The Training Room: Week 4 Injury Updates

Jonathan Taylor, RB Indianapolis Colts

Injury: ankle injury

Projected Timetable: 2 weeks

Potential Replacement(s): Nyheim Hines, Phillip Lindsay

Initial Thoughts:

Initially, there was a lot of uncertainty around the Jonathan Taylor injury, but the Colts reported on Monday that Taylor did not have a high ankle sprain and he was questionable for Thursday night. High ankle sprain or not, I think it is very unlikely that Taylor plays on a short week (The Colts travel to Denver for Thursday Night Football).

If Taylor does in fact, not have a high ankle sprain, could return to action in 1-2 weeks. Eversion (low) ankle sprains do not usually affect rest of season fantasy production for NFL RBs. A high ankle sprain could cause a 12-20% decrease in fantasy points per game for the remainder of the year. Fingers crossed this is not the case.

Nyheim Hines is the Colts' backup RB, but it is unlikely he takes on the entire workload left behind by JT. Phillip Lindsay figures to work in as well.

Tua Tagovailoa, QB Miami Dolphins

Injury: concussion

Projected Timetable: 2 weeks

Potential Replacement(s): Teddy Bridgewater

Initial Thoughts:

The Miami Dolphins and NFL caught a lot of flack this past week (and rightfully so) for the handling of Tua Tagovailoa following his concussion in Week 3. Tagovailoa sustained another concussion and Week 4 and Miami has already ruled out their QB for Week 5. Because Tagovailoa has two concussions so close together, his chances of a third go up significantly. As a result, I could envision him even missing another week and being cleared to return in Week 7.

Javonte Williams, RB Denver Broncos

Injury: ACL/LCL tear

Projected Timetable: season ending

Potential Replacement(s): Melvin Gordon, Mike Boone

Initial Thoughts:

Unfortunately, the worst-case scenario is true for sophomore RB Javonte Williams. His 2022 ends prematurely as the Broncos confirmed that Williams has an ACL and LCL tear that will require surgery. This is a similar injury to J.K Dobbins last year so keep that in mind for Williams’ 2023 outlook. Regarding return to play readiness, RBs seem to require some additional time. Melvin Gordon is the obvious replacement, but Denver does seem to like Mike Boone, who has been involved in the passing game. If the Broncos continue with a two-man rotation, Boone could have value moving forward.

Jahan Dotson, WR Washington Commanders

Injury: hamstring strain

Projected Timetable: 2 weeks

Potential Replacement(s): Dyami Brown

Initial Thoughts:

All Jahan Dotson does is catch TDs, but his hamstring caught him on Sunday. Dotson left Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury and did not return. The injury sounds minor, so there is a real possibility for him to return in 2 weeks. The average time missed for NFL WRs with a hamstring strain is 2.6 weeks. However, you might want to sit Dotson upon his return. Wideouts coming back from a hamstring injury see a 18% decrease in fantasy points their first game back.

For a player like Dotson, who does not have a relatively high target share, his fantasy numbers could bottom out if he is unable to score another TD. Looking at snap percentages, Dyami Brown appears to be the next man up.

Cordarrelle Patterson, RB Atlanta Falcons

Injury: knee injury (surgery)

Projected Timetable: 4 weeks

Potential Replacement(s): Tyler Allgeier, Damien Williams

Initial Thoughts:

Although we do not have official word on the type of injury, I am speculating that Cordarrelle Patterson is having an arthroscopy (scope) procedure based on the timeline and initial reports coming out of Atlanta. Patterson will have to miss four weeks by being placed on IR, the good news is that he should be able to return to form in Week 9 based on data for RBs post-knee scope.

Everyone in your league is going to be clamoring Tyler Allgeier, but this is a late-round rookie who is a converted linebacker from his time at BYU. It's unlikely that the Falcons just turn to him and give him the keys to the car. Damien Williams appeared to be involved prior to his injury and is eligible to return in Week 6. He could be another sneaky stash.

Treylon Burks, WR Tennessee Titans

Injury: turf toe

Projected Timetable: 4

Potential Replacement(s): Kyle Phillips, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine

Initial Thoughts:

Treylon Burks is dealing with turf toe. This type of injury can be painful and make football activities difficult for an NFL WR. On average, WRs miss 3.6 weeks with a turf toe injury (dating back from 2017-2021). There is a mild risk of re-injury at ~11%, but fantasy production, upon return, naviagtes back towards the mean. This is likely because this injury is very difficult for a WR to play through an when thye return it is because they are ready and not still dealing with the lingering effects.

