Injury Expectations | Midweek Update | Week 15

Jene Bramel's Injury Expectations | Midweek Update | Week 15 Jene Bramel Published 12/16/2020

Wednesday Media Updates

***The Saints designated Drew Brees to return to practice. While undoubtedly a positive sign, this does not mean he's close to playing. Sean Payton said Brees "has a ways to go still and he's someone we're not going to just hurry back and put him in the game." Brees is confident he can return soon but noted that he has benchmarks to hit -- being able to throw without discomfort and fully protect himself in the pocket -- and wouldn't commit to a return. He remains on the doubtful side of questionable for now.

***Do not expect Christian McCaffrey back this week. After a brief workout on Tuesday, McCaffrey did not practice Wednesday. Matt Rhule told reporters there was no change in McCaffrey's status. McCaffrey "has a chance for next week" but isn't doubtful to make the trip with Carolina to Green Bay for Saturday's game.

***George Kittle was designated to return to practice. There's no chance he plays this week but the Niners are starting the reconditioning and evaluation process on the slim chance Kittle recovers well enough to risk in a limited role in a must-win game later in the season. His most likely return date remains Week 1 2021.

***Daniel Jones is dealing with ongoing hamstring soreness and a new ankle sprain and was limited in practice. He wants to play but the team will need to be convinced Jones has the mobility to play effectively.

***Ronald Jones II needed to be able to practice by Friday to prove he was comfortable playing through a broken finger. Added to the COVID list now, Jones likely won't be available to show his comfort level. Expect him to be inactive this week.

***Raheem Mostert was still experiencing pain last week and looks unlikely to be ready this week. Kyle Shanahan said the Niners are hopeful Mostert would be able to practice on Friday.

***Matthew Stafford often plays through difficult injuries but did not sound confident in his ability to recover from a painful rib cartilage injury in time to play this week. He told reporters he wouldn't play unless he could throw comfortably. That's unlikely to happen this week -- even with an injection to manage pain.

***Washington will continue to evaluate Alex Smith this week but a calf strain has prevented him from practicing. The unusual anatomy in his reconstructed lower leg will limit his mobility further and may prove too difficult for Smith to overcome 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:

Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders

Chargers Injuries

  • RB Austin Ekeler (quad) -- Likely to play after consecutive limited practices
  • WR Keenan Allen (hamstring) -- Generally plays through soft tissue injuries if able to practice
  • TE Hunter Henry (hip) -- Full practice and not listed on final injury report
  • WR Mike Williams (back) -- At risk of limited snaps but trending toward playing

Raiders Injuries

  • WR Nelson Agholor (ankle) -- Fully practiced, will play
  • WR Henry Ruggs (COVID list) -- Expected inactive

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.

