National Football League

Doc Talk: NFL Week 4 injury analysis

Published Sep. 30, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

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Each week, Dr. Mark Adickes shares his analysis of the key injuries in each the NFL weekend's upcoming games.

Carolina Panthers at Chicago Bears

Panthers QB Cam Newton (ankle)

Jock to Doc Take: Newton, after wearing a boot last week, was declared active for the game against the Jaguars and completed 18 of 34 passes for 158 yards and a touchdown. Although the ankle still seems to bother him, he was practicing fully and is expected to be at, or near, full strength.

Health Rating: Cam Newton @ 90%

Bills WR Steve Johnson (groin)

Jock to Doc Take: The Bills’ starting WR is still battling a groin injury sustained earlier in the season. He was present at Wednesday’s practice, but did not participate. However, he took part in individual drills Thursday, according to the Bills Web site. Regardless of how Johnson feels, I feel like we'll see him on the field.

Health Rating: Steve Johnson @ 80%

Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns

Titans WR Kenny Britt (knee)

Jock to Doc Take: Britt tore his ACL and MCL in Sunday’s game against Denver. He'll miss the rest of the season and has been placed on IR.

Health Rating: Kenny Britt @ 0%

Detroit Lions at Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys QB Tony Romo (ribs)

Jock to Doc Take: Despite breaking his ribs and puncturing his lung the previous week, Romo showed up in the game against the Redskins last week, completing 22 of 36 passes for 255 yards and an interception. He was limited in both Wednesday’s and Thursday’s practices, but is listed as probable for Sunday’s game against Detroit.

Health Rating: Tony Romo @ 80%

Cowboys WR Dez Bryant (quad)

Jock to Doc Take: Despite battling a quad injury, Bryant competed in the game last Monday. He was a limited participant during Wednesday’s and Thursday’s practices, but expect to see him show up ready to play against a tough Detroit defense.

Health Rating: Dez Bryant @ 75%

Texans RB Arian Foster (hamstring)

Jock to Doc Take: Last year’s leading rusher practiced Wednesday and Thursday and is expected to start against the Steelers on Sunday, the Houston Chronicle reports. "He's fine," coach Gary Kubiak said Wednesday. "He should be OK heading into the rest of the season now, hopefully. We'll keep our fingers crossed. He's chomping at the bit and ready to go, took his full load and we're OK."

Health Rating: Arian Foster @ 75%

San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles

49ers WR Michael Crabtree (foot)

Jock to Doc Take: Crabtree's been struggling with a foot injury since the offseason. He was relatively quiet last game, catching just three passes for 24 yards. He's been resting his foot, though, and although he was limited Wednesday and Thursday, expect to see him play.

Health Rating: Michael Crabtree @ 70%

Washington Redskins at St. Louis Rams

Rams RB Steven Jackson (quad)

Jock to Doc Take: Jackson was limited at practice Wednesday and Thursday. However, he did more at those two practices than he did during all of last week, the St. Louis News-Tribune reports. He still is listed as questionable, so it would be a gamble to play him in your fantasy lineup this week.

Health Rating: Steven Jackson @ 65%

New Orleans Saints at Jacksonville Jaguars

Saints WR Marques Colston (collarbone)

Jock to Doc Take: Colston finally is expected to aid Drew Brees for “roughly 50 snaps” against Jacksonville on Sunday, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

Health Rating: Marques Colston @ 60%

Vikings RB Adrian Peterson (soreness)

Jock to Doc Take: Peterson missed Wednesday’s practice with a sore calf muscle, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports. He was limited at practice on Thursday, but expect him to take on the Chiefs at full force.

Health Rating: Adrian Peterson @ 85%

New York Giants at Arizona Cardinals

Giants WR Hakeem Nicks (knee)

Jock to Doc Take: The Giants’ starting WR did not practice Thursday, Newsday reports. He is listed as questionable, but Nicks insisted he'd play on Sunday in Arizona, the New York Daily News reports.

Health Rating: Hakeem Nicks @ 70%

Atlanta Falcons at Seattle Seahawks

Falcons WR Roddy White (thigh)

Jock to Doc Take: White did not practice Wednesday or Thursday, the Falcons Web site reports. He is listed as questionable, but I do not expect to see him do too much.

Health Rating: Roddy White @ 40%

Denver Broncos at Green Bay Packers

Broncos RB Knowshon Moreno (hamstring)

Jock to Doc Take: Moreno practiced on Wednesday and Thursday at full speed. After being relatively useless last game, he is expected to finally be used as a weapon by the Broncos this week.

Health Rating: Knowshon Moreno @ 85%

New England Patriots at Oakland Raiders

Raiders WR Jacoby Ford (hamstring)

Jock to Doc Take: Ford practiced Thursday for a second consecutive day, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. He was eager to return to the action this week after suffering through a hamstring injury. Expect him to be an asset in the game against a tough New England team, but do not think he'll be at 100 percent by any means.

Health Rating: Jacoby Ford @ 78%

Chargers TE Antonio Gates (foot)

Jock to Doc Take: Gates was inactive for last week's game against the Chiefs and has not recovered to play at full speed just yet. He acknowledged that "it’d be difficult" for him to play Sunday, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports, but though he's refused to rule himself out, the North County Times speculates it’s nearly certain the tight end will miss Sunday’s game with Miami.

Health Rating: Antonio Gates @ 65%

New York Jets at Baltimore Ravens

Jets WR Plaxico Burress (hamstring)

Jock to Doc Take: Burress, who has become an excellent addition to Mark Sanchez’s passing game, was limited in practice on Thursday, the New York Daily News reports.

Health Rating: Plaxico Burress @ 70%

Indianapolis Colts at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Colts QB Kerry Collins (concussion)

Jock to Doc Take: Unfortunately for the Colts, Peyton Manning’s backup suffered a concussion in last week’s game. Collins didn't practice either Wednesday or Thursday.

Health Rating: Kerry Collins @ 25%

Health Ratings: So what do the numbers mean?

100-85% = NFL players are tough, and despite injuries still perform at a high level. Let’s be honest, when is an NFL athlete really physically 100 percent? Practically never. With a rating in this range, expect players to perform at peak levels.

70-85% = In this range, a player's performance will be affected but he still can get the job done.

55-70% = Players with a rating this low will require assistance to do their jobs. The team might be better served by placing these warriors on the inactive list. Only some All-Pros can get the job done when rated this poorly.

40-55% = These players need some more time to heal. Unlikely to be active unless miraculous healing occurs or my rating was based on erroneous information.

25-40% = Players will not play but do show signs of recovery, opening the door for a return to the active roster the following week.

0-25% = Players will not play, and there is concern that additional games may be missed.