Monday Injury Rounds: Preseason Week 3

Jene Bramel's Monday Injury Rounds: Preseason Week 3 Jene Bramel Published 08/26/2019

Andrew Luck retires

Like everyone else outside of his inner circle, I was stunned to hear about Luck's decision to retire from football on Saturday night. It was the latest twist in a confusing offseason of unknown injury and slower than expected rehab.

The initial reports that Luck had been worn down by injury didn't seem to make sense. Why retire due to injury now -- two weeks before the season -- after battling through kidney lacerations and abdominal muscle tears and concussion and a prolonged recovery from shoulder surgery over the past three years? Didn't Luck return to have one of his best seasons in 2018 after the Colts finally addressed the offensive line issues that had left him in harm's way so often in his early career? Wasn't he theoretically close to recovery from a calf and ankle condition after months of hard work and rehab this offseason?

But after watching Luck's press conference, hearing him detail the toll the shoulder rehab took on him, express the excitement and pride he took in his play last year after that long road, then discuss the parallels he saw in this summer's long rehab, his thought process was more easily seen. It's heartbreaking but clear and reasonable.

Finally, while I understand why Colts' fans may feel disappointed and even betrayed at the timing of Luck's announcement and I recognize Adam Schefter's reasons for breaking the story as he did, I very much hope the Colts find a way to get Luck back on the field for a more appropriate goodbye than the boos he experienced Saturday night.

This isn't the first unexpected retirement of a football great. Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, Robert Smith, and Calvin Johnson each had their reasons for moving on during the prime of their careers.

All the best in retirement, Andrew.

Unsure about when to draft Todd Gurley, Cam Newton, Amari Cooper, Sony Michel, A.J. Green, Derrick Henry, and others?

Click here to read which injured players are safe to draft at their current ADP -- and which you should avoid.

Injury Rounds

Cam Newton | Left midfoot sprain | Preseason Week 3 | Week-to-Week | Probable Week 1

Newton injury occurred as he stepped up into a crowded pocket. Video didn't show a violent mechanism of injury but Newton skipped back without bearing weight on his left foot. He limped off the field and was immobilized in a walking boot after the game.

The Panthers announced the injury as a midfoot sprain, a term that routinely raises concern for a Lisfranc injury. In Newton's case, video did not show an injury consistent with a Lisfranc joint injury and the team has been uniformly optimistic in expecting only a brief absence. That optimism appears well-founded as Newton was already out of the walking boot on Sunday.

Expect limited, if any, contact practices for Newton this week. The current trend suggests an early Wednesday practice during Week 1 preparation with progression to full practice by the end of the week. If that happens, Newton will likely be able to handle a full playbook, including full clearance to run and scramble from the pocket, in Week 1. A slower return to action will prompt us to reconsider how much Newton will be able to do in the early weeks of the season.

Lamar Miller | Left ACL / MCL tear | Preseason Week 3 | injured reserve (expected)

ACL injuries most commonly occur in non-contact scenarios. Unfortunately, we sometimes see enough rotation during direct contact to stress multiple ligaments. That's what happened with Rob Gronkowski and Cameron Meredith in past seasons and video replay of Miller's injury suggests the same.

An MRI confirmed ACL and MCL tears for Miller on Sunday. Hopefully, any associated injuries to Miller's meniscus and cartilage are minor and allow a smooth transition to early rehab. He'll be placed on injured reserve soon.

Mike Evans | Left quad strain | Preseason Week 2 | Day-to-Day | Probable Week 1

Evans reportedly pulled up in practice over a week ago with what's been termed a leg injury. The team has remained cautious with the injury and there are no media reports of concern. Evans is very likely in the group of veteran players rehabbing a minor injury rather than practicing to prevent even the slightest risk of aggravation. However, I'm watching Evans a little more carefully this week after a Tom Pelissero tweet labeling this injury as "a minor quad or groin issue." It's probably nothing and just the usual confusion in translating a sourced report but I always raise an eyebrow when a soft tissue injury isn't clearly defined and includes the groin. Those injuries are sometimes later clarified as core abdominal strains after an aggravation or slower-than-expected recoveries.

Again, this nothing more than me channeling Wilford Brimley in The Firm -- "I get paid to be suspicious when I got nothing to be suspicious about." It's very likely Evans returns to practice this week and is fine for Week 1.

Monday Update: Evans did return to practice on Monday. He's likely to be ready for a full Week 1 workload.

