RADIO
Another week of football, another week of injuries. There's no avoiding them. They are inevitable. The only thing we can do is accept our fate, try to be as prepared as possible for them, and gather as much information beforehand so we can make educated decisions. With that said, RotoBaller is here to keep you up to date with all the relevant and most important injury information.
While Week 4 brought new injuries to deal with, it also brought some good news to fantasy managers. For one, Chris Godwin finally returned to the field. We also saw the return of Rondale Moore and Gabriel Davis. We also observed other receivers take advantage of more opportunities. With no Jakobi Meyers the past two weeks, DeVante Parker has rattled off seven receptions, 180 yards, and one touchdown in the past two games.
As we look forward to Week 5, there are several big names we'll need to keep our eye on. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Michael Thomas, Keenan Allen, and Rashod Bateman headline the receivers fantasy managers will be watching all week. Let's see what other receivers are struggling with injuries as we approach the new week.
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Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
Amon-Ra St. Brown was diagnosed with a mild ankle sprain in the Lions’ Week 3 contest. He exited the game on two separate occasions to have his ankle re-taped, but he was able to gut it out and didn’t seem overly affected by the injury.
He did not practice in any capacity leading up to their Week 4 game and was ultimately ruled out. It’s interesting because teammate D’Andre Swift was also reported to have suffered a mild ankle sprain in Week 1 but still played in Week 2. This leads me to believe that St. Brown’s injury is a bit more serious. Still, as long as the sprain was a low-ankle sprain vs the dreaded high-ankle sprain, two weeks off should be enough time for him to return to the field.
Fantasy managers should expect St. Brown to remain absent from practice early in the week and will hopefully increase his practice participation as the week rolls around. The Lions' upcoming practice report should give fantasy managers a good idea of whether or not St. Brown will be active this weekend.
Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers
Keenan Allen suffered a hamstring injury in Week 1 and ultimately missed Weeks 2 and 3. He didn’t practice in any capacity leading up to either of those contests. Prior to this past weekend’s game, Allen practiced, albeit on a limited basis on both Wednesday and Thursday. He was downgraded to a DNP on Friday and was ultimately ruled out on Saturday. There were no reports that he suffered a setback, but he clearly wasn’t ready.
Brandon Staley says Keenan Allen is day-to-day "we're just going to make sure we are careful."
— Bridget Condon (@BridgetCondon_) October 3, 2022
Head coach Brandon Staley described Allen as day-to-day and indicated the team is just being cautious with their No. 1 receiver. Hopefully, Allen is able to return to practice later today, even if just on a limited basis, before increasing his practice participation to a full practice later this week. It seems like Allen will likely be a go this week, but fantasy managers aren’t entirely out of the woods yet. It seemed like he would return last week and that didn’t happen, so be sure to check the Chargers’ practice report as the week rolls along.
Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints
Michael Thomas suffered what was believed to be a minor toe injury in their Week 3 contest. Based on initial reports, the injury was minor and there was optimism Thomas might be able to suit up in Week 4. However, Thomas did not practice in any capacity leading up to Week 4. To make matters worse, it doesn’t even sound like he was close as he was ruled out Friday morning.
It’s possible the London game had the Saints wanting to be more cautious with Thomas and his recent injury history, but this toe injury is to the opposite foot that he struggled with ankle injuries on the past two seasons.
Unfortunately, we don’t really know what kind of toe injury he’s dealing with. The guess is that it’s a mild case of turf toe, but the reality is, we just don’t know. When it comes to Thomas’s health, it’s impossible to know what might come next. Fantasy managers will need to follow the Saints’ practice report to get a better idea of what his availability might be this week.
Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens
Rashod Bateman’s playing time in Week 4 was affected due to a foot injury he suffered during the game. At this time, fantasy managers do not have a lot of information about what this foot injury is, but there seems to be some reason for some optimism.
Harbaugh said that he doesn’t believe Bateman’s injury to be really serious. Bateman told Harbaugh today that he’s day-to-day.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) October 3, 2022
For starters, head coach John Harbaugh indicated he did not believe it was serious and indicated Bateman is day to day. Bateman also was able to finish the game last week, which are all positive signs. Still, fantasy managers shouldn’t expect him to practice early this week. The true test will come on Friday.
Fantasy managers will have to check the Ravens’ practice report throughout the week to get a better read on his availability this weekend. At this time, the early signs indicate he could play, but it’s far from a guarantee at this time.
Jakobi Meyers, New England Patriots
Jakobi Meyers was somewhat of a surprise inactive in Week 4. Prior to Week 3, Meyers was a DNP on Wednesday and Thursday and had some tests done on his knee that came back negative. On the Friday before Week 3, Meyers returned to practice on a limited basis. Still, the Patriots decided to take a cautious approach and decided to have Meyers sit in Week 3. Still, the negative test results and the limited practice on Friday made it seem he would be available in Week 4.
Going into their contest against the Packers, Meyers was a limited practice participant all week. Typically, this kind of participation would indicate the player was likely going to be active on gameday, but Meyers was once again ruled out.
Looking forward to Week 5, based on his recent practice participation, fantasy managers should feel good about being able to put Meyers back into their starting lineup. Any full participation would seem to guarantee that, but his inactive status last week was surprising, so this will be one to watch as the week unfolds.
Treylon Burks, Tennessee Titans
Treylon Burks was carted off the field during the Titans’ Week 4 against the Colts. The injury prognosis isn’t good, but it could’ve been worse. There were some initial fears that he may have suffered a Lisfranc injury similar to the one Travis Etienne had. Luckily, it’s not that bad, but fantasy managers should be planning on being without him for the next few weeks.
