Week 13 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 13 and take a look at what fantasy managers can expect heading into Week 14 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 Lamar Jackson
PCL Sprain: Out at least 2 weeks
Jackson was tackled from behind while trying to scramble, and he landed on his left knee with his knee flexed to about 90 degrees. This is the classic mechanism for a PCL injury. On Monday, head coach John Harbaugh told the media his QB is “week to week” and that the team wouldn’t rule him out for Week 14 but stated that it’s “less likely” he’ll play. Translation: He’s out for Week 14 at a minimum. Looking at the team’s transaction on Monday tells us all we need to know about Lamar’s chances of suiting up next week. The team signed veteran QB Brett Hundley to their practice squad to add depth behind Tyler Huntley. Even if this is a mild PCL sprain, Jackson is likely to miss a minimum of two games, but the week-to-week designation at least gives fantasy managers a chance that Jackson is back for the fantasy playoffs. That said, this injury can take up to four weeks, and when Jackson does return to the field, fantasy gamers won’t be able to reliably count on Jackson’s elite rushing ability.
Players impacted: Tyler Huntley, Mark Andrews
QB Jimmy Garoppolo
Left Foot Fracture: Out for the year
Garoppolo’s 2022 season is over after he fractured his left foot on Sunday against the Dolphins. Jimmy G was trying to pick up a few yards with his legs and had a defender’s weight land on his left leg, causing the injury. The team has now lost Trey Lance and Jimmy G to season-ending ankle injuries and will turn to the 2022 NFL Draft’s Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy, as their starter. The rookie completed 25 of 37 attempts for 210 yards (5.7 YPA) and 2 TDs on Sunday in relief for Garoppolo. Sunday night, the team also signed veteran journeyman Josh Johnson from the Broncos practice squad.
Players impacted: Brock Purdy, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey
QB Tua Tagovailoa
Ankle Injury: Day to day
Tua exited at the end of the game due to a minor ankle injury. However, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Tua could have come back into the game had the score been closer. He is expected to start on Sunday Night Football in Week 14 against the Chargers. Fantasy managers shouldn’t be surprised to see Tua on the Dolphins injury report this week, but as of now, it does not appear Tua is in danger of missing any time.
Players impacted: Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle
QB Trevor Lawrence
Left Leg Injury: Day-to-day
Lawrence took a nasty hit after he released the ball with his left leg getting caught under a defender and his upper body being bent backward. At the time of the injury, it looked like it had the potential to be serious based on how Lawrence’s leg was rotated and bent. The mechanism is concerning for a sprained MCL in the knee and/or a mild medial/high ankle sprain. Remarkably, he came back into the game in the second half and did finish, a sign that he clearly escaped major injury. However, it would not be surprising to see Lawrence on the Jaguars injury report for Week 14.
Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence on his injury: “I thought it was my knee at first, and then my foot was hurting a little bit, too. Luckily, nothing serious. We’ll have to see how I feel tomorrow. I’m going to be a little sore but thankful it’s not anything serious."
— Michael DiRocco (@ESPNdirocco) December 4, 2022
Players impacted: Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, Travis Etienne
QB Ryan Tannehill
Left Ankle Injury: Situation to monitor for Week 14
Tannehill got his ankle trapped under a defender when sacked in the backfield, and the mechanism of injury resembled that of a mild high ankle sprain. He was able to walk off under his own power but did return with his ankle taped. He missed time earlier this year due to a right ankle injury. Despite Tannehill’s ability to return to the lineup yesterday, it would not be surprising to see his Week 14 availability decided until later in the week. Look for Tannehill on the Titans injury report this week.
Players impacted: Malik Willis, Treylon Burks, Robert Woods
QB Matthew Stafford
Spinal Cord Contusion: Out for the year
Stafford was in the league’s concussion protocol but it was his neck injury that’s kept him out for multiple games. He again sat in Week 13, but after the game, Sean McVay told reporters that Stafford is going on IR and is done for the year with a spinal cord contusion. Following the neck injury a few weeks ago, Stafford reportedly dealt with numbness and tingling in both legs, a scary sign of a spinal cord injury. This injury is obviously concerning for the short term outlook for Stafford, but don’t be surprised if this is not the last time we hear about this injury. Stafford’s long term risk of substantial injury is elevated given the spinal cord contusion, as the fear is a second injury. He’ll be fine in the short term, but he could get multiple opinions moving forward about how to best approach his long-term health. Stafford hanging them up after 14 years in the NFL is not out of the question with this injury.
