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At RotoBaller, we can't stress enough the importance of keeping up with injuries and playing your best lineup week after week. Players are going to get injured, that's an unavoidable fact. What's avoidable though is making the wrong roster decisions based on the injuries surrounding your fantasy squad. If you want to dominate your leagues and win some dough in daily contests, you have to be proactive with injury research.
That's where I come in to serve you, the readers! I'm Aaron Burger, a Doctor of Physical Therapy in Pittsburgh, PA. About three years ago, I decided to combine my love, fantasy football, with what I've been learning for years now: injuries and the human body. Each week, I'll be checking in on fantasy's biggest injuries to keep you informed.
Be sure you also have RotoBaller bookmarked and follow us on social media to catch all the latest NFL news and updates. Feel free to reach out on Twitter (@aaronburgerPT) for any injury questions!
Inside the Tent Updates
Drew Lock, QB - Denver Broncos
- Lock is dealing with a rotator cuff strain after a brutal hit in Week 2 against the Steelers. He missed Week 3 and is missing Week 4 as well. According to James Palmer, Lock is "legitimately 50/50 to play" in Week 5.
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB - San Francisco 49ers
- Garoppolo is dealing with the notorious high-ankle sprain and was not able to practice all week. With this being said, it will be Nick Mullens under center for the San Francisco 49ers as they take on the Eagle in Week 4. Garoppolo will likely be back next week but if not, Week 6 at home against the Dolphins is a sure thing.
Tyrod Taylor, QB - Los Angeles Chargers
- Taylor had his lung punctured during a pain injection before Week 2 and therefore has missed two games thus far. He has not practiced all week but Head Coach Anthony Lynn has not yet ruled out Taylor. With that being said, expect to see rookie Justin Herbert out there once again in Week 4.
Phillip Lindsay, RB - Denver Broncos
- Lindsay was not able to play once again in Week 4 due to turf toe. Expect Lindsay to be back in Week 5 against the Patriots. Lindsay was able to practice in a limited fashion all week leading up to Thursday night so this is certainly a positive sign leading into Week 5.
Raheem Mostert, RB - San Francisco 49ers
- Mostert is dealing with a sprained MCL and has not practiced all week leading up to Week 4. According to Cam Inman, Mostert is OUT for Week 4.Mostert has a good chance to return in Week 5.
Tevin Coleman, RB - San Francisco 49ers
- Coleman was placed on injured reserve on September 23rd with a sprained MCL. It's quite clear that his injury is significantly worse than his Raheem Mostert's.
Cam Akers, RB - Los Angeles Rams
- Akers sustained an injury to the cartilage in his ribs and missed Week 3 as a result. Akers has not practiced all week and is OUT for Week 4 according to Jourdan Rodrigue. Expect Akers to be back on the field in Week 5.
Davante Adams, WR - Green Bay Packers
- Adams suffered a hamstring strain in Week 2 and missed Week 3 as a result. Hamstring strains often take two or more games to heal so don't be surprised if Adams misses another game. He was able to practice Wednesday and Thursday in a limited fashion so it'll be crucial to see if he practices in full on Saturday. Expect Adams to be a game-time decision or have a limited role if he does play. This is a tough situation considering he plays on Monday night so make sure to have a contingency plan. UPDATE: Adams has tweeted that he will not be playing on Monday night.
A.J. Brown, WR - Tennessee Titans
- A.J. Brown was able to play in Week 1 with a bone bruise in his knee but was unfortunately not able to suit up for Week 2 or Week 3. Bone bruises can be quire frustrating because athletes must really depend on their bodies to heal the ailment. Like the skin, or anything else in the body, bones can also bruise as they have their own blood supply. Bone bruises in the knee are often a result of stress put on ligaments and pulling at the bone where the ligament attaches. The Titans obviously do not play this week due to multiple COVID-19 cases but expect to see Brown on the field in Week 5.
Michael Thomas, WR - New Orleans Saints
- Thomas is dealing with a high-ankle sprain and did not play in Week 2 or Week 3. With high-ankle sprains, players usually miss three or more games so expect to see Thomas back on the field during Week 5 at the earliest. Thomas will be OUT for Week 4 according to Tim Twentyman.
Henry Ruggs III, WR - Las Vegas Raiders
- Ruggs missed practice on the Thursday leading into Week 3 and did not play due to a hamstring strain and a lingering knee sprain. He did not practice at all this week due to his hamstring strain and is therefore doubtful for Week 4.
George Kittle, TE - San Fransisco 49ers
- Kittle is managing a sprained MCL but was able to practice in full all week. With this being said, Kittle is a full-go for Week 4 and can be started with confidence.
Week 3 Injury Updates
Leonard Fournette, RB - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Injury: Fournette popped up on the Tampa Bay injury report on Wednesday. It's not quite clear what he's dealing with but the two most common injuries in the ankle include inversion ankle sprains and high-ankle sprains. Inversion sprains occur lower in the foot and the most common ligament that's sprained is the anterior talofibular ligament. Another common ankle injury in football players is the high-ankle sprain which involves the syndesmosis between the tibia and fibula. Considering Fournette's injury came out of nowhere on Wednesday, one would expect that it's the former, an inversion sprain.
- News: He wasn't able to practice at all this week and is OUT for Week 4.
- Outlook: With Fournette shelved this week, this leads to a great opportunity for Ronald Jones II to take back the lead back duties in Tampa Bay. Expect LeSean McCoy to get some more receiving work out of the backfield and help on third downs.
Chris Carson, RB - Seattle Seahawks
- Injury: Carson was the victim of an alligator roll during the Seahawk's game against the Cowboys and suffered a knee sprain as a result. The defender twisted Carson's leg and continued to roll, causing a rotary force on his knee. Based on how he's progressed this week, Carson is likely dealing with a Grade I MCL sprain. This is definitely best case scenario based on how vicious and dirty the play was.
