Brett Hundley QB, Packers: hamstring injury
Packers’ backup quarterback Brett Hundley injured his hamstring in Week 10 against the Bears, but he was able to finish the game and didn’t appear to be too hampered by the injury. He tweaked the muscle on a scramble in the second half when Hundley pulled up and slid headfirst. It’s a good sign that Hundley didn’t miss a snap, but hamstring injuries are notoriously tricky. According to the Inside Injuries algorithm, Hundley only needs a week of recovery time, which puts him on track to play in Week 11. He has been a full participant in practice so far this week.
Marcus Mariota QB, Titans: sore left shoulder and ankle sprain
Mariota dealt with a hamstring injury that held him out of Week 5, and he picked up two more injuries during the Week 10 matchup with the Bengals. He suffered an injury to his left (non-throwing) shoulder and a “mild” ankle sprain, though it’s not clear exactly when he sustained the injuries. He was limited at Wednesday’s practice, so while we are inclined to believe these are just typical game-time bumps and bruises, Mariota’s injury history does have us a bit concerned. While he could use a week out, the Titans aren’t going to hold Mariota out of Week 11. He will be an Elevated Injury Risk for Thursday’s game.
Danny Woodhead RB, Ravens: torn hamstring
The Ravens are “not sure” if Danny Woodhead will be ready to play in Week 11 after being placed on IR with a torn hamstring in Week 1. This is the first week he is eligible to return, but he is still at least two weeks away from his Optimal Recovery Time according to the Inside Injuries algorithm. Woodhead himself was unsure about whether or not he would return for Sunday’s game. Given his Elevated Injury Risk and Below Average Health Performance Factor, Woodhead is still a few weeks shy of 100%. He might also need a few weeks after he returns to start looking like himself on the field again.
Leonard Fournette RB, Jaguars: ankle sprain
This could explain why Fournette didn’t play much in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game. It looks like Fournette may have aggravated his ankle injury on Sunday. He was limited at practice on Wednesday, but given his full participation in practice last week, it seems he suffered a setback. His lingering ankle and foot issues date back to his time at LSU, so any aggravation is worrisome. He is a High Injury Risk and his Optimal Recovery Time is two weeks according to the Inside Injuries algorithm. He won’t be healthy if he plays in Week 11.
Isaiah Crowell RB, Browns: shoulder injury
Isaiah Crowell already injured his shoulder once this season, so we think this is an aggravation of a previous injury. He was limited at practice on Wednesday, which lends us to believe that it’s not a serious aggravation. His Optimal Recovery Time is only one week, but given his history of shoulder injuries, he will remain an Elevated Injury Risk.
Philip Rivers QB, Chargers: concussion
Philip Rivers entered the concussion protocol on Monday and will have to get cleared by an independent neurologist in order to be eligible to play in Week 11. He was never tested for a concussion during Sunday’s game, and it’s not clear when he sustained the injury. Rivers was never sacked and was only hit once, though he was knocked down on a high-low combo early in the game that could have caused the injury. The good news is that Rivers has never been diagnosed with a concussion in his 13-year career. The bad news is that once a player sustains a concussion, he is at a higher risk of having another one down the road. Even if he does clear the protocol in time for Sunday’s game, he will be an elevated Injury Risk.
Ty Montgomery RB, Packers: ribs injury
Ty Montgomery suffered a multiple fractured ribs in Week 4 that held him out of one game. The injury has lingered throughout the season, and Montgomery aggravated the injury on Sunday to an extent that forced him from the game. He did not practice on Wednesday, which puts his availability for Week 11 in doubt. He has been an Elevated Injury Risk for the past few weeks and will remain that way if he tries to play through the injury. The Optimal Recovery Time for Montgomery is three weeks, which means he won’t be healthy if he tries to play on Sunday.
Dez Bryant WR, Cowboys: ankle and knee injuries
Dez Bryant did not practice on Wednesday due to the knee and ankle injuries he has been dealing with for the past few weeks. He was back as a limited participant on Thursday, so he will likely play again this week but won’t be healthy. Last week Bryant only got in a limited practice Friday before playing on Sunday against the Falcons, so we expect him to be available for Week 11. He is still a High Injury Risk, so if he plays through the injury again, he will continue to be less than 100%. Bryant’s Below Average Health Performance Factor also makes him someone to avoid in fantasy lineups.
Other Injuries to Monitor
Demaryius Thomas WR, Broncos: knee injury
Terrance West RB, Ravens: calf injury
Kenny Britt WR, Browns: knee injury
Marqise Lee WR, Jaguars: knee injury
Jordan Matthews WR, Bills: knee injury
Follow Virgina @VZakas.
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