The Training Room: Week 12 Injury Updates
We're on a short week due to Thanksgiving and have three games to look forward to on Thursday, so let's get right into the injuries for this week.
On The Mend
Emmanuel Sanders (High Ankle Sprain): Sanders suffered the injury in Week 9 and is clearly still trying to get healthy. Being inactive last week should help him suit up for a huge game against the Patriots this upcoming weekend, but monitor his practice participation to determine whether or not he's trending towards playing Sunday. Projection: Sanders starts Week 12. Sanders might not be 100 percent by the time Sunday night rolls around, but if he suits up, it's going to be tough to sit him.
Alshon Jeffery (Shoulder/Groin Strain): Jeffery participated in a limited practice on Tuesday, so although that is encouraging, it still means he's still struggling to get healthy. With the Bears slated to play Thursday night, I would plan on not having him. Projection: Jeffery misses Week 12. If he had the full week to get ready, I think he'd suit up for a Sunday game, but I think he's ultimately likely to sit due to the fact he's playing on a short week.
Keshawn Martin (Hamstring Strain): Martin looks like he's getting closer to returning to the field, but will be day-to-day for now. Projection: Martin is active for Week 12. Martin hasn't played in five weeks, so it will be tough to trust him even if he is finally able to return. The Patriots are extremely thin at WR with injuries continuing to pile up, so getting Martin back would be a nice boost for the Pats offense.
Matt Forte (Sprained MCL): I had Forte possibly active last week due to his comments that he had no pain and was able to do the majority of activities with minimal issues. He looks on track to play on Thanksgiving day. Projection: Forte starts Week 12. Forte should return to his lead back role, but Langford should still see a decent amount of touches as well.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins (Strained Shoulder): The Bucs say ASJ is returning this weekened, but we'll continue to be in wait-and-see mode until that actually happens. Projection: ASJ is active Week 12. My wrong projections on ASJ in multiple weeks has killed my percentage, so hopefully he stops making me look like a dummy this week and actually plays.
Carlos Hyde (Foot Stress Fracture): Hyde continues to be day-to-day, but we're approaching the part of the season where if he doesn't progress enough, the 49ers could decide to put him on IR to not risk long-term issues. Projection: Hyde misses Week 12. If the 49ers end up putting Hyde on IR, there's a possibility they do surgery and insert hardware into the fracture to help accelerate the healing process.
Eddie Royal (Sprained Knee): Royal continues to not practice, which usually is an indicator that he's not overly close to returning. He'll continue to be week-to-week. Projection: Royal misses Week 12. With the Bears on a short week, they'll continue to rely on Marquess Wilson, who has stepped up nicely as a starter and should continue to start even when Royal returns.
Kendall Wright (Sprained MCL): Wright will continue to be day-to-day, but barring any setbacks, he should be trending in the right direction for this week. Projection: Wright starts Week 12. Marcus Mariota is lacking weapons on offense, so Wright should help that cause.
Sam Bradford (Sprained AC Joint): Bradford was cleared by the medical staff with regards to his concussion, so he'll continue to be day-to-day while his shoulder continues to get healthy. Projection: Bradford misses Week 12. With the Eagles playing on Thanksgiving, Bradford is up against the clock to get his shoulder healthy enough to play. If he does suit up, he's at an increased risk for re-injury, so expect Mark Sanchez to be under center for one more week.
Michael Floyd (Hamstring Strain): Floyd didn't seem close to suiting up for Sunday night football, so it'll be interesting to see how far along he progresses as the Cardinals play this weekend against the 49ers. Projection: Floyd misses Week 12. Floyd owners will be disappointed if he is inactive, as he a great matchup this weekend against a bad 49ers secondary. With J.J. Nelson filling in seemlessly for Floyd, the Cardinals might want to give Floyd another week to get healthier.
Ryan Mathews (Concussion): Mathews did not practice on Monday due to his concussion, which is not a good sign. He'll continue to be day-to-day, but he could have trouble progressing through the league's protocol in time for Thursday. Projection: Mathews misses Week 12. The lack of time will go against Mathews this week, but he should hopefully be ready to return for Week 13.
Brian Hoyer (Concussion): Coach O'Brien states Hoyer is ready to return and barring any setbacks should return this weekend against the Saints. Projection: Hoyer starts Week 12. The Saints defense has been poor against QBs this season, so Hoyer should put up solid numbers against them.
The Training Room
Justin Forsett
Fractured Forearm
Bottom Line: Forsett was off to a good start against the Rams defense until he got thrown down by Aaron Donald and suffered the broken forearm. Forsett had surgery to put plates and screws in both bones of his forearm that he broke and will start the recovery process as soon as he's out of a cast.
