Injury Expectations | Wednesday Update | Week 11

Photo: USA Today Sports

KEY WEDNESDAY MEDIA UPDATES

***There are conflicting reports about the specifics of Rob Gronkowski's chest injury. Ian Rapoport reported it as a "punctured lung." Adam Schefter has a source saying the lung isn't punctured and there's not serious concern over the condition. I think it's mostly a semantic issue here. Punctured lung implies a penetrating rib injury and a higher severity of injury. That's likely not what's happened, as even Rapoport reported that Gronkowski's absence would be short. However, reports that Gronkowski wasn't cleared to fly to a charity event this week strongly implies there's a lung injury rather than a chest contusion only. Regardless of the specifics, it's unlikely Gronkowski will be cleared for contact and travel this week. If enough healing occurs this week, it's possible he'll return in Week 12.

***Bruce Arians told reporters Larry Fitzgerald is still playing through the MCL sprain he suffered much earlier this season and also has an ankle sprain. Both Arians and Fitzgerald are optimistic Fitzgerald will be able to play this week.

***Jordan Howard is not on the Chicago injury report. Whatever the post-game concern of ankle and/or Achilles injury was, the team doesn't appear to have any concern 72 hours later.

THURSDAY NIGHT INJURY EXPECTATIONS

Here are the key offensive players listed on the practice participation or game status report for Thursday Night Football:

Jonathan Stewart | Not Injury related | Not Listed | Expected to Play

Practice Participation: Mon - DNP | Tue - DNP| Wed - Full

The Panthers have been giving Stewart most of the week off since he returned from an early season hamstring injury. He fully practiced on Wednesday, is not listed on the game status report, and can be expected to see his usual workload.

EARLY WEEK PRACTICE PARTICIPATION REPORT AND EARLY EXPECTATIONS

The Wednesday and Thursday practice participation reports are our first chance to see which players each NFL team are limiting in practice after the previous week's games. Players limited in mid-week practice aren't necessarily in danger of missing that week's game. But they all need to be watched closely.

*Note: Monday night players with asterisk practice Thursday/Friday/Saturday

*Note: Monday night players with asterisk practice Thursday/Friday/Saturday

Follow me on Twitter @JeneBramel for breaking injury news and analysis throughout the week.