Jamaal Charles’ fantasy owners can rest easy: he is not on the Chiefs’ injury report after all. Many other marquee fantasy players are not as lucky—especially in the Buffalo backfield. Without further ado, the following is a break down of all the injuries of notable fantasy football players heading into Week 8.
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 of the foot in Week 2. In the past, coach Jay Gruden stated he wants Griffin to complete at least two weeks of practices prior to letting him play in a game. Because the Redskins are on bye in Week 10, they are more likely to delay his return until Week 11. Colt McCoy is expected to start on Sunday, as Griffin continues to work back into game form. Saturday Update: Griffin was a limited participant in Thursday and Friday’s practices. Nevertheless, McCoy is expected to be the Redskins starting quarterback in Monday’s game. Once Griffin returns to the lineup, he will regain the starting spot.
Jake Locker suffered a right thumb injury in Week 5. The X-rays of his thumb were negative of any fractures. On Tuesday, he began throwing the ball for the first time since his injury. He is expected to be active for Sunday’s game. Saturday Update: Earlier this week. Zach Mettenberger was named the Titans’ new starting quarterback. Locker was a full participant in Friday’s practice, and he is expected to be active for Sunday’s game. Nevertheless, he is unplayable in fantasy due to his recent downgrade on the depth chart.
Running Backs
Montee Ball suffered a grade-II groin strain in Week 5. He is expected to miss four to six weeks total. He is unlikely to return to play until at least Week 9. Considering his lack of production this season, he may not have the starting job when he returns to the Broncos lineup. Saturday Update: Ball was inactive in Thursday’s game. Ronnie Hillman continues to solidify his role as the Broncos primary running back.
Donald Brown suffered a concussion in Week 5. He will need to complete the NFL concussion protocol prior to being cleared to play. Due to his lingering symptoms, he was inactive in Week 7. Saturday Update: As expected, Brown was inactive in Thursday’s game.
Reggie Bush suffered an ankle sprain in Week 5, and he was inactive in Week 6. He played in Week 7, but he was sidelined for the majority of the second half after exacerbating his ankle injury. On Tuesday, Bush was adamant that he would be ready to play in this Sunday’s game, per Kyle Meinke of MLIve.com. Saturday Update: Bush participated in Wednesday’s practice on a limited basis, but was then downgraded to a non-participant in Thursday and Friday’s practices. It appears Bush exacerbated his ankle injury yet again, and he is not expected to play in Sunday’s earliest game.
Jamaal Charles was tested throughout the early week for signs and symptoms of a possible concussion caused during last Sunday’s game. Charles reportedly did not have any positive diagnostic tests for a concussion, so he was left off of the Chiefs’ injury report. He will play in Week 8.
Toby Gerhart was inactive in Week 6 and Week 7 due to a foot injury. Little is known about the type and severity of his injury. Saturday Update: Gerhart was a full participant in Thursday and Friday’s practices. He is expected to be active in Sunday’s game. However, he is far from being a top-50 running back this week, so he is not playable in terms of fantasy.
Shonn Greene has been inactive for the past two weeks due to a hamstring strain. Saturday Update: Greene fully participated in Friday’s practice. He also was arrested for multiple charges on Friday: failure to stop/halt/frisk, driving on a suspended license, reckless driving and illegal parking. Greene has been released on bond, and the arrest will not affect his roster spot at this time, per Paul Kuharsky of ESPN. Greene is listed as probable for Sunday’s game. Regardless of the recent arrest and hamstring injury, he is expected to play.
Fred Jackson suffered a grade-II groin strain during Week 7. Specifically, a small portion of the adductor longus muscle, a groin muscle, was pulled from its insertion site on the bone, per Mike Rodak of ESPN. Running backs typically have a difficult time recovering from this injury. Sprinting and lateral cutting, the primary movements of a NFL running back, can exacerbate the injury if the athlete’s hip adductor muscles are not adequately healed. With that in mind, Jackson will likely be out for a total of three to four weeks in total. Saturday Update: As expected, Jackson is out for Week 8.
Rashad Jennings suffered a sprained MCL (knee) in Week 5. Skill players typically need two to five weeks to return from such an injury. He was inactive in Week 7. Week 8 is the Giants’ bye week, so Week 9 is when Jennings will likely return to play.
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 did not participate in any practices last week, and he was inactive for Sunday’s game. Saturday Update: Mathews was inactive for Sunday’s game.
Trent Richardson left last Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury, and he did not return to action. Following the game, he indicated that the injury was only minor. He had an MRI on Monday, but the results have yet to be released to the public.
