Fantasy Football: NFL Week 4 Injury Recap
T.Y. Hilton
Strained hamstring and chest injury: week to week
Hilton fell hard on his shoulder and chest early in the game and left for a period of time. He actually went to the locker room for x-rays, which were negative. The exact chest injury sustained is unclear, but Hilton told reports that the injury he sustained was one that not many players would play through. Late in the game, he suffered a hamstring strain and didn’t return. Following the game, head coach, Frank Reich, told the media that Hilton would have a tough time being ready for Thursday Night Football. This comes as no surprise as playing just four days after a strained hamstring is always a reach. Owners should plan to be without the services of T.Y. against the Patriots.
Other players impacted: Andrew Luck, Ryan Grant, Zach Pascal, Jack Doyle, Eric Ebron
Tyler Eifert
Ankle fracture-dislocation: out for the year
It was difficult to see Tyler Eifert go down with yet another season ending injury on Sunday. He left the game early with an air cast on his right leg after suffering a fracture-dislocation of his ankle. Eifert will undergo season ending surgery to stabilize the fracture and repair the ligaments damaged. For reference, this is the same injury that Delanie Walker suffered earlier this season.
Other players impacted: Tyler Kroft, Andy Dalton, Tyler Boyd
Will Dissly
Torn patellar tendon: out for the year
There must be something in the water in Seattle. The promising young TE for the Seahawks saw his season end early with a torn patellar tendon, which is the same injury that Jimmy Graham suffered while he was a Seahawk a few years ago. Dissly will undergo surgery to repair the torn patellar tendon and begin rehab shortly after. Aside from the Achilles’ tendon repair, this may be the toughest injury to come back from, so Dissly’s status for 2019 cannot be taken for granted.
Other players impacted: Nick Vannett, Russell Wilson
Leonard Fournette
Aggravation of hamstring strain: day to day
Fournette made fantasy football owners happy by returning to the field on Sunday, but he exited early with “tightness” in his hamstring and didn’t return. This is always the issue with hamstring strains because the greatest risk for re-injury is when the athlete returns to the field is during the first two weeks back. His aggravation is certainly not uncommon, as hamstring strains are the single most likely injury to recur upon return to sport. With this setback, Fournette could be out for another week, or even longer. Don’t expect much from Fournette throughout the week in terms of practice activity.
Other players impacted: T.J. Yeldon, Corey Grant
Geronimo Allison
Concussion: day to day
Allison left Sunday’s game against the Bills early with a concussion and didn’t return. He now enters the league’s concussion protocol and will have until Saturday to clear the protocol if he wishes to play on Sunday in Week 5. Recovery after a concussion is not based on time. It is based on progressing activity levels without symptoms like a headache, double vision, trouble concentrating, etc. Allison should be treated as a day to day injury. Monitor his practice reports closely and expect a final decision to come on Saturday.
Other players impacted: Devante Adams, Randall Cobb, Marquez Valdez-Scantling
Rob Gronkowski
Ankle sprain: day to day
Gronk left the game early with an ankle injury and didn’t return. He entered the game questionable with an ankle injury, so you never like to see the same injury affect the player’s ability to stay on the field. However, reports out of New England suggest this injury is not serious and that he was held out for precautionary reasons. At the time of the injury, the Patriots were up big on the Dolphins, so it’s possible that he could have come back in if the team needed him. With the Patriots playing on Thursday Night Football, owners will want to monitor Gronk’s status closely, as he didn’t practice on Monday.
Other players impacted: Tom Brady, Dwayne Allen, Julian Edelman
Dalvin Cook
Strained hamstring: week to week
Dalvin Cook returned from a hamstring injury to play in Week 4, but he left Thursday Night Football with tightness in his hamstring, indicating he aggravated his strained hamstring from earlier this season. As discussed with Leonard Fournette, this is never a good sign, as this injury now has the potential to linger throughout the season. He admitted himself that he is less than 100%. The Vikings would be smart to hold Cook out until he is 100% in order to avoid making this injury more serious moving forward.
Other players impacted: Latavius Murray
Will Fuller
Strained hamstring: week to week
There are two things we know about Will Fuller – he scores touchdowns when he plays with Deshaun Watson, and he frequently experiences hamstring injuries. Like Fournette, this hamstring injury is concerning given that Fuller has been listed on the injury report the first three weeks of the season with a hamstring strain. He’s got a history of hamstring strains dating back to his time at Notre Dame and during his first couple of seasons in the league. With hamstring strains, the biggest predictor of future injury is past injury, so this should come as no surprise. Head coach Bill O’Brien indicated that he was not held out for precautionary reasons. If I’m a Fuller owner in fantasy, I’m making backup plans in Week 5.
Other players impacted: Deshaun Watson, Keke Coutee
O.J. Howard
Sprained MCL: out 2-4 weeks
The second-year breakout tight end for the Bucs exited Week 4 early with a sprained MCL. His prognosis of being out for 2-4 weeks indicates that this is a grade 2 sprain, so the ligament is stretched, but not completely torn. Fortunately for Howard, the team is on bye in Week 5, so owners may only be without Howard for one game. Still, I would plan to be without Howard’s services in Week 6 when the team returns. With Jameis Winston now back as the starter, Cameron Brate will make for a great play at the barren tight end position in Week 6 if Howard is indeed out.
Other players impacted: Cameron Brate, Jameis Winston
Dante Pettis
Left knee injury (diagnosis unclear): day to day
The rookie out of Washington left Week 4 early with a left knee injury and didn’t return. He got hit on a punt return, causing his left knee to bend in an awkward direction as the defender rolled on him. The mechanism of injury looked like an MCL injury to me, but the team has not released any details. For now, consider Pettis day to day and look for more details later this week after his MRI results are obtained.
Other players impacted: C.J. Beathard, Pierre Garcon, Marquise Goodwin
Marquise Goodwin
Marquise Goodwin exited for a period of time after injuring his leg in the second quarter with an undisclosed injury. Fortunately for Goodwin, he returned in the second half, but he didn’t record a catch upon returning. This injury is difficult to comment on given that the details are unclear. The fact that he returned indicates this injury is likely not serious, but don’t be surprised to see Goodwin on the Niners’ injury report heading into Week 5.
Other players impacted: C.J. Beathard, Pierre Garcon, Dante Pettis
John Ross
Left leg injury (diagnosis unclear): day to day
John Ross got injured as he crossed the goal line on a long touchdown reception from Andy Dalton and didn’t return. He immediately grabbed for the back of his thigh when he made the reception, which is classic for a strained hamstring, so this is my initial reaction based off the video of the injury. Ross also seemed to be limping on his left leg shortly after the catch as teammates met him in the end zone to celebrate. There was no further report from the Bengals on Monday, but hopefully, fantasy football owners get some more news as the weeks goes by.
Other players impacted: Tyler Boyd, A.J. Green, Andy Dalton
Sammy Watkins
Hamstring strain: week to week
Watkins left Monday Night Football early in the first half with a hamstring strain and was quickly ruled out. The Chiefs have just 6 days before their next game, making it difficult to see Watkins being ready for Week 5.
Other players impacted: Demarcus Robinson, Chris Conley, Patrick Mahomes