NFL Week 8 Injury Report

Photo Credit: Bill Streicher/USA TODAY Sports

We are halfway through the 2015 NFL season and one thing is for certain: no team has been, or will be, spared from injuries. However, this week had plenty of unfortunate season ending injuries.

Season Ending Injuries

During Thursday night’s 36-7 loss to the New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake tore his Achilles tendon and will miss the remainder of the season. Wake recorded seven of the team’s 13 sacks for the season, and was tied for the most in the league. Those seven sacks will be the lowest since Wake’s rookie year in the NFL back in 2009. The Dolphins will now look to Derrick Shelby to take Wake’s spot at starting left defensive end. When asked about Wake’s injury, Shelby said, “Obviously, it’s a bad situation. There’s no way to match (Wake’s) production.”

Reggie Bush will undergo season-ending surgery on Tuesday for his torn MCL. The fear was initially that Bush tore his ACL, but that fear ended after his tests were negative. The San Francisco 49ers running back was carted off the field Sunday after he slipped on concrete at the St. Louis Rams’ stadium. Bush was returning a punt in the first quarter when he was pushed out of bounds and unable to stop before sliding on the concrete around the turf. Bush is not the first player to be a victim to this “ring of terror.” In week seven, Cleveland Browns quarterback Josh McCown couldn’t stop on the concrete and injured his shoulder. Bush, however, does not blame the concrete for his injury. “I’m not angry that it happened,” Bush said. “…Everybody else has played on it.”

Another player who suffered a torn MCL is Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell. According to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport, Bell will miss the rest of the season with a badly torn MCL and other damage. Last year, Bell finished second in the league in yards from scrimmage and has proved to be a vital part of the Steelers offense. Before Sunday, he was averaging more than 100 rushing yards per game. While Bell is irreplaceable, DeAngelo Williams will fill in again. Williams started for Bell during his two game suspension at the beginning of the season and rushed for a total of 194 yards and three scores.

The NFL also lost another running back with Khiry Robinson’s season ending. New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton announced on Monday that Robinson had surgery on a tibia fracture. Robinson was carted off the field during Sunday night’s 52-49 win over the New York Giants. Robinson had 180 yards and four touchdowns on the season and was starting to see more snaps prior to the injury. In the running back position, the Saints still have Mark Ingram, C.J. Spiller and rookie Marcus Murphy.

Keenan Allen will miss the rest of the season with a kidney injury. The San Diego Chargers head coach Mike McCoy announced that the wide receiver would be out for “an indefinite period of time.” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Allen had a kidney procedure on Monday. According to Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union Tribune, the procedure was done to stop the bleeding due to a laceration. Allen was placed on injured reserve while he makes a full recovery. The Chargers, who are already suffering from injuries, will miss Philip Rivers lead receiver with Allen’s absence.

With few solid receiving weapons, the loss of Steve Smith Sr. was crucial for the Baltimore Ravens. During Sunday’s win over the Chargers, Smith tore his Achilles tendon. The veteran in his 15th season is scheduled for surgery on Nov. 9, but some have been saying that he will return for the 2016 season. Back in August, Smith announced that this would be his final season but sources close to him say that he’s already talking about a return. “I have a feeling Steve Smith will be back,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said in the post-game press conference. This season, Smith already had 46 catches for 670 yards and three touchdowns.

The scariest injury this week was to Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Ricardo Lockette who had to undergo surgery Monday for ligament damage in his neck. Lockette was carted off the field in Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys after Cowboys safety Jeff Heath delivered a huge hit during a punt return. After, he laid motionless until medical personnel rushed the field to tend to him. While Lockette was being carted off the field, he raised his right arm. Heath was penalized for what officials called a “blindside block.” Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said that it was a high hit. Carroll also said that Lockette will not play again this season because in addition to the ligament damage, the fifth-year player also has a disc issue and sustained a concussion. Lockette took to Twitter to thank everyone for the support he’s received.

Wanna thank my family,12s, my teammates &coaches for all the support & prayers. Cant wait 2 get back with my teammates in Seattle. Go Hawks!

— Ricardo Lockette (@RicardoLockette) November 2, 2015

Key Injuries

Just when the Chicago Bears started to hit their stride on the offense, star running back Matt Forte brought some disappointing news. Forte was taken to the locker room in the third quarter of the team’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings with a right leg injury. Fortunately, Forte will not need surgery and is expected to play again this season, according to coach John Fox. Fox did not give a timetable for when Forte will be healthy enough to play. Forte is in the last year of his contract with the Bears.

It was double injuries for New York Jets quarterbacks during Sunday’s loss to the Oakland Raiders. First, Ryan Fitzpatrick tore ligaments in the thumb of his non-throwing hand. Fitzpatrick was then replaced by Geno Smith who injured the shoulder of his non-throwing arm and abdomen. This forced Fitzpatrick to return for the final minute of the game. Jets head coach Todd Bowles described his quarterbacks’ statuses as “day-to-day.”

Other Injuries to Watch

Detroit Lions key receiver Calvin Johnson re-injured his ankle during Sunday’s 45-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in London. Johnson was unable to return to the game and did not practice on Tuesday.

Brandon Marshall, wide receiver for the Jets, suffered injuries to his toe and ankle. Despite the injuries, Marshall was able to finish the game with the same toughness he’s had throughout his entire career. Coach Bowles said it was “too early to tell” if Marshall would be able to play in this week’s match up against the Jaguars. Marshall has been the number one receiver for the team with 40 catches for 686 yards and four touchdowns in just seven games.

With Thursday night’s division match up against the undefeated Cincinnati Bengals quickly approaching, the Cleveland Browns can’t afford to have any weak spots. Cornerback Joe Haden and safety Donte Whitner both suffered concussions in Sunday’s 34-20 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, further weakening the team’s secondary. It seems like Haden has a concussion every week leaving many wondering if the Browns will try to trade him. Head coach Mike Pettine didn’t say too much but did hint that the chances of the two playing weren’t good.

Saints corner back Damian Swann is currently undergoing the league’s concussion protocol after he collided with a teammate in the second quarter. He remained face down for a minute and eventually left for the locker room. If Swann does in fact have a concussion, it would be his second in three weeks.

After being carted off the field with a neck injury, New York Giants tight end Larry Donnell is expected to only have soreness in his neck after a non-contact injury. There have been reports that Donnell could miss time later but nothing is for sure yet. Since he is one of two starting tight ends on the team, the Giants have looked for other options.

Good News

Despite being able to finish in Sunday’s loss to the Denver Broncos, Pro Bowl linebacker Clay Matthews will need further tests on his left ankle. Matthews was able to return to the game in the third quarter after teammate Damarious Randall rolled into this left leg. After the injury, Matthews had trouble covering Broncos tight end Virgil Green. However, the Packers aren’t too concerned about the injury yet.

Be sure to check the comments section for updates throughout the week.