Injury Roundup: Week 4
Editor's Note: Rotoworld's partner FanDuel is hosting a one-week $300,000 Fantasy Football league for Week 5. It's $25 to join and first prize is $25,000. Starts Sunday at 1pm ET. Here's the link.
Week 4 had a few fantasy related injuries, but the most gut-wrenching at the moment is Jake Locker’s. After being written off by many, coach Mike Munchak has brought him along well by giving him confidence in a run first offense that allows him to make high percentage throws. In today’s game, against one of the best defenses in the league, he was on fire, completing 18 of 24 passes for 149 yards and three touchdowns as well as three rushing attempts for 17 yards. Then as football often does, it abruptly stopped when he was hit by two Jets defenders in the third quarter. He fell and grabbed at his hip and could hardly move as he lay on the ground. He was then strapped to a board and carted off. He has a right hip injury and the results of the MRI are unknown at this time. The Titans tentatively expect Ryan Fitzpatrick to be their quarterback for the “coming weeks.” This of course would be a big downgrade for the offense, especially after seeing Locker playing so well.
It was a tough day for runners in Oakland on Sunday as Darren McFadden exited the game with a hamstring injury and Marcel Reece left with a knee injury. We unfortunately have come to expect this from McFadden. Thankfully this season he wasn’t drafted quite as high as he was in 2012. Rashad Jennings received the bulk of the touches after that, rushing 15 times for 45 yards and catching eight passes for 71 yards. He would be a high volume rusher if McFadden and Reece can’t play next week versus the Chargers.
C.J. Spiller sprained his ankle in the third quarter against the Ravens. He re-entered the game for a couple plays, but was unable to continue. With a short week coming up, Spiller admits it will be tough to be 100% for the Thursday night game. Fred Jackson is next in line, but he also was hurt with a sprained MCL. But he did tell reporters he’ll be ready to go Thursday. We’ll know more later, but for desperate deep leaguers Tashard Choice would be next in line.
Alfred Morris left Sunday’s game with a rib injury, but says there is no fracture and that he’ll be ready for next week. In his stead Roy Helu put up good numbers with 84 total yards and a touchdown. This just reinforces the upside of Roy Helu in Shanahan's zone blocking scheme.
Stephen Hill was knocked out of Sunday’s game with a concussion and Santonio Holmes left the game with a hamstring pull and was seen limping in the locker room. The Jets play the Falcons next Monday night so there is an extra day to heal, but we will know more on Monday. Jeremy Kerley and Clyde Gates would be the next two in line for snaps.
Editor’s Note: Be sure to follow Chet Gresham and Rotoworld Football on Twitter to stay on top of your teams. And don’t forget to bookmark our dominant News Page.
Other Injury Notes:
Marlon Brown sustained a thigh injury against the Bills, but played through it. . . . LeSean McCoy missed some time from having the wind knocked out of him, which isn’t that tough to do at Mile High, but it did seem like there might be more to it. . . . Deonte Thompson sustained a concussion after making a nice 33 yard reception. . . . Aaron Dobson took a bad hit that wrenched his neck in the wrong direction and left the game. . . . Dwight Freeney was forced from Sunday's game with a quad injury. . . . Darnell Dockett did not return to the game after departing in the second half with a left groin injury. . . . Bills DB Aaron Williams left Sunday's game against the Ravens with a lower back injury. He had been holding Torrey Smith in check, but that changed after he left. . . . Aaron Ross left Sunday's Week 4 game against the Chiefs with a back injury. The Giants can't afford to lose another defensive starter. . . . Brian Cushing left Sunday's game with a concussion. . . . Lions CB Rashean Mathis was forced from Sunday's game against the Bears with a concussion. The veteran is starting because Darrius Slay has been unable to do much. . . . Seahawks DL Michael Bennett was carted off the field in the second quarter of Sunday's Week 4 game against the Texans with a lower back injury. . . . Lardarius Webb left Sunday's game against the Bills in the second quarter with a thigh injury. The extent of the injury is unknown, but would be a significant blow to the Ravens defense if it's severe.
