Tag: hamstring injury

Week 15: Should you drop George Pickens in fantasy football?

Fantasy football managers may need to decide whether to keep George Pickens on their roster as he may miss the entirety of their playoffs.

For the lucky few fantasy football fanatics who have made it into the playoffs, congratulations are in order! However, if Steelers WR George Pickens is on your roster, things may be looking grim.

While league settings may vary, the majority of fantasy football leagues will be playing their playoffs between Weeks 15 and 17—the weeks Pickens might miss, according to one Steelers insider.

It is unlikely Pickens will end up on IR, forcing fantasy managers to decide if the Steelers WR is worth keeping around ultimately. His absence from Week 15 is all but confirmed, and insiders seem to agree that Pickens may not be able to recover from his hamstring injury in time for Weeks 16 and 17.

If Pickens is on your roster, it is important to consider when, if at all, he will return to action in the regular season. Can your roster sustain having the Pittsburgh Steelers WR taking up a spot on the bench, or will you ultimately need to let him go in favor of some other potential breakout Steelers players, like WR Mike Williams, WR Calvin Austin III, or TE Pat Freiermuth?

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Steelers insider gives worrisome update on George Pickens injury

Ray Fittipaldo believes George Pickens may miss three games, complicating the Pittsburgh Steelers’ playoff aspirations.

As if the next three games found in the ‘ten-day stretch of doom’ for Pittsburgh couldn’t have gotten any worse, one Steelers insider believes that WR George Pickens, who is currently nursing a hamstring injury, may miss these contests entirely.

Insider Ray Fittipaldo appeared on 93.7 The Fan: The PM Team with Poni & Mueller, and discussed his opinion on when he believes Pickens will return during the final four games of the season: “I’m not too optimistic about the Eagles, Ravens, or Chiefs, but I do think there’s a chance for that finale against the Bengals.”

This troubling update is the last thing fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers are looking for, especially considering the team’s potential of achieving the number one overall seed in the AFC playoff race over the Chiefs looks even more slim without Pickens.


Fans should tune in to see how the Pittsburgh Steelers handle the absence of Pickens in their Week 15 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, on December 15th at 4:25 PM EST.

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Report: Alex Highsmith seen in crutches following Week 10 injury

Alex Highsmith was seen on crutches leaving the Steelers’ locker room, raising concerns about the severity of his ankle injury.

In what should be an exciting celebration for the now 7-2 Pittsburgh Steelers, fans can’t help but sympathize with star EDGE Alex Highsmith, who appeared to suffer a serious ankle injury during his team’s Week 10 victory over the Washington Commanders.

While the severity of the injury remains unclear, more details regarding Highsmith’s availability for the 2024 season will be revealed in the coming days. The outlook, however, doesn’t look promising.

Highsmith was seen using crutches as he left the Steelers’ locker room, suggesting the injury may cause him to miss significant time.

Highsmith recently missed Weeks 4 to 6 with a groin injury, and backup Nick Herbig is also nursing a hamstring injury. With this in mind, the Steelers’ trade for veteran OLB Preston Smith seems to have been a perfect move.

Smith will fill in admirably if Highsmith is forced to miss serious time, but fans of the Black and Gold are nonetheless hoping for a speedy recovery.

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Report: Dak Prescott’s injury tore tendon off bone

From @ToddBrock24f7: NFL Network’s Jane Slater says Prescott’s injury typically takes more than 4 weeks of recovery time, but the QB is seeking other opinions.

The details of Dak Prescott’s injury are in, and they’re not for the faint of heart.

Per NFL Network’s Jane Slater, the Cowboys quarterback appears to have suffered a partial avulsion of his hamstring tendon, partially tearing it right off the bone. ESPN’s Todd Archer later said his source confirmed that diagnosis.

Head coach Mike McCarthy had already ruled Prescott out for Sunday’s home matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles, but- despite owner Jerry Jones hinting that a subsequent move to injured reserve was imminent– the Cowboys have not made any official determination about a timeline for his return.

