Fantasy Football: Week 4 Injury Report
Dalvin Cook, RB, MIN
Torn ACL: out for season
Dalvin Cook was off to a great start during his rookie campaign. However, he went down during Sunday’s game against the Lions in a classic non-contact mechanism of injury as his left leg planted on the ground. An MRI on Monday confirmed what the Vikings originally feared – a torn ACL. His season is over, but the Vikings appear to have found their running back of the future assuming he can make a full recovery. Cook will now have roughly 11 months to be ready for training camp in 2018 as he rehabs from his ACL reconstruction surgery.
Other players impacted: Latavius Murray, Jerick McKinnon
Derek Carr, QB, OAK
Fractured Vertebrae: 2-6 weeks
Late in the Week 3 match up with the Broncos, Carr got spun down from behind and took a knee to the side of his back. Initially, it was reported that Carr was dealing with back spasms but imaging today revealed a fractured transverse process in one of his lumbar vertebrae. Basically, there is a break in a small projection off the spinal segment. This injury has been diagnosed with a timeline of 2-6 weeks, but for what it’s worth, Tony Romo had this same injury in 2014 and missed just one game. For now, E.J. Manuel will be under center for the black and silver until Carr returns.
Other players impacted: E.J. Manuel, Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree, Jared Cook
Chris Carson, RB, SEA
Fractured Lower Leg and High Ankle Sprain: out for season
The Seahawks backfield was finally starting to take its shape, with Chris Carson taking control of the lead back duties. However, Carson got his left leg rolled up on late in the 4th quarter, causing his ankle to twist in the wrong direction. He was carted off the field with an air cast on his left leg. Further testing today revealed a broken bone in Carson’s lower leg as well as a high ankle sprain. Carson has been placed on injured reserve. There’s a chance that he returns for the NFL playoffs, but for the purposes of fantasy football, his season is now over. For reference, this is a similar injury suffered by Derek Carr and Marcus Mariota last season.
Other players impacted: Thomas Rawls, Eddie Lacy, CJ Prosise, JD McKissic
Ty Montgomery, RB, GB
Fractured Ribs: week to week
‘Ty Mo’ fractured multiple ribs last Thursday night against the Bears. It’s unclear exactly how many ribs were fractured, but based off the way Montgomery was grabbing the lower part of his chest, it is likely his fractures were in the lower ribs, which lie closer to the abdomen. So long as the ribs are not displaced, Montgomery would actually suit up in Week 5. However, this is going to be a very painful injury to play through. Expect Montgomery to wear a flack jacket and to be limited this week in practice. His Friday practice status will provide more clarity, but I expect Montgomery to be a game time decision on Sunday.
Other players impacted: Jamaal Williams, Aaron Jones
Jamaal Williams, RB, GB
Knee Sprain: week to week
In relief of Montgomery, Williams immediately stepped in as the Packers’ #1 back. However, he went down with a knee injury. An MRI came back negative, indicating he has no ligament damage and is currently considered week to week. With the Packers in desperate need of running back depth after Montgomery’s injury, he could suit up this week at even less than 100% in a backup role.
Other players impacted: Aaron Jones, Devante Mays, Ty Montgomery
Davante Adams, WR, GB
Concussion: week to week
Adams suffered a brutal concussion on a scary play during Thursday Night Football against the Bears as he was hit viciously in the head while being tackled in the middle of the field. Adams collapsed to the ground and was immediately motionless. After being carried off the field on a stretcher, Adams gave the thumbs up signal. Early reports showed that he had movement in all four extremities, and his MRI came back clean. Adams will need to clear the concussion protocol in order to play in Week 5, but it’s likely more realistic to see Adams return in Week 6.
Other players impacted: Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Geronimo Allison, Martellus Bennett
Jonathan Daniel/ Getty Images
Marcus Mariota, QB, TEN
Hamstring Strain: day to day
Mariota exited Week 4 early with a hamstring injury but appears to have escaped without a long-term injury. An MRI on Monday showed signs of a hamstring strain, but based off the suggested timeline of “day to day,” it is likely Mariota is dealing with a grade I strain. He could be back as early as this week but figures to be a game time decision. Matt Cassel would start if Mariota can’t go.
Other players impacted: Matt Cassel, Rishard Matthews, Corey Davis, Delanie Walker, Eric Decker
Jordan Matthews, WR, BUF
Fractured Thumb: 4-6 weeks
Matthews injured his thumb in the Bills’ Week 4 win over the Falcons, and he will require surgery to have a pin inserted into the thumb. Once the bone is stabilized and healed, Matthews will need to get his grip strength back in order to return to form.
Other players impacted: Zay Jones, Charles Clay, Andre Holmes, LeSean McCoy
Odell Beckham Jr., WR, NYG
Sprained Finger and Sprained Ankle: day to day
Beckham got his index finger on his right hand bent back into a hyperextended position, causing it to dislocate. After having it relocated, he returned to the game and didn’t appear to be too limited. He will deal with swelling and pain/stiffness in the finger throughout the week, but ultimately, this injury shouldn’t keep Beckham out for Week 5. In the same game, Beckham also appeared to have tweaked his ankle, but this does not appear to be a serious injury. Expect Beckham to miss some practice time this week, as the Giants will likely rest their star in hopes that he can be ready for Week 5.
Other players impacted: Eli Manning, Brandon Marshall, Sterling Shepard, Evan Engram
Julio Jones, WR, ATL
Hip Flexor Strain: week to week
The bye week comes at the perfect time for Julio Jones and the Falcons, as they are on bye next week. Early reports indicate that Julio is not expected to miss any additional time following the team’s Week 5 bye. He will use the extra time to get healthy and should be ready to roll in Week 6.
Other players impacted: Taylor Gabriel, Austin Hooper, Matt Ryan
Mohamed Sanu, WR, ATL
Strained Hamstring: 2-3 weeks
While it appears Julio should be ready for Week 6, the same is not necessarily true for Mohamed Sanu, who left Week 4 early with a hamstring injury. His timeline is being reported as 2-3 weeks, so there is a chance Sanu is ready for the team’s Week 6 matchup.
Other players impacted: Julio Jones, Taylor Gabriel, Austin Hooper, Matt Ryan
Jack Doyle, TE, IND
Concussion: week to week
Jack Doyle suffered a concussion in the Colts’ Sunday night blowout loss to the Seahawks. He will now enter the league’s concussion protocol and is week to week. Watch Doyle’s practice status as the week goes on in order to determine his availability for this Sunday.
Other players impacted: Darell Daniels, Brandon Williams, TY Hilton, Donte Moncrief, Jacoby Brissett
Paul Perkins, RB, NYG
Rib Contusion: week to week
Paul Perkins, I mean Smash Jackson, suffered a rib injury in Week 4. X-rays came back negative, and it appears as though Perkins avoided a rib fracture. Regardless, this will be a difficult injury to play through due to pain. As a result, rookie, Wayne Gallman could see an uptick in usage in Week 5 if Perkins is to miss time.
Other players impacted: Wayne Gallman, Orleans Darkwa, Shane Vareen
Jerick McKinnon, RB, MIN
Ankle Sprain: day to day
It was a brutal day for the Minnesota backfield, as Jerick McKinnon suffered an ankle injury late in the game after replacing Dalvin Cook, who went down with a torn ACL. Details regarding McKinnon’s injury have yet to surface, so for now, we’ll call it a sprain. Expect more details to be released in the near future, which should provide a timeline for his return.
Other players impacted: Latavius Murray