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There are no critical game time decisions for Thursday night. All expected hands are healthy for the Denver - San Diego matchup, with Montee Ball, Ryan Mathews, and Donald Brown continues to recover from their long term injuries.
Players limited in practice on Wednesday who are fully expected to play this week include Julio Jones (ankle), Gio Bernard (ribs), Darren Sproles (knee), Eric Decker (hamstring), Travis Kelce (ribs), Trent Richardson (hamstring), and Khiry Robinson (forearm). If Bernard or Richardson do not increase their practice participation by Friday, however, I'll be singing a different tune in the Sunday AM Expectations column. For now, there's no indication either will sit this week.
Onto this week's primary injury concerns...
CALVIN JOHNSON | ANKLE | limited
Johnson traveled with the Lions to London this week and did limited work on Wednesday and Thursday. While both developments are reassuring when compared to the little practice Johnson managed to get in last week, they should not be taken as a sign for Johnson is ready to play this week. Johnson did tell reporters Wednesday he was improving, but he's already said he'll not play until he's at full strength. It's unlikely he'll reach his goal this week and I still believe there's a good chance we'll see him rest through the Lions' Week 9 bye. I'd want to see close to a full practice by Friday and a very optimistic media session to feel comfortable with Johnson in my fantasy lineup this week.
JIMMY GRAHAM | SHOULDER | limited
For now, Graham is on pace to prep for this week's game in the same way he did last week. Limited practices to stay in condition and work on the team's red zone and passing situation game plan. Unless we see Graham take a full practice or hear positive things from Drew Brees about Graham's prospective usage, prepare for another week of 25-35 snaps and 2-5 targets.
a.j. green | toe | DNP
Green wants to play this week and Marvin Lewis told reporters Green had made good progress on Monday. But Green didn't test his toe in practice Wednesday and needs to get work in on Thursday to have a realistic chance of playing effectively this week.
reggie bush | ankle | LIMITED
Bush aggravated his ankle injury (either a low grade high ankle sprain or a lower leg contusion) last week and was clearly struggling to finish the game. The limited practice is a sign he's hoping to play this week, but he's likely to be slowed again and will be in a rotation at best. With Joique Bell and Theo Reddick available, we may see the Lions rest Bush through their Week 9 bye.
martellus bennett | hamstring | dnp
Bennett didn't appear limited in last week's game and there were no indications this hamstring injury occurred during practice today. There's reason to hope this is a very minor strain and more of a rest day than injury concern for Bennett but we'll know more after Thursday's participation report.
reggie wayne | elbow | dnp
The Colts have tried to minimize this injury all week. But it's unlikely a minor elbow injury would need a diagnostic MRI and keep Wayne from lower body conditioning reps in practice today. While it's possible the MRI was precautionary and today's absence was a veteran off day, prepare for Wayne to miss at least one week with this injury.
pierre thomas | shoulder/ribs | dnp
Thomas didn't practice today and multiple reports suggest he'll miss 1-2 weeks with this injury. I'll update his condition on Sunday if he surprises and gets back to practice this week.
james starks | ankle | dnp
Starks left last week's game with an ankle injury. Though it didn't appear too serious and Mike McCarthy didn't seem concerned early in the week, the lack of Wednesday practice is a concern. We'll know much more about Starks' chances to play this week after Thursday's practice.
shonn greene | hamstring | limited
Many players recovering from muscle strains need more than a week of practice if they've missed multiple weeks with their injury. That may not apply to Greene, who told reporters he was able to do "just about everything" he wanted to do in practice today. If he increases his practice participation by Friday, it will be enough supporting evidence to expect him to be active this week.
owen daniels | knee | dnp
Daniels often rests on Wednesday, but was listed with a knee injury as the reason for his missed practice today. There is nothing of note in the media reports on practice today and no major cause for concern yet. If Daniels misses Thursday's practice, it's time to worry.
Follow on Twitter @JeneBramel for breaking injury news, updates and analysis. Check back Sunday morning for my expectations on all of this week's game-time injury decisions.