Projection: Forsett is healthy for 2016. It'll be interesting to see what the Ravens do with their backfield next year. Forsett is under contract for 2016, so he'll be back, but how they plan to use him could be another question with Lorenzo Taliaferro returning in addition to Buck Allen.
Joe Flacco
Bottom Line: The Ravens have been hit hard by the injury bug this year, as now they've lost their starting QB, starting RB in Forsett and starting WR in Steve Smith Sr. Those big losses usually don't amount to many W's the rest of the way. Flacco will have surgery on his knee as soon as the swelling goes down and as soon as he's able to regain mobility back in his knee.
Projection: Flacco is healthy for 2016. Flacco will likely be limited during training camp and will not play much during preseason, but should be ready for the start of the season. He'll be about 10 months removed from his ACL surgery at the start of the season, so he might be limited initially, but should start to feel more confident as the season progresses. The only concern about his recovery is his MCL tear, which should heal on its own unless the doctors choose to repair it due to the knee being unstable.
Charcandrick West
Bottom Line: Coach Reid states West did indeed suffer a hamstring strain this past weekend against the Chargers. He's considered day-to-day for now, but as we know, hamstring injuries do have a tendency to linger if not given enough time to heal.
Projection: West misses Week 12. It's hard to know whether or not West could've returned if the game had been closer this past weekend. Regardless, there's a decent chance West doesn't play this weekend, so keep an eye out to see if he's able to practice in any fashion this week.
Marshawn Lynch
Bottom Line: Lynch saw a specialist with regards to his abdominal injury and came away with the recommendation to rest and see how he feels. Shortly after that report was released, both Adam Schefter and Ian Rappoport reported Lynch will undergo sports hernia surgery on Wednesday.
Projection: Lynch misses 6-7 weeks and is OUT for the fantasy playoffs. Even though reports are Lynch will return in 4-5 weeks, that is at the short end of the timetable. I tweeted late Tuesday night that Arian Foster had sports hernia at the beginning of the year and missed 7-plus weeks before returning. And even when he did return, he needed some time to adjust. Hopefully you have Rawls as your handcuff. If not, make sure you use your waiver claim on a RB to help offset the blow. It was a disappointing year for Lynch owners, and you have to wonder if his style of play (in addition to the volume) is starting to catch up with him.
Devonta Freeman
Bottom Line: Freeman suffered the concussion early in the game and was shortly ruled out after he took the helmet-to-helmet hit. He'll be day-to-day for now with all eyes being on Freeman when the Falcons return to practice mid week.
Projection: Freeman starts Week 12. Freeman went out relatively early in this past weekend's game, so it's hopefully allowed Freeman to start the recovery process sooner.
Danny Amendola
Bottom Line: Amendola hurt his knee late in the game against the Bills this past Monday night. He'll be day-to-day for now, but as we know with Amendola, any injury is a bad sign for him returning sooner than later. Dr. David Chao reported Amendola looked like he might've sprained his PCL, so his return would depend on his tolerance to pain and the amount of stabilty Amendola feels in his knee in that case.
Projection: Amendola misses Week 12. He'll get a little more time to get his knee treated as the Patriots don't play until Sunday night, but make sure you have a backup plan if he tests his knee out and ends up being inactive.
Frank Gore
Bottom Line: Gore was seen limping on the sidelines and later told reporters he was dealing with a knee issue and not so much his quad. He'll be day-to-day, but with Ahmad Bradshaw showing well, this could shape up to be more of an even share to help keep both players healthy down the stretch.
Projection: Gore is active for Week 12. The emergence of Ahmad Bradshaw should have Gore owners be somewhat worried, but hopefully the knee issue won't limit him too much.
Alfred Morris
Bottom Line: Morris will be day-to-day with the rib injury he sustained in the first half against the Panthers.
Projection: Morris is active for Week 12. Rib injuries usually comes down to managing the pain, so the Redskins should be able to put some padding in the area to help reduce the contact. Morris has really fallen off this year in terms of production and will continue to be part of a committee that hasn't produced much lately for the Redskins.
Zach Ertz
Bottom Line: Ertz will be very doubtful to be cleared for Thursday's game against the Lions. He'll be day-to-day for now.
Projection: Ertz misses Week 12. Ertz owners should plan to be without him for this weekend. For those who like to live on the edge, Brent Celek also played well this past weekend and in could be an option in deepers leagues if you are in need.
