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We'll update this storystream throughout the week with injury news from around the NFL leading up to Week 3. And don't worry: we didn't forget about Hasselbeck -- he has his own storystream here.
The Patriots offense may have to try and rebound from last weekend's lackluster performance without star receiver Randy Moss as they host the Atlanta Falcons this Sunday:
Moss also was present for the start of practice Friday, but didn’t participate in team drills due to a back injury. He was added to the Patriots’ injury report Friday.
It doesn't sound too serious at this point, but with receiver Wes Welker also questionable for the game, quarterback Tom Brady could be left with few options downfield (unless, of course, you consider Joey Galloway or Julian Edelman dangerous weapons).
The Chiefs will be without the services of linebacker Derrick Johnson this weekend:
Although Johnson lost his starting job in training camp, he has been a bright spot on Kansas City’s porous defense thus far this year. He had an interception Week 1 and a sack last week.Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson said Thursday that he won’t play against Philadelphia because of a nagging groin injury that forced him to leave Sunday’s game against Oakland.
Brad Biggs of the National Football Post reports:
Seattle MLB Lofa Tatupu did not practice today and is doubtful for the game.
This is a serious blow for a linebacking corps also missing starter Leroy Hill. Tatupu missed last week’s game when Niners RB Frank Gore went off for over 200 yards.
The Jets defense has taken a major hit for their upcoming weekend match-up against the Titans. Both Lito Sheppard and Donald Strickland will be out with separate injuries.
From NFL.com:
Jets CBs Lito Sheppard (quadricep) and Donald Strickland (ankle) have been ruled out of Sunday’s matchup with the Titans. Both suffered injuries against the Patriots last week.
Sheppard has started the first two games for the Jets, and Strickland has been his primary backup and the team’s nickel corner. With both defensive backs unavailable vs. the Titans, Jets coach Rex Ryan said second-year CB Dwight Lowery will start opposite Darrelle Revis, and Drew Coleman will be the team’s nickel back.
Sheppard has five tackles and a pick on the season for a resurgent Jets team that has only allowed 10 points through two games.
Heading into their Week 3 matchup with the 2-0 49ers, Vikings’ first round pick Percy Harvin is listed as questionable on the team's injury report. The former University of Florida standout has been suffering from severe migrane headaches, and has missed the last two days of practice.
The Buffalo Bills injury report states that cornerback Terrence McGee has been limited in practice due to an ankle injury since Wednesday and is questionable for the game against the Saints on Sunday.
Patriots’ wide receiver Wes Welker has practiced the last two days, but has been limited. Bill Belichick says that Welker will be a game time decision when the Pats play host to the undefeated Falcons Sunday.
As reported earlier, Welker believes his injured knee will be good to go this weekend.
Matt Mosley of ESPN reports that despite again practicing on a limited basis on Friday, Cowboys RB Marion Barber appears unlikely to play in the team’s Week 3 Monday night game against the Panthers.
According to a source, the Cowboys are “leaning toward” holding Barber out, despite his protestations that he can play. Running backs Felix Jones and Tashard Choice figure to split the carries in Barber’s absence.
The Cincinnati Enquirer’s Joe Reedy reports that running back Cedric Benson, wide receiver Chris Henry and cornerback Jonathan Joseph have been upgraded to probable for Sunday’s game against the Steelers.
Benson was held out of practice Wednesday due to an ankle injury and was limited on Thursday. Henry returned to practice Thursday and will play through a strained left quadriceps. From the Enquirer:
Henry admitted that the quad injury has affected his play since he can’t open up on long routes. The injury slowed him last Sunday against Green Bay, especially during the fourth quarter when he struggled going deep against cornerback Al Harris.
Rick Maese of the Washington Post reports:
CPortis will be listed as questionable for Lions game. Didn’t practice again today. Bothered by ankles…
In recent years, it's been fairly common for Portis to take practices off and show up on the injury report, yet still get a full work load on Sunday. We shall see if that's the case here.
