Fantasy Football Week 3 Injury Report: Not Thielen Very Good
Justin Herbert, QB Los Angeles Chargers
Injury: Right High Ankle Sprain reinjury
Projected Timetable: Week 6-7
Initial Thoughts:
It was slightly surprising that Herbert played, and entering the game he had close to a 30% reinjury risk. Sure enough, he suffered a reinjury of his right high ankle. The key question will be how much more damage and tissue trauma occurred, or was it more so just a painful aggravation of the tissue that was already trying to heal? If the latter, I do believe he will have a decent chance at returning soon. One key variable is that the Chargers have a Week 5 bye, so the smart decision would be to keep him out Week 4, reassess his progress and healing rate during the bye week, and determine if he can return for Week 6. If the reinjury did result in more tissue damage and joint instability, the risk is that he may require a tightrope procedure to stabilize his ankle. However, I currently lean towards him resting for the next two weeks with a decent chance to return after their bye.
Skylar Thompson, QB Miami Dolphins
Injury: Rib Sprain
Projected Timetable: TBD
Initial Thoughts:
The only information released is that he suffered a rib injury, with no known information on whether there are any fractures or if it is rib cartilage damage. Miami has a Week 6 bye so there is a risk of him missing until Week 7, however, I do believe Miami strongly considers installing Tyler Huntley at quarterback. Thompson struggled to move the ball and took a ton of hits leading to his injury.
Sam Darnold, QB Minnesota Vikings
Injury: Left MCL Sprain
Projected Timetable: Week 4-5
Initial Thoughts:
Thankfully his injury seemed minor and he was able to return to the game with only a slight limp. His knee likely swells and is painful after the game. He is set to undergo an MRI on Monday to determine extent of damage, so I will be monitoring his status. Leaning towards this being a minor sprain with a decent chance to play week 4.
Justin Jefferson, WR Minnesota Vikings
Injury: Finger
Projected Timetable: Week 4
Initial Thoughts:
He reportedly got X-rays on his finger, which were negative, and told the media that he is fine for next week. Likely a minor sprain which should not hinder his ability to play as long as he can get the swelling down and maintain full range.
DeVonta Smith, WR Philadelphia Eagles
Injury: Concussion
Projected Timetable: Week 4-5
Initial Thoughts:
The majority of wide receivers miss 0.6 games due to concussion, but his return is fully dependent on his ability to progress through each stage in the concussion protocol. The Eagles play next Sunday, so he has the full 6 days available to get cleared by Saturday. Monitor his progress.
DJ Moore, WR Chicago Bears
Injury: Left MCL Sprain concern
Projected Timetable: Week 4-5
Initial Thoughts:
By video, he was lucky that his momentum carried his body forward and his cleat did not stick into the ground as the defender hit his knee inwards into the valgus, a typical sprain mechanism for the MCL. He missed one snap and then returned after a timeout without appearing to be limping or favoring his knee. I like his ability to play Week 4, but we will need to rely on his practice participation to determine his status. It seems minor and lucky to avoid a worse injury.
Tank Dell, WR Houston Texans
Injury: Hand Contusion
Projected Timetable: Week 4
Initial Thoughts:
Reported as a minor hand sprain/contusion that should not hinder his ability to play next week. Monitor his status in practice this week, and if any reports surface regarding him needing an X-ray on his hand. For now, I will assume he is set to play next week without issue.
Adam Thielen, WR Carolina Panthers
Injury: Hamstring Strain
Projected Timetable: Week 4-5
Initial Thoughts:
Wide receivers miss an average of 1.3 games due to hamstring injury. Considering his injury came in-game, this could put his Week 4 status in jeopardy but monitor his practice participation throughout the week. He was initially ruled questionable and took a while to be officially ruled out, indicating that he was attempting to test it out for a while to determine a return to play which would make me lean towards a minor sprain.
Sam LaPorta, TE Detroit Lions
Injury: Right Low Ankle Sprain, Inversion
Projected Timetable: Week 4-6
Initial Thoughts:
LaPorta's right ankle got pinned underneath a defender and rolled inwards into inversion fairly aggressively, leading to a low inversion ankle sprain. Typically these cost an average of 1.5 games for tight ends, however, this did appear to be closer to a moderate ankle sprain, would could lead to closer to 3-4 weeks depending on pain levels, swelling, and range of motion return. Reinjury becomes a high concern due to the ligament instability from trauma plus Detroit tends to be more conservative in regards to return from injury, so we will see how they approach his injury. Detroit has a bye week 5, so there is a risk that they hold him out until after the bye week.
Trey McBride, TE Arizona Cardinals
Injury: Concussion
Projected Timetable: Week 4-5
Initial Thoughts:
McBride has 6 full days to clear concussion protocol to play in Week 4. Monitor his practice status closely this week.
| 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 | IR | Week 7-10 |
| Hollywood Brown | WR | KC | Left SC Posterior Sprain | IR | Week 16-18 |
| Jordan Love | QB | GB | Left MCL Sprain | Week 1 | Week 4 |
| Kenneth Walker | RB | SEA | Oblique Strain | Week 1 | Week 4-5 |
| Jordan Addison | WR | MIN | Right High Ankle Sprain | Week 1 | Week 4-6 |
| Keenan Allen | WR | CHI | Heel Bruise reinjury | Week 1 | Week 4-5 |
| David Njoku | TE | CLE | Right High Ankle Sprain | Week 1 | Week 4-6 |
| Darius Slayton | WR | NYG | Thumb Sprain | Week 3 | Week 4-6 |
| Puka Nacua | WR | LAR | Right Knee PCL | Week 1 | Week 7-9 |
| A.J. Brown | WR | PHI | Hamstring | Week 2 | Week 4-6 |
| Justin Jefferson | WR | MIn | Finger | Week 3 | Week 4 |
| Tank Dell | WR | HOU | Hand Contusion | Week 3 | Week 4 |
| Evan Engram | TE | JAC | Hamstring | Week 2 | Week 4-5 |
| Tua Tagovailoa | QB | MIA | Concussion | Week 2 | TBD |
| Cooper Kupp | WR | LAR | Left High Ankle Sprain | Week 2 | Week 7-10 |
| Justin Herbert | QB | LAC | Right High Ankle reinjury | Week 2, Week 3 | Week 6-7 |
| Sam Darnold | QB | MIN | Left MCL | Week 3 | Week 4 |
| Skylar Thompson | QB | MIA | Rib Injury | Week 3 | Week 7-TBD |
| DeVonta Smith | WR | PHI | Concussion | Week 3 | Week 4-5 |
| D.J. Moore | WR | CHI | Left Knee, MCL | Week 3 | Week 4 |
| Adam Thielen | WR | CAR | Hamstring | Week 3 | Week 4-5 |
