Understanding the NFL’s Injury Report

(according to Dr. Bramel – Footballguys OG)

The injury report released by the NFL consists of two reports. The first is the Practice Participation report, which lists which injured players have practiced and their level of participation. It also includes players who rested or missed practice due to non-injury related reasons. The second is the game status report, which shows the probability that a player will play, i.e. doubtful, questionable, out. Wednesday for Thursday games, Saturday for Monday games). In this post I will include the game status list and my expectations of their likelihood to play.

If you read this article on Saturday, make sure Check back on Sunday morning as more updates will trickle in over the next 24 hours.

Current status of players with a serious injury

Decision on match day

Trending questionable (probably inactive)

Trending Likely (expected to play)

Ruled out

* Key:

Player | Injury | Game status list | Playing expectation

Sunday 1:00 PM EST Games

WR Tee HigginsCincinnati | Quadriceps | Doubtful | Project Inactive

Tee Higgins was a late addition to the injury report, making his first appearance on Friday with a quadriceps injury. As I write this, it is still unclear whether Higgins suffered a quadriceps strain contusion (the two most common injuries).

Quadriceps strains can be more restrictive and often result in more missed games – 2.1 on average. Bruises, Howeverare painful but can be passed on.

If Higgins suffers a soft tissue strain, his chances of playing at full strength on Sunday, if at all, are slim. Add to that the fact that Higgins was injured two days before game day, and those odds are even lower. Unless we know more before kickoff, I am not optimistic Higgins will play.

Update: According to ESPN’s Dan Draziano, there is “a real chance” Tee Higgins will sit Sunday.

RB Travis Etienne Jr.Jacksonville | Hamstring | Doubtful | 50/50

Travis Etienne Jr. was limited all week due to the same hamstring injury that kept him out of Week 7. Since he looked close to playing last week, you might assume he should be on track to play in Week 8. As it stands, Etienne is a real game-time decision.

Even if Etienne does well, I have little confidence in starting him this week. He was quite disappointing when healthy, and historically, RBs experienced a 20% decline in fantasy production. Tank Bigsby is on the rise and thinks he can eat up Etienne’s workload anyway. It all points to a dark outcome I would prefer to stay on my bench.

Update: Travis Etienne Jr. is a gamble to play in Week 8 according to Ian Rapoport.

Photos provided by Imagn Images