With the likelihood of missing multiple weeks, Treylon Burks could land on Injured Reserve to allow him to fully heal. But no surgery means he should be back this season. https://t.co/riE7hutmGr
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 3, 2022
Based on this information, Burks seems to be dealing with a more significant turf toe injury and while it won’t require surgery, he still may be looking at an IR stint, which would mean missing the next four games. With that possibility currently on the table, fantasy managers should be, at the very least, bracing for a Week 5 and 6 absence.
Hunter Renfrow, Las Vegas Raiders
Fantasy managers are currently in wait-and-see mode with Hunter Renfrow’s status for Week 5. He suffered a concussion after two big hits in their Week 2 loss. Since then, Renfrow has not practiced in any capacity.
He’s clearly in the concussion protocol and there are steps he needs to pass before he gains clearance to partake in a limited practice session and the fact that this hasn’t happened yet indicates he’s still dealing with concussion symptoms and is still early on in the concussion protocol.
It’s impossible to speculate on when he might return to the field as concussions can be different for any player. Right now, fantasy managers should be assuming he’ll be out a third straight week based on the fact that he didn’t practice at all last week. Still, the practice reports for this week will paint the final picture.
Zay Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars
Zay Jones was added to the injury report on Thursday and listed as a DNP with an ankle injury. He practiced in full on Wednesday and there weren’t any reports about any injury during their last Week 3 game. He returned to practice on Friday on a limited basis, but ultimately was ruled out and did not play in Week 4.
Jaguars coach Doug Pederson said today that DT Foley Fatukasi (quad) is day to day and he'll know more about WR Zay Jones (ankle) later in the week but "I think he'll be ready to go."
— Michael DiRocco (@ESPNdirocco) October 3, 2022
The fact that he returned to practice on Friday in a limited fashion indicates the injury is likely minor and based on head coach Doug Pederson’s quote above, fantasy managers should feel confident Jones will be returning to the field in Week 5. The Jaguars’ practice report will confirm that, but it looks like he’ll be a go this weekend.
Jahan Dotson, Washington Commanders
Jahan Dotson left Washington’s Week 4 contest early and was ruled out due to a hamstring injury. There are different grades for hamstring injuries, with Grade 3 being the worst. At this time, we don’t know what grade of hamstring injury Dotson has.
#Commanders rookie WR Jahan Dotson is dealing with a hamstring injury and is expected to miss 1-2 weeks, per HC Ron Rivera.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 3, 2022
Based on head coach Ron Rivera’s comments, fantasy managers should feel optimistic that it’s most likely a Grade 1 hamstring injury. Rivera is expecting Dotson to miss 1-2 weeks. Fantasy managers shouldn’t be expecting him to practice in any capacity this week and he’s highly likely to miss Washington’s Week 5 game.
Isaiah McKenzie, Buffalo Bills
Isaiah McKenzie left Buffalo’s Week 4 game early after having been ruled out with a concussion. McKenzie will now enter the NFL’s concussion protocol. He’ll need to pass the necessary steps before being eligible to return to practice and eventually to play on Sunday.
With the intensified magnifying glass the NFL is rightly under after the Tua Tagovailoa incident, NFL teams may decide to be more cautious with concussions moving forward – something they should have been doing from the start. Fantasy managers should be expecting McKenzie to miss Week 5, but ultimately his practice participation will give the best clues regarding his availability.
Jamison Crowder, Buffalo Bills
Jamison Crowder suffered a broken ankle during the Bills’ Week 4 victory over the Ravens. He is out indefinitely and will be placed on IR.
D.J. Chark, Detroit Lions
DJ Chark’s status for Week 5 is somewhat of a mystery. He was a limited participant in practice last week Wednesday due to an ankle injury. He did not practice at all on Thursday but returned to practice in a limited fashion on Friday. Typically, that practice regimen would indicate a likely active status on Sunday, but that wasn’t the case.
Chark was ultimately ruled out. Chark is in a similar situation as Jakobi Meyers, in that based on his practice participation the previous week, we would have expected them to be active this past week, but they weren’t.
Still, practicing is better than not practicing (obviously), and based on Chark’s two limited sessions last week, fantasy managers should be cautiously optimistic that Chark returns in Week 5, but it’s no guarantee. Be sure to follow Detroit’s practice report throughout the week.
Wan'Dale Robinson & Kadarius Toney, New York Giants
Wan’Dale Robinson has not practiced, in any capacity since he injured his knee in Week 1. Kadarius Toney has been on the practice report every day since the Thursday practice prior to Week 2. Toney has not practiced since the Thursday practice heading into their Week 3 contest.
#Commanders rookie WR Jahan Dotson is dealing with a hamstring injury and is expected to miss 1-2 weeks, per HC Ron Rivera.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 3, 2022
Head coach Brian Daboll said the exact same thing last week about both players, “they’re making progress and we’ll see what happens.” Well, neither player practiced in any capacity the last time he said that which means fantasy managers shouldn’t have much hope for their availability this week.
Meanwhile, the Giants have been looking at other wide receiver options, per sources. Going through the current possibilities (OBJ still not back yet from ACL tear) with all their injuries. Kenny Golladay, Wan'Dale Robinson + Kadarius Toney in doubt this week. Sterling Shepard out
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) October 4, 2022
This Giants’ beat writer indicates there isn’t much optimism for either player and the Giants are actively looking for receivers to shore up their depleted group. This is a situation to avoid.
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