If he has a grade-I hamstring strain, he has a chance of playing this Sunday. However, if he has a grade-II strain, he would likely miss two to four weeks. His practice participation throughout the week will be the best indicator for his availability for Sunday’s game. Saturday Update: Richardson has not participated in any practices this week. Despite being listed as questionable for Sunday’s game, Richardson’s chance of playing is actually closer to doubtful. His fantasy owners should not expect him to play in Week 8. However, if he were to be active on Sunday, his fantasy owners are advised to bench him for a safer alternative.
Khiry Robinson is on the injury report with a forearm injury. Specifics about his forearm injury are unknown, but it has been referred to as a “tweak” by many in the media. Saturday Update: Robinson did not practice this week, and he is officially out for Sunday’s game.
C.J. Spiller suffered a clavicle fracture during Week 7. A fractured clavicle can be treated without surgery—such as Aaron Rodgers’ fracture was treated last year—but it requires an extended amount of healing time. This is likely why Spiller opted to have surgery on Monday to internally fixate his broken collarbone.
Following this type of surgery, it is possible for an athlete to return to play in as little as four weeks. However, it normally takes six weeks of recovery time. Because of that timetable, the Bills placed Spiller on their injured reserve list with a designation to return. He will be eligible to return on December 21 against the Raiders.
Darren Sproles suffered a mild MCL (knee) sprain during Week 6. A mild MCL sprain usually takes a running back two to three weeks to return to play. Sproles returned to practice on Tuesday, so he is on track to play against the Cardinals this week. Saturday Update: Sproles was a limited participant in Wednesday and Thursday’s practices. He was upgraded to a full participant on Friday. He is officially listed as questionable for Sunday’s game, but his chance of playing is likely higher than 50 percent. His fantasy owners should check his game status prior to kickoff.
James Starks left last Sunday’s game in the third quarter with an ankle injury, and he did not return to play. The ankle injury appears to be minor. Saturday Update: Starks was a limited participant in Thursday and Friday’s practices. He is listed as probable for Week 8, and his fantasy owners should expect him to be active.
Pierre Thomas left Sunday’s game early with a shoulder injury, and he did not return to play. Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported Thomas’ shoulder injury will keep him sidelined for two to three weeks. Specifics of his injury have not been released at this time. Saturday Update: Thomas did not practice this week, and he is officially out for Week 8.
Shane Vereen is on the injury report due to an illness. Saturday Update: Vereen did not practice this week due to having an acute illness. He is officially listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Bears. Vereen is more likely than not going to play, but his fantasy owners need to check his game status prior to kickoff.
DeAngelo Williams suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 4. He has been inactive since that time. His most probable return date is Week 9. Saturday Update: Williams is officially out for Week 8.
Wide Receivers
Harry Douglas injured his foot in Week 3, and he has been inactive ever since that time. Coach Mike Smith has indicated that the imaging of Douglas’ foot came back negative. His exact diagnosis is still unknown. Saturday Update: Douglas was a limited participant in Thursday and Friday’s practices. He is listed as questionable for Sunday morning’s game. Regardless of his game status, his fantasy owners should find a better option to play this week.
AJ Green is dealing with a chronically injured right great toe. He did not practice at all last week, and he was inactive in Week 7. Albert Breer of the NFL Network reported Green recently received a positive prognosis from a foot specialist, a sign he could play in Week 8. Saturday Update: It appears Green’s “positive prognosis” was not accurate—or it was exaggerated. Green did not practice at all this week, and he is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game. He is unlikely to play this week.
Vincent Jackson is listed on the injury report with a rib injury. He was able to play with this injury a week ago. Saturday Update: Jackson was a limited participant in practices throughout the week, and he is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. However, he will likely play. His fantasy owners are advised to check his game status prior to kickoff.
Calvin Johnson was inactive in Week 6 and Week 7 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 continues to be unstable when he returns to play, his performance will be poor—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 favorable outcome.
Week 9 is the Lions’ bye. Even though Johnson was seen running on the field in shorts prior to last Sunday’s game, he will likely not return to gameplay until Week 10. Unless he makes huge strides in his recovery this week—which is doubtful—the Lions will be incentivized to sit him during their game against Atlanta on Sunday. With that in mind, Johnson’s fantasy owners should expect him to be unavailable for the next two weeks. Saturday Update: Johnson was a limited participant in all practices this week. He is officially listed as questionable for Sunday morning’s early game. Considering the poor state of the Falcons’’ secondary, if Johnson were to play, he could have respectable fantasy production this week. His fantasy owners need to check his pregame status on Sunday morning.