***Damien Harris left with an undisclosed injury. There was helmet-to-helmet contact and contact to Harris' left shoulder on the play-action play. The Patriots did not report Harris in the concussion protocol through the weekend and there are no current indications of a long-term injury.

***Jordan Reed suffered another concussion last week. Depending on the source, it's reportedly either the sixth or seventh of his college and NFL career. Reed has often required multiple weeks to rehab previous head injuries. Washington has yet to comment but Reed should be considered questionable at best for Week 1.

Follow Up Appointments

Derrick Henry | Left Calf strain | Early preseason | Day-to-Day | Probable Week 1

Henry returned to practice last week but was not cleared to participate in the Titans' third preseason game. He is within the 7-10 day aggravation window but his rehab has progressed well to date. It's unlikely Henry will play in the final preseason game but he's trending toward a good week of practice and a full workload in Week 1.

Amari Cooper | Plantar fasciitis | Early preseason | Day-to-Day | Probable Week 1

The Cowboys have held Cooper out of practice for much of the preseason with a heel injury. It's been reported as a heel bruise, plantar fasciitis, and a muscle strain. While each of those conditions is slightly different, the overall picture is the same. Cooper is having pain on the bottom of his foot near the heel and the Dallas medical staff believes he's better served by rehabbing than practicing. Cooper has said he's played through a similar injury before and will do so again. There's a risk of aggravation and some risk of a reconditioning injury here but the risk is very likely less than if Cooper was dealing with a leg muscle strain.

***Sony Michel continues to practice without recurrent swelling or pain. After early preseason reports about Michel's potential for increased usage in the passing game, there are now reports that the Patriots plan to use Michel as much in the running game as possible. Both are great signs the team feels Michel is prepared for a full Week 1 workload.

***Keenan Allen returned to limited practice. It's even easier to ignore Anthony Lynn's comments last week about potential surgery now. Allen is trending toward a full workload in Week 1.

***George Kittle returned to practice and is expected to be ready Week 1.

***Duke Johnson Jr returned to practice last week but did not play. After missing over a month with a hamstring strain, he remains at risk of aggravation for another 1-2 weeks.

***Kenyan Drake (foot) was no longer immobilized in a walking boot this weekend but has not returned to practice. Drake told reporters last week his injury was minor. If he's back practicing this week, he can be considered probable for Week 1.

***Keke Coutee (ankle) returned to practice on Monday. He's trending toward a Week 1 return.

***DK Metcalf continues to rehab from arthroscopic surgery. Although reports suggest surgeons did not find significant structural issues inside the knee, Metcalf remains in doubt for Week 1.

***Jerick McKinnon (knee) has returned to individual drills but has yet to be cleared for contact or preseason game action. After rumors of inseason injured reserve, McKinnon is trending positively again but he's been unable to manage a full week of contact without recurrent swelling and pain. This week is critical for his early 2019 projection.

***Derrius Guice returned to practice, was given double-digit carries, and looked healthy and effective in his first preseason action last week. He'll need to continue to gain confidence in the stability of his knee and conditioning but looks prepared to contribute in Week 1.

