Analyzing Week 1's injury report
Brett Davis/US PresswireArian Foster's status for Week 1 is still uncertain.A primer for those new to the game: Injury reports provide clues to a player's status for eager fantasy owners. The NFL requires teams to submit injury reports several times per week, identifying the body part that is involved in the injury. Early in the week, these reports will indicate whether a player who has some level of injury is not practicing, is limited in practice or is a full participant. On Fridays, all players on the injury report are assigned one of the following designations by their teams: probable, questionable, doubtful or out.
The explanation for each designation is as follows:
Probable (P): This designation indicates that a player has a greater than 50 percent chance of playing. Most players listed here are expected to play, barring a setback between the Friday injury report and kickoff.
Questionable (Q): This is the fantasy owner's most dreaded player designation. It means a player's status is on the fence and that there is a 50-50 chance he'll be on the field come game time. However, as fantasy owners have come to learn, many teams utilize the questionable designation for any player with a hint of injury. Whether a player ends up active often comes down to a game-time decision based on how he performs during warmups, so it is important for fantasy owners to check status reports leading up to the game.
Doubtful (D): The doubtful designation means a player has less than a 25 percent chance of playing that week. Rarely does a guy labeled as doubtful end up playing unless he experiences a major turnaround before game time. Fantasy owners who need to make roster adjustments before game time can feel fairly confident about sitting a player listed as doubtful.
Out: This is the easy one. The guy's definitely not playing Sunday. As painful as it might be to see this designation next to a player on your fantasy roster, at least you know in advance of the game that he's sitting out and can plan accordingly.
Each week in the Saturday blog, we will run down a list of key fantasy players, by position, who appear in the Friday injury report and analyze their chances for playing Sunday. The primary fantasy positions are covered (quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end), and this year, a few additional notables at both offensive and defensive positions will be added to the list. We'll cover the players listed as "Out" at the end of the blog as well.
Good luck in Week 1, everyone! May your players stay healthy and win for you.
Quarterbacks
Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs, rib (P):Cassel suffered what the team referred to as a rib injury in the Chiefs' preseason finale. Any injury to the rib cage area makes it painful to do just about any movement, and performance often comes down to pain management. It appears Cassel is managing any discomfort he might have pretty well, considering he was a full participant in practice throughout the week. The probable designation virtually ensures he will play.
Donovan McNabb, Minnesota Vikings, right wrist (P):
McNabb is bound to have various aches and pains on a weekly basis at this stage of his career. Fantasy owners may remember last year (or may choose to forget) when McNabb often appeared on the injury report and may have missed practice time but played anyway. That appears to be the case here as well. A bruised wrist, suffered in a late preseason game, did not keep him out of practice, and it won't keep him off the field.
Running Backs
Arian Foster, Houston Texans, hamstring (Q):Foster's status is shaping up as one of the most dreaded in fantasy: game-time decision. Foster did not formally participate in practice all week but did do running on the side, increasing the intensity of his workouts as the week progressed. Coach Gary Kubiak told reporters Friday that Foster "went extremely hard in his rehab and took a big step forward," while acknowledging the final decision would be made before the game.
For his part, Foster indicated the hamstring was feeling better even with the harder workouts, yet he seemed to foreshadow a scenario where he could sit out the first week. According to the Houston Chronicle, Foster said: "The coaches and I both know ... if you rush back a hamstring it's going to bite you again, and it's going to keep biting you." Considering the Texans have depth at the running back position and will be facing a Colts team without quarterback Peyton Manning at the helm, it would not be surprising if Foster sits. If Foster does not go, Derrick Ward is in line to get the start with Ben Tate available off the bench.
