KEY WEDNESDAY MEDIA UPDATES
***Kevin White is the latest mid-week casualty. He's been moved to injured reserve with a high-grade high ankle sprain and accompanying fibula fracture. Surgery is still being debated but should be considered likely. There's an outside chance White could be designated to return later this year. However, this is a minimum 8-10 week recovery -- assuming surgery is necessary -- and it's unlikely we'll see White until 2017.
***The Dez Bryant situation continues to be odd. After the first report of a tibial fracture that commonly needs 6+ weeks to rehab, last weekend's reports called Bryant's injury more of a bone bruise. That was more consistent with the initial day-to-day timetable provided by Jason Garrett. On Wednesday, Bryant wasn't practicing and there doesn't seem to be much optimism for him to be active this week. Two things come to mind here. First, once a player misses a week, it's that much easier for them to accept a multiple week treatment plan and absence. That may be part of what's happening here. Second, it's becoming clear that it will be difficult to trust any Bryant presumptive diagnosis to project availability. Practice participation will be key.
***Tyler Eifert would have had a legitimate shot at returning to the active roster this week. But a back injury -- which was referred to as a "setback" today -- will very likely keep him out this week and the tone of the beat writer reports is worrisome for a multiple week injury. Hopefully, we'll get more on Eifert soon.
***Latavius Murray has been immobilized in a walking boot most of the week and is doubtful to play this week.
***Thursday's participation report will be a critical data point in projecting whether Cam Newton will be available this week. If Newton isn't able to do anything in the first formal practice of the week, it's a worrisome sign for his Monday night availability. More on that in tomorrow's update.
***Arian Foster was back to a limited practice on Wednesday. It's going to take at least a week for Foster to return to playing shape and return to the active roster. However, it's notable that his practice participation note lists his injury as a hamstring now rather than the groin that has been reported for the past two weeks. It's not clear whether that's an error or an additional soft tissue concern.
THURSDAY NIGHT INJURY EXPECTATIONS
Here are the key offensive players listed on the game status report for Thursday Night Football:
Carson Palmer | Concussion | Declared Out
Practice Participation: Mon - DNP | Tue - DNP | Wed - DNP
It was never likely that Palmer would be cleared in time for a Thursday night road game. What we've heard from Bruce Arians this week sounds reassuring for a Week 6 return.
Jeremy Kerley | Ankle | Questionable | Expected to Play
Practice Participation: Mon - DNP | Tue - Limited | Wed - Limited
Beat writers expect Kerley to play. His mechanism of injury wasn't very worrisome and the consecutive practices are a good sign. I expect him to be active.
Vance McDonald | Hip | Questionable | Game-time Decision
Practice Participation: Mon - Limited | Tue - Limited | Wed - Limited
I have seen very little on McDonald's progress after he was inactive in Week 4. The practice participation report looks promising for him to make the active roster on Thursday night, but it's likely the 49ers will want to see him in warmups before making a final decision.
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.
Quarterbacks
|
||||||
Player | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | ||||
Cam Newton* | Concussion | MNF | Game-time Decision | |||
Jay Cutler | Thumb | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Trevor Siemian | Shoulder | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
Josh McCown | Shoulder | DNP | Expected Inactive | |||
Jacoby Brissett | Thumb | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Jimmy Garoppolo | Shoulder | Limited | Expected Inactive | |||
Tony Romo | Back | DNP | Inactive | |||
Running Backs
|
||||||
Player | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | ||||
LeGarrette Blount | Hip | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Matt Forte | Knee / Ribs | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Arian Foster | Hamstring | Limited | Likely Inactive | |||
Ryan Mathews | Ankle | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Latavius Murray | Toe | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Charles Sims* | Knee | MNF | Awaiting Information | |||
Jeremy Hill | Chest | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Doug Martin* | Hamstring | MNF | Inactive | |||
Jonathan Stewart* | Hamstring | MNF | Inactive | |||
Rashad Jennings | Thumb | Limited | Game-time Decision | |||
DeAngelo Williams | Not Injury Related | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Jeremy Langford | Ankle | DNP | Inactive | |||
Frank Gore | Chest | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Kenneth Dixon | Knee | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Dewayne Washington | Ankle | DNP | Inactive | |||
Lance Dunbar | Knee | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Ka'Deem Carey | Hamstring | Limited | Likely Inactive | |||
Wide Receivers
|
||||||
Player | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | ||||
Dez Bryant | Knee | DNP | Game-time Decision | |||
Brandon Marshall | Foot | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Marvin Jones | Foot | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Alshon Jeffery | Knee | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Demaryius Thomas | Hip | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Stefon Diggs | Groin | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Eric Decker | Shoulder | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Kevin White | Ankle | DNP | Inactive | |||
Eddie Royal | Calf | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Donte Moncrief | Shoulder | DNP | Inactive | |||
Corey Coleman | Hand | DNP | Inactive | |||
Mohamed Sanu | Shoulder | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Kenny Britt | Thigh | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Josh Doctson | Achilles | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Darrius Heyward-Bey | Shoulder | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Eli Rogers | Toe | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Braxton Miller | Hamstring | Limited | Likely Inactive | |||
Tight Ends
|
||||||
Player | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | ||||
Rob Gronkowski | Hamstring | Limited | Expected to Play / ? Limited | |||
Tyler Eifert | Ankle / Back | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Zach Ertz | Rib | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Zach Miller | Ribs | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Antonio Gates | Hamstring | Limited | Game-time Decision | |||
Kyle Rudolph | Clavicle / Rib | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Eric Ebron | Ankle / Knee | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Jared Cook | Ankle | DNP | Inactive | |||
Clive Walford | Knee | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Jordan Cameron | Concussion | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Charles Clay | Knee | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Larry Donnell | Concussion | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Virgil Green | Calf | Limited | Game-time Decision |
*Note: Monday night players with asterisk practice Thursday/Friday/Saturday