Between pesky bye weeks and untimely injuries, we have reached the turning point in the fantasy football season. The point where contenders separate themselves from pretenders, and where the battle for avoiding last place heats up. We are here to help with simple injury breakdown and advice on quality replacements. Welcome to the Week 7 fantasy football injury report.
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Week 7 Fantasy Football Injury Report
Week 7 Late Inactives:
Taysom Hill (QB) New Orleans Saints
TY Hilton (WR) Indianapolis Colts
Trey Lance (QB) San Francisco 49ers
Jimmy Graham (TE) Chicago Bears
Antonio Brown (WR) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rob Gronkowski (TE) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 7 1 PM Inactives:
Sterling Shepard (WR) New York Giants
DeVante Parker (WR) Miami Dolphins
Saqoun Barkley (RB) New York Giants
Rhamondre Stevenson (RB) New England Patriots
Tevin Coleman (RB) New York Jets
Latavious Murray (RB) Baltimore Ravens
Sammy Watkins (WR) Baltimore Ravens
Terrace Marshall Jr (WR) Carolina Panthers
Kenny Golladay (WR) New York Giants
Kadarious Toney (WR) New York Giants
Curtis Samuel (WR) Washington Football Team
Peyton Barber (RB) Las Vegas Raiders
Darren Waller (TE) Las Vegas Raiders
Antonio Brown (WR) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rob Gronkowski (TE) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 7 5:20 Inactives
Trey Lance (QB) San Francisco 49ers
10/23/21 Update
T.J.Hockenson (TE) Detroit Lions
Knee Injury, Initial Injury: 10/3/21
One of the lone bright spots on this Detroit Lions offense has been dealing with a nagging knee injury for the past few weeks. Hockenson first showed up on the Week 5 injury report with an undisclosed knee injury. Although there has not been much news about the specifics of his injury, it is one he has been able to play through. The Lions TE has been on the injury report the past few weeks logging limited practices, but still plays and produces on Sundays. I would expect Hockenson to continue this trend in Week 7.
Hockenson is dealing with a nagging knee injury but is on track to continue playing in games. – START/MONITOR
10/22/21 Update
Kadarius Toney (WR) New York Giants
Ankle Injury, Initial Injury: 10/10/21, Re-Injured: 10/17/21
Giant’s skill players seem to frequent the injury report, and Week 7 is no different. Breakout rookie WR Kadarius Toney reinjured his ankle last Sunday and was ruled out in the first quarter. Toney originally injured his ankle in Week 5 while he was carving up the Cowboys secondary for 189 yards. He was listed as questionable coming into Week 6 but was cleared to play after pregame warm ups. Unfortunately, on the opening drive of the game the Giants WR was tackled and immediately limped off the field.
The specifics of the injury have not been disclosed but the fact he re-injured the ankle only a week later, is not a good sign. I would expect Toney to miss some time but not more than a few weeks. His practice status in the coming weeks will be help to paint a clearer picture. Toney was unable to prove he was ready in practice this week and was ruled out for his Week 7 game.
Toney suffered an injury to the same ankle two weeks in a row, and is out this week. – SIT
Rob Gronkowski (TE) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Fractured Ribs, Initial Injury: 9/26/21
Bucs stud TE Rob Gronkowski’s season has unfortunately cooled off after a hot start. The veteran TE briefly exited the game in Week 3 to get X-rays done on his ribs after a hard hit. Initially, X-rays came back as negative and he was able to return to the game and record a catch. The fact that Gronk was able to come back to the game and his status has been up in the air these past weeks seems crazy now. Details have come out that the Bucs tight end is currently dealing with multiple rib fractures and a punctured lung. This is an extremely painful injury. He has been officially been ruled out of the Bucs Week 7 matchup. I am surprised he was not put on the IR, as this will be his fourth game missed and he has not returned to practice.
Gronk is out for Week 7 and has yet to return to practice. – IR/SIT
Jimmy Graham (TE) Chicago Bears
COVID-19/Reserve List
The Bears veteran TE was placed on the COVID-19 list this Friday. He has been ruled out for this week but should be able to return next week if Graham is vaccinated.
