Injury Rounds
Jerry Jeudy | Right high ankle sprain | 4-6+ weeks | Out Week 2
Vic Fangio told reporters Jeudy suffered a high ankle sprain and would have an MRI to better define the injury. X-rays reportedly did not show a fracture, but video suggests a higher-grade ligament injury.
Expect Jeudy to miss at least 3-4 weeks which could prompt the Broncos to put Jeudy on injured reserve while he recovers. It's also possible the MRI could show an injury that requires surgery and a 6-8+ week absence. We'll know more after the MRI.
Monday Update: Fangio told reporters Jeudy's injury will not require surgery. Adam Schefter is reporting a 4-6 week recovery timetable. It's possible Jeudy will return in four weeks but unlikely. Wide receivers often struggle with lateral movement until fully healed and the six-week estimate suggests a significant sprain. The Broncos travel to Cleveland on Thursday night in Week 7. That's a reasonable target.
Raheem Mostert | Knee cartilage injury | 8+ weeks | Out Week 2
Mostert left in the first quarter and didn't return with a knee injury. After the game, Kyle Shanahan told reporters Mostert would undergo imaging on Sunday but was assured the injury was not to the ACL.
Video review did not show a definite injury event. Mostert was reportedly dealing with knee soreness and wore a brace for much of training camp but was not listed on the team's injury report last week. Notably, Mostert has missed games in previous seasons with MCL injuries. It's not known whether he has any chronic cartilage concerns in either knee.
It's not possible to speculate on Mostert's return timetable without more information. I'll update his status when additional details are reported.
Monday Update: Kyle Shanahan told reporters Mostert will need surgery to address "chipped cartilage" in his knee. He will go on injured reserve with an initial timetable of eight weeks. The terminology used by Shanahan is unusual.
If the injury is to the cartilage in the knee joint, eight weeks could be an optimistic timetable. Surgery to remove loose bodies usually requires 4-6 weeks of rehab and recovery. This sounds like more than meniscal damage and there are lots of variables in cartilage recovery. Prepare for a longer absence.
Ryan Fitzpatrick | Right hip subluxation | 6-8 weeks | Out Week 2
Fitzpatrick's right knee was driven into the turf, forcing his hip backward and partially out of the socket. While not as severe as the hip dislocation that ended Tua Tagovailoa's college career, it's a potentially season-threatening injury.
These injuries are commonly associated with labral damage to the joint and sometimes cause fractures to the hip socket itself. Imaging studies will show which structures are involved and how extensive the injuries are. Hip socket fractures often require surgery and many months of rehab. Labral injuries may not require repair until the offseason but will still need weeks of rehab. Even a relatively mild injury will need multiple weeks of rehab.
It's likely Fitzpatrick will be placed on injured reserve. Whether he will return in 2021 will depend on what his imaging shows.
Monday Update: Adam Schefter reports a 6-8 week recovery timetable for Fitzpatrick. That suggests no fracture to the hip socket and a labral injury that may be stable enough to allow for a return this season. Fitzpatrick is seeking additional opinions. If there are changes to the recovery timetable, expect a longer absence rather than a shorter one.
Follow Up Appointments
Odell Beckham | Left ACL reconstruction | November 2020 | Questionable Week 2
I completely misread the news on Beckham last week.
After an offseason of optimism and reports about Beckham's smooth recovery from ACL surgery, it seemed Kevin Stefanski was being unnecessarily vague on Friday when he told reporters Beckham would be a game-time decision. When Adam Schefter backed up Stefanski's comments with a similar report on Sunday morning, it should have been a clear red flag for Beckham's availability.
Still, something doesn't feel right here. Beckham has been participating in drills since May and June. Although Beckham reportedly has not yet seen full-speed contact, that's not entirely unusual for a recovering veteran. Sunday's decision to keep Beckham inactive reportedly had as much to do with Beckham himself not feeling ready as the team exhibiting caution.
There's no report of a late training camp setback but it's also not clear what hurdles remain for Beckham to feel comfortable for game day.
Fast Track News and Notes
***Saquon Barkley had 11 touches and said "nothing alarmed" him about his condition during the game. He could see a larger workload Thursday night.
***Brandon Aiyuk had his workload limited by San Francisco. Kyle Shanahan told reporters the Niners wanted to be smart with Aiyuk after a late preseason hamstring strain.
***Monday Update: Michael Gallup suffered a calf strain. He's expected to be out 3-5 weeks and will be placed on injured reserve.
***Rashaad Penny did not return after experiencing calf tightness. Pete Carroll told reporters the team decided to play it safe but an aggravated preseason injury seems likely.
