The Training Room: Week 2 Injury Updates
Week 2 of another NFL season strikes again as there were a number of injuries that occurred. There are some players that we are going to discuss who suffered season-ending injuries, and others who sustained injuries that could put them on the shelf for multiple weeks. Let's dive right into these injuries, as there is a lot to cover and discuss when it comes to what your strategy should be for this week and moving forward. UPDATED Wednesday 9/23/20
Saquon Barkley, RB Giants
Injury: Potential ACL Tear
Timetable For Recovery: Out For Season
Potential Replacement: Dion Lewis, Wayne Gallman
Initial Thoughts: This is a tough blow for Giants fans as they won't truly get to see what the Giants offense could look like with their skilled players at full strength. The injury was pretty apparent that the knee buckled and was a pretty textbook way for an ACL tear to occur. The silver lining to season-ending injuries like this is that players who deal with injuries early in the season usually are at full strength by the time the next season starts. Saquon Barkley should be 100% come next year, it's a shame we don't get to enjoy the talent that he's displayed over the past few years.
Christian McCaffrey, RB Panthers
Injury: High Ankle Sprain
Timetable For Recovery: 4-6 Weeks, Put on IR
Potential Replacement: Mike Davis
Initial Thoughts: CMC will miss at least the next 3 games in hopes that when he comes back he'll be much healthier than where he currently is. Like we've stated in the past, even though he might return early, whether or not he'll be explosive and dynamic off that ankle remains to be seen.
Davante Adams, WR Packers
Injury: Strained Hamstring
Timetable For Recovery: DNP All Week, Doubtful for Week 3
Potential Replacement: Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Initial Thoughts: It sounds like Adams is a long shot to play even though the Packers are going to test him out before Sunday night to see how he feels. Even if he is active, he will be hard to trust as players who are deemed doubtful normally don't end up playing that week. I would prepare to be without Adams this week.
Sterling Shepard, WR Giants
Injury: Turf Toe
Timetable For Recovery: 2-4 Weeks, placed on IR, Out For Week 3
Potential Replacement: Darius Slayton, Golden Tate
Initial Thoughts: Shepard will miss the next 3 games and we'll see where he is in the recovery process as he gets closer to coming back.
Raheem Mostert, RB 49ers
Injury: Sprained MCL
Timetable For Recovery: Potentially 2-4 weeks, OUT for Week 3
Potential Replacement: Jerick McKinnon
Initial Thoughts: MCL sprains depending on the severity, can range anywhere between two to six weeks. The 49ers are hurting badly after Week 2 with a multitude of injuries on both the offensive and defensive front, so hopefully they'll get better news as to how long Raheem Mostert might be out.
Julio Jones, WR Falcons
Injury: Strained Hamstring
Timetable For Recovery: DNP all week, Game Time Decision
Potential Replacement: Calvin Ridley, Russell Gage
Initial Thoughts: Jones does not look like a player who is going to be playing at close to 100% even if he does suit up Week 3. Not sure how well he'll play if he does suit up and the chance for re-aggravation always lingers when a player tries to play through an injury like this. I'd make plans to be without Jones for Week 3.
Jimmy Garoppolo, QB 49ers
Injury: High Ankle Sprain
Timetable For Recovery: Week To Week, OUT for Week 3
Potential Replacement: Nick Mullens
Initial Thoughts: Don't be fooled by the early reports about high ankle sprains and the quick turnaround of potentially playing the next week. This is a painful injury and regardless of position, it can be very challenging to try and play through it especially at the QB position. The 49ers are hopeful that Garoppolo will play Week 4 but practice and how he progresses through his recovery will dictate that.
Cam Akers, RB Rams
Injury: Rib Injury
Timetable For Recovery: Day To Day, OUT For Week 3
Potential Replacement: Malcolm Brown, Darrell Henderson
Initial Thoughts: Cam Akers was diagnosed with separated cartilage between his ribs after he was hurt early in the first quarter as he was tackled and driven into the ground. It seems that the discomfort he's dealing with is more significant than we had hoped as to why he'll sit in Week 3. He's got a chance to play Week 4 and the likelihood of an injection at some point to help alleviate the discomfort will come into play if it hasn't already to get him progressing quicker.
