adrian peterson | groin | DNP
Peterson told reporters he was unable to explode the way he normally should due to the groin injury last week. That's something he didn't say while playing through his sports hernia last year. Peterson looked quick and decisive and accelerated well when running in a straight line last week in Seattle but was clearly tentative and struggling to move laterally. Peterson and the Vikings haven't been specific about the location or grade of the groin injury, so it's difficult to project how much and how long it could limit him. Though he did not practice Wednesday, there's not been serious speculation -- yet -- that he'll miss time. It's a situation we'll be following closely through Sunday.
dez bryant | back | full
The full practice coming out of the bye week is good evidence that the epidural injection Bryant underwent two weeks ago is working as planned and there have been no setbacks. Bryant isn't yet out of the woods in the 2013 season, but his recovery thus far is reassuring that he'll be able to manage his disc issues through the end of the fantasy season.
aaron rodgers | collarbone | DNP
On his radio show yesterday, Rodgers spilled another key piece of information on his injury when he said that there's a concern he could displace his fractured bone if he returned too soon. That essentially cements his injury as a break in the middle of the collarbone rather than toward the shoulder or sternum and confirms that it was minor enough to not require surgery.
Unfortunately, it's not good news.
Though Rodgers' collarbone fracture may not be a high grade injury, it's still going to need six weeks (or more) to heal. As Rodgers noted, he'll push to return to play when he's no longer feeling pain. But it's unlikely that he'll reach that threshold for multiple weeks. Rodgers wouldn't rule out a return on Thanksgiving day, but I think it's extremely unlikely.
In fact, I think you can take his comments that he trusts the team medical staff implicitly to mean that while he'll push to play sooner, he's going to abide by what the team docs recommend. Chances are, he's been told that 5-6 weeks is the smart range to target, but there are no guarantees. I think Week 14 is the earliest we'll see him and won't be surprised if the recovery stretches beyond. The silver lining here is that Rodgers will likely be cleared to throw well in advance of his return. If he's nearly pain free and has in arm in condition, his first week back could be very productive. With luck, he'll return before your playoff run ends.
wes welker | neck / concussion | DNP
Yes, the Denver medical staff removed Welker from the game when they first recognized symptoms of a concussion. No, they didn't perform a complete assessment as quickly as they should have. Whether that's because Welker answered a few key questions correctly on the field or the "eye-in-the-sky" observer wasn't as vigilant in watching replays of the hit that caused the concussion is an open question. Why is that important for Welker's fantasy prospects this week? If he's cleared for contact and a return to play for this week's game against New England, the medical team will be hyper-vigilant for symptoms during the game. For now, consider Welker a game-time decision until we hear him speak to the media (always a strong sign that he's nearing clearance) or the team says they've sent him to the independent neurologist. Late Thursday would be the earliest we'll hear positive news, but I'd bet this situation remains unsettled until Sunday.
darren sproles | knee / ankle | questionable
Sproles was limited in Monday's practice after returning to last week's game but hasn't practiced since. That's generally not a good sign for a player's game day availability. The Saints have activated and used players who were very limited in practice in the past, so there's a chance Sproles can play a limited role Thursday night. It'll be very surprising if Sproles is ready for more than that, however.
julius thomas | knee | DNP
A source in Denver reported that Thomas' injury was "just a sprain." That phrase is fairly common around the league and it's always taken as a more optimistic comment than it is. To me, "just a sprain" means that the player's ACL is intact and there's not an injury severe enough to require surgery. It doesn't rule out mid-grade ligament sprains. And while we've seen some players -- Fred Jackson, Terrelle Pryor -- try to play through low grade sprains, many other players have struggled to feel comfortable enough to play through them. I think that's the category Thomas fits into right now. If his joint feels stable when he cuts at speed and he's able to practice without any increased soreness or swelling the following day, he'll be cleared to play this weekend. But don't assume that's the most likely outcome here. Thursday's practice participation will give us a good indication of Thomas' chances to play.
tony gonzalez | toe | questionable
Gonzalez is listed as questionable for Thursday night's game and was able to get in limited practice reps in the final walkthrough of the week. I expect Gonzalez to be active and start. But like last week, his targets and production aren't assured.
jordan reed | concussion | DNP
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, concussions are no longer graded as mild-moderate-severe at the time of the injury. Every player must progress symptom free through the return to play protocol and it's impossible to handicap the chances that a player will meet the criteria in time to play ahead of time. Reed hasn't had a concussion recently and hasn't had a concussion that led to prolonged symptoms. That works in his favor, but is not a guarantee he'll be cleared to play this week. Friday's practice participation report will be key.
michael crabtree | Achilles | PUP
Matt Barrows, arguably the most clued-in local writer, speculated today that Crabtree could see his first limited duty in Week 13. That's optimistic, but possible. I still wouldn't expect a meaningful volume of snaps or targets from Crabtree this season. There's still a high risk of a compensatory or re-conditioning injury and we've yet to see a player return to productive play from a complete tear of the Achilles tendon within 5-6 months. It may still be worth rostering Crabtree if you've got a slot you won't be using through the playoffs just in case, but don't take today's news as evidence that Crabtree will be an impact performer in Weeks 14-16.
Follow on Twitter @JeneBramel for breaking injury news, updates and analysis. Check back Sunday morning for my expectations on Wes Welker, Adrian Peterson and this week's other game-time injury decisions.
