The Training Room: Week 14 Injury Updates

Across all sports, rivalries are what make the games fun. For some fans, there is nothing worse than losing to your team’s most hated foe. In football, the most historied rivalry is the Chicago Bears versus the Green Bay Packers. Growing up in the Chicagoland area even when the Bear’s stunk if they beat the Packers it was a good year. This past Sunday I was fortunate to get the opportunity to travel to Lambeau Field for the Sunday night matchup. If you have never made it to Lambeau, I highly recommend it. It’s like a spaceship dropped a giant football stadium in the middle of suburbia, nothing like my many experiences traveling to Soldier Field.

As some of my fantasy teams this year, the Chicago Bears season has been rough. I will say the overwhelming majority of Green Bay fans were welcoming but for whatever reason the section I was sitting in consisted of…let’s call it a spirited bunch representing both teams. After a stellar first half, nothing went right for Chicago in the second half and the game was rapidly slipping away. A few rows back a voice shouted out “David and Goliath ever heard of it? Time to rally!” Standing in a sea of Packer fans, it was a lone bare-chested male, with Zumba’s and a cheese grater hat. Needless to say, the rally didn’t work out for us Chicago fans. As we head into the fantasy playoffs this week, hopefully, most of you were able to pull off a rally and sneak into the championship run while keeping your dignity and clothes on.

Lamar Jackson, QB Baltimore Ravens

Injury: right ankle injury (unspecific)

Projected Timetable: unknown

Potential Replacement(s): Tyler Huntley

Initial Thoughts:

Although there were a few impactful fantasy football injuries this weekend, likely none were as prominent as the Lamar Jackson ankle injury. All the video angles I have looked at of Jackson’s injury do not show a clear picture of what happened therefore, it is difficult to speculate on the significance. It does not sound like Jackson has an ankle fracture which is at least good news for his rest of season outlook. If he has a classic inversion ankle sprain, he could play next week with limited mobility, while a high ankle sprain would hurt his chances. Fantasy managers are going to have to wait until we get more information.

Tony Pollard, RB Dallas Cowboys

Injury: plantar fascia tear

Projected Timetable: 1-3 weeks

Potential Replacement(s): Corey Clement

Initial Thoughts:

Last week we learned that Tony Pollard was nursing a plantar fascia injury. Dallas ruled him out over the weekend. Although small plantar fascia tears rarely lead to season-ending injuries, they are difficult to manage because they are very painful. An NFL RB needs to be able to plant his foot, change directions and accelerate quickly, all of which can aggravate the plantar fascia injury. Although Pollard might be able to return in Week 15, it would not surprise me if he missed another week or two.

Kareem Hunt, RB Cleveland Browns

Injury: ankle sprain (likely high ankle)

Projected Timetable: 3-4 weeks

Potential Replacement(s): D’Ernest Johnson

Initial Thoughts:

Early Sunday, Cleveland running back Kareem Hunt exited Sunday with what looked like a high ankle sprain. If that is the case, then there is a chance that Hunt does not return for the rest of the fantasy football season. It is likely well known to most fantasy gamers that high ankle sprains are killers for the RB position. The average time missed is four weeks with a 20% decline in fantasy production once the player returns.

D.J. Moore, WR Carolina Panthers

Injury: hamstring strain

Projected Timetable: 2-4 weeks

Potential Replacement(s): Robby Anderson, Brandon Zylstra

Initial Thoughts:

Carolina is listed D.J. Moore “day to day” with a hamstring injury. Typically for NFL wide receivers this is at least a 2-week injury but could extend longer. Moore has been up and down this season, but in the midst of the fantasy playoffs, this is less than an ideal injury. With the Panthers’ season pretty much over, there’s no real reason to rush DJM back. Robby Anderson stepped up time Sunday, but surprisingly Brandon Zylstra played more snaps and out-targeted Terrace Marshall five to zero

Josh Allen, QB Buffalo Bills

Injury: turf toe

Projected Timetable: 0-2 weeks

Potential Replacement(s): Mitch Trubisky

Initial Thoughts:

Josh Allen is downplaying his turf toe injury, telling reporters that he does not think it is a big deal and he should play in Week 15. Because he plays the quarterback position, I tend to agree. A turf toe injury typically would be more limiting for skill position players. I do think this injury could affect Allen’s mobility, much like Patrick Mahomes’ was during the playoffs last year. Allen currently ranks third amongst QBs in rush attempts, while 25% of his fantasy output has come from running plays. I expect Allen to be good moving forward but his ceiling may have dropped a hair.

Terry McLaurin, WR Washington Football Team

Injury: concussion

Projected Timetable: 1-4 weeks

Potential Replacement(s): Adam Humphries, DeAndre Carter

Initial Thoughts:

Terry McLaurin will start this week in the concussion protocol after sustaining an injury Sunday. As I have discussed in this column before, concussions are highly variable and it will all depend on how McLaurin’s symptoms progress this week. As it stands now, he is at risk of missing Week 15. Adam Humphries and DeAndre Carter led WFT in targets following McLaurin’s exit.

Rex Burkhead, RB Houston Texans

Injury: groin strain

Projected Timetable: 2-4 weeks

Potential Replacement(s): David Johnson, Royce Freeman

Initial Thoughts:

Rex Burkhead is nursing a groin strain that he sustained in Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Soft tissue injuries like this can result in multi-week absences, for a 31-year old running back. David Johnson was on the COVID-19 Reserve List last week, and if he can’t return Royce Freeman could have the Houston backfield to himself in Week 15.

Austin Ekeler, RB Los Angeles Chargers

Injury: left ankle sprain (potentially high ankle)

Projected Timetable: unknown

Potential Replacement(s): Justin Jackson, Joshua Kelley

Initial Thoughts:

Austin Ekeler injured his left ankle Sunday and did not return. This injury was one of the instances where we had a clear video angle and the mechanism of injury did fit a high ankle sprain. Video is not the end all be all, but it does give some information. The Chargers have come out and said that Ekeler’s injury is not considered serious, but there are instances where NFL teams have not been completely truthful with players' injuries. This may not be the case here but the video of Austin Ekeler’s ankle injury has me concerned. The Chargers play on Thursday night and at the very least I think Ekeler misses one game.

Melvin Gordon III, RB Denver Broncos

Injury: thumb injury

Projected Timetable: 0 weeks

Potential Replacement(s): NA

Initial Thoughts:

Melvin Gordon is dealing with a thumb injury, but it does not sound like he has a fracture and therefore will not miss any time. Thumb injuries should not be particularly limiting for NFL RBs however, Denver could use it as an excuse to get rookie Javonte Williams more playing time. Williams has been stellar the last 3 weeks, slotting in as the RB2 since Week 12.

Past Injuries Discussed: