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Inseason injury coverage

Footballguys will again provide comprehensive injury coverage during the regular season.

My writing and podcast schedule will include:

Monday Injury Rounds > Published as soon as complete 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 and Matt Waldman at 10:00 ET every Sunday morning to discuss and interpret the week's practice participation reports and breaking weekend injury news.

Injury Rounds

Ben Roethlisberger | Left MCL sprain | Day-to-Day | Probable Week 10

Roethlisberger injured his left knee after a linemen fell onto his leg in the pocket. The Steelers and Roethlisberger did not reveal a specific diagnosis after the game but video shows the most likely injury to be an MCL sprain.

Roethlisberger's foot wasn't planted and the injury event wasn't violent. As is often the case, Roethlisberger returned and finished the game after his injury. He was effective enough to lead his team to a come-from-behind victory and told reporters after the game he doesn't expect the knee to limit him next week.

MCL sprains often stiffen and swell in the 24 hours after injury, however, and it's possible Roethlisberger will trend toward a game-time decision as the week progresses. Expect limited practice until the end of the week.

Monday Update: Ian Rapoport tweeted a vague report that Roethlisberger "sustained injuries to both knees" but the Steelers are "cautiously optimistic" about him playing this week. Roethlisberger routinely plays through limiting injuries and can be expected to play this week if he's able to protect himself in the pocket.

Christian McCaffrey | Right upper body injury | Week-to-Week | Doubtful Week 10

McCaffrey was driven into the turf onto his right chest and shoulder late in the fourth quarter. He was later seen rotating his shoulder, stretching his neck, and reaching inside his shoulder pads to assess his condition.

Although he was not available in the locker room after the game -- presumably because he was receiving treatment or having x-rays -- the Panthers say McCaffrey will speak with the media on Monday.

There is a wide range of possibilities here from various shoulder injuries (partial dislocation, bruises around the joint) to a sprain of the joint between the collarbone and sternum. Reporters speculated that the injury was to McCaffrey's ribs. A relatively minor injury would not keep McCaffrey from playing this week but there are a number of injuries that would require multiple weeks of rehab and recovery.

Expect McCaffrey's injury to be heavily reported on Monday. I'll update when the Panthers discuss his condition.

Monday Update: Matt Rhule would only say McCaffrey was "day-to-day" with a shoulder injury today. Ian Rapoport tweeted McCaffrey's status was very much in doubt. Unless someone leaks more details, expect McCaffrey to miss practice this week. A game-time decision is likely the best-case scenario right now.

Kyle Allen | Left ankle dislocation/fracture | IR (expected) | Season-ending injury

Allen dislocated his ankle but did not suffer any additional severe injuries. Expect him to be moved to injured reserve and miss multiple weeks but it's possible his season is not over. Washington will have a better sense of his 2020 return timetable after 3-4 weeks of rehab.

Monday Update: Allen will need surgery to fix his fracture/dislocation injury. His season is over.

Preston Williams | Right foot sprain | Day-to-Day | Doubtful Week 10

Williams jammed his right foot into the turf while completing a touchdown catch and did not return. X-rays were negative but video suggests a midfoot sprain that will require further investigation on Monday. Always difficult to return from quickly, even a lower-grade injury will have Williams doubtful this week.

Monday Update: The Chargers believe Williams is day-to-day but consider him doubtful unless he returns to practice by Thursday.

Follow Up Appointments

George Kittle | Right cuboid fracture | 6-8 Weeks | Injured Reserve

X-rays immediately after Kittle's injury did not show a broken bone, leading to speculation that Kittle had a sprain and would miss little time. Further imaging showed a small fracture in the cuboid bone -- the bone on the outside of the midfoot. It's an uncommon injury. Most midfoot injuries in football players involve the Lisfranc joint or the the long bone on the outside of the foot (a.k.a. fifth metatarsal or Jones fracture).

