Fantasy Football: Week 6 Injury Recap
Quincy Enunwa
High ankle sprain: out 3-4 weeks
Enunwa went down during the team’s Week 6 win against the Colts with a right ankle injury and didn’t return. He was seen after the game in a walking boot, which isn’t a surprise. He received an MRI on Monday, which showed a sprain of the ligaments in his ankle. He will be out for roughly a month and begin rehab on his ankle, focusing primarily on reducing swelling, restoring his range of motion, and regaining ankle stability.
Other players impacted: Robby Anderson, Jermaine Kearse, Terrelle Pryor
Amari Cooper
Concussion: day-to-day
Amari Cooper took a nasty hit to his head on a helmet to helmet hit as he came across the middle on a slant route against the Seahawks. He laid motionless on the ground for several minutes before walking off under his own power. Cooper enters the league’s concussion protocol, but fortunately, time is on his side. The Raiders go on bye in Week 7, so Cooper will have two weeks to clear concussion protocol, giving him a good chance to be ready for Week 8.
Other players impacted: Derek Carr, Jordy Nelson, Martavis Bryant, Jared Cook
Derek Carr
Left arm injury (diagnosis unknown): day-to-day
Derek Carr was injured late in the team’s embarrassing loss to the Seahawks on Sunday but didn’t return. He reportedly injured his left arm and was likely held out for precautionary reasons given that the game was already out of reach. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that the injury is not expected to be serious and that he is not in danger of missing any time. The bye week comes at a good time for Carr given that he will have two weeks to be ready for his next start.
Other players impacted: Amari Cooper, Jordy Nelson, Martavis Bryant, Jared Cook
Cooper Kupp
Left MCL sprain: likely out multiple weeks
Cooper Kupp went down with a scary injury on Sunday after he took a jet sweep towards the sidelines. The Broncos’ defender brought Kupp down with horse collar tackle, causing his left knee to fold awkwardly underneath of him. He was carted off the field and struggled to put weight on the leg. Remarkably, in Aaron Rodgers fashion, Kupp returned in the second half with a knee brace on, but he played sparingly. An MRI on Monday confirmed a sprained MCL for the second year wide receiver, so he is likely to miss at least a week. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Rams think he “could miss some time, but not sure yet.” I anticipate a multi-week absence for Kupp.
Other players impacted: Josh Reynolds, Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods, Jared Goff
Josh Allen
Right elbow ulnar collateral ligament sprain: out multiple weeks
Bills’ rookie QB Josh Allen injured his right elbow on Sunday against the Texans. He dropped back for a pass to Kelvin Benjamin and was hit with a helmet on the outside of his throwing elbow, causing the inside of his elbow to be stretched rapidly. Allen immediately grabbed his right elbow and stayed in for one play but was in obvious discomfort. An MRI on Monday confirmed the diagnosis of a “sprained elbow.” The ligament on the inside of the elbow is called the ulnar collateral ligament, or the UCL, and it’s analogous to the MCL of the knee. It can heal within a few weeks if it is not completely torn. For reference, it is the ligament that gets repaired in baseball pitchers in the infamous Tommy John surgery. Head coach Sean McDermott stated that Allen is week-to-week, but I’m expecting Allen to sit for multiple weeks. The team will turn to Nathan Peterman or veteran Derek Anderson.
Other players impacted: Nathan Peterman, Derek Anderson, LeSean McCoy
Calvin Ridley
Bone bruise: week-to-week
The exciting rookie out of Alabama exited Week 6 early with an ankle injury and didn’t return. An MRI on Monday showed a bone bruise in his ankle, so there’s a chance he sits on Monday Night Football against the Giants. Expect him to be limited for much of the week at practice. Injuries are aplenty for the Falcons this season, and for what it’s worth, fellow teammate, Davonta Freeman, didn’t play this past week with a bone bruise in his foot. Obviously, these injuries are different, but a bone bruise shouldn’t be treated lightly.
Other players impacted: Julio Jones, Mohamed Sanu, Justin Hardy, Austin Hooper, Matt Ryan
Mohamed Sanu
Hip injury (diagnosis unknown): day-to-day
Mohamed Sanu exited Week 6 early after aggravating his hip injury on Sunday. Worth noting, he’s been listed on the team’s injury report for the past couple of weeks with a hip injury but has been playing through it. He appeared to aggravate the injury in the third quarter and didn’t return. Speaking Monday, head coach, Dan Quinn, told reporters that he’s “hopeful” Sanu will be ready for the team’s Monday Night Football game in Week 7 against the Giants. Expect Sanu to be limited for much of the week.
Other players impacted: Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley, Justin Hardy, Austin Hooper, Matt Ryan
Niles Paul
MCL sprain: likely out multiple weeks
With Austin Seferian-Jenkins on injured reserve with a core muscle injury, Niles Paul stepped up for the Jaguars. However, he got injured in the team’s Week 6 loss to the Cowboys. Paul suffered a sprained MCL and will likely be out multiple weeks, but he’s having an MRI to determine the severity. Look for more updates on Paul later this week.
Other players impacted: Blake Bortles, James O’Shaughnessy