Monday Injury Rounds: Week 12

Photo: Imagn Images

NOTE: This column is a living document. I'll be updating as needed after team press conferences, imaging reports, Monday Night Football injuries, etc. Major changes to the content will be noted in red. I'll also be retweeting any key pieces of news and my own reaction and analysis, so make sure you're following @JeneBramel and checking my timeline on Twitter throughout the week.

Scroll to the bottom of this article for a quick look table of the week's most pressing injury situations and a review of the skill position players on injured reserve / PUP / NFI.

INJURY ROUNDS

A.J. Green | Hamstring strain | 4+ weeks

There is very little to like about Green's outlook. He immediately reached high on the back of his leg, was unable to bear weight and carted off the field, and multiple local and national media members are tweeting about a multiple-week absence. Every indication is that Green suffered a high-grade hamstring strain. That's an injury that usually comes with a minimum four week recovery timetable. With the Bengals falling further out of the division race and unlikely to push Green to return for late season games if eliminated, he may not return until 2017. Tomorrow's MRI will help define the timetable.

Monday Update: Ian Rapoport says the Bengals do not believe Green will need surgery, which implies there's not a full tear or separation of the tendon from bone. It's still a mid-grade injury likely to keep him out multiple weeks. That increases the likelihood he'll return by season's end.

LeSean McCoy | Dislocated thumb | Week-to-Week

There are two joints in the thumb. One large joint between the thumb and the hand and one smaller joint between the two bones of the thumb itself. Injuries to the larger joint are troublesome. Often associated with fractures or significant ligament damage, injuries to the larger joint usually affect grip strength and require multiple weeks of recovery. Injuries to the smaller joint aren't as worrisome. McCoy dislocated the smaller of the two joints. Though that's generally the more reassuring injury, McCoy's injury was not able to be reduced and he'll need surgery to relocate the joint. There's still a good chance he'll be able to return to play this week, but the need for surgery may keep him out for a week. We'll know more by midweek.

Monday Update: McCoy had surgery early today and is expected to be ready to play on Sunday. He'll likely be limited in practice. If there are no concerns with ball security later in the week, he should be good to go.

Andrew Luck | Concussion | Day-to-Day

Chuck Pagano told reporters today that Luck is in the concussion protocol. There have been a small handful of players who cleared the return to play protocol in time to play on a short week -- including Davante Adams this season -- but it's not the norm. We'll know what to expect from Luck by Wednesday afternoon. The Colts play at home on Thanksgiving night, which slightly increases the chances Luck can return.

Monday Update: Ian Rapoport tweeted this evening that the Colts are planning to start Scott Tolzien this week and are not hopeful Luck will recover in time to play.

Gio Bernard | Torn ACL | Out for Season

Not much to add here. The Bengals lose two vital offensive pieces in the same week. Bernard will need the entire offseason to rehab and recover. If there are no associated injuries and the rehab progresses without incident, he could return during training camp next year.

C.J. Prosise | Scapula Fracture | 4-6+ Weeks

Pete Carroll told reporters after the game that Prosise's scapula injury would keep him out "a while." There's really only one possible injury to the scapula (i.e. shoulder blade) -- a fracture in the bone. Similar to what Donte Moncrief suffered earlier this season, Prosise is likely to miss at least four weeks. There's an outside chance he'll return before the end of the regular season, but it's likely the Seahawks will rehab him with the expectation to have him back at full strength for the playoffs.

Monday Update: Ian Rapoport reports that Prosise's injury is a scapula fracture and his best case scenario is a return during the playoffs.

Zach Miller | Fractured foot | Out for Season

Miller broke his foot yesterday and will likely be placed on injured reserve early this week.

Darren Sproles | Rib injury | Day-to-Day

Sproles did not return after a rib injury yesterday. The Eagles haven't discussed Sproles' status yet. I'll consider him day-to-day for now, but it could easily be a week-to-week situation if multiple ribs are involved or the injury is a significant fracture in a difficult to manage location. More to come tomorrow.

Monday Update: The Eagles told reporters Sproles has a rib fracture but in a reassuring location. He has a chance to play this week.

Ryan Mathews | MCL sprain | Week-to-Week

Adam Caplan tweeted that Mathews suffered an MCL sprain. The mechanism wasn't clearly evident on the television angle but it's rare for a running back to play through a knee sprain without missing any time. Mathews hasn't been known as a quick healer in his career. Expect the Eagles to send Mathews for an MRI on Monday. We may hear more tomorrow but it's likely Mathews will miss at least one week.