Daniel Thomas, Miami Dolphins, hamstring (Monday night):
Thomas injured his hamstring in practice Wednesday and was held out Thursday as a result. Another result of the injury, according to the Miami Herald, was the Dolphins' re-signing of Larry Johnson, cut just days earlier. Thomas was improved enough to participate on a limited basis Friday but given that the team plays Monday night against New England, it is too soon to know whether he will be able to go. (There is no official designation required yet for teams playing Monday night.) Reggie Bush is likely to see more action, anyway, and the Monday night factor combined with the injury makes Thomas a risky play.
Kahlil Bell, Chicago Bears, knee (P):
Given that Marion Barber has been ruled out for this week's contest with a calf injury, Bell is the definitive backup to Bears starting running back Matt Forte. The expectation is that Forte will get the bulk of the work, but the situation certainly makes Bell's health status more notable. Bell reportedly sprained his ankle in the Bears' final preseason game -- although the official NFL report says knee -- but has practiced fully all week and is expected to be available to play.
Wide Receivers
Sidney Rice, Seattle Seahawks, shoulder (D):Fantasy owners can take a big clue here that Rice will not play this weekend. The doubtful tag is rarely used, and when it is, it typically follows that the player will not suit up. Although specifics are scarce, the Seattle Times notes that Rice hurt his shoulder during a one-on-one drill in training camp. He has been up and down with the injury since but has not practiced since late August. This will be worth monitoring closely next week.
Austin Collie, Indianapolis Colts, foot (Q):
Collie has been bothered somewhat by a foot ailment for a few weeks, but it has not been enough to keep him out of practice. Collie practiced fully each day this week, a good indicator that this is not serious, and despite the questionable tag, he is expected to play. Naturally, fantasy owners should double check the pregame inactive reports to be sure.
Scott Boehm/Getty ImagesChances are good that Miles Austin will be able to play Week 1.
Austin suffered a hamstring strain in mid-August, and the Cowboys have carefully controlled his activity ever since. Even this week, he was kept to limited practice, but it appears much of the limitation was proactive in nature, guarding against a setback before the opener. Austin is expected to play, and while there is no way of ever knowing just how healthy a hamstring is until it's tested, the probable designation is a good sign.
Santonio Holmes, New York Jets, illness (P):
The "illness" that has Holmes on the injury report does not appear too severe, since he practiced in full Friday. The probable tag tells us that the Jets expect to have him on the field Sunday night.
Plaxico Burress, New York Jets, ankle (P):
Burress sprained his ankle early in camp, but it hasn't kept him off the practice field this week. He is expected to play Sunday night.
Derrick Mason, New York Jets, knee (P):
The veteran Mason is bound to appear on the injury report regularly, but we know from his Baltimore days that he shows up on Sundays. After practicing fully all week, he is expected to do the same again for the Jets.
Steve Breaston, Kansas City Chiefs, hamstring, (P):
One of the things we don't like to see is a late addition to the injury report, which Breaston was this week. He was held to limited practice Friday but is listed as probable, so the presumption is that this is not serious. Still, it does at least raise an eyebrow as to how well he'll be able to run Sunday.
Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons, thigh (P):
White suffered a bruised thigh in a preseason game, hence the injury note. That injury happened before the preseason game where he amassed 100 yards, so there's no major concern. He practiced fully all week and is expected to start Sunday.
Mohamed Massaquoi, Cleveland Browns, foot (P):
Massaquoi suffered a small fracture in his left foot, which limited him in the preseason, but this week he has been a full participant in practice each day. The probable tag tells us the Browns plan on having him available.
Steve Smith, Philadelphia Eagles, knee (P):
Smith underwent a microfracture surgery in the offseason and moved from the Giants to the Eagles in August. It seemed unlikely coming off this procedure that Smith would be available early on, but his activity has increased recently. The Eagles strongly hint at him being active, designating him as probable, but it seems unlikely he would see extended playing time this soon.
Patrick Crayton, San Diego Chargers, ankle (Q):
Crayton underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his ankle recently and did not officially practice in the latter half of the week. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports he is unlikely to play.
