The Training Room: Week 7 Injury Recap
Deshaun Watson, QB Cleveland Browns
Injury: Head, Right Shoulder
Projected Timetable: Week 8
Initial Thoughts:
This situation likely still warrants monitoring, but head coach Kevin Stefanski has already said that the team kept Watson out due to precaution and he will be starting in Week 8. It seems a little odd that he was medically cleared to return but the team chose not to after just five pass attempts. Watson was spotted rotating his right arm a little bit, typically an indication that the player feels something off, so monitor his status in practice closely.
Jalen Hurts, QB Philadelphia Eagles
Injury: Left Knee
Projected Timetable: Week 8
Initial Thoughts:
Hurts was noticeably dealing with some kind of injury in the first half, moving much slower and labored than usual. He came out of the locker room in the second half with a brace on his left knee but played well through the injury. A brace is not typically used for muscle strains, so my assumption here is a mild MCL sprain that does not prevent him from playing.
Bijan Robinson, RB Atlanta Falcons
Injury: Headache
Projected Timetable: Week 8
Initial Thoughts:
AFTER the game, we found out that he was dealing with a severe headache that continued to worsen as the game went on. Always lovely to find out these situations after rosters lock. He and Arthur Smith seemed to indicate that he will be ready to go for Week 8, but sometimes headaches can linger or worsen over several days, so monitor his status. For now, assume he actually plays next week.
Jerome Ford, RB Cleveland Browns
Injury: Right Ankle
Projected Timetable: Week 8-11
Initial Thoughts:
By video, there does seem to be a small concern for a right high ankle sprain, which typically comes with a 2-3 week timeline for running backs to return, if not longer. However, his foot did not stick in the turf as much as we typically see with high ankle sprains, so there is still a chance this is just a low ankle sprain, in which case he could probably suit up for Week 8. As of right now, considering he was not able to return to the game plus Ford was seen wearing a boot after the game, I am operating under the assumption that this is a high ankle and he will be out for several weeks. Bump to Kareem Hunt.
Saquon Barkley, RB New York Giants
Injury: Left Elbow Hyperextension
Projected Timetable: Week 8
Initial Thoughts:
After running around the edge and falling out of bounds, Barkley placed his left hand down to brace and suffered a mild elbow hyperextension. He was able to return to the game with a compression sleeve on, and while it likely hurts and swells after the game, I doubt this keeps him from playing.
Jaylen Waddle, WR Miami Dolphins
Injury: Back Strain
Projected Timetable: Week 8-9
Initial Thoughts:
While he missed several drives with a back strain, he was able to eventually return and has been playing through the back injury, likely a muscle spasm or strain. It may tighten up and hurt more post-game, but my guess is that he will be able to play next week. There's potential for less production and efficiency, though.
Christian Watson, WR Green Bay Packers
Injury: Right Knee
Projected Timetable: Week 8-10
Initial Thoughts:
Given the mechanism, I do not think we need to be concerned about ACL, but his knee was driven inwards pretty rapidly with his foot caught underneath him. I think there is some concern about an MCL injury for Watson, as well as a potential meniscus injury. I’m sure he will be getting imaging on Monday to determine the extent of the injury, even if it is to make sure there is no tear. One problematic variable is that this is the same knee in which he had a meniscus repair in college, an arthroscopic procedure in June last season, and then the same side in which he has suffered multiple hamstring strains. If it is mild, he likely does not miss time, but I am operating under the assumption he misses a few weeks given past history.
Jerry Jeudy, WR Denver Broncos
Injury: Groin
Projected Timetable: Week 8
Initial Thoughts:
He notably went down to the ground after he ran out of bounds after a catch and run, though this one looked like it was more of a gonad check versus a groin strain. Keep an eye on his status this week in practice to see if it was a muscle strain or not.
Luke Musgrave, TE Green Bay Packers
Injury: Left Ankle
Projected Timetable: Week 8-9
Initial Thoughts:
By video, it appeared to be a very mild ankle sprain/roll on a contested catch in which he was running backward, but he was spotted leaving the locker room with a boot on. The boot is likely a precaution until he gets imaging, but it is indicative of him dealing with pain at the least. For now, I am operating under the assumption this is a mild ankle sprain with a good chance to suit up next week, but that old George Kittle rare cuboid fracture in this similar backward running mechanism always lingers in my mind. That is such a rare fracture incident, so I would not even worry about that being the case here. Assume low ankle sprain.
Gerald Everett, TE Los Angeles Chargers
Injury: Quadriceps Strain
Projected Timetable: Week 8-9
Initial Thoughts:
He was listed as questionable to return to the game after suffering a quadriceps strain. This could wind up being a 1-2 week absence if not mild. Monitor his practice status. If he were to miss time, it should lead to a bump to Donald Parham.
| Player | Position | Team | Injury | Week of Injury | Projected Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deshaun Watson | QB | CLE | Head, Right Shoulder | Week 7 | Week 8-9 |
| Saquon Barkley | RB | NYG | Left Elbow | Week 7 | Week 8 |
| Daniel Jones | QB | NYG | Neck | Week 5 | Week 8-TBD |
| Justin Fields | QB | CHI | Right Thumb Dislocation | Week 6 | Week 9-10 |
| Anthony Richardson | QB | IND | Right AC Sprain | Week 5 | Season Ending |
| James Conner | RB | ARI | Knee | Week 5 | Week 11 |
| Roschon Johnson | RB | CHI | Concussion | Week 5 | Week 8 |
| De'Von Achane | RB | MIA | Ankle | Week 5 | Week 11 |
| Khalil Herbert | RB | CHI | Right High Ankle | Week 5 | Week 10 |
| Pat Freiermuth | TE | PIT | Hamstring Reinjury | Week 7 | Week 11-12 |
| DK Metcalf | WR | SEA | Hip | Week 6 | Week 8 |
| Justin Jefferson | WR | MIN | Right Hamstring | Week 5 | Week 10-12 |
| Ryan Tannehill | QB | TEN | Right Ankle | Week 6 | Week 9-12 |
| Bijan Robinson | RB | ATL | Headaches | Week 7 | Week 8 |
| Jerome Ford | RB | CLE | Right Ankle | Week 7 | Week 8-11 |
| Jalen Hurts | QB | PHI | Left Knee | Week 7 | Week 8 |
| Zay Jones | WR | JAC | Knee | Week 5 | Week 8 |
| Tank Dell | WR | HOU | Concussion | Week 5 | Week 8 |
| Jimmy Garoppolo | QB | LV | Back | Week 6 | Week 8-9 |
| Jaylen Waddle | WR | MIA | Back Strain | Week 7 | Week 8 |
| Christian McCaffrey | RB | SF | Oblique, Rib | Week 6 | Week 7 |
| Deebo Samuel | WR | SF | Hairline Fracture Clavicle | Week 6 | Week 10-11 |
| Christian Watson | WR | GB | Right Knee | Week 7 | Week 8-10 |
| Kyren Williams | RB | LAR | Ankle, IR | Week 6 | Week 12 |
| Luke Musgrave | TE | GB | Left Ankle | Week 7 | Week 8-9 |
