NOTE: This column is a living document through Tuesday morning. I'll be updating as needed after team press conferences, imaging reports, Monday Night Football injuries, etc. Major changes to the content will be noted in red.
Scroll to the bottom of this article for a quick look table of the week's most pressing injury situations and a review of players on injured reserve / PUP / NFI.
Footballguys will have close and detailed coverage of all injuries this season. Here's a look at my expected schedule. I will do my best to stick to this. Work and family responsibilities may sometimes cause brief delays.
Monday Injury Rounds: Posted Sunday night, updated through Tuesday AM. Detailed analysis of the week's injuries with table for quick review. Offensive injuries will be live Sunday night. Critical defensive and offensive line injuries will be added throughout the day on Monday. I'll be updating with news and analysis through Tuesday.
Wednesday and Thursday Injury Expectations: Posted late Wednesday and Thursday evening. Analysis of the practice participation report with a table including my projection of each injured player's likely game status. Will include discussion of any major breaking injury news.
Sunday Gameday Expectations: Posted by Saturday afternoon, updated through Sunday morning inactives. Will include individual player blurbs with detailed thoughts on the week's injury news and my speculation on player availability and limitations. Will include table highlighting each day's practice participation, official game status, and my availability expectation.
I'll also be contributing to our waiver wire podcast (Tuesday release), our live Sunday morning pregame show (10 ET Sunday on YouTube), and plan at least one weekly Periscope Q&A (shortly before Monday Night Football) with additional shows if/when possible. As always, I will be retweeting key pieces of news and my own reaction and analysis, so make sure you're following @JeneBramel and checking my timeline on Twitter throughout the week.
INJURY ROUNDS
David Johnson | left wrist Dislocation | 10-12 Weeks
Johnson left Sunday's game with a wrist injury and there was a brief period of optimism after x-rays showed no fracture. Unfortunately, both Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter threw cold water on that optimism quickly. Schefter tweeted Johnson could miss multiple weeks and potentially more with a sprain. A Monday MRI will define the injury.
Replays showed Johnson was hit over the wrist and midsection in the first quarter and it appeared medical staff were assisting Johnson as he tried to catch his breath. Johnson returned to play on the next series but fumbled and immediately flexed his left hand and wrist. Neither play showed a clear mechanism of a wrist sprain and it's odd for the early timetable to seem so definitive. It looks like an extended absence for Johnson but we should have something more definitive after the MRI.
Monday AM Update: On further review, I'm certain Johnson only had the wind knocked out of him on the first play in question. There is a more concerning mechanism for a wrist sprain on the play in which Johnson fumbled as he tackles the player who recovered his fumble.
I've reached out to my orthopedic friends for possible diagnoses here and will update when I have more. For now, it's reassuring that Johnson wasn't in surgery last night and there may be reason to be reassured that this doesn't involve his dominant hand. However, hand and wrist injuries always present challenges for running backs, particularly elite receivers like Johnson.
This morning, Ian Rapoport suggested the team could choose to cast/splint Johnson's wrist if the MRI results were reassuring and clear him to play as soon as this week. We're still in a holding pattern here until the MRI results are known.
Monday Afternoon Update: Bruce Arians told reporters Johnson's injury is a dislocated wrist. He also told reporters the injury occurred on the hit just short of the end zone -- which means my speculation and observations in today's first update were incorrect. Johnson is seeking multiple opinions to determine whether there's too much instability due to ligament damage to play through. While there's a slim chance Johnson can cast the injury and play after a week or two, it's much more likely he'll need surgery and a 10-12 week rehab. The Cardinals would likely put Johnson on injured reserve and hope to remain in contention long enough to designate him to return. Johnson's second opinions are scheduled for early this week and he will decide on a treatment plan by mid-week.
Allen Robinson | Left ACL tear | Out for Season
The Jaguars confirmed Robinson's injury as an ACL tear on Sunday night. He'll have an MRI on Monday to evaluate for any associated injuries. Hopefully, his injury will be an isolated ACL tear and a smooth rehab will have him ready for training camp next year.
