Week 10 Fantasy Football Injury Recap
As The Fantasy Footballers’ lead injury analyst and sports physical therapist, I’ll be recapping the previous week’s injuries and giving a projected timeline for recovery all season long. Let’s look at the biggest injuries from Week 10 and take a look at what fantasy managers can expect heading into Week 11 and beyond.
Don’t forget to check out JoinTheFoot.com for additional premium resources, including access to the Injury Blitz Podcast hosted by yours truly. This bonus podcast, available to all #FootClan Premier members, is a short, yet informative injury podcast that drops late in the week in order to provide all the injury updates you need to set your lineup each week.
QB P.J. Walker
High Ankle Sprain: Out Week 11, Likely longer
The Carolina Panthers‘ QB carousel continues this year as P.J. Walker is set to miss Week 11 (and potentially longer) with a high ankle sprain. Interim HC Steve Wilks has already confirmed that Baker Mayfield will get the start in Week 11 and that Sam Darnold will serve as the backup. Darnold has yet to take a snap this year while Baker started Weeks 1-5 before picking up an ankle injury of his own.
Players impacted: Baker Mayfield, D.J. Moore
RB Leonard Fournette
Hip Pointer: Unlikely to miss time
Fournette injured his hip in Week 10 against the Seahawks. His injury is being described as a hip pointer, which is a contusion to the group of muscles that attach at the top of the pelvis. This injury usually results in some swelling and pain in the area, but does not cause any structural damage. As a result, it usually does not lead to an extended absence. Fortunately for Len and the Bucs, the team is on Bye in Week 11, so there’s a good chance Fournette is back in Week 12 after the bye. Worth noting, however, Tampa’s rookie RB Rachaad White, has been playing more snaps over the last month of the season and even started in this game over the veteran. Given the Fournette injury, it makes sense for the team to continue to give White touches coming out of the bye, and if Fournette is still limited at all, the rookie is likely to lead the backfield.
Players impacted: Rachaad White
RB Khalil Herbert
Hip Injury (Diagnosis Unknown): Placed on IR
The Bears will be without Khalil Herbert for a minimum of four weeks after the team placed him on IR on Tuesday. He exited Week 10 with a hip injury, but the specifics of this injury are unknown at this time. With Herbert out of the lineup for the next month, there should be even more opportunity for David Montgomery as the work horse back. 6th round rookie Trestan Ebner is the back who should step in as the backup.
Players impacted: David Montgomery
WR Cooper Kupp
Right High Ankle Sprain: Out 6+ weeks
The Rams star WR is set to miss multiple weeks with a right high ankle sprain that he picked up in the team’s loss to Arizona on Sunday. Kupp went into the air for an overthrown ball and when he landed, the defender rolled onto the outside of his right leg, causing the injury. The team initially feared there was a chance Kupp fractured his fibula (outer lower leg bone), but thankfully, x-rays were negative. He’ll undergo tightrope surgery on his high ankle sprain, a surgery that has great outcomes. However, it the average recovery is 6-8 weeks for a WR, and from a performance standpoint, it’ll take Kupp at least eight weeks to be fully 100% on the field. The absolute best case scenario for fantasy managers would be if Kupp is able to return and produce in the final two weeks of the fantasy playoffs. From a dynasty perspective, he’ll be able to enter the offseason fully healthy, which bodes well for his 2023 outlook.
Players impacted: Matthew Stafford, Allen Robinson, Tyler Higbee
Oh man this has the looks of a high ankle sprain. X-rays will be done to rule out fibula fracture. Expect MRI tomorrow pic.twitter.com/hMKLe30dV8
— Matthew Betz (@TheFantasyPT) November 14, 2022
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
Concussion: Questionable for Week 11
JuJu Smith-Schuster took a direct hit to the head on Sunday against the Jaguars and immediately showed on-field symptoms of a concussion. He was quickly ruled out and did not return. The Chiefs WR is now in concussion protocol and should be considered week-to-week and questionable for Sunday Night Football against the Chargers. To my knowledge, this is JuJu’s fourth documented concussion in the NFL. Fantasy managers will need to monitor Smith-Schuster’s practice participation this week in order to get a sense of how he’s progressing through the protocol in advance of Week 11.
Players impacted: Kadarius Toney, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Patrick Mahomes
WR Jerry Jeudy
Left Ankle Injury: Questionable for Week 11
Jeudy suffered a non-contact left ankle injury on Sunday against the Titans, and when he went down, he grabbed the back of his left heel. Of course, at the time, the concern was for a potential Achilles injury, but NFL Network’s Ian Rappoport reports that Jeudy’s injury is “to a muscle in the back of his ankle, not his Achilles.” Based on this description, Jeudy’s injury is likely a strain to one of the tendons of the lower leg. The tendons wrap around the back of the ankle and attach at various locations on the foot. These smaller muscles are responsible for stability of the foot and ankle, especially for lateral movements like cutting. Jeudy may miss Week 11 against Las Vegas, but he’s unlikely to miss an extended period of time.
Players impacted: Courtland Sutton, Russell Wilson, Greg Dulcich
TE Dallas Goedert
Left Shoulder Injury: Out 4+ weeks
Goedert injured his left shoulder on Monday night against the Commanders when he was taken to the ground by his face mask in the 4th quarter, causing Goedert to turn his body and land on his left shoulder. The mechanism of the injury causes concern for a possible labrum injury and/or an injury to the back of the shoulder joint. The team has yet to confirm these details, but NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports Goedert is expected to miss “extended time” which would align with this type of injury. Look for Goedert to be placed on IR in the next few days.
Players impacted: Jalen Hurts, Jack Stoll, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith
TE Zach Ertz
Season-Ending Left Knee Injury: Out for the year
The Cardinals veteran TE suffered a season-ending left knee injury on Sunday against the Rams. Initially, the team believed that the ACL was intact, but an MRI on Monday revealed the severity of the injury. The team has yet to release specific details on the injury, but based on the mechanism, there is a good chance that Ertz’s injury is indeed a torn ACL. Assuming that’s the case, he’ll undergo surgery in the near future and be placed on IR. Ertz, 32, still has a couple more years on his contract with Arizona. Second-round rookie Trey McBride is expected to start in his place.
Players impacted: Trey McBride, Kyler Murray
TE Gerald Everett
Groin Strain: Questionable for Week 11
Everett left Sunday Night Football early with a groin injury and did not return, adding yet another injury to Justin Herbert‘s pass catcher core. Head coach Brandon Staley called Everett “day to day” on Monday, but that could prove to be fool’s gold for fantasy managers as groin strains almost always require at least a one game absence. Depending on the severity of the injury, Everett could miss multiple games. Keenan Allen hasn’t played since Week 1 with his hamstring injury, and Mike Williams is still recovering from his high ankle sprain. Backup TE Donald Parham Jr. is also on IR with a hamstring injury.
Players impacted: Tre McKitty, Justin Herbert