How to approach preseason injury reports
The NFL began padded practices last week. While the strength and conditioning phases included full-speed positional workouts, padded practices are the first time players face contact situations at speed. Not surprisingly, there was an increase in reports of injury.
And, as is always the case during the preseason, teams will pull important players from practice at the first sign of trouble and have no incentive to provide details to those covering the team.
Most of these injuries will be minor and missed practices will be precautionary. You can tie yourself in knots over-analyzing the little information teams provide or patiently wait for players to return to practice.
My recommendation: Use 10 days from the first regular-season game as your signpost. If it's not absolutely clear whether a player has a serious injury from the initial reporting, teams will begin reconditioning players for Week 1 within 7-10 days of that date. Coaches need to know a player's status to game plan for upcoming opponents and medical staffs know the highest risk of aggravation occurs within 10 days of the initial injury.
If a player hasn't returned to practice or remains limited as we approach the first practice participation report for Week 1, it's time to be concerned about their availability and workload.
Injury Notes
***Players who returned to practice last week: Lamar Jackson, Tyreek Hill, Zach Ertz, Ronald Jones II, A.J. Green, Sony Michel, Jarrett Stidham, and Boston Scott.
***The Eagles reported two injuries on Sunday. Carson Wentz did not practice with an undisclosed leg injury. It's believed to be a soft tissue strain and Wentz is considered day-to-day. Jalen Reagor suffered a torn labrum after dislocating his shoulder during practice. Multiple reports are Reagor will miss 3-4 weeks. That suggests the injury will not require surgery immediately, but Reagor will be at risk of another dislocation during the season.
***Kenyan Drake is no longer in a walking boot and Arizona has cleared him for reconditioning work. Kliff Kingsbury told reporters Drake would not return to team drills until fully recovered. There's a good chance Drake returns to practice by the end of the week. Kingsbury's take on DeAndre Hopkins (hamstring) was similar.
***David Montgomery is likely to miss time with a groin strain. Higher grade groin strains can be easier to recover from than other leg soft tissue strains due to some redundancy in the musculature. Once pain and bleeding resolve, players have a chance to return around 3-4 weeks. That's consistent with the early timetable -- 2-4 weeks -- given for Montgomery's return. He's questionable for Week 1 at best but could return to effectiveness within the first month of the season.
***D'Andre Swift returned only to light conditioning work last week. Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell told reporters Swift's missed time was "not ideal." Though the Lions rarely provide injury information on their players, it's never good news when a coach expresses concern. Swift needs to increase his practice work this week to have any chance at a meaningful Week 1 role.
INJURED PLAYERS ON ACTIVE ROSTER
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Quarterbacks Injured | On the Active Roster
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Player
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Team
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Injury
|
Date
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Player/Team Says
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FBG Expects
|
Notes
|
| Carson Wentz | Phi | Undisclosed leg soft tissue | Reported Aug 30 | Day-to-Day | Probable Week 1 | |
| Joe Flacco | NYJ | Cervical spine procedure | Apr 2020 | Active - PUP | Doubtful Week 1 | Early season return at earliest |
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Running Backs Injured | On the Active Roster
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Player
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Team
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Injury
|
Date
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Player/Team Says
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FBG Expects
|
Notes
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| Miles Sanders | Phi | Right leg injury | Reported Aug 19 | Day-to-Day | Probable Week 1 | |
| Joe Mixon | Cin | Migraine | Reported Aug 26 | Day-to-Day | Probable Week 1 | |
| Kenyan Drake | Ari | Right lower leg injury | Reported Aug 24 | Day-to-Day | Probable Week 1 | |
| Melvin Gordon | Den | Rib injury | Reported Aug 20 | Day-to-Day | Probable Week 1 | |
| Lamar Miller | NE | Left ACL reconstruction / MCL sprain | Aug 2019 | Active - PUP | Questionable Week 1 | May be cleared soon |
| David Montgomery | Chi | Left groin strain | Reported Aug 26 | 2-4 Weeks | Questionable Week 1 | |
| D'Andre Swift | Det | Leg injury | Reported Aug 20 | Week-to-Week | Questionable Week 1 | |
| Rashaad Penny | Sea | Left ACL reconstruction | Late Dec 2019 | Active - PUP | Doubtful Week 1 | ACL + meniscus likely |
| Darrell Henderson | LAR | Hamstring strain | Reported Aug 22 | Week-to-Week | Probable Week 1 | Returned to conditioning work |