Graham is out this week with COVID-19. – SIT
Antionio Brown (WR) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ankle Injury, Initial Injury: 10/17/21
The Buccaneers WR has been a major part of the offense this season. After recording almost 100 yards and a touchdown last week, it appears Brown also suffered an ankle injury. The nature of his ankle injury has not been disclosed but the fact he has not returned to practice at all is a troubling sign. Hopefully, Brown is dealing with a common low ankle sprain as opposed to a high ankle sprain. High ankle sprains require a much longer recovery timeline. Brown’s practice status will need to be monitored to determine the likelihood of his playing the coming weeks. Buccaneers WR Tyler Johnson will look to step up as WR3 in this offense.
Brown is ruled out after not practicing this week with an ankle injury. – SIT
Saquon Barkley (RB) New York Giants
Low Ankle Sprain, Initial Injury: 10/10/21
The troubles continue in New York as their freak athlete RB suffered a freak accident in Week 5. Giants RB Saquon Barkley injured his ankle last week after stepping on a Cowboys player’s foot. He was quickly ruled out of the game and carted off to the locker room as his ankle swelled up like a balloon. The positive news is the injury is only a low ankle sprain and that X-rays came back as negative for an ankle fracture.
A low ankle or inversion sprain refers to damage to the lateral ankle ligaments due to the foot rolling inwards. This is the injury we think about when someone “rolls their ankle”. This injury limits a player’s ability to cut and change directions quickly. Barkley’s practice status will give us a better idea of how much damage was done to the ligaments. Best case, he returns to practice this week in a limited fashion and has a chance to play on Sunday. Worst case, the damage is significant and he is out for at least a month. Giant’s backup RB Devonte Booker is a quality waiver wire pick up for at least this week, and possibly more.
Barkley has been unable to practice for the past two weeks and has been ruled out for the second straight game. With Barkley not landing IR, I would expect Barkley to return to practice soon.
Barkley rolled his ankle Sunday and has been ruled out for the second straight week. – SIT
Julio Jones (WR) Tennessee Titans
Hamstring Strain, Initial Injury: 9/26/21, Re-injured: 10/18/21
Ahead of Week 7, star WR Julio Jones finds himself in a place he just left, the injury report. Back in Week 3, Jones initially left the game due to what was being called hamstring “tightness”. This was a big undersell as Jones would go on to miss the next two weeks with this hamstring strain. He was finally able to return last Monday night but left the game in the fourth quarter and was unable to return with the same injury.
Hamstring injuries have a high reinjury rate and can lead to more severe injuries if a player returns too soon. This is the worry here, as it seems the hamstring muscle was not fully healed and now has even more damage after this re-injury. A hamstring strain also limits a players speed and jumping ability. I would expect Julio to again miss some time with this injury but the severity has not been disclosed yet. However, Julio has been able to practice this week in a limited fashion and is optimistic he will play. Julio Jones would be at an elevated reinjury risk if he returns to play this week. Tennessee WRs AJ Brown and Chester Rodgers are in line to receive a boost in targets if Julio is sidelined again with this injury.
Jones reinjured his hamstring after missing two weeks with the same injury. Jones is currently optimistic he will play however–MONITOR/START
Kenny Golladay (WR) New York Giants
Knee Injury, Initial Injury: 10/10/21
Man, the Giants love the injury report as much as the loss column, and it looks like Week 7 is more of the same. The Giants’ big offseason acquisition is on the injury report again this week, with a knee injury. There is a reason Golladay made my Top 5 Players to Avoid article this offseason. He is an incredible talent who can just not stay healthy.
The injury occurred in the first quarter of his Week 5 game when Kenny Golladay hyperextended his knee. He tried to play through the injury but it worsened and he was ruled out for the second half. The good news is that an MRI ruled out a severe season-ending injury which some initially feared. He is expected to miss multiple weeks with the injury and no specific injury diagnosis has been given yet. Golladay has been unable to practice for the past two weeks and will miss his second straight game.
Golladay is dealing with a knee injury and will miss his second game in a row. – SIT
10/21/21 Update
Nick Chubb (RB) Cleveland Browns
Calf Injury, Initial Injury: 10/10/21
Cleveland’s workhouse running back and a huge part of this team, RB Nick Chubb will be out this week. Chubb has been unable to practice these past two weeks due to a calf injury he suffered last week. Specifics have not been given regarding the injury yet but the fact it has kept Chubb out of practice all week means he is likely dealing with a calf strain. These injuries refer to damage to the calf muscle and come with a high re injury rate. If Chubb is battling a calf strain, the Browns are wise to rest him until the muscle is ready and avoid the injury lingering throughout the season. Chubb has been officially ruled out of the Brown’s Thursday night game this week.
