Fantasy Football Week 1 Injury Report: Love the Game, Not the Injuries

Jordan Love, QB Green Bay Packers

Injury: Left MCL Sprain

Projected Timetable: 3-6 Weeks

Initial Thoughts:

Love's injury has been reported as a Grade 1/2 MCL sprain with a 3-6 week timetable for return, though the team is hopeful he can return sooner. Return to play will be dependent on pain levels, range of motion, and movement ability return. In theory, he could return close to week 4 with a knee stabilization brace donned, but we will not know for a few weeks as we hear about his progress. By video, there also appeared to be a pop near his patella, possibly indicating a patellar subluxation or dislocation, but this was not reported in the injury report from the team. My educated guess is that if his patella did sublux/dislocate, the MRI did not show any cartilage or ligament damage so the team did not deem it necessary to report outside of the MCL sprain. By all accounts, this was best best-case scenario for Love's ability to return and play the rest of the season. As of right now, I am leaning towards the earlier side for his return, with a chance to play either week 4 or 5. Reports indicate he is hoping to play week 4, which would be a big divisional game against Minnesota.

Josh Allen, QB Buffalo Bills

Injury: Left Hand Contusion

Projected Timetable: Week 2

Initial Thoughts:

Early reports indicate no fracture in Allen's left hand, so his return will likely come down to reducing swelling and pain. It should not limit him much going into Week 2. I do not anticipate him missing time.

Saquon Barkley, RB Philadelphia Eagles

Injury: Stinger

Projected Timetable: Returned to Game

Initial Thoughts:

By video, it appeared that Barkley suffered a mild stinger affecting his right arm after he slammed into one of his offensive linemen and had his neck jammed backward and towards the right. This is a common mechanism of a stinger where the nerve gets impacted, causes short-term pain, and resolves quickly. Kenneth Gainwell remained in the game for the remainder of the two-minute drill, but Barkley returned to the game on the first drive of the second half without any issues. This should not be a problem despite having suffered a past stinger in 2022.

Kenneth Walker, RB Seattle Seahawks

Injury: Abdomen

Projected Timetable: TBD

Initial Thoughts:

The main concern with Walker is his history of multiple groin and oblique strains and a sports hernia surgery. It is not ideal to see him pop up with an abdomen-related injury. No word on whether this is simply a contusion after taking a hard hit, causing bruising, or if it is a true strain or tear. It is difficult to estimate a return to play, but if it is simply bruising then he should be able to play next week. For what it's worth, he told reporters that "he's good", so hopefully this is simply abdominal bruising that clears up for next week.

De'Von Achane, RB Miami Dolphins

Injury: Left Hamstring/Back

Projected Timetable: TBD

Initial Thoughts:

Based on video on Achane's last touch of the game in the fourth quarter, it appeared that he was tackled awkwardly with his left leg extended while the defender hit his upper body, potentially straining his hamstring, hip or back. He was visibily in pain as he limped off of the field and that was his last play of the game. Hopefully this is nothing, but monitor practice reports this week.

Jordan Addison, WR Minnesota Vikings

Injury: Right Ankle Sprain

Projected Timetable: 2-4 weeks

Initial Thoughts:

We at least know that this injury was to his right ankle, and it was pinned underneath a defender as he was being tackled. He had previously suffered a left high ankle sprain in camp. By video, while it is tough to truly see from the broadcast view, it does fit a typical high ankle sprain mechanism as he plants his right foot and the defender pulls him down through his leg and ankle. If confirmed high ankle, he could miss close to 3-4 weeks, but if it is a low ankle sprain or mild in severity, I would expect closer to 1-2 weeks for return to play. As of now, I am leaning towards longer.

Keenan Allen, WR Chicago Bears

Injury: Undisclosed

Projected Timetable: TBD

Initial Thoughts:

Monitoring this one as Allen appeared to limp off of the field favoring his right leg after running deep downfield for a target in the end zone. Typically, these are hamstring strains, which would be concerning considering his history of hamstring strains. However, at least his 2022 strain was to his left side. He did enter the game with a heel irritation/cleat issue. Hopefully, we hear more soon. He returned to the game, so my best guess is that he will play next week without issue.

Jaylen Waddle, WR Miami Dolphins

Injury: Concussion Screening

Projected Timetable: Returned to Game

Initial Thoughts:

Waddle cleared concussion screening and returned to the game. On rare occasions, these pop up with latent symptoms the following day and the player enters concussion protocol, but the odds are low. Assume he is fine at this point.

DJ Moore, WR Chicago Bears

Injury: Right AC/Shoulder Sprain

Projected Timetable: Returned to Game

Initial Thoughts:

Similar to Waddle, Moore was able to return to his game quickly after being evaluated for a right shoulder injury after he landed hard on the sideline after making a spectacular grab. He played the rest of the game without issue, and I assume he is fine going into week 2.

