Understanding the NFL's Injury Report
(per Dr. Bramel)
The injury report released by the NFL is two reports. The first is the Practice Participation report, which lists which injured players practiced and their participation level. 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 and my expectation of their likelihood to play.
If you are reading this article on Saturday, make sure you circle back on Sunday morning as more updates trickle in within the next 24 hours
Key:
Player | Injury | Game Status Listing | Footballguys Expectation
Current Status on High-Impact Injured Players
Gameday Decision
- QB C.J. Stroud
- RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
- WR Puka Nacua
Trending Doubtful (Likely Inactive)
- RB Aaron Jones
- WR Christian Watson
- WR DeAndre Hopkins
- RB Austin Ekeler
- WR Brandin Cooks
- WR Diontae Johnson
Trending Probable (Expected to Play)
- TE Travis Kelce
- TE Mark Andrews
- RB Breece Hall
- TE Pat Freiermuth
Eligible to return from injured reserve
- N/A
Ruled Out
- WR Jakobi Meyers (concussion)
- TE Greg Dulcich (hamstring)
- RB Evan Hull (knee)
Sunday 1:00 PM EST Games
C.J. Stroud| Shoulder Injury | Questionable | 50/50
C.J. Stroud was added to the Friday injury report with shoulder soreness in his throwing arm. Even though the Texans have Stroud listed as questionable, I am not overly worried. This does appear to be a soreness issue and not an injury. Stroud was a full participant all week, and we know that QBs wear non-contact practice jerseys, so it is unlikely he was tackled/hit in practice, which causes most injuries. I would expect Stroud to suit up this week even though we have him listed as a Game-Time Decision.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire | Illness | Questionable | 50/50
Clyde Edwards-Helaire is dealing with some sort of illness that is putting his availability at risk in Week 2. These types of issues are so variable, but the good news is fantasy managers will know early if he can play since Kansas City kicks off at 1:00 PM EST.
Sunday Update: Reporters are saying that Clyde Edwards-Helaire is going to play.
Aaron Jones | Hamstring Strain | Questionable | Likely Inactive
Even though Green Bay and Aaron Jones himself tried to initially put a positive spin on his hamstring injury, it does not look as though he will play in Week 2. Jones did not practice all week and the average time missed for NFL RBs with hamstring injury is 3 weeks. I originally projected a Week 3 return, and I am sticking with that.
Sunday Update: Per Adam Schefter, Jones is not expected to play.
Christian Watson | Hamstring | Questionable | Likely Inactive
Christian Watson was on the normal trajectory to miss another week before he logged a limited practice on Friday and teased fantasy managers across the globe. In last week's "Gameday Injury Expectations" I informed Footballguys subscribers that, on average, NFL WRs miss 2.5 weeks with a hamstring injury, but when filtering out field stretchers with sub 4.4 seconds 40-yard dashes, the average time missed increased by 0.5 weeks with a high re-injury risk. Taking all this information into consideration with the fact that prior to Friday Watson did not practice all week, Week 2 seems unlikely, and there's a possibility he even sits Week 3.
Sunday Update: Per Adam Schefter, Watson is not expected to play.
Travis Kelce | Hamstring Strain| Questionable | Likely Active
Travis Kelce practiced all week (limited) and, per reports, did game-like/simulated activity. As of Saturday, I have not read anything or heard anything that Kelce experienced discomfort or increased swelling as a result of these practices. I would expect him to play, but his snaps may be limited slightly. Tight ends with knee injuries, on average, have a 5-10% decline in fantasy production. Even with that, Kelce could easily finish as the TE1 in Week 2.
Mark Andrews | Quadriceps | Questionable | Likely Active
Mark Andrews fooled me last week. After logging three straight limited practices I felt like there was a good enough chance he could play, but ultimately I was proven wrong. This week, Andrews was limited but practiced fully on Friday, and all the reports out of Baltimore suggest Andrews is going to start at Cincinnati. Between Andrews and Travis Kelce, the TE1 and TE2 in fantasy football should be back this week.
Sunday Update: Ian Rapoport has Mark Andrews slated to play today.
Austin Ekeler | Ankle Injury | Doubtful | Likely Inactive
One of the great things about Austin Ekeler is he enjoys fantasy football, he is a fantasy football enthusiast, and over the last few years, he has let fantasy managers know if he's playing when there is doubt about his injury situation. Ekeler hinted earlier in the week that he was trending to being out, and the Chargers officially have him listed as doubtful. Joshua Kelley was my #1 waiver wire priority heading into Week 2 and becomes an instant starter in Ekeler's absence.
It sounds like Ekeler is dealing with the dreaded high ankle sprain which can really hinder rest-of-season (ROS) fantasy football production.