Chubb has been ruled out for a second week with a calf injury after not practicing these past two weeks. – SIT
Baker Mayfield (QB) Cleveland Browns
Shoulder Injury, Initial Injury: 9/19/21 Re-injured: 10/17/21
Cleveland QB Baker Mayfield is another player who could be on the injury report for much more than just Week 7. After throwing an interception earlier in the year, Mayfield injured his non-throwing shoulder trying to make a tackle. He was diagnosed with a partial labral tear in his shoulder and made the decision to continue to play through the injury. Last week, Baker was taken down to the ground hard on this same shoulder and further injured his shoulder. He reportedly dislocated his shoulder for a second time which would lead to more labral damage.
The labrum on your shoulder acts to provide stability to your shoulder and keep it in place. The shoulder is already a very mobile joint that is the most likely to dislocate on your body. Without this added protection from your labrum, this is going to increase the likelihood of further shoulder dislocations. This is a very painful injury that is going to make the Cleveland QB think twice about taking any hits. Despite Baker’s best efforts, team doctors did not clear him and he is out for Thursday night. Props to Baker for the warrior mentality, but this would negatively affect his play. Baker is going to need offseason surgery to fully repair his shoulder but the expectation is he will continue to play this season.
Baker further injured his shoulder last week and is ruled out for Thursday but should play next week. Expect less mobility from the QB from here on out. – SIT
Damien Williams (RB) Chicago Bears
COVID-19/Reserve List
The Bears running back tested positive for COVID-19 last week and was unavailable for Chicago in Week 6. Williams had filled in as Chicago’s lead back in the absence of RB David Montgomery, who is currently on IR with a knee injury. However, it has been reported that Williams is unvaccinated and will not be able to be cleared until this Saturday. With no practice time this week, rookie RB Khalil Herbet will likely be the lead man in Chicago’s backfield in Week 7.
Williams missed last week with COVID and is in danger of missing this week. With no practice time he will likely see limited carries. – SIT/MONTOR
Tre’Quan Smith (WR) New Orleans Saints
Hamstring Injury, Initial Injury: 8/3/21, Short-term IR
One of the Saints’ projected top WRs coming into the season, Tre’Quan Smith has been placed on the short-term IR with a hamstring injury that he suffered at the beginning of August. Expect a bump in WR Marquez Callaway’s targets in the early part of the season with both Saint’s WRs Smith and Thomas on the IR. This Week 7 injury report could finally start to provide some updates to the thin Saint’s WR room.
Smith finally made his return to practice this week and will need to be monitored if he plays this week. With missing the past two and a half months, I would give it at least a week of playing before rostering Smith at all.
Smith returned to practice this week but should be monitored on his game status. – SIT/MONITOR
Kareem Hunt (RB) Cleveland Browns
Calf Strain, Initial Injury: 10/17/21
The Cleveland Browns are slowly regressing towards the lack of success in their recent history. Injuries are certainly not helping them this year. Kareem Hunt was RB1 last week, with fellow RB Nick Chubb out with a calf injury. After a fairly productive day, Hunt went down in the 4th quarter and eventually had to be carted off into the locker room. Reports are that he suffered a calf strain and the injury is “significant”.
A calf strain refers to damage to the muscle in the back of your lower leg. With the injury being described as severe, this comes with about a four to six week recovery timeline. Hunt will likely be put on the IR to focus on his recovery. Calf strains come with a high reinjury risk and are not an injury that should be played through or rushed back. These injuries limit a player’s lower body power and Hunt would not be able to be his usual explosive self until fully healed. Cleveland RB Nick Chubb has officially been ruled out for Thursday’s game as well, so the Browns have limited unproven RB options this week.
Hunt will miss multiple weeks with a calf strain. – SIT/IR
Latavius Murray (RB) Baltimore Ravens
Ankle Injury, Initial Injury: 10/17/21
The carousel that is the Baltimore Ravens backfield seems to just keep on rotating. After receiving a steady workload throughout the game, Ravens RB Latavius Murray injured his ankle. He was unable to return to the game in the fourth quarter, opening up more work for RBs Devonta Freeman and Le’Veon Bell. There have been little to no details provided on the injury other than head coach John Harbaugh saying it does not seem “overly serious”. The big question here is if the injury is a high or low ankle sprain. Fantasy managers are hoping for a much less serious low ankle sprain here, meaning he would have chance to play this week. Murray’s practice status will need to be monitored closely this week.