INJURED PLAYERS ON ACTIVE ROSTER

Quarterbacks Injured | On the Active Roster
Player
Team
Injury
Date
Player/Team Says
FBG Expects
Notes
Aaron Rodgers GB Back stiffness Early preseason Day-to-Day Day-to-Day Probable Week 1
Andrew Luck Ind Left calf / ankle injury - RETIRED Offseason Announced retirement Announced retirement
Cam Newton Car Left foot sprain Preseason Week 3 Day-to-Day Day-to-Day Probable Week 1
Alex Smith Was Right leg fracture / Post-surgical infection November 2018 Active - PUP Unlikely to Return to NFL Expect Inseason PUP or IR
Colt McCoy Was Right fibula fracture fixation / Follow up procedures Early December 2018 | March & April 2019 Week-to-Week Week 3+ Return Out Week 1
Robert Griffin III III Bal Right thumb fracture Early preseason 4-8 Weeks Week-to-Week Questionable Week 1
Blaine Gabbert TB Left shoulder dislocation Preseason Week 3 Week-to-Week Week-to-Week Questionable Week 1
Drew Lock Den Right thumb sprain Preseason Week 3 6-8 Weeks Week 4+ Return Out Week 1
Nate Sudfeld Phi Left forearm fracture Preseason Week 1 6 Weeks Week 3+ Return Out Week 1
Running Backs Injured | On the Active Roster
Player
Team
Injury
Date
Player/Team Says
FBG Expects
Notes
LAR
Left knee inflammation
Chronic
 Returned to limited practice Day-to-Day Probable Week 1
NE
Knee inflammation
Chronic
 Returned to limited practice Day-to-Day Probable Week 1
Ten
Left calf strain
Early preseason
 Returned to limited practice Day-to-Day Probable Week 1
Hou
Left ACL / MCL injury (expected)
Preseason Week 3
 Injured reserve (exp) IR | Ineligible to return 2020 return
SF
Right ACL reconstruction
September 2018
 Week-to-Week Week-to-Week Questionable Week 1
SF
Quadriceps strain
Preseason Week 3
 Week-to-Week Week-to-Week Questionable Week 1
NE
Undisclosed
Preseason Week 3
 Day-to-Day Day-to-Day Probable Week 1
Mia
Right foot injury
Preseason Week 2
 Returned to limited practice Day-to-Day Probable Week 1
Den
Shoulder fracture
Preseason Week 1
 6-8 Weeks Week 3+ Return Out Week 1
Was
Right ACL reconstruction
December 2018
 Active - NFI Inseason return possible Out Week 1
Cin
Left foot injury
Preseason Week 1
 Week-to-Week Week-to-Week Doubtful Week 1
Wide Receivers Injured | On the Active Roster
Player
Team
Injury
Date
Player/Team Says
FBG Expects
Notes
Odell Beckham Cle Hip injury Preseason Week 2 Returned to practice Day-to-Day Probable Week 1
Mike Evans TB Left quad strain Preseason Week 2 Returned to limited practice Day-to-Day Probable Week 1
Julio Jones Atl Foot soreness June 2019 Returned to limited practice Day-to-Day Probable Week 1
A.J. Green Cin Left ankle injury Early preseason 6-8 Weeks Week 4+ return Out Week 1
John Ross Cin Hamstring tightness Early preseason Returned to limited practice Day-to-Day Probable Week 1
Keenan Allen LAC Ankle injury Preseason Week 2 Returned to limited practice Day-to-Day Probable Week 1
Julian Edelman NE Left thumb fracture June 2019 Returned to practice Day-to-Day Probable Week 1
Demaryius Thomas NE Left Achilles repair December 2018 Returned to limited practice Day-to-Day Questionable Week 1
N'Keal Harry NE Multiple injuries Early preseason Day-to-Day Day-to-Day Questionable Week 1
Amari Cooper Dal Plantar fasciitis Early preseason Day-to-Day Day-to-Day Probable Week 1
Keke Coutee Hou Right high ankle sprain Preseason Week 1 Returned to limited practice Day-to-Day Questionable Week 1
Sterling Shepard NYG Left thumb fracture Early preseason Returned to full practice Day-to-Day Probable Week 1
Golden Tate NYG Concussion Preseason Week 2 Returned to practice Day-to-Day Suspended four games
DK Metcalf Sea Arthroscopic knee surgery Preseason Week 3 Week-to-Week Week-to-Week Doubtful Week 1
David Moore Sea Humerus fracture Preseason Week 3 Week-to-Week Week 2++ Return Out Week 1
Anthony Miller Chi Right foot sprain Preseason Week 1 Returned to limited practice Day-to-Day Questionable Week 1
Paul Richardson Jr Was Quadriceps strain Preseason Week 2 Returned to limited practice Day-to-Day Probable Week 1
Trey Quinn Was Thumb injury Preseason Week 2 Day-to-Day Day-to-Day Probable Week 1
Parris Campbell Ind Hamstring strain aggravation Preseason Week 1 Returned to limited practice Week-to-Week Questionable Week 1
Equanimeous St. Brown GB Left high ankle sprain Preseason Week 3 4-6 Weeks Week 4+ Return Out Week 1
