NFL DFS Injury Report: Week 12
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.
After a couple of light injury weeks, it was back to work for me in preparation for Week 12. Not only are all 32 team back in action this week, there are three big games for us all to enjoy with our turkey and stuffing on Thursday. News came out early for the Thursday games. Andrew Luck has already been ruled out and Stefon Diggs is also expected to miss due to the short week. As for Sunday, we know that Rob Gronkowski is likely to miss and Thomas Rawls got back just in time as CJ Prosise will be out for at least a few weeks.
There are several key players in concussion protocol for Week 12. This may open up value, and we typically get early news on these players’ status. Unfortunately, there are also several cloudy situations like TJ Yeldon and LeSean McCoy.
I changed the format just a little this week and put the six Thanksgiving day participants at the top. I will remove them and add updates to the remaining teams as the weekend approaches. Best of luck for Week 12. Have a happy Thanksgiving!!
Last Updated: Saturday 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.
PURPLE: In concussion protocol. Play status unknown but if active, should play without restriction.
Arizona Cardinals
1. Michael Floyd (WR) — RED — Floyd injured his hamstring Wednesday in practice and was unable to practice Thursday or Friday. He is officially listed as questionable, but it is very unlikely he plays in Week 12, but the Cardinals are leaving the option open. Reports are that he is going to give it a try in warm ups.
Atlanta Falcons
1. Julio Jones (WR) — GREEN / YELLOW – Oh Julio, how I have missed you. After a short sabbatical, frequent flier Julio Jones is back on the injury report. He was limited Wednesday with a shoulder injury. He has been nursing ankle and knee injuries through the season, but the shoulder is a new listing. My only concern is that the Falcons are coming off their bye week. This early in the week, I don’t think it will turn out to be a big deal, but I will have to watch through the week.
UPDATE: Jones was not listed on the game injury report and will play Sunday against Arizona.
2.Jacob Tamme (TE) — RED – Tamme was place in IR Monday and will miss the rest of the season.
Buffalo Bills
1.LeSean McCoy (RB) — ORANGE – McCoy missed the second half of Sunday’s game after he dislocated his thumb. This made particular news as the medical staff was unable to reduce the thumb (pop it back in) at the stadium. This is not uncommon with thumb dislocations. This is typically caused by part of one of the muscles in the hand blocking the thumb from going back into joint. As a result, McCoy had surgery to open the thumb and get it reduced. I have seen mixed reports of how the Bills intend to handle his situation. As we saw earlier this season, the return to play decisions of the Bills medical staff could certainly be questioned. If the skin is healed well enough, McCoy could play with a splint or soft cast, but this would limit his pass catching ability, one of his biggest attributes. Even if he does manage to play Sunday, I expect him to be severely limited.
UPDATE: McCoy has progresses as expected this week and is on schedule to play. I am still concerned that he will be a little limited by the thumb. Especially with Gillislee out, McCoy will need to carry the load. I would upgrade him to YELLOW but know that he may have some limitations in the pass game.
2.Mike Gillislee (RB) — YELLOW / ORANGE – The Bills backfield situation became a little more complicated Wednesday when Gillislee left practice early with a tight hamstring. Gillislee reportedly didn’t seem concerned about the injury or his status for Week 12, but as we have seen repeatedly this season, hamstring injury can be very difficult to bounce back from. I would expect him to do very little or nothing on Thursday. Friday’s practice will be our best opportunity to gauge his status.
UPDATE: Gillislee was unable to return to practice and has been ruled OUT for Week 12.
3.Robert Woods (WR) — RED — Woods left Week 11 early with a knee sprain and is not expected to play Sunday against Jacksonville. Initial look at the injury brought fears of something more severe, but it still looks like it will cost him Week 12.
4.Sammy Watkins (WR) – ORANGE / YELLOW – Watkins returned to practice Wednesday as he attempts to bounce back from his repetitive foot injuries. There was a lot of debate that he returned too quickly early in the year, so under typical circumstances I would expect him to be eased back into the offense. He may have more pressure to return to a bigger role due to the injury to Woods. I would expect him to play with some snap limitation Sunday, but his big play ability cannot be denied if he is on the field.
UPDATE: Watkins has been activated from IR. This is another clear step toward him playing in Week 12. The Bills have been steadfast that they will ease him back into action and I don’t expect this to change.
Carolina Panthers
1. Luke Kuechly (LB) – PURPLE / RED – After a nasty concussion last Thursday, Kuechly failed to practice Wednesday. Considering the extra days of rest, I would consider this an early indicator that he likely will miss Week 12. This would be a big boost to the Oakland offense.
UPDATE: Kuechly has been ruled OUT for Week 12.
Chicago Bears
1. Jay Cutler (QB) – RED – Cutler suffered a shoulder injury Sunday and is expected to miss Week 12. It was originally reported that Cutler had a labral tear and would miss the rest of the season. This has since been retracted, but for that to even be considered I would expect Cutler to miss some period of time in order to rehab his strength enough to play. With Brian Hoyer on IR with a clavicle fracture, Matt Barkley will take the helm for the Bears offense.
2.Zach Miller (TE) – RED – Miller broke his foot Sunday and had season ending surgery this week.
3. Eddie Royal (WR) — RED — Royal is continuing to struggle with a toe sprain and will not play Week 12.
Cincinnati Bengals
1.AJ Green (WR) — RED – Green suffered a hamstring strain on the second play of Sunday’s game and has already been ruled out for Week 12. It was originally feared that he would be out for the season but those fears have been tempered for now. I would expect him to miss multiple weeks, but there will likely be clear early signs when the Bengals expect to get him back.
