Welcome one, welcome all. Whether you’re fighting for your league championship, toilet bowl, or just for some DFS action, I welcome you to the Week 17 fantasy football injury report. With only two weeks left in the regular season, it’s vital to know who you can trust to contribute to your fantasy team. Injuries and COVID-19 are making that tough this year, but SGPN has your back.
I want to start with the BIGGEST news of the week, regarding the NFL’s change to their COVID-19 protocols. As of Tuesday, the NFL cut down the quarantine period after a positive test for asymptomatic players from ten to FIVE days. This rule goes for both vaccinated and unvaccinated players. This change is huge especially for unvaccinated players as they still have a chance to play if they test positive early in the week. Oh and don’t forget Cam Akers might be back too.
Week 17 Late Games Inactives:
James Connor (RB) Arizona Cardinals
Rondale Moore (WR) Arizona Cardinals
Teddy Bridgewater (QB) Denver Broncos
Tim Patrick (WR) Denver Broncos
Jerry Jeudy (WR) Denver Broncos
Jared Goff (QB) Detroit Lions
Josh Reynolds (WR) Detroit Lions
Kalif Raymond (WR) Detroit lions
Brock Wright (TE) Detroit Lions
David Johnson (RB) Houston Texans
Danny Amendola (WR) Houston Texans
Chris Moore (WR) Houston Texans
Jared Cook (TE) Los Angeles Chargers
Mark Ingram (RB) New Orleans Saints
Tre’Quan Smith (WR) New Orleans Saints
Jimmy Garoppolo (QB) San Francisco 49ers
Kirk Cousins (QB) Minnesota Vikings
Week 17 1PM Inactives:
Tajae Sharpe (WR) Atlanta Falcons
Hayden Hurst (TE) Atlanta Falcons
James O’Shaughnessy (TE) Jacksonville Jaguars
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB) Kansas City Chiefs
Cam Akers (RB) Los Angeles Rams
Lamar Jackson (QB) Baltimore Ravens
Emmanuel Sanders (WR) Buffalo Bills
Justin Fields (QB) Chicago Bears
Darren Waller (TE) Las Vegas Raiders
Nelson Agholor (WR) New England Patriots
N’Keal Harry (WR) New England Patriots
Kadarius Toney (WR) New York Giants
John Ross (WR) New York Giants
Collin Johnson (WR) New York Giants
Darius Slayton (WR) New York Giants
Jamison Corwder (WR) New York Jets
Elijah Moore (WR) New York Jets
Tevin Coleman (RB) New York Jets
Miles Sanders (RB) Philadelphia Eagles
Julio Jones (WR) Tennessee Titans
Curtis Samuel (WR) Washington Football Team
Antonio Gibson (RB) Washington Football Team
12/31/21 Update
Jimmy Garoppolo (QB) San Francisco 49ers
Thumb Injury, Initial Injury: 12/23/21
The San Francisco 49ers are another team on this Week 17 injury report that is in need of a win. Unfortunately, they might have to do this without their starting QB. 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo is currently dealing with a torn UCL ligament in his thumb after being sacked last week. He did not come out of the game but Garoppolo’s play definitely took a hit. The starting QB appears adamant on trying to play this week despite the injury but this will be a tall task.
The UCL refers to ligaments in the thumb that help to stabilize the joint. It also allows for grip and pinching to occur with your thumb. Reports are that Garoppolo has a grade three strain, meaning this ligament is completely torn. Not only is the injury going to be painful, but it’s going to be difficult for Jimmy G to grip or accurately throw the ball. Additionally, he has not practiced this week as of Thursday (12/30/21). It looks like rookie QB Trey Lance is likely to start this week but the situation is worth monitoring. San Francisco has a favorable matchup this week against the Houston Texans.
Jimmy G is dealing with a thumb injury and is unlikely to play this week. – SIT/MONITOR
Lamar Jackson (QB) Baltimore Ravens
Ankle Injury, Initial Injury: 12/12/21
Injuries may be finally catching up to the Baltimore Ravens this year. Heading into Week 17, their star QB Lamar Jackson is on the injury report. Last week, he injured his ankle early in the game and was unable to return. Not being able to play through the injury is a worrisome sign but reports state that the injury is not believed to be a high ankle sprain. This is positive news for the Ravens and fantasy managers as high ankle sprains cause more damage and take longer to rehab.
