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)

• Josh Jacobs
• Jordan Howard

Trending Probable (Expected to Play)

• Dalvin Cook
• Will Fuller

Game-time Decisions

• LeVeon Bell -- DECLARED OUT

QUARTERBACK

Baker Mayfield | Hand / Ribs | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

Mayfield left the locker room last week with a large ice wrap on his throwing hand. Mayfield remained confident in his recovery to play this week and returned to a full Friday practice. After watching Mayfield throw the ball without a glove in cold weather on Friday, head coach Freddie Kitchens told reporters Mayfield was full strength.

Others of note: Patrick Mahomes II (knee), Tom Brady (toe, elbow), Jameis Winston (knee), Ryan Fitzpatrick (shoulder, forearm), and Sam Darnold (thumb) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play. Matthew Stafford (hip / back) and Daniel Jones (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.

RUNNING BACK

Derrick Henry | Hamstring | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

Henry has now been limited in practice in each of the past two weeks. Hamstring injuries are always of concern for running backs but Henry's limited practices appear to be more maintenance than concern for a meaningful strain.

Two weeks ago, Henry played 40 snaps and out-touched Dion Lewis 20 to 6. Last week, after his initial appearance on the injury report, Henry out-touched Lewis 29 to 1. Henry's practice participation is similar this week and there are no local concerns about his availability. Expect him to dominate the backfield touches again this week.

Dalvin Cook | Chest | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

Cook has been playing through a sprain in the joint between his sternum and collarbone for multiple weeks. After taking two painful hits to the area last Monday night, Cook could not return to play and looked doubtful to play this week.

But Cook told reporters he felt better than expected early this week and returned to a full practice on Friday. Mike Zimmer is convinced Cook is healthy enough to play and said he expects Cook to be "close to 100 percent." The Vikings did not include Cook on the game status report, confirming he'll be available this week.

Despite Zimmer's declaration and Cook's confidence, there is a wide range of possible outcomes this week. While it's possible Cook returns to his pre-injury workload and avoids another aggravation, it's unlikely he is any closer to full recovery than it was before last Monday night's game. He will take hits to the same area and it's a difficult area to support or brace.

Alexander Mattison has been a more-than-capable backup. But the Vikings won't necessarily increase his workload. Cook's condition is a pain-tolerance issue rather than a conditioning question. It's reasonable to expect the Vikings to use Cook as they usually would, with Mattison's workload increasing only with an aggravation. Predicting the likelihood of aggravation is difficult -- but it's clearly possible.

I'll update with any news through the weekend.

Josh Jacobs | Shoulder | Questionable | Awaiting Information

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

Jacobs has been practicing and playing through a shoulder injury for weeks. While his snap count hasn't dropped significantly, his percentage of the team's touches and targets has begun to trend down over the past two weeks -- albeit during two blowout losses.

Earlier in the week, Jacobs said he has a fracture near the shoulder. Offensive coordinator Greg Olson essentially confirmed the severity of the injury on Thursday, telling reporters he felt comfortable in Jacobs' ability to play with the training staff.

Jacobs may continue to play this week. However, there are strong reasons to believe his playing status in question.

First, precise details of a player's injury don't usually come out unless there's a change in status, i.e. a player who's returning after a prolonged absence is now willing to discuss the injury or a player who's been playing through a difficult situation can no longer do so and is now willing to discuss the injury. Jacobs' case feels a lot like the latter.

More importantly, Jacobs did little in practice this week and local reporters are classifying his status as "more iffy" than previous weeks. The Raiders aren't out of the playoff hunt and looking to shut down players with significant injury yet, but Jacobs status is questionable at best.

I'll have more after the overnight news reports are posted.

Marlon Mack | Hand | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

Mack fully practiced this week, is not on the team's game status report, and will play. The multiple-week recovery from a midseason hand fracture and surgical fixation should not have affected his cardiovascular conditioning much but his ability to protect the football and perform all the duties of the running back position remain a concern.

Confident in his return and without an elite backup on the roster, it's possible the Colts will immediately return Mack to his pre-injury workload. However, Mack's usage may not be decided until Mack and the Colts work through the first 2-3 series of play.

Le'Veon Bell | Illness | Questionable > Declared Out | Inactive

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

The Jets sent Bell home with illness on both Thursday and Friday, leading Adam Gase to tell reporters he was unsure about Bell's playing status in his post-practice press conference on Friday. It's possible we'll see an optimistic update on Bell's condition on Saturday. If not, the Jets aren't obligated to disclose Bell's health and playing status until 90 minutes before game time on Sunday.

Saturday Update: Bell has been declared out.