***Antonio Gibson (shoulder), Zach Ertz (hamstring), Tyler Lockett, DK Metcalf (calf), and Diontae Johnson left briefly and returned. Watch for early and mid-week updates.
Injured Players on Active Roster
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Quarterbacks Injured | On the Active Roster
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Player
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Team
|
Injury
|
Date
|
Team Expectation
|
FBG Expectation
|
W2 Availability
|
| Ryan Fitzpatrick | Was | Right hip subluxation | Week 1 | 6-8 weeks | Week 7++ | Out |
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Running Backs Injured | On the Active Roster
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Player
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Team
|
Injury
|
Date
|
Current Status
|
FBG Expectation
|
W2 Availability
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| Raheem Mostert | SF | Knee injury | Week 1 | 8 weeks | Week 6++ | Out |
| Rashaad Penny | Sea | Calf strain | Week 1 | Week-to-Week | Week 4+ Return | Doubtful |
| LaMical Perine | NYJ | Foot injury | Preseason | Day-to-Day | Week 2 Return | Questionable |
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Wide Receivers Injured | On the Active Roster
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Player
|
Team
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Injury
|
Date
|
Current Status
|
FBG Expectation
|
W2 Availability
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| Jerry Jeudy | Den | Right high ankle sprain | Week 1 | 4-6 weeks | Week 6++ Return | Out |
| Brandon Aiyuk | SF | Hamstring strain | Preseason | Day-to-Day | Week 2 Return | Probable |
| Odell Beckham | Cle | ACL recovery | Preseason | Week-to-Week | Week 2+ Return | Questionable |
| Anthony Miller | Hou | Right shoulder subluxation | Aug 14 | Week-to-Week | Week 2+ Return | Doubtful |
| Jamison Crowder | NYJ | COVID+ | Sep 3 | Day-to-Day | Week 2 Return | Doubtful |
| Keelan Cole | NYJ | Knee injury | Week 1 | Week-to-Week | Week 2+ Return | Doubtful |
| Josh Reynolds | Ten | Achilles soreness | Preseason | Day-to-Day | Week 2 Return | Questionable |
| Dee Eskridge | Sea | Concussion | Week 1 | Concussion protocol | Week 2+ Return | Questionable |
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Tight Ends Injured | On the Active Roster
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Player
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Team
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Injury
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Date
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Current Status
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FBG Expectation
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W2 Availability
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| Evan Engram | NYG | Left calf strain | Aug 29 | Day-to-Day | Week 3+ Return | Doubtful |
Injured Players Not on Active Roster
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Notable Quarterbacks on PUP or NFI or IR
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Player
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Team
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Injury
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Date
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Current Status
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Eligible to Return |
FBG Return Target
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Notable Running Backs on PUP or NFI or IR
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Player
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Team
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Injury
|
Date
|
Current Status
|
Eligible to Return |
FBG Return Target
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| Tarik Cohen | Chi | Right ACL reconstruction | Sep-2020 | Reserve - PUP | Week 7 | Week 7+ |
| Jeff Wilson | SF | Meniscus repair | May-2021 | Reserve - PUP | Week 7 | Week 7+ |
| Darrynton Evans | Ten | Knee injury | Aug-2021 | IR - Preseason | Week 4 | Week 4+ |
| Anthony McFarland | Pit | Undisclosed | Aug-2021 | IR - Preseason | Week 4 | Week 4+ |
| Jalen Richard | LV | Left foot injury | Aug-2021 | IR - Preseason | Week 4 | Week 4++ |
| Mike Boone | Den | Quad strain | Aug-2021 | IR - Preseason | Week 4 | Week 4+ |
| Cam Akers | LAR | Right Achilles repair | Jul-2021 | Reserve - NFI | Week 7 | 2022 return |
| J.K. Dobbins | Bal | Left ACL reconstruction+ | Aug-2021 | IR - Aug 2021 | Not Eligible in 2021 | 2022 return |
| Gus Edwards | Bal | ACL reconstruction | Sep-2021 | IR - Week 1 | Week 4 | 2022 return |
| Justice Hill | Bal | Achilles repair | Sep-2021 | IR - Week 1 | Week 4 | 2022 return |
| Travis Etienne | Jac | Left Lisfranc repair | Aug-2021 | IR - Aug 2021 | Not Eligible in 2021 | 2022 return |
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Notable Wide Receivers on PUP or NFI or IR
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Player
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Team
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Injury
