Fantasy Football Injury Recap for Week 11
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 11 and take a look at what fantasy managers can expect heading into Week 12 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.
Joe Burrow
Multi-Ligament Knee Injury: Out for the year
Burrow’s rookie campaign is over after he tore the ACL, MCL, PCL, and the meniscus in his left knee. He had his left leg planted on the ground and took a hit to the outside of his knee, causing the knee to hyperextend and collapse inward, injuring all four of these structures. The medical analysis for this type of injury is probably too in depth to discuss in this short form article, but here is an excellent resource regarding NFL players returning to sport following multi ligament injuries. The bottom line is that multi ligament injuries require a longer rehab. Burrow’s surgery is likely to be delayed until mid December in order to allow the MCL to heal. It is extremely unlikely Burrow is ready for Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season.
.@AdamSchefter just said at halftime of MNF that Joe Burrow tore his:
•ACL
•PCL
•MCL
•MeniscusMassive surgery, will be delayed until mid December to allow for MCL to heal and swelling/strength to normalize
He won’t be ready for Week 1 in 2021
— Matthew Betz (@TheFantasyPT) November 24, 2020
Players impacted: Ryan Finley, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd
Kyler Murray
Right Shoulder AC Joint Sprain: Week to week
Murray injured his right shoulder on TNF against the Seahawks. Trainers were working on his shoulder off and on throughout the game, using a hot pack to try to keep the shoulder loose. He was able to finish the game, but was certainly affected and playing through pain. I expect Murray to miss practice time this week but fully expect him to start in Week 12.
Players impacted: DeAndre Hopkins, Christian Kirk, Larry Fitzgerald
JuJu Smith-Schuster
Right Ankle Sprain: Day to day
JuJu was jogging towards the sideline and stepped on a referee’s flag, causing him to roll his ankle inward in a classic inversion mechanism of injury. Look for JuJu to miss practice time this week, especially considering the Steelers play on a short week on Thursday Night Football on Thanksgiving. I do ultimately expect him to play, however.
Players impacted: Ben Roethlisberger, Diontae Johnson, Chase Claypool
Special Note: If you’re playing DFS this Thursday for Thanksgiving, be sure to check out the DFS Pass and the Fantasy Footballers DFS Podcast where Kyle and I will preview the entire three-game slate.
Julio Jones
Left Hamstring Strain: Week to week
As of now, it’s unclear if Julio will be able to play in Week 12, but if he is active, he will be playing at far less than 100%. Julio barely played in the second half after picking up a left hamstring strain early in the game. As per usual, hamstring injuries for a wide receiver are troublesome, especially when you consider that Julio battled hamstring injuries early in the season. As we’ve seen earlier this year, Matt Ryan has been negatively affected when Jones is not in the lineup.
Players impacted: Calvin Ridley, Matt Ryan
Randall Cobb
Left Toe Injury (Diagnosis Unknown): Out 3+ weeks
Randall Cobb picked up what is being described as a “significant” toe injury and has already been ruled out for Week 12. I would expect Cobb to be placed on injured reserve and depending on the severity of his injury, he could be done for the year. As of now, we don’t have the specifics of Cobb’s injury, but this is likely a turf toe type of injury.
Players impacted: Keke Coutee, Deshaun Watson, Will Fuller, Brandin Cooks
Kenny Stills
Quad Injury: Week to week
Stills suffered a quad injury on Sunday and exited early without returning. With the Texans playing on a short week, it’s unlikely Stills is able to suit up for the Texans’ Thanksgiving day showdown with the Lions. He did not practice on Monday.
Players impacted: Deshaun Watson, Will Fuller, Brandin Cooks
Rex Burkhead
Torn ACL: Out for the year
Rex Burkhead tore the ACL in his right knee on Sunday and potentially also tore the MCL in the same knee. We don’t have official confirmation of the MCL injury yet, but regardless Burkhead’s 2020 season is over. He’ll undergo ACL reconstruction surgery in the next few weeks and spend the entire offseason rehabbing.
Players impacted: Damien Harris, James White
Philip Rivers
Right Ankle Sprain: Day to day
Rivers picked up a mild ankle sprain on Sunday and was seen hobbling on the sidelines and in between plays, clearly playing at less than 100%. Expect Rivers to battle some ankle soreness and swelling throughout the week, but he should be able to play in Week 12 against the Titans. Expect to see Rivers on the injury report with limited reps this week.
Players impacted: Michael Pittman, T.Y. Hilton, Nyheim Hines
Lamical Perine
High Ankle Sprain: Out at least 3 weeks
Perine wasn’t used much in Week 11 as he played second fiddle to Frank Gore, and now we know one reason why that may have been the case. Perine suffered a high ankle sprain and will be placed on IR, which means he’ll miss at least three weeks but likely longer. Given that we are entering Week 12, Perine can be dropped in season long formats.
Players impacted: Frank Gore
Greg Olsen
Ruptured Plantar Fascia: Out 3-6 weeks
Olsen suffered a non-contact foot injury on Thursday night against the Cardinals. He tore the plantar fascia in his foot and is now on IR, indicating he’ll miss at least three games but likely longer. This injury usually doesn’t require surgery, but it does take time to get back on the field. Olsen is likely to return in Week 17 or for a Seahawks playoff run.
Players impacted: Will Dissly, Jacob Hollister