Murray suffered an undisclosed ankle injury and his practice status will need to be monitored. – MONITOR/SIT
Paris Campbell (WR) Indianapolis Colts
Foot Injury, Initial Injury: 10/17/21
Colts WR Paris Campbell is one of the sadder stories on this Week 7 injury report. After catching a 51 yard touchdown pass in last week’s game, he had to be helped off the field. Campbell suffered what is being called a “significant foot injury” that is possibly season ending. The exact nature of the injury has not been disclosed yet but the fear is a Lisfranc injury. A Lisfranc injury refers to damage to the bones or ligaments in a player’s midfoot. These injuries have very long recovery timelines and surgery is required if they are unstable. This is the same injury that ended rookie RB Travis Etienne’s season before it started. You can wait until the official announcement but Campbell should at the very least be put on IR if not dropped. Colts WRs Michael Pittman and T.Y. Hilton will see a boost in targets with Campbell’s absence.
Campbell suffered a major foot injury and could be out the rest of the season. – IR/DROP
Antonio Gibson (RB) Washington Football Team
Shin Splints, Initial Injury: 9/30/21, Re-injured: 10/17/21
Expect to see Washington RB Antonio Gibson on much more than just this Week 7 injury report. The young RB looked to be shaping into a workhouse for this Washington team, and this may be the reason for his injury. Gibson is currently dealing with shin splints, AKA tibial stress syndrome. This injury occurs due to the leg being overworked or an increase in workload. Additionally, this is not an injury that will just go away. Prolonged rest and reducing the amount of stress put on the leg is what an optimal recovery looks like.
This is virtually impossible throughout an NFL season. Shin splints only really have the potential to get worse as opposed to better if Gibson keeps getting a heavy workload. For this reason, I would encourage Gibson fantasy managers to look into trading him before it really starts to cut down his production. At the very least, fellow RB JD McKissic should be a must add as he will benefit from Gibson’s reduced workload. I would expect the shin splints to cut down on Gibson’s production throughout the season and become increasingly painful to play through.
Gibson is dealing with shin splints which are only going to worsen throughout the year. – TRADE/HANDCUFF
Terrace Marshall Jr. (WR) Carolina Panthers
Concussion, Initial Injury: 10/17/21
The Panther’s rookie WR has had a fairly disappointing year to this point. Injury was added to insult last week after he took a nasty illegal hit to his head. Marshall Jr. was quickly ruled out after the hit and was unable to return to the game. He is officially in the concussion protocol and his status for the week will be up to how he progresses through the protocol steps. Concussions disrupt the brain’s function, ability to quickly process information, and react to our environment. Symptoms of a concussion are also very variable in severity and length it affects a player. Marshall Jr. has a chance of playing next week but his practice status will reveal these chances. There has not been much reliable production behind Panthers star WR DJ Moore but WR Brandon Zlystra would start in Marshall Jr.’s place.
Marshall Jr. is in the concussion protocol and his practice status needs to be monitored. – MONITOR
Alex Collins (RB) Seattle Seahawks
Hip/Glute Injuries, Initial Injury: 10/17/21
With Seahawks starting RB Chris Carson already on the injury report, Seattle finds his replacement added ahead of Week 7. RB Alex Collins filled in nicely last Sunday night, rushing for over 100 yards and a touchdown. However, Collins was not available to play in overtime of the game due to suffering hip and glute injuries. Head coach Pete Carroll has said Collins “has a shot to play” in their Monday night game this week. The extra day of rest will help in the Seattle RB’s recovery but it depends on the nature of the injuries if this will be enough. Hopefully, he is just dealing with soft tissue (muscular) injuries from taking so many hits but his practice status will provide more details. Behind Collins, Seattle will likely take a RB by committee approach in Week 7.
