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UNDERSTANDING THE NFL'S INJURY REPORT

The injury report released by the NFL is 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:

Fast Track News and Notes

Scroll down for full details, extensive updates, and the complete table of projected availability. Here are the most important notes for this week's games:

Trending Doubtful (Likely Inactive)

• Jordan Howard
• Phillip Dorsett
• Mohamed Sanu
• Nelson Agholor
• Auden Tate

Trending Probable (Expected to Play)

• Tyler Lockett
• George Kittle
• Emmanuel Sanders
• Deebo Samuel
• Adrian Peterson
• Tim Patrick

Game-time Decisions

• Alshon Jeffery

QUARTERBACK

Tom Brady | Elbow | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Brady was a notable addition to the Friday practice participation report. While the Patriots routinely list Brady as limited with various minor ailments, it usually occurs early in the week. Questionable means little on a New England injury report -- some "questionable" Patriots are fully expected to see their usual snap counts, some have no chance of playing -- and it can be hard to read where New England stands on a player.

Fortunately, there are no local or national reports of concern. The local media consensus is Brady will play. The only semantic hedge came from Tom Pelissero, who tweeted that the Patriots will "monitor Brady's elbow issue into [Saturday] and reassess." Pelissero ended the tweet with a reference to Brady's 11-year streak of not missing games.

Expect Brady to play.

Others of note: Russell Wilson (hamstring), Matt Ryan (ankle), Jameis Winston (ankle), Ryan Fitzpatrick (shoulder), Mitchell Trubisky (hip), and Sam Darnold (thumb) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play. Matthew Stafford (hip/back) has been declared out and will not play. Return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players will be updated in Monday's column.

RUNNING BACK

Jordan Howard | Shoulder | Questionable | Likely Inactive

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

The Eagles continue to list Howard questionable despite still not clearing him for contact in practice four weeks after suffering a stinger. It will be a shock if he plays this week. And while the questionable tag and limited practices imply Howard is close to returning, the ongoing recovery and decision to add Jay Ajayi raise questions about whether Howard's symptoms are peripheral (stingers are stretching of muscle fibers near the shoulder) or related to inflammation and injury closer to the spine. I'll have more on that in Monday's injury rounds article.

Sunday Update: Adam Schefter reports Howard is unlikely to play.

Adrian Peterson | Toe | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Chris Thompson | Toe | Questionable | Likely Inactive

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

Peterson barely practiced this week and is listed questionable but Bill Callahan has told the media Peterson will play in every press conference this week. This is not a new condition for Peterson, who's missed practice to rest the injury over the past few weeks. But this is the first week Peterson has missed multiple practices and earned a questionable tag.

Peterson's snap count was down significantly in Week 11 despite a full bye week of rest. He played just 25% of Washington's offensive snaps after a month of seeing 30-35 snaps per game. Some of that was likely due to the return of Derrius Guice but the toe injury may be an additional factor. Peterson's snap count and usage is debatable this week but it's difficult to project him for more than 20-25 snaps and 10-12 touches.

Thompson is working his way back from a Week 6 toe sprain. Though he's managed a full week of limited practice and is trending toward playing, it's possible Washington chooses to recondition him one more week before activating him on game day.

Sunday Update: An overnight tweet from Adam Schefter confirms Washington expects Peterson to play. Schefter added that the team is not optimistic about Thompson. He's likely to need another week.

Others of note: Josh Jacobs (shoulder), Phillip Lindsay (foot, wrist), Raheem Mostert (knee), and Benny Snell (knee) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play. James Conner (shoulder), Matt Breida (ankle), Devonta Freeman (foot), and 000 (000) are doubtful or have been declared out and will not play. Return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players will be updated in Monday's column.

WIDE RECEIVER

Tyler Lockett | Shin | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

Lockett was hospitalized and observed for a potentially career-threatening complication of a shin bruise suffered in Week 10. Thankfully, Lockett's injury stabilized without the need for surgical intervention. Lockett was cleared to practice this week, continued to progress well, and has no injury designation on the final game status report. Pete Carroll told reporters Lockett was "ready to go." There's little chance of aggravation and it appears Lockett reconditioned quickly. Expect him to see his usual snap count and targets.

Julian Edelman | Shoulder | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Phillip Dorsett | Concussion | Questionable | Inactive

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

Mohamed Sanu | Ankle | Questionable | Likely Inactive

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

The questionable tag means something different for every New England player.

Edelman has been playing through injury for much of the season. Though frequently listed questionable, he's continued to play 90% of the team's snaps and is expected to see his usual workload this week.

Dorsett was limited in practice this week after his Week 11 concussion. There are multiple reports he did not complete the final stage of the return to play protocol and has not be cleared to play. He will be inactive.

Sanu suffered a high ankle sprain last week. While he returned to limited practices and has not been declared out, the local consensus is Sanu has little chance to play this week. He was not cleared to speak with reporters this week.

Sunday Update: Overnight, both Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport reported Sanu may have a chance to play. Sanu felt better overnight and wants to see if the improvement continues as game time approaches. Earlier reporters suggested Sanu's high ankle sprain may be a multiple-week injury and it would be unusual to see such rapid improvement within 5-7 days in those injuries. It's also very difficult to brace and tape a high ankle sprain such that pain is limited and range of motion improved. I would still have Sanu on the doubtful side of questionable. If he plays, expect a limited role with a significant risk of aggravation.

Emmanuel Sanders | Ribs | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Deebo Samuel | Shoulder | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Sanders played through pain last week but managed only 47% of San Francisco's offensive snaps. Reports from practice observers throughout the week suggest Sanders was moving better. Matt Barrows termed Sanders' improvement as "looking far more spry" than last week. The Niners have listed Sanders questionable but he's likely to play. There's still a risk of in-game aggravation and missed playing time but Sanders has a higher ceiling this week than last.

