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Injuries are the bane of a fantasy football owner’s existence. The NFL does such an amazingly poor job at reporting and acknowledging injuries and thus it makes it incredibly difficult to find useful information.
But on Friday’s the NFL has an obligation to report the true status of each player on every roster. It’s the closest we’ll get to knowing who is in or out for this week in the NFL. So the thing to do is to use this information along with the daily practice reports to sort out who is likely to play and sit this week. Only after the status reports come out on Friday does the rest of the week’s activity really make sense.
So, every Friday I will be sending you reports of all at risk players across the NFL. I’ll include the players who are definitely OUT for the week as well as those who are definitely playing. So the focus will be on the questionable players for the week. These reports will tell you whether or not you can relax or wait for the NFL inactive reports on Sunday morning.
Let’s take a look at the Week 3 Practice Reports:
IN
, WR, Bills – Ribs
A.J. Green, WR, Bengals – Toe
Toby Gerhart, RB, Jaguars – Foot
Allen Hurns, WR, Jaguars – Ankle
Cecil Shorts, WR, Jaguars – Hamstring
Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots – Knee
Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, Vikings – Chest
C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE, Texans – Foot
Garrett Graham, TE, Texans – Ankle
Lance Moore, WR, Steelers - Groin
OUT
, RB, Vikings - Personal
Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Cardinals– Personal
Ryan Mathews, RB, Chargers – Knee
Marvin Jones, WR, Bengals – Foot
Ben Tate, RB, Browns – Knee
Marqise Lee, WR, Jaguars – Hamstring
Marcedes Lewis, TE, Jaguars – Knee
Mark Ingram, RB, Saints – Hand
Jadeveon Clowney, LB, Texans – Knee
Odell Beckham Jr., WR, Giants – Hamstring
Robert Griffin III, QB, Redskins – Ankle
Jordan Reed, TE, Redskins – Hamstring
De’Anthony Thomas, RB, Chiefs – Hamstring
Knowshon Moreno, RB, Dolphins – Elbow
Dri Archer, RB, Steelers - Ankle
QUESTIONABLE
, WR, Chargers – Groin
It’s never good when a player comes down with a late week injury as Allen did on Thursday. He made it through a limited practice on both Thursday and Friday and those closest to the Chargers do not appear very worried about his status for Sunday.
Bernard Pierce, RB, Ravens – Thigh
Another mid-week injury that popped up and this one is much more of a concern because of Pierce’s injury history. He has a habit of lingering injuries that have really cost him some great opportunities. Pierce left practice early on Thursday and only got a limited session in on Friday. He will be a true game-time decision on Sunday.
Jordan Cameron, TE, Browns – Shoulder
Cameron missed week two after barely practicing a week ago. This week he got in three limited sessions culminating in running routes during the Friday session. It appears as though he will be active for the Browns this week against the Ravens.
Jamaal Charles, RB, Chiefs – Ankle
Early in the week it appeared as though Charles would miss multiple weeks with a high ankle sprain suffered in last weeks game against the Broncos. He missed Wednesday practice but stunned everybody by turning up on Thursday for a limited session. Charles really didn’t do much either day at practice and it stands to reason that his presence was more Andy Reid playing games with the Miami Dolphins coaching staff. I would say that it is a long shot for Jamaal Charles to play this week.
, RB, Texans – Hamstring
This is why I didn’t draft Foster in any of my leagues this year. He is at the age and experience level where he doesn’t believe that he has to practice anymore which of course is entirely incorrect. These hamstrings are a never ending issue and until Foster is actually deemed active on Sunday, you had better look for other options.
DeSean Jackson, WR, Redskins – Shoulder
There is no way that D-Jax is going to miss this game against his former team in Philadelphia this week. Jackson didn’t practice on Wednesday or Thursday but returned on a limited basis on Friday. If it were any other matchup I would say that D-Jax is 50/50 at BEST to play this week but he will do whatever he can to be on the field this week.
Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Raiders – Hand
MJD says that he will do “everything in his power to play against the Patriots this week. But he won’t. MJD practiced on Friday but didn’t take any handoffs in the Raiders week three walkthrough.
Rod Streater, WR, Raiders – Hip
Streater hadn’t stepped on the field since leaving the Raiders week two loss to the Texans with a hip injury until Friday when he was present for the Raiders week thee walk-through. He appears to be a true game-time decision this week.
Dez Bryant, WR, Cowboys – Shoulder
Bryant missed practice on Wednesday but returned in a limited fashion on both Thursday and Friday. There is no way that Dez Bryant misses this game.
, TE, 49ers – Ankle
Davis is listed as “questionable” this week despite not practicing whatsoever. He is an extreme long shot to play against the Cardinals in week three due to a severe lower leg sprain. With Vance McDonald also questionable it looks like third string TE Derek Carrier could draw the very favorable start against the Arizona Cardinals this week.
Shaun Hill, QB, Rams – Thigh
Hill simply doesn’t appear to want to play. He left week one with what was called a ‘mild soft tissue strain” and has barely practiced since. There is just no heart here and thus I don’t think he’ll play. Austin Davis draws another start for the Rams this week.
Charles Clay, TE, Dolphins – Knee
Clay originally hurt his knee back in June and just hasn’t been the same since. This week he only practiced on a limit
ed basis and is a huge question mark for Sunday. It is obvious that Clay is trending in the wrong direction and will eventually have to get that knee checked out.
DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers – Thigh
Williams didn’t practice on Wednesday and Thursday but returned to a limited session on Friday. Head coach Ron Rivera has said all week long that he expects Williams to be a go for Sunday Night Football against the Pittsburgh Steelers.