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Wide Receivers Injured | On the Active Roster
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Player
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Team
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Injury
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Date
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Player/Team Says
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FBG Expects
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Notes
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| DeAndre Hopkins | Ari | Hamstring strain | Reported Aug 15 | Returned to practice | Probable Week 1 | |
| Allen Robinson | Chi | Ankle injury | Reported Aug 22 | Week-to-Week | Probable Week 1 | |
| Cooper Kupp | LAR | Ankle sprain | Reported Aug 29 | Day-to-Day | Probable Week 1 | |
| Deebo Samuel | SF | Fifth metatarsal fixation | Mid Jun 2020 | Active - NFI | Doubtful Week 1 | Early season return |
| Brandon Aiyuk | SF | Left hamstring strain | Reported Aug 23 | Week-to-Week | Questionable Week 1 | |
| John Ross | Cin | Arm injury | Reported Aug 30 | Day-to-Day | Probable Week 1 | |
| Tee Higgins | Cin | Hamstring strain | Reported Aug 18 | Day-to-Day | Probable Week 1 | Should return soon |
| Diontae Johnson | Pit | Leg injury (? calf) | Reported Aug 19 | Day-to-Day | Probable Week 1 | |
| Mike Williams | LAC | Shoulder sprain | Reported Aug 23 | 2-4 weeks | Questionable Week 1 | |
| Parris Campbell | Ind | Concussion | Reported Aug 28 | Concussion protocol | Probable Week 1 | |
| Alshon Jeffery | Phi | Right Lisfranc fixation | Dec 2019 | Active - PUP | Doubtful Week 1 | |
| Jalen Reagor | Phi | Shoulder labrum tear | Reported Aug 30 | 3-4 Weeks | Out Week 1 | |
| Tyrell Williams | LV | Shoulder labrum tear | Reported Aug 24 | On IR | On IR | Risk of ineffective play, dislocation |
| Phillip Dorsett | Sea | Foot injury | Reported Aug 26 | Week-to-Week | Questionable Week 1 | |
| Dede Westbrook | Jac | Shoulder injury | Reported Aug 22 | Week-to-Week | Questionable Week 1 | |
| Breshad Perriman | NYJ | Knee injury | Reported Aug 22 | Week-to-Week | Probable Week 1 | |
| Denzel Mims | NYJ | Hamstring strain | Reported Aug 14 | Week-to-Week | Questionable Week 1 | |
| Vyncint Smith | NYJ | Core abdominal muscle repair | Reported Aug 17 | Week-to-Week | Doubtful Week 1 | |
| K.J. Hamler | Den | Hamstring strain | Reported Aug 20 | 4+ Weeks | Out Week 1 | |
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Tight Ends Injured | On the Active Roster
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Player
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Team
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Injury
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Date
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Player/Team Says
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FBG Expects
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Notes
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| Dallas Goedert | Phi | Thumb fracture | Reported Aug 19 | Day-to-Day | Probable Week 1 | |
| Trey Burton | Ind | Calf strain | Reported Aug 29 | Week-to-Week | Questionable Week 1 | |
| Devin Asiasi | NE | Ankle injury | Reported Aug 28 | Day-to-Day | Probable Week 1 | |
| Hunter Bryant | Det | Hamstring strain | Reported Aug 22 | Week-to-Week | Questionable Week 1 | |
Injured Players Not on Active Roster
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Notable Quarterbacks on PUP or NFI or IR
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Player
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Team
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Injury
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Date
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Player/Team Says
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FBG Expects
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Notes
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Notable Running Backs on PUP or NFI or IR
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Player
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Team
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Injury
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Date
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Player/Team Says
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FBG Expects
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Notes
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| Damien Williams | NE | COVID opt-out | July 29 | 2021 return | ||
| Brandon Bolden | NE | COVID opt-out | July 28 | 2021 return | ||
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Notable Wide Receivers on PUP or NFI or IR
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Player
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Team
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Injury
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Date
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Player/Team Says
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FBG Expects
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Notes
