Fantasy Football Injury Recap for Week 5
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 5 and take a look at what fantasy managers can expect heading into Week 6 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.
Dak Prescott
Right Ankle Fracture with Dislocation: Out for the year
The Cowboys QB is done for the year unfortunately after suffering a compound fracture with dislocation of the right ankle. Prescott was scrambling to his left, and the defender’s body weight land on the outside of his right lower leg, causing the break in the bone with a gruesome dislocation of the ankle. The term “compound fracture” suggests the bones actually broke the skin, which requires immediate surgery given the elevated risk of infection. All told, Prescott will be able to make a full recovery, but the compound fracture makes the rehab a bit more cumbersome.
Players impacted: Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup, CeeDee Lamb, Andy Dalton
Dak Prescott’s season will be over, unfortunately
Ankle fracture with dislocation will require surgery. Will be headed to IR
Hoping for a speedy recovery 🙏🏻
— Matthew Betz (@TheFantasyPT) October 11, 2020
Baker Mayfield
Rib Injury: Day to day
Baker was taken to the ground late in the game with the defender’s body weight landing on top of his shoulder. At the time of injury, this looked like a potential AC joint sprain, but all reports indicate this is a rib injury. X-rays of Baker’s ribs were negative, suggesting this should be treated as a rib contusion. He’ll likely miss practice time this week, but he should be okay to start Week 6.
Players impacted: Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry
Dalvin Cook
Left Groin Strain: Likely out multiple weeks
Cook took a dump-off pass on Sunday Night Football and came off the field limping while grabbing his inner thigh/groin. He returned for one play-action pass, but appeared to be moving gingerly and then left for the remainder of the game. He’s likely to miss at least one game, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Vikings sit Cook for multiple weeks. Fortunately for the Vikings, their bye is in Week 7, so if they hold Cook out in Week 6, he’ll get an extra week off.
Players impacted: Alexander Mattison
D.J. Chark
Ankle Injury: Week to week
Chark has missed significant time throughout the course of his college and professional career due to ankle injuries. Most recently, he missed three games in 2019 with an ankle injury. He left Sunday’s game against Houston with an ankle injury and didn’t return. Given Chark’s history of previous ankle injuries, it’s likely that he misses at least one game.
Players impacted: Gardner Minshew, Chris Conley, Laviska Shenault, Keelan Cole
A.J. Green
Hamstring Strain: Out multiple weeks
Green entered 2020 with injury concerns, and those concerns will continue moving forward as Green left early yesterday with a hamstring injury. Green has missed time in past seasons with hamstring injuries and also battled a hamstring injury in training camp. I would expect Green to miss multiple weeks with this injury.
Players impacted: Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, Joe Burrow
Sammy Watkins
Hamstring Strain: Out multiple weeks
Watkins grabbed the back of his right thigh while running a route yesterday, suffering a hamstring injury. Watkins suffered the injury in the 2nd quarter and didn’t return. Per NFL
Players impacted: Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson
Diontae Johnson
Back Injury: Day to day
Johnson didn’t even play a full quarter on Sunday against the Eagles, leaving early with a back injury after getting hit awkwardly on a punt return. He took a direct blow to the back and was listed as questionable to return, but he never returned to the game. Through four games, Johnson has left two games early because of injury – once with a concussion and once with a back injury. He should be able to play in Week 6 but monitor the practice reports closely this week.
Players impacted: Chase Claypool, JuJu Smith-Schuster
Diontae Johnson took a direct blow to the back, but Tomlin says he thinks he'll be available next week.
Tomlin says David DeCastro is being evaluated, availability in question for next week.
Pouncey also being evaluated.
— Brooke Pryor (@bepryor) October 11, 2020
Tyler Eifert
Stinger: Likely out Week 6
Eifert picked up a neck injury on Sunday against Houston in what is now being described as a stinger. This injury is a traction injury of the nerves that exit the neck and travel into the arm. Recovery largely depends on the severity of the injury, with recovery timelines ranging anywhere from a week to a month. For now, consider Eifert likely to miss Week 6, but look for more updates throughout the week.
Players impacted: James O’Shaughnessy
Keenan Allen
Back Injury (Diagnosis Unknown): Situation to monitor
Keenan Allen was seen stretching his back on the sideline during Monday Night Football. He was listed as questionable to return to the field after the first quarter. Look for more updates in this article as soon as we have more information.
Players impacted: Justin Herbert, Mike Williams, Hunter Henry