ould play. Fantasy owners will want to check pregame inactives, but this, thankfully, is an early game against the Raiders.Charles Clay, Buffalo Bills, knee,

Welcome to Week 7! There are just two teams on bye this week: the Carolina Panthers and the Dallas Cowboys. The Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears both managed to field teams Thursday night despite numerous injuries ... and somehow each team lost more players to the injury bug that game. The remaining Week 7 matchups take place Sunday and Monday, including the New York Giants and the Los Angeles Rams traveling across the pond for a matchup in London.Injury concerns regarding players heading into the Sunday and Monday games can be critical. Each Saturday, this entry will be dedicated to each player who appears on the official weekly NFL game status injury report and how his status may impact fantasy teams.For those who may be new to this article: Injury reports provide some insight into a players status. The NFL requires teams to submit practice injury reports several times a week, identifying the body part that is involved in the injury. This year, there has been a change in the language of injury reporting, per the league office. The most notable change is the removal of the probable designation. For more detailed information on the changes and what they mean, click here.Early in the week, the practice injury reports indicate whether a player did not practice, was limited in practice or was a full participant in practice. On Fridays, all teams file a game status injury report assigning one of the following designations: questionable, doubtful or out. The designations listed here reflect the injury reports filed with the league office on Friday evening. Teams playing on Monday night do not have to issue their designations until Saturday. The explanation for each designation is as follows:Out: This is the easy one: The guy is not playing Sunday.Questionable (Q): This remains the most dreaded player designation. By definition it means a player is uncertain to play. How uncertain is uncertain? There is no percentage or measurement scale, so this classification remains rather vague. Whether a player ends up active or inactive often comes down to a game-time decision based on how he feels on game-day morning or how he performs during warm-ups. Final inactives are due 90 minutes before kickoff.Doubtful (D): The doubtful designation means a player is unlikely to play that week. Rarely does a player labeled as doubtful end up playing, unless he experiences a major turnaround before game time.Each week in this Saturday feature, we run down a list of key fantasy players, by position, who appear in the Friday injury report, along with the injured body part as listed on the report, player status and any relevant developments or insight. The primary fantasy positions are covered (quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end).This year, at the end of each positional section, there is a subgroup of players: Players off game status injury report. The probable tag no longer exists, so players who would have been listed as probable in previous years are now simply removed from the report. This means there will be players who appear in the practice injury reports during the week but will not appear on the game-status report Friday, since they are presumed active for game day. They are included in this article so that fantasy owners can see where players who were on the practice injury report during the week have been upgraded in advance of the games.At the end, key fantasy players listed Friday as out for the weeks games will appear as a group.QuarterbacksJoe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens, right shoulder, (Q): Flacco will indeed play this week, reports ESPN.coms Jamison Hensley.Ravens QB Joe Flacco (shoulder) will be active Sunday against Jets after team didnt promote QB David Fales off... https://t.co/pD5Kya8tpP- Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) October 22, 2016Flacco sat out both Wednesday and Thursday practices with a sore shoulder. He returned to practice Friday and was listed as a full participant.According to Hensley, Flacco moved well and made short to intermediate throws in the portion of practice open to the media, but coach John Harbaugh was not prepared to definitively say his starting quarterback would be available, hence the questionable designation.Tight end Dennis Pitta (who is also one of Flaccos closest friends) said Friday he could not imagine Flacco sitting this game out. And, Flacco just doesnt miss time. The only games he has missed in his career were in the aftermath of his torn ACL last season. At least for now it looks as if those will still be his only missed games.Carson Palmer, Arizona Cardinals, hamstring, (Q): Palmer returned to action in Week 6 after sitting out the previous week with a concussion. He did not finish the game, however, because of a hamstring issue which kept him on the injury report throughout the week. He was able to return to practice on a limited basis Thursday and repeated the effort Friday. Barring a setback, the expectation is that Palmer will play, but this could present a challenge for him as the game progresses and fatigue sets in.Players Off Game Status Injury Report:Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts, right shoulder: Luck is on the injury report yet again, this time because of his ankle. Luck has typically gotten a day off during the week to rest his throwing shoulder; this week he did not miss any full days but was held to limited work on Thursday. His removal from the game status injury report confirms he will start on Sunday against the Titans.Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks, ankle/knee: Wilson has been impressive in his ability to play in the presence of injury to both legs, a high-ankle sprain on one side and an MCL sprain on the other. But it clearly limits his mobility, which in turn appears to be having an impact on his overall performance. How could it not? After all, this is a player who is known for his ability to make plays and extend others with his wheels.His limitations arent compromising the Seahawks ability to win games, but it is limiting Wilsons fantasy value. Just a guess, but I assume the Seahawks are perfectly happy as long as theyre winning. Despite Wilsons continued presence on the practice injury report, he practices in full daily and his removal from the game status injury report indicates he will play Sunday night against the Cardinals.Trevor Siemian, Denver Broncos, left shoulder: Siemian has already played in the presence of this injury and continues to turn in full practices. He will start on Monday night.Running BacksLeSean McCoy, Buffalo Bills, hamstring, (Q): Uh-oh. A hamstring issue popped up again for McCoy this week, limiting his Wednesday practice. He then was held out of practice on Thursday. While head coach Rex Ryan referred to McCoys injury simply as tightness on Wednesday, ESPNs Josina Anderson reported McCoy was expected to miss this week and could be absent even longer. On Friday, the presence of McCoy dressed and at practice surprised many, but its unclear just how much work he actually did in a session described as limited. Ryan said McCoy was definitely not ruled out of the game against the Dolphins and left the door open for his availability on Sunday.In speaking with reporters Friday, McCoy indicated this latest injury is indeed to the same side (left) that he injured last year. During training camp in 2015, McCoy suffered a partial tear of his proximal (high) left hamstring, pushed himself hard to get back, then suffered a setback which led to more missed time. Although he told reporters this injury isnt as bad as the last one, its not unusual to suffer a subsequent hamstring injury to the same side as a previous significant tear. The presence of scar tissue can render the hamstring tissue stiffer and more vulnerable to injury, even if that injury is less severe and located in a different portion of the muscle.Ryans words and the questionable designation suggest a game-time call for McCoy. It would not be surprising if McCoy sits for this game (airplane travel doesnt help), but if he feels good in warm-ups and lobbies to play, its equally possible he could take the field. Everyones fingers will be crossed that if he does play, he wont leave the game worse than when he entered it.Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs, knee, (Q): Last week, Charles was off the injury report. This week, hes back on it because of his knee. On Friday, Charles was added as a limited participant and, more surprisingly, was assigned a game status of questionable. It turns out Charles experienced some swelling in his recently ACL-reconstructed knee, one of the signals to the medical staff that activity needs to be scaled back. Jamaals knee had a little bit of swelling in it (on Thursday) and we were just taking it down for today, head coach Andy Reid told reporters Friday.He didnt appear overly concerned about Charles knee going forward, but recurrent swelling warrants caution. Earlier in the week, Reid said Charles wasnt quite ready to be an every-down back; this latest setback, even if temporary, only underscores that statement. The Chiefs will need to continue to lean on Spencer Ware for primary running back duties. At this point, its not a lock that Charles will be active on Sunday. Fantasy owners will want to check pregame inactive reports.Arian Foster, Miami Dolphins, hamstring, (Q): Foster is back to full practices daily, but it doesnt mean his workload will necessarily increase. After last weeks off-the-charts Jay Ajayi performance, Foster (listed as second on the depth chart) is not expected to be relied upon for a heavy workload. His designation of questionable reflects the fact the team is still not fully confident in his health.Latavius Murray, RB, Oakland Raiders, toe, (Q): Murray was back in practice this week, taking part daily but only on a limited