Injuries are a huge part of the NFL. Not only do they affect the outcome of games, but they can also have a significant impact on fantasy football and sports betting, which have exploded in popularity. That’s why the NFL has very specific rules about how teams report injuries. The goal is to keep things fair, transparent, and honest so everyone—teams, fans, and even bettors—has access to the right information.

So, let’s examine the NFL injury policy, how it works, why it’s important, and what happens when teams don’t follow the rules.

The Three Main Injury Reports

The NFL has three main types of injury reports: practice reports, game status reports, and in-game injury reports. Each serves a different purpose, but they all help keep fans, the media, and other teams in the loop about which players are hurt and whether they’ll be playing in the next game.

1. Practice Reports: Every week, teams have to report on which players are dealing with injuries and how much they’re able to practice. Even if a player fully participates in practice, they still need to be listed if they have a significant injury. The reports show whether a player “Did Not Participate,” had “Limited Participation,” or took part “Fully” in practice.

2. Game Status Report: This one is what most people think of when they hear “injury report.” The game status report lets everyone know which players will likely play in the upcoming game. Teams can list players as ‘questionable’ (meaning there’s a good chance they might play), ‘doubtful’ (meaning they probably won’t play), or ‘out’ (meaning they won’t play, period). Teams must release this report by 4:00 p.m. ET two days before the game.

3. In-game injury Report: If a player gets hurt during the game, the team must report it immediately. This is done in real time and shared with the media, fans at the game, and broadcast partners. The idea is to keep everyone updated on player statuses during the game as quickly as possible.

The Importance Of Transparency

At first glance, injury reports might seem like a simple formality. But the reality is that they matter a lot, especially now that sports betting and fantasy football have become so popular. Fans and betters rely on this information to make informed decisions. Teams also need it for fair competition. If a team isn’t clear about a player’s injury status, it could give them an unfair advantage or lead to confusion.

A good example of this recently occurred with the San Francisco 49ers and running back Christian McCaffrey. Before a game against the New York Jets, McCaffrey suffered an injury setback, but the team didn’t report it right away. Backup running back Jordan Mason revealed after the game that he knew he’d be starting three days before the 49ers officially listed McCaffrey’s injury on the report. This raised some eyebrows, and many wondered if the 49ers followed the rules. In the end, the NFL investigated and determined that no violation took place, but it shows how these injury reports can sometimes be the reason for controversy.

NFL Injury Designations

When players are listed on the injury report, they’re given one of three designations:

• Questionable: This means the player has a decent chance of playing, but it’s still uncertain.
• Doubtful: Players who are doubtful are very unlikely to play, but there’s a small chance they might.
• Out: If a player is “out,” they won’t play in the game, no questions asked.

The NFL used to have a ‘probable’ designation but removed it in 2017. Now, if a player is likely to play, the team lists them as ‘questionable’ instead.

What Happens If A Team Breaks The Rules?

If a team fails to follow the injury report policy, the NFL can hit them with penalties. These can range from fines to suspensions, and in rare cases, the league might even take away draft picks. The NFL has fined teams before for not accurately reporting injuries.

For example, in 2019, the league fined Pittsburgh Steelers and coach Mike Tomlin because they didn’t properly list quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s injury. He had missed practice due to rest, but the team didn’t list him on the injury report. Later, he suffered a season-ending injury during the game, and the NFL fined the team $75,000 and Tomlin $25,000 for the oversight.

In 2023, the league fined the Atlanta Falcons for a similar issue when running back Bijan Robinson didn’t appear on the injury report, even though he was dealing with an illness before a game. He played a limited role in the game, but the team hadn’t updated his status, leading to another fine.

Why Accurate Injury Reporting Matters?

Accurate injury reporting isn’t just about following the rules—it’s about fairness. When teams hide injuries or fail to report them properly, it messes with the integrity of the game. Fans, bettors, and even fantasy players rely on this information to make decisions, and withholding it could lead to an unfair advantage.

In the age of legalized sports betting, the NFL has to be extra vigilant about ensuring that teams are transparent. After all, a player’s injury status can greatly impact betting odds. If teams fail to report injuries accurately, they could sway the outcome of bets or fantasy matchups, creating an unfair system for everyone involved.

Overall, the NFL’s injury report policy is designed to ensure transparency and fairness by requiring teams to disclose injuries clearly and promptly, keeping players, fans, and bettors informed. While violations are rare, they do happen, as seen with the 49ers, Steelers, and Falcons, and the league takes them seriously. The main goal is to ma