KEY WEDNESDAY MEDIA UPDATES
***I doubt Ben Roethlisberger will be healthy this week. I also have little doubt he'll play. There's was little chance he was missing a division game against Baltimore unless the medical staff refused to clear him. There's risk here and still a chance of a late-week setback but I'm marking Roethlisberger as "expected to play."
***The Bills play Monday night and won't officially report practice participation until Thursday but I don't see much optimism in Buffalo about LeSean McCoy. Rex Ryan said McCoy was "progressing" earlier in the week and was "hopeful" he'd be able to practice. I still believe the Week 10 bye week looms large here. McCoy will have to convince the coaches, medical staff, and himself he's not risking another setback by playing this week rather than taking another two weeks to rehab and recover.
***The Chiefs provided no details on Spencer Ware and his progress in the return-to-play protocol on Wednesday. Given the odd manner in which the Alex Smith situation has been handled -- multiple denials of a concussion diagnosis, a visit to the independent neurologist, the decision to use return-to-play protocol anyway, then the very early rule-out this week -- it's hard to know how to gauge the odds of Ware playing. Check back after tomorrow's practice report.
***Travis Benjamin has a mid-grade PCL sprain. There's no consensus on how to treat PCL injuries among NFL orthopedic staffs, but surgery is usually reserved for those with unstable knees. Mid-grade injuries can be tricky, however, with some players rehabbing quickly and successfully and others struggling for some time. Benjamin will reportedly avoid surgery and continue to rehab. Although he's played through the injury so far, the Chargers may elect to rest Benjamin. If Benjamin sits this week, it's possible he'll continue to rest through San Diego's Week 11 bye. With multiple rehab possibilities available, this week's practice participation will give us the best indication of the Chargers' plans.
***Quick hitters from today's practice report: Antonio Brown was on the practice report with his quad injury but practicing fully and should be ready to play. T.Y. Hilton would not commit to playing this week after missing practice today and his status likely depends on how he progresses over the next 48 hours. DeMarco Murray was limited on Wednesday but is expected to play. Devontae Booker is sore but practicing and expected to play. Carlos Hyde is still in a no-contact jersey but tentatively expected to play.
THURSDAY NIGHT INJURY EXPECTATIONS
Here are the key offensive players listed on the practice participation or game status report for Thursday Night Football:
Julio Jones | knee | NOT LISTED | EXPECTED TO PLAY
Practice Participation: Mon - Limited | Tue - Limited | Wed - Full
Jones has frequently dealt with minor injuries during games and had limited practice time during the week. Each time he's been able to fully practice during the team's last workout of the week, he's played effectively and missed minimal snaps during the following week. The short week is a concern, but the full Wednesday practice is reassuring. Expect Jones to see his usual workload this week.
Doug Martin | Hamstring | Declared Out
Practice Participation: Mon - DNP | Tue - DNP | Wed - DNP
Tevin Coleman | Hamstring | Declared Out
Practice Participation: Mon - DNP | Tue - DNP | Wed - DNP
The Falcons have elected to rest Coleman through the short week. He could return to practice next week.
Jacquizz Rodgers | Foot | Declared Out
Practice Participation: Mon - DNP | 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
|
||||||
Player | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | ||||
Ben Roethlisberger | Knee | Limited | Expected to Play / Limited | |||
*Russell Wilson | Knee / Ankle / Pectoral | *MNF | Expected to Play | |||
Alex Smith | Head / Ear | Limited | Inactive | |||
Trevor Siemian | Shoulder | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Cody Kessler | Concussion | Full | Likely Active | |||
Tony Romo | Back | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Running Backs
|
||||||
Player | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | ||||
*LeSean McCoy | Hamstring | *MNF | Game-time Decision | |||
DeMarco Murray | Foot | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Spencer Ware | Concussion | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
Matt Forte | Knee | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Devontae Booker | Shoulder | Limited | Expected to Play / ? Limited | |||
Jonathan Stewart | Not Injury Related | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Carlos Hyde | Shoulder | Limited | Awaiting Information / ? Limited | |||
Frank Gore | Not Injury Related | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Theo Riddick | Ankle | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
*Mike Gillislee | Foot | *MNF | Expected to Play | |||
Jerick McKinnon | Ankle | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Thomas Rawls | Fibula | MNF | Inactive | |||
Ryan Mathews | Tooth | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Bobby Rainey | Calf | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
DeAngelo Williams | Knee | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
James Starks | Knee | DNP | Inactive | |||
Lance Dunbar | Knee | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Wide Receivers
|
||||||
Player | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | ||||
Antonio Brown | Quad | Full | Expected to Play | |||
T.Y. Hilton | Hamstring | DNP | Game-time Decision | |||
Amari Cooper | Back | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Odell Beckham | Hip | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Brandon Marshall | Foot | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Dez Bryant | Knee / Back | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Randall Cobb | Hamstring | Limited | Game-time Decision | |||
Terrelle Pryor | Hamstring | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
Marvin Jones | Foot | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Tyrell Williams | Knee | DNP | Expected to Play | |||
Quincy Enunwa | Ankle / Knee | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Travis Benjamin | Knee | DNP | Game-time Decision | |||
Steve Smith | Ankle | DNP | Likely Inactive | |||
Ty Montgomery | Illness | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
Corey Coleman | Hand | Limited | Expected to Play | |||
DeVante Parker | Hamstring | Full | Expected to Play | |||
*Tyler Lockett | Knee | *MNF | Expected to Play | |||
*Marquise Goodwin | Concussion | *MNF | Awaiting Information | |||
Markus Wheaton | Shoulder | Full | Expected to Play | |||
Tight Ends
|
||||||
Player | Injury | Practice Participation | Game Status | FBGs Expects | ||
Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | ||||
*Jimmy Graham | Knee | *MNF | Expected to Play | |||
Dwayne Allen | Ankle | Limited | Awaiting Information | |||
Julius Thomas | Ankle | DNP | Likely to Play | |||
Hunter Henry | Knee | DNP | Awaiting Information | |||
*Charles Clay | Knee | *MNF | Expected to Play | |||
Jared Cook | Ankle | DNP | Inactive | |||
Jordan Cameron | Concussion | 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.