Collins is dealing with multiple lower body injuries and needs to be monitored to tell how minor they are. – MONITOR
Russell Wilson (QB) Seattle Seahawks
Finger Surgery, Initial Injury: 10/7/21
For the first time in his 10 year career, Russell Wilson will not be starting an NFL regular season game. That really is an incredible feat for a guy who means so much to his football team. The Los Angeles Rams ruined this streak after Wilson injured his middle finger on a Rams player’s helmet. The injury was on his throwing hand and found severe enough to require surgery, which he underwent the next day. The surgery revealed injuries to two separate joints on his finger.
The Seahawks QB suffered both a Mallet finger injury and a PIP dislocation. Mallet finger refers to when the tendon on the very end of your finger is partially or fully torn. This prevents you from being able to fully straighten your finger and accurately throw a football. In addition, Wilson’s joint in the middle of his finger was found to be dislocated or forced out of place. A variable timeline has been given due to this being a rare double injury to one finger. Expect Wilson to be out a month but his progress should be monitored after about three weeks. Wilson is headed to the IR as expected and the earliest he can return is Week 10.
Wilson suffered two serious finger injuries but will return later this season. – SIT/IR
Chris Carson (RB) Seattle Seahawks
Neck Injury, Initial Injury: Preseason (Long Term Issue)
In a bit of surprise, Seattle’s starting running back made his was on to the injury report last Tuesday ahead of their Thursday night game. Initially, it was unclear how serious of an issue this would be but at this point Carson has not practiced in two weeks and will mis his second straight game. There has also been talks about possibly putting Carson on the IR with this neck issue. A clear diagnosis has not been given but Carson is likely dealing with a disc issue in his neck. These type of injuries take a while to get under control and often require surgery or weeks of rehab to fully treat.
This clearly has been bothering Carson for some time as the Seahawks running back was on the Week 1 injury report with a neck injury. He was able to fully practiced that week and started all four games earlier in the year but he appears to have aggravated the injury in practice. Back up Alex Collins was a must add for Carson fantasy owners last week and continues to be if available. Collins has provided a spark for this backfield and is in line to take over the starting duties until Carson returns .
Carson has been placed on the IR and will miss multiple weeks at least. – SIT/IR
Christian McCaffrey (RB) Carolina Panthers
Hamstring strain, Initial injury: 9/23/21
The Panthers star RB has been a frequent flyer on injury reports these past two years and Week 7 is more of the same. Christian McCaffrey was injured during the Week 3 Thursday Night Football matchup against the Texans. The Panthers will need to be careful with their stud RB as hamstring strains have a high reinjury likelihood. The second injury is also usually more severe and would cause him to miss the majority of the season. For now, it is going to be rookie RB Chubba Hubbard leading the Carolina backfield.
McCaffrey officially made his return to practice on Wednesday, October 6th. Initially there was some optimism regarding his status and he had a chance to play in Weeks 5 and 6. However, it appears McCaffrey suffered a setback in practice as he was unexpectedly put on the IR last week.Hamstring strains are difficult injuries to return from and should not be rushed back. CMC is out for at least the next three weeks but has the potential to miss even more time than that. The second injury to a hamstring in a short period of time makes recovery much more difficult.
McCaffrey has been placed on IR and will not be available until Week 10. – SIT/IR
Juju Smith-Schuster (WR) Pittsburgh Steelers
Shoulder Dislocation, Initial Injury: 10/10/21
Juju may have played his last snap for the city of Pittsburgh. In the second quarter of the game against the Broncos, he took a hard hit to his shoulder and instantly walked off the field. The Steelers WR dislocated his shoulder and required season-ending surgery. Let’s not forget that Smith-Schuster tested the free agency market before signing just a 1 year deal with Pittsburgh. Juju will have to work hard this off-season to build some stability in his shoulder as dislocations can become a chronic issue for players. Luckily for the Steelers, WRs Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson, and James Washington are all capable playmakers.
Juju is out for the rest of the season after shoulder surgery. – DROP
Curtis Samuel (WR) Washington Football Team
Groin Injury, Re-injured: 10/10/21, Initial Injury: 6/2/21
Another player I have been concerned about for a while joins the Week 7 injury report. Washington’s offseason addition Curtis Samuel cannot seem to kick this groin issue. The speedy WR originally injured his groin back in June and took several months off before returning to practice. A week before the season started, he reinjured his groin again and started the year on the IR. I tried to warn y’all but this was the first BAD sign. Last Sunday, Samuel suffered another setback, aggravating his groin injury and being held out of the game.