Reuben Foster | Right high ankle sprain | 2-4+ Weeks
Video replays showed a classic high ankle sprain mechanism for Foster. X-rays were negative and Foster returned to the sideline. The next 24-48 hours are critical for Foster. While a fracture has been ruled out, the amount of pain, stiffness, and swelling that develops will determine whether Foster has a 2-4 week timetable or a 4+ week timetable. A Monday MRI will also give San Francisco more information.
Eric Berry | Left Achilles tear | Out for season
Berry tore his Achilles tendon on Thursday night. While it's not a trivial surgery and rehab, improvements in surgical technique and rehab protocols have allowed the majority of players to return to their pre-injury form. Berry will need 6-9 months of rehab but should be ready for training camp if his recovery progresses as hoped.
Danny Woodhead | Left hamstring strain | Week-to-Week
Woodhead refused to say whether Sunday's hamstring injury was to the same leg as his preseason strain. His reaction on the field wasn't promising, however, and had the look of a higher grade injury. Aggravations of recent hamstring strains are often at least as severe as the prior strain and sometimes more severe. Woodhead missed 2-3 weeks of practice at the end of the preseason. It's reasonable to set an early timetable of 2-4 weeks with this injury. It could certainly be longer. Expect Woodhead to have an MRI Monday. I'll update with more details if the Ravens provide them.
Kevin White | Left Scapula fracture | 8+ Weeks
For the third consecutive season, White will miss multiple weeks with a broken bone. This time, it's his clavicle. There are multiple reports White will be moved to injured reserve soon but it's not yet clear whether he will have surgery to fix his clavicle or allow the bone to heal. At minimum, his injury is a 6-8 week recovery, making injured reserve likely. With a smooth recovery, White could return later this season.
Monday Update: White's injury was clarified as a scapula (shoulder blade) fracture. He's still expected to need surgery and today's reports lean toward White being out for the season.
Danny Amendola | Concussion | Day-to-Day
Amendola suffered a concussion on Thursday night. He's had one other recorded concussion in his career in 2013. With the additional three days of recovery time, Amendola has a good chance to be available in Week 2.
bud Dupree | Shoulder / Ankle injuries | Week-to-Week
The Steelers did not provide an update on Dupree after the game. Dupree left practice on Thursday with a shoulder injury and spent Friday's practice in treatment. He also told reporters he was dealing with an ankle injury. If Mike Tomlin does not offer details in Monday's press conference, Wednesday's practice participation report may be our next data point on Dupree.
D.J. Humphries | Right MCL sprain | 4-6 Weeks
Replays suggest Humphries has an MCL sprain. There was no obvious ACL mechanism but it's possible Humphries also suffered a meniscus injury. Humphries will have an MRI on Monday but the early report from Ian Rapoport is an absence of a "few weeks." If Humphries has no additional damage, he could have a chance to return in four weeks or less with bracing.
Ronald Darby | Subtalar dislocation | 6-8 Weeks
X-rays were negative on Darby after a scary looking foot injury. Dr. David Chao is speculating Darby's injury is to the joint in the foot below the ankle joint. That's a relatively easier recovery and his timetable could be measured in weeks rather than months. Robert Griffin III III suffered a subtalar dislocation in 2014 and I covered the anatomy and expectations in detail here.
Others of note: Jason Peters suffered a groin strain and tried to return before shutting it down in the second half. He told reporters he was fine after the game. C.J. Fiedorowicz was diagnosed with a concussion after completing the return-to-play protocol from a recent concussion earlier in the week and is likely to miss multiple weeks. Ryan Griffin also suffered a concussion and faces a short Thursday turn around putting his Week 2 availability in question. Stephon Tuitt has a biceps injury that will be season-ending if an MRI shows a tendon tear near the elbow near the shoulder and is considered week-to-week. Jerrell Freeman was diagnosed with a concussion. Dont'a Hightower left Thursday's game with an MCL sprain that could keep him out multiple weeks. Orlando Scandrick has a fractured metacarpal, will have surgery on Monday, and is expected to be out at least one week.
