Tag: NFL injuries

Commanders’ Dan Quinn discusses injuries and others stepping up

Dan Quinn discusses injuries and roster construction.

Dan Quinn doesn’t want to be crass and heartless when his players are injured.

During his press conference with the media on Wednesday, Quinn was asked about tight end Zach Ertz and safety Jeremy Chinn’s injuries against the Saints on Sunday and how he responded.

“You don’t want to be callous to say, ‘Oh this next man up or that.’ That’s not what we say at all.”

Yet, Quinn said his role is to lead the players to get “back into the mode of the game and responsibilities. And that, as a coach, the good news is that when you’re seeing a player getting up and walking off that they’re with the best of the best in terms of the medical side. And I have certainly been impressed over the weeks of when I’ve seen people respond in action here.”

Quinn elaborated further he appreciates his medical staff and pointed to recent injuries to Austin Ekeler and Noah Brown in how the staff was thorough and diagnosed significant issues, and he respects their work, saying, “And I have certainly been impressed with our team.”

The ‘next man up’ is always a theme. However, because the nature of pro football is so violent, guys are going to go down unexpectedly. Quinn elaborated on how he tries to get everyone on the roster and practice squad to be prepared.

So Quinn takes starters out of practice at various times, inserting reserves into their roles, to see how the players respond.

“So, each player in the game plan, they’re responsible for that for the week. Even if they’re unlikely to play in that game, you just don’t know when a guy gets sick, something happens at a practice and the next person has to be available. So, I think it’s important that of the, like we said, we look at this as not a 53 or even a 48-man roster, but 65 where it’s everybody can be into that.”

Quinn has a rule that, in practice, all players play. “If you really want a competitive team, the pressure has to be on everyone to deliver. You don’t know who could win the game for you. And so, you have to put that pressure on them to get that done.”

Fantasy football injury round-up: July edition

Checking in on key fantasy football injuries from around the NFL.

Keeping up with injuries entering the fantasy football draft season is tremendously important. While it may be a tad early yet, gamers should follow along to avoid any potential mishaps. At a minimum, it never hurts to stay in the know, even if you don’t typically draft until August or September.

The most notable names from the traditional pool of skill players are in focus below, in addition to some peripheral considerations. We’ll monitor their statuses throughout the summer and advise accordingly.

Fantasy football injury round-up: June edition

Checking in on key fantasy football injuries from around the NFL.

Keeping up with injuries entering the fantasy football draft season is tremendously important. While it may be early yet, gamers should follow along to avoid any potential mishaps. At a minimum, it never hurts to stay in the know, even if you don’t typically draft until August or September.

The most notable names from the traditional pool of skill players are in focus below. We’ll monitor their statuses throughout the summer and advise accordingly.

Jaylen Waddle’s injury is likely a high-ankle sprain, potentially jeopardizing his playoff availability

The Dolphins have a chance to claim the AFC’s top seed, but they may have to do so without Jaylen Waddle.

The Miami Dolphins are in the midst of a push for the top seed in the AFC playoffs, but they may have to lock up that spot without one of their top skill-position players.

Receiver Jaylen Waddle exited Miami’s Christmas Eve win over the Dallas Cowboys with what was reported as a shin injury. But when he addressed the media on Monday, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel offered a more specific — and concerning — diagnosis.

The team believes Waddle has suffered a high-ankle sprain, though McDaniel said the wideout will have to undergo further testing before they can determine the severity and a potential timetable for his return, according to ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques.

While we don’t know exactly when Waddle will be back on the field if it is truly a high-ankle sprain, it’s an injury that typically takes around four to six weeks to return from, though that can vary.

His loss will be softened by the fact that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa still has plenty of weapons on the roster, most notably star receiver Tyreek Hill, but it’s certainly something to monitor, especially with a huge matchup coming up next weekend against the Baltimore Ravens.

