The Training Room: Week 4 Injury Updates

Sep 22, 2019
The Training Room: Week 4 Injury Updates

It was a better week for injuries in Week 3, but unfortunately, injuries are hard to completely avoid on a week to week basis. Our on the mend section will be below those who were injured for the current week so you can keep tabs on players that are close to potentially returning from injury. The players in the on the mend section will mainly be those who are a week or two away from returning so you can start to make the necessary roster adjustments. (*Updated 9/28/19)

Saquon Barkley, RB Giants

Injury: High Ankle Sprain

Timetable For Recovery: 4-6 weeks minimum

Potential Replacement: Wayne Gallman

Comments: Barkley had his ankle rolled up in the 2nd quarter and needed to be helped off the field. He was quickly ruled out and was seen on the sidelines in a boot and using crutches. His MRI on Monday confirmed his high ankle sprain. High ankle sprains can be difficult to get athletes back from quickly so I would be more inclined to say that Barkely would likely miss more 6-8 weeks compared to the 4-6 weeks that we're seeing.

Cam Newton, QB Panthers

Injury: Lisfranc Sprain

Timetable For Recovery: ~4-6 weeks

Potential Replacement: Kyle Allen

Comments: Newton re-aggravated his sprained foot that he was dealing with during the preseason and apparently more testing has revealed that he is dealing with a lisfranc issue. Lisfranc issues are challenging to manage and recovery quickly from as more stress to that area can cause the area to become less stable with the possibility of surgery becoming more likely in that case. The Panthers have a Week 7 bye, so my guess is they'll hold him out past that point to see where he stands and how he's recovering. It's possible he could return in 4 weeks which would be Week 8, but ultimately his recovery and how he feels will dictate that. I wouldn't be surprised if he is on the longer end of that timetable to ensure that he's as close to 100% and reduce any risk of this being a long term issue. Kyle Allen did well in replacement of Newton, but he played a Cardinals defense that didn't put up much of a fight.

TY Hilton, WR Colts

Injury: Quad Strain Re-Aggravation

Timetable For Recovery: Doubtful for Week 4

Potential Replacement: Deon Cain, Parris Campbell

Comments: Hilton didn't completely rule out giving it a go on Sunday but doubtful designations almost never play. Like we mentioned earlier this week, re-aggravations to soft tissue injuries usually take longer to recovery than the original injury so Hilton still has some work to do to possibly be ready for Week 5.

Chris Godwin, WR Buccaneers

Injury: Strained Hip

Timetable For Recovery: Questionable, GTD.

Potential Replacements: Breshad Perriman, Justin Watson

Comments: Godwin was able to return to a limited practice on Friday after not practicing at all this week. Coach Arians said that he did like what he saw from Godwin during that practice so it is encouraging that he's trending in the right direction. He'll test his hip to make sure he can give it a go without increasing the risk of further irritation. The Bucs play in the late afternoon slate so make sure you have a backup plan just in case he is inactive.

Julian Edelman, WR Patriots

Injury: Bruised Chest

Timetable For Recovery: GTD, Expected to play Week 4

Potential Replacement: Josh Gordon, Phillip Dorsett, Jakobi Meyers

Comments: If Edelman plays, he'll be playing at less than 100% as NFL reporter Mike Giardi states that Edelman isn't a lock to play Week 4 although he's trending in the right direction. He'll go through warm-ups and see how he feels and although he's usually a safe bet if he's in the lineup, gameflow could dictate whether or not the Patriots decide to limit his snaps.

Ito Smith, RB Falcons

Injury: Concussion

Timetable For Recovery: Not on final injury report. Will play Week 4.

Potential Replacement: Brian Hill

Comments: Smith has cleared the concussion protocol and is ready to go for Week 4 against the Titans.

Vance McDonald, TE Steelers

Injury: Sprained Shoulder

Timetable For Recovery: Doubtful for MNF

Potential Replacement: Xavier Grimble

Comments: Coach Tomlin's hopefulness early in the week has not panned out as McDonald's shoulder didn't progress enough to be ready for Week 4. The fact that he's doubtful for MNF raises question about whether or not he'll be ready for Week 5 against the Ravens.

