As fantasy owners everywhere scramble to set their lineups for Sunday's games, the latest injury reports certainly will influence starts and sits, not to mention free-agent pickups. On Thursday, my first blog of the NFL season, I offered some injury guidelines to help fantasy owners assess the impact of various players' injuries. And because a number of folks have inquired about the meaning of injury report designations, today we take a look at the injury reports themselves.
The NFL requires teams to submit injury reports several times a week that identify the affected body parts. Early in the week, these reports indicate whether a player is not practicing, is limited or is a full participant in practice. On Fridays, all players on the injury report are assigned one of the following designations by their teams: probable, questionable, doubtful or out. The explanation for each designation is as follows.
Out: This is the easy one; the guy definitely won't play Sunday. As painful as it might be to see this designation next to a player on your fantasy roster, at least you know before the game that he'll sit out, and you can plan accordingly.
Probable (P): This designation indicates that a player has a greater than 50 percent chance of playing. Most players listed here are expected to play, barring a setback between the Friday injury report and kickoff.
Questionable (Q): This is the fantasy owner's most dreaded player designation. It means a player's status is on the fence; there is a 50-50 chance he'll be on the field come game time. Whether a player ends up active often comes down to a game-time decision based on how he performs during warm-ups, so it is important for fantasy owners to check status reports leading up to the game.
Doubtful (D): The doubtful designation means a player has a less than 25 percent chance of playing that week. A guy labeled as doubtful rarely end up playing unless he experiences a major turnaround before game time. Fantasy owners who need to make roster adjustments before game time can feel fairly confident about sitting a player listed as doubtful.
Each week in the Saturday blog, we will run down a list by position of key fantasy players who appear in the Friday injury report. We'll note their status and any relevant developments or insight. At the end of the blog, key fantasy players listed Friday as "out" for that week's games will appear as a group. Good luck in Week 1, everyone! May your players stay healthy and win for you.
Quarterbacks:
Tom Brady, New England Patriots, (P):
In Thursday's blog, I revisited Brady's comeback from knee surgery and his preseason shoulder scare. Consider all those things a part of his past. He won't play until Monday night, but there is no reason to be concerned about his readiness to roll.
Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs, (Q):
Cassel remained limited in practice throughout the week and is still a game-time decision for Sunday. As I outlined Thursday, Cassel's injury (sprained left MCL) is still in the healing phase, and there has not been enough progress to suggest he's really ready to play. Need I mention that to make matters worse, the Chiefs are facing the Ravens in their season opener? All signs point to Cassel's resting this week, but even if he plays, far better fantasy options are out there.
Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals, (P):
Last season it was his right elbow, this season it's his left ankle. Palmer has made enough progress in the past week to prove he is ready to play. Given his probable designation, it appears fantasy owners can be confident he will. Bear in mind that although Palmer declared his ankle 100 percent healthy, he has not been truly tested in a game situation for nearly a year (not counting the 2009 preseason opener, which he left early because of the ankle injury). It remains to be seen how mobile he'll be and how much his offensive line will protect him, but for now it's a good sign that he'll be on the field.
Kyle Orton, Denver Broncos, (Q):
Although Orton is listed as questionable, it seems as if the Broncos are preparing for him to be under center. On Thursday I hinted that how well his stitched finger allowed him to throw would be key in determining whether he could play Sunday. It appears he's passed enough tests to get the keys to the car, as long as there are no setbacks before game time. Bear in mind that Orton may be challenged in throwing the longer ball as a result of his still-healing wound, but the Broncos may well modify their game plan to accommodate him. Be sure to check pregame inactive reports, but right now, it looks as though Orton will start.
Matt Schaub, Houston Texans (P):
Schaub, who has been bitten by the injury bug a fair amount in his career as the Texans' starter, fell victim again in the preseason. Fortunately for Schaub and the Texans, the left ankle sprain he sustained two weeks ago has progressed nicely, and he is set to start Sunday. He was a full participant in practice throughout the week, and there should be no major concerns heading into the Week 1 game.
Marc Bulger, St. Louis Rams (P):
Bulger broke his pinkie finger on his throwing hand in mid-August and has been working to return for Week 1. Fortunately for him, it was a nondisplaced fracture (meaning the bony ends remained in alignment) and he did not need surgery, but that doesn't mean he won't still have some pain. Earlier this week, Bulger began taking snaps from center, potentially one of the toughest challenges after that injury. He's expected to play but may occasionally struggle with ball control, and he has to hope that finger does not come into contact with a helmet. If it does, he could have a short day.
Running backs:
Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars, (not on report):
Jones-Drew is not on the injury report, although there were worries in fantasyland that he might be. As mentioned Thursday, Jones-Drew was recovering from a shin contusion that he suffered during the Jaguars' final preseason game. He has to be licking his chops given his stellar history against the Indianapolis Colts and knowing they will be without run-defender extraordinaire Bob Sanders.
