Players might be classified on the team’s final injury report of any given week as “questionable (Q),” “doubtful (D)” or “out.” Besides the obvious designation of a player being ruled out, “questionable” indicates a player is uncertain to play, while “doubtful” means a player is unlikely to play.
Since the NFL did away with the “probable” designation two years ago, players who are expected to play on Sunday (or Monday) are simply removed from the injury report by the reporting deadline (Friday evening for Sunday games, Saturday afternoon for Monday night games).
For the purposes of this injury-related game preview, players will be grouped by position. Below each player’s name, team, injured body part (as listed on the official NFL injury report), official game-status designation and game time (ET), the following elements are included: any known relevant details about the injury, the player’s involvement in practice during the week and any additional notes to provide context around the player’s status.
For anyone seeking more specific details about certain types of injuries, here is an illustrated injury glossary, which you also can find on the right side of the ESPN fantasy home page.
Also, please check out my “Answering the Bell” podcast in which we take a deeper dive into various medical topics with special guests, including experts in their respective fields, as well as athletes who have firsthand experience with various injuries or medical conditions. All episodes are archived here.
This week there are six teams on bye: the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals and Jacksonville Jaguars.
And now, on to the Sunday/Monday game preview:
Quarterbacks
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers, knee (off pregame injury report), 8:20 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Sprained left knee, Week 1
Practice report: Limited Wednesday; Full Thursday-Friday (Note: The Packers did not conduct practice on Friday, so the Friday report is an estimation.)
Notes: Rodgers already has established that he can play effectively through this injury and appears to have overcome the setback he experienced several weeks ago. For the foreseeable future, his practice reps will be limited at some point during the week in an effort to help his knee progress in the healing process. Meanwhile, he plays.
Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers, right shoulder (off pregame injury report), 1 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Added to injury report last week
Practice report: Limited Wednesday; Full Thursday-Friday
Notes: Newton confirmed that his shoulder is fine. The Panthers have established that they will limit his practice when necessary. As his removal from the pregame injury report indicates, he will play.
Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers, finger (left hand) (off pregame injury report), 1 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: fractured left index finger in Week 8
Practice report: DNP Wednesday; Full Thursday-Friday
Notes: Coach Mike Tomlin announced Tuesday that Roethlisberger suffered a fractured index finger in the Week 8 contest but played through the injury. Tomlin also said that he didn’t expect it to impact his quarterback’s availability for Week 9. To that end, after a day off Wednesday, Roethlisberger returned to full practice sessions on Thursday and Friday. He was sporting a glove on his left hand, and ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler reported that Roethlisberger has a splint that he might opt to wear on his fractured finger on Sunday. Whatever he decides, it’s clear he will play, and this should not present a huge impairment for him. After all, this is not on his throwing hand, and while there might be some occasional ball security concerns (particularly with handoffs to his left), receiving snaps and throwing should be fine.
Derek Anderson, Buffalo Bills, concussion (out), 1 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Injured in Week 8
Practice report: DNP Wednesday-Friday
Notes: Anderson stepped in on Monday night for the injured Josh Allen and played for almost the entire game … until a concussion forced him out. He has not practiced this week and, as of Friday, has remained in the concussion protocol. The Bills ruled Anderson out in an update to their injury report issued on Saturday afternoon.
Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills, right elbow (out), 1 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Right UCL sprain; injured in Week 6
Practice report: DNP Wednesday-Thursday; Limited Friday
Notes: While Allen already has been ruled out for this week’s game as he continues to recover from a sprained UCL, it’s worth noting he turned in his first (limited) practice on Friday. He might still be a couple of weeks away from returning, but this is a positive step.
Running backs
Kareem Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs, knee (off pregame injury report), 1 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Added to injury report this week
Practice report: Full Wednesday-Friday
Notes: Between the full practices and his removal from the pregame injury report, there are no major concerns for our consensus No. 2 running back this week.
Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints, illness (off pregame injury report), 4:25 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Added to injury report this week
Practice report: DNP Thursday; Full Friday
Notes: Kamara was dealing with an illness midweek, but it had resolved by Friday, and he was able to get through a full practice. He will play as expected on Sunday.
