shut him down.

***Frank Gore left in pain after a tackler landed on his feet. Ian Rapoport reported x-rays did not show a broken bone. Video replay was limited at the moment of injury but is suspicious for a midfoot sprain, specifically a Lisfranc injury. Expect Gore to have an MRI on Monday to better define his injury and future availability.

Monday Update: Gore will attempt to rehab his midfoot sprain in the coming weeks and hopes to avoid offseason surgery. His season is over.

***Matt Breida aggravated his high ankle sprain yet again late in the fourth quarter on Sunday and was not available during the Niners' game winning drive in overtime. Breida continues to play through the sprain but the Niners shut him down in Week 14 and could do the same in Week 16.

***Lamar Miller suffered a sprain to the inside of his right ankle on Saturday night. While not consistent with a high ankle sprain, Miller's injury is more significant than a rolled ankle. The Texans do not consider his injury major, giving him a reasonable chance to practice and play this week. Don't overreact to any mid-week limited practices. The Texans routinely rest veteran players during the week with any nagging injury concern.

Offensive line and defensive notes:

***Eddie Jackson suffered a high ankle sprain after catching his foot in the turf after an interception. It was a non-contact and less violent injury than some high ankle sprains but Jackson may have difficulty recovering to play this week.

***Kendall Fuller tried to play through a wrist fracture but chose surgery after last Thursday night's game. The injury is suspicious for a scaphoid fracture, which can be tricky to heal. The Chiefs have not moved Fuller to injured reserve but could do so early this week. He'll need multiple weeks to recover.

Follow-up Appointments

James Conner | Right high ankle sprain | Day-to-Day | Questionable Week 16

Conner made enough progress last week for the Steelers to put him through a limited Friday practice and see if his ankle fared well enough to play against the Patriots. But every indication leading up to Friday's practice suggested Conner's high ankle sprain was a mid-grade injury and much closer to a 3-4 week injury than a 1-2 week injury. That proved to be the case. The Steelers kept Conner sidelined.

We're now into Conner's third week of rehab and he has a much better chance to play this week than last. As with last week, the Pittsburgh practice reports will accurately guide us. If Conner isn't practicing on Wednesday, you should worry about a setback in his recovery. If he's not practicing on Thursday, there's definite concern. Conversely, if Conner is nearing full strength, we'll see him take most of the week's practice reps.

I'll update with any news on Conner after Pittsburgh's Monday press conference.

Melvin Gordon | Right MCL sprain | Week-to-Week | Probable Week 16

Gordon had an outside chance of playing last Thursday night. But he was unable to do more than limited individual work by early in the week. That likely meant there was just enough concern about the stability of his knee and overall conditioning that the Chargers elected to remain cautious. As long as there were no unexpected setbacks while the Chargers tested Gordon's fitness last week, he'll likely return to practice this week and play. If he's fully practicing by the end of the week, you can expect him to be capable of returning to his pre-injury workload immediately.

Odell Beckham | Quad contusion | Week-to-Week | Questionable Week 16

Beckham missed his second consecutive game with a quad bruise. Recovery from these injuries can be tough to predict. Blood within the muscle may resorb slowly and lead to muscle spasm and sometimes infection. It was concerning when Beckham sought a second opinion rather than practice last Thursday. And it's worrisome that he missed Friday's practice. That doesn't rule Beckham out for Week 16. But his inability to return to practice nearly ten days after aggravating the injury is concerning. Look for more reassuring statements from Beckham by midweek and a quick return to practice. Any other developments would push him closer to doubtful than questionable.

Austin Ekeler | Concussion / Recurrent stinger | Week-to-Week | Doubtful Week 16

Ekeler's injury evolved last week and it was eventually confirmed he had suffered a concussion as well as an aggravated and recurrent stinger injury. There's been no update on Ekeler's progress through the return to play protocol but many players recover within 14 days. The prolonged nerve symptoms are likely the bigger concern for Week 16. If a player has weakness, numbness, or range of motion limitations lasting longer than a few minutes, it often takes the injured nerve multiple weeks to heal. While we've seen players miss one week and return, most take closer to 3-4 weeks to recover. Ekeler's Wednesday practice participation -- and what body parts the Chargers include on the report -- will define his Week 16 availability.

Derrius Guice | Left ACL reconstruction / Post-surgical infection | Mid-August 2018

Guice reportedly needed three additional procedures to address a post-surgical infection after his August ACL reconstruction. The additional surgeries included flushes to treat infected tissue and necessitated a prolonged course of intravenous antibiotics. Guice also had his knee drained multiple times. While the infection reportedly cleared and there are no reports the integrity of his ACL graft was affected, Guice's rehab was delayed and he could be at risk of degenerative changes and scar tissue due to the infection. Barring any additional setbacks, there's a good chance Guice can complete his rehab in time for the 2019 regular season. However, watch carefully for additional reports about limitations. His level of play should be examined carefully after he returns. He may not be the same player he was before the injury and complications.

Others of note:

***Spencer Ware did not play last week and the nature and severity of both his shoulder and hamstring injuries are still unknown. I'll update with any news from Andy Reid's Monday press conference. Monday Update: Reid told reporters Ware's primary injury is the hamstring strain. The Chiefs do not believe Ware has a significant strain -- he couldn't recover quickly enough on the short week. Reid called him day-to-day.

***The Lions have yet to comment on Kerryon Johnson. Johnson has been out since Week 11 with a knee sprain and is yet to return to practice. If Johnson isn't practicing on Wednesday, do not expect him to return this season.

***Rashaad Penny reported soreness in his knee after the Seahawks' Week 14 game. Penny had an MRI last week but Pete Carroll didn't provide any specifics on his injury, saying only that Penny would not need surgery. Carroll may say more tomorrow during his press conference. Monday Update: ***Hunter Henry was cleared to return to practice on Monday. He'll have three weeks to prove himself capable of contributing before the Chargers have to add him to the active roster. He did not look to be moving fluidly during individual workouts through the weekend and remains a long shot for a productive return this season.

Offensive line and defensive notes:

***New Orleans' guard Terron Armstead (pectoral strain) and Dallas guard Zack Martin (MCL sprain) were inactive on Sunday. Both have a chance to return in Week 16 and will be big additions to their respective offensive lines.

***Cleveland will hope to have cornerback Denzel Ward back this week. Miami could get cornerback Xavien Howard back after a Week 12 meniscectomy.

***The Packers held Kenny Clark out with an elbow injury. There was concern he could cause more damage by continuing to play. He remains week-to-week.

INJURED PLAYERS ON ACTIVE ROSTER