FOLLOWUP APPOINTMENTS
ODELL BECKHAM | HIGH ANKLE SPRAIN | DAY-TO-DAY
It seemed inevitable on Wednesday evening, but after 48 hours of speculation on whether Beckham could make enough progress to play a limited role on Sunday night, Beckham was declared inactive. The Sunday morning tweet storm from Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter confirmed Beckham's injury was a mid-grade high ankle sprain -- which was evident when Beckham was unable to practice earlier in the week -- and that his timetable was always in the 3-4 week range.
The Giants play on Monday night in Week 2, which sets us up for another will-he-or-won't-he be full strength this week. Beckham's progress at the end of last week suggests he'll be able to return to limited individual work this week and dress on Monday night. But prepare for another week of trying to divine the truth in what Beckham and Bob McAdoo tell the media.
ANDREW LUCK | RIGHT SHOULDER LABRUM REPAIR | WEEK-TO-WEEK
Luck didn't practice this week and, according to Jason La Canfora, is yet to start the final phase of his throwing program. That would suggest he's still at least one week away from practicing. And I think he'll need at least two weeks of practice with his teammates in football-related situations to feel comfortable in game action. Week 4 would seem to be the earliest Luck can return now and it could easily be longer.
Jordan Reed | Fractured Toe
An Ian Rapoport story noting Reed's injury as a fractured toe sent the football Twitterverse abuzz on Sunday morning. If you've been reading or listening to my work since the middle of August, that nugget should be old news. But Rapoport's tweet comes three weeks after Reed returned to daily practice and has seemingly shown a comfort level playing in his specially-made orthotic.
That's telling. As I wrote last month, Reed's improvement is reassuring but doesn't mean he's beyond aggravation. This is an injury Reed said has been bothering him since last season. He elected to have a stem cell injection this summer and visited a foot specialist at least twice over the offseason before Washington took him off the PUP list. It's not an exaggeration to say that Reed has a thin carbon fiber insert protecting him against aggravating an already chronic injury.
Thomas Rawls | High ankle sprain | Day-to-Day
Rawls practiced last week but was a nearly-healthy inactive on Sunday as the Seahawks recognized the folly of pushing Rawls through a mostly-recovered high ankle sprain when they already had three capable and fully healthy ready to play. Expect Rawls to practice again this week and compete for touches in Week 2.
Devontae Booker | Wrist fracture fixation | Week-to-Week
The Broncos plan a follow-up CT scan on Booker this week to assess how well his injury is healing. Booker told reporters last week he's now pain-free. A reassuring scan could earn him clearance to practice this week and begin preparing for a late September return.
Others of note: Malcolm Mitchell was moved to injured reserve with a slow-to-heal knee condition. Bryan Bulaga and Kyle Long were both unable to play through ankle injuries this week. Bulaga is likely close to returning, but neither timetable is clear. Markus Wheaton (finger fracture) and John Ross (knee sprain) are expected to return this week. Dede Westbrook was moved to injured reserve while recovering from core abdominal surgery and is expected to be designated to return later this year.
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 | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | W4+ Return | Minimum 2wks practice needed |
| Paxton Lynch | Shoulder contusion | PS W4 | 4-5 Weeks | Week-to-Week | W4+ Return | |
| Running Backs Injured But on the Active Roster | |||||
| Running Back | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| David Johnson | Wrist dislocation | W1 | IR likely | IR | 10-12+ Weeks | |
| Thomas Rawls | High ankle sprain | PS W3 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | W1 Return | |
| Danny Woodhead | Hamstring strain | W1 | Awaiting information | Week-to-Week | Likely aggravation and 2-4 wks |
| T.J. Yeldon | Hamstring strain | PS W3 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | W2 Return | |
| Devontae Booker | Wrist fracture fixation | Late July | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | W3+ Return | CT may allow him to return soon |
| Wide Receivers Injured But on the Active Roster | |||||
| Wide Receiver | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Odell Beckham | Left high ankle sprain | PS W3 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | W2 Return | |
| Allen Robinson | Left ACL tear | W1 | MRI pending | Out for season | |
| Danny Amendola | Concussion | W1 | Awaiting information | Day-to-Day | W2 Return | |