Rome Odunze, WR Chicago Bears

Injury: Right MCL, Meniscus

Projected Timetable: 2-4 Weeks

Initial Thoughts:

By video, it appeared that Odunze may have suffered a Right MCL sprain as he was blocking and had a player roll up on him. He knee bent into maximal flexion and inwards, played one more snap but then limped off. He reported to staff on Monday that his knee was swollen and painful and will now undergo an MRI. My primary concern is an MCL sprain based on the mechanism, with potential of a meniscus pathology due to the latent swelling response and maximal compression and shear occurring at his knee upon getting rolled up on. On rare occasions an ACL tear can occur in these positions but the ACL is typically lax in maximal knee flexion, so this is not a main concern of mine. Best case scenario, he misses 0-2 weeks but if this is MCL or meniscus related, it may be closer to the 2-4 week timeline.

Puka Nacua, WR Los Angeles Rams

Injury: Right Knee PCL

Projected Timetable: Week-to-Week

Initial Thoughts:

Shame on me for downplaying Nacua's reinjury risk. He landed hard on his right knee presumably reaggravating his prior right knee injury. Reports had indicated it was solely a bursa irritation, which would certainly be irritated again with direct impact, but speculation remained on whether there was a PCL sprain, which can be very painful. McVay stated today that there was no prior PCL injury, so this PCL injury sounds new for Nacua. He has been labeled as week to week, but I could see the Rams holding him out until after their week 6 bye so that he has plenty of time to return to full form. Prepare to be without him until close to week 7.

David Njoku, TE Cleveland Browns

Injury: Right High Ankle Mechanism

Projected Timetable: 3-4 weeks

Initial Thoughts:

By video, it appeared that his right foot got stuck underneath him as the defender pulled him down, leading to a typical high ankle sprain mechanism. He limped off of the field and had to be helped into the locker room. The majority of tight ends have returned from high ankle sprains after missing 2-3 games, so if this is confirmed high ankle then I would assume that timetable for Njoku. Note: he left the game in a CAM boot, favoring the high ankle designation.

Jake Ferguson, TE Dallas Cowboys

Injury: Left Knee MCL Sprain, Bone Bruise

Projected Timetable: Week 4-6

Initial Thoughts:

He came down hard onto his left knee while his left foot was pinned down and into eversion by the defender. It has now been reported that Ferguson suffered an MCL sprain and bone bruise in his left knee. Dependent on severity, pain levels, range of motion, and functional return, I could see him returning after missing only two games while wearing a stabilization brace, though lateral movement and route running would likely be limited. I do believe he has a good chance to return before Dallas' week 7 bye, but keep an eye on his status.

Injury Tracker 2024

Player	Position	Team	Injury	Week of Injury	Projected Return
A.J. Dillon	RB	GB	Neck, Stinger	IR	Season-Ending
Elijah Mitchell	RB	SF	Hamstring Surgery	IR	Season Ending
J.J. McCarthy	QB	MIN	Right Meniscus Repair	IR	Season Ending
Nick Chubb	RB	CLE	ACLR	PUP	Week 5-7
T.J. Hockenson	TE	MIN	ACLR	PUP	Week 7
Jonathon Brooks	RB	CAR	ACLR	PUP	Week 5-8
Keaton Mitchell	RB	BAL	ACLR	PUP	Week 8-12
Odell Beckham	WR	MIA	Soft Tissue Related	PUP	Week 5-8
Kendrick Bourne	WR	NE	ACLR	PUP	Week 5-8
Kendre Miller	RB	NO	Hamstring	PUP	Week 5-8
Christian McCaffrey	RB	SF	Calf	Preseason	Week 1
Hollywood Brown	WR	KC	Left SC Posterior Sprain	Preseason	Week 2-5
Jordan Love	QB	GB	Left MCL Sprain	Week 1	Week 4-6
Saquon Barkley	RB	PHI	Stinger	Week 1	Week 1
Kenneth Walker	RB	SEA	Abdomen	Week 1	Week 2
Jordan Addison	WR	MIN	Right High Ankle Sprain	Week 1	Week 4-5
Keenan Allen	WR	CHI	Right Leg	Week 1	Week 2
Jaylen Waddle	WR	MIA	Concussion Screening	Week 1	Week 1
D.J. Moore	WR	CHI	Right Shoulder/AC	Week 1	Week 1
David Njoku	TE	CLE	Right High Ankle Sprain	Week 1	Week 4-6
Jake Ferguson	TE	DAL	Left Knee	Week 1	Week 4-6
Puka Nacua	WR	LAR	Right Knee	Week 1	Week 7
Rome Odunze	WR	CHI	Right Knee	Week 1	Week 2-5