The Training Room: Week 14 Injury Updates

The fantasy football playoffs are here (at least for most of you). It has been a long season and I appreciate you all following along. We are almost at the end but there is still work to be done for our fantasy teams as injuries continue to pile up. To quote Andy Dufresne, "And if you've come this far, maybe you're willing to come a little further.." Let's get into the injuries from Week 14.

Kyler Murray, QB Arizona Cardinals

Injury: knee injury - likely ACL

Projected Timetable: season ending (if ACL)

Potential Replacement(s): Colt McCoy

Initial Thoughts:

A week after the most dynamic mobile QB in fantasy, Lamar Jackson, got hurt, the fantasy football landscape sustained another big blow. On the third offensive snap of Monday Night’s game, Kyler Murray went down with a knee injury, and early reports are that it could be season-ending.

Per source Kyler Murray initial results has a torn his ACL pending an MRI tomorrow.

— Mike Jurecki (@mikejurecki) December 13, 2022

Non-contact injuries are never a good sign, and Murray’s mechanism fits that of an ACL tear. Tuesday will likely yield more clarity, but as of now, if you roster Murray, I’d make other plans for the fantasy football playoffs.

Deebo Samuel, WR San Francisco 49ers

Injury: MCL sprain, high ankle sprain

Projected Timetable: 4-6 weeks.

Potential Replacement(s): Jauan Jennings

Initial Thoughts:

After being carted off the field Sunday, I was really concerned that Deebo Samuel fractured his leg, however, it would appear that the starter WR avoided the worst-case scenario. Even though this is not the case, Deebo is not out of the clear.

49ers said WR Deebo Samuel suffered a sprained MCL and ankle, but is expected to return during the regular season.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 12, 2022

MCL sprains on their own can take ~four weeks to recover, and even though Adam Schefter was not specific in his tweet, Samuel likely sustained a very serious high ankle sprain. If Deebo Samuel does return during the regular season, I would be surprised if it was prior to Week 18. If you are gearing up for a deep fantasy playoff run, Deebo Samuel likely won’t be there for you.

Jeff Wilson Jr., RB Miami Dolphins

Injury: hip injury

Projected Timetable: 2-3 weeks

Potential Replacement(s): Raheem Mostert, Salvon Ahmed

Initial Thoughts:

Jeff Wilson Jr.'s hip injury is not considered overly serious, but most NFL RBs miss at least two games with any type of hip injury. As I write this Sunday, I do not have any specifics regarding Wilson's injury, and the video was not clear. I think it is possibly a groin strain, but until we have official word, a 2-3 week absence is what I am projecting. With how much Raheem Mostert has been injured in the past, if you are an RB needy team, Ahmed could be worth a stash.

Tee Higgins, WR Cincinnati Bengals

Injury: hamstring strain

Projected Timetable: 3 weeks.

Potential Replacement(s): Trenton Irwin

Initial Thoughts:

Is there anything worse than a player getting injured in the game's first snap? Turns out yes. Apparently, Higgins strained his hamstring in pregame warm-ups, and there was no news, meaning fantasy managers could not make the switch. Higgins played a single snap but could not get through the injury.

In last week’s Training Room article, I outlined hamstring injuries when discussing Courtland Sutton, but here is the skinny - most miss at least one game, the average time missed is ~three weeks, and players struggle in their return post-injury.

Tyler Boyd and Hayden Hurst are also injured, so with Higgins out, there will be targets available in Cincy. Trenton Irwin had a big day and could be worth adding.

Tyler Boyd, WR Cincinnati Bengals

Injury: finger/hand injury

Projected Timetable: 2-4 weeks

Potential Replacement(s): Trenton Irwin, Trent Taylor

Initial Thoughts:

The aforementioned Tyler Boyd could miss some time with a finger/hand injury. Should a fracture be present Boyd could easily miss four weeks. The Bengals' passing game has been seriously impacted the past few weeks, so in deeper leagues, Trenton Irwin and Trent Taylor are decent WR targets.

Dameon Pierce, RB Houston Texans

Injury: high ankle sprain

Projected Timetable: 3-4 weeks.

Potential Replacement(s): Rex Burkhead

Initial Thoughts:

Although the Houston Texans are projecting a 1-2 week absence for Dameon Pierce following his high ankle sprain, the numbers suggest otherwise.

#Texans RB Dameon Pierce is expected to miss 1-2 weeks (@AaronWilson_NFL).



Pierce's injury is described as a "relatively mild high ankle sprain."



Rex Burkhead and Dare Ogunbowale are their primary running backs for the next week or two.

— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) December 13, 2022

Average time missed for RBs with high ankle sprains is 4 weeks with severe performance limitations when they return. This injury could not have come at a worse time for fantasy managers who were relying on the rookie RB. Rex Burkhead is likely the next man up. Yes the year is 2022 and Rex Burkhead is still fantasy relevant.

D.J. Moore, WR Carolina Panthers

Injury: knee injury

Projected Timetable: 1-2 weeks

Potential Replacement(s): Terrace Marshall

Initial Thoughts:

Carolina is leaving the door open that D.J. Moore can play in Week 14 despite missing most of Week 14's game with a knee injury. Per the Panthers Moore's MRI came back clean and there is no "serious" injury. The Injury Index shows the WRs typically miss at least 2 games with non-specific knee injuires so I think it's likely Moore misses at least one game. The practice reports this week will provide more clarity here.

