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)

• Deshaun Watson / DeAndre Hopkins (may be active, unlikely to play
• Leonard Fournette
• Kyler Murray
• Mark Andrews
• Marquise Brown
• Alexander Mattison

Trending Probable (Expected to Play)

• Derrick Henry
• Odell Beckham
• Sony Michel
• Jordan Howard
• Robby Anderson

Game-time Decisions

• Gardner Minshew

QUARTERBACK

Deshaun Watson | Back | Questionable | Possibly active but unlikely to play

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

Early this week, when asked whether offensive starters would play, Bill O'Brien told the reporters the Texans would "play to win" but he did not specifically say whether Hopkins would be on the field. On Friday, the Texans listed Watson -- as well as tackle Laremy Tunsil and receiver DeAndre Hopkins -- questionable.

There's very little for Houston to play for on Sunday. The Texans clinched the AFC South last week and are out of contention for a first-round bye. It's possible the team will approach Week 17 as a preseason game and give the starters a series or two before pulling them. But it's most sensible to not risk anything that would affect how the team game plans for the wild card round next week.

Sunday update: Multiple reports suggest the Texans will rest starters today. That includes Watson, who may be active as AJ McCarron's backup but is not expected to play.

Kyler Murray | Hamstring | Questionable | Likely Inactive

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

Kliff Kingsbury told reporters Murray was a game-time decision and the Cardinals list Murray questionable. Other than the importance of game reps for a young quarterback, there's little upside in clearing Murray to play at less than full strength. Backup Brett Hundley took nearly all of the quarterback snaps during practice this week and the Cardinals plan to promote Drew Anderson from the practice squad. Expect Murray to be inactive.

Jameis Winston | Thumb / Knee | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Winston finished the week with two full practices and was cleared to speak with the media throughout the week. He's already played six quarters with a thumb injury and is likely to start on Sunday.

Gardner Minshew | Shoulder | Questionable | Awaiting Information

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

Minshew was limited in practice this week with what was described as "general soreness." Listed questionable, Doug Marrone told reporters they had both Nick Foles and Josh Dobbs ready to play if Minshew couldn't play.

Not Listed on Game Status Report:

• Drew Brees (knee)
• Dak Prescott (shoulder)
• Ryan Fitzpatrick (shoulder)
• Philip Rivers (thumb)
• Sam Darnold (knee/thumb)

Declared Out:

• Dwayne Haskins (ankle)

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 - Full | Thurs - Full | Fri - Full

Henry was healthy enough to play last week but the Titans' Week 16 had no bearing on their playoff chances after the Texans won on Saturday. Henry returned to a full week of practice and is likely as healthy as he's been in over a month. Expect him to see his usual heavy workload in a must-win game for Tennessee.

Leonard Fournette | Neck | Questionable>Doubtful | Inactive

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

The Jaguars haven't directly addressed Fournette's availability but there are reasons to believe he'll be inactive.

Fournette's participation line suggests he did some limited work on Wednesday, didn't like how it went, and the team chose to shut him down for the week. Doug Marrone told reporters on Friday he was comfortable with Ryquell Armstead and Devine Ozigbo if needed. That may have just been Friday coach speak but Marrone had similar thoughts on Gardner Minshew. He also suggested a weekend roster move was possible.

Fournette did talk to the media on Thursday and he's likely interested in continuing to put past durability questions behind him, but the team may have already made their decision. I'll update with anything new through the weekend but would currently lean toward Fournette not playing.

Saturday update: Fournette has been downgraded to doubtful. He will be inactive.

Sony Michel | Illness | Questionable | Expected to Play

Sunday Update: Michel was added to the injury report on Saturday with an illness. Adam Schefter reported Sunday morning Michel has recovered enough to play today. With the Patriots' battling for a first-round bye, all key starters should be active as the team looks to get an extra week to rehab Julian Edelman, Marcus Cannon, Jason McCourty, and others.

Alexander Mattison | Ankle | Questionable | Likely Inactive

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

Mattison continues his recovery from a Week 15 high ankle sprain and took individual reps throughout the week. He's still at risk of aggravating his injury and another mulitple-week rehab. The Vikings are locked into the sixth seed in the NFC and have little incentive to risk Mattison. They've already ruled key performers Dalvin Cook and Eric Kendricks out. It's likely Mattison joins them on the inactive list this week. If Mattison plays, he will not see anything close to a lead back workload.

Jordan Howard | Shoulder | Not Listed | Expected to Play

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

Howard was finally cleared for contact this week after a slow-to-heal stinger he suffered in Week 9. Expect the Eagles to give Howard a handful of snaps as he works to re-acclimate to contact and game speed, but Miles Sanders and Boston Scott will not see much change in their now-established roles. Doug Pederson told reporters Howard would not get "a full complement of plays." Howard acknowledged it would "take some time to get back used" to playing.

