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Inseason injury coverage

Footballguys will again provide comprehensive injury coverage during the regular season.

My writing and podcast schedule will include:

Monday Injury Rounds > Published as soon as complete Sunday night and updated through Tuesday morning, this feature will review all the major injuries from the weekend's games, provide follow up analysis on injured players who have yet to return to play, and project when every injured player will return.

Waiver Wire Podcast > Tuesday morning release reviewing all injuries at the quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end positions with Cecil Lammey and Sigmund Bloom heading into your weekly waiver run.

Midweek Injury Expectations > Published late Wednesday night after the first weekly practice participation report and updated through Thursday's practice report, this feature will detail the current practice participation of every listed player and project the likelihood each player will play in the coming week.

Thursday Live Audible podcast > Joining Cecil Lammey, Sigmund Bloom, and Matt Waldman at 900 ET every Thursday night for a comprehensive Q&A updating all player injuries.

Gameday Injury Expectations > Published Saturday, this feature will review the practice status of every injured player, provide analysis on player/coach/beat writer comments throughout the week, and discuss how likely and how effective each injured player will be on Sunday.

Injury Rounds

Saquon Barkley | Right high ankle sprain | Week 3 | 3-4+ 4-8 Weeks | Week 7++ Return

Barkley suffered a high ankle sprain and returned to the field immobilized in a walking boot and on crutches after his injury. Television replays showed a significant rotation of Barkley's ankle and lower leg, suggesting more than a low-grade sprain.

The first 24-48 hours after a high ankle sprain are critical to recovery estimates. Most mid-grade injuries are associated with worsening swelling and stiffness during those hours. An MRI will further define the injury on Monday but expect to hear Barkley will need 3-4 weeks to recover. The Giants have a Thursday night game in New England in Week 6, less than three weeks from the injury. It's unlikely Barkley can make a two and half week turnaround and play effectively. Don't expect to see Barkley until at least Week 7.

Monday Update: Adam Schefter is reporting Barkley's ankle injury could sideline him "anywhere from 4-8 weeks" and hints the Giants will allow him to rehab through their Week 11 bye if needed. Brace for the 6-8 week end of the proposed timetable here.

T.Y. Hilton | Aggravated quad strain | Week 3 | Awaiting Information | Doubtful Week 4

Hilton admitted he aggravated his already-strained quadriceps muscle on Sunday, telling reporters the medical staff ruled him out because "they didn't want me to tear the quad." Aggravations are generally worse than the initial injury and Hilton's comments also suggest more than a low-grade strain.

Expect Hilton to spend the majority of his time in treatment this week rather than in practice. Barring an unexpectedly quick recovery, Hilton will have difficulty returning to play next week. Unfortunately, if Hilton does have a mid-grade strain, it's possible we won't see him until after Indianapolis' Week 6 bye.

Follow Up Appointments

Drew Brees | Right thumb ligament repair | Week 2 | 6-8 Weeks | Week 10 Return

Brees chose to have surgery to repair a stabilizing ligament in his thumb after consulting multiple specialists last week. While there have been multiple successful recoveries among professional baseball and basketball players, Brees is the first NFL quarterback to have this procedure on a throwing hand.

The procedure Brees had augments the ligament in a way to allow immediate rehab and preserve range of motion. Professional athletes have recovered successfully within six weeks in many cases. That's the timeline Brees will rehab to meet, with New Orleans playing at home in Week 8. However, the team's Week 9 bye is notable here. And though I expect Brees to push to play if he's close to recovered, I still believe the most likely return to be the Saints' home divisional matchup versus Atlanta in Week 10.

Cam Newton | Aggravated left midfoot sprain | Week 2 | Week-to-Week | Out Week 4

Aggravated soft tissue injuries -- even when the initial injury is relatively low grade -- often require as much or more time to rehab as the original injury. Newton was in a walking boot briefly, then slowly increased his practice participation over the two weeks leading to Week 1.