Kenny Golladay, WR Lions
Injury: Strained Hamstring
Timetable For Recovery: Expected to play Week 3
Potential Replacement: Marvin Jones, Danny Amendola
Initial Thoughts: Golladay has admitted that he's not 100% but he plans to play Week 3. There are reports that Golladay might be on a snap count which would make a lot of sense as he's in the same boat as Julio Jones with regards to playing with a hamstring injury that is less than 100%. I'd still start Golladay as Stafford will likely look his way often when he's on the field but just be aware of the potential for any issues that could arise during the game.
AJ Brown, WR Titans
Injury: Knee Bone Bruise
Timetable For Recovery: Week To Week, Ruled OUT for Week 3
Potential Replacement: Corey Davis, Adam Humphries
Initial Thoughts: Brown continues to slowly recover from the bone bruise he's dealing with in his knee. Bone bruises take time to heal and are hard to rush back due to the discomfort on that area when attempting to put a ton of stress in and around that area if it's still recovering. We'll continue to wait and see how he progresses heading into Week 4.
Tyrod Taylor, QB Chargers
Injury: Chest Injury
Timetable For Recovery: Day To Day, OUT for Week 3
Potential Replacement: Justin Herbert
Initial Thoughts: Herbert will get another start in Week 3 and if he performs well, it might be hard for Taylor to get his job back. Tyrod should be fully healthy by next week, but whether or not he remains the starter is a completely different question.
Drew Lock, QB Broncos
Injury: Strained Rotator Cuff
Timetable For Recovery: 2-4 weeks
Potential Replacement: Jeff Driskel
Initial Thoughts: Drew Lock was being chased from behind and as he was tackled, he landed awkwardly on his throwing shoulder. He was in a lot of discomfort as there was footage of him attempting to make the throwing motion and wincing in a lot of pain. Testing from Monday revealed a strained rotator cuff, which is best news possible. He'll try and get the discomfort under control and ramp up his shoulder strength and throwing to make sure he can make all the throws possible to make a return to the field.
Sammy Watkins, WR Chiefs
Injury: Concussion
Timetable For Recovery: Questionable for MNF
Potential Replacement: Demarcus Robinson, Mecole Hardman
Initial Thoughts: Watkins practiced in limited fashion on Friday and was a full participant on Saturday. Normallyl when a player is a full participant after a concussion and doesn't present with any lingering or renewed symptoms, they are likely to play. With the Chiefs playing on Monday night it is a tough call, if you have better options then consider them but the Chiefs could find themselves in a shootout with the Ravens which might require Watkins to have a significant role.
Parris Campbell, WR Colts
Injury: Sprained Knee
Timetable For Recovery: 3-6 weeks
Potential Replacement: Michael Pittman Jr., Zach Pascal
Initial Thoughts: Campbell was carted off after he took a hit to the knee with a helmet of the Vikings defender. After initially thinking he tore his ACL, reports are saying that he may have avoided that. Based on the video, I think his saving grace for not having an ACL tear was the fact that it didn't look like his foot was planted on the ground as the defender's helmet made contact with his knee. He's likely going to be out for a few weeks as he'll likely be dealing with an MCL sprain with potentially a bone bruise from the hit, but he'll have further testing to determine the extent of his injury.
Courtland Sutton, WR Broncos
Injury: Torn ACL
Timetable For Recovery: Out For The Season
Potential Replacement: Jerry Jeudy, K.J. Hamler
Initial Thoughts: Sutton exited Sunday's game against the Steelers as he was apparently dealing with knee issues and also cramping. Apparently the injury was more significant than we thought and Sutton is now done for the season due to an ACL tear and potentially more tissues in the knee involved from the injury. It's a tough blow to the Broncos as Sutton was primed to take a big step forward in his progression as a receiver this year. He should be fully recovered by the start of 2021 season.
Breshad Perriman, WR Jets
Injury: High Ankle Sprain
Timetable For Recovery: Week To Week, Ruled OUT for Week 3
Potential Replacement: Denzel Mims, Chris Hogan
Initial Thoughts: Perriman exited Sunday's Week 2 game against the 49ers in the second quarter and did not return. The Jets are super thin at the skilled position so hopefully Perriman will be able to start practicing in some fashion this week heading into Week 4.
