For the rest of the preseason, I'll have a Monday article updating the injury status of players around the league with quick-hitting articles during the week on any major injury stories that occur.
FOLLOWUP APPOINTMENTS
Andrew Luck | Right shoulder labrum repair | January 2017 | Week-to-WEek
There were no new quotes from Andrew Luck, Chris Ballard, Chuck Pagano, and Jim Irsay this week. That's not surprising. We're now three weeks from the Colts' regular season opener. Luck remains on the PUP list and has yet to be seen on the sidelines throwing. There's nothing new to add. The Colts are gathering information and getting closer and closer to knowing exactly where Luck will stand for Week 1.
I think this is the week the Colts have targeted all along. In order to Luck to reasonably have a chance to play effectively in Week 1, I believe he needs to -- at minimum -- be throwing routes to his receivers on the sideline. The Colts could then activate him off the PUP list prior to the last preseason game, decide whether or not to expose him to contact in team drills in advance of Week 1, and then allow him to go through something resembling his usual week of practice leading into Week 1.
If Luck isn't cleared for non-contact 7-on-7 soon, it's hard to believe the team will accelerate his rehab process over the last 7-10 days of the preseason and put him in live game action in Week 1.
I still don't believe Luck will start the season on the PUP list. If that happens, something didn't go as planned in the throwing phase of his rehab. And I still believe we'll see Luck work his way through some early inconsistency as he builds arm strength, stamina, and accuracy. But we are now at the inflection point for his Week 1 availability.
JORDAN REED | TOE INJURY | WEEK-TO-WEEK
Reed improved enough in individual drills after gaining comfort in his custom orthotic to come off the PUP list on Sunday. It's a positive sign after weeks of uncertainty.
Reed has yet to prove he can practice and play through a chronic toe condition -- one that he told reporters was a fracture in his foot last week. I believe Reed's injury is suspicious for an injury to the sesamoid bone(s) of his foot. Here is my detailed speculation on that last week. While Reed is hopeful he'll not have a setback, it's an injury that could flare up at any point. Reed also needs to get through the next 7-10 days of practice without a conditioning injury. Watch his progress closely this week.
Ryan Kelly | Foot injury | Preseason Week 2 | 6-8 Weeks
After a brief period of rest last week, Kelly elected to have surgery on his injured foot. According to Adam Schefter, the initial return estimate is 6-8 weeks, with Ian Rapoport reporting Kelly will likely be placed on injured reserve with the Colts intending to use the return to play designation. If that happens, Kelly will have at least eight weeks of recovery time before practicing, with 10-12 weeks of recovery before returning to game play.
The reporting on Kelly's injury is interesting. Initially, Tom Pelissero was specific in reporting "no fracture" for Kelly. Schefter reported the injury as a bone defect in his tweet about Kelly's surgery, with Rapoport reporting the surgery was to repair a bone in his foot. George Bremer noted that the Colts initially believed the injury was similar to an injury Kelly suffered in college and would heal with time.
I can't find any record of a foot injury Kelly suffered at Alabama. Though it's possible Kelly's surgery was to fix a fifth metatarsal injury, it would be odd for a fifth metatarsal fracture to not be seen on an X-ray with a week of debate/rest before fixation. I'm wondering if Schefter's report of a bone defect hints at a different bone or a cartilage related defect that could suggest a longer term issue for Kelly. That's my speculation of course. Whether the procedure was a fifth metatarsal repair or to address a different defect, the return to play estimate of 6-8 weeks is on the optimistic side, with the 8-12 week timetable that would come with an injured reserve designation more easily attainable.
I'll keep digging on Kelly.
Leonard Fournette | Foot injury | Early preseason | Week-to-Week
Fournette was asked last week whether his injury was related to the high ankle sprains he struggled to play through at LSU. He told reporters it was not, saying, "I've never had a foot or toe injury or anything like that." The inclusion of "toe" in that reply suggests Fournette's foot injury is toward the front of his foot. It's too early to speculate whether his injury is around the big toe or not but it's suspicious. Fournette also told reporters he was "confident" he'd ready for Week 1 and said he was frustrated he couldn't practice.
Toe injuries are troublesome for running backs. You can look at Fournette's slow return to practice both optimistically and pessimistically. Taking time to rest and rehab likely limits the chance of aggravation and a lingering early season injury. But it also underlines the concern for these injuries in running backs. Hopefully, Fournette is cleared for contact this week and successfully navigates the reconditioning phase of his return without an aggravation.
