NFL DFS Injury Report: Wild Card Weekend
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. He is currently involved in the regular care of high school and college athletes across northwest Georgia.
Playoffs?!? Here we are. The New Year is upon us and that means NFL playoffs. Another advantage of DFS is that we can keep playing for a few more weeks. There was some shifting of playoff position based on Week 17. The effects of losing Derek Carr were obvious for the Raiders who now must play this weekend instead of enjoying the bye they could have had with a win. To pour salt on the wound, the Raiders have now also lost their backup quarterback and must turn to rookie Conner Cook. On the other hand, the Texans who were playing for nothing lost their starting quarterback (who used to be their backup quarterback). They will turn back to their old starting quarterback this weekend.
With only four games, there is less volume, so I tried to give a little information concerning key defensive players and offensive linemen. Early in the week, there is a lot of information already out regarding key players, especially those who missed or were limited over the last couple of regular season games. As the playoff picture had significant clarity heading toward Week 17, teams were able to protect some players nursing injuries with sights on having a healthy team for the playoffs.
As always, I will post an update when the official injury reports are released. Enjoy the precious couple of NFL weeks we have left. Leave a comment below or reach @slakdogg on twitter with an questions. Best of luck this weekend!
Last Updated: Friday PM
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.
Detroit Lions
1. Theo Riddick (RB) — RED – Riddick was placed on IR prior to Week 17 leaving Zach Zenner to carry the backfield load in the playoffs.
Green Bay Packers
1.Randall Cobb (WR) — ORANGE / YELLOW – Cobb has missed the past 2 weeks with an ankle injury. He returned to practice Wednesday and the Packers are hopeful that he will be ready for the playoffs. The Packers get the benefit of playing Sunday instead of Saturday, which only helps Cobb. I expect him to play but have some physical limitations.
UPDATE: Cobb was able to practice on a limited basis through the week and appears in line to play Sunday. I still expect him to be limited both in snaps and physical performance. He is a strong candidate to get pulled early if the Packers get into a position to preserve any of their key players.
2.James Starks (RB) — PURPLE – Starks has been out for nearly a month with a concussion. As a result, he has become the forgotten man of the Packers’ backfield. He again missed practice Wednesday leading me to think that he will miss the first round of the playoffs.
UPDATE: Starks has been ruled OUT for Sunday.
3.Damarious Randall (CB) – YELLOW – Randall was forced from the Sunday night game with a knee injury and did not return. He was able to return to limited practice Wednesday. With a playoff berth assured and already thin at cornerback, the Packers were likely being conservative with Randall. The return to practice indicates that he will be ready for Sunday’s game.
UPDATE: Randall was able to practice full Friday, making him likely to play Sunday.
4.Quinten Rollins (CB) — RED – Rollins was injured during Week 17 which resulted in a few scary moments as he was immobilized and carted off the field. He remained in Detroit overnight for tests, returning to Green Bay the following day. He is in concussion protocol now making it very unlikely that he will play Sunday.
Houston Texans
1. Lamar Miller (RB) — YELLOW – With nothing to gain, the Texans made Miller inactive for Week 17. He returned to practice Wednesday and is expected to play Saturday.
UPDATE: Miller practiced full Thursday and is not listed on the game injury report. Alfred Blue will likely still get some carries but after two straight inactive weeks, expect Miller to carry the load Saturday.
2.Tom Savage (QB) — PURPLE / RED – Savage suffered a concussion Week 17. He is hindered by the short week and is not expected to play Saturday, leaving Brock Osweiler to resume his position under center.
UPDATE: Savage has been ruled OUT for Saturday.
3.A.J. Bouye (CB) — YELLOW – Bouye, one the top rated cornerbacks according to PFF, suffered a groin injury Sunday. He practiced limited Wednesday and told the media that he would be ready to play Saturday.
UPDATE: Bouye has been removed from the injury report and will play Saturday.
4.Chris Clark (RT) — RED – Clark suffered a season ending leg injury Sunday and will miss the playoffs.
Miami Dolphins
1.Ryan Tannehill (QB) – RED – Tannehill remains out with a sprained ACL and MCL. He was not expected back this week and head coach Adam Gase essentially confirmed that he would be out telling the media that something would need to drastically change for him to play Sunday.
2.Byron Maxwell (CB) — RED / ORANGE – Maxwell has been out since injuring his ankle Week 15. He again missed practice Wednesday. The Dolphins were originally hopeful that he could return for the first round of the playoffs, but another missed practice makes that less likely.
UPDATE: Maxwell has been listed as doubtful on the game injury reports. Keeping with my original thoughts, he is unlikely to play Sunday.
New York Giants
1.Janoris Jenkins (CB) — YELLOW – Jenkins has been dealing with a back injury and was limited to only 42% of snaps on Sunday. He was limited Wednesday in practice and is expected to remain limited through the week, but is expected to play Sunday.
UPDATE: Jenkins has been removed from the injury reports and will play Sunday.
Oakland Raiders
1.Matt McGloin (QB) — ORANGE / RED – McGloin’s reign as Oakland starting quarterback was short-lived as he was forced from the Week 17 game with a shoulder injury. Conner Cook took the helm and has been named the starter for Wildcard Weekend. Head coach Jack Del Rio told the media that McGloin may be well enough to back up Cook, but he is not expected to play Saturday.
UPDATE: McGloin is listed as questionable on the game injury report. At this point, his role is unclear. As Cook was named the starter so early in the week, I still expect him to be an emergency back up at most.
2.Michael Crabtree (WR) — YELLOW / GREEN – Crabtree will remain on the injury report with a finger injury. He has played since the injury and is expected to be on the field Saturday.
UPDATE: As expected, Crabtree is listed questionable for Saturday, but is expected to play.
3.Amari Cooper (WR) — YELLOW / GREEN – Similar to Crabtree, Cooper remains on the injury report with a shoulder injury. He will be limited through the practice week but is expected to play Saturday.
UPDATE: Cooper is also listed as questionable, but is also expected to play.
4.Jalen Richard (RB) — YELLOW – Richard injured his shoulder Sunday and was limited Wednesday. He is expected to play Sunday as part of the running back committee.
UPDATE: Richard has been removed from the injury report and will play Saturday.
Pittsburgh Steelers
1.Ladarius Green (TE) — PURPLE / GREEN – Green remains in concussion protocol but practiced full Wednesday. Barring setback, Green should clear protocol Thursday or Friday and is expected to play Sunday.
UPDATE: Probably the biggest update of the weekend is that Green has had a setback and reports are now that he is unlikely to play. He is listed as questionable on the game injury reports leaving the door open for him to play, but I will downgrade him to PURPLE with anticipation that he is closer to out.