According to Slater’s sources, the injury typically “takes more than a four-week recovery,” but Prescott is said to be seeking secondary opinions. The team is therefore allowing that process to play out further before placing Prescott on IR, which would automatically mean a four-game absence.

“In some cases,” Slater posted on X, “they let it scar over, repair and then strengthen.” But, she said on-air Wednesday evening, the injury could require surgery, depending on its severity.

Prescott told reporters he “felt something” on a scramble late in the third quarter of Sunday’s 27-21 loss to Atlanta. After the sack by Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss, Prescott went back to the huddle and ran the next play.

Upon trying to step into a cross-field throw, however, he pulled up noticeably.

“I felt a pull, felt something I’ve never felt,” Prescott explained.

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He lasted one more play to finish the offense’s drive and then did not return for the Cowboys’ next possession.

Backup Cooper Rush finished the Week 9 contest and has been tabbed as the starter this weekend, but third-string option Trey Lance may figure into the mix, too, even if only on a handful of gadget-type plays or run situations.

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‘Something I’ve never felt’: Cowboys’ Prescott details Week 9 hamstring injury

From @ToddBrock24f7: The Cowboys QB missed the 4th quarter with a hamstring injury, but he also took a blow to his throwing hand in the 27-21 loss to Atlanta.

When the Cowboys lost Dak Prescott at the end of the third quarter of Sunday’s game versus Atlanta, a hamstring injury was the official reason given.

But it may not be the only costly hit the quarterback took in the 27-21 loss.

TV viewers saw the team’s training staff tending to Prescott’s throwing hand on the sideline as the fourth quarter got underway, with blood visible around the knuckle where the right pinkie meets the hand bones. Within minutes, Prescott was announced out of the game… but with a hamstring issue.

Prescott himself told reporters about a sensation he felt while trying to evade a sack by Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss on the final drive of the third quarter.

“I felt it when I was getting it up from the run,” Prescott said in his postgame press conference. “I can’t even say that I felt it running. Maybe the tackle, maybe something on the tackle, I don’t know. But standing up from that, I felt something, but actually, I didn’t think it was much.”

Prescott seemed to realize otherwise, however, on the very next play. As he stepped through a throw to the far sideline- a 10-yard completion to Jalen Brooks- he pulled up noticeably. Replays show Prescott’s face contorted in pain.

“I felt a pull, felt something I’ve never felt,” he explained.

He dumped out of a pass on the next snap, a third-down play, and looked rather gimpy doing it.

“Tough to walk on it at that point,” Prescott would say later. “Saw the medical team and asked, ‘Could I make it worse?’ At that point, they said I wouldn’t be able to protect myself, and they made the call to hold me out.”

The quarterback had been under fire for weeks for not using his rushing and scrambling skills more often. Prior to the injury on Sunday, he was credited with three runs for 30 yards, his highest ground total since Week 6 of last season.

Prescott was scheduled for an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of the leg injury, but the apparent harm done to his throwing hand is worth following up on as well.

Prescott was not asked about his hand during his Sunday afternoon presser, nor did he bring it up. But the few images broadcast from the sideline seemed to show a very swollen right hand. The passer missed five games in 2022 after breaking the thumb on that same hand in a Week 1 game versus Tampa Bay.

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The bigger worry is that hamstring. Owner Jerry Jones told reporters, “I am concerned about that. It concerned me when I saw the play, or saw him have a reaction to any weakness there.”

Backup Cooper Rush came on in relief and went 13-for-25 passing, compiling 115 yards and a touchdown in a comeback effort that fell short and sent the Cowboys to 3-5.

Rush has a 5-1 career record as the Cowboys starter. His only loss came in his most recent start, 2022’s Week 6 visit to Philadelphia, the last game that Prescott’s thumb injury caused him to miss.

The Cowboys are set to host the Eagles next Sunday. No matter what Monday’s tests reveal about Prescott hamstring and hand, Rush will almost certainly be taking extra snaps as a precaution.

Prescott, for his part, hopes to be able to suit up without missing any time at all.

