Fantasy Football: Week 13 Injury Recap
A.J. Green
Turf toe: out for the year
A.J Green made his return to the field on Sunday after missing the past three weeks while he attempted to recover from a turf toe injury to the big toe on his right foot, which he originally suffered in Week 8. In the first half, Green was lined up on the outside and upon snapping the ball, he attempted to push off his right foot in order to accelerate off the line of scrimmage. He took one step and immediately went to the ground, grabbing for his right foot. This is the classic mechanism for stressing a healing turf toe injury, which affects the joint of your big toe. The sprinting motion requires the push-off phase to be effective, and when you’re battling turf toe, this is a stress to the healing joint. This is what was feared by fantasy football owners when they put Green back in their lineup, who finished the day with just one catch for seven yards. Green was seen on Monday back in a walking boot and will again resume rehab on his injured toe before undergoing surgery to repair the torn ligaments in the toe. Green faces a 3-4 month recovery timeline and should be ready for OTAs in the spring.
Other players impacted: Tyler Boyd, Jeff Driskel, C.J. Uzomah
Greg Olsen
Ruptured plantar fascia: out for the year
Olsen’s right foot has plagued him for the better part of a year and a half, and it all started during Week 2 of 2017 when he suffered a Jones fracture in his right foot. Since then, he’s had an additional surgery on the foot and has now aggravated the injury twice. Now, he’s dealing with a ruptured plantar fascia in that same right foot after sustaining a non-contact injury on Sunday against the Buccaneers. A ruptured plantar fascia typically does not require surgery, but it will end Olsen’s season, as it requires a 2-3 month recovery timeline. Unfortunately, you have to wonder if this is the last time we’ll see Olsen on an NFL field.
Other players impacted: Cam Newton, D.J. Moore
James Conner
High ankle sprain: day to day
James Conner got his right foot trapped underneath a defender as he was being tackled on Sunday night, causing it to turn outwards. This is usually a classic mechanism of injury for a high ankle sprain or a medial ankle ligament injury. Most people hear the phrase “high ankle sprain” and immediately think of a multi-week absence. Fortunately for Conner owners and Steelers fans, Conner’s sprain is mild, and he could even be back as early as next week. When speaking to the media after the game, head coach, Mike Tomlin told reporters Conner sustained a “lower leg contusion,” which isn’t totally incorrect. A high ankle sprain is a lower leg injury, which results in bruising and swelling. Conner is most certainly battling stiffness, soreness, and swelling early in the week and will very likely either miss practice or be limited for most of the week. Expect the Steelers to be conservative with their breakout running back. If Conner can’t go in Week 14, he should be back for Week 15.
Other players impacted: Jaylen Samuels, Ben Roethlisberger
Cole Beasley
Foot Sprain: week to week
Beasley injured his foot late in the team’s upset over the Saints on Thursday night and didn’t return. His sprain is being described as week to week, but I would plan to be without the Cowboys’ slot receiver for at least one week. He’ll at least have the advantage of coming off the Thursday game with more time to recover before the team’s Week 14 matchup with the Eagles.
Other players impacted: Dak Prescott, Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup
Christian Kirk
Fractured foot: out for the year
The rookie out of Texas A&M is done for the year after fracturing his foot on Sunday versus Green Bay. He was seen limping off the field in the second half and didn’t return after going into the locker room for x-rays. Kirk had a nice rookie campaign in 2018, showing some promise for Cardinals fans in what was a lost season for Arizona. Kirk should be 100% by the time training camp rolls around in 2019. Hopefully, for Kirk this is not a Jones fracture, which typically carries about a 20% chance of having a second surgery.
Other players impacted: Josh Rosen, Larry Fitzgerald
Matt Breida
Aggravation of ankle sprain: day to day – Out for Week 14
It feels like Matt Breida has been a fixture in this weekly article for most of 2018…because he had. He aggravated the same ankle sprain that he’s been battling for the majority of the season. Breida first injured his ankle in Week 5 and has been on the injury report off and on ever since. The former Georgia Southern running back was used sparingly against the Seahawks because of the fact that he aggravated the ankle during pre-game warm-ups. Late in the game when he was used, he appeared to aggravate it further when he limped to the sidelines. Head coach, Kyle Shanahan, spoke on Monday and told reporters that Breida will not play in Week 14. If you’ve made it to the playoffs with Breida, you’ll have to win without him to move on the fantasy football semi-finals. Jeff Wilson Jr. is most likely to start and handle the majority of work in Breida’s absence.
Other players impacted: Jeff Wilson, Nick Mullens
Chris Carson
Dislocated finger: day to day
Chris Carson dislocated one of his fingers on Sunday during the team’s blowout win over the Niners. The injury happened in the fourth quarter, and he was taken to the locker room for x-rays, which fortunately were negative. This injury shouldn’t limit Carson much once game day gets here in Week 14. He will likely play with his injured finger taped to the one next to it in order to protect the joint, but it shouldn’t really affect his grip or ball security. Fantasy football owners can expect Carson to play without limitation.
Other players impacted: Rashaad Penny, Mike Davis
Gus Edwards
Ankle sprain: day to day
Edwards entered the day Sunday as questionable on the Ravens’ injury report with a sprained ankle. He appeared to aggravate that ankle late in the game and was seen limping on the sidelines. No further details regarding the injury were reported following the game, so look for an update on Edwards later this week when the Ravens return to practice. With Alex Collins now on IR with a foot sprain, if Edwards for some reason missed Week 14, Ty Montgomery and Kenneth Dixon would split the work.
Other players impacted: Kenneth Dixon, Ty Montgomery
Colt McCoy
Right fibula fracture: out for the year
McCoy was injured during the first half of Monday Night Football and didn’t return. He was tackled on a sack and as his body rolled to the right, his right lower leg collided with the defender very forcefully. McCoy tried to walk it off on the sideline, but he was unable to put full weight on his injured right leg and clearly in a lot of pain. He went to the locker room for x-rays, which showed a fracture of the fibula, the outside lower leg bone. If it weren’t so late in the season, this would not have ended his season, but given the 6 week recovery timeline, his season is over. Mark Sanchez finished the game in his place and is likely to start in Week 14.
Other players impacted: Mark Sanchez, Jordan Reed, Josh Doctson