Tyrod Taylor, QB, Browns, dislocated pinky
Taylor escaped an ugly fall with just a dislocated pinky to his non-throwing hand. It looked like he could have suffered a very serious wrist/elbow/hand injury when he landed awkwardly on his left side, but this one shouldn’t sideline him for long. Taylor’s Injury Risk remains Elevated, but he is expected to start in their season opener in two weeks. He will continue to deal with soreness as his hand heals, but with no fractures or ligament tears it shouldn’t take more than two weeks to improve.
Josh Allen, QB, Bills: head injury
Allen was evaluated for a concussion after slamming his head to the turf. He was taken back to the locker room but cleared and returned to the game. He does not have a history of concussions and remains a Low Injury Risk.
Marquise Lee, WR, Jaguars: knee injury
Lee suffered a gruesome injury to his left knee on Saturday night when he was tackled over the middle of the field. Falcons safety Damontae Kazee’s helmet made contact with Lee’s knee as he tried to bring him down, causing an inversion knee injury. This often leads to a torn ACL and torn MCL when severe. The Jaguars haven’t announced with ligaments were damaged, just that he will land on I.R. and undergo season-ending surgery after the MRI showed serious damage. More on Lee.
Ty Montgomery, RB, Packers: foot injury
Montgomery left Friday’s game early in the first half after injuring his foot, a move that was supposedly precautionary. Inside Injuries already had him at an Elevated Injury Risk, so the fact that he left with an injury wasn’t exactly surprising. He is now High Risk and shouldn’t return to practice in the next week. The Packers have a crowded backfield with Montgomery, Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones. Injuries could end up determining who has the most fantasy value. Williams is already recovering from an ankle injury and Jones is suspended the first two games of the season. Jones also missed time early at training camp with a hamstring strain.
Evan Engram, TE, Giants: concussion
Engram is in concussion protocol for the second time in less than 12 months. He has huge upside as a potential top 5 fantasy TE, but the head injuries are a serious red flag. Once they start to pile up, they become easier and easier to get in the future. It also increases his Overall Injury Risk significantly. Engram entered concussion protocol during Friday’s third preseason game but was already seen at practice on Monday doing some light jogging outside. He should miss at least a week and will start the season an Elevated Injury Risk even if he clears in the next week.
Hayden Hurst, TE, Ravens: foot fracture
The Ravens used their first round pick on TE Hayden Hurst, so they clearly have high hopes for their rookie. Unfortunately he will miss the start of the season after suffering a foot fracture. Hurst will undergo surgery to insert a screw to stabilize the fracture. Inside Injuries is showing a seven week Optimal Recovery Time, so he could be an I.R. candidate. The team initially reported a 3-4 week recovery timetable, but that just isn’t realistic. Foot fractures also come with problems down the road, so they need to be very cautious throughout his recovery.
Jay Ajayi, RB, Eagles: lower body injury
We all know that Jay Ajayi’s knee will be a concern throughout the rest of his career, but now he is dealing with an undisclosed lower body injury. Ajayi has been out for over a week, and it could be his knee acting up again. He tore his ACL in 2011 and continues to battle problems due to a “bone on bone” condition. Chronic cartilage problems are common when players suffer serious knee injuries like this, and it will continue to be a problem throughout his career. Other possibilities includes a muscular injury such as a hamstring strain. Despite the unknown injury, Inside Injuries is showing a concerning Overall Injury Risk of 22% (right on the border of Elevated and High Risk).
Josh Rosen, QB, Cardinals: thumb injury
Rosen suffered a thumb injury after making contact with a teammate’s helmet in practice last Monday. The good news is that Rosen was seen throwing during practice on Friday. Sam Bradford is the starting QB in Arizona, but it’s good to know Rosen’s thumb injury wasn’t too serious. He could eventually take over as the starter, and Bradford comes with his own injury concerns due to his past knee injuries.
Mike Evans, WR, Bucs: unknown
Mike Evans took a huge hit during Friday’s preseason game, leaving him with an undisclosed injury. It was likely a mild back strain. Evans missed practice Sunday but was back out there Monday, so this doesn’t appear to be anything serious.
James Washington, WR, Steelers: abdominal injury
Washington left the Steelers’ third preseason game with a mild abdominal injury. He was injured as he turned after making a catch, straining the muscle. The move was precautionary, something we hear a lot during the preseason. But it often is more serious than the team initially lets on. Washington is nothing more than a late-round flier, but he won’t be worth considering if this is a strain that sidelines him a few weeks. His Injury Risk would be too High.
Will Fuller, WR, Texans: hamstring strain
Fuller is no stranger to injuries, and that’s why he started the preseason at an Elevated Overall Injury Risk. In 2017 it was a collarbone fracture, cracked ribs, and arthroscopic knee surgery once the season was over. In 2016 he battled a pretty significant hamstring strain. Now it’s another hamstring strain that is forcing him to miss time. The Texans haven’t revealed a severity, but Inside Injuries is showing that he needs to miss 2-4 weeks to fully heal if it’s a mild to moderate strain. Because of his history and the highly recurrent nature of hamstring strains, he shouldn’t play week 1.
David Njoku, TE, Browns: ankle sprain
Njoku left the Browns’ third preseason game Thursday night with an ankle injury but was back at practice on Sunday, a sign that this isn’t anything serious. He was practicing on the side, so he still has room to improve but is showing progress. He remains a Low Injury Risk tight end with high upside.
Josh Gordon, WR, Browns: hamstring tightness
Gordon couldn’t make it through his first practice since rejoining the team. He tweaked his hamstring during a conditioning drill and has not practiced since. These types of injuries are common when a player joins the team late at training camp. While it doesn’t sound too serious, we are still showing a two week Optimal Recovery Time. That’s just for the hamstring to heal – he will need additional time to get back into football shape. The Browns have already stated he won’t start week 1, but that doesn’t mean much. He may not be cleared to play in their first game, although it’s also possible he returns but is on a snap count.
Andrew Luck, QB, Colts: foot injury
Andrew Luck entered the preseason an Elevated Injury Risk, mainly due to lingering concerns over his throwing shoulder, but also partially because he has been out of football for a year and a half and his body may not be 100% ready. Now Luck is dealing with a foot injury. The team said he could play if there was a regular season game, so it’s a minor problem, but it’s still a concern. Luck was injured during their last preseason game when he was sacked. Inside Injuries is showing that his foot needs around two weeks to heal. This shouldn’t affect his ability to start week 1, but it could impact his mobility in that game. If he wants to avoid another injury he will need to get rid of the ball quickly and avoid taking as many big hits as possible.
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