* = playing on Monday night
^ = playing on Saturday

Quarterbacks
Team
Injury
Practice Participation
Game
Status
FBGs
Expects
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
^Josh Allen Buf Knee / Ankle ^Full ^Full ^Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Drew Brees NO Ribs IR / DTR IR / DTR Likely Inactive
Daniel Jones NYG Hamstring / Ankle Limited Limited Awaiting Information
Matthew Stafford Det Rib / Thumb DNP DNP Likely Inactive
Philip Rivers Ind Toe DNP Full Expected to Play
Alex Smith Was Calf DNP DNP Likely Inactive
Tua Tagovailoa Mia Ankle Full Full Expected to Play
Sam Darnold NYJ Ankle Full Full Expected to Play
*Brandon Allen Cin Knee *DNP Likely to Play
Running Backs
Team
Injury
Practice Participation
Game
Status
FBGs
Expects
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
^Christian McCaffrey Car Thigh ^Limited ^DNP ^DNP Doubtful Inactive
Ezekiel Elliott Dal Calf DNP DNP Expected to Play
James Robinson Jac Knee Limited Limited Expected to Play
Antonio Gibson Was Toe DNP DNP Likely Inactive
Peyton Barber Was Ankle Limited Limited Likely to Play
*James Conner Pit Quad *DNP Awaiting Information
Chris Carson Sea Foot Limited Limited Expected to Play
Carlos Hyde Sea Toe Limited Full Expected to Play
Travis Homer Sea Knee DNP DNP Likely Inactive
Ronald Jones II TB Finger / COVID????? DNP C-reserve Likely Inactive
^Melvin Gordon Den Shoulder ^DNP ^Limited ^Limited Questionable Expected to Play
^Phillip Lindsay Den Hip ^Limited ^Limited ^Limited Questionable Expected to Play
Raheem Mostert SF Ankle DNP Limited Awaiting Information
David Johnson Hou COVID contact Activated Full Expected to Play
Duke Johnson Jr Hou Neck Limited DNP Awaiting Information
Damien Harris NE Ankle Not Listed Limited Likely to Play
James White NE Foot Limited Limited Likely to Play
Myles Gaskin Mia COVID C-reserve C-reserve Likely Inactive
Salvon Ahmed Mia Shoulder Limited Limited Awaiting Information
Matt Breida Mia COVID+ Activated Not Listed Expected to Play
Adrian Peterson Det Forearm Limited Full Expected to Play
Chase Edmonds Ari Ankle DNP DNP Likely Inactive
Alexander Mattison Min Illness DNP Limited Likely Inactive
La'Mical Perine NYJ Ankle IR / DTR IR / DTR Likely Inactive
Wide Receivers
Team
Injury
Practice Participation
Game
Status
FBGs
Expects
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Tyreek Hill KC Hamstring Full Full Expected to Play
DK Metcalf Sea Ankle Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Julio Jones Atl Hamstring DNP DNP Likely Inactive
Calvin Ridley Atl Foot Limited Limited Expected to Play
Michael Thomas NO Ankle DNP DNP Awaiting Information
Kenny Golladay Det Hip DNP DNP Likely Inactive
A.J. Brown Ten Ankle Limited DNP Likely to Play
Deebo Samuel SF Hamstring DNP DNP Inactive
Robert Woods LAR Thigh DNP Limited Expected to Play
^D.J. Moore Car COVID+ ^Activated ^Limited ^Limited Not Listed Expected to Play
^Curtis Samuel Car Hamstring ^Not Listed ^Not Listed ^Limited Questionable Likely to Play
DeVante Parker Mia Hamstring Limited Limited Likely to Play
Jakeem Grant Mia Hamstring Limited Limited Awaiting Information
Darnell Mooney Chi Knee Full Full Expected to Play
Brandin Cooks Hou Neck Limited Limited Awaiting Information
Jarvis Landry Cle Hip Full Full Expected to Play
^Jerry Jeudy Den Ankle ^Limited ^Full ^Full Not Listed Expected to Play
^Allen Lazard GB Core / Foot ^Limited ^Limited ^Limited Not Listed Expected to Play
^Equanimeous St. Brown GB Knee ^Limited ^Limited ^Limited Not Listed Expected to Play
John Brown Buf Ankle IR / DTR IR / DTR Inactive
Jamison Crowder NYJ Calf DNP Limited Awaiting Information
Breshad Perriman NYJ Shoulder Limited Full Expected to Play
Marquise Brown Bal COVID contact C-reserve C-reserve Likely to Play
Miles Boykin Bal COVID contact C-reserve C-reserve Likely to Play
Julian Edelman NE Knee IR / DTR IR / DTR Awaiting Information
Tight Ends
Team
Injury
Practice Participation
Game
Status
FBGs
Expects
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
George Kittle SF Foot IR / DTR IR / DTR Likely Inactive
Mike Gesicki Mia Shoulder DNP Limited Likely Inactive
^Noah Fant Den Illness ^DNP ^Full ^Full Not Listed Expected to Play
Jimmy Graham Chi Hip Full Limited Expected to Play
Austin Hooper Cle Back Limited Limited Likely to Play
Kyle Rudolph Min Foot DNP DNP Likely Inactive
^Ian Thomas Car Abdomen ^Full ^Full ^Full Not Listed Expected to Play
^Marcedes Lewis GB Knee ^Limited ^Limited ^Limited Not Listed Expected to Play
^Jace Sternberger GB Concussion ^DNP ^DNP ^DNP Declared Out Inactive
Will Dissly Sea Shoulder Full Full Expected to Play
Greg Olsen Sea Foot IR / DTR IR / DTR Awaiting Information
Trey Burton Ind Knee DNP Full Expected to Play
Mo Alie-Cox Ind Knee DNP DNP Likely Inactive
Tyler Eifert Jac Quadricep DNP Limited Expected 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