Melvin Gordon, Los Angeles Chargers, hamstring (Q), 4:05 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: First appeared on injury report two weeks ago; did not play Week 7
Practice report: Limited Wednesday-Thursday; Full Friday
Notes: The concern here is that a hamstring injury that seemed like something minor when it popped up late in Week 7 is significant enough to cause Gordon to be listed as questionable this week. In London, Gordon was a late addition to the game status report when the decision was made to hold him out of the game. It seemed a wise move at the time with the team’s bye to follow, but most thought it would not still be an issue two weeks later. Gordon did turn in a full practice on Friday, but coach Anthony Lynn would only say, “We’ll see,” when asked about his Sunday status. It sounds as if Gordon responds well to the work Friday and there are no setbacks, he will have a chance to play. The timing is not ideal given the late kickoff. Fantasy players should be sure to have a backup plan in place, just in case.
Adrian Peterson, Washington Redskins, shoulder (off pregame injury report), 1 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Injured in Week 3; shoulder injured in Week 5
Practice report: DNP Wednesday; Limited Thursday; Full Friday
Notes: Peterson continues to play through his injuries and continues to earn the respect of his coaches and teammates in the process. With Chris Thompson out and Kapri Bibbs banged up, the Washington backfield is thin.
Kenyan Drake, Miami Dolphins, shoulder (off pregame injury report), 1 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Added to injury report this week
Practice report: Full Wednesday-Friday
Notes: Drake had a nice outing in Week 8 but was added to the injury report afterward. Clearly, this is not a serious ailment, as he has been able to practice in full. He will play on Sunday.
Chris Carson, Seattle Seahawks, hip (Q), 4:05 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Added to injury report this week
Practice report: Limited Thursday-Friday
Notes: According to ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson, coach Pete Carroll described Carson’s injury as “a little groin thing he’s feeling.” No one likes to see late-week additions to the injury report, even if they are “little” things. Carroll said the Seahawks will see how Carson feels on game day. If he feels good, it sounds as if they will let him play, given that he got work in during the week. Fantasy players should prepare for the possibility he can’t go and have a backup plan, especially given the late kickoff.
Alex Collins, Baltimore Ravens, foot (Q), 1 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Added to injury report this week
Practice report: Limited Wednesday; DNP Thursday; Full Friday
Notes: Collins was able to ramp up to full practice by the end of the week, an encouraging sign for his status. More importantly, ESPN.com’s Jamison Hensley noted that Collins did a bit of Irish dancing before practice Friday. His foot had to be feeling pretty good. We love these types of clues. Barring a surprise, it sounds like Collins should be available.
Peyton Barber, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, ankle (off pregame injury report), 1 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Injured in Week 7
Practice report: Limited Wednesday; Full Thursday-Friday
Notes: Barber getting in two full practices and being removed from the pregame injury report indicates he is expected to play. With fellow running back Ronald Jones already ruled out with a hamstring injury, the Buccaneers need Barber on the field.
Chris Thompson, Washington Redskins, rib/knee (out), 1 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Injured in Week 5
Practice report: DNP Wednesday-Friday
Notes: Thompson returned to action last week after missing two games, but he suffered yet another rib injury in the process. He was unable to practice and will sit out this week.
Sony Michel, New England Patriots, knee (Q), 8:20 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: August procedure to address knee swelling; added back to injury report two weeks ago; new knee injury in Week 7
Practice report: Limited Wednesday-Friday
Notes: There are many encouraging signs when it comes to Michel’s progress since his Week 7 injury, including his ability to practice on a limited basis for three consecutive days after just returning to limited work for the first time last Saturday. Michel also says he’s feeling good. However, considering the context of his injury history as a whole, it seems unlikely the Patriots would put him back on the field prior to him practicing in full. There is too much of a future investment in the young, talented back to return him any sooner than necessary. With the game not kicking off until Sunday night, fantasy players are advised to make other plans.
Theo Riddick, Detroit Lions, knee (off pregame injury report), 1 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: First appeared on injury report two weeks ago; did not play weeks 7-8
Practice report: Limited Wednesday-Thursday; Full Friday
Notes: Riddick has not played since coming off the team’s Week 6 bye with an injury designation. That is about to change, as he has been removed from the pregame injury report heading into Sunday’s contest.
Kapri Bibbs, Washington Redskins, shoulder (Q), 1 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Injured in Week 8
Practice report: Limited Wednesday-Friday
Notes: Bibbs injured his shoulder during the Week 8 contest, which no doubt limited his productivity in that game. He was able to practice daily on a limited basis, suggesting he has a decent chance to play on Sunday. His shoulder is likely not at full health, even if he does suit up.