Cordy Glenn | Foot injury | Week-to-Week
Glenn briefly returned to practice last week before heading back to Dr. Robert Anderson for another evaluation of his injured foot. While there, Glenn received an injection in the foot. The treatment is hoped to "knock out" Glenn's symptoms, according to head coach Sean McDermott. While the Bills haven't released any specifics, a lingering foot injury allowing intermittent practice followed by an injection to treat symptoms suggests Glenn is fighting plantar fasciitis. Dr. Anderson is among many proponents of using platelet-rich plasma as a method of stimulating healing for plantar fascia problems. Glenn is said to be week-to-week and has a chance to be ready to practice for Week 1. If the treatment isn't successful, Glenn will likely be forced to battle the injury all season long and could eventually choose a surgical option.
Joe Flacco | Disc herniation | Week-to-Week
We're now four weeks into the preseason and Flacco still isn't practicing. The Ravens may be trying to avoid labeling Flacco with a herniated disc and camouflaging his injury in the "stiffness and soreness" category but his absence has always been suggestive of a herniated disc. Baltimore continues to maintain that Flacco will return to practice before the end of the preseason and play in Week 1. It would be reassuring to see him throwing routes soon but not a deal-breaker.
Teddy Bridgewater | Left knee dislocation / Multi-ligament repair | August 2016 | Month-to-Month
Bridgewater is doing more and more individual work over the past two weeks. But he's still not been cleared for contact and the team has shown no signs of activating him off their PUP list. Mike Zimmer won't speculate on whether Bridgewater might be available during the 2017 season.
From Tom Pelissero's in-depth notes last week:
"I really couldn't tell you. I'm hopeful that he is," Zimmer told me. "The kid's working his rear end off. But I don't know if it's three weeks from now or a year from now. He has to finish this last little jump that he's got to go. I've asked the same question you have to the trainers, to doctors -- it's really the same answer. No one is for sure."
What is that last jump?
"It's being able to play the game athletically," Zimmer said. "I'm sure if we were throwing 7-on-7, he could do it all day long. But it's not playing the game. So ... the doctors and the medical people are not going to put him on the field until he can be able to go out there, protect himself and do all the things that he needs to do."
The escalation in individual work is the first step in answering whether he's physically and mentally able to handle contact in the pocket at live game speed. The Vikings won't rush Bridgewater into their backup role. It's looking more and more like midseason will be Bridgewater's earliest chance to return to the active roster.
Others of note: Demarco Murray (hamstring strain) returned to practice but was held out of the second preseason game. Devonta Freeman (concussion) has yet to be cleared for contact but there are no indications of a prolonged absence. Eric Ebron (hamstring strain) missed practice all last week and there should be concern for an aggravation of his previous strain. Jordan Matthews (sternum fracture) is back doing limited work and expects to be cleared to play in Week 1. Josh Doctson (hamstring strain) returned to play in the second preseason game. Paul Richardson Jr (AC sprain) returned to practice but was held out of the second preseason game. Curtis Samuel (hamstring strain) returned to individual drills last week. Zachary Orr (cervical spine malformation, herniated disc) retired after multiple NFL teams would not clear him for contact.
INJURY ROUNDS
Ty Montgomery | lower leg injury | Preseason Week 2 | week-to-Week
Montgomery reportedly has a lower leg injury. The Packers have not discussed specifics. Montgomery is known to have sickle cell trait, raising concerns whether his injury may prove as difficult to recover from as John Brown's quadriceps strain. The short answer is -- it's possible but unlikely. I'll have a long and detailed answer in an article this week on fantasy draft recommendations which will include thoughts on players with sickle cell trait. For now, there are no indications Montgomery's injury is a long term issue. But we've seen many Packers' players with soft tissue injuries quietly have recovery periods which drag on longer than expected. I'll be watching Montgomery closely this week.
Others of note: Jordan Howard has a scratched cornea and should return to practice this week. Thomas Rawls has a "minor" ankle injury and isn't expected to miss extended time. Rico Geathers is in the concussion protocol. Kareem Hunt "tweaked" an ankle and is expected to return quickly. Ryan Mathews was waived and has yet to sign with a new team.
