The Training Room: Week 6 Injury Updates

Back-to-back quiet weeks for injuries make me nervous that, eventually something big is going to happen. Although Week 5 of the NFL season was again relatively insignificant, a few injuries warrant discussion. With concussions starting to accumulate across the NFL and the volatility of the position, I suggest handcuffing your top RBs if you have not done so already...

Marquise Brown, WR Arizona Cardinals

Injury: foot injury

Projected Timetable: 6 weeks

Potential Replacement(s): Rondale Moore, Greg Dortch, Robbie Anderson

Initial Thoughts:

There is a lot of uncertainty around Marquise Brown’s injury. Originally it was reported that there was no fracture, then a hairline fracture. His injury was season-ending then it wasn’t.

X-rays are negative for Marquise Brown - good news however not out of the woods and further testing will be needed.



I think best case severe turf toe injury or worst case another Lisfranc injury. @jmthrivept reminds us this is the same foot Brown hurt in 2018 (tweet below) pic.twitter.com/3mIcHSOO4A

— Adam Hutchison (@TheRealAdam_H) October 17, 2022

Here’s what we do know, Hollywood has a serious foot injury that will cause him to miss some time. Looking at foot injury data and given Brown’s history of a Lisfranc injury in this same foot, I think a realistic time frame is six weeks with production concerns when he is able to return. The silver lining is this injury should not be season-ending but I would expect him to end up on the IR.

If you roster him and can send him to a manager who is more optimistic about this injury news, I would recommend doing so, even if it’s only for a fraction of his pre-injury value. Rondale Moore figures to be more involved. Even though Arizona just brought in Robbie Anderson to fill in the “Marquise Brown role,” I’m more interested in Greg Dortch who impressed earlier this season.

Cameron Brate, TE Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Injury: concussion

Projected Timetable: 2-3 weeks

Potential Replacement(s): Cade Otton

Initial Thoughts:

The concussion train continues in the NFL this season - which is kind of surprising given all the research that has gone into the player’s helmets and practice regulations, but I digress. This is Brate’s 2nd concussion in three weeks. He will have to clear the NFL’s concussion protocol to return; however, I think it is very unlikely he plays in Week 7. This is a similar situation to Steelers' sophomore Pat Freiermuth and could be a multi-week absence. If you're TE needy (like most fantasy teams are), Cade Otton figures to be the main TE in the meantime.

Kenny Pickett, QB Pittsburgh Steelers

Injury: concussion

Projected Timetable: 1 week

Potential Replacement(s): Mitch Trubisky

Initial Thoughts:

Another concussion that warrants discussion is Kenny Pickett's. With the league monitoring each concussion carefully, it's likely that Pickett misses at least one game.

Jaylen Waddle, WR Miami Dolphins

Injury: shoulder injury

Projected Timetable: 0 weeks

Potential Replacement(s): Cedric Wilson

Initial Thoughts:

Before those of you who roster Jaylen Waddle pass out, take a breath because I am here to deliver good news. Based on the mechanism of injury, I think Waddle, who briefly exited Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury, dodged disaster. This does not fit the description of an AC joint sprain (a common injury for WRs and one that would likely result in time missed).

Here’s the play where #Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle injured his left shoulder late in the loss



Full analysis⏩https://t.co/rwEYkpGHU0 pic.twitter.com/61poJdLX8c

— Sports Injury Central (@SICscore) October 16, 2022

Waddle might be limited this week, but I think he will avoid the final injury report and should suit up next week.

Deon Jackson, RB Indianapolis Colts

Injury: quadriceps injury

Projected Timetable: 1-2 weeks

Potential Replacement(s): Philip Lindsay

Initial Thoughts:

I try to keep my writing to fantasy relevant to players, but Deon Jackson earned his place on the football field, in fantasy football lineups, and as a result, in thisarticle. Unfortunately, in the midst of his breakout game, Jackson exited in the 4th quarter with a quadriceps injury and did not return.

If you remember, Jackson’s teammate Michael Pittman Jr. dealt with a similar injury and missed one game earlier this season. Running backs historically miss 1.7 games with quadriceps injuries, and their performance suffers when they are able to return. This is obviously Jonathan Taylor’s backfield when he returns (and I am projecting a Week 7 return date), but if Taylor was to miss another week and Jackson is out, Philip Lindsay would figure to shoulder a decent share of Indy’s RB touches.

Carson Wentz, QB Washington Commanders

Injury: quadriceps injury

Projected Timetable: 4 weeks

Potential Replacement(s): Taylor Heinicke

Initial Thoughts:

Monday, we learned that Carson Wentz fractured a finger in his throwing hand and is slated to miss 4-6 weeks. Watching the Thursday night game, Wentz did appear to injure his hand but was able to play through the injury. The 4-6 week timeline aligns with typical recovery times and is similar to what we've seen with Russell Wilson in 2021 and Dak Prescott this season. Amongst the QBs I have looked at since 2017, the sample is small, but upon their return, fantasy production suffered. It would make sense too. Finger/hand injuries, in theory, would affect a quarterback's accuracy when throwing the ball and could make gripping the football difficult.

For Wentz, accuracy issues could be problematic, considering that in the last two seasons, he’s ranked outside the top 20 in both accuracy and true completion percentage. No matter how much we kick and scream for the rookie Sam Howell, Taylor Heinicke is going to be the guy as Riverboat Ron fails to live up that nickname for yet another season.

Eno Benjamin, RB Arizona Cardinals

Injury: foot injury

Projected Timetable: 1-4 weeks

Potential Replacement(s): Corey Clement, Keontay Ingram

Initial Thoughts:

Eno Benjamin never fully delivered what fantasy managers were hoping for on Sunday. As it turns out, it’s possible that it could have been because he was nursing a foot injury. We don’t have any specifics on the foot injury for Benjamin, but per the Injury Index running backs miss on average four games with a foot injury. Addtionally, examining a three-game sample of fantasy production post-injury there is a a 25% dip for RBs compared to their healthy average. All of this points to an ominous outlook for Benjamin. Arizona does not seem sold on their sixth-round rookie Keontay Ingram. With James Conner and Darrel Williams potentially missing more time, newly signed Corey Clement could be in the mix if Benjamin’s foot injury proves to be the serious variety.

Russell Wilson, QB Denver Broncos

Injury: hamstring strain

Projected Timetable: 0-2 weeks

Potential Replacement(s): Brett Rypien

Initial Thoughts:

Tuesday we learned that Russell Wilson is dealing with a hamstring injury and although he is not projected to miss time, there is some evidence that hamstring injuries impact quaterback performance. Expect Wilson to run less in his next game. The most recent examples of mobile QBs who sustained a hamstring strain (Kyler Murray and Daniel Jones) all were well below their season average in rush attempts following a hamstring injury. A less mobile WIlson might not seem like a huge deal but 17% of the Bronco's QB fantasy points have come from running the ball. Combine this potential dip with the fact that Wilson is still nursing lat strain and his ceiling right appears very low.