Of these injuries, a cuboid fracture is arguably the injury that gives Kittle the best chance at a 2020 return. Only a very low-grade midfoot sprain would be a shorter-term injury. Unfortunately, even a cuboid fracture only seen on a CT scan still involves weeks of immobilization and rehab. Six weeks is the best case scenario for Kittle and his recovery could stretch to eight or more weeks. It's difficult to see him return to a full workload before the end of the season.

Joe Mixon | Right foot sprain | Week-to-Week | Questionable Week 10

The Bengals had their bye week last week and mostly worked virtually after two players tested positive for COVID. In their lone practice on Wednesday, Mixon did not participate. Cincinnati has yet to discuss Mixon's status, saying only that he's day to day.

Mixon's condition has been mysterious from the start. After suffering the injury during the first half of Cincinnati's Week 6 game, Mixon returned to effectiveness in the second half. Rather than receiving treatment, Mixon was seen watching practice without any immobilizing boot the week following the injury. And the Bengals did not add Mixon to injured reserve, which suggests they felt the injury would be a two-week max absence. But Mixon has yet to return to practice -- three weeks after the injury.

Hopefully, the Bengals will provide details on Mixon on Monday. If he's not practicing on Wednesday, consider him doubtful to play again this week.

Calvin Ridley | Left midfoot sprain | Week-to-Week | Questionable Week 10

Ridley was unable to practice last week and ten days proved not enough recovery time to return from a midfoot sprain. The Falcons told reporters Ridley's MRI did not show a significant injury and Raheem Morris said Ridley "was in his ear" before the game lobbying to play.

Morris said the team chose to "protect [Ridley] from himself." If Ridley was truly that close to playing, we'll see him return to practice and play in Week 10. Ridley may still be held out of practice on Wednesday -- the Falcons often rest injured veterans midweek -- so Thursday's participation will be critical. Should the team clear Ridley to talk to the media on Monday or Wednesday, consider that a strong indication they believe he will play.

Miles Sanders | Left knee injury | Day-to-Day | Probable Week 10

Multiple reports on Sunday expect the Eagles to return Sanders to practice this week. If he responds well to individual drills, expect Philadelphia to clear him to play immediately. More on Sanders' expectation in our midweek and game day features.

Kenyan Drake | Left high ankle sprain | Week-to-Week | Doubtful Week 10

The Cardinals told reporters Drake's injury wasn't as bad as initially feared and they chose not to put him on injured reserve. Though Drake did not practice coming out of Arizona's Week 8 bye, there's an outside chance he will practice this week and return in a rotational role.

Eligible to Return from Injured Reserve

Nick Chubb | Right MCL sprain | Eligible Week 8 - Remains on IR | Questionable Week 9 | Target = Week 10

Oct 25: Chubb suffered a high-grade MCL sprain. Significant MCL tears often require six weeks to rehab. It's highly unlikely Chubb is ready to play this week. Expect the Browns to wait until after their Week 9 bye to clear him to practice.

Nov 1: Chubb has not been cleared to return to practice. Kevin Stefanski told reporters "it's a possibility" Chubb returns after Cleveland's Week 9 bye.

Nov 8: The Browns expect Chubb back at practice this week and are "hopeful" he'll return against the Texans this week.

Austin Ekeler | Left hamstring strain | Eligible Week 9 - Remains on IR | Out Week 9 | Target = Week 12

Nov 1: Ekeler was observed doing light conditioning and stretching on a side rehab field last week. He is not close to returning, however, with a higher-grade hamstring strain that's closer to a 6+ week recovery than a four-week return. Expect Ekeler to need a week of reconditioning on the active roster before returning.

Nov 8: There was no news on Ekeler last week. He's yet to be designated to return and remains at least two weeks from returning.

Raheem Mostert | Left high ankle sprain | Eligible Week 10 - Remains on IR | Questionable Week 10 | Target = Week 10

Nov 8: Kyle Shanahan told reporters the Niners were hopeful Mostert could return to practice this week. If he's designated to return to practice early this week, it's a good sign San Francisco could give him a sizable role in Week 10.