INJURED PLAYERS ON ACTIVE ROSTER
| Quarterbacks Injured But on the Active Roster | |||||
| Quarterback | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Andrew Luck | Right shoulder labrum repair | Mid January | Active - PUP | Week-to-Week | Week 1 Return | Throwing phase of rehab |
| Cam Newton | Right rotator cuff repair / soreness | PS W1 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | Workload to increase this week |
| Joe Flacco | Disc herniation | Offseason | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | Team still says will practice before Week 1 |
| Teddy Bridgewater | Left knee dislocation / Multi-ligament repair | August 2016 | Active - PUP | Month-to-Month | Likely to remain on PUP to start season |
| Running Backs Injured But on the Active Roster | |||||
| Running Back | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Demarco Murray | Hamstring strain | PS W1 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | Practicing but held out of second PS game |
| Devonta Freeman | Concussion | PS W2 | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | |
| Jordan Howard | Corneal abrasion | PS W3 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | Non-issue, will be ready W1 |
| Leonard Fournette | Foot injury | Early August | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | Expects to be ready W1 |
| Ty Montgomery | Lower leg injury | PS W2 | No information | Week-to-Week | |
| Thomas Rawls | Ankle injury | PS W3 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | Described as minor |
| Matt Forte | Hamstring strain | Early August | No information | Week-to-Week | Still not cleared for practice |
| Mike Gillislee | Hamstring strain | Preseason | No information | Week-to-Week | Yet to be cleared for contact |
| Kareem Hunt | Ankle injury | PS W3 | No concern | Day-to-Day | |
| T.J. Yeldon | Hamstring strain | PS W3 | No information | Week-to-Week | |
| Kenneth Dixon | Meniscus repair | Late July | Out for season | 4-6 Months | 2017 return | Likely IR soon |
| Devontae Booker | Wrist fracture fixation | Late July | 6-8 Weeks | 6-8 Weeks | Early season return | |
| Ryan Mathews | Cervical disc herniation | Late December | Passed physical / waived | Day-to-Day | Free agent |
| Lance Dunbar | Complications Oct 2015 knee injury | Active - PUP | Week-to-Week | "No resolution in near future" | |
| Wide Receivers Injured But on the Active Roster | |||||
| Wide Receiver | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Corey Davis | Hamstring strain | PS W1 | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | |
| Jordan Matthews | Sternum fracture | PS W2 | Week-to-Week | 3-4 Weeks | Expects to be ready in Week 1 |
| Will Fuller | Clavicle fracture | PS W1 | 8-12 Weeks | 8-10+ Weeks | |
| Mike Williams | Disc herniation | Multiple steroid injections | May | July | Active - PUP | 6+ Weeks | Progressing in rehab |
| John Brown | Quad strain | Late July | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | Returned to individual drills |
| Quincy Enunwa | Neck injury | PS W1 | Out for Season | 2018 Return | |
| Malcolm Mitchell | Knee soreness | Early preseason | No information given | Week-to-Week | |
| Breshad Perriman | Hamstring strain | Early preseason | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | |
| Markus Wheaton | Finger fracture | PS W2 | No timetable given | 3-4 Weeks | |
| Marqise Lee | Right high ankle sprain | PS W2 | Week-to-Week | 3-4 Weeks | |
| Sammie Coates Jr | Arthroscopic knee surgery | Late July | 3-4 Weeks | 3-6 Weeks | Removed from PUP list |
| Tavon Austin | Hamstring strain | Early preseason | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | |
| JuJu Smith-Schuster | Knee contusion | PS W2 | No timetable given | Week-to-Week | |
| Carlos Henderson | Thumb surgery | PS W2 | No timetable given | 4-6 Weeks | |
| Tight Ends Injured But on the Active Roster | |||||
| Tight End | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Jordan Reed | Foot fracture | Unknown | Activated off PUP | Day-to-Day | Now has custom orthotic |
| Eric Ebron | Hamstring strain | Late July | No practice last week | Day-to-Day | Possible aggravation |
| Julius Thomas | Back injury | PS W2 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | May be related to prior injuries |
| Erik Swoope | Arthroscopic knee surgery | PS W3 | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | |
| Rico Geathers | Concussion | PS W3 | In protocol | Week-to-Week | |
| Offensive Line Injured But on the Active Roster | |||||
| Offensive Line | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Cordy Glenn | Foot injury | Chronic | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | PRP injection for plantar fasciitis? |
| Taylor Decker | Shoulder labrum repair | Early June | Active - PUP | 5-6 Months | |
| Terron Armstead | Shoulder labrum repair | June | Active - PUP | 5-6 Months | |