A groin injury limits a player’s ability for a quick change of direction movements due to damage to the inner hip muscle. As a shifty and speedy receiver, Samuel will need his groin to be at full strength for a productive season. Groin injury also comes with a high reinjury risk, which is what we are seeing here. At this point, this injury is unlikely to go away any time soon and I would look for other fantasy options. Washington WR’s Terry McLaurin and Adam Humphries will see a boost in targets as some of the only healthy options left.
Samuel has again reinjured his groin and his health should not be trusted. – DROP/SIT
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB) Kansas City Chiefs
MCL Sprain, Initial injury: 10/10/21
The Cheifs young RB has gotten off to a rough start this year, much like his team. After seeing his workload diminish, he now has a knee injury to deal with. Clyde Edwards-Helaire (CEH) had to be helped off the field after injuring his knee against Buffalo. He was found to have suffered an MCL sprain that was significant enough to land him on the IR.
An MCL injury refers to ligament damage to the inner part of your knee and is key in side-to-side knee stability. This injury usually comes with a two to three-week recovery timeline. A MCL sprain would limit the RB’s route running and change of direction ability due to lack of knee stability until properly healed. Kansas City veteran RBs Darrel Williams and Jerrick McKinnon will look to carry the load in CEH’s absence.
The young Kansas City RB is on IR with an MCL sprain. – SIT/IR
Logan Thomas (TE) Washington Football Team
Hamstring Strain, Initial Injury: 10/3/21
Washington survived an offensive shootout in Atlanta last week without one of their top targets. The converted tight end Logan Thomas limped off the field on the team’s first possession of the game and was unable to return. Thomas injured his hamstring in a non-contact injury while running upfield. Hamstring strains are tricky injuries that require at least two weeks to recover from.
These injuries have a high reinjury rate which often causes a more severe injury than the original. Hamstring strains can linger throughout the season will limit a player’s running and jumping ability. Thomas has been placed on the IR and is expected to miss four weeks. This move means there has been some substantial damage to his hamstring and returning to play in four weeks seems optimistic.
Thomas is dealing with a hamstring strain and has been placed on IR – DROP/IR
D.J. Chark (WR) Jacksonville Jaguars
Ankle Fracture, Initial Injury: 9/30/21
This Week 7 report contains an added injury to the insult that is Jacksonville Jaguars football. Last Thursday night, their big-play WR D.J. Chark was rolled up on by a fellow teammate and had to be carted off the field. Unfortunately, Chark fractured his ankle, which will require surgery and likely end his 2021 season. With the Jags looking abysmal, there is no reason for them to risk bringing back their young WR this year. Fellow WRs Marvin Jones Jr. and Laviska Shenault should see a boost in targets for the rest of the season.
Chark’s season is likely over with a fractured ankle. – DROP
Will Fuller (WR) Miami Dolphins
Broken Finger, Initial Injury:10/3/21
Will Fuller’s Miami career is off to a rocky start after missing the first two games for non-injury reasons and getting hurt early in Week 4. The Miami WR broke his finger while attempting to make a diving catch on an underthrown ball. He was immediately ruled out of the game and is now expected to miss “ a few weeks”. A broken bone is going to take about six weeks to fully heal normally but there is a possibility he returns closer to the four-week mark. His recovery timeline will be up to how much Fuller and the Dolphins want to risk a reinjury. The Dolphins are fairly healthy at WR otherwise, with DeVante Parker and Jaylen Waddle leading the way.
Fuller broke his finger and will likely be out four to six weeks. – IR/SIT
Maxx Williams (TE) Arizona Cardinals
Knee Injury, Initial Injury: 10/10/21
Just as the TE was becoming a big part of this Arizona offense, his season is likely over. Maxx Williams suffered a gruesome knee injury last Sunday and the belief is it is a season-ending injury. No official word has been given yet but should be soon. Feel free to wait for clarification but best case this will be a multiple-week absence.
Williams likely suffered a season-ending knee injury. – DROP/MONITOR
Quintez Cephus (WR) Detroit Lions
Broken Collarbone, Initial Injury: 10/10/21
The Lions can ill afford any name added to the injury report for Week 7, especially a bright spot in their dismal passing offense. Quintez Cephus has emerged as Detroit’s WR1 and vertical deep threat this season. The big body receiver had been a productive and reliable target for QB Jared Goff. Unfortunately, Detroit can’t seem to have nice things as the promising young WR will miss an extended amount of time.