Royce Freeman, Denver Broncos, ankle (Q), 4:05 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: High ankle sprain; injured in Week 7; DNP Week 8
Practice report: DNP Wednesday-Thursday; Limited Friday
Notes: Freeman started to show signs of progress late last week, but his activity has still been very limited. He returned to limited practice on Friday of this week, leaving his status for Sunday very uncertain. According to ESPN.com’s Jeff Legwold, head coach Vance Joseph said the Broncos will take into consideration the team’s bye next week, but that if Freeman is ready, he will go. Well, that sounds like a wait-and-see situation. Fantasy players might not want to wait for a late kickoff on a player still overcoming a significant sprain.
Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings, hamstring (Q), 1 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Injured in Week 2 game; DNP Week 3, exited Week 4 game early; DNP weeks 5-8
Practice report: Limited Wednesday-Friday
Notes: It appeared Cook was headed for a rest that would extend through the team’s Week 10 bye, but his time off from playing helped him to the point that those plans could change. Cook returned to limited practice, saying he felt “great” from all the rest. But he acknowledged there was no way to replicate game conditions in practice, specifically the torque he experiences when being tackled while trying to run (which is how he was hurt in the first place). According to ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin, if Cook does play, it will be for a limited number of snaps, similar to the plan for Week 7 (which never unfolded, as Cook ended up being ruled out). Fantasy players might want to avoid this situation.
Wide receivers
DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans, foot (off pregame injury report), 4:05 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Injured in Week 2
Practice report: Limited Wednesday-Friday
Notes: Hopkins is a fixture on the injury report, but he has consistently played each week. This week, the Texans will definitely need him, as they lost Will Fuller V for the season to an ACL injury and Keke Coutee (hamstring) will sit this game out. Thankfully, the Texans have removed Hopkins from the pregame injury report, indicating he will be on the field to face the Broncos.
Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints, shoulder (off pregame injury report), 4:25 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Added to injury report this week
Practice report: Limited Wednesday; Full Thursday-Friday
Notes: The only day he took a few reps off was Wednesday, indicating there is nothing to worry about with Thomas. Off the pregame injury report, he will play Sunday.
Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs, groin (off pregame injury report), 1 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Injured in Week 8
Practice report: Limited Wednesday; DNP Thursday; Full Friday
Notes: Hill exited last week’s game late with a groin injury, calling into question his status for this Sunday. After practicing in full on Wednesday, his absence Thursday raised eyebrows. His return to a full session Friday combined with his removal from the pregame injury report likely indicates to fantasy players and Chiefs fans that he will be able to go.
Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, knee (off pregame injury report), 1 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Injured in Week 8
Practice report: DNP Wednesday; Limited Thursday; Full Friday
Notes: Evans was injured late in the Week 8 game, but it clearly wasn’t serious. Evans was back in limited practice Thursday and without restrictions on Friday. His removal from the pregame injury report further cements his status for Sunday.
Stefon Diggs, Minnesota Vikings, rib (Q), 1 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Injured in Week 8
Practice report: DNP Wednesday-Friday
Notes: Diggs suffered a rib injury in Week 8 but managed to finish out the game. It is often the case that rib injuries feel worse over the subsequent 24 to 48 hours, and Diggs’ nonparticipation in practice all week reflects the seriousness of the injury. Although he remained upbeat when speaking with reporters this week, it is a different matter when trying to run (when breathing hard can exacerbate rib pain as the rib cage moves), reach, twist and, of course, during contact. On Saturday, the Vikings promoted practice squad wide receiver Chad Beebe to the active roster, a sign that Diggs’ status is on the lower end of questionable. Fantasy players should make alternative plans.
Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams, knee (off pregame injury report), 4:25 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Injured in Week 6; DNP Week 7-8
Practice report: Limited Wednesday-Thursday; Full Friday
Notes: Kupp suffered an MCL sprain in Week 6, the result of a horse-collar tackle. He missed Weeks 7 and 8 but was actually close to being able to play last Sunday. Given that it is only the midpoint of the season, the extra week no doubt benefited him, and he comes into this week’s matchup in New Orleans with no question marks.
Julian Edelman, New England Patriots, ankle/illness (Q), 8:20 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Added to injury report this week
Practice report: DNP Wednesday, Thursday; Limited Friday
Notes: The illness was improved enough by Thursday to disappear from next to Edelman’s name, but his ankle issue warranted one more day off. He returned to limited practice Friday, and he should be fine to take the field Sunday night.
