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The injuries, like they do every year, are starting to pile up. Although we've been accustomed to running backs being the most injury-inflicted position, it might just be the receivers early. Guys like Keenan Allen, Michael Pittman Jr., Chris Godwin, Gabriel Davis, and Michael Gallup have already missed games. Tee Higgins and Jerry Jeudy have been forced out of their contests early and have left their fantasy managers with little to show. So far the injury bug has been hitting the receiver position hard.
On a positive note, none of the injuries seem to be overly serious and most should be back this week, or at the very latest, early October, which seems to be the thought process surrounding Godwin. Fantasy managers will need to pay attention to the upcoming practice report to get a better read on where their availability for Week 3 currently is.
We'll be looking at some of the biggest names whose availability for Week 3 currently is in question. Since it's early in the week, you'll need to be sure to check practice reports and our later weekly edition of the WR Injury Report to get more accurate information once it's available. Wednesdays are most teams' first practice of the week, but it's become a day more teams use for rest, so our first, best information generally comes on Thursday and Friday so stay tuned and be patient.
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Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts
Michael Pittman was somewhat of a surprise inactive in Week 2, but anytime a player is downgraded in their practice capacity, it’s a bad sign. Pittman was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday before logging two DNPs on Thursday and Friday.
Even worse yet, Pittman didn’t even make it to being a game-time decision and was ruled out already on Saturday. Reports are that the Colts don’t know when the injury occurred, but it seems safe to assume something occurred during that Wednesday practice.
The injury was defined as a quad injury, which is never ideal. Soft-tissue injuries are unsettling because these kinds of injuries can have a tendency of lingering and they sometimes take longer to fully heal. That said, fantasy managers got some good news on Pittman over the weekend.
The Colts, per Frank Reich, are hoping Michael Pittman, Jr. is back for Sunday's game vs. KC. "I think he made some good progress over the weekend," the coach said.
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer) September 19, 2022
Head coach Frank Reich seems to be optimistic Pittman can make a return to the field in Week 3. All of that will be dependent on what he does this week in practice. Fantasy managers will need to check his practice involvement this week. However, don’t be surprised if he starts off with a DNP on Wednesday. They might bring him along slowly. Friday will likely be the big day for his possible availability this weekend.
Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts
Following the Colts’ Week 1 game, Alec Pierce started to exhibit concussion-like symptoms. He entered the concussion protocol and is not eligible to return to action until he passes through the NFL’s concussion protocol.
#Colts WR Alec Pierce developed concussion symptoms following the tie against the #Texans and he's in the concussion protocol, per coach Frank Reich.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 14, 2022
Since he was put into the concussion protocol later in the week, Pierce had very little chance of playing in Week 2. Historically, since the NFL has revamped its concussion protocols, players have tended to miss one game.
With the extra time, fantasy managers should be optimistic he returns to action in Week 3, but this is no guarantee. Concussions are different for every player. This decision could be a game-time decision but based on his practice involvement this week, fantasy managers should have a good idea of where Pierce’s availability will be entering the weekend.
Gabriel Davis, Buffalo Bills
Gabriel Davis was a late-week addition to the injury report after a practice injury to his ankle.
NFL Network's Mike Garafolo says that Gabriel Davis sprained his ankle on a non-contact play and is trending more towards doubtful for tomorrow's game. https://t.co/87TbYN4jg0
— AJ Feldman (@AJFeldmanTV) September 18, 2022
Fantasy managers do not have any information regarding what kind of ankle sprain it is. This information will be important to determine how long Davis may be on the mend. D’Andre Swift was able to play this past weekend, albeit in a limited fashion, with a low ankle sprain, but high ankle sprains can be a 3-6 week absence.
Unfortunately, due to the late week addition, fantasy managers have limited information regarding the severity of Davis’s injury. At this time, all we know is it was a non-contact ankle sprain.
This week and his practice involvement will shed some more light on Davis’s potential return to the gridiron.
Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers
Keenan Allen suffered a hamstring injury in Week 1 and due to the short turnaround with a Thursday night game, Allen really didn’t have any chance to suit up in Week 2. He was ruled out rather quickly, but there was some optimism that his injury isn’t long-term.
#Chargers WR Keenan Allen is unlikely to play Thursday night against the #Chiefs, but there is optimism after tests that his hamstring injury isn’t anything long-term, per sources. Next game is Sept. 25 against the #Jaguars, two full weeks after the injury.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 13, 2022
Entering Week 3, Allen will have had two weeks off prior to their next appearance, which might give him a chance of suiting up against Jacksonville. Fantasy managers shouldn’t expect Allen to practice early in the week. They’re likely going to give him as much time as possible.
While it’s possible he plays this week, with hamstring injuries having a way to linger throughout the season, it’s also possible the Chargers take the safe route and give him another week. Either way, his practice participation throughout the week will give us a better indication.
Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chris Godwin was surprisingly active in Week 1 after suffering a late-season torn ACL in 2021. He hadn’t participated in any contact practices throughout the entire preseason, but that didn’t stop him from suiting up for the first week of the NFL season. Unfortunately, he suffered a hamstring injury early in the contest.