Cephus’ shoulder was driven down hard into the ground on a tackle last week and he broke his collarbone. The bone is going to take at least six weeks to heal but could very likely take two full months. He would then have to be slowly worked back into contact as the bone is vulnerable during the healing period. The Lions will turn to WR’s Amon-Ra St. Brown, Kalif Raymond, and KhaDarel Hodge to fill the void. These pass catchers are all unproven so it is hard to say which one Goff will trust if any.
Cephus broke his collarbone and will have an extended absence, maybe the rest of the season. – DROP/IR
Tyrod Taylor (QB) Houston Texans
Hamstring Strain, Initial Injury: 9/19/21
Poor ATS legend Tyrod Taylor. His up and down career suffers another setback as he injured his hamstring during a TD run against the Browns in Week 2. The injury is being reported as significant after testing, leading to an extensive injury timeline. Taylor is looking at about a four to six-week recovery period with moderate damage to his hamstring. Hamstring injuries are troublesome as they also tend to linger and reinjure easily. This limits Tyrod’s ability to make plays with his legs and throw the ball efficiently due to reduced lower body power. With Tyrod out multiple weeks, it will be the rookie Davis Mills’ turn to be the starting QB for the mighty Houston Texans. It looks unlikely at this point that even when Taylor gets off the Week 7 injury report, that he will regain the starting QB role.
Tyrod Taylor will miss multiple weeks with moderate damage to his hamstring. – SIT/DROP
Jerry Jeudy (WR) Denver Broncos
High Ankle Sprain, Initial Injury: 9/12/21
It was a scary sight in Week 1 when the Denver WR got tackled with his ankle pinned under him and was carted off the field. Thankfully, he did not break his ankle which was initially feared and the X-rays came back negative. Jerry Jeudy did still suffer a high ankle sprain, a significant injury, and the reason he is still on this Week 5 injury report. High ankle injuries are much worse than the common low ankle sprains that we more typically see.
These types of injuries lead to not only more playing time missed but also are more likely to lead to a chronic issue. The timetable currently being reported is four to six weeks, but I would expect closer to six weeks of missed time. This injury is going to affect Jeudy’s route running and cutting ability moving forward in the season. Denver WR’s Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick will look to fill in Jeudy’s big role in the offense.
Jeudy is going to miss significant time with a high ankle sprain and his fantasy production will be affected the majority of the season, especially the first eight to ten games- IR/DROP
Michael Gallup (WR) Dallas Cowboys
Calf Strain, Initial Injury: 9/9/21
The Cowboys potent offense received a significant blow as one of their top WRs suffered a calf injury in their game against the Bucs. Michael Gallup has already been put on the short-term IR and was given a timetable of three to five weeks to return to play. A calf strain means that there has been damage to muscles in the back of a player’s lower leg. These injuries, like hamstring strains, have a tendency of lingering and can reinjure if not given enough time to properly heal. Gallup will have a difficult time accelerating and jumping with this injury due to the muscle not being as powerful. Fellow WRs Lamb and Cooper were already must starts but should see an increase in targets with Gallup sidelined.
Gallup is on the short-term IR with a calf strain. I would not expect solid fantasy football production until closer to Week 8 for the WR- SIT/IR
Michael Thomas (WR) New Orleans Saints
Ankle Surgery, Initial Injury: 8/13/20, Surgery: June 2021
Let’s finish this Week 7 injury report with the diva of the group. After a disappointing 2020 season due to an ankle injury, the general consensus was that Thomas was going to have offseason ankle surgery in the offseason and there would be no lingering effects going into the 2021 season. Of course, things didn’t go as planned and he had the surgery done in June, basically guaranteeing he would miss the start of the 2021 season.
The Saints will be without their number one receiver for at least the first six weeks of the regular season as Thomas was placed on the Injured Reserve (IR). On the injury front, the surgery should improve his route running and run after catch ability. Michael Thomas is not a WR you are going to be able to depend on to get you to your fantasy playoffs this year. However, he may help you win in the playoffs IF things go according to plan this time.
This injury report will be updated until Week 7 ends. Make sure to stay up to date on all the latest injuries this season over on Twitter @SGPNFootballDoc!
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