(AP Photo archives)
Jimmy Garoppolo QB, 49ers: torn ACL
The 49ers lost another key player to a torn ACL. Jimmy Garoppolo joins running back Jerick McKinnon following his injury on Sunday and will undergo season-ending surgery. Garoppolo scrambled and was running down the sideline late in the fourth quarter when he went down after trying to stay in bounds to gain a few extra yards. He was later carted to the locker room, and an MRI on Monday confirmed the inevitable. The 49ers will turn to C.J. Beathard for the rest of the season, an obvious downgrade at the position. Garoppolo is looking at a recovery time around 9 months, so he should be ready to go at the start of the 2019 season. For now it looks like he avoided any additional damage in the knee, but sometimes doctors find damage that didn’t show up on the scan when they open the knee up.
Evan Engram TE, Giants: MCL sprain
Engram was hit low after a catch on Sunday, resulting in an MCL sprain. He is considered week-to-week, and Inside Injuries is showing a grade 2 (moderate) ligament sprain. That comes with a four week Optimal Recovery Time, so he won’t be 100% if he returns before week 7. The team expects him to miss 4-6 weeks. The safe move would be to keep him out through their week 9 bye.
A.J. Green WR, Bengals: groin injury
As the Bengals attempted a late comeback, their best player was sitting on the sideline with an injury. Green wasn’t able to finish the game due to a groin problem, but the team won’t reveal much about what’s really going on. Green said he will be fine after “just another bruise.” He appeared to fall hard on his back/side, so it makes sense that it isn’t a muscular strain but more of a painful contusion. Expect Green to be ready to face the Falcons in week 4, but his Injury Risk could still remain High for the next week or two.
Rex Burkhead RB, Patriots: neck injury
The injuries continue to mount for Burkhead. He has a concerning history of knee injuries, already suffered a concussion in week 1, and he wasn’t able to finish the game on Sunday due to a neck injury. Burkhead was injured in the third quarter and taken back to the locker room for further evaluation. That’s about all we know right now, so we will need to monitor his practice participation very closely this week. With Sony Michel (knee) back in the mix and James White seeing plenty of snaps, Burkhead won’t have a huge role in this offense for now. Concussions and neck injuries are also often related, so the neck pain could be the result of recurring concussion symptoms. Let’s hope that’s not the case, but it’s very possible.
Adrian Peterson RB, Redskins: ankle sprain
The bye week comes at a great time for AP. Peterson finished the game in week 3 but was later seen with a protective boot on his ankle. He is expected to be good to go by week 5, and that’s in line with Inside Injuries’ Optimal Recovery Time. But even if his ankle is mostly healed, other injury concerns remain. Peterson started the season a High Injury Risk mainly due to his concerning injury history that included a season-ending neck injury in 2017. He is also 33, which is up there for a running back. It’s also important to note that Peterson has had ankle injuries in the past. The ligaments are likely stretched out, leaving him more susceptible to future sprains.
Matt Breida RB, 49ers: knee injury
Breida appeared to suffer a serious injury in the second quarter when his leg hyperextended, the mechanism that often leads to a torn ACL. Fortunately he avoided something catastrophic, and he was able to return to the game and top 100 yards. Still, this is something to watch. Breida is likely dealing with stiffness and swelling in the knee. As long as he didn’t suffer a ligament sprain he should be ready to go week 4, but his Injury Risk is Elevated.
Anthony Miller WR, Bears: dislocated shoulder
Miller dislocated his left shoulder in week 3 when he stuck his arm out to try to shield a defender. He was in and out of the game after that and was clearly in a lot of pain. He appeared to dislocate it a second time later in the game when he stretched out his arm again, so the ligaments are clearly very stretched out or torn. Shoulder dislocations aren’t necessarily long-term injuries unless there is ligament or cartilage damage, but it is incredibly painful. Unfortunately there is a good chance that the dislocation caused damage significant enough to eventually require surgery. That could include either a labrum tear or rotator cuff damage. Miller previously missed all of the 2014 season while at Memphis due to a torn labrum in his right shoulder. For now consider Miller day-to-day, but his Injury Risk is very high. He can’t be trusted until we know that his shoulder is fully healed. That might not be until next season.
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