NFL DFS Injury Report: Week 1
Joshua Slatky, PA-C, ATC is a physician assistant at Northwest Georgia Orthopedics and Sports Medicine and avid DFS player. In his work as a physician assistant and athletic trainer, he has worked with sports teams from high school to various college levels, to the NFL.
The NFL changed its team injury reporting system this year. Teams are required to report any limitation to players in practice during game weeks. Separately, teams will release game injury reports, typically two days before game day. Unlike previous years, the probable tag is no longer part of the injury report. Teams are expected to report players as questionable (greater than 50% likelihood of playing), doubtful (less than 50% chance of playing), or out.
The purpose of this article is to give a preliminary report early in the week and an update later in the week to help you make DFS lineups. I will try to give some insight regarding player injuries with emphasis on players who may be limited by either snap count of physical limitations on game day.
Last Updated: Sunday AM
Color Coding
GREEN: Nearly certain to play. Unlikely to have an on-field limitations.
YELLOW: Likely to play. May have some snap count or mild on-field limitations.
ORANGE: Questionable to play. If able to play, likely to be significantly limited in snap count and/or on-field performance.
RED: Unlikely to play or already ruled out.
Arizona Cardinals
1. Stepfan Taylor (RB) — ORANGE / YELLOW —Taylor did not practice Tuesday with a knee contusion. This is a new onset injury and like any contusion can have a wide range of outcomes but pain with cutting and any impact will likely limit him if he is able to play.
Atlanta Falcons
1. Julio Jones (WR) — GREEN — Jones was a frequent flier on the injury report last year with knee and hamstring issues; however he did not miss a game last year. I do not expect the ankle to limit him. He is required by the NFL to be listed on the practice limitation report, but I would not be surprised if he is not on the game report come Friday.
Update: Jones is not on the game injury report. He will play and will not be limited.
2.Terron Ward (RB) — GREEN — Ward falls in a similar category to Jones with an ankle injury. He should be full go on Sunday.
Update: Ward was still limited in practice on Friday. I am going to move him to YELLOW / ORANGE. I still think that he will play, but I think he will be physically limited even further reducing his limited offensive role.
Baltimore Ravens
1. Breshad Perriman (WR) — GREEN — I listed Perriman as green because I think physically he will be able to play. He played in the 4th preseason game without a setback. However, I have read reports that indicate he may be a scratch for Sunday. I will look to update this later in the week.
2.Kenneth Dixon (RB) — RED — Dixon is down with an MCL sprain. This is a 2-6 week injury, but I think they will protect the rookie and would not expect to see him until at least week 3.
Chicago Bears
1. Zach Miller and Eddie Royal (WR/TE) — GREEN — Both players are recovering from concussions but are no longer in the protocol and barring setback should be ready for Sunday.
2. Kevin White (WR) – YELLOW / ORANGE – White showed up on the injury report Wednesday with a hamstring strain and has been limited every day in practice this week. White is coming off of a season long lower leg injury. I think the team is being cautious. He may have some mild physical limitation but I wouldn’t be scared away.
Cincinnati Bengals
1. Tyler Kroft (TE) — ORANGE / YELLOW — Kroft has an LCL sprain from injury on August 2. This is typically a 4-6 week injury which lands him right in the middle of that timeframe. He participated in practice limitedly. I expect him to be active, but it is easier to return to a blocking role with this type of injury as compared to a pass catching role. With the Eifert injury, I suspect the Bengals will want him on the field. His fantasy appeal is definitely diminished.
2.Tyler Eifert (TE) — RED — Eifert had an ankle reconstruction on May 24. Recovery from this surgery had a 4-6 month timeframe. He is unlikely to see the field in the first quarter of the season.
Dallas Cowboys
1. Tony Romo (QB) — RED — It is well established that Romo will be out for Week 1. I was a little surprised that the Cowboys elected to not move forward with a procedure that would reinforce the compression fracture. That, along with the fact that they elected not to put him on IR/PUP, leads me to think that it is a mild compression fracture. I still would not expect to see him in the first quarter of the season, but he could be back sooner than some of the 10 week reports that are out there.
