The Training Room: Week 11 Injury Updates
Week 10 was the week of injuries to starting quarterbacks, which now opens the door for Yates, Osweiler, Sanchez and Keenum (not injury related) to be under center for Week 11. How many people thought Brock Osweiler was actually going to get a shot to play this year and potentially keep the starting job over Peyton Manning if he performs well? It's been an interesting year for injuries, and with the fantasy season heading into the final stretch before playoffs, every positive injury update is welcomed by fantasy owners. Let's get you up to speed on players who are making their way back from injury, and those who could be out for some time due to injuries they suffered this past weekend.
On The Mend
Tony Romo (Broken Collarbone): Cowboy fans are desperately waiting for Romo to make his return when he's eligible in Week 11. The expectation, barring any setbacks, is he is going to play this week. Projection: Romo starts Week 11. The Cowboys season has been on life support since Romo went down with his injury. That said, the NFC East is always unpredictable and seems to always come down to the wire each year, so if the Cowboys can string a couple of wins together, they could somehow still have a shot.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins (Shoulder Strain): ASJ will continue to be day-to-day and, at this point, I'm kind of getting tired writing about him because I thought he'd be active two weeks ago. Why he continues to be inactive is a head scratcher. Projection: Seferian-Jenkins starts next week. Apparently ASJ has yet to be cleared for full contact by the medical team, so he'll continue to be inactive until he gets clearance.
Carlos Hyde (Foot Stress Fracture): Hyde continues to be day-to-day as he works his way back from a stress fracture in his foot. Coach Tomsula was non-committal about Hyde playing this weekend against the Seahawks, which isn't a good sign. Projection: Hyde misses Week 11. It seems Hyde's foot has not responded as well as the 49ers medical staff would've liked coming out of the bye. His status could change later in the week, but initial reports are not encouraging.
Matt Forte (Sprained MCL): Forte didn't travel with the team when they played this past weekend in St. Lous, so his practice availability is going to be very important to determine if he's close to making a comeback. He's more day-to-day than week-to-week at this point, but it is still hard to decipher the updates from Coach Fox. Projection: Forte is active Week 11. Jeremy Langford has filled in very nicely for Forte since he's been out, so if Forte does play this week, his snaps could be limited to allow him to ease back into action.
Anquan Boldin (Hamstring Strain): Boldin is clearly dealing with a higher grade strain than he initially was made it out to be. He'll be day-to-day, but with the Seahawks up next for the 49ers, he'll be hard to trust. Projection: Boldin is active for Week 11. Receivers like Boldin don't need to rely a ton on speed, but the constant starting and stopping will continue to be troublesome for his hamstring if he's still dealing with pain.
Eddie Royal (Sprained Knee): Royal has yet to practice since suffering his injury in Week 8. There's no indication he's anywhere close to returning to practice, let alone games. Projections: Royal misses 1-2 more weeks. You have to consider John Fox continues to throw smoke screens up about his injured players to confuse the media and the team he faces each week. It's gotten to the point where you can't trust any updates he gives on players, but in Royal's case, he doesn't seem to be close to returning.
T.J. Yeldon (Sprained Foot): Yeldon suffered the injury this past week and has been in a boot since Sunday's game against the Ravens, but beat reporter Ryan O'Halloran interviewed Yeldon Tuesday with him saying he'll be fine for Thurday. Projection: Yeldon is active for Week 11. The Jaguars play Thursday night, so he's going to need practice in some manner to feel more confident in his ability to be effective.
Vincent Jackson (Sprained Knee): VJax continues to be week-to-week with a knee issue, and he'll need to start practicing soon in order to feel confident he's trending in the right direction. Projection: Jackson misses one more week. The lack of information on VJax's knee injury is concerning, but hopefully we'll get a better idea of where he is physically this week.
Kendall Wright (Sprained MCL): Wright is back at practice, but only on a limited basis. He's going to have to show some quick progress in order to be available for Thursday's game against the Jaguars. Projection: Wright mIsses one more week and returns for Week 12. If Wright was playing on Sunday, there may been a chance he suits up, but the Thursday night game makes it more difficult to return.
Ladarius Green (Ankle Sprain): Green's inability to practice after the bye week is a red flag that he could be dealing with a high ankle sprain instead of your normal ankle sprain. He'll continue to be day to day, but it's looking more likely that he'll sit out again this week. Projection: Misses 1-2 more games. Green will continue to rehab the ankle/foot in hopes of getting healthier for Week 12.
Leonard Hankerson (Strained Hamstring): Hankerson returned to practice early this week, but returned on a limited basis. He could be limited the majority of this week to limit his reps, but he's trending in the right direction. Projection: Hankerson is active Week 11. Hankerson's hamstring injury is just another example of how hamstring strains continue to be a significant injury to NFL receivers. Hankerson could be on a snap count in his first game in a few weeks, but should slot right back into his role opposite Julio Jones.
