The Training Room: Week 7 Injury Updates
Bye weeks continue to be a challenge as notable names struggle with returning back to the field due to injury. With that being said, there are a lot of guys who are close to coming back but are up in the air heading into Week 7. Let's discuss some of the injuries that occurred during Week 6 but also some very notable names that are on the mend and making their way back.
Amari Cooper, WR Cowboys
Injury: Quad Contusion
Timetable For Return: Questionable, expected to play
Potential Replacement: Michael Gallup, Randall Cobb, Tavon Austin
Comments: You don't have to look much further than Todd Gurley who is currenlty recovering from a quad contusion to get an idea of what Cooper is potentially dealing with. Pain becomes the biggest issue that athletes struggle to return from when it comes to a quad contusion, so even though the reports are saying that Cooper is expected to play, there is more risk than normal here. Quad issues can be hard to fully stress the leg with sprinting but also when trying to slow the body down or decerelerate the body. Cooper sounds like he's going to be active, but there is some risk for an in-game aggravation just based on the nature of his injury.
Alvin Kamara, RB Saints
Injury: High Ankle Sprain
Timetable For Return: Ruled OUT for Week 7
Potential Replacement: Latavius Murray
Comments: Kamara has not practiced all week and it's fair to wonder why he even played last week based on what we know about his ankle. He'll be highly questionable heading into next week but the hope is some rest will allow his ankle to recover quicker.
James Conner, RB Steelers
Injury: Strained Quad
Timetable For Return: Week-To-Week
Potential Replacement: Benny Snell Jr.
Comments: Conner went down with the injury on Sunday night against the Chargers and did not return. He'll have the bye week to try and get healthy, but soft tissue injuries do have a tendency to hang around, especially in the quad region so he'll be questionable at best once the Steelers come out of their bye.
Josh Gordon, WR Patriots
Injury: Sprained Knee
Timetable For Return: Week-To-Week, Ruled OUT for MNF
Potential Replacement: Phillip Dorsett, Jakobi Meyers
Comments: Gordon went down awkwardly as he was making a tackle on a fumble in Week 6. Gordon has not practiced all week and has been ruled out against the Jets. He's not a guarantee heading into Week 8 either so his practice availability will be crucial to keep tabs on next week to week how he's doing
On The Mend
Todd Gurley, RB Rams
Injury: Quad Contusion
Timetable For Return: Removed from injury report
Potential Replacement: Malcolm Brown, Darrell Henderson
Comments: Gurley will be available to play in Week 7 after being out last week due to the quad issue he's dealing with. The Rams feel that he's close enough to full health to give it a go and should be a solid option against the Falcons defense.
Davante Adams, WR Packers
Injury: Turf Toe
Timetable For Return: Week-To-Week, Ruled OUT for Week 7
Potential Replacement: Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Geronimo Allison
Comments: Remember when Adams stated that he wasn't going to miss any time with this issue? Adams will now miss his 3rd straight game due to the turf toe and it remains to be seen when he will return to the field. Even with a low grade sprain, the constant pushing off of the toe makes it very difficult to try and return quickly from this injury.
Saquon Barkley, RB Giants
Injury: High Ankle Sprain
Timetable For Return: Expected to play Week 7
Potential Replacement: Wayne Gallman
Comments: Full practice is all you need to know with regards to Barkley's availability. Barring any setbacks he'll make his anticipated return this weekend against the Cardinals.
Sterling Shepard, WR Giants
Injury: Concussion
Timetable For Return:Week-To-Week, Ruled OUT for Week 7
Potential Replacement: Golden Tate, Darius Slayton
Comments: Shepard has had multiple concussions this year so the Giants are going to be more cautious to make sure his symptoms are completely gone to have any consideration of returning.
Evan Engram, TE Giants
Injury: Sprained MCL
Timetable For Return: Expected to return Week 7
Potential Replacement: Rhett Ellison
Comments: Engram looks to have recovered quicker than originally expected as he was back on the practice field without any limitations. He's a solid start against the Cardinals.
Mitch Trubisky, QB Bears
Injury: Dislocated non-throwing shoulder
Timetable For Return: Questionable, expected to play Week 7
Potential Replacement: Chase Daniels
Comments: Trubisky has practiced in limited fashion all week but is expected to be under center on Sunday. He'll have a harness on his non-throwing shoulder to protect it from further irritation, but it shouldn't affect his performance too much.
Rashaad Penny, RB Seahawks
Injury: Strained Hamstring
Timetable For Return: Expected to return Week 7
Potential Replacement: C.J. Prosise
Comments: Penny will return to the Seahawks backfield and will resume his change of pace back duties behind Chris Carson.
Sammy Watkins, WR Chiefs
Injury: Strained Hamstring
Timetable For Return: 2-3 Weeks, OUT for TNF
Potential Replacement: Demarcus Robinson, Mecole Hardman
Comments: Watkins is still a week or two away from possibly returning from the hamstring injury. Robinson and Hardman will continue to fill in during his absence.
Devin Singletary, RB Bills
Injury: Strained Hamstring
Timetable For Return: Expected to return Week 7
Potential Replacement: Frank Gore, T.J. Yeldon
Comments: Singletary's return to a full practice this week coming off a bye is a great sign that he will be available against the Dolphins this weekend. They might ease his way back into his normal workload to ensure that the hamstring holds up but he has a great matchup against the Dolphins.
Christian Kirk, WR Cardinals
Injury: Sprained Ankle
Timetable For Return: Not expected to play Week 7
Potential Replacement: Pharoh Cooper, KeeSean Johnson
Comments: Coach Kingsbury has stated that Kirk needs to be 100% before returning to the field. He's practiced in limited fashion all week but it seems that the Cardinals still feel that another week of rest would be the best thing for his ankle.
Tyrell Williams, WR Raiders
Injury: Plantar Fascitis
Timetable For Return: 1-3 Weeks, ruled OUT for Week 7
Potential Replacement: Hunter Renfrow, Zay Jones
Comments: Williams had the bye week to try and get healthy, but apparently he is dealing with plantar fascitis which can be difficult manage in the foot. The repetitive running and change of direction is potentially creating more irritation as well. My guess is that he's still not healthy enough to try and get back on the field as reports are stating that it hasn't gotten much better even with the bye week. This could be an issue the rest of the season and he'll have to figure out how to get the discomfort to a manageable level to get back out on the field.