Injury Rounds
Justin Herbert | Fractured rib cartilage | Week-to-Week | Questionable Week 3
Herbert finished the game on Thursday night with fractured rib cartilage.
It's an extremely painful injury and will require multiple weeks to heal. Any rotational movement will be difficult, even with padding and pain management. NFL players commonly try to play through these injuries, however. Herbert will have ten days of treatment and the benefit of a home game rather than needing to travel next Saturday.
The Chargers have worked through a similar injury with a starting quarterback. The team's medical staff attempted a pain-killing injection to help Tyrod Taylor play through a rib cartilage injury during the 2020 season. Complications from that procedure caused a collapsed lung and a multiple-week recovery for Taylor. The same medical staff will be managing Herbert's injury and it's too soon to know whether Herbert will be comfortable with a similar injection.
Herbert's status won't be known until later in the week. Limited, if any, practice leading to a gameday decision is likely.
Trey Lance | Right ankle fracture / dislocation | Season-ending injury | Injured reserve (expected)
Lance had his right leg caught underneath him during a first-half rushing attempt and suffered a dislocated ankle with fractured bones. He will have surgery to repair his season-ending injuries.
Recovery timetable is usually in the 4-6 month range. Recent similar injuries include Dak Prescott's 2020 ankle fracture-dislocation. Lance should be ready for offseason activities.
Monday update: San Francisco confirmed Lance suffered a fractured fibula and ankle dislocation and underwent surgery today. The team expects him to be ready for the 2023 season.
Jerry Jeudy | Right chest injury | Day-to-day | Doubtful Week 3
Jeudy injured his shoulder on a first-half tackle and was quickly ruled out. There are no current indications Jeudy injured his collarbone. The most likely condition is a sprain of the AC joint. A higher-grade injury can limit range of motion for multiple weeks.
I'll update with further information when available.
Sunday update: Although initially reported as a shoulder injury, Nathaniel Hackett said Jeudy's injury was a rib condition after the game. X-rays were reportedly negative but Jeudy will have more tests on Monday. No part of the shoulder involves the ribcage and it's reasonable to speculate whether the injury is to the joint between the breastbone and clavicle or one of the ribs nearer the breastbone. Either of those injuries would leave Jeudy more doubtful than questionable for Week 3.
Monday update: Ian Rapoport tweeted Jeudy suffered a chest/sternum injury this afternoon. That's still not specific enough to provide a clear timetable but the Broncos said Jeudy was "day-to-day" in their Monday press conference. A bruised sternum or sprain of the sternoclavicular joint will both be difficult to play through in Week 3.
Follow Up Appointments
J.K. Dobbins | ACL recovery | Day-to-day | Questionable Week 3
After a full week of practice, Dobbins looked likely to return on Sunday. The Ravens have been deliberate and careful since the start of training camp and chose caution again in Week 2, keeping Dobbins inactive.
It's been assumed the Ravens would use Dobbins in a rotational role when he was cleared to return. A second week of full practices could reassure the Baltimore coaching staff enough to give Dobbins double-digit touches immediately.
Monday update: John Harbaugh said Dobbins remained week-to-week in today's press conference.
Michael Pittman | Quad strain | Day-to-Day | Questionable Week 3
Pittman was unable to play after feeling tightness in a quad muscle during Wednesday's practice. Frank Reich told reporters Monday that Pittman "made good progress" last week and has a chance to return this week. Reich expected Pittman to play until late last week and believes he could return to practice on Wednesday.
Dak Prescott | Right thumb fracture | Week-to-week | Target return Week 6
The Cowboys became more optimistic than anyone expected after Prescott's surgery to fix a fractured right thumb. Dallas chose not to use injured reserve for Prescott, clearly believing he's capable of returning sooner than four weeks.
This isn't new for the Cowboys. They returned Dez Bryant at the limits of possible recovery time after a foot fracture. Ezekiel Elliott played through a limiting PCL sprain throughout 2021. Offensive linemen have been cleared to play through back and knee injuries. Their belief in Jaylon Smith's recovery was rewarded after his collegiate injury. That doesn't mean the team puts its players at unnecessary risk. But Dallas is willing to clear players at the limits of their possible recovery.
Still, 3-4 weeks to return from fixation of a thumb fracture on the throwing hand is asking a lot of Prescott. Surgical healing, resolution of swelling, and rehab to regain range of motion and critical grip strength in such a compressed timetable is unlikely.
The Cowboys may be targeting Week 5 for Prescott's return. But the divisional matchup against Philadelphia in Week 6 is more likely -- and arguably still optimistic.
George Kittle | Groin strain | Day-to-day | Questionable Week 3
Kittle returned to practice on Friday after missing most of the past two weeks with a groin injury suffered in practice. Despite an early Sunday morning note suggesting Kittle was pushing to play, he was likely not close to returning this week.
Ian Rapoport tweeted the Niners believed Kittle's condition to be a "three-week" injury. A limited Wednesday practice would be an encouraging sign Kittle may play in Week 3. Consider him questionable until he finishes a full week of drills and local reporters are considerably more optimistic than they were leading into Week 2.
Monday update: Kyle Shanahan told reporters he felt Kittle "was close [to playing] last week and so I feel a lot better about this week."
Chris Godwin | Hamstring strain | Week-to-week | Doubtful Week 3
Godwin did not practice last week after a Week 1 hamstring strain. The Buccaneers are likely to allow Godwin multiple weeks to recondition. If he gets two full weeks of individual drills and practices before returning, Week 4 would be his soonest return date.
Keenan Allen | Left hamstring strain | Week-to-week | Questionable Week 3
Allen had little chance to play last Thursday night, just over 72 hours after a hamstring strain in Week 1. If his injury is low grade, ten days may be enough for Allen to return to full strength in Week 3. Watch for a return to Wednesday practice before expecting him to be back this week.
Fast Track News and Notes
***James Conner sprained an ankle in the second half but was unable to return to the Cardinals' comeback win after taping and testing the ankle on the sideline. Monday update: Conner's injury is not believed to be serious and the Cardinals consider him day-to-day.
***Hunter Renfrow may have suffered a concussion on the final play of overtime. There is no confirmation he's entered the return-to-play protocol yet.
***Dalton Schultz was hit on the right knee late in the game. The Cowboys plan an MRI on Monday to further define the injury. Monday update: Schultz's MRI showed a low-grade PCL sprain and he has a chance to play this week if he can avoid significant swelling or stiffiness.
***Gabe Davis was inactive for Monday night's game with the ankle injury he suffered in practice late last week.
Injured reserve | PUP | NFI Updates
- Elijah Mitchell (Right MCL sprain + | Eligible to return W6 | Target return W10+)
- Brian Robinson Jr (Lower leg surgery | Eligible to return W5 | Target return W5)
Footballguys injury coverage will return Saturday morning with analysis and Week 2 expectations for key injured players.