Week 7 is upon us. The mid-week chatter about DeMarco Murray’s possible unavailability for Sunday’s game was overblown—not a big surprise. Also, last weekend’s widespread speculation regarding the severity of Jimmy Graham’s shoulder injury may also have been overblown. The following is a break down of all the injuries of notable fantasy football players heading into Week 7.
As a reminder, there are five status designations players can have: active, probable, questionable, doubtful and out. The active and out designations are self-explanatory. The probable designation signifies a player has a greater than 50 percent chance of being active for the game. Questionable means the player essentially has a 50-50 chance of playing. Doubtful means the player has less than a 25 percent chance of playing.
Quarterbacks
Robert Griffin III suffered an apparent dislocation of the subtalar joint in Week 2. He will need to rehabilitate his ankle for another one-to-three weeks before he would be appropriate to participate in the team portion of practices. If he doesn’t suffer any setbacks during his return to play, he could be game ready as early as Week 9. However, since the Redskins are on bye in Week 10, they are more likely to delay his return until Week 11—especially if they are no longer in playoff contention. Saturday Update: Earlier this week, Coach Jay Gruden stated Griffin will be the Redksins starting quarterback once he is cleared to play. Griffin is participating in practices on a limited basis, but there is no official timetable for his return to full participation. He is obviously out for Week 7.
Jake Locker suffered a right thumb injury in Week 5. The x-rays on his thumb were negative of any fractures. Locker did not participate in any practices last week, and he was inactive for last Sunday’s game. Saturday Update: Locker was a limited participant in practices all week. The extra week of recovery has allowed the swelling in his thumb to decrease enough for him to properly grip the football. Locker remains to be a game-time decision on Sunday, but it appears more likely than not that Charlie Whitehurst will be the starter.
Ryan Tannehill is listed as probable for Sunday’s game due to an ankle injury. Saturday Update: He was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice, but he was a full participant on Thursday and Friday. He is expected to start against the Bears on Sunday.
Running Backs
Montee Ball suffered a groin injury in Week 5. Generally speaking, if he significantly tore muscle fibers in his hip adductors (i.e. grade II strain), he could be out for a total of four to six weeks. If a small part of a tendon was torn off the bone, he could miss only two to four weeks. Reports have indicated he will not need surgery—which eliminates a complete tear from his possible diagnoses. Saturday Update: Ball has yet to return to practices. He is out for Week 7.
Donald Brown suffered a concussion during Week 5. He will need to complete the NFL concussion protocol prior to being cleared to play. He was inactive in Week 6. Saturday Update: He has yet to return to practices. Brown is out for Week 7.
Reggie Bush suffered an ankle sprain in Week 5. He did not participate in any practices last week, and he was inactive for last Sunday’s game. Following Sunday’s game, Bush stated that he would definitely be ready to play in Week 7, per Dave Birkett of Detroit Free Press. Saturday Update: Bush was a limited participant in Wednesday and Thursday’s practice, and he was upgraded to a full participant in Friday’s practice. He is listed as probable for Sunday’s game against the Saints. His fantasy owners should expect him to play.
Arian Foster is listed on the injury report with a groin injury. Saturday Update: Foster practiced fully on Friday, and he is listed as probable for Monday’s game. His fantasy owners can plan on him starting in Week 7.
Toby Gerhart was inactive in Week 6 due to a foot injury. Little is known about the type and severity of his injury. Saturday Update: Gerhart has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against the Browns.
Shonn Greene was inactive for last Sunday’s game due to a hamstring strain. He appears to have a more-severe grade-II strain. Saturday Update: Greene has not participated in any practices this week. The Titans’ bye is Week 9. Considering Greene has yet to practice since suffering the injury, his most likely return will be in Week 10 or Week 11. He is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game. His fantasy owners should not expect him to play on Sunday or in Week 8.
Mark Ingram has been recovering from a hand fracture since early September. He has been inactive since Week 2. Saturday Update: Ingram has been a full participant in practices throughout the entire week. He is listed as probable for Sunday’s game. His fantasy owners should expect him to play.
Rashad Jennings suffered a sprained MCL (knee) in Week 5. Skill players typically need two to five weeks to return from such an injury. Week 8 is the Giants’ bye week, so Week 9 is when Jennings will likely return to play. Saturday Update: Jennings is officially out for Sunday’s game.