2.Darren McFadden (RB) — RED — McFadden was placed on NFI list and will be out at least the first six weeks, though I expect it to be longer.
3.Lance Dunbar (RB) — YELLOW — Once it was revealed that Dunbar also had a patellar tendon tear along with ACL tear, I was surprised to see him be ready for week 1. Patellar tendon tears are very severe injuries and typically leave significant deficits in strength and explosion.
Denver Broncos
1.Bennie Fowler (WR) — RED — Fowler has already been ruled out for Thursday’s game with an elbow fracture
Detroit Lions
1. Eric Ebron (TE) — GREEN / YELLOW — I expect Ebron to play but think he will be slightly limited. He has missed significant practice time. He will need to rebuild his conditioning. I expect him to see a decreased snap count.
2.Ameer Abdullah (RB) — GREEN — Abdullah is on the practice report for a mild ankle injury. I do not expect him to be on the game report as he should be full.
3.Golden Tate (WR) — GREEN — Tate was limited in Wednesday practice but expected to play fully without limitation.
Green Bay Packers
1. Jordy Nelson (WR) — GREEN / YELLOW — Nelson has had a full year to recover from ACL reconstruction. There has been reports of a snap count limitation but I would not expect this to be pronounced due to his knee.
Houston Texans
1. Will Fuller (WR) — GREEN / YELLOW — Fuller was added to the injury report Wednesday. He was limited in practice with a hamstring injury. I think he will be ready to go Sunday, but the Texans may want to be careful with the rookie. I will be watching this one closely through the week.
Update: Fuller returned to full practice Friday. He is not listed on the game injury reports and should be ready to go. GREEN
Indianapolis Colts
1. Dwayne Allen (TE) — GREEN — It appears that Allen’s hip injury was minor. He may have been held out of practice last week just due to soreness.
2.Andrew Luck (QB) — GREEN / YELLOW — Luck has not been on the injury report until being limited in practice on Wednesday. My only concern is that he is on the report with a right shoulder. His right shoulder was a problem last year prior to his season ending injury. I am nearly certain that he plays without limitation but will update later in the week.
Update: Luck is not on the game injury report. He will start and should not be limited. GREEN
Jacksonville Jaguars
1. Chris Ivory (RB) — YELLOW — Ivory is also a new addition to the practice injury report after being limited Wednesday. I am slightly more concerned about Ivory due to his frequent lower extremity soft tissue injuries. This time, it is a calf strain. Calf strains are much like hamstrings. They can easily become a chronic problem and a player could look fine one minute and then be out the next. The one benefit for Ivory is that as a power back, he is not as reliant on quick, explosive movements.
Update: Ivory practiced on Friday. I think he will play but I am still concerned about some physical limitations. Head coach Gus Bradley said to the media Friday that it will not affect his running back rotation. I am keeping him at YELLOW.
Update #2: Ivory is INACTIVE and will not play.
Kansas City Chiefs
1. Jamaal Charles (RB) — RED / ORANGE — All indications are that Charles is not going to play Sunday. Typically, I would be concerned with a star player like Charles not back on the field nearly 1 year after ACL reconstruction. However, Rick Burkholder, Head Athletic Trainer for the Chiefs, is known to be a bit more conservative returning players from injury, especially early in the season.
Update: Charles is INACTIVE and will not play
Miami Dolphins
1. Devante Parker (WR) — RED — Parker missed practice again on Wednesday and it looks like he will not play Sunday. I have long term concerns as well about his ability to get back on the field at a high level due to the length of time he has been out and his obvious setbacks during the preseason when attempting to get back on the practice field.
Update: Parker returned to practice Friday in a very limited role. With the repeated complication he has had with the hamstring, I am still very pessimistic he plays. There is a long ways from warm ups and jogging a couple of routes to playing full. I am moving him to RED / ORANGE
2.Isaiah Pead (RB) — ORANGE — Pead is recovering from a hamstring injury. He was limited in practice Wednesday but appears to be progressing appropriately.
Minnesota Vikings
1.Jerick McKinnon (RB) — GREEN —McKinnon was limited Wednesday with a foot injury. I don’t expect him to be limited Sunday.