Allen Lazard | Core abdominal muscle repair | Eligible Week 8 - Designated to Return | Questionable Week 9 | Target = Week 10

Oct 25: Lazard participated in the rehab group last week and he may be close to a return. Core abdominal procedures generally require 4-6 weeks of rehab. If Lazard fits the usual pattern, he may be cleared to practice this week. It's possible he will play in Week 8; more likely he'll return in Week 9.

Nov 1: Lazard was designated to return last week and returned to position drills but the team did not add him to the active roster. The Packers play on Thursday night this week and the turnaround may be too quick for Lazard to return. I'll update with news on Monday but consider Lazard questionable this week.

Nov 8: The Packers chose not to activate Lazard on the short week but he is expected back this week.

Sony Michel | Quad strain | Eligible Week 9 - Remains on IR | Doubtful Week 9 | Target = Week 10

Nov 1: Michel tested positive for COVID nearly two weeks ago and was only recently activated from COVID-reserve. He has been in isolation away from the team and it's not yet clear whether he's healthy enough to be designated to return. Prior to his COVID diagnosis, reports suggested he would be ready to return shortly after he was eligible.

Nov 8: Michel sounds likely to return this week but in a diminished role assuming Damien Harris continues to be productive Monday night.

Parris Campbell | Left PCL repair / MCL sprain | Eligible Week 8 - Remains on IR | Doubtful 2020 return

Oct 25: Campbell had knee surgery in early October. Any surgical procedure involving the PCL requires a careful and usually long-term rehab. It will be surprising to see Campbell cleared to return in 2020.

Fast Track News and Notes

***The Niners sound hopeful they'll have Deebo Samuel back at practice and ready to play in Week 10 against New Orleans.

***Justin Jackson has been limited in practice with a knee injury for multiple weeks but managed 31 and 41 snaps in the past two weeks. After a play-action fake on the game's first play Sunday, a defender fell onto the outside of Jackson's knee and he did not return to the game. It's unclear whether his injury -- consistent with an MCL sprain -- is related to his prior knee condition. Unless Monday's imaging shows a low-grade injury, Jackson will have a tough time returning this week. The injury didn't look low grade unfortunately -- expect Jackson to miss this week's game.

***Laviska Shenault has been limited in practice with a hamstring condition for over a month. It's unclear whether Sunday's injury is an aggravation or a separate condition but consider Shenault doubtful unless a Monday press conference is surprisingly optimistic.

***Gardner Minshew has yet to be cleared to throw as he continues to rehab a thumb sprain on his throwing hand. He's unlikely to return this week and may need another 1-3 weeks of recovery time.

***Albert Okwuegbunam suffered a right knee injury and did not return. Unfortunately, video suggests an ACL injury and it's likely his season is over. Monday Update: The Broncos confirmed Okwuegbunam will be out for the season.

***Eligible to Return From Injured Reserve in Week 11

• TE Zach Ertz -- Expected to miss 4-6 weeks prior to going on injured reserve, Ertz remains weeks from returning
• WR Julian Edelman -- Arthroscopic clean up procedure likely a 2-4 weeks recovery, may have chance at immediate return in Week 11
• WR Chris Hogan -- High ankle sprain was serious enough to require an opinion from noted foot surgeon, unlikely to return soon

Injured Players on Active Roster

To support players with illness and provide a roster buffer, the NFL implemented new injured reserve rules and roster exemptions for players exposed to or diagnosed with COVID.

2020 injured reserve list changes:

• Teams may return an unlimited number of players from injured reserve in 2020
• A player may return to the active roster after three weeks on injured reserve
• Teams have three weeks of practice to decide whether to activate a player designated to return

2020 COVID-related illness list and roster exemptions:

• A player diagnosed with COVID or required to quarantine after exposure to COVID may be placed on a separate exempt list
• Teams will be given a roster exemption after a player with COVID receives medical clearance to return
• Roster exemption for one week if the player was on the exempt list for less than 4 weeks
• Roster exemption for two weeks if the player was on the exempt list for 4+ weeks

Injured Players Not on Active Roster