Monday Injury Rounds: Week 16

Jene Bramel's Monday Injury Rounds: Week 16 Jene Bramel Published 12/19/2021

Injury Rounds

Joe Mixon | Left high ankle sprain | Day-to-Day | Doubtful Week 16

Mixon was pulled down from behind late in the fourth quarter. Television replays show evidence of a high ankle sprain.

Zac Taylor would not comment on Mixon's status after the game. The next 24-48 hours are critical. If Mixon avoids significant swelling and stiffness overnight, his MRI may show a low-grade injury with a relatively short recovery timetable. Unfortunately, it's more likely Mixon will miss at least one week to recover.

Monday update: Taylor told reporters Mixon would be limited early in the week but described Mixon's situation as "encouraging." Consider him doubtful until we see a return to practice.

Chris Godwin | Right ACL tear / MCL sprain | Season-ending injury
Mike Evans | Hamstring strain | Week-to-Week | Doubtful Week 16

The Bucs lost two receivers in the first half of Sunday night's game.

Godwin was hit on the outside of his knee. Thankfully, his foot wasn't planted but the contact was violent and Godwin struggled to return to the game. Video suggests an MCL sprain and it's possible follow up imaging may show additional damage. Evans was immediately termed doubtful after his hamstring strain and did not return.

Both players are at high risk of multiple-week absences.

Monday update: Godwin's MRI showed an ACL and MCL injury. He will need surgery and faces an extended offseason rehab. Evans' strain is reportedly relatively low grade. Arians said the Bucs are hopeful to have Evans back soon. Still, he likely remains doubtful to play this week.

Follow Up Appointments

Notes on COVID-reserve

The NFL announced major changes to testing protocols over the weekend. Vaccinated individuals will not be tested unless they have symptoms of illness or are a high-risk close contact. The NFL will also perform targeted spot testing of vaccinated players weekly to minimize risk of asymptomatic spread. In addition, the NFL had announced earlier that testing would change to make it easier for vaccinated players to return from mild infections more quickly.

While there will still be players ill with COVID each week, expect the new protocol to dramatically decrease the number of positive tests.

Lamar Jackson | Right ankle contusion | Day-to-Day | Questionable Week 16

A Sunday morning tweet from Adam Schefter further clarified Jackson's injury as a bone bruise of the ankle. Schefter reported Jackson was moving better through the weekend.

Recovery from bone bruises depends on how close the injury is to a weight-bearing surface but it's possible Jackson will be able to return this week. Watch for consecutive days of individual drills before expecting Jackson to be ready to resume a full workload of rushing attempts.

Elijah Mitchell | Knee inflammation / Concussion protocol | Day-to-Day | Doubtful Week 16

Kyle Shanahan told reporters last week Mitchell was in the final stages of the return-to-play protocol and was expected to be cleared for contact on Friday.

Unfortunately, it's been ongoing knee soreness and inflammation that continues to limit Mitchell. When asked whether Mitchell would be available to travel to Thursday night's game in Tennessee, Shanahan said "I'm not optimistic, but I'm hopeful." Expect Mitchell to rest another week and return in Week 17.

Fast Track News and Notes

***A.J. Brown is eligible to return from injured reserve this week. The Titans have not updated Brown's condition but the injury was not expected to be season-ending. He could return immediately.

***Damien Harris was limited in practice last week then downgraded after Friday's workout. Harris aggravated an already strained hamstring against Buffalo in Week 14 and was unlikely to play.

***Antonio Brown returns from suspension this week. Ian Rapoport reported Sunday morning Brown will likely be ready to return from his ankle injury immediately.

***Teddy Bridgewater suffered a second concussion this season. Medical personnel are more cautious with multiple concussions and are unlikely to clear Bridgewater to return until Week 17 or later.

***Sam Darnold was designated to return from injured reserve but may not be cleared for contact before the regular season ends.