Russell Wilson, QB Denver Broncos

Injury: concussion

Projected Timetable: 1 week

Potential Replacement(s): Brett Rypien

Initial Thoughts:

In 2022 there have been a litany of concussions, and Week 14 was no stranger to head injuries —Russell Wilson is the latest to be added to this list. For whatever reason, QBs tend to miss less time than skill position players after a concussion, but Wilson is still likely to miss at least one game. He will have to clear the concussion protocol before he comes back.

Mike White, QB New York Jets

Injury: rib injury

Projected Timetable: 0 weeks

Potential Replacement(s): NA

Initial Thoughts:

The Jets' new franchise quarterback (kidding...not really) Mike White, sustained a rib injury, exited, was able to return, then had to go to the hospital after the game for more tests. Per head coach Robert Saleh, the hospital visit was precautionary, and White should be ready to go for Week 15.

Kenny Pickett, QB Pittsburgh Steelers

Injury: concussion

Projected Timetable: 1 week

Potential Replacement(s): Mitch Trubisky

Initial Thoughts:

Season Russell Wilson summary above for summary, but Kenny Pickett likely misses Week 15 due to his concussion.

Rhamondre Stevenson, RB New England Patriots

Injury: ankle injury - likely eversion sprain

Projected Timetable: 2 weeks

Potential Replacement(s): Kevin Harris, Pierre Strong Jr.

Initial Thoughts:

Another early exit to round out Week 14, Rhamondre Stevenson tried to play through a left ankle injury but was unable to do so and was ruled out after five total touches. Although I have projected Damien Harris to return next week, it's always a good idea to stash RBs in the fantasy football playoffs, so adding Kevin Harris or Pierre Strong Jr. is a good strategy.

Injury Tracker - 2022

Player	Position	Team	Injury	Week of Injury	Projected Return
Trey Lance	QB	San Francisco	ankle	Week 2	SEASON ENDING
Michael Thomas	WR	New Orleans	toe	Week 3	SEASON ENDING
Sterling Shepard	WR	New York Giants	L ACL tear	Week 3	SEASON ENDING
Javonte Williams	RB	Denver	ACL/LCL	Week 4	SEASON ENDING
Rashaad Penny	RB	Seattle	ankle fracture	Week 5	SEASON ENDING
Darren Waller	TE	Las Vegas	hamstring	Week 5	Week 15
Breece Hall	RB	New York Jets	ACL	Week 7	SEASON ENDING
Rashod Bateman	WR	Baltimore	foot injury	Week 8	SEASON ENDING
Irv Smith Jr.	TE	Minnesota	high ankle sprain	Week 8	Week 16-17
Romeo Doubs	WR	Green Bay	high ankle sprain	Week 9	Week 15
Mecole Hardman	WR	Kansas City	abdomen/core	Week 9	Week 15
Cooper Kupp	WR	Los Angeles	high ankle sprain	Week 10	Week 15
Zach Ertz	TE	Arizona	knee	Week 10	SEASON ENDING
Dallas Goedert	TE	Philadelphia	shoulder	Week 10	Week 15
Kyle Pitts	TE	Atlanta	MCL sprain	Week 11	Week 16-17
Wan'Dale Robinson	WR	New York Giants	ACL sprain	Week 11	SEASON ENDING
Matthew Stafford	QB	Los Angeles Rams	concussion/neck	Week 11	SEASON ENDING
Clyde Edwards-Helaire	RB	Kansas City	high ankle sprain	Week 11	Week 16
Kadarius Toney	WR	Kansas City	hamstring strain	Week 11	Week 15-16
Rondale Moore	WR	Arizona	groin strain	Week 11	Week 15
Damien Harris	RB	New England	quadriceps	Week 12	Week 15
Allen Robinson	WR	Los Angeles Rams	ankle	Week 12	SEASON ENDING
Darnell Mooney	WR	Chicago	ankle	Week 12	SEASON ENDING
Elijah Mitchell	RB	San Fransisco	knee	Week 12	SEASON ENDING (likely)
Lamar Jackson	QB	Baltimore	knee	Week 13	Week 17
Ken Walker III	RB	Seattle	ankle	Week 13	Week 15
Jimmy Garoppolo	QB	San Francisco	foot	Week 13	SEASON ENDING
Treylon Burks	WR	Tennessee	concussion	Week 13	Week 15
Courtland Sutton	WR	Denver	hamstring strain	Week 13	Week 17
Hayden Hurst	TE	Cincinnati	calf strain	Week 13	Week 16
Kyler Murray	QB	Arizona	knee	Week 14	SEASON ENDING (likely)
Deebo Samuel	WR	San Francisco	MCL sprain + ankle injury	Week 14	Week 18
Dameon Pierce	RB	Houston	high ankle sprain	Week 14	Week 18
D.J. Moore	WR	Carolina	knee injury	Week 14	Week 15
Russell Wilson	QB	Denver	concussion	Week 14	Week 16
Jeff Wilson Jr.	RB	Miami	hip injury	Week 14	Week 17
Tee Higgins	WR	Cincinnati	hamstring strain	Week 14	Week 18
Tyler Boyd	WR	Cincinnati	finger/hand	Week 14	Week 17
Mike White	QB	New York Jets	rib injury	Week 14	Week 15
Kenny Pickett	QB	Pittsburgh	concussion	Week 14	Week 16
Rhamondre Stevenson	RB	New England	ankle injury	Week 14	Week 17