- News: He was able to practice in a limited fashion on Wednesday and Thursday before turning in a full practice on Friday. He is listed as questionable for Week 4 but expect him to play.
- Outlook: Carlos Hyde is also questionable so one could expect a limited workload for both Hyde and Carson. Carson is certainly lucky that a play which has no place in football didn't result in an ACL or meniscus tear. If Carson is active, he should be in your lineups.
Tarik Cohen, RB - Chicago Bears
- Injury: Cohen suffered a torn ACL in his right leg just one week after signing a three-year extension with the Chicago Bears. The ACL is within the knee and helps to provide stability while preventing excess forward movement of the tibia on the femur. The most common mechanism of injury for ACL tears is the knee collapsing inward with the foot planted.
- News: He was placed on injured reserve on September 28th. Cohen will have an MRI to determine if other ligaments or menisci are involved.
- Outlook: With Cohen missing the rest of the 2020 season, the Bears will lean on David Montgomery to head their backfield. Look for Cordarrelle Patterson to see increased usage in the passing game as well.
Diontae Johnson, WR - Pittsburgh Steelers
- Injury: Johnson, the young wide receiver for the Steelers, suffered a concussion in Week 3 and missed the remainder of the game as a result. Concussions are a result of blunt force trauma to the head and/or neck and the signs and symptoms that present are a result of the chemical cascade that occurs within the brain. No two concussions are the same and as a result, timelines are always difficult to predict.
- News: The Steelers are not playing in Week 4 due to COVID-19 cases present within the Titans organization.
- Outlook: Johnson should be back in Week 5 and will likely be peppered with targets considering Ben Roethlisberger's eye for him so far this season.
Chris Godwin, WR - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Injury: Godwin suffered a hamstring strain in Week 3 and exited the game early. It's being reported that Godwin will be out at least two weeks with a mild hamstring strain, or a Grade I. Grade I strains involve stretching to the musculotendinous unit with no significant tearing. Hamstring strains are one of the injuries where re-injury later in the season is always a concern.
- News: He was not able to practice all week and has been ruled OUT for Week 4.
- Outlook: With Godwin sidelined, this should result in a target share increase for Mike Evans. Scotty Miller is questionable with a hip injury so this could mean Justin Watson sees more snaps as well.
Mike Williams, WR - Los Angeles Chargers
- Injury: Williams also suffered a hamstring strain in Week 3. This is likely also a Grade I strain and we can expect to see Williams back in Week 6. The hamstring group is made of three muscles which help with flexing the knee, hip extension, acceleration, and deceleration. They are often injured when changing speeds rapidly.
- News: He was not able to practice at all this week and has been ruled OUT for Week 4.
- Outlook: Look for Keenan Allen, Hunter Henry, and Austin Ekeler to absorb the majority of the targets for the Chargers with Justin Herbert under center once again.
Russell Gage, WR - Atlanta Falcons
- Injury: Russell Gage suffered a concussion in Week 3 and was not able to return. Concussions are a result of blunt force trauma to the head or neck. The chemical cascade which occurs in the brain produces the signs and symptoms which come along with concussions including headaches, dizziness, nausea, and sensitivity to light.
- News: Gage was able to practice in a limited fashion on Thursday and in full on Friday. The Falcons play on Monday night so be sure to check the practice report on Saturday.
- Outlook: Considering the Falcons play on Monday night, there is always inherent risk when waiting to play someone who had an injury the week before. Ultimately, Gage will likely play in Week 4 considering he was able to get a full practice in on Friday. If he practices in full on Saturday, it's all systems go for the slot wide receiver from LSU.
DeSean Jackson, WR - Philadelphia Eagles
- Injury: Jackson suffered a hamstring strain in Week 3 and is out for Week 4. He has a significant history of lower body soft tissue injuries, all of which carry risk for re-injury. The hamstrings help athletes to accelerate and decelerate and are often injured when trying to change speeds rapidly.
- News: He was not able to practice at all this week and is OUT for Week 4.
- Outlook: With Alshon Jeffery, Jalen Reagor, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, and DeSean Jackson out, the Eagles will lean on Greg Ward Jr. and John Hightower to lead their passing attack from the wide receiver position. What this really means though is that Zach Ertz is guaranteed at least 12 targets.
Dallas Goedert, TE - Philadelphia Eagles
- Injury: According to reports, Goedert is dealing with a fracture in his left ankle. One could hypothesize that his fibula is the culprit based on the three week timeline that's being reported by Jeff Kerr and Tyler Sullivan. The fibula is actually non-weight bearing which actually means athletes can come back faster compared to a fractured tibia. One could argue that this is a better scenario compared to a high-ankle sprain.
- News: He was placed on short term injured reserve on September 29th.
- Outlook: With Goedert out, the middle of the field belongs to Zach Ertz and Zach Ertz alone. Expect even more targets for Ertz as there simply aren't enough healthy bodies for the Eagles once again.
Jordan Reed, TE - San Francisco 49ers
- Injury: Reed initially injured his ankle, returned to the game, then injured his knee in Week 3 against the Giants. It's being reported as a knee sprain so either the MCL, LCL, PCL, or ACL is involved. Considering he's being given a 6-8 week timeline, there could be multiple ligaments involved.
- News: He was placed on injured reserve and will spend three weeks there. After that, he will continue to rehab and we will hopefully see him around Thanksgiving.
- Outlook: George Kittle is back this week for the 49ers so they won't miss a beat with a threat over the middle to soak up targets and rack up yards after reception. Deebo Samuel as also back this week which is certainly a welcome addition.
