National Football League

NFL Week 1: Thursday injury report

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The 2016 NFL season gets underway Thursday night when the Carolina Panthers face the Denver Broncos. Here is a look at the Thursday injury report for Week 1.

Week 1 of the 2016 NFL season begins on Thursday night when the defending Carolina Panthers meet the defending champion Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium for a Super Bowl 50 rematch.

It’s been a long preseaso,n and regular season NFL football is nearly upon us. Football is a violent game, so not every team is going to be at 100 percent entering Week 1. Here are a few players to keep an eye on in Thursday’s NFL injury report.

Quarterbacks

Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys: Romo is out for Week 1 versus the New York Giants with a broken vertebra in his back. Interestingly, Cowboys Jerry Jones might keep Romo on the 53-man roster as opposed to putting on IR for a mid-November return.

Andrew Luck, Indianapolis Colts: Luck is listed as questionable for Week 1 versus the Detroit Lions. He was a limited participant in practice Wednesday with a shoulder issue, but expect him to start on Sunday at Lucas Oil Stadium versus the Lions.

Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings: Bridgewater is out for the 2016 NFL season with a torn ACL and dislocated knee. Minnesota traded for quarterback Sam Bradford to lead the Vikings this season.

Running Backs

Darren McFadden, Cowboys: McFadden is out for the Cowboys’ opener versus the Giants. He is afraid that he may never be able to fully extend his right elbow again. Scary news for the Cowboys running back.

Chris Ivory, Jacksonville Jaguars: Ivory is listed as questionable versus the Green Bay Packers. He was a limited participant in practice Wednesday with a calf injury. Ivory should make his Jaguars debut Sunday in some capacity.

Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs: Charles is listed as questionable versus the San Diego Chargers. He was a limited participant in practice Wednesday due to his knee. Kansas City has a deep running back stable and may choose not to play Charles in Week 1 against a weak Chargers team.

Carlos Hyde, San Francisco 49ers: Hyde is listed as questionable versus the Los Angeles Rams on Monday night. He is going through concussion protocol, but was a limited participant in practice Thursday with a non-contact jersey.

Wide Receivers

Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons: Jones is listed as questionable versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was a full participant in practice Thursday despite an ankle injury. Jones should be good to go versus Tampa Bay on Sunday.

Golden Tate, Detroit Lions: Tate is listed as questionable versus the Indianapolis Colts. He was a limited participant Wednesday with an ankle injury. Detroit will need him if he’s healthy enough to play on Sunday.

DeVante Parker, Miami Dolphins: Parker is listed as questionable versus the Seattle Seahawks. He did not take part in practice Thursday with a hamstring injury. Hamstring injuries are finicky, so keep an eye on this one until hours before kickoff on Sunday afternoon in Seattle.

Tight Ends

Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati Bengals: Eifert is out for the Bengals in Week 1 versus the New York Jets. Though he’s expected to return mid-season for Cincinnati, he didn’t take reps with the team this week. That’s not a great sign for a quicker return for the Bengals tight end.

Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots: Gronkowski is listed as questionable on Sunday night versus the Arizona Cardinals. He injured his hamstring in mid-August, and he’s going to have to take it week by week. Keep an eye on this one for Week 1. Gronkowski might sit out versus a tough road opponent in Arizona.

Defensive Stars

Elvis Dumervil, Baltimore Ravens: Dumervil is listed as doubtful versus the Buffalo Bills. He suffered a setback with his foot injury and likely won’t make his 2016 debut against the Bills.

J.J. Watt, Houston Texans: Watt is listed as questionable versus the Chicago Bears. He practiced three times this week after undergoing offseason back surgery. Watt is expected to start in Week 1 at defensive end for the Texans.

Joey Bosa, San Diego Chargers: Bosa is listed as questionable versus the Kansas City Chiefs. He is dealing with a minor hamstring injury, but it will be the contract holdout that shortened his preseason that will prevent him from seeing the field in Week 1 versus Kansas City.

Offensive Lineman

Kyle Long, Chicago Bears: Long is listed as questionable versus the Houston Texans. The recently paid offensive lineman for the Bears was a limited participant in practice Wednesday with a shoulder issue. Expect him to play on Sunday in Week 1. He’s got a four-year contract to earn.

Mike Pouncey, Dolphins: Pouncey is listed as questionable versus the Seahawks. He’s been dealing with a hip issue all preseason. Seattle is a long way away from Miami. It wouldn’t be shocking to see new head coach keep him out Week 1.