“I would say that I’ll be out there next week. I’ve got to see. Luckily, I can say I’ve healed fast, I’ve progressed fast on injuries and things, so I’m thankful for that,” Prescott said.

“It’ll take a lot for me not to be out there, I’ll tell you personally.”

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Steelers QB avoided major hamstring injury

Insider Ian Rapoport reported on Monday that Justin Fields avoided a major hamstring injury and looks to be a game-time decision on MNF.

Fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers can finally breathe a collective sigh of relief.  Justin Fields’ hamstring injury caught many by surprise, as not only was it a last minute addition to Week 8’s injury report, but the precarious proximity to the trade deadline caused speculation to run rampant.

However, in regards to both Fields’ short-term and long-term health, it appears the Steelers dodged a major bullet.  While it was reported yesterday that Fields would need to undergo an MRI to understand the true extent of the injury, Insider Ian Rapoport confirmed on Monday that Fields participation in Week 8 would be a game time decision.

If Fields’ injury isn’t severe and he could potentially play tonight, is his hamstring situation similar to Davante Adams’ ‘injury’—an issue that miraculously resolved after being traded to the New York Jets?

Speculation aside, it is comforting that the Steelers avoided a disastrous injury to one of their great young players.  The situation is worth keeping an eye on as we inch closer to the start of the Steelers’ Week 8  Monday Night Football matchup at 8:15 PM EST.

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REPORT: Steelers RB out for a few weeks with hamstring injury

Jaylen Warren could miss the start of the season.

On Saturday night, the Pittsburgh Steelers lost 9-3 to the Buffalo Bills. The Steelers also lost running back Jaylen Warren to a hamstring injury early in the game. According to multiple reports, including Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Reporter, the injury could sideline Warren for a few weeks.

This puts Warren’s start of the regular season in jeopardy. If Warren can’t go Week One, expect a heavy dose of Najee Harris against the Atlanta Falcons. Last season, Harris and Warren became more of a split backfield as the season went on with both guys seeing success. The Steelers don’t have an established No. 3 running back on the roster besides veteran Cordarrelle Patterson.

Last season, Warren rushed for 784 yards on only 149 carries. His 5.3 yards per carry was among the best in the NFL. The Steelers offense under offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is all about establishing the run and the plan is to have Harris and Warren work together in the backfield.

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Report: Cowboys RB Deuce Vaughn dealing with hamstring injury

From @ToddBrock24f7: The diminutive running back has missed two practices with the issue, which could eventually impact his chances of making the 53-man roster.

The Cowboys’ running back platoon feels perilously thin, with an injury to any member of the rotation being the last thing the offense needs to deal with.

And yet here we are, with news emerging Friday that second-year man Deuce Vaughn has been sidelined the past two days with a hamstring injury. ESPN’s Todd Archer was the first to report the development out of Oxnard.

A sixth-round pick last spring, the 5-foot-5 Vaughn failed to live up to the hype that came with his emotional draft-day selection. The electrifying Kansas State product touched the ball just 30 times over seven game appearances, amassing a grand total of 80 combined rushing and receiving yards as a rookie.

Dallas placed him on injured reserve in early January with an ankle injury.

But with Tony Pollard now in Tennessee, 2024 would provide a fresh opportunity to share snaps with Ezekiel Elliott, Rico Dowdle, Royce Freeman, and others. Vaughn had even reportedly been taking snaps as a slot receiver, working on his route-running and pass-catching skills in anticipation of perhaps being used creatively in Mike McCarthy’s offense.

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Some might also speculate that Vaughn’s receiver work is a signal that he’s showing minimal viability as a dedicated NFL running back, and the team is simply looking to see if he offers enough value at a second position to warrant a roster spot.

Neither the cause nor the severity of the injury is known, but hamstring maladies are notorious for lingering, and Vaughn’s inability to practice- especially as the Cowboys near their preseason games- likely won’t help his chances of making the team’s 53-man roster.

