NFL Tweaks Injury Report Guidelines, Removes ‘Probable’ Category

FOXBORO, Mass. — Those lengthy New England Patriots injury reports might become a thing of the past.

The NFL eliminated the “probable” category from injury reports, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported Sunday. The NFL conducted a study that found players listed as “probable” took the field roughly 95 percent of the time.

The NFL also tweaked its “questionable” and “doubtful” designations. Questionable players are now “uncertain” to play under the new language, and doubtful players are “unlikely” to participate. Players listed as questionable had a 50 percent chance of suiting up under the old guidelines and players listed as doubtful previously only had a 25 percent chance of taking the field.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick hadn’t read the new guidelines as of Monday afternoon.

“Whatever they are, we’ll follow them,” Belichick said. “Whatever that happens to be.”

Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images