Case Keenum, QB Redskins

Injury: Sprained Foot

Timetable For Recovery: Removed from injury report. Will play Week 4

Potential Replacement: Dwayne Haskins, Colt McCoy

Comments: Keenum has been able to progress through a minor foot issue and is slated to start Week 4 against the Giants. He could have some streaming appeal against a Giants defense that has not looked good over the first 3 weeks of the season.

Rashad Penny, RB Seahawks

Injury: Strained Hamstring

Timetable For Recovery: Questionable for Week 4, GTD

Potential Replacement: C.J. Prosise, Travis Homer

Comments: Penny sat out last week due to the hamstring but has been able to get some work in late in the week which has Coach Carrol optimistic that he'll be able to suit up for Week 4. He'll have to go through warm-ups to ensure he feels up to giving it a go, but even if he does I don't think he's a safe bet to get enough snaps from a fantasy standpoint.

Justin Jackson, RB Chargers

Injury: Strained Calf

Timetable For Recovery: 2-4 Weeks

Potential Replacement: Melvin Gordon, Austin Ekeler

Comments: Jackson suffered the injury on Thursday of this week and has been seen in a walking boot since the injury. With Melvin Gordon returning, even when Jackson gets healthy, he'll likely have a limited role moving forward barring an injury to Gordon or Ekeler.

Matthew Stafford, QB Lions

Injury: Strained Hip

Timetable For Recovery: Questionable for Week 4. Expected to play.

Potential Replacement: David Blough

Comments: Stafford was added to the injury report late in the week and is questionable for Week 4. It's not ideal being added to the injury report on a Friday, but local reporters are stating that they'd be surprised if Stafford isn't out there against the Chiefs. Apparently Stafford is in a lot of discomfort that was progressively getting worse as the week went on so gameflow could be an issue if the Chiefs blow out the Lions early, they might choose to sit Stafford in hopes of not aggravating the issue more. He would be hard to sit but just know there is some risk to this situation.

On The Mend

AJ Green, WR Bengals

Injury: Ankle Surgery

Timetable For Recovery: 2-3 weeks away

Potential Replacement: Tyler Boyd, John Ross

Comments: AJ Green had his boot removed, which is a great sign for his recovery but is still a ways away from doing any higher level activiy such as cutting and change of direction. Even when he is ready to return there is still a lot of unknown as to how his ankle and/or foot will respond. If you have him you're continuing to play the wait and see game until further notice.

Tevin Coleman, RB 49ers

Injury: High Ankle Sprain

Timetable For Recovery: Possible return for Week 5

Potential Replacements: Matt Breida, Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson

Comments: The 49ers are on bye this week so Coleman should be ramping up his rehab in hopes that he can return to the field when the team takes on the Browns in Week 5.

Devin Singletary, RB BIlls

Injury: Strained Hamstring

Timetable for reocovery: Questionable For Week 4.

Potential Replacements: Frank Gore, TJ Yeldon

Comments: Singletary was able to practice in a limited fashion late in the week and is listed questionable for a big game against the Patriots. My guess is that he suits up but he is clearly not 100% and will likely have his snaps reduced with Frank Gore still seeing the majority of the snaps.

DeSean Jackson, WR Eagles

Injury: Strained Groin

Timetable For Recovery: Week-To-Week, Ruled Out For TNF

Potential Replacements:
Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor

Comments: We had a feeling that this might happen with the Eagles playing 2 games in 10 days. Jackson will get a ton of time to hopefully start to practice in some capacity early next week in hopes to be ready for Week 5.

Damien Williams, RB Chiefs

Injury: Knee Contusion

Timetable For Recovery: Week-To-Week, Ruled out for Week 4.

Potential Replacements: LeSean McCoy, Darrel Williams

Comments: Wiliams is still not healthy enought to suit up and could be starting to lose ground on snaps with LeSean McCoy and Darrel Williams handling the work since he's been out. It's fair to wonder if Williams is dealing with a bone bruise that is limiting his ability to ramp up his activity. We'll keep tabs on his knee heading into next week.

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