NOTE: During the season, 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.
Scroll to the bottom of this article for a quick look table of the week's most pressing injury situations and a review of players on injured reserve / PUP / NFI.
Footballguys will have close and detailed coverage of all injuries this season. Here's a look at my expected schedule. I will do my best to stick to this. Work and family responsibilities may sometimes cause brief delays.
Monday Injury Rounds: Posted Sunday night, updated through Tuesday AM. Detailed analysis of the week's injuries with table for quick review. Offensive injuries will be live Sunday night. Critical defensive and offensive line injuries will be added throughout the day on Monday. I'll be updating with news and analysis through Tuesday.
Wednesday and Thursday Injury Expectations: Posted late Wednesday and Thursday evening. Analysis of the practice participation report with a table including my projection of each injured player's likely game status. Will include discussion of any major breaking injury news.
Sunday Gameday Expectations: Posted by Saturday afternoon, updated through Sunday morning inactives. Will include individual player blurbs with detailed thoughts on the week's injury news and my speculation on player availability and limitations. Will include table highlighting each day's practice participation, official game status, and my availability expectation.
I'll also be contributing to our waiver wire podcast (Tuesday release), our live Sunday morning pregame show (10 ET Sunday on YouTube), and plan at least one weekly Periscope Q&A (immediately following Monday Night Football) with additional shows if/when possible. As always, I will be retweeting 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
ODELL BECKHAM | HIGH ANKLE SPRAIN | PRESEASON WEEK 4 | Day-to-Day
There will undoubtedly be some surprises on the Wednesday practice participation report. Regardless of those surprises, however, Beckham's weekly status will remain the most highly watched story of Week 1. Beckham was able to do some light positional work last week and his teammates were united in their expectation Beckham will play in Week 1.
Expect Beckham to be limited on Wednesday and Thursday. If he's fully participating, you know he's ready for a full and usual workload Sunday night. If not, Friday practice participation and media availability will be our data points. I believe Beckham had a low-grade high ankle sprain and is likely to play. What cannot be known yet is how limited he may be and how high the risk of aggravation may be. I'll have more on Beckham in our nightly's practice participation reviews this week.
Monday afternoon update: Beckham was conditioning on the side during New York's early week practice. We'll see what Beckham is able to do on Wednesday, but expect him to be limited -- at best -- on the participation report until Friday.
TYROD TAYLOR | CONCUSSION | PRESEASON WEEK 4 | DAY-TO-DAY
Taylor remains in the return-to-play protocol but all indications are he'll be available to play this week. A full practice on Wednesday would confirm he'll play. If he's limited, we'll need to watch Taylor's status carefully through Friday.
John Ross | Left knee sprain | Preseason Week 5 | Week-to-Week
Video replays were not conclusive on Ross. I did not see a contact injury, but there were multiple steps during his last few snaps which may have resulted in the injury. On his final play, his knee did buckle slightly. Non-contact knee injuries are generally ACL tears (Ross' post-game media availability and subsequent reports make that diagnosis extremely unlikely), PCL sprains (no clear video evidence of this), or meniscus injuries (which are not considered sprains). That's a long way of saying we're stuck with the Bengals' report of a short absence for now.
Others of note: Practice participation will be our first indication of whether the following players are day-to-day and likely available for Week 1 or week-to-week with a less certain return to play status: Demaryius Thomas (groin), DeAndre Hopkins (hand), Tyrell Williams (groin), Tyler Eifert (tendinitis), Jordan Matthews (chest), Cooper Kupp (groin), Breshad Perriman (hamstring). I think Perriman is the most likely to need additional time, with the others expected to be ready for their usual workload this week.
FOLLOWUP APPOINTMENTS
ANDREW LUCK | RIGHT SHOULDER LABRUM REPAIR | JANUARY 2017 | WEEK-TO-WEEK
While the question of Luck's long term status was answered reassuringly with the Colts' decision to remove him from the PUP list, we're no closer to knowing his short term status. Aside from a throwaway comment from Jim Irsay at a function last week -- where he reiterated the Colts weren't sure when Luck would return -- we've not seen nor heard anything of note from Luck, Irsay, or general manager Chris Ballard in over two weeks. Head coach Chuck Pagano talked to the media but was less than helpful. Okay, that's an understatement. Pagano raised all sorts of questions by telling reporters he hadn't even seen Luck throw and had no idea where he was in the rehab process.
I still think Luck has to get his feet wet in team drills for at least one week before the team can consider him game-ready. That puts Week 1 out of the question and makes the Colts' home opener in Week 2 highly unlikely. Even though Luck is on the team's active roster, he may still be 4-5 weeks from returning. Whenever Luck returns, you should expect him to need multiple games to return to his previous accuracy, strength, and stamina.
