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KEY WEDNESDAY MEDIA UPDATES
***Teams are beginning to make decisions on which injured reserve players to designate for return. Sammy Watkins, Charles Sims, and Robert Griffin III III have all been returned to practice. The Packers elected to designate a cornerback to return, which ends Eddie Lacy's season.
***Sammy Watkins returned to practice on Wednesday after getting clearance from Dr. Robert Anderson earlier in the week. Watkins sounded alternately optimistic (noting he felt healthy and able to get to full speed without pain) and pessimistic (denying he'd be able to play in a game today and expressing concern about whether his conditioning would allow him to play more than 20 plays). I think there's now a much better chance we see Watkins this week than I did on Monday, but don't confuse today's optimism as evidence Watkins is ready to assume his usual workload. I'll still be surprised if the Bills activate Watkins after just one week of practice, even if they plan to use him in limited packages only.
***There were again conflicting reports on Rob Gronkowski on Wednesday. Early today, Dianna Russini reported Gronkowski would be held out again this week. Shortly afterwards, Gronkowski was filmed doing individual drills in pads and noted to be moving comfortably. Gronkowski didn't take any contact aside from light resistance from blocking pads, however, and it's not clear whether the Patriots are allowing Gronkowski to recondition slowly for next week or readying him to play immediately. I still lean toward Gronkowski missing this week but we're not likely to learn more until later in the week.
THURSDAY NIGHT INJURY EXPECTATIONS
Here are the key offensive players listed on the practice participation or game status report for Thursday Night Football:
Andrew Luck | Concussion | Declared Out
Practice Participation: Mon - DNP | Tue - DNP | Wed - DNP
Luck never had a realistic chance to play on a short week. There has been no indication of continuing symptoms, so it's likely Luck will return for Week 12. We should know more on Luck by early next week, if not sooner.
Donte Moncrief | Hamstring | Questionable | Game-time Decision
Practice Participation: Mon - Not Listed | Tue - Not Listed | Wed - Limited
Stefon Diggs | Knee | Questionable | Game-time Decision
Practice Participation: Mon - Limited | Tue - DNP | Wed - DNP
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
Quarterbacks
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Player | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | ||||
Tom Brady | Knee | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Russell Wilson | Knee | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Carson Palmer | Not Injury Related | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Andy Dalton | Shoulder | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Tyrod Taylor | Shoulder | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Blake Bortles | Shoulder | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Ryan Fitzpatrick | Knee | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Trevor Siemian | Shoulder | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Jay Cutler | Shoulder | DNP | Inactive | |||
Cody Kessler | Concussion | DNP | Inactive | |||
Running Backs
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Player | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | ||||
DeMarco Murray | Foot | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
LeSean McCoy | Thumb | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Lamar Miller | Ankle/Ribs | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Matt Forte | Knee | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Mark Ingram | Concussion | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Latavius Murray | Ankle | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
C.J. Prosise | Shoulder | DNP | Inactive | |||
*Darren Sproles | Rib | MNF | Game-time Decision | |||
*Ryan Mathews | Knee | MNF | Likely Inactive | |||
Tevin Coleman | Hamstring | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Jacquizz Rodgers | Foot | Limited | Likely Inactive | |||
Jeremy Langford | Illness | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
T.J. Yeldon | Ankle | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Mike Gillislee | Hamstring | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Alfred Blue | Calf | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Charcandrick West | Concussion | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Wide Receivers
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Player | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | ||||
Julio Jones | Shoulder | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
A.J. Green | Hamstring | DNP | Inactive | |||
Larry Fitzgerald | Not Injury Related | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Sammy Watkins | Foot | Limited | Game-time Decision | |||
Julian Edelman | Foot | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Michael Crabtree | Ankle | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Jarvis Landry | Shoulder | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Travis Benjamin | Knee | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Jeremy Maclin | Groin | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Quincy Enunwa | Neck | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Eddie Royal | Toe | DNP | Likely Active | |||
Will Fuller | Knee | Limited | Likely Active | |||
Torrey Smith | Back | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Chris Hogan | Back | Limited | Likely Active | |||
Robert Woods | Knee | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Marquess Wilson | Foot | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Brandon LaFell | Knee | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Tight Ends
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Player | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | ||||
Rob Gronkowski | Chest | Limited | Likely Inactive | |||
Jimmy Graham | Knee | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Martellus Bennett | Ankle | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Julius Thomas | Back | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Charles Clay | Knee | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
C.J. Fiedorowicz | Shoulder | Limited | Likely to Play | |||
Ryan Griffin | Neck | Limited | Awaiting Information |