As the NFL season wears on, little injuries here and there start to pile up. The pain that you played through in the first few weeks of the season might become unbearable, taking you out of the next game. That accumulated wear and tear is part of the reason so many players are listed as “questionable” for Week 4. Some guys are coming back from injuries suffered already. Others are trying to ignore fatigue. No matter the case, keep coming back until the start of each game, and we’ll give you each player’s up-to-date status.
(Note: If a high-profile player does not appear below, that means he was not listed on his team’s injury report and should be expected to play — or is on injured reserve. The NFL also removed the “probable” designation for injury reports this year; players are either “out”, “doubtful” or “questionable.”)
Dez Bryant, WR, Cowboys (knee): Questionable
Bryant is unlikely to play with a hairline fracture in his right knee, but neither he nor the team ruled it out completely. “I feel good. It’s getting better each and every day, and we’re just going to go from there,” Bryant told reporters on Friday. Still, if Bryant is on your fantasy team, keep him on the bench. — FOXSports.com
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB, Patriots (shoulder): Questionable
Both Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett were listed as questionable on New England’s injury report, and both were expected to be available on Sunday against the Bills. Brissett will get the start, though as Garoppolo was a last-minute inactive. — Adam Schefter, ESPN
Sammy Watkins, WR, Bills (foot): Out
On Friday morning, Bills coach Rex Ryan ruled out Watkins for Week 4. Just hours later, the team placed the wide receiver on Injured Reserve to give his surgically repaired left foot time to heal. He will miss at least eight weeks, if not the remainder of the season. — FOXSports.com
J.J. Watt, DE, Texans (back): Out
Watt underwent a second surgery on Thursday to repair a herniated disk in his back. Texans coach Bill O’Brien told reporters that Watt will miss the rest of this season. — FOXSports.com
Eric Decker, WR, Jets (shoulder): Out
The last in a trio of big injuries this week, Decker suffered a partially torn rotator cuff in his right shoulder. Decker originally injured the shoulder in Week 2 and aggravated the injury last week against the Chiefs. He will be out for at least Sunday’s game against the Seahawks and possibly longer. — FOXSports.com
Jimmy Graham, TE, Seahawks (knee, back): Questionable
Graham sat out of Thursday’s practice with back spasms, but he was a full participant on Friday. Coach Pete Carroll sounded optimistic that Graham will be healthy on Sunday. “He had a little back spasms that kind of slowed him down a little bit, so he worked on it, got it taken care of. He had a really good day [Friday]. He was full today.” In other Seahawks news, Russell Wilson is not on the injury report despite playing with knee and ankle sprains. — 710AM ESPN Seattle
Tamba Hali, LB, Chiefs (knee, hand): Questionable
Hali has continued to battle through injuries and did not practice Wednesday or Thursday due to an undisclosed hand injury. Although he has just seven tackles and no sacks, his presence would be sorely missed against a Steelers team welcoming back Le’Veon Bell and looking to get Antonio Brown more involved. — BJ Kissel, Chiefs.com
Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots (hamstring): Questionable
Gronkowski played just 14 snaps in Week 3, and he told reporters this week that he’s being patient: “You’ve got to be careful with any injury, but I mean, if you research hamstrings, if you know anything about hamstrings, you’ve definitely got to be careful. You’ve got to progress. You can’t just hop back in and be full-go 100 percent.” He should play Sunday; how much is the question. — Zack Cox, NESN.com
Jay Cutler, QB, Bears (thumb): Doubtful
Cutler participated in practice Wednesday, but he missed the next day and likely will sit Sunday. Coach John Fox told reporters there was no setback: “Just healing,” Fox said. “A thumb on a throwing hand of a quarterback is a delicate situation. So we just figured we wouldn’t go out there and have any stress on it.” Fox also clarified that Cutler did very little in practice when he did participate. — Patrick Finley, Chicago Sun-Times
Jamaal Charles, RB, Chiefs (knee): Questionable