#Bucs HC Todd Bowles said WR Chris Godwin is dealing with a hamstring injury but it is “not as serious as we thought." Sounds like he'll miss some time but could've been worse.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 12, 2022
While initial reports indicated the injury wasn’t as serious as originally thought, that does mean at first the team thought the injury was serious. Just because the final diagnosis was better than what was originally believed, does not mean that it was actually good.
At the time of the injury, reports indicated it was most likely a multiple-week absence and there’s been nothing to refute that. Fantasy managers should be expecting Godwin to miss a second straight week. The final practice reports will be the final confirmation, but you should plan on needing an alternative plan.
Julio Jones, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Julio Jones has struggled with injuries mightily over the past two seasons, almost to the point that his career looked like it might be over. However, Tampa Bay decided to sign the future Hall of Famer and he looked good in Week 1. Unfortunately, he suffered a knee injury that kept him out of Week 2.
Hard to say if Julio Jones (knee) is back Sunday for Packers -- he was close enough to be a game-time decision this weekend, so another week of rest/recovery should put him in at least similar position this week. He gets Wednesdays off now, so we'll see if he goes Thursday. https://t.co/JykxUuphEf
— Greg Auman (@gregauman) September 20, 2022
Even though he was deemed a game-time decision heading into Week 2, which should, in theory, give him a good chance of suiting up this week, fantasy managers simply cannot take anything for granted when it comes to Julio’s health.
There’s a big opportunity that awaits him, however, with Mike Evans suspended and Godwin unlikely to play again. Will he be healthy enough to take advantage? It’s been a question fantasy managers have been asking of Jones for the past few years. Be sure to pay attention to practice reports this week to see if Julio will be available this weekend.
Rondale Moore, Arizona Cardinals
Rondale Moore injured his hamstring the Thursday before Week 1 and he has not returned to practice since. He was a DNP every day leading up to Week 2 and following the injury, reports indicated he would have an MRI done on his hamstring. That’s never good news.
Fantasy managers had little optimism of Moore suiting up in Week 2 and it doesn’t appear they should have much positivity for Week 3 either.
Rondale Moore (hamstring) could be out for a "few more" weeks.
— Underdog NFL (@Underdog__NFL) September 18, 2022
Fantasy managers should be bracing for a second straight absence for the slot receiver. Since the Cardinals elected not to put him on IR, there should be some hope of a Week 4 return, but until he returns to practice in some capacity, it’s hard to know when we might see him back on the field.
Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos
Jerry Jeudy exited their Week 2 contest early with what was described as a shoulder injury after the defender’s body drove his shoulder into the ground. Initial thoughts were of a possibly broken collarbone, but x-rays came back negative.
#Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy is also considered day-to-day after dealing with a chest/sternum injury. So, all around, pretty good news for Denver. https://t.co/EiLAICy1mi
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 19, 2022
As you can see above, Ian Rapoport is defining it as a chest/sternum injury. We’re still somewhat in the dark as to what kind of injury Jeudy is actually dealing with, but there is some consensus that he may have suffered an SC joint sprain, although this is not confirmed.
The good news is that he’s being classified as day-to-day, which leaves open the possibility of him playing in Week 4. This may be a pain tolerance issue and determining just how effective Jeudy can be with the injury.
Fantasy managers should view Jeudy’s Week 3 status as completely up in the air. It’s unlikely he practices much this week and could very well be a game-time decision. More information should likely come out as we get closer to the weekend.
K.J. Hamler, Denver Broncos
K.J. Hamler was ruled out for the Broncos’ Week 2 contest due to a knee and hip injury. He’s still working his way back from a torn ACL in 2021 and seems to have gotten dinged up in Week 1. The good news is that it doesn’t appear to be a setback and was more of a precautionary move by the team.
#Broncos inactives include Josey Jewell (calf, he was optimistic about playing so should be back next week), KJ Hamler (more maintenance than anything else) Nik Bonitto, Billy Turner, Uwazurike, Jalen Virgil. #Denver7
— Troy Renck (@TroyRenck) September 18, 2022
Based on reports of his Week 2 absence being more precautionary based, fantasy managers should expect Hamler back on the field in Week 3. That’s especially noteworthy considering Jeudy may be out or limited.
Michael Gallup, Dallas Cowboys
Last week, Michael Gallup practiced in pads and looks to be getting awfully close to returning. The Cowboys elected not to put him on the PUP list, indicating they thought he’d be back before Week 5 and we’re now entering going into Week 3. The optimism is growing and the Cowboys’ offense desperately needs another pass-catcher.
Gehlken: Michael Gallup (knee) trending toward return Week 3; not expected to see usual workload initially.
— Underdog NFL (@Underdog__NFL) September 19, 2022
Fantasy managers in deep leagues might be able to put Gallup in their lineups this weekend. It’s likely if he does return, that he’ll be on a snap count of some level though. That’s something to consider, but for the fantasy managers that have been patiently awaiting his return to the field, it looks like it could very well be this week.
Wan'Dale Robinson, New York Giants
Wan’Dale Robinson missed Week 2 due to a knee injury he suffered early in their Week 1 contest. He didn’t practice in any capacity leading up to Week 2, so he needs to be considered highly questionable again leading up to Week 3.
There’s been little information about his potential availability, so fantasy managers will need to check on the Giants’ practice reports as the week rolls by. In either case, with the way the New York offense has looked, Robinson is best kept on benches right now.
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