| Kevin White | Left scapula fracture | W1 | Likely IR | Month-to-Month | 8+ Wks | |
| Will Fuller | Clavicle fracture | PS W1 | Month-to-Month | W6+ Return | |
| Mike Williams | Disc herniation | Multiple steroid injections | May | July | Week-to-Week | W4+ Return | Avoided inseason PUP list |
| John Ross | Left knee sprain | PS W5 | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | W2 Return | Returned to practice last week |
| Markus Wheaton | Finger fracture | PS W2 | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | W2 Return | |
| Tight Ends Injured But on the Active Roster | |||||
| Tight End | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| C.J. Fiedorowicz | Concussion | W1 | Awaiting information | Week-to-Week | W3+ Return | Second concussion in 3 wks, likely multi-wk absence |
| Ryan Griffin | Concussion | W1 | Awaiting information | Week-to-Week | W3+ Return | Tough to be ready for Thursday night |
| Offensive Line Injured But on the Active Roster | |||||
| Offensive Line | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Jason Peters | Groin strain | W1 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | W2 Return | |
| Bryan Bulaga | Ankle injury | PS W4 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | W2 Return | |
| D.J. Humphries | Right MCL sprain | W1 | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | MRI pending |
| Kyle Long | Ankle surgery / complications | November 2016 | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | |
| Terron Armstead | Shoulder labrum repair | June | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | W3+ Return | Avoided inseason PUP list |
| Ryan Kelly | Foot injury / surgery | PS W3 | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | W4+ Return | |
| Demar Dotson | Groin strain | PS W3 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | W2 Return | |
| Defensive Players Injured But on the Active Roster | |||||
| Edge Players | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| J.J. Watt | Open finger dislocation | W1 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | W2 Return | |
| Bud Dupree | Shoulder injury / Ankle injury | W1 | Awaiting information | Week-to-Week | |
| Za'Darius Smith | Knee injury | W1 | Awaiting information | Awaiting information | |
| Ahmad Brooks | Concussion | W1 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | |
| Defensive Line | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Stephon Tuitt | Left biceps injury | W1 | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | |
| Jared Crick | Back injury | W1 | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | |
| Robert Nkemdiche | Calf strain | PS W3 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | W2 Return | |
| Vernon Butler | Knee sprain | PS W2 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | |
| Linebackers | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Reuben Foster | Right high ankle sprain | W1 | Awaiting information | 3-4+ Weeks | |
| Jerrell Freeman | Concussion / Pectoral strain | W1 | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | |
| Dont'a Hightower | MCL sprain | W1 | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | |
| Brian Cushing | Concussion | W1 | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | |
| Anthony Hitchens | Tibial plateau fracture | PS W4 | Week-to-Week | W4+ Return | |
| Defensive Backs | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Eric Berry | Left Achilles tear | W1 | Out for season | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Deone Bucannon | Ankle surgery | Mid May | Day-to-Day | Day-to-Day | W1+ Return | |
| Vontae Davis | Groin strain | PS W4 | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | W2+ Return | |
| Ronald Darby | Subtalar dislocation | W1 | Week-to-Week | 6-8+ Weeks | MRI to determine ligament damage, return timetable |
| Orlando Scandrick | Fractured metacarpal | W1 | Week-to-Week | 1-2 Weeks | W3+ Return | |
| Shawn Williams | Elbow dislocation | PS W3 | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | W1+ Return | |
| Prince Amukamara | Ankle injury | PS | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | |
| E.J. Gaines | Shoulder injury | W1 | Awaiting information | Awaiting information | |
| Leshaun Sims | Groin injury | W1 | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | |
| Johnathan Cyprien | Hamstring strain | W1 | Week-to-Week | 3-4+ Weeks | |
| Kayvon Webster | Shoulder injury | W1 | Awaiting information | Awaiting information | |
| Gareon Conley | Shin injury | PS | Week-to-Week | Week-to-Week | |
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 | |
| Teddy Bridgewater | Left knee dislocation / Multi-ligament repair | August 2016 | PUP | Month-to-Month | Progressing but unclear whether can play this year |