Antonio Callaway Cle High ankle sprain Preseason Week 1 Week-to-Week 3-4+ Weeks Suspended four games
Marqise Lee Jac Left ACL reconstruction / PCL repair August 2018 Returned to limited practice Day-to-Day Questionable Week 1
D.J. Chark Jac Concussion Preseason Week 3 Concussion protocol Week-to-Week Probable Week 1
Dante Pettis SF Groin strain Preseason Week 3 Week-to-Week Week-to-Week Questionable Week 1
Trent Taylor SF Right fifth metatarsal fracture Preseason Week 1 4-6 Weeks Week 2++ Return Doubtful Week 1
Jakeem Grant Mia Right hamstring injury Early preseason Day-to-Day Day-to-Day Probable Week 1
Hakeem Butler Ari Hand fracture Preseason Week 3 Awaiting information IR possible Doubtful Week 1
Diontae Johnson Pit Undisclosed Preseason Week 2 Day-to-Day Day-to-Day Questionable Week 1
Tight Ends Injured | On the Active Roster
Player
Team
Injury
Date
Player/Team Says
FBG Expects
Notes
George Kittle SF Calf strain Preseason Week 2 Returned to limited practice Day-to-Day Probable Week 1
David Njoku Cle Knee injury / Scalp laceration Preseason Week 2 Day-to-Day Day-to-Day Probable Week 1
Dallas Goedert Phi Calf strain Preseason Week 1 Week-to-Week Week-to-Week Probable Week 1
Jordan Reed Was Concussion Preseason Week 3 Concussion protocol Week-to-Week Questionable Week 1
Ben Watson NE Concussion Preseason Week 3 Concussion protocol Week-to-Week Suspended four games
Noah Fant Den Ankle sprain Preseason Week 3 Returned to practice Day-to-Day Probable Week 1
Tyler Kroft Buf Right foot fracture fixation revision May 2019 Active - PUP Week-to-Week Doubtful Week 1
Ed Dickson Sea Knee surgery Early preseason Week-to-Week Week-to-Week Doubtful Week 1
Josh Oliver Jac Hamstring strain Early preseason Day-to-Day Day-to-Day Probable Week 1
Garrett Celek SF Back surgery Offseason Active - PUP Likely inseason PUP Doubtful Week 1
Offensive Linemen Injured | On the Active Roster
Tackles
Team
Injury
Date
Player/Team Says
FBG Expects
Notes
Tyron Smith Dal Back stiffness Preseason Week 2 Day-to-Day Day-to-Day Probable Week 1
Russell Okung LAC Pulmonary embolism June 2019 Active - NFI Undetermined Doubtful Week 1
Lane Johnson Phi Knee injury Preseason Week 1 Returned to limited practice Day-to-Day Probable Week 1
Kaleb McGary Atl Cardiac ablation Early preseason Returned to limited practice Day-to-Day Probable Week 1
Brian O'Neill Min Right elbow injury Early preseason Returned to limited practice Day-to-Day Questionable Week 1
Greg Little Car Concussion Preseason Week 3 Concussion protocol Day-to-Day Probable Week 1
Cordy Glenn Cin Concussion Preseason Week 2 Concussion protocol Day-to-Day Probable Week 1
Jonah Williams Cin Labrum repair June 2019 Active - PUP Likely inseason PUP Out Week 1
Guards
Team
Injury
Date
Player/Team Says
FBG Expects
Notes
Zack Martin Dal Disc irritation Early preseason Day-to-Day Week-to-Week Probable Week 1
Quenton Nelson Ind Ankle injury Preseason Week 1 Day-to-Day Day-to-Day Probable Week 1
Gabe Jackson Oak Left MCL sprain Preseason Week 1 6-8 Weeks Week 3+ Return Out Week 1
Mike Iupati Sea Calf strain Photos provided by Imagn Images
Tags:
Injuries Robert Alford Keenan Allen DeAndre Baker Odell Beckham Jr Marquise Blair Nick Bosa Oren Burks Antonio Callaway Parris Campbell D.J. Chark Jr L.J. Collier Amari Cooper Keke Coutee Fletcher Cox Maxx Crosby Jarrad Davis Lavonte David Darqueze Dennard Kenyan Drake Justin Evans Mike Evans Noah Fant Dee Ford Blaine Gabbert Rashan Gary Dallas Goedert Jakeem Grant Sr. A.J. Green Rob Gronkowski Kamu Grugier-Hill Joe Haden Damien Harris Derrick Henry Mike Hughes Derwin James Jr. Josey Jewell Diontae Johnson Duke Johnson Jr Byron Jones Julio Jones Kevin King Micah Kiser George Kittle Tyler Kroft DeMarcus Lawrence Drew Lock Colt McCoy Jerick McKinnon DK Metcalf Sony Michel Anthony Miller Jalen Mills David Moore Raheem Mostert Anthony Nelson Cam Newton David Njoku Robert Nkemdiche Josh Oliver Jason Pierre-Paul Robert Quinn Sheldon Rankins Haason Reddick Aaron Rodgers John Ross Jabaal Sheard Sterling Shepard Jeffery Simmons Equanimeous St. Brown Ryan Succop Nate Sudfeld Trent Taylor Vita Vea Jason Verrett Avery Williamson Quincy Williams Trayveon Williams Tavon Young
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