After sitting out Thursday’s practice due to knee soreness from playing on artificial turf last week, Cadillac Williams returned to the field on Friday. Despite this latest bit of goods news, Williams is still listed as questionable for Week 3, and according to the Pewter Report, Derrick Ward has been named the starter against the Giants. Williams and Ward have been splitting carries nearly 50-50, so this announcement may not change much, but we’ll keep you posted for any developments.
Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports:
DeSean Jackson back practicing; Westbrook still out.
Jackson aggravated a groin strain in last week’s game against the Saints, and had been held out of practice earlier in the week. No word yet on how he looks today.
As for Westbrook, his absence from the practice field is harder to read. Westbrook has been a nearly permanent fixture on the injury report the past few years, missing practice, and then playing on Sunday. He seems likely to play, but we’ll keep you updated on any developments.
Fantasy darling RB Mike Bell will most likely take a seat on the sidelines for Week 3 after suffering an MCL strain last week. While his injury was not as severe as initially feared, the Saints have enough depth at running back – with Reggie Bush, the recently returned Pierre Thomas, and fourth-stringer Lynel Hamilton – that they do not want to risk rushing Bell back. Through two games, Bell is fourth in the NFL in rushing with 229 yards.
Bob Glauber of Newsday tracked down prominent orthopedic surgeon Dr. Michael Kaplan to get the lowdown on patella femoral arthritis, and what it means for Kenny Phillips. Prognosis? Negative. From Newsday:
“Typically, you don’t see this in football players, usually in older people with degenerative conditions,” Kaplan said. “The under surface of the kneecap has cartilage, and the groove it rides in. As that starts to wear away, you get kneecap pain. On occasion, they do microfracture surgery or a resurfacing procedure. But those are formidable and season-ending.” […]
“It doesn’t bode well for a football player to have this,” Kaplan said. “It’s very unusual, and he may have had a traumatic injury where he got smashed in the kneecap. If it’s severe enough to require microfracture surgery, it’s a worrisome circumstance.”
Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News confirms earlier reports about Phillips:
Giants place S Kenny Phillips on IR and claim S Aaron Rouse off waivers from Green Bay.
Rouse was just released this week by the Packers, which was a controversial move by the team. He's productive in run support, but struggles in coverage.
Back to Phillips: here's more on his condition from the Giants official website:
The Giants announced today that Phillips is being placed on injured reserve with a knee condition that first surfaced in training camp. Phillips has seldom practiced in recent weeks and received constant treatment. But an examination yesterday by team doctors and an MRI revealed that the condition (patella femoral arthritis) in Phillips' left knee has worsened. A final determination has not yet been made on how to treat Phillips' condition.
From the NY Daily News, here’s Tom Coughlin’s comments after practice today about Kenny Phillips, who is rumored to require season-ending knee surgery:
"Kenny Phillips, there are a lot of circumstances involved here and I am not at liberty to say anything at this point."
(Are those medical circumstances?) "Yeah, well, all circumstances. There are other things involved. There are other circumstances surrounding not just Kenny but what’s going on around. and I’m not at liberty to talk about that until those other issues get settled. That is the best I can do for you today. I am not trying to duck your questions. I am just telling you that there are other issues."
Yes, so many circumstances and ... things involved and ... issues. Tons of issues. Like, will he need surgery, for example. That would be one issue. Or, will he not need surgery? That would be another issue. And … well … those are actually the only two possible issues.
But, no, Coughlin's not trying to duck the answers. He’s just doing it on accident.
Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News tweets:
Source says DT Chris Canty is “doubtful” for Sunday. He’s not going to need surgery and the “severe sprain” isn’t getting worse
Canty missed last week's tilt against his former team, the Cowboys. Canty's continued absence is a blow to a defense already missing two of its biggest playmakers in DE Justin Tuck, who's out with a partially torn labrum, and S Kenny Phillips, who reportedly may be shut down for the rest of the year due to a knee injury.
The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports:
Lewis suffered a hamstring injury in Denver, although it wasn’t known until the injury report came out Wednesday afternoon. He sat out Wednesday’s practice and will likely be listed as questionable when the designations are released on Friday.
Backups James Davis and Jerome Harrison – who have collectively gained 13 yards on seven carries this year – will take Lewis’ place if he is unable to go. The Browns face the Ravens, and their top-ranked run defense, this Sunday.