Charles reportedly is expected to make his season debut against the Steelers on Sunday night. — Adam Schefter, ESPN
Marvin Jones, WR, Lions (hamstring): Questionable
Jones was a limited participant in practice Thursday, but he was back on Friday at full strength. Expect him to play in Week 4. Jones is second in the league with 408 yards on 18 catches, trailing A.J. Green by 60 yards after the Bengals star’s Thursday night performance. — Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press
Delanie Walker, TE, Titans (hamstring): Questionable
After practicing Friday, Walker told reporters: “To be able to practice this Friday and make it through the whole practice, I feel it’s a good opportunity I can be playing.” Coach Mike Mularkey is “confident” in Walker’s ability to play Sunday, but the tight end will remain a game-time decision. — John Glennon, The Tennessean
Joe Haden, DB, Browns (groin): Questionable
Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton told reporters on Friday that he expects Haden to play against Washington: “We hope to have Joe, whether it is on a limited basis or a 60-play game. We expect him and we hope for him to play.” If you’re scrambling for a QB play in a deep fantasy league, whether or not Kirk Cousins is your answer might depend on Haden’s availability. — Patrick Maks, ClevelandBrowns.com
Alshon Jeffery, WR, Bears (knee, hamstring): Questionable
Jeffery was limited in practice this week with a knee injury, then saw limited time Friday with a hamstring injury. He is 10th in the NFL in receiving yards (271) and leads the Bears in that category. Jeffery missed six games last season due to hamstring problems as well. — John Mullin, CSN Chicago
Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers (hamstring): Doubtful
Gates did not practice this week after missing Week 3. Hunter Henry will start in Gates’ place if he’s unavailable, as most expect. Henry played all 59 snaps for San Diego against the Colts last week. — Michael Gehlken, San Diego Union-Tribune Photo: Michael Dixon / Sportsnaut / Yardbarker
Doug Martin, RB, Buccaneers (hamstring): Out
Martin strained his hamstring in Week 2 and originally was expected to miss three weeks. Tampa Bay held out some hope the running back would be available this week against the Broncos, but the team officially ruled out Martin on Friday. — Greg Auman, Tampa Bay Times
Elvis Dumervil, LB, Ravens (foot): Questionable
Although Dumervil is officially listed as questionable, he told reporters this week that he will make his season debut against the Raiders. “I’m excited to get in front of our fans,” Dumervil said. If you’re relying on Raiders offensive players in fantasy, you might be in trouble with Dumervil back to bolster Baltimore’s elite defense. The Ravens All-Pro, who underwent foot surgery this offseason, had 17 sacks and two forced fumbles last year. — NFL.com
Willie Snead, WR, Saints (toe): Questionable
Snead missed Monday’s game against the Falcons with an odd foot injury, but he told reporters this week that he feels a lot better. “Las week I was just hurting in a bad place. Even though we had an extra day, I still needed more time. But now that I’m healed, I feel really good about playing Sunday and making a big impact in the game.” Snead is averaging 14.6 yards per catch and has five TDs in just two games. — Christopher Dabe, The Times-Picayune
Michael Oher, LT, Panthers (concussion): Out
Oher practiced all week with the starting lineup before being placed in the concussion protocol on Friday, according to Panthers coach Ron Rivera. “When I came in this morning, (head athletic trainer) Ryan Vermillion came to me and told me that Mike had come in and was complaining of symptoms. So he sat him down and did whatever the first steps of the protocol are and contacted the doctors. He came back and told me he’s in the protocol.” That could be bad news for Cam Newton (left) one week after the Panthers QB was sacked eight times against the Vikings. — Bryan Strickland, Panthers.com
Joey Bosa, DE, Chargers (hamstring): Out
Although Bosa was ruled out for Week 4, he told reporters he’s almost ready to make his NFL debut: “We’re making progress,” Bosa said Friday. “I’m getting close. … Like I said before, we’re just taking it one day at a time. But the progress really has been picking up these last few weeks. I’m feeling good.” — Michael Gehlken, San Diego Union-Tribune