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KEY WEDNESDAY MEDIA UPDATES
***Dan Quinn made a pointed effort to specifically report Julio Jones' toe injury as a "toe sprain" rather than "turf toe." Some of this is semantics -- turf toe is a toe sprain. Some of this may be meaningful -- a sprain in an area other than that of a turf toe injury could be an easier recovery. In the end, however, the precise diagnosis is no longer critical. Jones was close enough to playing last week to be given a chance to prove himself in pregame warmups. That means he's considered at worst a game-time decision this week and means we're watching his practice participation to guide us. If Jones returns to a limited practice on Thursday and Friday, he's likely to play but could be limited. If he fully practices by Friday, he's good to go.
***The Bengals cleared A.J. Green to return to practice on Wednesday. It's rare for Cincinnati to bring a player back quickly after missing multiple weeks of practice. They'll often make sure the player can handle a full week of limited individual workouts before returning them to the gameday roster. However -- if Green's recovery is reassuring -- the Bengals may break their rule this week against the Steelers in a game they have to win to keep even their now slim hopes of a division championship alive. Green has said he'll not return until he's fully healthy and he remains questionable at best. But there's a chance we see Green back in a limited role this week.
***Melvin Gordon will not play this week. It's likely the MCL sprain that's limiting him more than the hip strain but the combination will keep him out at least this week. Matt Forte has a better chance to play with an aggravated meniscus tear that was too swollen and painful to play through last week.
***Adrian Peterson was designated to return off the Vikings' injured reserve list today and began officially practicing. Barring a setback, it looks like Peterson may try to return in a limited role in Week 16 and 17 in the hopes of contributing to a playoff run.
***More on the status and expectations of Randall Cobb (high ankle sprain), Michael Thomas (unknown foot injury), and Jordan Reed (unexpectedly low number of snaps last week) after tomorrow participation report. All have a chance to play this week but there's reason to be concerned about significant limitations.
THURSDAY NIGHT INJURY EXPECTATIONS
Here are the key offensive players listed on the practice participation or game status report for Thursday Night Football:
Jimmy graham | NOT LISTED | EXPECTED TO PLAY
Practice Participation: Mon - DNP | Tue - Full | Wed - Full
Graham had his usual early week rest and returned to full practices on Tuesday and Wednesday. He'll see his usual workload on Thursday.
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
|
||||||
Player | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | ||||
Aaron Rodgers | Calf | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Andrew Luck | Shoulder / Elbow | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Drew Brees | Not Injury Related | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
David Carr | Finger | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Ben Roethlisberger | Not Injury Related | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Matthew Stafford | Finger / Hand | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Ryan Tannehill | Knee | DNP | Inactive | |||
Carson Palmer | Not Injury Related | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Trevor Siemian | Foot | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Tyrod Taylor | Groin | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Brock Osweiler | Thigh | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Blake Bortles | Shoulder | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Sam Bradford | Shoulder | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Running Backs
|
||||||
Player | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | ||||
Melvin Gordon | Hip / Knee | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Mark Ingram | Toe / Knee | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
Lamar Miller | Ankle / Ribs | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Matt Forte | Knee | DNP | Game-time Decision | |||
Ty Montgomery | Shoulder | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Frank Gore | Not Injury Related | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Darren Sproles | Concussion | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Theo Riddick | Wrist | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Zach Zenner | Concussion | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Matt Asiata | Ankle | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Shane Vereen | Concussion | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
James Starks | Concussion | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
DeAngelo Williams | Knee | Full | Awaiting Information | |||
Wide Receivers
|
||||||
Player | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | ||||
Julio Jones | Toe | DNP | Game-time Decision / Limited | |||
A.J. Green | Hamstring | Limited | Game-time Decision / Limited | |||
Amari Cooper | Shoulder | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Randall Cobb | Ankle | Limited | Game-time Decision | |||
Brandon Marshall | Knee / Foot / Back | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Larry Fitzgerald | Knee | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Michael Thomas | Foot | Limited | Game-time Decision | |||
Michael Crabtree | Finger | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Tyrell Williams | Shoulder | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Sammy Watkins | Foot | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
Donte Moncrief | Hamstring | DNP | Game-time Decision | |||
Stefon Diggs | Knee | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Jordan Matthews | Ankle | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
Quincy Enunwa | Ribs | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
DeAndre Hopkins | Hamstring | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Mohamed Sanu | Groin | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
J.J. Nelson | Knee | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
John Brown | Illness | DNP | Awaiting Information / Limited | |||
Dorial Green-Beckham | Abdomen | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Eddie Royal | Toe | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Marquess Wilson | Groin | Limited | Game-time Decision | |||
Torrey Smith | Concussion | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Brandon LaFell | Knee | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Danny Amendola | Ankle | DNP | Inactive | |||
Tight Ends
|
||||||
Player | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | ||||
*Jordan Reed | Shoulder | MNF | Awaiting Information | |||
Martellus Bennett | Ankle / Shoulder | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Eric Ebron | Knee | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Charles Clay | Knee | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Dwayne Allen | Hip | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Jared Cook | Chest | Full | Awaiting Information | |||
C.J. Fiedorowicz | Concussion | DNP | Likely Inactive |
*Note: Monday night players with asterisk practice Thursday/Friday/Saturday.
Follow me on Twitter @JeneBramel for breaking injury news and analysis throughout the week.