Lamar is now in danger of missing his third straight game this week. His ankle injury has been quite the mystery as it was not expected to cause him to miss substantial time initially. However, Jackson finally returned to practice today (12/29/21) but was very clearly limited. Reports were of him noticeably favoring his left side and still not looking comfortable. After a single limited practice, it appears Jackson’s recovery hit as a setback as he was unable to practice Thursday. Lamar’s mobility is what makes him special and without it the Ravens may be better of going with capable back up QB Tyler Huntley.
Lamar is dealing with an ankle injury and his status is uncertain for Sunday. – MONITOR/SIT
Jared Goff (QB) Detroit Lions
Knee Injury, Initial Injury: 12/19/21
Detroit’s starting QB Jared Goff is having quite the up and down season. After pulling off a stunning defeat of the Arizona Cardinals in Week 15, he went on to miss Week 16 on the COVID list. Additionally, he has been dealing with an undisclosed knee injury since the Cardinals game. He is currently not practicing and is officially “doubtful” to play this week according to head coach Dan Campbell. Lions backup QB Tim Boyle is in line to start again this week. While he has no fantasy relevance, it is a good sign for WR Amon-Ra St. Brown. The two connected often last week even hooking up for a TD.
Goff is unlikely to play this week due to an undisclosed knee injury. – SIT
Randall Cobb (WR) Green Bay Packers
Groin Injury, Initial Injury: 11/28/21
Another groin injury pops up on this Week 13 fantasy football injury report. WR Randall Cobb put together his best game of the season so far last week but it came at a price. Near the end of the first half, he caught a touchdown pass and picked up a groin strain along the way. The severity of the injury is currently unknown but it was significant enough to keep him out of the second half. Groin injuries are difficult to manage due to their high reinjury rate and ability to linger throughout the season. Thankfully, the Packers have a bye this week, allowing Cobb to let the injury rest and heal. Cobb’s ability to quickly change direction and run crisp routes will be limited until his groin is fully healed.
It is now being reported that Cobb’s injury is serious enough to warrant core muscle surgery. Cobb had the surgery last week and the current hope is that he will be able to return in time for the playoffs. The typical recovery timeline is six to eight weeks, so he may be back for the NFL postseason but not fantasy footballs. The injury is worth monitoring for DFS leagues.
Cobb is reportedly back at practice this week not even a full month after having core muscle surgery. Now I do not expect Cobb to be utilized much at all in the regular season but the Packers just want to get him some light work before the playoffs. Playing this week would be way too high risk coming off core surgery under a month ago. I’d be surprised if he plays many snaps in the regular season at all, and not enough for fantasy production.
Cobb is recovering from core muscle surgery and will likely return to a full workload in the postseason. – SIT
Cam Akers (RB) Los Angeles Rams
Achilles Tear, Initial Injury: July 2021
Now, this is some of the craziest news on the Week 17 injury report. Cam Akers was set to be the lead RB for the Rams coming into the 2021 season. Unfortunately, Akers tore his Achilles late in the offseason and was expected by everyone to be out for the entire season. However, to everyone’s surprise, the Rams activated him off the IR last week. Now, this is partially due to the team being good people and helping Akers gain a year towards his pension.
On the other hand, there are reports that Akers is practicing and looks close to being able to play. With only five months of recovery, this seems almost unthinkable. An Achilles tear is one of the worst injuries because it’s a grueling rehab process that takes around a year to return from. I am still not expecting Akers to play a major role in this offense in the regular season but it is worth monitoring. Akers was quite the electric player last year and could help propel LA in the postseason.
Stay tuned for an in-depth look at Cam Aker’s injury and miraculous recovery. I will be diving into it later this week on Twitter @SGPNFootballDoc!
