Week 15 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 15 and take a look at what fantasy managers can expect heading into Week 16 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 Jalen Hurts
Right Shoulder Sprain: Likely to miss Weeks 16-17
If you have Jalen Hurts on your fantasy playoff team, it’s time to make backup plans not only for Week 16, but also for championship week in Week 17. Hurts injured his right shoulder on Sunday against the Bears when a defender landed on top of him, driving his right shoulder into the ground. This mechanism of injury is consistent with a sprained AC joint, which is a difficult injury for a QB to play through on his throwing shoulder. Given that this injury is to Hurts’ right shoulder, the team will exercise caution with him ahead of Week 16 against Dallas. Fortunately, Hurts remained in the game after the injury and threw a deep pass shortly after the injury occurred, so this is clearly not a significant season-ending injury, but given the current situation, it’s possible he misses the rest of the regular season. There’s a slim chance he’ll be available in Week 17, but given the team’s current record and Super Bowl aspirations, fantasy managers should plan to be without Hurts for the next two weeks. Look for Gardner Minshew to be under center when the Eagles take on the Cowboys on Saturday.
Players impacted: A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert
QB Ryan Tannehill
Right High Ankle Sprain: Questionable for Week 16
Tannehill exited Week 15 against the Chargers with a high ankle sprain but did return to finish the game with his ankle heavily taped. His mobility was cleared impacted on Sunday as he was out there at less than 100%. Despite Tannehill returning in Week 15, his status is in doubt for Week 16 against the Texans. The issue with high ankle sprains is that they tend to swell and become more painful in the few days following the injury, making it difficult to be ready just a week later, even for a QB. If Tannehill is somehow able to gut it out, his rushing ability and pocket mobility are likely to be significantly impacted. If Tannehill cannot go, rookie Malik Willis will get the start. Worth noting, Tannehill has missed several weeks this year with additional high ankle sprains, and one of those missed games came against Houston. Derrick Henry got 32 carries in that game and ran for over 200 yards.
Players impacted: Derrick Henry, Malik Willis, Treylon Burks, Chig Okonkwo
QB Colt McCoy
Concussion: Questionable for Week 16
McCoy exited Sunday early with a concussion and did not return. He remains in concussion protocol ahead of the team’s Week 16 game against the Bucs. Former Penn State QB Trace McSorley is likely to get the start if McCoy can’t clear protocol in time for the Sunday night game against Tampa Bay. With Kyler Murray out for the year (ACL), the team also signed David Blough from the Vikings practice squad last week.
Players impacted: DeAndre Hopkins, Marquise Brown
RB Jonathan Taylor
High Ankle Sprain: Likely out for the rest of the year
It was worst case scenario for Jonathan Taylor fantasy managers who made the playoffs. JT left Saturday’s game against the Vikings after his first touch due to a right high ankle sprain. The injury itself was not deemed significant, but given that it’s late in the season and the Colts are out of playoff contention, the team is expected to exercise caution with their star RB. Expect Taylor to miss the remainder of the 2022 season and be 100% by the time the Colts begin their off-season workouts. Given Taylor’s injury, the team signed Jordan Wilkins to the active roster from the practice squad.
Players impacted: Zack Moss, Deon Jackson
RB Caleb Huntley
Achilles Injury: Out for the year
Huntley wasn’t contributing for our fantasy rosters, but I wanted to include him in this article as it relates to the Falcons RB rotation and touches. He will miss the remainder of the 2022 season with an Achilles injury, making the backfield
Players impacted: Cordarrelle Patterson, Tyler Allgeier
WR Tyler Lockett
Fractured Finger: Out Week 16, Questionable for Week 17
This injury happened on Thursday night last week against the 49ers. Seahawks’ WR Tyler Lockett suffered a fractured index finger in the 4th quarter of the team’s loss. The break is technically just below his index finger (at the long bone of the hand), which is slightly better than a broken index finger. Still, a return in two weeks is optimistic for a WR. The team has not given a definitive timeline on Lockett’s recovery, so this is one to monitor for fantasy managers over the next two weeks. Those playing in the semi-finals this week will need to make backup plans with Lockett expected to miss Week 16 at a minimum.
Players impacted: Geno Smith, DK Metcalf
WR Equanimeous St. Brown
Concussion: Doubtful for Week 16
EQ St. Brown left early against Philadelphia due to a concussion and did not return. Chicago plays Buffalo on Saturday this week, giving St. Brown one less day than usual to clear protocol. Given that the vast majority of NFL players are missing at least one game when placed in concussion protocol this season, the Chicago wide out should be considered unlikely to play in Week 16. Chase Claypool is dealing with a knee injury and missed Week 15 as well.
Players impacted: Justin Fields, Cole Kmet
WR Denzel Mims
Concussion: Out Week 16
The Jets WR room looks uncertain ahead of Thursday Night Football against the Jaguars. Denzel Mims exited early with a concussion in Week 15, and given that the team plays on a short week, he will miss Week 16. Corey Davis missed last week with a concussion, so his status is important to monitor ahead of Thursday night as the Jets’ WR depth behind Elijah Moore and Garrett Wilson is thin. Mike White (Ribs/Lung) is expected to miss this game as well, so look for Zach Wilson to be under center on Thursday against the Jaguars.
Players impacted: Garrett Wilson, Elijah Moore
Other players that exited and returned to play through injury in Week 15. Don’t be surprised to see them on their team’s injury report, but these players are not expected to miss any game action.
- Justin Fields (cramps)
- Zonovan Knight (foot) – Was not listed on the team’s estimated injury report on Monday ahead of TNF
- Travis Etienne (ankle)
- Austin Ekeler (ankle, shoulder)
- Justin Jefferson (chest)