Fantasy Football Injury Recap for Week 3
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 3 and take a look at what fantasy managers can expect heading into Week 4 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.
Tarik Cohen
Torn ACL/MCL: Out for the year
Unlike most ACL injuries, Cohen’s knee injury actually occurred via a contact mechanism of injury. With his right foot planted on the ground, a defender rolled into his lower leg, causing the knee to buckle inwards. Cohen will undergo surgery to reconstruct the torn ligament and be placed on injured reserve.
Players impacted: David Montgomery
Chris Carson
Left Knee Sprain: Week to week
Late in the game, Carson got his left leg twisted by a defender after a tackle. The injury occurred after the play and resulted in Carson being unable to return. The injury looked worse than it probably actually is, as I’m not concerned about a long term absence from Carson. He could miss Week 4, and with the Seahawks taking on the Dolphins, it’s possible the team lets Carson sit this week.
Players impacted: Carlos Hyde, Travis Homer
Chris Godwin
Hamstring Strain: Week to week
Godwin’s 2019 season ended early after picking up a hamstring injury, and in Week 3, he picked up another hamstring strain. Godwin exited early in the third quarter on Sunday against Denver. I would expect Godwin to miss at least one week and potentially longer.
Players impacted: Tom Brady, Mike Evans, Scotty Miller
DeSean Jackson
Hamstring Strain: Week to week
DeSean Jackson‘s history of hamstring injuries is well documented, and he added to that injury history on Sunday after picking up yet another hamstring injury. He exited early and did not return. Given Jackson’s history of previous hamstring injuries and the fact that he relies on his speed, it’s unlikely he suits up in Week 4.
Players impacted: Carson Wentz, Dallas Goedert, Zach Ertz
Mike Williams
Hamstring Strain: Week to week
By now, you’re probably getting tired of reading about yet another hamstring injury. The article I wrote in August appears to be coming true, unfortunately. We’re seeing an insane amount of soft tissue injuries early in the season, and Mike Williams is the next man to pick up a hamstring injury. He exited in the second half against Carolina on Sunday.
Players impacted: Keenan Allen, Hunter Henry, Austin Ekeler, Justin Herbert
John Brown
Calf Strain: Likely out Week 4
Brown put up a goose egg on Sunday after exiting early with a calf strain. These injuries are particularly tricky for skill position players because they usually feel pretty good walking around but explosive movements like cutting and running can cause the injury to be easily aggravated. For now, consider Brown to be questionable for Week 4, but I doubt he plays.
Players impacted: Josh Allen, Stefon Diggs, Gabriel Davis
Diontae Johnson
Concussion: Week to week
Johnson left Week 3 against Houston early after taking a hit to the head. He was evaluated in the locker room for a concussion and didn’t return. Now in concussion protocol, Johnson will try to progress through the stages of the NFL’s protocol this week. Monitor practice activity closely this week.
Players impacted: Ben Roethlisberger, JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Washington, Chase Claypool
Dallas Goedert
High Ankle Sprain: Out at least 2 weeks
Goedert picked up a left high ankle sprain on Sunday against Cincinnati. He returned but was unable to finish the game, as is classic for high ankle sprain injuries. The swelling sets in slowly and over the course of an hour or two, the ankle becomes too painful to play. Look for Goedert to miss multiple weeks depending on the severity of the sprain.
Players impacted: Zach Ertz, Carson Wentz, DeSean Jackson (hamstring), Greg Ward
Jordan Reed
MCL Sprain: Out 6-8 weeks
Reed picked up a lateral (low) ankle sprain when his left ankle got caught in the turf and twisted inward on Sunday. He exited briefly but returned with his ankle taped for the second half. That’s when he picked up a knee injury that is expected to sideline him for up to two months. It’s a sprained MCL for Reed, which will heal well but it takes time. The 6-8 reported timeline indicates Reed suffered a Grade III sprain.
Players impacted: George Kittle (knee sprain), Brandon Aiyuk
Michael Pittman
Compartment Syndrome: Out 6 weeks
Pittman suffered a scary injury on Sunday against the Jets, resulting in compartment syndrome. This is a true medical condition which the lower leg has a bruise that results in swelling which places increased pressure on the nerves and blood vessels on the lower leg. The surgery done to reduce pressure is called a fasciotomy and requires about 6 weeks for a full recovery.
Players impacted: T.Y. Hilton, Philip Rivers, Zach Pascal
Russell Gage
Concussion: Week to week
Gage left Sunday with a head injury and will be placed in concussion protocol. The Falcons take on the Packers on Monday Night Football in Week 4, so Gage will have an extra day to attempt to progress through the protocol throughout the week. Monitor practice reports closely.
Players impacted: Julio Jones (hamstring), Calvin Ridley, Hayden Hurst, Matt Ryan
Bryan Edwards
Ankle Sprain: Out Week 4
There aren’t too many injury updates for Edwards in regards to the ankle injury he picked up on Sunday, but he was seen around the Raiders’ facility on Monday in a walking boot. Jon Gruden also told the media that he was “concerned.” Based on video, the injury appeared to be a high ankle sprain for the rookie WR who got his right ankle rolled up on by a tackler. With the Raiders on bye in Week 6, it’s not unlikely that Edwards sits through the bye.
Players impacted: Derek Carr, Hunter Renfrow, Darren Waller, Henry Ruggs (hamstring)
Jerick McKinnon
Rib Contusion: Day to day
McKinnon suffered a minor rib injury but is unlikely to miss time. He should be considered day to day and is likely to limit his practice reps throughout the week, but I ultimately expect him to play on Sunday night against the Eagles.
Players impacted: Jeff Wilson Jr., JaMycal Hasty