basis. Turf toe injuries are not easily overcome. The questionable designation allows for the possibility that Murray is active and head coach Jack Del Rios comments to reporters that Murray had a good week of practice, suggest he will be. Fantasy owners should consider he could be on a controlled activity plan even if he is active; the hope would be that he could provide some value nonetheless. The good news is that this is an early game against Jacksonville, so pregame inactives will be available for the first slate of matchups.Dwayne Washington, Detroit Lions, ankle, (Q): Washington came into last weeks game as questionable, but the Lions opted to extend his rest for another week. Since he originally injured his ankle in Week 4, Washington returned to practice late last week but followed up this week with daily participation. It should be noted that he was only involved on a limited basis, and his status remains questionable, suggesting he has not yet fully recovered. Still, it sounds as if the Lions are hopeful he will take the field Sunday; the question is how much can be expected of him. The Lions still have Zach Zenner and Justin Forsett in the mix, while Theo Riddick remains sidelined with his ankle injury. Fantasy owners considering starting Washington should be sure to check pregame inactives to verify his status.Players Off Game Status Injury Report: Rashad Jennings, New York Giants, thumb: Jennings has already returned to action since injuring his thumb, so his removal from the injury report comes as no surprise.Matt Forte, New York Jets, knee: Forte sometimes gets a lighter workload (limited) on Wednesday, as he did this week, but he upgraded to full workouts Thursday and Friday. He will play on Sunday.Wide ReceiversJulian Edelman, New England Patriots, foot, (Q): Edelman has been listed as questionable because of his foot for the last few weeks. The Patriots continue to manage him with limited practices daily, but he continues to play on Sunday. He is expected to do so again this week, and fantasy owners have to hope that he will be more involved in this matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.Steve Smith, ankle, (D) and Kamar Aiken, thigh, (Q), Baltimore Ravens: Smith has been sidelined since injuring his ankle in Week 5. He remains out of practice and the doubtful tag suggests he will miss another week. Aiken is back on the injury report this week with a thigh issue that has bothered him intermittently for weeks. He has played through it already this season and his full practice on Friday is a good sign. The questionable tag means fantasy owners will want to double check pregame inactives.Robert Woods, Buffalo Bills, foot, (D): Woods did not practice all week because of his foot injury, and despite his desire to play, the doubtful tag indicates he will likely sit this one out.Stefon Diggs, Minnesota Vikings, groin, (Q): Diggs has been managing a groin injury for several weeks now. After originally playing through it, Diggs ultimately was forced to take some time to recover. The hope is that the week of rest plus the bye has helped him get over a hurdle. He participated in practice each day this week. Wednesday and Thursday were limited, but Diggs was a full participant on Friday. Assuming no setbacks, the hope is that he will take the field Sunday against the Eagles.John Brown, hamstring, (D) and Jaron Brown, knee, (Q), Arizona Cardinals: John Brown has been struggling with hamstring-related pain that kept him out of practice all week, but apparently that isnt the full story. ESPN.coms Josh Weinfuss reports Brown was recently diagnosed as carrying the sickle cell trait, and the team believes theres a possibility this relates to his recent episodes of leg pain. In the meantime, the doubtful tag virtually ensures John Brown will not be playing in this weeks home game against the Seahawks.?Jaron Brown could be a game-time decision, but his return to a partial practice Friday gives him a chance to be available. Fantasy owners should keep in mind that this is a Sunday night game. Between the matchup and the late kickoff, there are likely better receiver options than Jaron Brown.Terrelle Pryor, Cleveland Browns, hamstring, (Q): Pryor was out of practice both Wednesday and Thursday with a hamstring injury. Although he returned to a limited practice Friday, there is little to suggest he is past the issue. Coach Hue Jackson sounded hopeful earlier in the week but, as of Friday, acknowledged Pryors status would be a game-time decision. Ugh.Travis Benjamin, San Diego Chargers, knee, (Q): Benjamin missed Wednesdays practice with a knee ailment, but he wasnt out long. He returned Thursday to limited practice and followed it up Friday with a similar effort. According to ESPN.coms Eric Williams, coach Mike McCoy is hopeful Benjamin can indeed play Sunday. Fantasy owners should check pregame inactives to be sure of his status and may want to have a backup plan in place. This is a late game (4:05 p.m. ET) despite the fact the Chargers travel east to