Pro Football Talk was the first to report this and now the NJ Star-Ledger is as well: Giants safety Kenny Phillips may be placed on I.R. and miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.
Phillips has been suffering a lingering knee issue which has kept him off the practice field. He was able to play against Dallas last Sunday, and had two interceptions. Now reports indicate that the knee will require surgery.
This would be a massive blow to the Giants thin secondary, which, including Phillips, is only three-deep at safety.
Elsewhere on their defense, Justin Tuck reportedly has a partially torn labrum, and could miss several weeks of action.
For more on these injuries and other Giants analysis, head over to Big Blue View.
Rick Stroud of the St. Petersburg Times reports:
Bucs WR Antonio Bryant (knee) not practicing today. He was limited on Wednesday.
Bryant sat out last week with a knee injury.
Michael Smith of ESPN reports that Patriots WR Wes Welker says he expects to play Week 3, after sitting out the team’s Week 2 loss to the Jets with an undisclosed knee injury. Welker has also been hampered with a strained hamstring.
Adam Schefter reports:
Bad news for Aaron Rodgers: The Packers will be without Chad Clifton until at least Oct. 18 when they come back from bye to face Detroit.
Bad news is an understatement. Bengals DE Antwan Odom went off for five sacks last week, with most of them coming against Clifton’s replacement, starting LG Daryn Colledge. For now, the Packers plan on reshuffling their line and keeping Colledge at LT until Clifton returns. Through two games, the Packers have given up 10 sacks and 19 hits on the quarterback.
Via our Giants blog Big Blue View, comes this report from the NY Daily News:
Tuck has a partially torn labrum, according to someone familiar with his situation. He apparently avoided any serious damage and is not in danger of needing any surgery.
There’s even a chance Tuck could play through the injury. But the estimated recovery time is two weeks, so it’s possible Tuck and the Giants will decide it’s better for him to sit Sunday’s game in Tampa out because, depending on the extent of the tear, he could still make it worse.
The Daily News also suggests that Tuck may attempt to play this Sunday with a harness on his injured shoulder.
Peterson was limited to stretching and individual drills in practice today, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. It’s unlikely a back injury suffered in Sunday’s win over the Lions will cost Peterson any time on the field, but “back injury” plus “franchise running back” always equals red flag, no matter how trivial.
From Boston.com’s Extra Points blog:
The only players missing from the media portion of the full-pads session were wide receiver Wes Welker (knee), who was a game-time no-go last Sunday against the Jets, and linebacker Jerod Mayo (sprained MCL in his right knee).
Related: SB Nation’s Pats Pulpit takes a look at just how much the absence of Welker hurts New England’s offense.
About 24 hours after reports that Marion Barber would miss 1-2 weeks, the running back was out on the practice field Wednesday:
Barber walked out to the practice field in full gear and flashed a thumb’s up.
His tight left thigh was feeling fine on Wednesday — or, at least, good enough to give it a test run. […]
He said it “felt like a bad cramp” and is hopeful of playing against Carolina on Monday night.
Justin Tuck’s status is up in the air after being hurt on an illegal trip -- which Tuck called "bush" -- by Cowboys tackle Flozell Adams on Sunday night. The Giants defensive end did avoid major injury, however:
Will DE Justin Tuck be available on Sunday against the Buccaneers? Well, that remains to be seen. And it would be quite the comeback from Sunday night in the postgame locker room when Tuck couldn’t even move his left arm. But two people informed of the results of tests done on Tuck’s injured shoulder on Monday indicated the damage wasn’t as bad as it could have been. Both requested anonymity because the Giants haven’t divulged the specifics of the injury. One person said he’s “okay,” while the other concurred with that assessment. While Tuck might be “okay” in the long run, his short-term status for this weekend probably won’t be fully known until later this week.
