As excited as we are for the fantasy football season to be back and watch our teams excel, football is a physical game. With that, injuries come.
Every Monday morning until the end of the regular season, I will be here to go over the main injuries that are impacting our fantasy teams. The projected return timelines below are projections I've created based on my clinical experience as a physical therapist combined with historical injury data that I've collected since 2017. Data that no one else has. All to give you a competitive advantage.
Key: (Position) Player | Injury | Projected Return to Play
QB Jordan Love, Green Bay | MCL sprain (knee) | Projecting Week 4 Return
In the final moments of that game of Friday night's game in Brazil, Jordan Love went down with an injury to his left knee. There was a lot of speculation regarding the extent of Love's injury, but on Saturday, we learned that he was dealing with an MCL sprain.
The Packer's original timeline is 3-6 weeks, a typical timeline for an MCL sprain. However, looking at historical comparisons, QBs have returned closer to 2 weeks on average, while skill position players miss longer.
Every injury is different, but a promising sign would be if Love avoided IR this week. That would provide some insight that Green Bay is optimistic that Love could return in <4 weeks. My projected return time is more aggressive than the original one provided, but until we learn more, I will lean on the data.
QB Josh Allen, Buffalo | Left Hand Injury (Non-Throwing) | Projecting Week 2
Josh Allen appeared to injure his left (non-throwing) hand during his touchdown run on Sunday. Allen was later seen getting his hand taped and it is likely X-rays were taken to rule out a fracture.
#Bills QB Josh Allen L hand injury.
— Banged Up Bills (@BangedUpBills) September 8, 2024
1st clip cradles the ball, L hand gets smashed by R elbow coming down. Had it taped up on sidelines to control swelling.
Needed x-rays after game. Likely contusion, small chance for fracture, more worried about gripping for running/handoffs. pic.twitter.com/n1mF66SjY2
Regardless of the extent, I expect Allen to play next week. There is a lot of data on QBs playing through injuries to their non-throwing hands/arms. Allen might have some ball security issues moving forward if his left-hand injury is serious, but not enough for fantasy managers to leave him out of lineups.
WR Puka Nacua, LA Rams | Knee Injury | Projecting Week 7 Return
After a preseason in which Puka Nacua did not participate for the majority of it with a knee injury, early in Sunday night's game, he appeared to re-injure his right knee and exited by halftime. The Rams called Nacua's preseason knee injury a bursal sac injury. I'll admit this is a lot of speculation by me, but seeing Nacua's swollen knee on the NBC broadcast, I can't help to wonder if something more is going on.
Granted he might have some padding/brace on his right knee.
— Adam Hutchison (@TheRealAdam_H) September 9, 2024
Puka Nacua's knee looks pretty swollen.
He came into the season with a bursal sac injury on his right knee. pic.twitter.com/MUcwvXJZU5
Again, this is pure speculation on my part, but based on Nacua's original mechanism of injury combined with what appears to be swelling from the knee joint, I'd be curious if Nacua has a PCL sprain that has been underreported. Typically, there is a lot of swelling when injuries to the knee joint occur (meniscus, ACL, PCL, etc.). We will watch to see how the Rams handle this situation, but Nacua is another player who could be on IR watch.
Update: Nacua is dealing with a PCL sprain. He will be placed on IR. Nacua will have to miss at least 4 weeks but I am optomistic he could return when first eligible or soon after. The Rams have a bye in Week 6 which gives Nacua some extra time to rest. Projecting Week 7 return.
TE Jake Ferguson, Dallas | Left Knee | Projecting Week 6 Return
Jake Ferguson sustained a left knee injury during Sunday's win at Cleveland. Based on the video, I think there should be concern about a serious injury, although some of the initial reports out of Dallas seem to be downplaying the extent.
#Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson, who went down with a knee injury today, is not believed to have suffered an ACL tear based on initial tests, sources say. X-Rays negative, MRI coming tomorrow.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 9, 2024
Explains why QB Dak Prescott told reporters, “I think we dodged a big one.”