Josh Gordon, New England Patriots, hamstring (Q), 8:20 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Hamstring soreness in preseason; appeared on first practice injury report with Patriots
Practice report: Limited Wednesday-Friday
Notes: Gordon’s practice pattern has become predictable. The Patriots are managing him carefully as he continues to increase his role, and so far, he has had no setbacks. If something is working, why change it? Expect Gordon on the field Sunday night.
Doug Baldwin, Seattle Seahawks, knee (off pregame injury report), 4:05 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Added back to injury report this week
Practice report: Limited Wednesday; Full Thursday-Friday
Notes: Despite his reappearance on the injury report, there is no reason to worry about Baldwin’s status. After all, it was he who said in the preseason that he would need to manage his knee condition throughout the regular season — and that was before he sprained the MCL in his opposite knee. His removal from the pregame injury report indicates he is expected to play.
Corey Davis, Tennessee Titans, hamstring (off pregame injury report), Monday night:
Additional injury details: Added to injury report this week
Practice report: Limited Thursday-Friday; Full Saturday
Notes: Coming off a bye, it’s always troublesome to see a player with a new injury label. Davis has a history of hamstring issues, so this might have been mostly proactive in nature, since he was removed from the pregame injury report on Saturday. Expect him to take the field Monday night.
Allen Robinson, Chicago Bears, groin (Q), 1 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Added to injury report two weeks ago
Practice report: DNP Wednesday-Thursday; Limited Friday
Notes: It’s worth noting that Robinson followed the same practice routine last week before he was declared inactive on Sunday. While he is one week further removed from the injury now, his very limited practice does not suggest he is close to full health. The questionable tag leaves the door open for Robinson to play, but fantasy managers will need to double-check the inactives.
Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers, hamstring (Q), 8:20 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Added to the injury report five weeks ago
Practice report: Limited Wednesday-Thursday; Full Friday (Note: The Packers did not conduct practice on Friday, so the Friday report is an estimation.)
Notes: Cobb was able to return to action in Week 7, but it’s worth noting that he logged just under half of the team’s offensive snaps. Given that the Packers conduct a Saturday practice, they might have kept his designation at questionable to see how he responded to activity late in the week. The expectation is that he will take the field (while his teammate Geronimo Allison appears unlikely to play), but with this being a Sunday night game, fantasy players are advised to have a backup ready, just in case.
Mohamed Sanu, Atlanta Falcons, hip (off pregame injury report), 1 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Injured in Week 4; aggravated in Week 6
Practice report: Limited Wednesday; DNP Thursday; Limited Friday
Notes: Sanu has been on the injury report for multiple weeks with this injury, but he aggravated it just a couple of weeks after the first instance. To date, he has not missed a game, and after clearing the pregame injury report, it appears that trend will continue.
Keke Coutee, Houston Texans, hamstring (out), 4:05 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Original injury in preseason; appeared on injury report again in Week 5
Practice report: Limited Wednesday-Friday
Notes: It appeared earlier in the week as if Coutee had a chance to play, but on Saturday, he was downgraded to out when he did not travel with the team to Denver. The Texans traded for Demaryius Thomas this week, so the receiving corps will look slightly different with Thomas alongside DeAndre Hopkins, as Coutee and Will Fuller V are out.
Geronimo Allison, Green Bay Packers, hamstring/groin (D), 8:20 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Added “groin” to the injury report Thursday
Practice report: Limited Wednesday-Thursday; DNP Friday (Note: The Packers did not conduct practice on Friday so the Friday report is an estimation.)
Notes: Allison returned from a hamstring injury in Week 8, but he sustained a groin injury in Thursday’s practice that has him listed as doubtful heading into Sunday night’s game. The tag is rarely used, and fantasy players should expect that he sits this one out.
Kenny Stills, Miami Dolphins, groin (Q), 1 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Injured in Week 7; DNP Week 8
Practice report: DNP Wednesday-Thursday; Limited Friday
Notes: Stills was injured late in the Week 7 game, and with the Dolphins playing again just four days later, he never really had a chance to recover. This week didn’t appear promising at first, but Stills returned for a limited session and was running routes on Friday. His status will come down to a game-time decision, and the Dolphins might opt to play it cautiously. Thankfully, this is an early game, but fantasy players will want to have insurance ready.
