KEY WEDNESDAY MEDIA UPDATES
***Julio Jones did some limited practice work today, then told reporters he would continue to "be smart" and doesn't want "to do anything to rush back and hurt myself." With a short week leading into a Saturday game, Thursday's practice is critical. I doubt we see a full practice from Jones and that's the only way we can be certain he'll be trusted to see a pre-injury workload from him this week.
***A.J. Green was limited on Wednesday. He's on track to increase practice participation and return to the field healthy this week. Still, he remains within the window of highest risk of aggravation and will need to avoid any late week setbacks.
***Adrian Peterson did not practice today and is listed with both knee and groin injuries. Though he may have been in near full cardiovascular condition, football ready condition is another issue entirely. It's no surprise Peterson has a cascade injury this week. With the Vikings hanging onto playoff aspirations by the thinnest of mathematical threads, Peterson may choose to shut himself down or limit his own workload.
***Jordan Reed's shoulder is clearly not healthy enough for him to play. While an admirable effort, Reed cannot block and cannot play through even minimal contact to the shoulder. He didn't practice Wednesday and is likely to be inactive this week. If he is cleared to play, there's no way he can be counted on to see more than limited snaps and targets.
***Melvin Gordon did not practice Wednesday. The Chargers have rested key offensive players in early week practices this season but it's more likely Gordon isn't yet recovered enough to practice rather than just resting. It's rare for a running back to return from an MCL sprain within 14 days and the Chargers will not want to risk a late season game and an unnecessary aggravation for a core player with a history of knee trouble.
***I'm watching Lamar Miller carefully through Friday. The Texans -- and Ian Rapoport -- minimized this injury today. But the mechanism was consistent with a mild high ankle sprain and the team was worried enough to have an MRI done after last week's game. If Miller returns to practice on Thursday, there's likely minimal concern. But if he's a DNP on Thursday, it's time to be concerned for his Week 16 availability.
***I'm also watching Tyler Eifert's practice participation carefully. I don't see an obvious concern from local observers, which would suggest a full Thursday practice and clearance to play. But back issues have already cost Eifert one game this season. If he misses Thursday's practice, he's trending toward a doubtful tag or worse.
***Matt Forte is having pain, numbness, or weakness around his shoulder -- 72 hours after his last known contact. It's likely he will be inactive this week.
THURSDAY NIGHT INJURY EXPECTATIONS
Here are the key offensive players listed on the practice participation or game status report for Thursday Night Football:
Jordan Matthews | Ankle | Questionable | Expected to Play
Practice Participation: Mon - Full | Tue - Full | Wed - Full
The Eagles are concerned enough to list Matthews questionable despite a full week of practice. Though not fully healthy, Matthews is expected to play and see his usual workload.
Darren Sproles | Concussion | Not Listed | Expected to Play
Practice Participation: Mon - Full | Tue - Full | Wed - Full
Sproles has been cleared to return to play.
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 | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Andrew Luck | Shoulder / Thumb | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Tom Brady | Thigh | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Derek Carr | Finger | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Cam Newton | Shoulder | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Ben Roethlisberger | Not Injury Related | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Trevor Siemian | Foot / Hip | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Tyrod Taylor | Groin | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Blake Bortles | Shoulder | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Jared Goff | Concussion | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Bryce Petty | Chest | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Ryan Tannehill | Knee | DNP | Inactive | |||
Running Backs
|
||||||
Player | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | ||||
LeSean McCoy | Knee | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Melvin Gordon | Hip / Knee | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Lamar Miller | Ankle | DNP | Game-time Decision | |||
Matt Forte | Knee / Shoulder | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Adrian Peterson | Knee / Groin | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Jeremy Hill | Knee | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Jonathan Stewart | Not Injury Related | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Frank Gore | Not Injury Related | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
James Starks | Concussion | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
DeAngelo Williams | Knee | Full | Likely to Return | |||
C.J. Prosise | Shoulder | DNP | Inactive | |||
Wide Receivers
|
||||||
Player | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | ||||
Julio Jones | Toe | Limited | Game-time Decision | |||
A.J. Green | Hamstring | Limited | Likely to Return | |||
Emmanuel Sanders | Not Injury Related | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Demaryius Thomas | Not Injury Related | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Michael Crabtree | Finger | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Amari Cooper | Shoulder | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Donte Moncrief | Hamstring | Limited | Likely to Return | |||
Brandon Marshall | Shoulder / Back | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Randall Cobb | Ankle | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Stefon Diggs | Hip | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Tyrell Williams | Shoulder | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Sammy Watkins | Foot | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Terrelle Pryor | Finger | Limited | Expected to Play / Limited | |||
Kelvin Benjamin | Back | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Kenny Britt | Shoulder | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Taylor Gabriel | Shoulder | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
John Brown | Illness | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Josh Bellamy | Shoulder | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Torrey Smith | Concussion | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Danny Amendola | Ankle | DNP | Inactive | |||
Tight Ends
|
||||||
Player | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | ||||
Jordan Reed | Shoulder | DNP | Game-time Decision | |||
Tyler Eifert | Back | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Greg Olsen | Elbow | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Martellus Bennett | Ankle | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Ladarius Green | Concussion | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Charles Clay | Knee | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
A.J. Derby | Concussion | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Ryan Griffin | Hamstring | Full | Expected to Play | |||
C.J. Fiedorowicz | Concussion | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Austin Hooper | Knee | DNP | 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.