It seemed Marion Barber’s injury would keep him out for at least a week; now the Cowboys aren’t so sure. From ESPN.com:
Nursing a strained quadriceps muscle in his left leg, Dallas Cowboys running back Marion Barber received treatment Tuesday morning and hopes to play against the Panthers on Monday, a league source told ESPN.com on Tuesday. […] Television station KXAS-TV in Dallas-Fort Worth cited anonymous sources in reporting on Tuesday that Barber will miss one to two weeks, but the Cowboys initially said the running back was “50-50.” Now, it appears to be a waiting game.
Updating an earlier report, the St. Petersburg Times now says Bucs safety Jermaine Phillips will miss the rest the season after breaking his thumb.
Previously, it had been hoped Phillips would only miss 6-8 weeks, but after further examination, the Bucs have placed the longtime defensive back on IR. The Bucs’ secondary has struggled mightily through two games, so they will presumably look for veteran help at the position.
Blue Star Blog tweets:
Blue report: Barber out for 2 weeks
Pretty significant blow to Dallas' run game. They still have Felix Jones -- the proverbial "home run hitter" -- but Barber has run for 79 and 124 yards in the Cowboys' first two games, respectively. This could mean more touches for their talented third-stringer Tashard Choice.
The team has also signed RB Chauncey Washington to the practice squad. He was a 7th round pick by the Jaguars in the '08 draft out of USC. According to Bloggin the Boys, he may be used to help the return game.
Update: Blue Star Blog now writes that Barber will be out 1-2 weeks with a quadriceps injury.
Rick Stroud of the St. Petersburg Times reports:
BUcs [sic] S Jermaine Phillips expected to miss 6-8 weeks with broken left thumb and is candidate for IR. History of broken bones plague him
Despite the fact that the Bucs’ secondary – particularly the safeties – have seriously struggled through two games, losing a starter will not help.
The AP (via National Football Post) reports:
Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy says it’s too early to tell when veteran left tackle Chad Clifton will return from an ankle sprain.
For now, the Packers are preparing for Sunday’s game in St. Louis as if Daryn Colledge will replace him.
Clifton was carted off the field in the third quarter of Sunday’s loss to Cincinnati. Colledge shifted over from left guard and struggled.
Perhaps the Lion’s top defensive playmaker – a dubious distinction, to be sure – LB Ernie Sims has apparently suffered a “fairly significant” shoulder injury that could keep him out for a few weeks, according to the Chicago Tribune.
Interesting triva: Sims is the only former Matt Millen draft pick still on the Lions’ roster. So I guess that means he was good enough that even Millen couldn’t mess that pick up.
Last night, Marion Barber appeared to have a clear path to the end zone in the fourth quarter before collapsing with an apparent quadriceps injury (go to the 3:56 mark to see the play)
Barber reportedly underwent an MRI today, but the Cowboys so far have been mum beyond saying that Barber has a "quad injury". Felix Jones figures to start if Barber is unable to play. We'll keep you updated on any developments.
Adam Schefter tweets:
Bad news for Falcons fans. Falcons rookie DT Peria Jerry, Atlanta’s first-round pick, is out for the season with a knee injury.
After their younger, revamped offensive line plowed the way for Fred Jackson’s monster day, the Bills learned that they will be without starting RT Brad Butler for the rest of the season. Butler injured his knee on Sunday, and will require surgery.
The Bills will reportedly bring in a veteran offensive lineman to replace Butler. Former Eagle John Runyan appears to be the frontrunner, considering he visited the team last week.
The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports:
New Orleans Saints running back Mike Bell, who sprained his right knee in the fourth quarter Sunday against Philadelphia, said Monday that an MRI showed no structural damage.
The injury is a sprained medial collatoral ligament, Coach Sean Payton said.
Bell said he has full range of motion and hopes to play Sunday against Buffalo, but the decision is up to the team.
The prognosis is equally good for Saints WR Lance Moore, who was sidelined this past week with a sore hamstring. Again from the New Orleans Times-Picayune:
Saints Coach Sean Payton said Monday that wide receiver Lance Moore, who was pulled from Sunday’s game with a tight hamstring, doesn’t appear to be seriously injured.
“It doesn’t seem real significant at all,‘’ Payton said. "We’ll see Wednesday.’’