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Giants TE Darren Waller listed as questionable for Week 1 Cowboys clash

From @ToddBrock24f7: The big-bodied tight end was expected to revamp the Giants’ passing game, but a hamstring issue may keep him sidelined on Sunday.

The Giants could be without the top receiving target for quarterback Daniel Jones when the Cowboys come to call on Sunday, though reports are he’ll be able to play.

Tight end Darren Waller was a surprise add to Friday’s injury report, listed as questionable for Week 1’s divisional game with a hamstring issue. He participated on a limited basis in the team’s final practice of the week.

While some reports out of the Giants’ camp say the team isn’t overly concerned about Waller’s availability come gametime, his absence would put a major crimp in New York’s plan to air out the ball and subsequently allow the Cowboys defense to lean into shutting down Saquon Barkley and the run.

The 6-foot-6-inch Waller had apparently been experiencing tightness in his hamstring over multiple days and did not necessarily suffer an injury on a single play in practice.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler also reports that the injury is “not believed to be serious.” The hope is that Waller will be able to go versus Dallas.

There are high expectations for Waller in New York; the former sixth-round draft pick was acquired via trade for the cost of a third-rounder and spent the summer developing a promising connection with Jones.

“He’s a big target,” the quarterback said per Giants Wire. “He runs good routes, creates separation, he’s an easy guy to find. So, yeah, he’s a talented player, smart guy, understands defense, understands where we’re trying to use him and how to get open. He’s extremely versatile.”

But he’s only a threat if he’s on the field. Daniel Bellinger and Lawrence Cager are the other tight ends on New York’s active roster. Tyree Jackson and rookie Ryan Jones are on the practice squad.

Over an eight-year NFL career with the Ravens and Raiders, Waller has played in 74 games, amassing 3,572 yards and 19 touchdowns on 298 catches. He lost a large chunk of his 2015 rookie season to a hamstring injury, and missed some time last year with another hamstring strain.

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Tyron Smith rehabs at Cowboys practice, inches toward 2022 debut

The 8-time Pro Bowler has not had his 21-day practice window activated yet, but is trending toward a return to action before season’s end. | From @ToddBrock24f7

Tyron Smith has taken an important step closer to his return from a nasty preseason hamstring injury, though he’s still several weeks away from making his 2022 debut.

The eight-time Pro Bowler was seen working on resistance cords with Britt Brown, the Cowboys’ director of rehabilitation, on Thursday. He’s not yet been activated to officially practice with the team, but the development shows good progress in that direction for the veteran, who will turn 32 next month.

Just before the start of the season, Smith suffered an avulsion fracture of the knee. That means the hamstring tendon that sits at the back of the knee was ripped off the bone. Early reports suggested that he might be available for a December return, a timeline that now seems to be playing out as accurate.

Once the Cowboys open Smith’s practice window, they’ll have 21 days to move him to the active roster, but, as ESPN’s Todd Archer points out, it seems unlikely that would happen until after Thanksgiving, given the abnormal practice schedule surrounding the holiday.

The team has no real need to rush the former first-round pick back, as rookie Tyler Smith has played very well at left tackle. It’s not known how the return of the elder Smith will impact the assignments along the offensive line, but the younger Smith had spent most of training camp at left guard- alongside Tyron- before his injury.

And the Cowboys are adding even more depth at the position. On Wednesday, they signed two extra tackles to the practice squad.

George Moore is an undrafted rookie who was in training camp with the Packers before being one of the team’s early cuts. A six-foot-six-inch 312-pounder out of Oregon, Moore was a two-year starter for the Ducks and saw plenty of practice reps in Eugene against the Giants’ fifth overall pick this year, Kayvon Thibodeaux.

Alex Taylor is a raw prospect out of South Carolina State with intriguing physical measurables. He stands nearly six-foot-nine and has a massive arm length of over 36 inches. PFF’s Marcus Mosher points out that, since 1990, only 16 offensive lineman in the league have had that kind of wingspan, and three of them are currently on the Cowboys’ payroll: Taylor, the injured rookie Matt Waletzko… and Tyron Smith.

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