Samuel practiced in a no-contact jersey during the week but is expected to play despite also being listed questionable. Like Sanders, there is a risk of in-game aggravation and Samuel may not have full range of motion.

Sunday Update: Both Sanders and Samuel are expected to play per Adam Schefter.

Alshon Jeffery | Ankle | Questionable | Likely Inactive

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

Nelson Agholor | Knee | Questionable | Likely Inactive

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

Doug Pederson told reporters both Jeffery and Agholor were trending in the right direction during a Friday press conference. Pederson's comments are generally easy to decode -- day-to-day means doubtful for the week, week-to-week means multiple-week absence, etc. Trending in the right direction is a little more hopeful than day-to-day but still no guarantee of avoiding the game day inactive list.

Jeffery returned to practice this week and is likely closer to playing than Agholor. Pederson hinted both players could play through pain but further observation was needed.

I'll update with news on both after the overnight reports are in.

Sunday Update: The Eagles added a wide receiver from the practice squad on Saturday. Overnight, Adam Schefter tweeted Agholor is not expected to play. Jeffery is expected to play and has been effective through injury in the past. Without more detail on his injury, it's difficult to project a risk of aggravation. Expect the Eagles to limit Jeffery to a high-leverage package of plays with some upside for more.

Sunday Update: Adam Schefter now reporting "it's now iffy" on Jeffery. That's a very worrisome late morning tweet and strongly suggests Jeffery's ankle didn't recover as hoped through the weekend. If active, Jeffery will limited at best.

Auden Tate | Concussion | Questionable | Likely Inactive

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

The Bengals upgraded Tate to questionable after a limited Friday practice. Tate suffered a concussion and cervical neck strain last week. It seems unlikely the team would advance Tate through the final exercise stages of the return to play protocol after not clearing him to practice until Friday. But Zac Taylor told reporters Tate could be available to play. I'll update through the weekend but currently expect Tate to be inactive.

Demaryius Thomas | Hamstring | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Thomas has been limited in practice and listed questionable with a hamstring injury for weeks. His snap counts and usage has remained consistent -- 40-50 snaps per game -- over that time frame and no change is expected this week.

Tim Patrick | Shoulder | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Patrick returned to play through a shoulder injury last week. Despite a missed practice on Wednesday and treatment through Friday's practice, all local observers expect Patrick to play. After taking 73% of the team's snaps last week and seeing eight targets in his first game off injured reserve, Patrick will likely see heavy usage barring any in-game aggravations.

Others of note: Amari Cooper (knee), Davante Adams (toe), Julio Jones (foot), Odell Beckham (groin), Jarvis Landry (hip), D.J. Chark (hamstring), Dede Westbrook (illness), Chris Conley (hamstring), Sterling Shepard (concussion), Terry McLaurin (wrist), Paul Richardson Jr (hamstring), Josh Gordon (ankle), Brandin Cooks (concussion), and Corey Davis (hip) are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play without limitation. JuJu Smith-Schuster (concussion, knee) and A.J. Green (ankle) are doubtful or have been declared out and will not play. Return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players will be updated in Monday's column.

TIGHT END

George Kittle | Knee / Ankle | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Kittle missed two games after hyper-extending his knee in Week 9. Kittle improved enough to return to limited practices this week. Video showed him wearing a brace for support and favoring his left leg during warm-ups. Kittle has played effectively through injury before -- including his 51 snaps in Week 9 which mostly came after his early-game injury.

The Niners list multiple players questionable this week but Kyle Shanahan sounded optimistic about each of them. Kittle's injury may limit his ability to separate and it's possible he'll be limited to high-leverage situations only. But Shanahan is among the best in the game at scheming his elite talent open. Kittle will have strong statistical upside regardless of his total snaps played.

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

Sunday Update: Adam Schefter tweeted Kittle suffered a broken bone in his ankle in Week 9. The Niners have been listed Kittle's knee injury ahead of the ankle injury from the beginning and video of the hyperextension and reports of a structurally normal MRI argued strongly that Kittle was working through a bone bruise around the knee. It's now fair to wonder whether Kittle suffered a fibula fracture on the same play. If that's true, a return within a month is very impressive.

I would now expect Kittle to see a limited snap count. However, while this lowers his floor, the notes on Shanahan and scheme above are still valid. Unless you have another option likely to see 4-6+ targets and red zone usage, it's reasonable to stick with Kittle.

T.J. Hockenson | Shoulder | Questionable | Awaiting Information

Practice Participation: Wed - Not Listed | Thurs - Not Listed | Fri - Not Listed

The Lions informed the league of Hockenson's shoulder injury on Saturday evening when they added him to the injury report as questionable. There have been no details on the injury and no speculation on his health and status overnight. The Lions play in an early afternoon game and we may not know more until the inactive list comes out. The lack of additional information overnight suggests this is a minor issue. But Detroit plays early on Thursday and the late addition is notable.

I'll have more as soon as anything is reported.

Jeff Heuerman | Foot | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

Vic Fangio said Heuerman was 50-50 to play earlier in the week. It appears Heuerman responded well to individual drills early in the week. He fully participated on Friday and is trending toward probable to play.

Others of note: Josh Hill (concussion) has practiced, is not listed on the game status report, and is expected to play without limitation. Austin Hooper (knee), Evan Engram (foot), Rhett Ellison (concussion), Delanie Walker (ankle), Luke Willson (hamstring), Adam Shaheen (foot), Vernon Davis (concussion), and 000 are listed doubtful or have been declared out and will not play. Return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players will be updated in Monday's column.

Practice Participation, Game Status Report, and Playing Expectations

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