Not Listed on Game Status Report:

• Adrian Peterson (toe)
• Justin Jackson (hamstring)

Declared Out:

• Dalvin Cook (shoulder)
• Mark Ingram (calf)
• Josh Jacobs (illness / shoulder) -- listed doubtful (i.e. will travel with team) but will not play
• Jamaal Williams (shoulder)
• James Conner (quad)
• Jordan Wilkins (ankle)
• Darrell Henderson (ankle)

Return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players will be updated in Monday's column.

WIDE RECEIVER

DeAndre Hopkins | Illness | Questionable | Possibly active but unlikely to play

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

Kenny Stills | Knee | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

Hopkins managed only a limited Thursday practice while battling illness all week. As noted in the Deshaun Watson discussion above, there's little incentive for the Texans to put their critical pieces in harm's way this week. Hopkins is officially questionable but it would not be surprising to see Houston rest Hopkins if he's not full strength by game time.

Stills isn't as important to the Houston offense. He was cleared for an extensive media session on Friday. With Will Fuller ruled out and Hopkins questionable, it's more likely Stills plays than not.

Sunday update: Hopkins may be active but is not likely to play much according to a morning report by Dianna Russini.

Julian Edelman | Knee / Shoulder | Questionable | Expected to Play

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

Edelman has yet to return to his usual high snap percentages with patellar tendinitis continuing to limit him. With the #2 AFC seed and a first-round bye on the line, there's no doubt Edelman will continue to play.

Odell Beckham | Groin / Illness | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

Beckham missed Friday's practice with an illness and the Browns list him questionable. Local observers expect him to play but recovery from flu or gastrointestinal illness can be unpredictable. Beckham's core muscle injury has limited him throughout the season. The illness will further hamper his conditioning if he's active.

Sunday update: Ian Rapoport tweeted overnight that Beckham's "condition has improved enough so he can be on the field today." Not exactly a ringing endorsement, it's likely Beckham sees fewer snaps and targets if he is active.

Robby Anderson | Calf | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

The Jets limited Anderson in practice with what Adam Gase termed "leg tightness." Anderson routinely plays when listed questionable on the game status report and local observers expect him to be active.

Marquise Brown | Illness | Questionable | Possibly active but will not play

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

The Ravens plan to rest many of their starters this week. The inactive list will clearly list some of them; others may play very few snaps despite being active on Sunday. John Harbaugh didn't include Brown in the list of players who wouldn't play in an early-week press conference, but the late-week illness may force a change in plans.

Sunday update: Adam Schefter reports Brown is not expected to play.

Dede Westbrook | Neck / Shoulder | Questionable | Awaiting Information

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

The Friday missed practice and questionable listing raised red flags on Westbrook's game day status. He's been battling neck and shoulder injuries throughout the second half of the season and there are indications the Jaguars may be shutting down players with nagging injury this week with Gardner Minshew and Leonard Fournette also among those who may sit in Week 17.

Jake Kumerow | Illness | Questionable | Likely to Play

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

Kumerow is listed questionable but he's likely to play unless his condition does not improve through the weekend.

Not Listed on Game Status Report:

• Michael Thomas (hand)
• Julio Jones (knee / shoulder)
• D.J. Chark (ankle)
• Jarvis Landry (hip)
• Deebo Samuel (shoulder)
• Jamison Crowder (thumb)
• Tyrell Williams (foot)
• Darius Slayton (knee)
• J.J. Arcega-Whiteside (foot)
• Allen Lazard (ankle)
• Corey Davis (concussion)

Declared Out:

• Chris Godwin (hamstring)
• Terry McLaurin (concussion)
• D.J. Moore (concussion)
• Will Fuller (groin)
• Nelson Agholor (knee)

Return to play expectations on all inactive and injured players will be updated in Monday's column.

TIGHT END

Mark Andrews | Ankle | Questionable | Likely Inactive

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

The Ravens plan to list many of their important starters this week. Andrews routinely played through injury and missed practices earlier in the year and the Ravens have a first-round bye. But with two other strong and versatile tight end options, it's likely Andrews will be inactive or see fewer snaps than usual.

Sunday update: Adam Schefter reports Andrews will not play.

Not Listed on Game Status Report:

• Greg Olsen (knee)
• Ian Thomas (ankle)
• Luke Willson (hip)

Declared Out:

• Zach Ertz (ribs / back)
• Rhett Ellison (concussion)

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: All games are on Sunday in Week 17.