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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 expectations of their likelihood of playing.

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

• TE Darren Waller
• TE Luke Musgrave
• RB Zack Moss
• WR Curtis Samuel
• RB Jerome Ford
• QB Brock Purdy
• WR Joshua Palmer

Trending Doubtful (Likely Inactive)

• QB Kyler Murray
• RB David Montgomery

Trending Probable (Expected to Play)

• RB Raheem Mostert
• QB Trevor Lawrence
• WR Tyler Lockett
• TE Gerald Everett

Eligible to return from injured reserve

Ruled Out

• WR Deebo Samuel (shoulder)
• QB Deshaun Watson (shoulder)
• QB Justin Fields (thumb)
• QB Daniel Jones (neck)
• QB Ryan Tannehill (ankle)
• WR Zay Jones (knee)
• WR Robert Woods (foot)
• TE Zach Ertz (quadriceps - on IR)
• RB Chase Brown (hamstring - on IR)

Sunday 1:00 PM EST Games

Raheem Mostert, Miami Dolphins | Ankle | Questionable | Likely Active

Raheem Mostert did not practice Wednesday because of an ankle injury, but all signs point to him playing Sunday. Mostert was able to log two limited practices on Thursday and Friday before giving some positive news to Dolphins' fans and Fantasy Managers alike.

Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert said he will play Sunday vs. Patriots.

Just had a little ankle tweak that had him miss practice Wednesday. He returned Thursday & Friday and is all good.

— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) October 27, 2023

Sunday Update: All signs point to Mostert being active.

Darren Waller, New York Giants| Hamstring Strain | Questionable | Likely Active

No stranger to the injury report, Darren Waller was limited all week with a hamstring injury, and the Giants officially have him listed as Questionable for Sunday. This is not the first time Waller has popped up on the injury report with a hamstring issue this season. However, he is yet to miss a game in 2023.

Waller's injury history can make fantasy managers nervous, and rightfully so. This sounds like a lingering issue that Waller will continue to play through. For that reason, I think he will be active come Sunday.

Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars | Knee | Questionable | Likely Active

Trevor Lawrence's presence on the Jaguars' Injury Report appears just to be precautionary. The franchise QB was limited with a knee injury he sustained in Week 6. Lawrence was able to play through the injury in Week 7 and logged a season-high in rushing yards (59) while tying his season-high rushing attempts (8).

Lawrence's knee injury does not appear overly debilitating, and his limited practice reps, at this point, could be chalked up to veteran rest days. I expect Lawrence under center in Week 8.

Sunday Update: Lawrence is trending towards playing in Week 8.

Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers | Ankle | Questionable | 50/50

Luke Misgrave missed most of the Packers' practices this week before getting in a limited session Friday. Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters he was "impressed" with Misgrave's progression this week but did not offer much detail about his availability for Sunday.

I am personally leaning towards Musgrave missing this week, given his injury and the positional demands of the TE position. Very few TEs with ankle injuries can miss fewer than one game.

Sunday Update: Musgrave is active.

Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts | Elbow/Heel | Questionable | 50/50

Zack Moss' practice reports this week were atypical. Moss did not practice Wednesday and was limited Thursday, suggesting he was heading in the right direction, but he then sat out Friday. Reading between the lines, it seems like Moss tested the waters Thursday, and it did not go well. One or both of his injuries appear to be limiting him. Moss will be a game-time decision, but it's looking like Jonathan Taylor will have the backfield to himself.

Sunday Update: Moss is going to test his foot pre-game but it sounds like he is going to play in Week 8.

Curtis Samuel, Washington Commanders | Foot | Questionable | 50/50

It does not seem like Curtis Samuel's foot injury is that serious, and based on his practice participation this week, he appears to be trending in the right direction. Currently, the public does not have too much information on the severity of Samuel's foot injury, but historically, these injuries can be very troublesome for WRs. >80% of NFL WRs miss at least one game with a foot injury, and the average time missed is >4 weeks (top-5 amongst the most common injuries for WRs).

Sunday Update: Per Ian Rapoport, Samual is a game-time decision but he and the team are optimistic he plays.