The Training Room: Week 4 Injury Updates

Sep 23, 2014

This week’s training room wasn't as volatile as Week 2, but there are still several names well worth looking at. With bye weeks becoming a big factor in fantasy leagues, you want to make sure you have enough room on your bench to keep the guys worth holding onto, and cut bait with guys that don't hold value. Below are the injuries from this past week that you need to keep an eye on to help in your decision making:

Dennis Pitta

Dislocated/Fractured hip: Falling on the hip or significant trauma to the hip can cause the ball (femoral head) to come out of the socket (acetabulum). Posterior dislocations of the hip are more common when they occur, which is what Pitta sustained in Week 3 against the Browns.

Bottom Line: It’s another brutal season ending surgery for Pitta after going through the same surgery just a year ago. To put this type of injury in perspective, hip dislocations usually occur from a traumatic event, such as a car accident. The fact that Pitta dislocated his hip twice playing football is almost unheard of. Pitta returned to the field five months after his initial hip surgery in 2013, so barring any unforeseen complications this time around, he should be ready for next season. Pitta’s health will be a something to keep an eye on next year, but for now, Owen Daniels will be the primary TE for the Ravens.

Matt Cassel

Multiple Foot Fractures: The main role of the foot is to help dissipate forces as you put weight through it. There are many bones, ligaments, and other structures that help make up the foot. Direct trauma to the bones of the foot can cause a break if they aren’t able to withstand the force. Cassel‘s foot was landed on awkwardly in the 2^nd quarter and he did not return.

Bottom Line: There is no immediate timetable for Cassel, as it’s likely the VIkings they will wait for the swelling in Cassel’s foot to go down before deciding if surgery is an option or not. Regardless, Teddy Bridgewater seems like he is here to stay as Cassel wasn’t exactly lighting the world on fire with his play prior to his injury.

Danny Woodhead

Fractured Fibula: The tibia and fibula are the bones that make up lower leg. The fibula is the bone on the lateral aspect of the lower leg that is an attachment point for many muscles, tendons, and ligaments. A fracture to the fibula can cause immediate pain and difficulty attempting to fully put weight through the leg. Woodhead was carted off the field after his first carry of the game.

Bottom Line: Woodhead will undergo season ending surgery to help repair the damage that was suffered in his ankle. It’s a tough loss for the Chargers, as heading into the season; they had a very deep backfield. With Ryan Mathews lost to an MCL sprain last week and now Woodhead’s season ending ankle surgery, Donald Brown will be asked to carry the load. Pick him up if he’s still available in your league.