Photo: Jayne Kamin-Oncea, USA Today Sports

Injury Rounds

Congratulations to everyone who has already clinched a league championship this week and good luck to those who need Monday night points to win. Our injury features will be scaled down this week but still include notes on relevant players for your Week 18 season-long shootouts and DFS lineups.

^Lamar Jackson did not look close to returning from a bone bruise near his ankle in practice video last week. The Ravens must win and get help to earn a playoff berth but they'll likely have to do it without Jackson.

^Clyde Edwards-Helaire reportedly made progress in his recovery from a shoulder injury. The Chiefs could choose to rest him until the playoffs.

^Miles Sanders could be cleared to play with a splint after fracturing his hand in Week 16 but will need to prove he can handle the ball securely in practice.

^Damien Harris did not play during the second half and was announced questionable with a hamstring injury. We'll learn whether the Patriots were being cautious in a blowout win or if Harris suffered an aggravation later this week.

^Cam Akers continues to impress in individual drills. Expect the Rams to give him a few live game-action snaps this week to evaluate his fitness for the playoffs.

^Michael Gallup has a season-ending ACL injury.

^The Niners remain hopeful Jimmy Garoppolo will recover enough stability in his injured right thumb to play in Week 18. It's an optimistic recovery timetable Garoppolo will struggle to meet.

Injured Players by Position

Injured Players Not Expected to Return in 2021

INSEASON INJURY COVERAGE

My writing and podcast schedule will include:

Monday Injury Rounds > Published 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 at 10:00 ET every Sunday morning to discuss and interpret the week's practice participation reports and breaking weekend injury news.

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 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.

Injured Reserve – Return Designation

Each NFL team can return an unlimited number of 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 and are eligible to return after missing three games. 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.

Follow me on Twitter @JeneBramel for breaking injury news and analysis throughout the off-season.