Ryan Mathews sprained his MCL (knee) in Week 2. Due to the severity of his sprain, he is expected to miss a total of five to six weeks. He was inactive in Week 6. Saturday Update: Mathews did not participate in any of this week’s practices. He has been ruled out for Week 7.
Lamar Miller is listed on the Dolphins’ injury report with a knee injury. Saturday Update: Miller was a limited participant in practices throughout the week. He is listed as probable for Sunday’s game against the Bears. His fantasy owners should expect him to play.
DeMarco Murray is listed as probable for Sunday’s game due to an illness. Saturday Update: Murray did not participate in Wednesday’s practice, but he was a full participant on Thursday and Friday. His fantasy owners can rest assured that he will be active on Sunday.
Darren Sproles suffered a MCL (knee) sprain during Sunday’s game. A low-grade sprain usually takes a running back two to four weeks to return to play. Sproles’ knee will need to be stable enough to withstand high-speed lateral movements prior to returning to full participation. Saturday Update: Sproles has been ruled out for Sunday’s game.
Jonathan Stewart suffered a MCL (knee) sprain in Week 3. He has been inactive ever since that game. Saturday Update: Stewart was a full participant in all practices this week, and he is listed as probable for Sunday. His fantasy owners should expect him to play on Sunday.
Pierre Thomas is listed as probable for Sunday’s game due to an illness. Saturday Update: Thomas did not participate in Wednesday or Thursday’s practices, but he was a limited participant on Friday. He is expected to be active on Sunday.
DeAngelo Williams was inactive in Week 3 due to a hamstring injury. Then, in Week 4, he suffered a high ankle sprain. His most likely return date will be Week 9. Saturday Update: Williams did not practice at all this week. He is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game. He is expected to be inactive.
Wide Receivers
Jarrett Boykin has been inactive since Week 4 due to a groin injury. Coach Mike McCarthy said Boykin's injury was worse than originally expected. Boykin appears to have suffered a grade-II strain. Until he logs consecutive full practices, his fantasy owners should not expect him to be active for games. For the time being, Davante Adams will continue to occupy the Packers’ WR3 role. Saturday Update: Boykin was a limited participant in practices this week. He is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game.
Kelvin Benjamin was diagnosed with a concussion earlier this week. Saturday Update: Benjamin was held out of practice on Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday, he was upgraded to full participant at practice. He is officially listed as questionable for Week 7. However, barring any setbacks—which are common with concussions— he appears to be on track to play on Sunday. His fantasy owners would be wise to check his game status prior to kickoff.
Harry Douglas injured his foot in Week 3, and he has been inactive ever since. Coach Mike Smith has indicated that the imaging of Douglas’ foot came back negative, per the Falcons’ official website. His exact diagnosis is still unknown. He did not participate in any practices last week, and he was ruled out for last Sunday’s matchup against the Bears. Saturday Update: Douglas has yet to practice in any capacity since suffering his injury. He is officially out for Week 7.
AJ Green made headlines last week when his chronically injured right great toe suffered a setback. He was spotted wearing a walking boot during the Bengals’ practice last Friday. He was then inactive on Sunday.
Green’s great-toe injury will certainly be a chronic problem for the remainder of the year. Over 60% of his generated force is transmitted through the great toe when he is sprinting and jumping—and even more during change-of-direction cuts. Due to the instability of this toe, he will likely lose significant power production. Additionally, his symptoms can easily be exacerbated during play. Saturday Update: Green did not practice this week, and he is officially listed as doubtful for Week 7. His fantasy owners should expect him to be inactive this week.
Calvin Johnson was inactive in Week 6 due to an ankle injury. Johnson reportedly suffered a mild-high ankle sprain in Week 3, yet he continued to play until his symptoms were exacerbated in Week 5.
The Lions will likely hold Johnson out as long as it takes to ensure the joint connecting the tibia and fibula (the two lower leg bones) is stable when he returns. If that joint remains to be unstable, and he returns to play, his performance will continue to be significantly impacted—in addition to the injury being exacerbated further. Johnson’s injury is comparable to the one that plagued Roddy White throughout the 2013 season: not a pretty site.