As if the Saints need more playmakers on offense, they should have both back just as Pierre Thomas is also getting healthy. Hide the children when the Saints come marching in; it’s still early, but the 2007 Patriots’ scoring record could be in jeopardy.
Washington’s line has virtually no depth whatsoever, so losing right guard Randy Thomas for the season is a huge blow. He went down Sunday with a full tear in his triceps.
He will temporarily be replaced by Chad Rinehart, although the search is on for a more adequate guard. Early speculation has centered around Peter Kendall, a 13-year veteran free agent who started on the Skins line in ’07 and ’08.
The Contra Costa Times reports:
Starting left guard Robert Gallery suffered a fractured left fibula and is expected to miss a month or so, based on the initial diagnosis.
Gallery left Sunday’s game against Kansas City at the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter, though he first suffered the injury earlier in the game.
“I cracked back on a guy, and I heard it break,” Gallery said. “I just have to get it fixed and come back as soon as I can.”
Gallery was the second overall pick out of Iowa in 2004. Originally drafted as a tackle, he struggled on the outside, and eventually moved full-time to guard, where he established himself as a solid starter.
Update: Adam Schefter confirms Gallery will miss 4-6 weeks after having a plate put in his leg.
Michael Wright of the Florida Times-Union reports:
WR Troy Williamson out for the season with a torn labrum, according to source close to receiver.
Williamson was the former seventh overall pick in the 2005 draft of the Minnesota Vikings. Despite his deep speed, Williamson struggled catching the ball, bouncing around the league before finding a home with the Jaguars this season (where he actually looked decent in the preseason).
Rams RT, and second overall pick in last year’s draft, Jason Smith, left yesterday’s game against the Redskins in the second quarter with a knee injury. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports:
“They’re calling it a meniscus (cartilage) right now,” coach Steve Spagnuolo said after Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Redskins. “I’m not sure the extent of it.”
If it’s a torn cartilage and Smith needs surgery, he could be sidelined for about a month. Adam Goldberg took over for Smith at right tackle against Washington.
The injuries keep mounting for Philadelphia. Not only are Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook banged up, but now electrifying second year pro DeSean Jackson might be sidelined. The Philadelphia Daily News reports:
As the rest of the Eagles tried desperately to come back against the Saints, Jackson, the team’s most dynamic player, limited his action to the sideline. His angry groin, flaring all week, finally cost him playing time. […]
Eagles coach Andy Reid said of Jackson’s injury, “I think we’ll be fine there.”
Jackson, meanwhile, was less certain.
After the game, limping through the locker room with the affected area packed in ice, several teammates asked him how he was. He uttered tepid reassurances.
Asked by a reporter if he would be able to practice this week, he muttered, “I can’t answer that. It’s still Sunday.”
The Philly Inquirer reports:
Eagles running back Brian Westbrook sprained his surgically repaired right ankle during the third quarter of the team's 48-22 loss to the New Orleans Saints yesterday. Westbrook then briefly returned to the game, but when the score got out of hand in the fourth quarter, rookie LeSean McCoy replaced him.
Even if the game had been close, it's not clear that Westbrook would have been able to continue.
"It was just sore," Westbrook said. "I tried to put a little weight on it. Tried to be effective out there on the field. You don't want to go out there and hurt the team. As far as running, I wanted to make some cuts, and I just wasn't able to do it." [...]
Westbrook said the injury was "definitely not" as serious as the problems he had near the end of last season. Asked if he would be back for Sunday's game against Kansas City, Westbrook said, "I hope so, yes."
Meanwhile, Peter King tweets:
Am told Westbrook not bad, should play this week.
It certainly sounds like Westbrook should be fine, although LaDainian Tomlinson suffered a similar injury in Week 1, and ended up missing a game. We'll keep you updated on any developments.
Chiefs' WR Bowe Out vs. Eagles
In addition to losing running back Larry Johnson, the Chiefs are also losing Dwayne Bowe for Sunday’s game against the Eagles. Bowe is arguably Kansas City’s most valuable receiving threat, and this latest injury leaves the Chiefs with more injuries than they can probably afford.
Sep 27 11:44a by Jon Bois - 0 comments