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Date
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Current Status
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Eligible to Return |
FBG Return Target
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| Michael Thomas | NO | Syndesmosis/deltoid repair | Jun-2021 | Reserve - PUP | Week 7 | Week 9++ |
| TreQuan Smith | NO | Hamstring strain | Week 1 | IR - Week 1 | Week 4 | Week 4++ |
| Curtis Samuel | Was | Groin strain | Jun-2021 | IR - Week 1 | Week 4 | Week 4++ |
| T.Y. Hilton | Ind | Cervical microdiscectomy | Aug 31 | IR - Preseason | Week 4 | Week 10+ |
| Rashod Bateman | Bal | Core abdominal muscle repair | Aug 13 | IR - Preseason | Week 4 | Week 4+ |
| Miles Boykin | Bal | Hamstring strain | Aug 2 | IR - Preseason | Week 4 | Week 4+ |
| NKeal Harry | NE | Left shoulder injury | Aug 19 | IR - Preseason | Week 4 | Week 4+ |
| John Ross | NYG | Hamstring strain | Aug-2021 | IR - Preseason | Week 4 | Week 4+ |
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Notable Tight Ends on PUP or NFI or IR
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Player
|
Team
|
Injury
|
Date
|
Current Status
|
Eligible to Return |
FBG Return Target
|
| Irv Smith | Min | Meniscus repair | Sep-2021 | IR - Preseason | Week 4 | 2022 return |
| Nick Boyle | Bal | Knee injury | Nov-2020 | IR - Week 1 | Week 4 | Week 4+ |
| Dalton Keene | NE | Meniscus repair | Jul-2021 | IR - Aug 2021 | Not Eligible in 2021 | 2022 return |
INSEASON INJURY COVERAGE
My writing and podcast schedule will include:
Monday Injury Rounds > Published Sunday night and updated through Tuesday morning. This feature will review all the major injuries from the weekend's games, provide follow-up analysis on injured players who have yet to return to play, and project when every injured player will return.
Waiver Wire Podcast > Tuesday morning release reviewing all injuries at the quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end positions with Cecil Lammey and Sigmund Bloom heading into your weekly waiver run.
Midweek Injury Expectations > Published late Wednesday night after the first weekly practice participation report and updated through Thursday's practice report. This feature will detail the current practice participation of every listed player and project the likelihood each player will play in the coming week.
Thursday Live Audible podcast > Joining Cecil Lammey, Sigmund Bloom, and Matt Waldman at 9:00 ET every Thursday night for a comprehensive Q&A updating all player injuries.
Gameday Injury Expectations > Published Saturday, this feature will review the practice status of every injured player, provide analysis on player/coach/beat writer comments throughout the week, and discuss how likely and how effective each injured player will be on Sunday.
Sunday Live Gameday podcast > Joining Sigmund Bloom at 10:00 ET every Sunday morning to discuss and interpret the week's practice participation reports and breaking weekend injury news.
DECIPHERING THE ALPHABET SOUP OF INJURY LISTS
Players not ready for camp practices are placed on one of two lists – Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) or Non-Football Injury/Illness (NFI).
Physically Unable to Perform (PUP)
Active/PUP – Preseason only list. Once a player participates in any part of a scheduled training camp practice, they are ineligible for this list. Players can be activated from this list at any time. This list is commonly used for veterans still recovering from injury and those who fail conditioning tests before camp begins.
Reserve/PUP – Regular season only list. Players still on Active/PUP at the end of camp are eligible to move to Reserve/PUP. Players cannot practice with the team until after Week 6. Teams then have six weeks to evaluate the player before moving to the active roster or to season-ending injured reserve.
Non-Football Injury / Illness (NFI)
Active/NFI – Preseason only list. Once a player participates in any part of a scheduled training camp practice, they are ineligible for this list. Players can be activated from this list at any time. Only veterans with a non-football related injury or rookies injured before the NFL draft are eligible for this list.
Reserve/NFI – Regular season only list. Players still on Active/PUP at the end of camp are eligible to move to Reserve/PUP. Players cannot practice with the team until after Week 6. Teams then have six weeks to evaluate the player before moving to the active roster or to season-ending injured reserve.
Injured Reserve – Return Designation
Each NFL team can return an unlimited number of players to the active roster from injured reserve. Teams are not forced to designate this player at the time of the move to injured reserve. Players designated to return can begin practicing and are eligible to return after missing three games. This rule allows a team to continually evaluate the rehab and recovery of their injured players and provides roster flexibility should teams have multiple key injuries early in the season.
Follow me on Twitter @JeneBramel for breaking injury news and analysis throughout the off-season.
