Gameday Injury Expectations: Week 16

Summarizing the key injuries this week, including a breakdown of fantasy production post-injury and the likelihood of a player starting despite their injury.

Adam Hutchison's Gameday Injury Expectations: Week 16 Adam Hutchison Published 12/20/2025

© Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images Injury Expectations

Understanding the NFL's Injury Report

(per Dr. Bramel - Footballguys OG)

"The injury report released by the NFL is [made up of] 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 to come back on Sunday morning as more updates trickle in within the next 24 hours.

Current Status on High-Impact Injured Players

Gameday Decision

Trending Doubtful (Likely Inactive)

Trending Probable (Expected to Play)

Ruled Out


* Key: Player, Team | Injury | Game Status Listing | Playing Expectation


Saturday Night 8:20 PM EST Game 

RB Josh Jacobs, Green Bay | Knee | Questionable | Projecting Inactive

Josh Jacobs has not practiced all week due to the knee injury that has lingered for several weeks. When the injury first occurred, there was concern for a possible PCL sprain, but Green Bay downplayed it as a knee contusion.

Since Week 11, Jacobs has been clearly limited, flashing effectiveness at times but noticeably hindered in others. It's possible the cumulative effect of the injury has caught up to him. Jacobs is expected to sit out Saturday.

RB D'Andre Swift, Chicago | Groin | Questionable | Projecting Active 

D'Andre Swift is another running back who has been battling injuries for much of the season. Swift was added to the injury report with a groin injury but practiced all week, albeit in a limited capacity.

We've seen this pattern before with Swift and the Chicago Bears, and based on that history, he should be active Saturday night.

WR Christian Watson, Green Bay | Chest | Questionable | Projecting Active 

After initial concerns of an SC joint sprain, Green Bay has offered little detail regarding Christian Watson's "chest" injury, only revealing that he briefly visited a local Denver hospital.

The fact that Watson was cleared to return to practice this quickly suggests that any clavicle or rib injury he sustained was minor and that his internal organs—most importantly, his lungs—were unaffected. He should play Saturday, although he carries a slightly elevated risk of re-injury if he fully sells out on a dive for a pass, similar to the play in which he was originally injured.

Sunday 1:00 PM EST Games

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