Monday afternoon update: Chris Ballard spoke to the media today and the outlook for Andrew Luck is not good. Ballard said Luck was "still in the training phase" and the team still considers him week-to-week. Luck has been ruled out for Week 1. We may never get the full story on Luck's rehab -- he's notoriously quiet with information -- but something didn't go to plan here. The team allowed Luck to speak to the media in June and he seemed frustrated he'd not been cleared to throw at that time. There was no confirmation he'd begun throwing a football until nearly seven months after his surgery. That's later than usual. And Luck hasn't said anything to the media in over a month.
This morning, I still felt Luck had an outside chance to play in Week 2 or 3. That was when it seemed possible that Luck had been building arm strength and was on the verge of returning to practice. Choosing not to leave Luck on the inseason PUP list strongly suggested the Colts felt Luck could practice soon. With Ballard's comments today, there's no way to know exactly where Luck may be in his rehab.
Dr. David Chao tweeted his projection for Luck's return today, setting the over/under for Luck's return at Week 4. There's no reason to doubt the assessment of a former NFL team orthopedic surgeon, but I think that's an accurate expectation. My feeling has been that Luck needs a minimum of two weeks of team drills to have a chance at starting the following game. With Luck unlikely to practice this week, that now leaves Week 3 in serious doubt.
Until you read that Luck is in uniform and throwing to teammates, consider him two weeks from returning. And I'll continue to note that it will be multiple weeks before Luck's former accuracy and stamina return.
SPENCER WARE | PCL SPRAIN / POSTEROLATERAL CORNER INJURY | Injured reserve | 2018 Return
A second opinion confirmed the worrisome extent of Ware's injury, which includes at least a torn PCL and LCL with the possibility of additional damage to the soft tissues in the back outside corner of his knee. A tricky but necessary reconstruction and rehabilitation to limit Ware's long term risk of knee instability and arthritis lies ahead. Ware may have difficulty avoiding the PUP list to start training camp next season.
JORDAN REED | FOOT FRACTURE | OFFSEASON | RETURNED TO PRACTICE AND GAME ACTION
Reed's return to football-related activity continues to go smoothly. He's now avoided setbacks and compensatory injury for two weeks. Reed will remain at risk of complications but starts the season healthier than expected after nearly a month on Washington's PUP list.
DEVONTA FREEMAN | CONCUSSION | PRESEASON WEEK 2 | DAY-TO-DAY
Freeman was cleared to return to practice last week and will play in Week 1.
Joe Flacco | Disc herniation | Offseason | Day-to-Day
As the Ravens publicly expected, Flacco returned to practice last week. Not everything the Ravens told us was accurate, however, as it's certain Flacco had more than stiffness/soreness in his back. Ian Rapoport's original report of a disc condition makes the most sense, with Flacco requiring well over a month to rest and rehab. Hopefully, that time was spent maintaining the strength and conditioning of his core and not resting and recovering. Flacco is likely to start in Week 1 but shouldn't be trusted to finish a full 16 game schedule yet.
COREY DAVIS | HAMSTRING STRAIN | PRESEASON WEEK 1 | Day-to-Day
The Titans cleared Davis to return to practice last week. Players recovering from multiple week hamstring injuries need multiple weeks to recondition and return to football strength. Davis has a chance to be active in Week 1 but will likely need another week or two to return to full form.
CORDY GLENN | FOOT INJURY | WEEK-TO-WEEK
Glenn played in Buffalo's final preseason game and did not suffer a known setback. That's great news for Glenn, the Bills' offensive line, and LeSean McCoy.
Teddy Bridgewater | Left knee dislocation / Multiple ligament reconstructions | PUP | Month-to-Month
Bridgewater continues to make progress in his recovery but isn't yet ready for contact. Until he passes that threshold, the Vikings cannot carry him on their active roster. Now on the inseason PUP list, Bridgewater will continue to rehab. It will likely take an injury to Sam Bradford to accelerate Bridgewater's rehab in any way. He's eligible to return to practice between Week 6 and Week 12.
Mike Williams | Disc herniation / steroid injections | May / July | Active roster | Week-to-Week
Two weeks ago, Ian Rapoport tweeted that Williams was progressing well and the Chargers felt the young wide receiver had a chance to return to the field in October. Los Angeles moved Williams to the active roster last weekend, further bolstering hope. Expect more football-related activity from Williams over the next 2-3 weeks as the Chargers decide how soon he'll be able to contribute.
EZEKIEL ANSAH | LEG INJURY | Active Roster | Day-to-Day
There's still no report on the specifics of Ansah's injury but his removal from Detroit's PUP list is evidence he did not require surgery on his troublesome ankle after OTAs. It shouldn't be seen as evidence he's ready for anything more than pass rushing snaps in Week 1 -- if that.
