Photo Credit: USA TODAY Sports
Injury Updates
Rob Gronkowski returned to practice on Thursday after missing last week’s game against Philadelphia with a sprained and bruised right knee. The New England Patriots still haven’t made a decision on whether or not their tight end will be active Sunday when they visit the Houston Texans.
After missing last week’s loss to the Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Allen Hurns is active for this week. Hurns was undergoing the league’s concussion protocol but has been cleared for this week.
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert returned to practice on Wednesday after suffering a neck injury week 12. According to ESPN’s Bob Holtzman, Eiftert is “on track to play” Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Season Ending Injuries
The New York Giants placed tight end Larry Donnell and long-snapper Zak DeOssie on season-ending injured reserve. Donnell had been dealing with a neck injury and missed the past four games, while Dessie has not missed a game this season and was even able to play Sunday with a wrist injury.
New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton announced that Mark Ingram will have surgery to repair a tear in his left rotator cuff. The announcement came one day after the team placed the starting running back on injured reserve. C.J. Spiller and Tim Hightower will take over in backfield with Ingram out.
Key Injuries
Bengals cornerback Adam Jones announced that he will not play this week against the Steelers. Jones has been dealing with a foot injury since week 10. He was seen in the locker room with a cast on his foot, and using a scooter to get around. He is hopeful that he will be back week 15 in Denver.
The Minnesota Vikings will head to Arizona without three of their key defensive players. Safety Harrison Smith, linebacker Anthony Barr and defensive tackle Linval Joseph have been ruled out for Thursday night. Barr suffered a groin injury and Harrison suffered a hamstring injury, both in the first quarter of last week’s contest. Joseph sat out last week to the loss against the Seattle Seahawks with a foot injury.
Other Injuries to Watch
Matt Hasselbeck practiced on Wednesday after taking a beating against the Steelers last week. The 17-year veteran quarterback felt soreness early in the week, but Indianapolis Colts coach Chuck Pagano calls him “a warrior.” Hasselbeck has been playing while Andrew Luck is out with a lacerated kidney.
Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan said that cornerback Stephon Gilmore will likely be unable to play Sunday in Philadelphia. Gilmore had an MRI on his left shoulder on Monday after feeling his arm “pop out.” With Gilmore’s absence, rookie Ronald Darby will likely get the No. 1 spot.
C.J. Anderson, running back for the Denver Broncos, sat out of practice on Thursday as he continues to deal with an ankle injury he suffered against the Chargers. Anderson, who has 538 rushing yards and three touchdowns this season, received treatment on his ankle Monday. Still no word on whether or not he will be active against the Oakland Raiders.
Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden is close to the end of his concussion protocol but he hasn’t been cleared yet, according to coach Mike Pettine. “Hopefully, in the next couple of days, we will be able to shed a little bit more light on it,” Pettine said.
Good News
Chicago Bears wide receiver Eddie Royal practiced Wednesday after missing the last five games with a knee injury. “It feels great, just to be on the field again, in the huddle again,” Royal said.
D.J. Fluker returned to practice for the Chargers after missing two games due to a lingering concussion. The guard successfully finished the league’s concussion protocol and hopes to play Sunday against the Chiefs. “It took me a while to get my conditioning back up, and I’m going to keep getting healthy,” Fluker said.
Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski will play Sunday night against the Texans