play the Falcons in Atlanta.T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis Colts, hip, (Q): Hiltons practice schedule was altered this week, and it struck fear in fantasy owners. After practicing on a limited basis Wednesday, Hilton was out on Thursday, sometimes an ominous sign. Hilton returned to a full practice Friday, however, providing reassurance for fans that he should be available Sunday. Fantasy owners should check the pregame inactives, but with both Phillip Dorsett and Donte Moncrief already ruled out, Hilton is expected to take the field against the Titans.Players Off Game Status Injury Report: Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants, hip: Beckham did not practice Wednesday to give his sore hip a rest. He returned to limited practice Thursday and was listed as limited Friday in what was a projected status (there was no Friday practice). His removal from the game status injury report reassures fantasy owners that he will play. This game is in London and kicks off at 9:30 a.m. ET.Jordan Matthews, Philadelphia Eagles, knee: Matthews was limited Wednesday with reports of knee tendinitis. His return to a full practice Thursday and another full practice Friday were enough to remove him from the game status injury report. He is expected to play.Mohamed Sanu, groin, Atlanta Falcons: Sanu was last on the injury report because of his elbow, but now it is a groin issue which limited him in Thursdays practice. He was back to full work Friday and is off the game status injury report.Allen Hurns, Jacksonville Jaguars, shoulder: Hurns did not practice Thursday because of his shoulder but was back Friday as a full participant. He is expected to play.Jeremy Kerley, San Francisco 49ers, ankle: Kerley was in practice each day as a full participant. He is expected to play again this week.DeAndre Hopkins, hamstring and Will Fuller, hamstring, Houston Texans: Wait! Hopkins has an injury? That was likely the reaction for anyone who saw Hopkins crop up on Thursdays injury report as a limited participant. Relief came Friday when Hopkins returned to full practice. He is expected to play his usual role on Monday night.In addition to Hopkins, Fuller will play this week, according to head coach Bill OBrien. Thats helpful information, especially considering the fact the game isnt until Monday night. Last week, Fuller was a surprise active, which was not helpful, since he remained on the sideline throughout the entire game. Even though we had a good idea that would be the case based on earlier reports, its still nerve-racking when fantasy owners see a player listed as active and wonder whether or not he will actually see the field.From a health perspective, it sounds as if Fuller was always close to going last week; holding him back last Sunday only lessens the risk of aggravating the injury. Theres no way to guarantee that he is out of the woods with regard to a potential setback, but at least the Texans are showing increased confidence in his health heading into the Week 7 contest.Emmanuel Sanders, Denver Broncos, hip: Sanders was a full participant daily despite being on the injury report for his hip. He is expected to play as usual on Monday night.Tight EndsMartellus Bennett, New England Patriots, ankle, (Q): Well, well, well. Rob Gronkowski is off the injury report entirely in Week 7. Progress! After all, he showed his health in Week 6 when he racked up over 100 receiving yards and re-established his rapport with Tom Brady.His teammate Bennett, however, remains listed here because of the ankle injury he sustained in Week 5. Bennett has been held to limited practices, but his involvement in the game last week suggests he should play.Tyler Eifert, TE, Cincinnati Bengals, back/ankle, (Q): Is this the week that Eifert makes his season debut? Its a question fantasy owners have been asking for several weeks now. Week 5 appeared as if it would be the week until a back issue surfaced for Eifert. That sidelined him for an additional two weeks, but after a week of practicing -- including an upgrade to team drills Thursday and a full practice Friday -- it appears Eifert could get the green light. If he does, fantasy owners should still temper expectations. After all, this would be his first NFL game since last season and the first live game action for his surgically-repaired ankle. The Bengals would be happy to have his size and pass-catching skills back, but after being without him for so long, they may want to be sure not to overdo it in his first outing.Julius Thomas, Jacksonville Jaguars, ankle, (Q): It always seems to be something with Thomas. Last week he was returning from an elbow injury that required him to wear a protective brace. This week its an ankle injury that came up during Thursdays practice. He was limited both Thursday and Friday as a result, but head coach Gus Bradley seemed optimistic that Thomas would play. Fantasy owners will want to check pregame inactives, but this, thankfully, is an early game against the Raiders.Charles Clay, Buffalo Bills, knee, (Q): Clay is a fixture on the injury report. He is also a fixture on the field for the Bills. This week the issue is with his ankle after he injured it in last weeks game against the 49ers. He did practice on a limited basis both Thursday and Friday making it likely he will be active on Sunday.Players Off Game Status Injury Report: Vance McDonald, San Francisco 49ers, hip: McDonald remains on the practice report even though he is practicing in full each day. He played last week and is expected to do so again this week.OutThis space is intended for a list of key players, not including those who have been moved to injured reserve status, who are officially listed as Out for the upcoming game.Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers, knee: Roethlisberger underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee earlier this week and could miss four to six weeks.Jordan Reed, Washington Redskins, concussion: Reed returned to a limited practice Wednesday, the medical staff then opted to hold him out Thursday. He did not receive the clearance necessary to return to play from the independent doctor he visited Friday. There has been no reported setback, but there is also no rush to return him.Carlos Hyde, RB, San Francisco 49ers, shoulder: Hyde has been ruled out this week with a shoulder injury. Although he was sporting a sling early in the week, Hyde has said he expects to be back soon, maybe even next week.Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, hamstring: Martin suffered a setback to his hamstring and now has no timetable for his return.Markus Wheaton, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers, shoulder: Wheaton missed time earlier in the season while recovering from a preseason shoulder injury. He was off the injury report briefly but is now back on it. Unable to practice the entire week, Wheaton is, unsurprisingly, out for Week 7.DeAngelo Williams, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers, knee: LeVeon Bell is the clear starter in Pittsburgh, but a healthy Williams is critical in the event something should happen to Bell. It wont be Williams backing up Bell this week, as he will be sidelined with a knee injury after not practicing all week.Eric Ebron, TE, Detroit Lions, ankle/knee: Ebron has missed two weeks and will now miss a third as he recovers from ankle and knee injuries.Donte Moncrief, shoulder and Phillip Dorsett, foot/hamstring, WR, Indianapolis Colts: So many of the Colts are already banged up, and now Dorsett has been added to the mix with not one but two ailments. Moncrief is on the mend from his scapula fracture and has not yet returned to practice with the team.Dwayne Allen, TE, Indianapolis Colts, ankle: Did I mention the Colts are banged up? Allen injured his ankle and was not able to practice all week. He too will miss this week and could be out longer.Jordan Cameron, TE, Miami Dolphins, concussion: Cameron remains out with his latest concussion.Thomas Rawls, RB, Seattle Seahawks, fibula: Rawls continues to heal from his fibula fracture and has yet to return to practice.Josh Doctson, WR, Washington Redskins, Achilles: Doctson has now been placed on injured reserve with Achilles issues on both legs.Corey Coleman, WR, Cleveland Browns, hand: Coleman remains out with a broken hand. He has not yet returned to practice.Josh McCown, QB, Cleveland Browns, left shoulder: McCown continues to practice on a limited basis but is not ready to return. Cody Kessler maintains his role in Cleveland as the starter.Be sure to check out Fantasy Football Now, Sundays on ESPN2 at 11:00 a.m. ET for last-minute inactives, rankings, injury impact and more! Custom Chris Bosh Jersey . -- Most satisfying to Russ Smith about No. Cheap Custom Heat Jersey . 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PORTLAND, Ore. -- Chicago Bulls point guard Rajon Rondo?missed Tuesdays 113-88 win against the Portland Trail Blazers because of a sprained left ankle.He tweaked his ankle in practice [Monday], Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg said before the game. [He] tried to move around this morning, didnt do a lot in shootaround. Then we made the final decision when we got back to the hotel. Obviously, [its] a long season and didnt want to take any chances on it. Hes day-to-day.Second-year point guard Jerian Grant will start in Rondos place.Bulls small forward Doug McDermott remains in the leagues concussion protocol and did not travel with the team to Portland. It remaiins unclear when McDermott will return.ddddddddddddThis is the second time in two weeks McDermott has been in the leagues concussion protocol. He took a couple of hard shots in an Oct. 31 win at Brooklyn and missed a Nov. 2 loss at Boston.I texted with Doug a little bit today, Hoiberg said. He said its just a hard feeling to describe and I said I hear ya, I can relate. But its just something where hopefully he makes a little bit of progress. Hell continue to see the doctor on a daily basis and hopefully he continues to improve. ' ' '