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| Richie James | SF | Wrist fracture | Jun 2020 | Reserve - NFI | Possible 2020 return | |
| Jalen Hurd | SF | ACL reconstruction | Mid-Aug 2020 | Injured reserve | IR | 2021 return | 2021 return |
| Kelvin Harmon | Was | ACL reconstruction | Mid-July 2020 | Injured reserve | IR | 2021 | 2021 return |
| Albert Wilson | Mia | COVID opt-out | August 4 | 2021 return | ||
| Allen Hurns | Mia | COVID opt-out | August 5 | 2021 return | ||
| Devin Funchess | GB | COVID opt-out | July 28 | 2021 return | ||
| Marquise Goodwin | Phi | COVID opt-out | July 29 | 2021 return | ||
| Marqise Lee | NE | COVID opt-out | August 2 | 2021 return | ||
| Geronimo Allison | Det | COVID opt-out | August 2 | 2021 return | ||
| Quincy Enunwa | FA | Cervical spinal stenosis | Chronic | Released Aug (NYJ) | Career-ending injury | Doubtful 2021 return |
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Notable Tight Ends on PUP or NFI or IR
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Player
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Team
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Injury
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Date
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Player/Team Says
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FBG Expects
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Notes
|
| Josh Oliver | Jac | Foot fracture | Mid-Aug 2020 | Injured reserve | IR | 2021 return | 2021 return |
| Matt LaCosse | NE | COVID opt-out | August 2 | 2021 return | ||
DECIPHERING THE ALPHABET SOUP OF INJURY LISTS
Players not ready for camp practices are placed on one of two lists – Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) or Non-Football Injury/Illness (NFI).
Physically Unable to Perform (PUP)
Active/PUP – Preseason only list. Once a player participates in any part of a scheduled training camp practice, they are ineligible for this list. Players can be activated from this list at any time. This list is commonly used for veterans still recovering from injury and those who fail conditioning tests before camp begins.
Reserve/PUP – Regular season only list. Players still on Active/PUP at the end of camp are eligible to move to Reserve/PUP. Players cannot practice with the team until after Week 6. Teams then have six weeks to evaluate the player before moving to the active roster or to season-ending injured reserve.
Non-Football Injury / Illness (NFI)
Active/NFI – Preseason only list. Once a player participates in any part of a scheduled training camp practice, they are ineligible for this list. Players can be activated from this list at any time. Only veterans with a non-football related injury or rookies injured before the NFL draft are eligible for this list.
Reserve/NFI – Regular season only list. Players converted from the Active/NFI list to the Reserve/NFI list are out for the entire season.
Injured Reserve – Return Designation
Each NFL team can return two players to the active roster from injured reserve. Teams are not forced to designate this player at the time of the move to injured reserve. Players designated to return can begin practicing six weeks after being placed on injured reserve and are eligible to return to the active roster eight weeks after being placed on injured reserve. This rule allows a team to continually evaluate the rehab and recovery of their injured players and provides roster flexibility should teams have multiple key injuries early in the season.
Inseason injury coverage
Footballguys will again provide comprehensive injury coverage during the regular season.
My writing and podcast schedule will include:
Monday Injury Rounds > Published as soon as complete Sunday night and updated through Tuesday morning, this feature will review all the major injuries from the weekend's games, provide follow up analysis on injured players who have yet to return to play, and project when every injured player will return.
Waiver Wire Podcast > Tuesday morning release reviewing all injuries at the quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end positions with Cecil Lammey and Sigmund Bloom heading into your weekly waiver run.
Midweek Injury Expectations > Published late Wednesday night after the first weekly practice participation report and updated through Thursday's practice report, this feature will detail the current practice participation of every listed player and project the likelihood each player will play in the coming week.
Thursday Live Audible podcast > Joining Cecil Lammey, Sigmund Bloom, and Matt Waldman at 9:00 ET every Thursday night for a comprehensive Q&A updating all player injuries.
Gameday Injury Expectations > Published Saturday, this feature will review the practice status of every injured player, provide analysis on player/coach/beat writer comments throughout the week, and discuss how likely and how effective each injured player will be on Sunday.
Sunday Live Gameday podcast > Joining Sigmund Bloom and Matt Waldman at 10:00 ET every Sunday morning to discuss and interpret the week's practice participation reports and breaking weekend injury news.
Follow me on Twitter @JeneBramel for breaking injury news and analysis.