Players impacted – None, John Wolford/Bryce Perkins to continue starting
RB Kenneth Walker
Ankle/Foot Injury: Out Week 14 at a minimum
Walker exited early Sunday against the Rams with an ankle injury. After the game, Pete Carroll told reports that his RB “jammed” his ankle. On Monday morning, Carroll called the injury a “strain” and labeled the injury as “unusual.” It’s difficult to comment on the injury severity and projected timeline given these vague details. It’s worth noting that Travis Homer was out for this game (knee sprain), and Deejay Dallas also picked up a high ankle sprain in this game. The team is thin at RB heading into their Week 14 game against Carolina, so we should expect the team to make some sort of transaction to add depth. Walker should be considered questionable at best for Week 14, but there’s a real chance he misses time.
Players impacted: Travis Homer, DeeJay Dallas, Tony Jones Jr.
RB Aaron Jones
Shin Injury: Situation to monitor for Week 15
Jones was listed on the Packers injury report this week with a shin injury and a glute injury but was ultimately taken off the report on Friday. He did, however, pick up a shin injury during the team’s win over the Bears. After being listed questionable to return, he did come back into the game but took a back seat to A.J. Dillon. The details about Jones’ current injury aren’t clear, so this is an injury that bares monitoring moving forward. However, the Packers go on bye in Week 14, so there’s a chance Jones doesn’t miss any game action. Green Bay takes on the Rams in Week 15.
Players impacted: A.J. Dillon, Aaron Rodgers
WR Treylon Burks
Concussion: Week-to-week
The Titans rookie made a spectacular TD grab in traffic, but on that play, he took a hit to the face mask, and the back of his head also slammed to the ground, resulting in the concussion. Burks now enters the NFL’s concussion protocol and should be considered week-to-week. Fantasy managers will have to monitor the Titans practice reports this week to get a sense of how Burks is progressing ahead of their Week 14 tilt against the Jaguars.
Players impacted: Ryan Tannehill, Robert Woods, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
WR Jaylen Waddle
Jaylen Waddle went down with a leg injury in the second quarter after being shoved out of bounds and was listed as questionable to return. He did return later, but he appeared to be limited and battling through the injury, playing just 52% of the snaps with minimal production. As of now, there isn’t any news available on the specifics of Waddle’s injury, but it is one to monitor throughout the week. The Dolphins play the Chargers on Sunday Night Football in Week 14.
Players impacted: Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, Trent Sherfield
WR Courtland Sutton
Hamstring Strain: Out Week 14 at a minimum
Sutton picked up a hamstring injury on Sunday against the Ravens and didn’t return. For a WR, a hamstring injury is extremely likely to keep him out at least one game, but research shows the average number of games missed due to hamstring injuries is somewhere between two and three. Despite his head coach calling him “day to day,” Sutton is more likely to miss two games than be available next week. KJ Hamler was also added to IR prior to kickoff as he deals with a lingering hamstring injury. Jerry Jeudy did return for this game after missing two because of an ankle injury. Russell Wilson and the struggling Denver offense will have to take on the Chiefs without their top pass catcher.
Players impacted: Jerry Jeudy, Kendall Hinton, Russell Wilson
WR Quez Watkins
AC Joint Sprain: Questionable for Week 14
Watkins exited Week 13 early against Tennessee with a sprained AC joint in his shoulder and despite being listed as questionable, didn’t return. Speaking Monday, Nick Siranni didn’t have many details about the severity of Watkins injury, so for now, this is one to monitor for Philly’s WR3. Dallas Goedert, who is currently on IR as of this writing due to his shoulder injury, is eligible to return off IR in Week 15.
Players impacted: DeVonta Smith, A.J. Brown
TE Hayden Hurst
Calf Strain: Out Week 14 at a minimum
Hurst exited in the first half on Sunday against the Chiefs with a calf injury and didn’t return. On Monday, Zac Taylor told reporters his TE is doubtful to play next week, so fantasy managers who were relying on Hurst will need to look elsewhere. These calf strains can linger, so this is absolutely an injury that could sideline Hurst for multiple games.
Players impacted: Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Joe Burrow
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