The Ravens currently have a half-game lead in the AFC but face the San Francisco 49ers — winners of six in a row — on Monday night.

Texans receiver John Metchie III expected to make NFL debut Sunday after battling leukemia

John Metchie III has been removed from the injured list, seemingly opening the door for his first game action in nearly two years.

When the Houston Texans host the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, it will likely be the first time receiver John Metchie III has suited up for a football game in nearly two calendar years.

The former Alabama star is expected to play against the Colts after he was removed from the injury report on Friday, seemingly clearing the way for the former second-round pick to make his NFL debut.

Widely seen as a possible first-round pick in 2022, Metchie’s stock dropped after an ACL tear in the SEC Championship threatened to cost him time during his rookie campaign.

However, he would soon face much more serious concerns. Last July, Metchie announced that he would sit out his entire rookie season after he was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia.

He has now been officially cleared to return to the field, and while a hamstring strain sidelined him in the Week 1 loss to Baltimore, all signs seem to be pointing toward Metchie finally taking the field on Sunday in a Houston uniform for the first time.

Why some rest was good for the Commanders

The truth is, sometimes it is actually more important to rest than it is to work.

The truth is, sometimes it is actually more important to rest than it is to work.

No, you can’t make a lifestyle of resting more often than working. If you are going to maintain physical fitness, or maintain your property, develop your skill set for your career, it will require work – and lots of it.

However, the unanimous consensus of those reporting on Commanders training camp was that Friday was the worst practice thus far, really sloppy at times.

But Sunday was said to be much better.

Should we be surprised? The Commanders were in pads several consecutive days in the summer heat. The body can only take so much before it begins to experience a breakdown.

It’s true in all sports. Swimmers take on a tremendous workload during the regular season, but as they approach their biggest meets of the season, they will all “taper.” That is, they taper off in their yardage in the last weeks prior to the biggest meet. This allows them to be fresh, rested and ready to record their best times of the season.

The Commanders offense has not only been having to do battle against a defense that was a top-10 NFL defense in 2022, but the offense is also a step slow, with the added psychological weight of having to think through and trying to learn the new offense being installed by former Kansas City offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy.

Consider the offensive line. They are not only going up against Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Montez Sweat, Chase Young and their backups. The offensive line is having to learn new steps, new techniques in both passing and run blocking as well as new plays of which they may not be accustomed.

Having the day off Saturday permitted them time to be off of their feet, replenish with plenty of electrolytes and even get in some mental study of the new offense they are learning.

Rest is not to be ignored. Rest enhances recovery. When you have worked hard as the Commanders did in pads for a week, rest is actually important – significantly important.

For instance, Curtis Samuel began to feel his legs getting heavy and tight. Runners know all about this. There are times to back off, get some rest, increasing your chances of a better recovery before your next workout.

Centuries ago we read of God creating a day of rest. Today we realize that the human body functions best when there is a habitual pattern of a day of rest.

The Commanders’ day of rest came as some were starting to break down a bit. The day of rest apparently was good for the team.

Perhaps an important part of coaching is knowing when to take the foot off of the pedal, and even declaring to the team a four-letter word coaches don’t naturally like to utter: “rest”.

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Chiefs activate former LSU RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire for Super Bowl

Edwards-Helaire has missed the last nine games after he went on the injured reserve in November.

Former Tigers and current Kansas City Chiefs running back [autotag]Clyde Edwards-Helaire[/autotag] will be suiting up for Super Bowl LVII against the Philadelphia Eagles. Meanwhile, receiver Mecole Hardman has been ruled out.

This will be Edwards-Helaire’s first game action since November as he has missed the last nine games after he was placed on the injured reserve with an ankle injury.

Prior to the injury, Edwards-Helaire lost his starting spot to Isiah Pacheco amid diminishing production. He finished the 2022 regular season third on the team with 302 yards and three touchdowns on the ground to go with 151 yards and three touchdowns through the air on 17 receptions.