| Ryan Kelly | Foot injury / surgery | PS W3 | Month-to-Month | Month-to-Month | Possible IR w/ designation to return |
| Max Unger | Lisfranc repair | Early May | Activated off PUP | Week-to-Week | Well ahead of expected rehab |
| Joel Bitonio | Knee injury | PS W2 | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | Hopeful for Week 1 |
| Demar Dotson | Groin strain | PS W3 | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | |
| Kyle Long | Ankle surgery / complications | November 2016 | Limited practice | Day-to-Day | Team now unsure about Week 1 |
| Ted Larsen | Biceps injury | PS W1 | Likely IR | Month-to-Month | Possible return designation |
| George Fant | ACL tear / likely multi-ligament injury | PS W3 | Out for season | Out for season | 2018 Return |
| Alex Lewis | Shoulder labral tear | PS W2 | Out for season | 4-6 Months | 2018 Return |
| Josh Garnett | Arthroscopic knee surgery | Early August | Week 1 Return | Minimum 3-4 Weeks | |
| Forrest Lamp | ACL tear | Early August | Out for season | ||
| Nico Siragusa | Knee dislocation | ACL/MCL/PCL tear | Early August | Out for season | ||
| Defensive Players Injured But on the Active Roster | |||||
| Edge Players | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Ezekiel Ansah | Undisclosed | Active - PUP | Day-to-Day | No update from team last week | |
| Pernell McPhee | Undisclosed knee | Active - PUP | Awaiting information | ||
| Tamba Hali | Undisclosed | Active - PUP | Awaiting information | ||
| Shane Ray | Wrist ligament repair | Late July | 6-8 Weeks | 6-8 Weeks | |
| Derek Rivers | ACL / LCL tear | PS W3 | Out for season | 9-12 Months | |
| Defensive Line | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| DeForest Buckner | Ankle sprain | Early preseason | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | |
| Derek Wolfe | Ankle sprain | PS W2 | No timetable given | Week-to-Week | |
| Danny Shelton | Knee injury | PS W3 | 3-6 Weeks | Week-to-Week | |
| Tyrone Crawford | Ankle sprain | PS W2 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | |
| Vernon Butler | Knee sprain | PS W2 | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | |
| Malik McDowell | Concussion / Facial injuries | Late July | Active - NFI | Week-to-Week | |
| Linebackers | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Denzel Perryman | Ankle ligament reconstruction | PS W2 | 8-10 Weeks | Month-to-Month | Ankle rehab often longer than expected |
| Dont'a Hightower | Undisclosed | Active - PUP | Day-to-Day | No update from team last week | |
| Raekwon McMillan | ACL tear | PS W2 | Out for season | 2018 Return | |
| Defensive Backs | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Deone Bucannon | Ankle surgery | Mid May | Active - PUP | W1 return | 4-5 Months | On target for W1 return |
| Su'a Cravens | Knee injury | PS W2 | 2-3 Weeks | Week-to-Week | |
| Malik Hooker | Shoulder injury | PS W2 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | |
| Shawn Williams | Elbow dislocation | PS W3 | Week-to-Week | 2-4 Weeks | |
| George Iloka | Knee sprain | PS W1 | 3-4 Weeks | 3-4 Weeks | |
| Clayton Geathers | Cervical discectomy / fusion | Mid May | Active - PUP | 4-6 Months | Expected inseason PUP |
INJURED PLAYERS NOT ON ACTIVE ROSTER
| Notable Quarterbacks on PUP/NFI/IR | |||||
| Quarterback | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Ryan Tannehill | Left ACL reconstruction | Mid August | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Notable Running Backs on PUP/NFI/IR | |||||
| Running Back | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Notable Wide Receivers on PUP/NFI/IR | |||||
| Wide Receiver | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Notable Tight Ends on PUP/NFI/IR | |||||
| Tight End | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Crockett Gillmore | MCL reconstruction | Early August | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Notable Offensive Line on PUP/NFI/IR | |||||
| Offensive Line | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Notable Defensive Players on PUP/NFI/IR | |||||
| Edge Players | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Kerry Hyder | Left Achilles tear | PS W2 | Out for Season | 2018 Return | |
| Trent Murphy | ACL reconstruction / MCL sprain | PS W2 | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Defensive Line | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Dominique Easley | ACL reconstruction | Early August | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Linebackers | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Malcolm Smith | Pectoral tendon tear | PS W1 | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Defensive Backs | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
Check back for more injury analysis throughout training camp and follow on Twitter @JeneBramel for breaking injury news, commentary, and analysis of injury news around the NFL