Injured Players by Position

Quarterbacks
Player
Team
Injury
Date
Current Status
FBG Expectation
W16 Availability
Lamar Jackson Bal Right ankle contusion Week 14 Day-to-Day Week 16+ return Questionable
Daniel Jones NYG Neck injury Week 12 Injured reserve 2022 return IR
Teddy Bridgewater Den Concussion Week 15 Week-to-Week Week 17+ return Doubtful
-
Jared Goff Det COVID+ Dec 20 COVID-reserve
Taylor Heinicke Was COVID+ Dec 17 COVID-reserve
Kyle Allen Was COVID+ Dec 15 COVID-reserve
Baker Mayfield Cle COVID+ Dec 15 COVID-reserve
Case Keenum Cle COVID+ Dec 17 COVID-reserve
Andy Dalton Chi COVID+ Dec 17 COVID-reserve
-
Sam Darnold Car Right scapula fracture Week 8 IR - Eligible Week 14 Week 16+ return Questionable
Running Backs
Player
Team
Injury
Date
Current Status
FBG Expectation
W16 Availability
Leonard Fournette TB Hamstring strain Week 15 Week-to-Week Week 17++ return Doubtful
Joe Mixon Cin Left high ankle sprain Week 15 Day-to-Day Week 16++ return Doubtful
Elijah Mitchell SF Knee inflammation Week 13 Day-to-Day Week 17 return Doubtful
DAndre Swift Det Aggravated right shoulder sprain Week 12 Week-to-Week Week 16++ return Doubtful
Damien Harris NE Hamstring strain Week 13 Day-to-Day Week 16+ return Questionable
Kareem Hunt Cle Left high ankle sprain Week 14 Week-to-Week Week 16+ return Doubtful
J.D. McKissic Was Concussion / Neck sprain Week 12 Week-to-Week Week 16+ return Questionable
Carlos Hyde Jac Concussion Week 14 Concussion protocol Week 16+ return Questionable
-
Alex Collins Sea COVID+ Dec 16 COVID-reserve
Travis Homer Sea COVID+ Dec 19 COVID-reserve
Kareem Hunt Cle COVID+ Dec 17 COVID-reserve
Alexander Mattison Min COVID+ Dec 13 COVID-reserve
Mike Boone Den COVID+ Dec 10 COVID-reserve
-
Derrick Henry Ten Fifth metatarsal fracture Week 8 IR - Eligible Week 12 Week 17+ return IR
Giovani Bernard TB Right MCL sprain / hip strain Week 14 IR - Eligible Week 18 Week 18+ return IR
Trey Sermon SF Ankle injury Week 12 IR - Eligible Week 16 Week 16+ return Doubtful
Tarik Cohen Chi Right ACL reconstruction Sep-2020 Reserve - PUP Week 14+ return PUP
Malcolm Brown Mia Quad injury Week 7 IR - Eligible Week 11 Week 16 return Probable
Wide Receivers Injured
Player
Team
Injury
Date
Current Status
FBG Expectation
W16 Availability
Adam Thielen Min Left high ankle sprain Week 13 Week-to-Week Week 16+ return Questionable
Chris Godwin TB Right ACL tear / MCL sprain Week 15 IR (expected) 2022 return Out
Mike Evans TB Hamstring strain Week 15 Week-to-Week Week 16++ return Doubtful
Antonio Brown TB Ankle injury Week 6 Day-to-Day Week 16+ return Questionable
Julio Jones Ten Aggravated hamstring strain Week 15 Awaiting reports Week 18+ return Doubtful
Sterling Shepard NYG Left Achilles injury Week 15 Injured reserve 2022 return IR
Rondale Moore Ari Ankle injury Week 15 Awaiting reports Week 16+ return Questionable
Tajae Sharpe Atl Foot injury Week 15 Awaiting reports Week 16+ return Questionable
Emmanuel Sanders Buf Knee injury Week 14 Week-to-Week Week 16+ return Doubtful
Curtis Samuel Was Hamstring strain Week 13 Week-to-Week Week 16++ return Doubtful