Others of note: Eric Decker (ankle) has returned to practice without difficulty and should play in Week 1. Terron Armstead (labrum) will continue rehab but was removed from New Orleans' PUP list while Taylor Decker (labrum) remains on the Detroit PUP list. Shane Ray (wrist surgery) and Denzel Perryman (ankle surgery) will be placed on injured reserve this week and their respective teams are hopeful they will return midseason. Clayton Geathers (neck) was moved to the inseason PUP list. Tamba Hali (undisclosed) was moved to injured reserve and out for the season.
INJURED PLAYERS ON ACTIVE ROSTER
| Quarterbacks Injured But on the Active Roster | |||||
| Quarterback | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Andrew Luck | Right shoulder labrum repair | Mid January | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | W2+ Return | Still no official update on status |
| Tyrod Taylor | Concussion | PS W4 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | W1 Return | |
| Paxton Lynch | Shoulder contusion | PS W4 | 4-5 Weeks | Week-to-Week | W4+ Return | |
| Joe Flacco | Disc herniation | Offseason | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | W1 Return | Harbaugh adamant Flacco to play W1 |
| Running Backs Injured But on the Active Roster | |||||
| Running Back | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Thomas Rawls | Ankle injury | PS W3 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | W1 Return | |
| C.J. Prosise | Groin strain | PS W3 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | W1 Return | |
| T.J. Yeldon | Hamstring strain | PS W3 | No information | Week-to-Week | |
| D'Onta Foreman | Groin strain | PS W3 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | |
| Devontae Booker | Wrist fracture fixation | Late July | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | W3+ Return | |
| Wide Receivers Injured But on the Active Roster | |||||
| Wide Receiver | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Odell Beckham | Left high ankle sprain | PS W3 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | W1 Return | Could be limited in W1 |
| Demaryius Thomas | Groin strain | PS W4 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | W1 Return | |
| DeAndre Hopkins | Hand injury | PS W2 | No timetable given | Day-to-Day | W1 Return | |
| Tyrell Williams | Groin strain | PS W4 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | W1 Return | |
| Corey Davis | Hamstring strain | PS W1 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | W1 Return | Likely limited in W1 |
| Jordan Matthews | Sternum fracture | PS W2 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | W1 Return | |
| Cooper Kupp | Groin strain | PS W4 | No information given | Day-to-Day | |
| Will Fuller | Clavicle fracture | PS W1 | Month-to-Month | W6+ Return | Could still be IR w/ plan to return |
| Mike Williams | Disc herniation | Multiple steroid injections | May | July | Week-to-Week | W4+ Return | Avoided inseason PUP list |
| Breshad Perriman | Hamstring strain | Early preseason | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | W1+ Return | |
| John Ross | Left knee sprain | PS W5 | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | W1+ Return | |
| Markus Wheaton | Finger fracture | PS W2 | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | W1+ Return | |
| Curtis Samuel | Ankle sprain | PS W5 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | W1 Return | |
| Tight Ends Injured But on the Active Roster | |||||
| Tight End | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Offensive Line Injured But on the Active Roster | |||||
| Offensive Line | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Terron Armstead | Shoulder labrum repair | June | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | W3+ Return | Avoided inseason PUP list |
| Ryan Kelly | Foot injury / surgery | PS W3 | Month-to-Month | Month-to-Month | Could still be IR w/ plan to return |
| Bryan Bulaga | Ankle injury | PS W4 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | W1 Return | |
| Joel Bitonio | Knee injury | PS W2 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | W1 Return | |
| Demar Dotson | Groin strain | PS W3 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | W1 Return | |
| Kyle Long | Ankle surgery / complications | November 2016 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | Team unsure about Week 1 |
| Spencer Long | Knee surgery | PS W3 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | W1 Return | W1 status unknown |
| Defensive Players Injured But on the Active Roster | |||||
| Edge Players | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Defensive Line | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Leonard Williams | Wrist injury | PS W4 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | W1 Return | |
| Derek Wolfe | Ankle sprain | PS W2 | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | W1+ Return | |
| Danny Shelton | Knee injury | PS W3 | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | W1+ Return | |
| Robert Nkemdiche | Calf strain | PS W3 | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | W1+ Return | |
| Javon Hargrave | Concussion | PS W3 | No timetable given | Week-to-Week | Has history of concussion |
| Tyrone Crawford | Ankle sprain | PS W2 | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | |
| Vernon Butler | Knee sprain | PS W2 | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | |
| Linebackers | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Anthony Hitchens | Tibial plateau fracture | PS W4 | Week-to-Week | W4+ Return | Likely to be carried on active roster |
| Defensive Backs | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Deone Bucannon | Ankle surgery | Mid May | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | W1+ Return | |
| Su'a Cravens | Knee injury | PS W2 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | W1+ Return | Discussion of retirement? |
| Vontae Davis | Groin strain | PS W4 | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | W2+ Return | |
| Shawn Williams | Elbow dislocation | PS W3 | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | W1+ Return | |
INJURED PLAYERS NOT ON ACTIVE ROSTER
| Notable Quarterbacks on PUP/NFI/IR | |||||
| Quarterback | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Ryan Tannehill | Left ACL reconstruction | Mid August | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Teddy Bridgewater | Left knee dislocation / Multi-ligament repair | August 2016 | PUP | Month-to-Month | Progressing but unclear whether can play this year |
| Chad Kelly | Wrist surgery | April 2017 | NFI | 2018 Return | |
| Notable Running Backs on PUP/NFI/IR | |||||
| Running Back | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Spencer Ware | PCL / LCL sprain | PS W4 | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Kenneth Dixon | Meniscus repair | Late July | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Joe Williams | Ankle injury | PS W5 | IR | 2018 Return | Lynch would not discuss details |
| Lance Dunbar | Complications Oct 2015 knee injury | PUP | Awaiting information | Seems unlikely to return in 2017 | |
| Notable Wide Receivers on PUP/NFI/IR | |||||
| Wide Receiver | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Julian Edelman | ACL tear | PS W4 | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Cameron Meredith | ACL/MCL tear | PS W4 | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Quincy Enunwa | Cervical discectomy and fusion | Late August 2017 | IR | 6-9 Months | 2018 Return | |
| Carlos Henderson | Left thumb ligament repair | Mid-August 2017 | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Tajae Sharpe | Foot injury | Chronic | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Notable Tight Ends on PUP/NFI/IR | |||||
| Tight End | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Erik Swoope | Arthroscopic knee surgery | PS W3 | IR | return eligible | Week-to-Week | Eligible W8+ | Likely to return W8+ |
| Rico Gathers | Concussion | PS W3 | IR | return eligible | Week-to-Week | Eligible W8+ | Chance to return W8+ |
| Crockett Gillmore | MCL reconstruction | Early August | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Jake Butt | ACL reconstruction | December 2016 | NFI | 2018 Return | |
| Notable Offensive Line on PUP/NFI/IR | |||||
| Offensive Line | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Taylor Decker | Shoulder labrum repair | Early June | PUP | Month-to-Month | W6+ Return | |
| Josh Garnett | Arthroscopic knee surgery | Early August | IR | 2018 Return | |
| George Fant | ACL tear / likely multi-ligament injury | PS W3 | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Alex Lewis | Shoulder labral tear | PS W2 | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Ted Larsen | Biceps injury | PS W1 | IR | return eligible | Month-to-Month | Eligible W8+ | Chance to return W8+ |
| Forrest Lamp | ACL tear | Early August | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Nico Siragusa | Knee dislocation | ACL/MCL/PCL tear | Early August | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Notable Defensive Players on PUP/NFI/IR | |||||
| Edge Players | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Shane Ray | Wrist ligament repair | Late July | IR | return eligible | 4-6 Weeks | Eligible W8+ | Expected to return W8 |
| Kerry Hyder | Left Achilles tear | PS W2 | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Trent Murphy | ACL reconstruction / MCL sprain | PS W2 | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Derek Rivers | ACL / LCL tear | PS W3 | IR | 9-12 Months | 2018 Return | |
| Tamba Hali | Undisclosed | IR | Awaiting information | ||
| Defensive Line | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Malik McDowell | Concussion / Facial injuries | Late July | NFI | ? 2017 Return | |
| Dominique Easley | ACL reconstruction | Early August | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Linebackers | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Denzel Perryman | Ankle ligament reconstruction | PS W2 | IR | return eligible | Month-to-Month | Eligible W8+ | Hopeful for return W8+ |
| Raekwon McMillan | ACL reconstruction | PS W2 | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Edwin Jackson | Undisclosed | IR | 2018 Return | ||
| Jelani Jenkins | Groin strain | PS W4 | IR | Likely to sign settlement | |
| Tank Carder | ACL reconstruction | IR | 2018 Return | ||
| Malcolm Smith | Pectoral tendon tear | PS W1 | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Defensive Backs | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Clayton Geathers | Cervical discectomy / fusion | Mid May | PUP | Month-to-Month | Eligible W6+ | Chance for return W6+ |
| DeAngelo Hall | ACL reconstruction | September 2016 | PUP | Week-to-Week | Eligible W6+ | Chance for return W6+ |
| Sidney Jones | Achilles repair | March 2017 | NFI | 2018 Return | Could return after W8 |
Check back for more injury analysis throughout training camp and follow on Twitter @JeneBramel for breaking injury news, commentary, and analysis of injury news around the NFL.