Burks appeared to injure his toe earlier in the game and tried to play through it. It’s possible he made it worse and later needed to be carted to the locker room. As a result, I'm projecting Burks to miss closer to 4 weeks instead of the shorter end of a 2-4 week projected return to play timeline for a turf toe injury.

Daniel Jones, QB New York Giants

Injury: ankle injury (likely high ankle)

Projected Timetable: 2-4 weeks

Potential Replacement(s): Tyrod Taylor (assuming he clears concussion protocol)

Initial Thoughts:

Daniel Jone's ankle injury was a little more apparent than the aforementioned Jonathan Taylor. Video is never diagnostic, but Jones' mechanism did fit that of a high ankle sprain. Head Coach of the Giants, Brian Daboll, did not give reporters any substantial information regarding Jones' ankle.

Assuming it is a high ankle sprain it, NFL QBs since 2017 that have returned from this injury see production normalize. QBs who rely on rushing to boost their fantasy output were more limited (Kyler Murray 2021). Daniel Jones’ ceiling could be capped when he does return since some of his fantasy production is fueled but running the ball.

Tyrod Taylor is next in line, but he was also ruled out of Sunday’s game with a concussion. He will need to clear the NFL concussion protocol before he returns.

Jamison Crowder, WR Buffalo Bills

Injury: ankle fracture

Projected Timetable: 8 weeks

Potential Replacement(s): Isaiah Mckenzie

Initial Thoughts:

Jamison Crowder sustained an ankle fracture on Sunday and will very likely end up on IR. The severity and location of the fracture will determine when/if he is able to return, but it is possible that his 2022 season is over. At the very least, he should end up on the IR for quite some time. McKenzie should get a long-term bump in playing time, but he's dealing with a concussion, so Khalil Shakir could actually start in the slot in Week 5.

Rashod Bateman, WR Baltimore Ravens

Injury: foot injury

Projected Timetable: 2 weeks

Potential Replacement(s): Devin Duvernay

Initial Thoughts:

I get nervous anytime I see an NFL WR dealing with a foot injury, especially when we hear “mid-foot sprain.” Even though Rashod Bateman is dealing with a mid-foot injury, it does not sound like a Lisfranc, and John Harbaugh told the press that the injury was “not serious.”

Looking at data from 2017, NFL WRs missed 4.2 weeks with a foot injury and looking a 3-game average following the injury; compared to their healthy average, fantasy point totals dipped by 25%. It’s possible this “not so serious” foot injury lingers for Rashod Bateman. Follow his practice reports this week. If Bateman does not have at least a limited practice Friday, I am skeptical he suits up in Week 5.

Injury Tracker - 2022

Player	Position	Team	Injury	Week of Injury	Projected Return
Dak Prescott	QB	Dallas	thumb fracture	Week 1	Week 7
Elijah Mitchell	RB	San Francisco	MCL sprain	Week 1	Week 10
Keenan Allen	WR	Los Angeles Chargers	hamstring strain	Week 1	Week 5
Damien Williams	RB	Atlanta	rib injury	Week 1	Week 6
Trey Lance	QB	San Francisco	ankle	Week 2	SEASON ENDING
Dalvin Cook	RB	Minnesota	shoulder	Week 3	Week 5
David Montgomery	RB	Chicago	knee/ankle	Week 3	Week 7
D'Andre Swift	RB	Detroit	shoulder	Week 3	Week 7
Mac Jones	QB	New England	high ankle sprain	Week 3	Week 8
Michael Thomas	WR	New Orleans	toe	Week 3	Week 6
Sterling Shepard	WR	New York Giants	L ACL tear	Week 3	SEASON ENDING
Jonathan Taylor	RB	Indianapolis	ankle injury	Week 4	Week 7
Tua Tagovailoa	QB	Miami	concussion	Week 4	Week 7
Javonte Williams	RB	Denver	ACL/LCL	Week 4	SEASON ENDING
Jahan Dotson	WR	Washington	hamstring strain	Week 4	Week 7
Treylon Burks	WR	Tennessee	turf toe	Week 4	Week 9
Cordarrelle Patterson	RB	Atlanta	knee injury	Week 4	Week 9
Daniel Jones	QB	New York Giants	ankle injury	Week 4	Week 7-9
Rashod Bateman	WR	Baltimore	foot injury	Week 4	Week 7