Matt Breida | Ankle | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

Breida returns to further crowd the Niners' talented backfield. Kyle Shanahan wouldn't commit to a usage pattern, confirming he stuck with Raheem Mostert while he was running well last week. Expect the same again on Sunday. Unfortunately, the Niners are giving no clues on who might get the first shot at higher usage.

*Jordan Howard | Shoulder | Questionable | Inactive

Practice Participation: Thurs - Limited | Fri - Limited | Sat - Pending

Howard's Saturday practice participation and game status designation are still pending. But he wasn't cleared for contact through Saturday's practice. Whether the Eagles formally rule him out or not, he won't be playing again this week.

Others of note: Adrian Peterson (toe), Royce Freeman (ribs), and Jamaal Williams (knee) have practiced, are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play. James Conner (shoulder) and Damien Williams (rib) 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

Julio Jones | Shoulder | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

Jones and head coach Dan Quinn were consistent in their insistence Jones would likely have played last week had the Falcons played on Sunday. With an additional ten days to recover, Jones returned to a full Friday practice and is off the game status report. Quinn told reporters Jones was "ready to go" and Jones has routinely seen a full workload in weeks he's not on the injury report.

Shoulder sprains are tricky injuries for wide receivers and can be easily aggravated. Jones' sprain looks to be low grade. Hopefully, his risk of aggravation will prove unlikely.

Adam Thielen | Hamstring | Doubtful | Inactive

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

Thielen's complicated return illustrates the difficult recovery players often face with hamstring strains.

After what was initially described as a minor strain, Thielen quickly discovered he wasn't ready for game speed in his first attempt to return. The Vikings shut him down through the bye week only to have Thielen experience a "scare" last Tuesday. The Vikings gave Thielen a chance to play last week but Thielen himself said he wouldn't return until he was fully recovered. This week, Thielen did not practice at all.

When aggravated, soft tissue injuries generally require as much or more time to heal as the initial injury. Thielen struggled to return two weeks after the initial injury before tapping out in Week 9, then suffered another setback leading into Week 13. Though he's listed doubtful for this week's game, he will not play. I'll have more on Thielen's prospects in the coming weeks in Monday's article.

Julian Edelman | Shoulder | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Mohamed Sanu | Ankle | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Both Edelman and Sanu are expected to play.

Sanu had five targets on just 19 snaps last week in his first game back from a Week 11 high ankle sprain. The Patriots are likely to increase his snap count this week.

Marquise Brown | Ankle | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Brown fully practiced on Friday and is expected to play. He has been listed with various ailments in previous weeks but his missed practices are generally maintenance related. Expect him to see his usual snap count and target count.

Will Fuller | Hamstring | Questionable | Expected to Play Likely Inactive

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

Fuller had only one catch last week but played 75% of the team's snaps. There are no apparent local concerns about his status. Expect him to play again this week.

Sunday Update: Fuller's injury is more limiting than his recent snap counts may suggest. Local media describes the injury as "lingering" and Fuller's status this morning as "iffy" following an Ian Rapoport tweet that Fuller is not expected to play today. If active, Fuller is now at risk of limited snap counts and usage. More likely, he will be inactive.

Others of note: Tyreek Hill (hamstring), Davante Adams (toe), Chris Godwin (shin), Calvin Ridley (toe), Russell Gage (ribs), Odell Beckham (groin), Jarvis Landry (hip), Deebo Samuel (shoulder), Emmanuel Sanders (ribs), D.J. Chark (back), Chris Conley (hamstring), Courtland Sutton (hamstring), Mike Williams (knee), A.J. Brown (calf), and Diontae Johnson (illness) are not listed on the game status report, and are expected to play without limitation. JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee), T.Y. Hilton (calf), Hunter Renfrow (ribs), Paul Richardson Jr (hamstring), 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

Austin Hooper | Knee | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

It's not often we see a player miss three full weeks of practice then return to practice fully and not be listed on the practice participation report the following week. But that's what's happened with Hooper, who is now fully recovered from a Week 10 MCL sprain. Players often have reconditioning concerns after multiple week absences but the Falcons -- who generally limit players with minor injury concerns during the week -- expect Hooper to return to his usual snap count immediately.

Ryan Griffin | Illness | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

The Jets list Griffin questionable but he is expected to play.

Others of note: George Kittle (knee / ankle), Jacob Hollister (quadriceps), and Jimmy Graham (calf) have practiced, is not listed on the game status report, and is expected to play without limitation. Gerald Everett (knee), Greg Olsen (concussion), Luke Willson (hamstring), and Rhett Ellison (concussion) 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.