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NFL injury reports have two separate parts: a practice report that records a player’s injury and participation, and a game status report that indicates expected availability. The game-status labels are Out, Doubtful and Questionable; practice participation—Did Not Participate, Limited Participation or Full Participation—is not itself a prediction that a player will or will not play.
What the practice report tells you
The practice report records reportable injuries and a player’s participation during the practice week. The NFL’s 2017 Injury Report Policy says its purpose is to give clubs and the public “an accurate description of a player’s injury status and his level of participation during the practice week.” NFL Injury Report Policy
Participation is listed using three descriptions:
- Did Not Participate: The player did not take part in practice.
- Limited Participation: The player took part in a limited capacity.
- Full Participation: The player participated fully.
These describe what happened at practice, not the player’s final game status. A qualifying injury still has to be reported even if the player practices fully and the team is certain he will play. The policy includes injuries that cause a player to miss a game, miss or leave practice, or participate on a limited basis; a team may also have to report an injury affecting performance even if the player remains available.
When an absence is not injury-related
A veteran who rests for a reason unrelated to injury should not receive an injury designation on the game status report. The practice entry can instead say “Not Injury Related.” That notation distinguishes a non-injury rest from an injury-driven absence.
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What Out, Doubtful and Questionable mean
The game status report is separate from the practice report. It addresses a player’s expected availability for the upcoming game, using these labels:
- Out: The player is not expected to be available for the game.
- Doubtful: The player is unlikely to be available.
- Questionable: The player’s availability is uncertain.
The labels communicate status, not a guaranteed decision or a published probability. The policy does not establish a percentage likelihood that a player carrying any particular label will play. A player who appeared on the practice report during the week but is omitted from the game status report is one the team is certain will play, according to the NFL policy.
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When NFL injury reports come out
Deadlines depend on the scheduled game day. Under the NFL’s 2026 regular-season calendar, practice reports are due by 4:00 p.m. New York time, or as soon as possible after practice. An estimated injury report is not accepted on a day the team practices. Game status reports are due by 4:00 p.m. New York time, or as soon as possible after practice. The calendar says dates are subject to change. NFL 2026 Important Dates
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| Scheduled game day | Practice report due | Game status report due |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | Thursday, Friday and Saturday | Saturday |
| Wednesday | Sunday, Monday and Tuesday | Tuesday |
| Thursday | Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday | Wednesday |
| Friday or Saturday | Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday | Thursday |
| Sunday | Wednesday, Thursday and Friday | Friday |
If a player’s condition changes after the initial game status report, the team must provide an update.
Quick Recap
How to read a report without confusing its parts
- Check the participation entry. It tells you whether the player practiced fully, in a limited capacity, or not at all.
- Look for the game status report. Out, Doubtful and Questionable address expected availability; practice participation alone does not settle that question.
- Check for an update. A later change in the player’s condition requires an updated game status report, so an earlier listing may no longer reflect the latest information.
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