2. Giovani Bernard (RB) — RED – Bernard tore his ACL Sunday and is out for the season.
Cleveland Browns
1. Cody Kessler (QB) — RED – In a scenario that has become too familiar, another Browns quarterback is injured and expected to miss significant time. Kessler suffered his second concussion Sunday. He has already been ruled out for Week 12 and there have been reports that the Browns are considering shutting him down for the year.
2.Robert Griffin (QB) – RED / ORANGE – Griffin has been designated for return this week from his shoulder fracture. He practiced Wednesday but it is unknown at this time if he will be active for Week 12. Josh McCown is the projected starter this week, but Griffin is expected to be back on the field this season.
Denver Broncos
1.Aqib Talib (CB) — GREEN – Talib was a full participant this week in practice and is expected back coming off the bye.
2.Derek Wolfe (DE) – GREEN – Wolfe returned to practice this week is expected to play Week 12.
Houston Texans
1. Alfred Blue (RB) — ORANGE – Blue missed Week 11 with a calf strain. The Texans had hoped he would return to back up Lamar Miller this week, but he did not practice Wednesday putting that in question.
UPDATE: Blue has been ruled OUT for Week 12.
Jacksonville Jaguars
1. Julius Thomas (TE) — YELLOW – Thomas did not practice Wednesday. If you read this report weekly, you know this is a very common practice. However, the concern is that is now being listed with a back injury. It is uncertain when the injury occurred as he played 82% of snaps in Week 11. I suspect he will play but I am concerned this is not his typical injury listing.
UPDATE: Concern over the new injury was real. Thomas did not practice this week and has been ruled OUT for Week 12.
2.T.J. Yeldon (RB) — ORANGE – Yeldon was knocked out of Sunday’s Week 11 game with an ankle injury. There have been very few reports, but he did not practice Wednesday. I will just have to keep watch on this situation.
UPDATE: Yeldon did not practice all week. He is listed questionable on the game injury report, but it does not look promising for him to play Sunday at Buffalo.
Kansas City Chiefs
1. Charcandrick West (RB) — PURPLE – West suffered a concussion Sunday and did not practice Wednesday. We will likely know by Friday’s injury report released if he is expected to play Week 12 or not.
UPDATE: West has cleared concussion protocol and is expected to play Week 12.
2.Jeremy Maclin (WR) — RED / ORANGE – Maclin has missed the last two weeks as he recovers from a groin strain. He did not practice Wednesday. He has not been ruled out yet, but it is unlikely he will play Week 12.
New England Patriots
1. Rob Gronkowski (TE) — RED – Gronkowski appears in line to miss his second straight game as with a lung injury.
UPDATE: Gronkowski has made good progress through the week. He is listed as questionable on the game injury report. I am forced to upgrade him to ORANGE / RED. He is considered a true game time decision. The fact he plays in the afternoon game, makes rostering him a precarious proposition.
2.Tom Brady (QB) – GREEN – Brady took Wednesday off with what is being listed as a knee injury. There was no indication of injury Sunday and he should be ready Sunday for the Jets.
3.Chris Hogan (WR) — GREEN / YELLOW – After missing Week 11, Hogan returned to practice Wednesday. He should return for Week 12.
New Orleans Saints
1. Mark Ingram (RB) — PURPLE / GREEN – Ingram remains in the league’s concussion protocol though he returned to practice Wednesday. He seems on course to return though I am a little concerned that he had a transient loss of consciousness. At this point, I think it is safe to think he is going to play.
New York Giants
1. Roger Lewis (WR) — PURPLE – Lewis is in the concussion protocol after a blow Sunday against the Bears. He did not practice on Wednesday.
Philadelphia Eagles
1. Ryan Mathews (RB) — ORANGE / RED – Matthews suffered an MCL sprain in Week 11. The Eagles are listing him as day-to-day but MCL sprains usually require anywhere from 2-6 weeks to recover. He did not practice Wednesday which is no surprise, but his availability for Week 12 is in serious doubt.
UPDATE: Mathews has been ruled OUT for Week 12.
2.Darren Sproles (RB) — ORANGE / YELLOW – Sproles suffered a broken rib Sunday versus the Seahawks. He missed practice Wednesday and his status is uncertain for Week 12. Typically, players miss the first week following this injury but with the injury status of Ryan Matthews, he may be pushed into duty.
UPDATE: Sproles practiced through the week and is expected to play. Upgrade to YELLOW as rib injuries can be very painful. The Eagles will need him with Mathews ruled out.
San Diego Chargers
1.Travis Benjamin (WR) — YELLOW – The Chargers plan for Benjamin appears to be going as planned. Coming off the Week 11 bye, he has practiced this week and appears sufficiently recovered from the PCL sprain that sidelined him in Week 10. He will likely need a knee brace which may limit him somewhat.
San Francisco 49ers
1. Torrey Smith (WR) — GREEN / YELLOW – After missing Week 11 with a shoulder injury, Smith returned to practice this week and appears to be on track for a Week 12 return.
Seattle Seahawks
1. Thomas Rawls (RB) — GREEN / YELLOW – Rawls played for the first time in nine week Sunday against the Eagles. The Seahawks had planned to ease him back into the offense but after CJ Prosise went down he was forced into a larger role. He told the media following the game that he was ready to carry the load going forward which is fortunate for the Seahawks who cut Christine Michael last week.
2.C.J. Prosise (RB) — RED – Prosise suffered a fractured scapula in Week 11. As seen with Donte Moncrief earlier this year, a player can return from this injury but it will take about six weeks.
3.Earl Thomas (S) — RED – Thomas suffered a hamstring strain Sunday and is expected to miss 2-3 weeks.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1.Jacquizz Rodgers (RB) — RED – Rodgers has been sidelined for the past three weeks with a foot sprain. He returned to practice Wednesday, but all reports have the Bucs shooting for a Week 13 return.