Photo Credit: AP Photo/Bill Wippert
Injury Updates:
There could finally be some good news for the Carolina Panthers regarding Luke Kuechly. Head coach Ron Rivera said Monday that the Pro Bowl middle linebacker could be back this upcoming week from concussion protocol. Rivera also said that Kuecly has progressed in the protocol and is scheduled to meet with an independent neurologist on Tuesday. That is the last step a player must take before they can return to practices and games.
After missing two games with the Arizona Cardinals, running back Andre Ellington is expected to be back week four to play the St. Louis Rams. Ellington suffered a mild PCL sprain in his right knee and has been limited in practice, but the team is optimistic that he’s closer to returning.
Even though wide receiver Dez Bryant is expected to be out 10-12 weeks, the Dallas Cowboys expect their leading receiver to be back week seven. In an interview with 105.3 The Fan, Cowboys Executive V.P. Stephen Jones said, “I know there have been a lot of people who have doctors on their media staff and like to speculate on these things, but we’ve been pretty consistent from day one. At first we thought maybe four to six (weeks) and that changed to six to eight. By the next day we were pretty much thinking six to eight. We really feel like it’s a very fair goal to think that Dez will be back after the bye.”
After missing his first game due to injury, Drew Brees could be back for week four. The New Orleans Saints quarterback told Cox Sports Television “I plan to and expect to start on Sunday but if I don’t, we’re in good hands with Luke (McCown).” Even coach Sean Payton says he’s optimistic about Brees playing this upcoming week after suffering a rotator cuff injury in week two.
Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams left Monday night’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs after three plays. Adams suffered a high-ankle sprain in week two but re-aggravated it on Monday and was ruled out at halftime. Adams could miss some games with the injury.
In week two, Atlanta Falcons running back Tevin Coleman fractured a rib, but the team did not put a timetable on his return. Coleman did not play Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys and it looks like he could miss a few additional games depending on his pain tolerance.
Last week Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Kiko Alonso suffered an ACL sprain and was expected to miss two to four weeks. On Monday, Alonso will get a final opinion from Dr. James Andrews according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The injury could keep Alonso out for the expected time or longer depending on if they need to re-do the ACL surgery. If so, that could keep him out for the remainder of the season.
Season Ending Injuries
The Eagles placed kicker Cody Parkey and right guard Andrew Gardner on season ending IR. Parkey, the Pro Bowl kicker, injured his groin during the preseason, then re-injured it during Sunday’s pregame warm up. Gardner’s injury is a Lisfranc sprain in his right foot.
Key Injuries
There weren’t a lot of key players who were injured this week, but two are worth noting, especially for fantasy owners.
The first was to Pittsburgh Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger. The Pro Bowl quarterback was carted off the field Sunday with a sprained MCL and a bone bruise on his left knee. The team is expecting Roethlisberger to be out four to six weeks which leaves the Steelers with Michael Vick as quarterback.
The second is a lingering calf issue to Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch. Lynch injured his hamstring on Sunday in the shutout win over the Chicago Bears. Lynch was a game-time decision, but was ruled out by halftime. He finished the game with only five carries for 14 yards. Head coach Pete Carroll addressed the media on Monday saying that Lynch had an MRI and will be re-evaluated later in the week. The Seahawks might want to give their star running back time to get back to full strength before they have him take the field next Monday against the Detroit Lions.
Other Injuries to Watch
Despite their 41-14 win over the Miami Dolphins, the Buffalo Bills are facing a few injuries.
A main concern for the team is a hamstring injury running back LeSean McCoy continues to deal with. He spent most of Sunday’s game on a stationary bike trying to keep his hamstring loose. In McCoy’s absence, rookie Karlos Williams will take over against the New York Giants this week.
Bills guard John Miller was not able to finish Sunday’s win. The rookie left the game due to a groin injury and is now listed as week-to-week.
The Bills received some news about wide receiver Sammy Watkins. Watkins left Sunday’s game with a calf injury, but was able to walk off the field on his own. On Monday, Ian Rapoport reported that Watkins is “day-to-day” and was diagnosed with a mild calf strain after tests. Coach Rex Ryan said it’s “certainly a possibility” that Watkins will miss Sunday’s game against the Giants.
Davante Adams wasn’t the only player to leave Monday’s game with an injury for the Packers. In the second quarter, tight end Andrew Quarless suffered a knee injury on his first catch of the season. Also, linebacker Jake Ryan left the game after one tackle with a hamstring injury. Lastly, defensive lineman Datone Jones was evaluated for a possible concussion after going down in the fourth quarter.
Cleveland Browns cornerback Joe Haden is listed as day-to-day after suffering a rib injury in Sunday’s 27-20 loss to the Oakland Raiders. Haden’s X-rays came back negative, but he will undergo an MRI to see the extent of the injury.
Willie Colon, right guard for the New York Jets, will miss at least one week after suffering a MCL sprain. When Colon left the game, Brian Winters replaced him and will start in his place Sunday against the Dolphins in London.
Jets tight end Jeff Cumberland sustained a head injury and is undergoing the NFL’s concussion protocol. If Cumberland can’t play, the Jets will only have one tight end on their roster, Kellen Davis.
Tight end Vernon Davis left Sunday’s 47-7 loss with a strained knee and did not return. San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Tomsula said the injury didn’t seem “too bad.”
Good News
It looks the Giants will get one of their big wide receivers back. Victor Cruz, who has not played since October 12 of last season, sustained a patellar tendon tear but is confident that he will be back for Sunday’s game against the Bills. “I’m convinced I’m playing Sunday,” Cruz said to the media.
Eagles running back DeMarco Murray should be back for Sunday’s game against the Washington Redskins. Murray missed week three’s win over the Jets with a hamstring injury. This put most of the workload on Ryan Matthews who rushed for 108 yards on 25 carries on Sunday. The Eagles will now have to determine if Matthews keeps a lead role or returns to a supporting role for Murray.
Xavier Rhodes, cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings should be back after sustaining a concussion in Sunday’s win against the San Diego chargers. Coach Mike Zimmer said that Rhodes is “feeling great,” and that he’s already passed one of the NFL’s concussion protocol tests. The Vikings will need their secondary to be strong when they take on Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos.
