Inside the Tent - Week 14 NFL Injury Insight

December 12, 2020

Injury updates and analysis for Week 14 of the 2020 NFL season. Aaron Burger, PT, DPT provides analysis on fantasy football's biggest injuries during Week 13 to help you make informed lineup start/sit decisions.

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!

Editor's Note: Identify fantasy football draft busts, overvalued ADPs, and key players to avoid so you can draft with confidence this season.

Inside the Tent Updates

Drew Brees, QB - New Orleans Saints

• Brees is dealing with fractured ribs and a collapsed lung and was placed on injured reserve on November 20th. According to NFL Network, the Saints are targeting a Week 15 return for Brees considering the Saints have a playoff spot locked up and are undefeated with Taysom Hill under center.

Daniel Jones, QB - New York Giants

• Jones sustained a hamstring strain in Week 12 and missed Week 13 as a result. This week, he was able to start with two limited practices on Wednesday and Thursday. If Jones is able to practice in full on Friday, he will suit up in Week 14 but if it's a limited practice, fantasy managers will have to check news over the weekend as he'll be questionable. He has a plus matchup against the Cardinals in Week 14.

Joe Mixon, RB - Cincinnati Bengals

• Mixon is dealing with a midfoot sprain that has now caused him to be sidelined since Week 7. He was placed on injured reserve on November 21st. Speaking on December 9th, head coach Zac Taylor ruled Mixon out for Week 14 but did not rule out a return before season's end. At this point, it wouldn't make much sense for Mixon to return considering the Bengals are out of playoff contention and they've already had one key player, Joe Burrow, get significantly injured this season.

Christian McCaffrey, RB - Carolina Panthers

• McCaffrey is dealing with a shoulder sprain which occurred in Week 9. He was set to return this week for the fantasy playoffs but is now dealing with a "tweak" in his thigh. This sounds like a quadriceps strain and considering he's out this week, there's a good chance he'll be able to return for Week 15.

Josh Jacobs, RB - Las Vegas Raiders

• Jacobs sustained an ankle sprain in Week 12 and missed Week 13 as a result. This week, he did not practice on Wednesday but was able to practice in a limited fashion on Thursday and Friday will be telling for his Week 14 availability. Jacobs is listed as questionable in Week 14.

D'Andre Swift, RB - Detroit Lions

• Swift was not able to play on Thanksgiving against the Texans due to a concussion. Not all concussions are the same and obviously Swift's can be considered more severe given the weeks that he's missed. Swift was able to clear concussion protocol on December 3rd but missed Week 13 due to an illness not related to COVID-19. This week, he practiced in a limited fashion on Wednesday and Thursday so he's projecting to play in Week 14. To add to the confidence, he was able to practice in full on Friday.

Kenny Golladay, WR - Detroit Lions

• Golladay was once again not able to play in Week 13 due to his hip injury. At this point, it's confusing as to why he has not been placed on injured reserve. He has not practiced this week and likely not play in Week 14.

D.J. Moore, WR - Carolina Panthers

• Moore sustained an ankle injury in Week 12 although his x-rays were negative. On Monday, Moore was placed on the COVID-19/reserve list. Moore will need two negative tests if he is going to suit up in Week 14.

Julio Jones, WR - Atlanta Falcons

• Jones is once again dealing with a hamstring strain that kept him out of Week 12 against the Raiders. He was able to play in Week 13 against the Saints to a tune of six receptions for 94 yards. He did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday and on Friday was ruled OUT for Week 14.

Last Week's Injury Updates

Antonio Gibson, RB - Washington Football Team

• Injury: Gibson sustained an injury to his left big toe in Week 13 against the Steelers. As he was being tackled, his left big toe hyperextended. This mechanism of injury typically leads to turf toe which is the sprain of the ligaments surrounding the big toe.
• News: Gibson was not able to practice on Wednesday and Thursday and is doubtful for Week 14. This is commonly an injury that keeps athletes out for multiple weeks so we may have seen the last of Gibson for the 2020 season.
• Outlook: With Gibson sidelined, the Football Team will look upon J.D. McKissic and Peyton Barber to handle running back snaps. McKissic obviously holds more value in PPR formats but is a viable start for standard formats as well given his volume. Barber will be a touchdown dependent RB3 in Week 14.

Frank Gore, RB - New York Jets

• Injury: Gore sustained a concussion in Week 13 after just one carry against the Raiders. A concussion is the result of blunt force trauma to the head and the subsequent chemical cascade that occurs within the brain. Symptoms include dizziness, nausea, headaches, confusion, drowsiness, and difficulty remembering things.
• News: Gore was able to practice in a limited fashion on Wednesday but did not practice on Thursday. In this case, Gore carried a "non-injury" tag which indicates he will likely play on Sunday against the Seahawks.
• Outlook: There's always a risk when returning from a concussion, especially without a week off. Every concussion is different and players have different responses. With Gore likely returning, this douses the fire that was Ty Johnson heading into Week 14. Either player should only be started in desperate situations with Johnson holding more value in PPR formats.

Brandin Cooks, WR - Houston Texans

• Injury: Cooks sustained his sixth documented concussion since turning pro in 2014. This is obviously a scary situation even though he was cleared to return in Week 13. On top of the concussion, Cooks is dealing with neck and ankle injuries. The neck injury is a result of the play in which he sustained his concussion in Week 13.
• News: Cooks was able to practice in a limited fashion on Wednesday and Thursday and will likely play in Week 14 as a result. The key for the Texans will be keeping Cooks' neck loose as well as avoiding a re-aggravation of his ankle injury.
• Outlook: If Cooks is able to play, this will be an obvious upgrade for Deshaun Watson as the receiver room since Will Fuller V's suspension has been quite thin. The Chicago defense isn't creating turnovers like they have in years past and the Texans should be able to hang with the Bears in Week 14.

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