The Training Room
Peyton Manning
Bottom Line: Manning has been ruled out for Week 11 already, but if anyone saw this past weekend's game against the Chiefs, he is nowhere near close to 100 percent. He'll be week-to-week as they try and get his foot pain under control (which will also help his rib issue to heal as well).
Projection: Manning misses 2-4 weeks. Peyton tried playing through a bad quad injury last year and it really affected the way he played the game. That seems to be the case here as well with his inability to push off his left foot to generate velocity on his throws. Partial tears to the plantar fascia are difficult since the tissue has poor healing properties, so continued strain will cause the pain to linger. The likelihood Manning continues to have pain in his foot for the rest of the season is high, as constant strain when pushing off the foot will continue to cause discomfort. Manning is in unchartered territory here, as even with the lack of arm strength since his neck surgeries, he's always been able to hide any physical deficiences with his intelligence of the game. If the Broncos want to make a deep run, they'll need to rely on their defense and somehow figure out their running game, as Manning is more of a game manager at this point (I can't believe I just wrote that).
Julian Edelman
Bottom Line: Edelman will have surgery on his foot that will involve inserting a screw into the fractured area to help expedite the healing process. There's no indication he'll miss the rest of the season, but his season now becomes in doubt if the Patriots don't make a deep playoff run.
Projection: Edelman misses rest of regular season and returns for postseason. This obviously won't help fantasy owners, but Jones fractures take time to heal as shown by Dez Bryant. It took Dez seven weeks to return, with normal timetables being 6-8 weeks. People can return sooner than the estimated timetable, but effectiveness is another question when trying to return too quickly.
Justin Hunter
Bottom Line: There have been no reports as to whether or not Hunter will require surgery to help stabilize his ankle fracture, but regardless, he'll miss the rest of the season.
Projection: Hunter makes a full recovery for 2016. Hunter has yet to get through a full season since being drafted in 2013. The talent is there, but his health continues to limit his upside.
Sam Bradford
Bottom Line: Bradford was diagnosed with a grade 2 AC joint sprain, which is a full rupture of the AC ligament that sits on top of the shoulder and helps stabilize the collarbone to the shoulder blade. Bradford was seen without a sling on the practice field on Tuesday, so his shoulder is apparently feeling better than initially expected.
Projection: Bradford misses 1-2 weeks. Even though the injury is to his non-throwing shoulder, the Eagles medical staff will still try and get the pain under control as much as possible. AC joint sprains are always a risk, but the hope is to create as much stability in the shoulder to allow him to play without limitations. The concussion he suffered at the same time he suffered the shoulder injury is also a concerning issue to keep an eye on as well.
Michael Floyd
Bottom Line: Floyd sat out towards the end of the game against the Seahawks due to his hamstring, so it is concerning considering the game was still close. He'll be day-to-day for now, but hopefully he doesn't suffer any setbacks that could make him doubtful to suit up this weekend.
Projection: Floyd is active for Week 11. Floyd has really come on over the past few weeks, with Carson Palmer throwing his way more often. Hopefully he'll get enough treatment to feel comfortable playing this weekend, but could be at risk for an in-game aggravation if he tries to rush his progress too quickly.
Ryan Fitzpatrick
Thumb Surgery
Bottom Line: Fitzpatrick will be day-to-day and we probably won't get a good idea of what the Jets plan to do until later in the week. The expectation is Fitzpatrick will get in limited practices to determine how well the hand responds.
Projection: Fitzpatrick starts Week 11. I was surprised Fitz was able to play the week after he hurt his thumb initially, so clearly he's going to do everything he can to suit up against the Texans.
Ryan Mathews
Bottom Line: Mathews will enter the concussion protocol and will try and get healthy for this upcoming weekend's game against the Bucs. Eagles beat reporters stated Mathews wasn't even allowed to attend practice on Tuesday, which is not a good start to the week.
Projection: Mathews misses Week 11. Mathews does have a concussion history (2009 in college and 2013 with the Chargers), so there is no guarantee he progresses quickly. However, every concussion is different so continue to monitor this situation.
Brian Hoyer
Bottom Line: Hoyer will be day-to-day as he tries to get healthy and go through the concussion protocol. It may be difficult for Hoyer to get cleared in time for this upcoming weekend's game against the Jets since he played on Monday night, but anything can happen.
Projection: Misses Week 11. The signing of Brandon Weeden suggests that the Texans are preparing to be without Hoyer if he's not cleared. Concussions continue to be hard to predict and can change quickly at any time, so hopefully Hoyer's symptoms will normalize soon. With the way the medical teams and independent doctors are being more cautious with concussions this year, it might be tough to expect him to be cleared by Sunday.
Landry Jones
Bottom Line: Jones will be week-to-week, but he is dealing with a higher grade sprain and it could take multiple weeks for him to get back on track.
Projection: Jones misses 3-4 weeks. Michael Vick will be the primary back-up to Big Ben moving forward until further notice.
