During the season, I will transcribe Jene Bramel's Thursday injury video conference and provide you with his thoughts on which players to trust or fade for your lineups in the upcoming week's schedule of games. Click here to view Jene's Week 12 injury video conference.
THURSDAY UPDATE
Andrew Luck, IND (concussion) Andrew Luck is in the concussion protocol and will not be cleared in time to play this Thursday. He is out.
Result: Fade
Donte Moncrief, IND (hamstring) A mid-week injury isn't good to see. He is being called a gametime decision, but the expectation is that he will play this week.
Result: Trust
Stefon Diggs, MIN (knee) Probably not going to play this week and is listed as doubtful. Coach Mike Zimmer was asked about him and his response was that he was not sure. That's not a good sign.
Result: Fade
Theo Riddick, DET (ankle) - Riddick had a limited practice on Wednesday and will face a tough defense in Minnesota on Thursday. Look for him to play, but the matchup is not a favorable one from a rushing perspective. He's more of a low-end RB2 as a result. Injury wise, he should be trusted.
Result: Trust
DeSean Jackson, WAS (shoulder), Sammie Coates Jr, PIT (finger), Jamison Crowder, WAS (back) All are expected to play on Thursday.
Result: Trust
Quarterback
Jay Cutler CHI, (shoulder), and Cody Kessler, CLE (concussion) - Both are not expected to play this week
Tom Brady (knee/quad), Tyrod Taylor, Blake Bortles, Trevor Siemian - All of these quarterbacks have missed a practice or had a limited practice this week, but all are expected to play.
Running Back
LeSean McCoy, BUF (thumb) - McCoy was able to practice on a limited basis on Wednesday after having surgery Monday to repair his thumb. He has to prove that he has enough range of motion to eliminate any ball grip concerns, but the expectation is that he will play.
Result: Trust
Mark Ingram, NO (concussion) - Ingram was involved in a limited practice on Wednesday, but he's still currently in the concussion protocol. This is a positive sign. He still needs to get through the next couple of days of practice and be cleared, but it's looking likely that he'll be back to a full contact practice on friday and start on Sunday.
Result: Trending positive to trust. May want to shy away for Thursday lineup
Darren Sproles, PHI (ribs) - Sproles did not practice on Wednesday, but we should see him participate in practice as the week progresses. Remember the Eagles play on Monday night which gives Sproles an extra day to heal. Look for him to wear some kevlar padding to keep his ribs more protected. The expectation is that he will play this Monday night.
Result: Trust
Ryan Mathews, PHI (MCL sprain) - It's not common to see a running back play through an MCL sprain. He's lilkely out again this week and looking more more like a Week 13 return.
Result: Fade
Jacquizz Rodgers, TB (foot) Rodgers is back to practice in a limited basis this week, but it's looking like we won't see him back this week.
Result: Fade
Tevin Coleman, ATL (hamstring) Coleman is back to fully practicing and is expected to return this week against Arizona.
Result: Trust
DeMarco Murray, Lamar Miller, Latavius Murray and Matt Forte - These three backs are recovering from various non-serious injuries and may have a limited practice this week, but are expected to play.
Wide Receiver
A.J. Green, CIN (hamstring) He is out and will not play this week. This is a foregone conclusion to be a multiple week injury. Likely four to six weeks. He could not bear any weight on his leg, the Bengals immediately planned for an MRI. All point to a more serious hamstring injury. Best case scenario is a Week 16 return, but even that might be unlikely.
Result: Fade
Jeremy Maclin, KC (groin), Robert Woods, BUF (knee) Not expected to play this week.
Result: Fade
Larry Fitzgerald, ARI (ankle/knee), Julian Edelman, NE (foot), Michael Crabtree, OAK (ankle) Jarvis Landry, MIA (shoulder). Quincy Enunwa, NYJ (neck), Eddie Royal, CHI (toe). All have experienced a limited practice or two this week, but the expectation is that they will all play this week.
Result: Trust
Travis Benjamin, SD (knee) - Benjamin practiced in full on Wednesday and the local beat writers were positive in his evaluation saying he looks like he has before the injury. All things point to Benjamin not only returning, but seeing his regular workload.
Result: Trust
Sammy Watkins, BUF (foot) - Watkins has been cleared to practice this week. He ran about 20 routes in practice and felt good. He was asked if there was a game today, would he play - he said no. What about Sunday? "You'll have to talk to the trainers." Best case scenario - if he is active this week, he'll be in limited packages and see a reduced role. He's not in condition yet to take 40-50 snaps. It's doubtful that the Bills will risk him after one week of practice. He needs to do more than just individual drills. Let's see how he responds to practice, but it's probably looking closer to Week 14 or 15 when he can be back to a 40-50 snap effort and a point where he can be trusted.
Result: Fade
Tight end
Rob Gronkowski, NE (chest) - According to a Patriots beat writer Dianna Russini, it's looking like the Patriots are planning without Gronkowski in mind this week. This was a traumatic lung injury and the Patriots are being cautious with him. He did have a limited practice on Wednesday where he ran a gauntlet and very gently get hit with blocking pads. He was in pads, but did not see any contact. He's a gametime decision at this time, but it's looking like even if he plays, he'll see a reduced role at best.
Result: Fade
Jimmy Graham, Martellus Bennett, Julius Thomas, Charles Clay, C.J. Fiedorowicz - All have either missed a practice or participated in a limited practice, but none of the mentioned are expected to miss this week's game.
Ryan Griffin, HOU (neck) - Griffin had a limited practice on Wednesday, but the likelihood of playing this week is not high.
Result: Fade
Questions, suggestions and comments are always welcome to haseley@footballguys.com