Antonio Callaway, Cleveland Browns, ankle (Q), 1 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Added to injury report Thursday
Practice report: Limited Thursday; DNP Friday
Notes: Callaway injured his ankle in practice Thursday and did not practice at all Friday. The recent injury and his questionable designation indicate his status is uncertain. Even if he does suit up, the injury is fresh enough that it could potentially limit him.
Robby Anderson, New York Jets, ankle (Q), 1 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: First appeared on injury report for ankle last week
Practice report: DNP Wednesday-Thursday; Limited Friday
Notes: Anderson sat out Week 8 with an ankle injury, and when he didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday, it looked as if he might do so again. After returning to a limited session on Friday though, Anderson got the questionable designation, and coach Todd Bowles said he will be a game-time decision, along with fellow receiver Quincy Enunwa.
Quincy Enunwa, New York Jets, ankle (Q), 1 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Injured in Week 6
Practice report: DNP Wednesday-Thursday; Limited Friday
Notes: Enunwa missed the past two games and a chunk of a third with the injury suffered back in mid-October. He appeared in line to miss another, but he returned for a limited session Friday and was then designated as questionable. According to Bowles, Enunwa will be a game-time decision.
Paul Richardson, Washington Redskins, shoulder/knee (Q), 1 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Injured shoulder (AC joint) Week 1; injured knee in Week 5
Practice report: DNP Wednesday; Limited Thursday-Friday
Notes: Richardson managed to play last week, and he likely will do so again. His shoulder is not fully healthy, but he is toughing it out. Despite only two receptions in Week 8, Richardson was on the field for a good portion of the team’s offensive snaps.
Tight ends
Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs, shoulder, (off pregame injury report), 1 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Added to injury report this week
Practice report: Full Wednesday-Friday
Notes: Kelce didn’t even miss any practice reps this week despite being listed on the injury report. He comes in as the consensus No. 1 tight end in our fantasy rankings this week, so we’re not worried either.
Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots, ankle/back (Q), 8:20 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Added to injury report four weeks ago; back added in Week 7
Practice report: Limited Wednesday; DNP Thursday; Limited Friday
Notes: After not playing in Week 7 when his back flared up late in the week, Gronkowski returned to action in Week 8. He played the majority of offensive snaps, and he did manage three catches for 43 yards, but his presence did not dominate the field. This week, he remained limited in the practices in which he did participate, but more noteworthy perhaps is his absence from the team’s full pad practice on Thursday. He heads into Sunday night’s game as questionable, and given his ups and downs over the past two weeks, it seems as if there is legitimate reason for fantasy players to consider other options.
Jimmy Graham, Green Bay Packers, knee (off pregame injury report), 8:20 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: First appeared on injury report five weeks ago
Practice report: Limited Wednesday-Thursday; Full Friday (Note: The Packers did not conduct practice Friday, so the Friday report is an estimation.)
Notes: Graham is an automatic on the injury report, and so far, he also is an automatic to suit up on Sunday. This should continue on Sunday, as Graham has been removed from the pregame injury report.
Greg Olsen, Carolina Panthers, foot (off pregame injury report), 1 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Refractured foot in Week 1
Practice report: Limited Wednesday; Full Thursday-Friday
Notes: Nothing to see here. Coach Ron Rivera already has stated that the “new normal” for Olsen will be limited practice reps during the week. Meanwhile, he continues to yield productivity in the red zone, with a touchdown in each of the past two games.
David Njoku, Cleveland Browns, knee (off pregame injury report), 1 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: First appeared on injury report two weeks ago
Practice report: Limited Wednesday-Thursday; Full Friday
Notes: Njoku played last week, but you wouldn’t know it from looking at the statistical report. He went without a target in Week 8, a surprise considering his productivity form the previous two weeks, including a touchdown in each of them. There have been a lot of changes in Cleveland this week; here’s to hoping that one more will include a role for Njoku on Sunday against the Chiefs.
Jordan Reed, Washington Redskins, neck (off pregame injury report), 1 p.m. ET
Additional injury details: Added to injury report this week
Practice report: Limited Wednesday; Full Thursday-Friday
Notes: Not to panic. Reed has managed to stay off the injury report for the first half of the season. He makes an appearance this week, but the issue was a minor one, as he was able to practice fully for two consecutive days. His removal from the pregame injury report confirms his availability for Sunday.
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