| Chad Kelly | Wrist surgery | April 2017 | NFI | 2018 Return | |
| Notable Running Backs on PUP/NFI/IR | |||||
| Running Back | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Spencer Ware | PCL / LCL sprain | PS W4 | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Kenneth Dixon | Meniscus repair | Late July | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Joe Williams | Ankle injury | PS W5 | IR | 2018 Return | Lynch would not discuss details |
| Lance Dunbar | Complications Oct 2015 knee injury | PUP | Awaiting information | Seems unlikely to return in 2017 | |
| Notable Wide Receivers on PUP/NFI/IR | |||||
| Wide Receiver | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Malcolm Mitchell | Knee injury | PS | IR | Week-to-Week | Eligible W9+ | |
| Dede Westbrook | Core abdominal surgery | W1 | IR | 4-6 Weeks | Eligible W9+ | |
| Julian Edelman | ACL tear | PS W4 | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Cameron Meredith | ACL/MCL tear | PS W4 | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Quincy Enunwa | Cervical discectomy and fusion | Late August 2017 | IR | 6-9 Months | 2018 Return | |
| Carlos Henderson | Left thumb ligament repair | Mid-August 2017 | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Tajae Sharpe | Foot injury | Chronic | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Notable Tight Ends on PUP/NFI/IR | |||||
| Tight End | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Erik Swoope | Arthroscopic knee surgery | PS W3 | IR | return eligible | Week-to-Week | Eligible W8+ | Likely to return W8+ |
| Rico Gathers | Concussion | PS W3 | IR | return eligible | Week-to-Week | Eligible W8+ | Chance to return W8+ |
| Crockett Gillmore | MCL reconstruction | Early August | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Jake Butt | ACL reconstruction | December 2016 | NFI | 2018 Return | |
| Notable Offensive Line on PUP/NFI/IR | |||||
| Offensive Line | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Taylor Decker | Shoulder labrum repair | Early June | PUP | Month-to-Month | W6+ Return | |
| Josh Garnett | Arthroscopic knee surgery | Early August | IR | 2018 Return | |
| George Fant | ACL tear / likely multi-ligament injury | PS W3 | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Alex Lewis | Shoulder labral tear | PS W2 | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Ted Larsen | Biceps injury | PS W1 | IR | return eligible | Month-to-Month | Eligible W8+ | Chance to return W8+ |
| Forrest Lamp | ACL tear | Early August | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Nico Siragusa | Knee dislocation | ACL/MCL/PCL tear | Early August | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Notable Defensive Players on PUP/NFI/IR | |||||
| Edge Players | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Shane Ray | Wrist ligament repair | Late July | IR | return eligible | 4-6 Weeks | Eligible W8+ | Expected to return W8 |
| Kerry Hyder | Left Achilles tear | PS W2 | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Trent Murphy | ACL reconstruction / MCL sprain | PS W2 | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Derek Rivers | ACL / LCL tear | PS W3 | IR | 9-12 Months | 2018 Return | |
| Tamba Hali | Undisclosed | IR | Awaiting information | ||
| Defensive Line | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Malik McDowell | Concussion / Facial injuries | Late July | NFI | ? 2017 Return | |
| Dominique Easley | ACL reconstruction | Early August | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Linebackers | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Denzel Perryman | Ankle ligament reconstruction | PS W2 | IR | return eligible | Month-to-Month | Eligible W8+ | Hopeful for return W8+ |
| Raekwon McMillan | ACL reconstruction | PS W2 | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Edwin Jackson | Undisclosed | IR | 2018 Return | ||
| Jelani Jenkins | Groin strain | PS W4 | IR | Likely to sign settlement | |
| Tank Carder | ACL reconstruction | PS W4 | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Malcolm Smith | Pectoral tendon tear | PS W1 | IR | 2018 Return | |
| Defensive Backs | Injury | Date | Player/Team Says | FBGs Expects | Notes |
| Clayton Geathers | Cervical discectomy / fusion | Mid May | PUP | Month-to-Month | Eligible W6+ | Chance for return W6+ |
| Su'a Cravens | Not injury related | W1 | Exempt list | Awaiting information | Contemplating retirement |
| DeAngelo Hall | ACL reconstruction | September 2016 | PUP | Week-to-Week | Eligible W6+ | Chance for return W6+ |
| Sidney Jones | Achilles repair | March 2017 | NFI | 2018 Return | Could return after W8 |
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.