Marquise Goodwin Chi Foot injury Week 12 Week-to-Week Week 16+ return Questionable
-
Tyler Lockett Sea COVID+ Dec 16 COVID-reserve
Jarvis Landry Cle COVID+ Dec 14 COVID-reserve
Allen Robinson Chi COVID+ Dec 16 COVID-reserve
Kadarius Toney NYG Oblique / COVID+ Dec 13 COVID-reserve
John Ross NYG COVID+ Dec 15 COVID-reserve
Kendrick Bourne NE COVID+ Dec 20 COVID-reserve
Sammy Watkins Bal COVID+ Dec 18 COVID-reserve
-
A.J. Brown Ten Right chest wall injury Week 11 IR - DTR Week 16 Week 16+ return Questionable
Marcus Johnson Ten Hamstring strain Week 11 IR - Eligible Week 16 Week 16+ return IR
DeAndre Hopkins Ari MCL repair Week 15 IR - Eligible Week 18 Late playoff return IR
Calvin Ridley Atl Behavioral health Week 9 NFI - Eligible Week 12 2022 return Doubtful
Elijah Moore NYJ Quad strain Week 13 IR - Eligible Week 17 Week 17+ return IR
Corey Davis NYJ Core muscle surgery Week 14 IR - Eligible Week 17 2022 return IR
Will Fuller Mia Finger fracture Week 4 IR - Eligible Week 8 2022 return IR
Randall Cobb GB Core muscle surgery Week 14 IR - Eligible Week 17 Week 17+ return IR
Quintez Cephus Det Left clavicle fixation Week 5 IR - Eligible Week 10 Late 2021 return IR
Danny Amendola Hou Knee surgery Week 12 IR - Eligible Week 16 2022 return IR
Dante Pettis NYG Shoulder injury Week 9 IR - Eligible Week 13 Week 13+ return IR
Tight Ends Injured
Player
Team
Injury
Date
Current Status
FBG Expectation
W16 Availability
Darren Waller LV Left iliotibial band strain Week 12 Day-to-Day Week 16+ return Questionable
Pat Freiermuth Pit Concussion Week 15 Concussion protocol Week 17+ return Doubtful
Donald Parham LAC Concussion Week 16 Concussion protocol Week 17+ return Doubtful
Adam Shaheen Mia Knee injury Week 11 Week-to-Week Week 16+ return Questionable
-
Travis Kelce KC COVID+ Dec 20 COVID-reserve
Tyler Higbee LAR COVID+ Dec 17 COVID-reserve
Austin Hooper Cle COVID+ Dec 14 COVID-reserve
-
T.J. Hockenson Det Thumb surgery Week 15 IR - Eligible Week 18 Week 18+ return IR
Dan Arnold Jac MCL sprain Week 12 IR - Eligible Week 16 Week 17++ return IR
Eric Ebron Pit Meniscus tear Week 11 IR - Eligible Week 15 Week 16+ return Doubtful
Blake Jarwin Dal Hip injury Week 8 IR - Eligible Week 12 Week 16+ return Questionable
Kaden Smith NYG Knee injury Chronic IR - Eligible Week 16 Week 16+ return IR

Injured Players Not Expected to Return in 2021

Notable Quarterbacks on PUP or NFI or IR
Player
Team
Injury
Date
Current Status
 Eligible to Return
FBG Return Target
Jameis Winston NO Left ACL / MCL injury Nov-2021 IR - Week 8 Week 12 2022 return
Ryan Fitzpatrick Was Right hip subluxation Sep-2021 IR - Week 1 Week 5 2022 return
Notable Running Backs on PUP or NFI or IR
Player
Team
Injury
Date
Current Status
 Eligible to Return
FBG Return Target
Christian McCaffrey Car Left ankle injury Nov-2021 IR - Week 13 2022 2022 return
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 2022 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 4Photos provided by Imagn Images
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