NOTE: This column is a living document. I'll be updating as needed after team press conferences, imaging reports, Monday Night Football injuries, etc. Major changes to the content will be noted in red. I'll also be retweeting any key pieces of news and my own reaction and analysis, so make sure you're following @JeneBramel and checking my timeline on Twitter throughout the week.
INJURY ROUNDS
I don't usually comment on college injuries until we get closer to draft time, other than to note major injuries like Laquon Treadwell's broken leg earlier this month. Unfortuantely, Tori Gurley tore his ACL on Saturday and will join Treadwell as players sure to get extra scrutiny in the pre-draft process due to injury. Both players should recover fully, but neither may be able to do much before the draft.
There were quite a few significant skill position injuries this week.
julius thomas | ankle sprain | week-to-week
I could not identify an injury mechanism for Thomas or even the play on which he was most likely injured. Jeff Legwold of ESPN Denver says the injury is to Thomas' left ankle (not the ankle he's previously had surgery) and Adam Schefter is reporting the Broncos do not think Thomas has a high ankle sprain. If Schefter's report is accurate, the week-to-week label may be too pessimistic. But until there's a positive report on Monday's pending MRI, patience is key here.
ahmad bradshaw | fractured ankle | month-to-month
Bradshaw's injury mechanism was worrisome for a low fibula fracture and Adam Schefter confirmed a fractured ankle on Twitter this morning. Like any fracture, this injury will take 6-8 weeks to heal. If it's a relatively minor fracture and there are no major ligament injuries, Bradshaw could be back for the NFL playoffs. If it's anything more than that, Bradshaw may be done for the season.
emmanuel sanders | concussion | week-to-week
Sanders suffered a concussion on Sunday and will progress through the usual return to play protocol. Sanders does not have a recent history of concussion, so any early week news suggesting his symptoms have resolved can be taken to mean he has a good chance of playing this week. We won't know for certain until Friday, however.
brandin cooks | fractured thumb | week-to-week
Ian Rapoport confirmed a local New Orleans report that Brandin Cooks broke his thumb during Sunday's game. Most thumb injuries require a minimum of 4-6 weeks of immobilization. We'll sometimes see running backs play through this injury after 2-3 weeks, but any kind of a splint would make it very tough for a wide receiver to do his job. The early estimate on Cooks is four weeks and that's likely the earliest we'll see him back.
larry fitzgerald | mcl sprain | week-to-week
According to Mike Jurecki on Twitter on Sunday night, the Cardinals are concerned about Larry Fitzgerald's MCL. He'll have an MRI today to determine the severity of his injury. Fitzgerald would not have been able to return to the game with a mid-high grade injury, so this is unlikely to be a multi-week injury. Still, soft tissue (muscle, ligament) injuries often look different 24 hours later after the adrenaline wears off and the swelling and stiffness begin. I'll update after Fitzgerald's MRI, but expect him to be limited in practice this week.
1230 ET: Here's the latest example of adrenaline helping a player through a serious injury.
Larry Fitzgerald has a grade 2 MCL sprain. Expects to play vs. Seahawks. #AZCardinals
— Kent Somers (@kentsomers) November 17, 2014
Expects to play and able to play are two very different things. It's hard to believe Fitzgerald will be better than a game time decision.
dwayne allen | high ankle sprain | week-to-week
An Ian Rapoport tweet has this injury as a low ankle sprain, but multiple other sources (including Adam Schefter and Will Carroll) and the video suggest otherwise. All of the media sources are calling this a multi-week injury, however, and I think the consensus will prove accurate. The Colts will know whether to expect a 1-2 week or 3-4 week absence after Monday's MRI. Don't expect them to give any meaningful updates. They've been very tight with injury information since Chuck Pagano took over as head coach.
I'm also watching for information on Montee Ball, who will have an MRI today after aggravating his groin strain early in Sunday's game. There are hints about a Jordan Reed hamstring strain (he was listed on a postgame injury report), which could be an issue if it's related to his earlier season injury. And watch for any news on Jimmy Graham. He took a big hit to his shoulder yesterday and didn't seem to be the same player afterwards against what should have been a very favorable matchup for him.
FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS
ARIAN FOSTER | GROIN STRAIN | WEEK-TO-WEEK
Foster is unquestionably closer to playing this week than last, but you should still be skeptical until you see him back on the practice field for consecutive days. All signs have been Foster's strain is, at minimum, an aggravated low grade injury and would need at least two weeks to heal.
The primary issue with Foster now becomes conditioning. It has been two full weeks since Foster has done any football related activity. If he's healthy enough to fully practice this week, it's a good sign he's been able to condition some over the past ten days and has a chance to return to his full workload this week. If not, we've seen Foster aggravate muscle injuries more frequently than most players. He'll be at high risk of doing so again if he's not fully recovered. The Texans seem to recognize this and have held Foster out appropriately in training camp and through a hamstring strain earlier this year. Wednesday's practice participation will be our next major clue to Foster's Week 12 status.
gio bernard | hip injury | day-to-day
I think Bernard will return this week. He was aggressively conditioning last week and reportedly moving well during pregame warmups on Sunday. Those workouts can be considered the consecutive practices I often like to see players get through successfully on their way to a full recovery. I believe we'll see Bernard practice in some fashion (limited or full) on Wednesday and be expected to play by the end of the week. How much of his pre-injury workload he'll see is a tougher question to answer, especially with Jeremy Hill performing so well over the past three weeks.
fred jackson | groin injury | day-to-day
Jackson is saying he'll play this week, which I believe should have been the most realistic expectation from the start. Unfortuantely, he's working through an aggravation of his groin injury rather than being at near 100%. Conditiioning is an issue here as well. There's little chance Jackson was near full conditioning when he returned last Sunday. The aggravation likely kept him from getting closer to 100% condition this week. We need to see Jackson practice consecutively without setback -- and even that may not be enough -- to be certain he's ready to see close to his usual workload.
reggie bush | ankle injury | week-to-week
Bush likely has a high ankle sprain. The Lions have decided to rest him until he's fully recovered. Given that Bush has aggravated the injury once already, there's a strong chance his recovery period will last through Week 12. Bush probably needs to practice on Wednesday to have a realistic chance of playing a meaningful role this week.
ronnie hillman | midfoot sprain | month-to-month
Last week, I advised against immediately jumping to a Lisfranc conclusion on Hillman. The 2+ week initial timetable was reassuring as was the lack of any report of boot immobilization, crutches or a trip to see Dr. Robert Anderson in Charlotte. Unfortunately, there are now reports Hillman could miss six weeks or more. While there are non-Lisfranc midfoot injuries which could keep Hillman out more than a month, the change in timetable is concerning. It makes me wonder whether there were multiple specialist visits this week to assist with the diagnosis and rehab plan. Regardless, it's very unlikely a 6+ week timetable would be floated right now if there's was any chance Hillman could return in 4-6 weeks. Montee Ball's aggravated groin strain complicates any injured reserve decisions, but don't expect to see Hillman back in any meaningful capacity during the regular season.
jordan cameron | concussion | indefinite
There was some hope on Cameron last weekend, with reports he could return to practice this week. Clearance for increased exercise would be a very promising sign for Cameron, but he's still no lock to be cleared for contact and deemed healthy enough to see the independent neurologist. Until that happens, he'll continue to get the indefinite tag here.
AROUND THE TRAINING TABLE
This week's significant linebacker injury was to Karlos Dansby, who reportedly has an MCL sprain that may cost him several weeks. There were also two potentially significant offensive line injuries, including a high ankle sprain for Seattle center Max Unger and a concussion for New Orleans tackle Zach Strief.
I'll be updating this feature throughout the day. Footballguys Insiders will get a full update with additional fantasy perspectives on Wednesday, with analysis of the week's game-time decisions early Sunday morning. Follow me on Twitter @JeneBramel for breaking injury news and analysis throughout the week.