Pacheco has been a workhorse for Kansas City in the postseason, and he will almost certainly see the bulk of the carries. Still, Edwards-Helaire returning to the fold gives the team another option in the backfield.

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The 49ers’ bleak QB injury situation could completely close their Super Bowl window

The 49ers have more questions than answers at QB.

A day after the San Francisco 49ers’ season came to an end with a 31-7 blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the team got some more bad news.

Quarterback Brock Purdy suffered a complete tear of the UCL in his throwing elbow — an injury he played through in the second half — according to a report from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The team is hopeful it will require a repair, not a reconstruction (otherwise known as Tommy John surgery).

Based on the more optimistic of the two timelines, he will be out for about six months but should return in time for training camp.

It was a fitting conclusion to a nightmare season for San Francisco at the position when it comes to injuries. Trey Lance, the third-overall pick in 2021, suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2. Jimmy Garoppolo, who started 10 games in his stead, was lost to a broken foot in December.

That led to the elevation of Purdy, a rookie who was taken with the final pick in the 2022 NFL draft.

Injury problems at quarterback are nothing new for this franchise during the Kyle Shanahan era, and an end to those woes may not be in sight. The team has a decision to make regarding Garoppolo, who is a pending free agent. If they choose to let him walk, which seems likely, they could be banking on Lance or Purdy to be healthy enough for the start of the season.

Lance has appeared in just eight games (four starts) since he was drafted, and while there have been promising signs in that small sample size, he struggled to begin the season before suffering the injury. Purdy impressed to close out the year, but his near future is murky, and he may not be the long-term answer.

There could be potential free-agent options this offseason, including Derek Carr and, of course, bay area native Tom Brady. But barring a move like that, this could be a team entering 2023 with quite a bit of uncertainty at the most important position.

It’s hard to maintain a roster this talented for long. The championship window could be closing soon, and this team is still looking for a consistent answer at signal-caller.

Shanahan has proven he can win with backup quarterbacks, but that may get put to the test once again next fall.

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An update on Joe Burrow’s recovery

It’s unclear when Joe Burrow will return to the field

After an appendectomy a couple of weeks ago, it remains unclear when former LSU and current Bengals QB Joe Burrow will return to the field.

According to Burrow’s father, Jimmy, it still might be a few weeks before Burrow is back out there. Bengals head coach Zac Taylor refrained from making a prediction.

Taylor added that he doesn’t expect this to hamper Burrow’s preparation for the season. Even if Burrow was healthy, he would not be taking the field for the Bengals’ preseason opener.

Last year, Burrow led the NFL in yards per attempt and completion percentage as led the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance.

His passer rating of 108.3 was good enough for second in the NFL, only behind Aaron Rodgers. Burrow, now 25 and in his third year, shouldn’t be too affected by missing the first few weeks of camp. This is a guy who was playing at an MVP level in 2021 and looks like he could be one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks for years to come.

Now, his receivers are only more experience and the offensive line has a chance to take another jump. The Bengals’ offense should be one of the best in the league and contend in the AFC.

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Injury updates on Chargers’ Austin Ekeler, Chris Harris, Jr.

One member of the Los Angeles Chargers could return this upcoming weekend.

The Chargers were hit with injuries to key players near the beginning of the season. In recent weeks, they got back some of them like tackle Bryan Bulaga and guard Trai Turner. But they’ve still been without a few other notables like running back Austin Ekeler and cornerback Chris Harris, Jr.

Ekeler, who’s been running now, used social media to hint when he would be returning, pegging a Week 12 as his ideal return date. But despite his optimism, coach Anthony Lynn said that “it would be nice” but didn’t offer much more than that.

Meanwhile, Harris returning this upcoming weekend against the Bills is more realistic. Lynn said that the team would like to see him on the field on Sunday after suffering a foot injury in Week 3. Last week, Harris was designated to return from the injured reserve.

We will update the status on both players as this week goes on.