Reggie Wayne injured his elbow during Sunday’s game. He had a MRI on Monday, but the results are still unknown. Wayne indicated Tuesday that his arm feels pretty good, but his status for Week 8 is uncertain. He is scheduled to not participate in Wednesday’s practice—the same as all previous weeks this season. His participation in Thursday and Friday’s practices will be a good indicator of his availability for Sunday’s game against the Steelers. Saturday Update: Wayne did not practice at all this week, and he is officially out for Week 8.
Tight Ends
Owen Daniels is on the injury report with a knee injury. He underwent arthroscopic surgery for the knee earlier this week. The Ravens have said he will be out this week, but he may be back by Week 9. In actuality, his fantasy owners should expect him to be out for longer than the one week. Saturday Update: Daniels did not practice this week, and he is officially out for Week 8.
Martellus Bennett is on the injury report with a hamstring injury. Saturday Update: Bennett was a limited participant in Thursday’s practice, and he was a full participant in Friday’s practice. He is listed as probable for Sunday’s game. His fantasy owners should expect him to be active on Sunday.
Eric Ebron is listed on the Lions’ injury report with a hamstring injury. In Week 7, he was a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice, had a setback, and was downgraded to a non-participant for Thursday and Friday’s practices. He ended up being inactive for Week 7. Due to his recent setback, he is unlikely to play in Week 8. Saturday Update: Ebron did not practice this week, and he is officially out for Sunday’ game.
Jimmy Graham suffered a right shoulder injury in Week 5. He reportedly suffered a “shoulder sprain,” a general term. Graham likely suffered an AC sprain, generally termed a mild “separated shoulder.” He did not practice last week, but was active for last Sunday’s game. During that game, Graham played only 30 snaps—primarily in the red zone and on third downs. He failed to record a reception on two targets.
The good news is he did not exacerbate his shoulder injury last Sunday. The bad news is it’s difficult to predict if his workload will increase in Week 8. If the Saints are still worried that contact can significantly exacerbate Graham’s symptoms, they will likely continue to limit his snaps. Saturday Update: As expected, Graham was a limited participant in practices throughout the week. He is expected to play on Sunday, but it is unclear what his workload will be. His fantasy owners will need to play him, but their expectations need to be tempered.
Kyle Rudolph is still recovering from his sports hernia surgery. He is expected to return to the Vikings in Week 11.
Defensive Linemen
Calais Campbell suffered a MCL (knee) sprain in Week 5. He was inactive in Week 7. He is expected to miss a total of one to three weeks of play. He is questionable for Week 8.
Chandler Jones could miss the rest of the season due to a hip injury. He is expected to miss at least six weeks.
LaMarr Woodley suffered a torn bicep during last Sunday’s game. He is out for the rest of the season.
Linebackers
Jon Beason re-aggravated his toe injury during last Sunday’s game. The X-rays were negative of any fractures. The Giants are on bye this week, so no further information regarding his injury will be available until next week.
Lance Briggs was inactive in Week 6 and Week 7 due to a rib injury. He is doubtful for Sunday’s game.
Vontaze Burfict suffered what is being called a “cervical strain” during last Sunday’s game. He is probable for Week 8.
Bruce Carter suffered a quadriceps strain in Week 4, and he was inactive up through Week 7. He was a full participant in Friday’s practice, and he is expected to play on Monday.
Jadeveon Clowney was inactive for last Monday’s game due to his knee injury. He was a limited participant in Friday’s practice, and he is listed as questionable for Week 8. Defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel said Clowney might be limited to third-down situations only if he is active.
Emmanuel Lamur suffered a left shoulder injury in Week 6, and he was inactive in Week 7. He is probable for Week 8.
Ryan Shazier suffered a MCL (knee) sprain in Week 3, and he has been inactive ever since. He is probable for Week 8.
Defensive Backs
Eric Berry suffered a severe left ankle sprain in Week 2, and he has been out ever since that time. He is questionable for Week 8.
Morgan Burnett is questionable for Week 8 due to a calf injury.
Brandon Flowers left last Sunday’s game with a concussion. He will need to complete the NFL concussion protocol prior to being cleared to play. He is out for Week 8.
Kyle Fuller suffered a broken hand and hip pointer during last Sunday's game. He will not need surgery on the injured hand. He is probable for Week 8.
Janoris Jenkins suffered a knee injury during last Sunday’s game against the Seahawks. His exact diagnosis is unknown at this time. He is questionable for Week 8.
Samuel Shields is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game due to a knee injury.
Aaron Williams was inactive in Week 6 due to a wrist injury. He played last Sunday, but left early due to a neck injury. He is questionable for Week 8.
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