Anthony Gonzalez, Indianapolis Colts, hamstring (Q):
Gonzalez has dealt with numerous injuries over the past two years, so an early hamstring issue does not help his cause. He practiced on a limited basis all week, but it's unclear just how much action he sees even if he plays.
Tight Ends
Chris Cooley, Washington Redskins, knee (Q):Cooley had offseason arthroscopic surgery on his knee and dealt with persistent swelling during camp. A visit to Dr. James Andrews led to a decrease in activity to allow the knee some recovery time. Cooley remains optimistic that he will play but acknowledges the pain is likely to be there throughout the year. That's concerning.
As for this week, Cooley was limited daily in practice. Although coach Mike Shanahan told the Washington Post that Cooley was "making strides each day," he indicated a decision would not be made as to his status for the game until the weekend. Even if he plays, Cooley is clearly not 100 percent.
Visanthe Shiancoe, Minnesota Vikings, hamstring (P):
Shiancoe battled a hamstring issue throughout training camp, but he was a full participant in practice this week. Shiancoe told 1500ESPN.com he was "about 100 percent," but it's worth noting that this is not his first round of hamstring injuries. And he has yet to test it in a game. It appears he will play Sunday, and the hope is that he gets through the game without a setback.
Benjamin Watson, Cleveland Browns, hip (P):
Watson dealt with a concussion in early August and lately has been working to overcome a hip ailment. He managed to put in a full practice Friday and, with the probable designation, appears on track to play.
Kevin Boss, Oakland Raiders, knee (Monday night):
Boss took a helmet to his left knee in the preseason game against the 49ers and has not practiced since. It certainly does not appear he'll be ready to join the team on Monday night.
Other notables:
Jeff Otah (T), Carolina Panthers, knee (Q):Otah has certainly had his share of leg injuries, and he finds himself on the injury bubble again. He did not practice Friday, but according to the Shelby Star, this was a precautionary move and coach Ron Rivera said "without a doubt" Otah would play. Ongoing swelling could present a problem, but it appears, barring a late setback, that the Panthers expect him to be active.
Justin Tuck (DE), New York Giants, neck (Q):
Tuck suffered a stinger in a preseason game against the Jets and has been up and down since. After not practicing Thursday, he put in limited work Friday, but it appears he will be a game-time decision. Given how much the neck has limited him in the past couple of weeks, it would not be a complete surprise if he sits this one out.
Darrelle Revis, New York Jets, hip (P):
Revis strained a hip flexor during the preseason but has insisted that it is no big deal. Last year, a hamstring kept him out at the start of the season, but it does not appear that will be the case this time. Revis practiced fully all week and is listed as probable for the Sunday night matchup against the Cowboys.
DeMeco Ryans (LB), Houston Texans, elbow/ankle (P):
Ryans suffered a bruised elbow during the preseason but believes it is not a major issue, nor is the Achilles on which he had surgery last year. To his point, Ryans has practiced fully all week. He is expected to play, although how much action he sees is uncertain.
Out
This space is intended for a list of key fantasy players (not including those who have been moved to injured reserve status) who are officially listed as "Out" for the upcoming game.Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis Colts, neck: Manning will be out for several months after undergoing a cervical fusion.
Marion Barber, RB, Chicago Bears, calf: Barber, often the victim of leg injuries, is out with a calf strain for at least this week.
Osi Umenyiora, DE, New York Giants, knee: Umenyiora underwent meniscus surgery and is expected to miss at least this week, perhaps longer.
LaRon Landry, S, Washington Redskins, hamstring: An Achilles injury from last season compounded by a hamstring injury during preseason workouts is not a good combination. The recovery process is going slowly and it is unclear when Landry will return.
Be sure to check out "Fantasy Football Now," Sundays on ESPN2 at 11:30 a.m. ET, and "Fantasy Surround" on ESPN.com starting at 10 a.m. ET Sunday for last-minute inactives, rankings, injury impact and more.
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