Franzen (groin) expects to be back in the lineup for Sunday's game, MLive's Ansar Khan reports. Franzen started the season on fire with five points in four games, but may need a game or two to get back up to speed. Play him at your own risk.

Franzen said he was still experiencing tightness in his groin during Tuesday's practice and isn't confident he'll return to game action over the weekend, Chuck Pleiness of the Macomb Daily reports. Franzen took part in practice Tuesday for the first time since Oct. 17 and was given the go-ahead to participate in Wednesday's morning skate in Washington, but it doesn't sound like he'll be activated from injured reserve in the next couple of days, as coach Mike Babcock had initially anticipated. Instead, the forward will attempt to steadily increase his activity level in subsequent practices to the point where the groin injury is no longer bothersome, with the hope of playing in a game at some point next week.

Franzen (groin) participated in Tuesday's practice, Chuck Pleiness of the Macomb Daily reports. Franzen did not get in a full session Tuesday, as he left the ice when the Red Wings took part in competitive drills. However, he did skate hard while doing individual work, and appeared to be moving well. Franzen will likely miss at least one more game, but he has a chance to return to action as soon as Friday.

Franzen (groin) is still not skating in practice for the Red Wings, Ansar Khan of MLive.com reports. Although Franzen's injury shouldn't be a long-term one, he has missed Detroit's past four games and isn't expected to return until Oct. 31. The 34-year-old winger was off to a hot start this season, scoring two goals and three assists in four games played.

Franzen (groin) won't return from injured reserve when eligible Saturday, MLive.com's Ansar Khan reports. It seems Franzen's groin injury is still a short-term concern, but GM Ken Holland declined to provide an update on how much improvement the forward has noticed with the injury. Since he has yet to take the ice since pregame warmups last weekend, the Red Wings decided to rule Franzen out of their two-game road trip beginning Saturday. He'll aim to work out on his own back in Detroit, with a possible return to action no sooner than Oct. 31 against the Kings.

The Red Wings placed Franzen (leg) on IR on Monday, Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reports. Franzen's injury is apparently a little worse than day-to-day, so he'll make the move to IR until at least Saturday's game against the Flyers. Franzen was off to a hot start before suffering the injury, with two goals and three assists through his first four games.

Franzen (leg) did not practice Monday, Chuck Pleiness of Macomb Daily reports. Franzen was originally expected to return for Tuesday's game against the Canadiens, but that looks unlikely at this point. Expect the veteran forward to rest up over the next couple days and try to suit up for Thursday's matchup with the Penguins.

Franzen (leg) will not play Saturday against the Maple Leafs, MLive.com's Ansar Khan reports. Franzen felt well enough to take part in pregame warmups, but the Red Wings evidently weren't comfortable enough with his health to use him on back-to-back nights. Stephen Weiss will draw in for his first game of the season. The fact that Franzen was able to make it on the ice for warmups suggests that only a short-term absence is in the store, with a high probability that he'll be back in the lineup Tuesday versus the Canadiens.

Franzen will be a game-time decision with a leg cramp Saturday against Toronto, Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press reports. Franzen has been stellar so far this season, but is a risk Saturday for an older player dealing with an injury. He does have three assists and two goals in four games, but any game-time decision is going to be a risky affair.

Franzen was set up by Henrik Zetterberg for two goals in Friday's win over Toronto. Franzen is now up to five points on the season (two goals), skating on the top line and top power-play unit. As long as he stays healthy, which was a concern last season, the 34-year-old should score 20-30 goals and put up 50-60 points. Through four games in 2014-15, the veteran has only been held off the scoresheet once, a positive sign for his fantasy owners.