Cam Akers has a chance to play this week but will likely not see much work. – SIT/MONITOR
James Robinson (RB) Jacksonville Jaguars
Achilles Tear, Initial Injury: 12/26/21
Jacksonville has not received much good news this year, and they will not be receiving any on this Week 17 injury report. Their best offensive player in young stud RB James Robinson met disaster last week. As he was getting out of his stance, his Achilles tendon tore and he immediately fell to the ground. Non-contact injuries are always concerning and this is one of the worst case scenarios. The Achilles refers to a tendon that connects your calf to your heel.
Unfortunately, during very quick movements and under the right conditions, this tendon can tear causing extreme pain and disability. Robinson’s season is over and he faces a long road of rehabilitation ahead of him. This is a tough break for really the only consistent fantasy football player on this offense. There is not a clear replacement at RB1 for the Jaguars and this is not a backfield you want to trust. Maybe scoop up Cam Akers if you can swing it.
Robinson is out for the season with a torn Achilles. – DROP
Clyde Edwards-Helaire (RB) Kansas City Chiefs
Collarbone Injury, Initial Injury: 12/26/21
The holidays have treated Kansas City quite well. After a dominating victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, they will also receive good news via the Week 17 injury report. Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire landed hard on his shoulder suffering a collarbone injury last week. Initially the fear was a broken collarbone which would have been a lengthy absence. However, X-ray and MRI imaging showed that there is no structural damage to his collarbone.
There is some swelling in the area but no fracture or ligament sprain is huge here. He is currently listed as week-to-week with a chance to play in Week 17. With the Chiefs already locked into the playoffs as AFC West champs, they may choose caution with CEH. Back up RB Darrel Williams is worth the waiver wire pickup if available as this offense always has solid RB production.
CEH is questionable this week with a collarbone injury but it’s not long term. – MONITOR
Miles Sanders (RB) Philadelphia Eagles
Broken Hand, Initial Injury: 12/26/21
The Philadelphia Eagles are currently sitting in a playoff spot after turning their season around. A major reason for this has been their running game. This running game suffered a major blow last week. Lead RB Miles Sanders is currently dealing with a broken hand after taking a hit last week against the Giants. Head coach Nick Sirianni confirms that Sanders is out this week due to a broken bone in his hand. Sanders is not being placed on the IR as there is still hope he can return at some point this season. His exact recovery timeline will depend on the specific bone injured and the severity of the fracture which is currently unknown. Back up RBs Jordan Howard and Boston Scott will look to pick up the load left by Sander’s absence. You could look to Cam Akers if you’re desperate as well.
Sanders is out this week dealing with a broken hand. – SIT
Darrell Henderson (RB) Los Angeles Rams
MCL Sprain, Initial Injury: 12/26/21
The Rams backfield has been shuffled around since the offseason. Another shakeup is on the horizon thanks to the Week 17 injury report. One time lead back Darrell Henderson injured his knee last week and is being placed on the IR due to an MCL sprain. The current expectation is he will need between three to five weeks to recover from this injury. An MCL sprain refers to damage to one of the ligaments that stabilize our knee, specifically with side to side movements. The damage was likely significant enough to cause a grade two strain which requires around a month for recovery. Henderson will likely not be able to be a big factor for the Rams until deep in the playoffs. Fortunately for LA, RB Sony Michel has been on a tear of late and should only get more carries at this point unless Cam Akers steals work.
Henderson is being placed on the IR with an MCL sprain. – SIT/DROP
Teddy Bridgewater (QB) Denver Broncos
Concussion, Initial Injury: 12/19/21
Teddy Bridgewater gave us the biggest scare on this Week 17 injury report. The Denver QB was scrambling for a first down last week when he dove forward and fell hard on his head. Bridgewater laid on the ground for an extended period of time and had to be carted off the field on a stretcher. He was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a concussion.
A concussion refers to a mild traumatic brain injury that causes disruption to the functions of the brain. Concussions are still largely a mystery and can affect players differently. There is no clear timetable for a player’s return although typically NFL players are able to return in about a week. However, this will not be the case for Bridgewater. He has been officially ruled out for Week 16, meaning backup QB Drew Lock will start.