Cody Kessler | Concussion | Day-to-Day

Kessler will be in the return-to-play protocol this week. Consider him questionable for Week 12.

Monday Update: Adam Schefter reports the Browns are likely to return to Josh McCown this week.

Robert Woods | Knee sprain | Week-to-Week

The television angle on Woods' injury showed a mechanism consistent with a mid-grade MCL sprain. Expect him to miss multiple weeks.

T.J. Yeldon | ankle injury | Day-to-Day

There was no clear angle on Yeldon's ankle injury and the Jaguars did not share any information after the game. Yeldon has struggled to recover quickly from ankle sprains in the past and it's likely he'll be limited in practice this week.

Jay Cutler | Shoulder injury | Likely out for season

Yet another season-ending injury for the Bears. Brad Biggs and others are reporting today that Cutler has a shoulder injury that is likely to end his season. No specifics on the injury have been reported.

FOLLOWUP APPOINTMENTS

Rob Gronkowski | Lung injury | Week-to-Week

Here's what I wrote on Sunday:

Ignore the variation in the reports on Gronkowski's injury. As with Dez Bryant's knee injury earlier this year, the specifics are important but it's tough to know which specific report is most correct. In general terms, Gronkowski has a lung injury that's serious enough that he's yet to be cleared to fly or take contact. If it's to the minor side of the spectrum, it's very possible he'll have a reassuring imaging study early next week and be cleared to return to contact practices next. It may also require another week of rest and healing. There have been no indications Gronkowski's injury is on the level of Brandon Marshall's recent injury, which required hospitalization and invasive intervention.

While the Patriots are unlikely to provide any meaningful updates on Monday, I expect to hear something useful from the local or national media early this week. Based on the tone of last week's reports, I'd lean toward Gronkowski playing this week. But I don't believe it's a lock yet.

Adrian Peterson | meniscus repair | Week-to-Week

There continues to be an undercurrent of expectation that Peterson will return in early December and be at full strength soon after. It's not happening. This isn't the same situation as Peterson's shockingly smooth and rapid rehab after ACL surgery or his impressive run of play through a core abdominal tear. Peterson had a meniscus repair. That's a recovery that cannot be rushed. If he does and the surgery fails, he's looking at the potential for long term issues and microfracture surgery. It's extremely unlikely Peterson or his surgical team will risk him returning 1-2 weeks sooner than expected.

Peterson has just now been cleared for light jogging after recently being cleared to weight bear for the first time in two months. He's not returning in two weeks. If he returns at all this season, it's likely he'll see very limited duty very late in the regular season in hopes of being near full strength in January for the playoffs.

Monday Update: Multiple reports on Peterson today suggest the Vikings are hopeful to have Peterson back by mid-late December. That remains on the optimistic side of the recovery timetable but is more realistic than a return in two weeks. He's expected to see his surgeon soon to discuss clearance to do more than light running.

Sammy Watkins | Metatarsal fracture | Week-to-Week

There was a note from the Bills' locker room on Sunday from an interview with linebacker Preston Brown, who suggested that Watkins could return this week. Don't overreact to this. Watkins has not been cleared to practice yet. At best, this week's followup CT scan will reassure Watkins and his surgeon that he's ready to return to individual drills in practice. Expect Watkins to need multiple weeks of practice before returning to the active roster. Remember also that it was this stage of rehab when Watkins noted pain limiting his ability to cut at speed earlier this year. While this should be seen as an optimistic development for Watkins, it doesn't mean Watkins will return to play in the next 1-2 weeks.

Ameer Abdullah | foot surgery | Week-to-Week

Abdullah is headed to North Carolina for a checkup with Dr. Robert Anderson this week. A reassuring examination could have Abdullah back at practice with a greatly increased chance to be the team's designated-to-return player from injured reserve.

I'll be watching for updates on Ryan Fitzpatrick (knee), Jacquizz Rodgers (foot), Tevin Coleman (hamstring), Jeremy Maclin (groin), and Travis Benjamin (knee) in their team's early week press conferences.

I'll be updating this feature throughout the day. Footballguys Insiders will get a full update from Craig Zumsteg with additional fantasy perspectives on Wednesday and analysis of the week's game-time decisions early Sunday morning. Follow me on Twitter @JeneBramel for breaking injury news and analysis throughout the week.