Jonathan Stewart, Carolina Panthers, (not on report):
The nagging Achilles injury that kept Jonathan Stewart out of practice and out of games for virtually the entire preseason was nowhere to be seen on the injury report. Stewart is expected to play in Week 1, but a word of caution to fantasy owners: Given the chronic nature of his condition, and given that he has missed so much time already, it would only make sense that the Panthers will limit his touches this week. They will want to see how he performs and how his Achilles responds. If his symptoms can remain under control, the Panthers likely will increase his workload as the season progresses, but temper expectations for now.
Knowshon Moreno, Denver Broncos, (Q):
Moreno, like Pierre Thomas, has been working his way back from a sprained MCL he suffered during the preseason. Moreno seemed to be ahead of Thomas in his rehab work, doing resisted lateral drills more than a week ago and practicing with the team on a limited basis this week. He says he feels good, but the team does not want to push him too early. He will be a game-time decision, and it sounds as though his playing time will be limited if he does go.
Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eagles, (P):
My outlook on Westbrook is essentially unchanged since I wrote about him in our draft kit. He will play and play well, but he will play less often. It would not be a surprise if he was rusty this week, but veteran that he is, that won't last long. Expect the Eagles to spell him frequently while giving opportunities to rookie LeSean McCoy as part of an effort to protect Westbrook's postsurgical knee and ankle for the long haul. Still dynamic, still a threat, just less often.
Wide receivers:
Anquan Boldin, Arizona Cardinals, (Q):
Two weeks ago, the Cardinals gave the impression that Boldin's hamstring strain was not a concern to limit him in Week 1. Things sound quite different now that Boldin has not been able to fully practice with the team since late August. He practiced on a limited basis Friday but is still not 100 percent, and this is not his first hamstring strain. Boldin missed games as recently as last season with a hamstring injury, and everyone knows the risk of returning too soon is even more missed time. He will be a game-time decision, but fantasy owners should know he is not at his best.
Steve Breaston, Arizona Cardinals, (P):
Given Boldin's questionable status, Breaston's fantasy value rises a notch. Breaston himself is coming off a knee injury but has been a full participant in practice all week, showing he is ready to go. Breaston also suffered a sprained posterior cruciate ligament and a bone bruise in mid-August. If that had happened in midseason, he might've missed four to six weeks. Some athletes struggle with residual instability after that injury even once they return, especially if they are pushing to get back for the team in midseason. Given that Breaston has been able to progress at his own pace during the past month, he could do quite well upon his return. Although he normally handles special-teams duties, expect that to be offloaded some this week if he has to step up for Boldin.
Kevin Walter, Houston Texans, (Q):
Walter is yet another receiver with yet another hamstring strain. He is listed as questionable and will test the leg in pregame warm-ups to determine whether he is ready to go. Walter did not practice all week, but his hamstring reportedly is improving. According to the Texans' official Web site, coach Gary Kubiak indicated that Walter would not have to practice before playing Sunday. The Texans' biggest concern is a setback, so this is another situation where a player may be active but limited.
Bernard Berrian, Minnesota Vikings, (Q):
Is there a theme here? Berrian, too, has seen limited practice all week because of a hamstring strain, and he, too, will be a game-time decision. Berrian suffered his injury nearly a month ago, and it sounds as if he is improving, but the dreaded potential setback may keep him out of action.
Antonio Bryant, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, (P):
For a change of pace, we have a receiver without a hamstring injury. Bryant is returning from surgery to address a torn meniscus, and his rehab has progressed nicely. Bryant was able to practice fully both Wednesday and Friday (with a little recovery time thrown in for protection on Thursday) and is expected to play.
Out: This space is intended for a list of key fantasy players, not including those who have been moved to injured reserve status, who are officially listed as "out" for the upcoming game.
Pierre Thomas, RB, New Orleans Saints: Although this is a disappointment for fantasy owners, it can't come as a complete surprise. Thomas has been rehabbing a sprained MCL and has not been able to practice with the team all week.
Bob Sanders, S, Indianapolis Colts: Sanders has had a history of knee problems, and they continue to linger into this season. His absence should make it easier for Jaguars star Maurice Jones-Drew to have a good day.
Aaron Ross, CB, New York Giants: Just as hamstring strains make it difficult for receivers to explode and get up in the air, they make it equally problematic for defensive backs. The hope is that Ross will miss just one week.
Chaz Schilens, WR, Oakland Raiders: Schilens was considered Oakland's No. 1 wideout during camp until he broke his foot. He is expected to miss the first two weeks, and his progress will dictate his return from there. Until then, it would not be a surprise if Raiders tight end Zach Miller is the top receiving threat.
See you at the injury chats (Tuesday 11 a.m.-noon, Friday 11 a.m.-noon and Sunday pregame 10-10:30 a.m. ET). Be sure to check out Fantasy Football Now on Sundays at ESPN.com from 11:30 a.m. ET to kickoff for last-minute inactives, rankings and more!
Stephania Bell
