Injury Expectations | Midweek Update | Week 8

Jene Bramel's Injury Expectations | Midweek Update | Week 8 Jene Bramel Published 10/28/2020

Wednesday Media Updates

***Dalvin Cook will return from a low-grade groin strain this week. Cook had an extended media session on Wednesday and Mike Zimmer told reporters he "assumes" Cook will play. A return to full practice by the end of the week would put him in line for a full Week 8 workload.

***Aaron Jones did not return to practice Wednesday. Matt LaFleur said the decision to rest Jones last week "definitely helped him but he's got to continue to improve and get better each day." LaFleur further told reporters the team won't risk losing Jones long term and will continue to "be smart with him." Given the conservative nature of the Green Bay medical staff, the Wednesday missed practice is a concerning sign.

***Joe Mixon missed practice Wednesday. Still sidelined with a midfoot injury with a bye week looming in Week 9, it appears Cincinnati may continue to rest Mixon this week. If he does not return to a limited practice on Thursday, expect him to be ruled out on Friday.

***The Eagles continue to consider Miles Sanders day-to-day. Wednesday's missed practice is a concern, however, after earlier reports suggested a 1-2 week recovery timetable.

***Three Seattle running backs missed Wednesday's practice. Chris Carson is considered a game-time decision with a foot sprain but is likely more doubtful than questionable. Pete Carroll told reporters Carlos Hyde's hamstring strain was not major. That doesn't guarantee his availability this week but it's a reassuring start. Travis Homer has a knee contusion that held him out and leaves him questionable at best for now.

***Andy Dalton hasn't been cleared for position meetings yet, suggesting the team won't be comfortable with him participating in light exercise until tomorrow. Progress is still possible but Dalton is not trending well for this week.

***Allen Robinson, Phillip Lindsay, Breshad Perriman, and NKeal Harry are all also in the concussion protocol and yet to return to practice.

Injured Reserve additions through Wednesday transactions:

Designated to return through Wednesday transactions:

  • TE Dallas Goedert -- practiced in pads, trending upward, has chance to play this week
  • WR Allen Lazard -- unlikely to return this week, next Thursday looking like reasonable target
  • RB Tevin Coleman -- more doubtful than questionable this week
  • WR Jalen Reagor -- awaiting clearance for contact, has chance to return this week
  • WR Michael Pittman -- still under evaluation by team, likely needs one week to recondition before returning
  • TE Jordan Reed -- unlikely to return this week

THURSDAY NIGHT INJURY EXPECTATIONS

Here are the key offensive players listed on the practice participation or game status report for Thursday Night Football:

Atlanta at Carolina

The Panthers designated McCaffrey to return from injured reserve on Wednesday. That means he's been cleared to practice but has yet to be added back to the active roster. Now five and a half weeks into his recovery from a high ankle sprain, he could be nearing a return. However, Carolina expected McCaffrey to be ready to return for any significant workload on a short week, it's more likely the team would have started his position-specific reconditioning last week. Don't expect McCaffrey back until next week.

Julio Jones was briefly limited in practice with a hip condition. He's not listed on the injury report and has now played two consecutive productive weeks with a hamstring strain that's no longer considered important enough to be listed on the practice report.


Early week practice participation and playing expectations

The Wednesday and Thursday practice participation reports are our first chance to see which players each NFL team is 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.

Quarterbacks
Team
Injury
Practice Participation
Game
Status
FBGs
Expects
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Josh Allen Buf Shoulder Full Full Expected to Play
Andy Dalton Dal Concussion DNP DNP Likely Inactive
Sam Darnold NYJ Shoulder Limited Full Expected to Play
Running Backs
Team
Injury
Practice Participation
Game
Status
FBGs
Expects
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Dalvin Cook Min Groin Limited Limited Expected to Play
Josh Jacobs LV Knee Limited Limited Expected to Play
Aaron Jones GB Calf DNP DNP Likely Inactive
Joe Mixon Cin Foot DNP DNP Likely Inactive
Miles Sanders Phi Knee DNP DNP Likely Inactive
Chris Carson Sea Foot DNP Likely Inactive
Carlos Hyde Sea Hamstring DNP Likely to Play
Travis Homer Sea Knee DNP Likely Inactive
DeeJay Dallas Sea Arm Full Expected to Play
Kareem Hunt Cle Ribs Limited Limited Expected to Play
Phillip Lindsay Den Concussion DNP Limited Awaiting Information
Jeff Wilson SF Ankle DNP Inactive
Justin Jackson LAC Knee Full Full Expected to Play
Mark Ingram Bal Ankle DNP DNP Likely Inactive
Adrian Peterson Det Abdomen Not Listed Limited Expected to Play
*Devonta Freeman NYG Ankle *DNP Awaiting Information
Damien Harris NE Ankle Limited Limited Likely to Play
Darrel Williams KC Shoulder Full Full Expected to Play
Wide Receivers
Team
Injury
Practice Participation
Game
Status
FBGs
Expects
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Michael Thomas NO Ankle / Hamstring DNP Limited Likely Inactive
Emmanuel Sanders NO COVID COVID list COVID list Inactive
Marquez Callaway NO Ankle DNP Limited Likely to Play
*Chris Godwin TB Finger *DNP Inactive
Adam Thielen Min Shoulder Full Full Expected to Play
A.J. Brown TEN Knee Not Listed DNP Expected to Play
Allen Robinson Chi Concussion DNP DNP Likely Inactive
Diontae Johnson Pit Toe DNP Full Expected to Play
JuJu Smith-Schuster Pit Knee DNP Full Expected to Play
Deebo Samuel SF Hamstring DNP Inactive
Jarvis Landry Cle Hip / Ribs Limited Limited Expected to Play
DeVante Parker Mia Groin Limited Limited Likely to Play
John Brown Buf Knee Full Full Expected to Play
Sammy Watkins KC Hamstring DNP DNP Likely Inactive
Jerry Jeudy Den Shoulder Full Full Expected to Play
Jamison Crowder NYJ Groin DNP Limited Awaiting Information
Breshad Perriman NYJ Concussion DNP DNP Likely Inactive
Julian Edelman NE Knee Limited DNP Inactive
NKeal Harry NE Concussion DNP DNP Likely Inactive
*Sterling Shepard NYG Shoulder / Toe *Limited Expected to Play
Alshon Jeffery Phi Calf DNP DNP Likely Inactive
Bryan Edwards LV Foot / Ankle Limited Limited Awaiting Information
Tight Ends
Team
Injury
Practice Participation
Game
Status
FBGs
Expects
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Noah Fant Den Ankle Limited Full Expected to Play
Tyler Higbee LAR Hand Limited Limited Awaiting Information
Gerald Everett LAR Illness DNP Full Expected to Play
Austin Hooper Cle Abdomen DNP DNP Inactive
David Njoku Cle Knee Full Full Expected to Play
Eric Ebron Pit Elbow DNP Full Likely to Play
*Rob Gronkowski TB Shoulder *Limited Expected to Play
Dawson Knox Buf COVID / Calf COVID list COVID list Inactive
Robert Tonyan Jr GB Ankle / Knee Limited Full Expected to Play
Marcedes Lewis GB Knee Limited DNP Expected to Play
Mo Alie-Cox Ind Knee DNP Limited Awaiting Information
Cole Kmet Chi Back Limited Full Likely to Play
Adam Shaheen Mia Shoulder Limited Limited Likely to Play

Note: Asterisk denotes Monday night players who practice Thursday/Friday/Saturday.

Follow me on Twitter @JeneBramel for breaking injury news and analysis throughout the week.

Photos provided by Imagn Images
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