The Lions’ bye is Week 9. It is reasonable to expect Johnson to be rested through the bye, and then return to face the Dolphins in Week 10. He could return earlier than that, but Week 10 appears to be the most probable return date. Saturday Update: Johnson did not practice this week, and he is listed as questionable. All signs point towards him being inactive on Sunday. Nevertheless, Johnson has proven to be able to play with significant injuries. His fantasy owners should expect him to not play on Sunday, but they should check his pregame status just to be safe.
Stevie Johnson is listed on the injury report with a hip injury. Saturday Update: Johnson was a full participant in Friday’s practice. He is listed as probable for Sunday’s game, and his fantasy owners should expect him to play.
Eddie Royal suffered a rib injury during Sunday’s game. A source told U-T San Diego’s Michael Gehlken that Royal’s injury does not appear to be significant. Saturday Update: Royal was a full participant in practices throughout the week. He is listed as probable for Sunday’s game, and he is expected to play.
Tight Ends
Eric Ebron is listed on the Lions’ injury report with a hamstring injury. Saturday Update: Ebron was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice, had a setback, and was downgraded to a non-participant for Thursday and Friday. He is listed as doubtful for Week 7. He is not expected to play this week.
Jimmy Graham suffered a right shoulder injury in Week 5. He appeared to have been injured by a shoulder-to-shoulder collision he had with a Buccaneers linebacker. He left the game to be examined on the sidelines, and then returned to play temporarily. He has since been diagnosed with a “shoulder sprain”, per NFL.com.
A “shoulder sprain” is a general term. Graham likely suffered an AC sprain, the same injury currently effecting Jordan Cameron. If Graham indeed did suffer an AC sprain, it is likely not severe—as evident in the game film. In Graham’s last play against the Buccaneers, Brees targeted him in the end zone. The ball was thrown high over Graham’s head, and he was able to reach overhead with this right arm in an attempt to catch it. The fact that he could still reach overhead with little-visible effort is a good sign that his injury is not severe.
Last weekend, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported that Graham was expected to miss two-to-three weeks after the Saints’ bye. If his source were correct, Graham would have a moderate AC joint sprain. Nevertheless, the game tape does not lie: Graham’s ability to reach overhead is inconsistent with an AC joint sprain that would require up to three weeks to heal. Saturday Update: Graham did not practice on Wednesday, but he was a limited participant in Thursday and Friday’s practices. He is listed as questionable for Week 7. He will be a game-time decision.
Defensive Linemen
Calais Campbell suffered a MCL (knee) sprain in Week 5. He is expected to miss a total of one to three weeks of play. He is out for Week 7.
Linebackers
Lance Briggs was inactive in Week 6 due to a rib injury. He is also out for Week 7.
Bruce Carter suffered a quadriceps strain in Week 4. He will be out a total of two to four weeks. He is out for Week 7.
Jadeveon Clowney has begun performing linear running following his knee surgery performed on September 8. Coach Bill O’Brien stated Clowney has a fifty-fifty chance of playing in Week 7. He is listed as questionable for Monday’s game, and he is a game-time decision.
Chad Greenway is healing from a rib injury. He was inactive last Sunday, and he is questionable for Week 7. He will be a game-time decision.
Emmanuel Lamur suffered a left shoulder injury in Week 6. He is doubtful for Week 7.
Ryan Shazier suffered a MCL (knee) sprain in Week 3, and he has been inactive ever since. He was a limited participant in Friday’s practice, and he is listed as questionable for Week 7. He will be a game-time decision.
Danny Trevathan suffered a knee injury in Week 6. His MRI results indicated he has a fracture in his distal femur. He has been placed on the Broncos’ IR/designated for return.
Defensive Backs
Eric Berry suffered a severe left ankle sprain in Week 2, and he has been out ever since that time. He is out for Week 7 as well.
Aaron Williams was inactive in Week 6 due to a wrist injury. He is listed as probable for Sunday’s game, and he is expected to play.
Tramon Williams suffered a sprained ankle during last Sunday’s game against the Dolphins. He is questionable for Week 7.
Shareece Wright suffered a knee injury in Week 4, and he was inactive in Week 5 and 6. He was a full participant in Friday’s practice. He is probable for Sunday’s game.
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