Update: McKinnon missed practice on Friday with his foot injury. Missing Friday practice is often a bad sign for playing on Sunday. I am downgrading him to ORANGE / RED. Even if he bucked the norm and played, a foot injury is likely to limit him physically.
2.Charles Johnson (WR) — YELLOW — Johnson has a quadriceps strain. This is a new injury, not a lingering one from the preseason. I will be closely monitoring this injury and Johnson’s practice participation through the week.
New England Patriots
1. Malcolm Mitchell (WR) — ORANGE — Mitchell is recovering from an elbow dislocation. This is a tougher injury for a receiver to recover from than other positions. He will likely need a brace when he returns and may have difficulty creating separation or extending for passes.
2.Rob Gronkowski (TE) — GREEN — I don’t expect Gronkowski to practice fully on a Wednesday this season. He will be fine for Sunday.
Update: Rob Gronkowski has been ruled OUT for Week 1.
New Orleans Saints
1. Michael Thomas (WR) — YELLOW / GREEN – Thomas injured his ankle in Thursday’s practice. He did participate Friday limitedly. I expect him to play but do think this hampers him as a downfield threat.
New York Jets
1.Brandon Marshall (WR) — GREEN — Marshall has been limited with a sore hip for a couple of weeks. This is classic veteran treatment. He will be ready for Sunday.
Update: Marshall was not on the game injury report. He will play and should not be limited.
Pittsburgh Steelers
1. Markus Wheaton (WR) — GREEN —Wheaton was limited Wednesday with shoulder soreness but will be fine Sunday.
Update: Wheaton did not practice on Friday. With the Steelers playing Monday, this tempers my less than if he were playing Sunday. Teams playing Monday do not have to submit game injury reports until Saturday. I am moving him to YELLOW / ORANGE for now, but will update based on Saturday practice and the game injury report.
Update #2: Wheaton did not practice on Saturday and has been confirmed OUT on the NFL game injury report.
San Francisco 49ers
1. Shaun Draughn (RB) — GREEN — Draughn is recovering from a rib contusion. He should not be limited Monday night.
2.Carlos Hyde (RB) — GREEN / YELLOW — Hyde is in the last stage of the concussion protocol. Rarely players have setbacks with contact activities, but all indicators are that he will play Monday. If cleared, there is no reason to think he will have any snap count or physical limitations.
Update: Both players were full participants in Friday’s practice and are looking more and more likely to play. GREEN
Seattle Seahawks
1. Jimmy Graham (TE) — YELLOW — Graham is practicing fully, but I am taking a wait and see approach. Patellar tendon tears are near catastrophic injuries for athletes. Regaining power and explosiveness is very difficult from this type of injury. Don’t confuse this with an ACL reconstruction. The recovery is longer and the likelihood of returning to the same level of athleticism is less.
2.Thomas Rawls (RB) — YELLOW — Rawls is recovering from an ankle injury and was very limited during the preseason. He practiced full on Wednesday and looks to be active Sunday. However, all indications are that he is not back to 100% and will see a reduction in snap count.
Update: To further muddy the situation, Rawls missed practice on Thursday. This was not because of his ankle but instead due to illness. He was back to practice Friday but was limited as he has been since his return to practice this preseason. He was not on the game injury report so unless there is an unforeseen circumstance, he will be active, but all reports indicate he will still be on a significant snap count. YELLOW / ORANGE*
Tennessee Titans
1. Kendall Wright (WR) — RED — Wright will not play Sunday with a recurrent hamstring strain and may miss some time going forward.
Update: Wright has been officially ruled out.
Washington Redskins
1. Josh Doctson (WR) — RED / ORANGE — Based on how long Doctson has been attempting to recover from achilles tendonitis, I don’t think he will play Monday. If he manages to get on the field, he will likely have a significant snap count limit.
2.Matt Jones (RB) — YELLOW — Jones practice in pads Wednesday which is very encouraging that he will be ready for Monday. Jones has a grade 2 separation which is mostly a pain limiting injury. He could have a setback if he takes an awkward hit, but he should be ready.
Update: Jones was a full participant in Friday’s practice. It would take a substantial setback between now and Monday to hold him out. GREEN