Halfway through Week 17, the expectation is that Teddy Bridgewater will be missing another game. He has yet to return to practice as of Wednesday (12/29/21), meaning Lock is again in line to start. Bridgewater suffered a scary looking concussion in Week 15, so Denver is playing it smart and not rushing Teddy back to the field.
Bridgewater is expected to miss another game this week. – SIT/MONITOR
Adam Thielen (WR) Minnesota Vikings
High Ankle Sprain, Initial Injury: 12/5/21
The Minnesota Vikings are coming off their worst loss of the season to the previously winless Detroit Lions. Unfortunately for their fan base, the Week 17 injury report will not lift their spirits. Vikings star WR Adam Thielen injured his ankle in the first quarter last week and was unable to return. He is officially diagnosed with a high ankle sprain and is currently not expected to play this week. Further testing needs to be done to determine the amount of damage but this can easily be a multiple weeks absence.
High ankle sprains are difficult injuries to manage and more severe than the common low ankle sprain. These injuries refer to damage to the ligaments above the ankle which hold the two lower leg bones together. These ligaments require more force to be injured than the outside ligaments in a low ankle sprain, meaning more damage is caused. This injury creates a lack of ankle stability that causes pain and hinders the player’s ability to run and make cuts in their route. Typically, even mild high ankle sprains require four to six weeks for a full recovery. After practicing in a limited fashion all week, Thielen is officially listed as questionable and is expected to play this week.
After working his way back onto the field last week, disaster struck for Thielen. The star WR only took three weeks to return from a high ankle sprain, which is aggressive even in minor cases. Unfortunately, this seems to to have been a costly decision as he reinjured his ankle last week against the Rams. Reinjuries are typically harder to recover from as more damage is caused if the injury is not given enough time to properly heal. Your heart goes out to Thielen, who tried helping his team in their playoff push but instead came up short. He is being placed on the IR and his season is over.
Thielen is expected to be out this week, and likely more, with a high ankle sprain. – SIT
Current COVID-19 List
The NFL is currently dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak amongst numerous teams. With so many players affected, it will be easier to simply keep an updated list of all the Fantasy Football relevant names. The list will be updated daily to remain current. Here is a reminder of the NFL’s COVID-19 rules:
– Vaccinated players who test positive can return to play after producing 2 negative tests, at least 24 hours apart
– Vaccinated players don’t have to quarantine as a “high-risk” close contact with an infected person
– Unvaccinated players who test positive will miss a minimum of *5 days before returning to play
– Unvaccinated players have a 5-day quarantine if they are a “high-risk” close contact with an infected person
Kirk Cousins (QB) Minnesota Vikings
Hayden Hurst (TE) Atlanta Falcons
Darius Slayton (WR) New York Giants
Tevin Coleman (RB) New York Jets
Jerry Jeudy (WR) Denver Broncos
Kalif Raymond (WR) Detroit Lions
Danny Amendola (WR) Houston Texans
Chris Mooe (WR) Houston Texans
Jared Cook (TE) Los Angeles Chargers
Antonio Gibson (RB) Washington Football Team
Leonard Fournette (RB) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tajae Sharpe (WR) Atlanta Falcons
Julio Jones (WR) Tennessee Titans
Dan Arnold (TE) Jacksonville Jaguars
David Johnson (RB) Houston Texans
Brock Wright (TE) Detroit Lions
Josh Reynolds (WR) Detroit Lions
Amari Rodgers (WR) Green Bay Packers
Marcedes Lewis (TE) Green Bay Packers
Chase McLaughlin (K) Cleveland Browns
Tim Patrick (WR) Denver Broncos
Darren Waller (TE) Las Vegas Raiders
Preston Williams (WR) Miami Dolphins
Albert Wilson (WR) Miami Dolphins
Deonte Harris (WR) New Orleans Saints
Elijah Moore (WR) New York Jets
Jacob Hollister (TE) Jacksonville Jaguars
This injury report updates until Week 17 ends. Make sure to stay up to date on all the latest injuries this season over on Twitter @SGPNFootballDoc!