Initial testing for an ACL tear was negative - perfect. The on-field/manual testing for ACL tears is typically very accurate compared to an MRI. However, this does not rule out other knee injuries that could land Ferguson on short-term IR.
Update: Official word out of Dallas is that Ferguson has a MCL sprain with a bone bruise. Unlike Jordan Love's MCL sprain (mentioned above), these injuries for skill position players are very limiting and thus require more time before returning to play. I think Ferguson is an IR canidate. 70% of TEs since 2017 have missed 3+ weeks with MCL sprains. I would suggest Ferguson managers stash Isaiah Likely in leagues where he is available.
RB Ken Walker III, Seattle | Abdomen | Timeline TBD
Ken Walker III missed the back half of the fourth quarter on Sunday with what Seattle has labeled an "abdomen injury." Walker has a history of sports hernia (core/abdomen), groin, and oblique injuries, so this new injury is a bit concerning.
Walker downplayed the injury post-game, saying, "I'm good" upon questioning. If it is truly a core injury for Walker, I could see him missing 0-2 weeks. However, should he log a limited practice or even a full practice later this week, I would feel better about him actually playing in Week 2.
TE David Njoku, Cleveland | Ankle Injury | Projecting Week 6 Return
David Njoku was unable to finish Sunday's game due to an ankle injury, and the early word out of Cleveland is that Njoku has a high ankle sprain.
Assuming this diagnosis is confirmed, he would be another IR candidate. The average time missed for NFL TEs with a high ankle sprain is 5.2 weeks with over 70% missing 2+ weeks. Similar to Ferguson managers, I strongly recommend that Njoku drafters explore Isiah Likely (rostered in only 28% of Yahoo fantasy leagues). Of the 11 most common injuries I've tracked for TEs, high ankle sprains rank are the most limiting to fantasy upon return.
Update: The Browns would not a high ankle sprain for Njoku on Monday, but they have him listed as "week-to-week." Expect Njoku to miss 2-4 weeks and I would lean more towards the later.
WR Rome Odunze, Chicago | Knee Injury | Projecting Week 4 Return
Monday afternoon we learned that Rome Oduzne would need an MRI of his knee following Sunday's win over the Titans.
By video there is concern for a serious knee injury. Managers who has Odunze rostered should follow closely.
Update: MRI results showed that Odunze has a grade-1 MCL sprain. The severity of the sprain means Odunze could avoid the IR. Average return to play time for MCL sprains is 4.5 weeks, but there is evidence of shorter timeline with minor sprains. It would appear Odunze could be back sooner rather than later.
WR Jordan Addison, Minnesota | Ankle Injury | Projecting Week 3 Return
Jordan Addison's ankle injury looked like it could be a possible high ankle sprain, according to Ian Rapoport. Addison is "not believed to have suffered a major injury."
#Vikings WR Jordan Addison will have more tests on his ankle injury tomorrow, but my understanding is he is not believed to have suffered a major injury.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 8, 2024
Good news for an offense that saw Sam Darnold look effortless — with his only INT coming on a deflected pass after being hit
This would suggest that Addison dodged the dreaded high ankle sprain and might be dealing with an eversion ankle sprain. Eversion ankle sprains carry a similar return-to-play timeline to inversion (low) ankle sprains: 1-2 weeks.
RB De'Von Achane, Miami | Ankle Injury | Projecting Week 2 Return
De'Von Achane did not miss anytime Sunday due to this ankle injury, but he did not practice at all on Monday. Miami has a quick turn around as they play on Thursday night which is why Achane appears in this article.
It's not uncommon for players to get a rest day espically on a short week. Achane's practice participation the rest of this week could give some additional insight. As of now I think he plays, but stashing Jaylen Wright during your league's waiver wire period could be the safer approach.
RB Raheem Mostert, Miami | Chest Injury | Projecting Week 2 Return
Similar to Achane above, I think it is likely that Raheem Mostert plays Thursday night as well. Like Achane Mostert played all of Sunday's game and was not removed due to injury but also missed practice Monday. Again, Jaylen Wright is a nice insurance policy.