Newton was again in a walking boot after his Week 2 aggravation and did not practice at all last week. There are multiple varieties of midfoot sprains, from Lisfranc joint fracture/dislocations requiring months and months of rehab after surgery to minor ligament sprains reasonably considered day-to-day. By all accounts, Newton's injury is not a long-term concern. But it's very likely Newton will need at least two weeks to recover. And the strong effort turned in by Kyle Allen on Sunday gives Newton and the Panthers a necessary buffer to work toward a full recovery.

The best-case scenario for Newton looks to be a slow return to practice over the next two weeks with a possible Week 5 return target. I'll update with any news during the team's Monday press conferences.

Monday Update: The Panthers have already ruled Newton out of this week's game.

A.J. Green | Left ankle surgery | July 2019 | Week-to-Week | Week 6++ Return

After photographs showed Green still in a walking boot while in Seattle for Cincinnati's Week 1 game, it was obvious Green wasn't going to return in time for the team's Week 4 Monday night game against Pittsburgh -- a timetable trusted local observers pegged as a strong possibility.

Last week, Green increased his rehab work and has begun the re-conditioning phase of his rehab. And he spoke for the first time after suffering the ankle injury eight weeks ago. Discussing his return expectations, Green said, "I don't know where [reporters] got the six to eight weeks from. It's going to be longer than that."

There are still no details on Green's ankle procedure and no updated timetable for his return. His return to the rehab field shows progress but doesn't begin to narrow down an expectation for when Green will recover the strength and range of motion needed to play on Sunday. I think Week 6 is the earliest Green could play but that's an optimistic expectation. The Bengals believed Green would return before Week 10 -- the first game he could have played had the team chosen to put him on injured reserve. Unfortunately, there's no guarantee Green will play before Cincinnati's Week 9 bye.

Ben Roethlisberger | Right elbow injury | Week 2 | Injured reserve | 2020 return

The Steelers have already moved Roethlisberger to injured reserve but he continued to seek out additional opinions after an early week report he would require season-ending surgery on his elbow. On Sunday morning, Adam Schefter reported Roethlisberger's presumptive surgery would not include his ulnar collateral ligament, i.e. Tommy John surgery.

Details on Roethlisberger's injury remain unknown but the team maintains Roethlisberger will be fully recovered in time for the 2020 season. Should a diagnosis be reported after surgery, I'll update with a more precise timeline here.

Fast Track News and Notes

***Julian Edelman left Sunday's game with what's believed to be a rib injury. X-rays were negative but Edelman is expected to have additional imaging studies on Monday. Adam Schefter tweeted that Edelman is "should be OK."

***Alshon Jeffery reportedly had a chance to play through a calf injury on Sunday but the Eagles chose not to risk aggravation with a Thursday night game in Green Bay looming this week.

***Tyreek Hill is no longer immobilized in a sling. Just as speculation that Hill's injury would definitely require more than six weeks was premature in the days after his injury, any speculation Hill may now be ready sooner than expected is also premature. The likely timeframe for Hill's recovery is based on the stability of his injured joint -- and remains 5-6 weeks.

***Damien Williams did not practice after a Week 2 knee contusion. While it's not been reported as a bone bruise, the reports of Williams limping through the locker room and a full week of missed practice raises concern for Williams' Week 4 availability. I'll update after Andy Reid's press conference but am worried Williams may be doubtful to return this week, too.

***Devin Singletary did not practice last week. That's a poor prognostic sign for a hamstring strain. If he's not participating in individual drills by the end of the week, he may not return until after Buffalo's Week 6 bye.

***Sam Darnold will not be cleared to play for 21 days after his initial mono diagnosis. That timeframe ends sometime during the middle of next week. Darnold's illness reportedly has not affected his weight or conditioning. Should he be cleared for contact next week, a Week 5 return is possible. Though he cannot be certain his enlarged spleen will have resolved by then, Darnold told reporters he's confident he will return in Week 5.

Injured Players on Active Roster