NFL injuries are inevitable. It's been my underlying theme since I started writing for RotoWire in 2008. No one is immune. In just my second column for the site I had to explain Tom Brady's torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and how it could potentially impact his career. While I haven't aged as smoothly as Brady, mitigating injury risk remains an important aspect of the analysis I provide all these years later.
Hopefully by understanding the in-and-outs of certain ailments, fantasy managers in all formats will be able to determine the amount of injury risk associated with each NFL player and make the appropriate decisions for their rosters. I may not be able to wrap your team in bubble wrap and help it completely avoid the dreaded red injury flag, but at least you will put your team in the best position to be successful.
This week's NFL injury report is already crowded, as injuries have unsurprisingly come flooding in with the start of training camp and preseason.
Stafford is one of the biggest names nursing an injury to start the year. The veteran quarterback has been managing a sore back since the team reconvened for the new season. The culprit for his pain and discomfort is a reported "aggravation" of one of the intravertebral discs in his lower back.
Between each vertebra of the spine sit cartilaginous discs. These discs provide stability and mobility for the spine and help bear the weight of the body. Each
NFL injuries are inevitable. It's been my underlying theme since I started writing for RotoWire in 2008. No one is immune. In just my second column for the site I had to explain Tom Brady's torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and how it could potentially impact his career. While I haven't aged as smoothly as Brady, mitigating injury risk remains an important aspect of the analysis I provide all these years later.
Hopefully by understanding the in-and-outs of certain ailments, fantasy managers in all formats will be able to determine the amount of injury risk associated with each NFL player and make the appropriate decisions for their rosters. I may not be able to wrap your team in bubble wrap and help it completely avoid the dreaded red injury flag, but at least you will put your team in the best position to be successful.
This week's NFL injury report is already crowded, as injuries have unsurprisingly come flooding in with the start of training camp and preseason.
Stafford is one of the biggest names nursing an injury to start the year. The veteran quarterback has been managing a sore back since the team reconvened for the new season. The culprit for his pain and discomfort is a reported "aggravation" of one of the intravertebral discs in his lower back.
Between each vertebra of the spine sit cartilaginous discs. These discs provide stability and mobility for the spine and help bear the weight of the body. Each disc is multilayered with a soft middle and a tougher, more durable, outer ring. To better understand what goes on in a bulging or herniated disc, the disc of the back can be compared to a jelly doughnut. The soft center (the jelly) is known as the nucleus pulposus and helps with mobility and serves as a shock absorber. The tougher outer layer (the baked dough) is the annulus fibrosis, and its purpose is aimed at stability in the spine.
Occasionally excessive or repetitive force is placed on and through the disc(s), forcing the nucleus pulposus to bulge out, much like jelly oozing out of a jelly doughnut if you were to squeeze it in your hands. The bulge created can impinge or irritate the nerves of the spinal column, resulting in pain that may extend down into the lower extremities depending on the location of the issue.
The severity of the disc problems is often linked to the extent of the herniation. If the bulge is small, the injury can be treated conservatively with physical rehab and other nonsurgical techniques like injections. However, should the bulge significantly impede and impact the spinal cord, surgery may be necessary.
The extent of Stafford's disc problem has not been made public, but there is obviously concern after he was not able to return to Monday's practice as originally believed. He has undergone an epidural on the issue, and the Rams have said surgery is not being discussed. However, this latest setback is enough to have me worried about his long-term availability. Even if he is able to return in time for Week 1, the issue could easily flare up during the season. As a result, relying on the former No. 1 overall pick as your primary fantasy quarterback is not recommended. Instead, he slots in as a backup option, but even that is a calculated gamble. Jimmy Garoppolo would be the primary signal-caller if Stafford is sidelined.
Turf Burns
Tyreek Hill: The Dolphins receiver is currently nursing an injury more frequently seen in baseball. Hill is managing an oblique strain that kept him in street clothes for the team's preseason opener. The obliques are two pairs of muscle groups, located on either side of the rib cage. The obliques work synergistically to complete trunk rotation, and forward and side-to-side bending of the spine. Even a mild strain is limiting, especially for a receiver who needs to contort his body to adequately (and sometimes spectacularly) haul in passes. Fortunately, the muscle often heals well when given enough time, and Hill should be fine when cleared to return.
Justin Jefferson: The Minnesota wideout has been slowed by a mild hamstring strain in his left leg. Jefferson and the Vikings are downplaying the severity of the issue but remain noncommittal on a possible return. It seems likely they are taking his recovery very cautiously, as there is no need to risk his health at this point, but the situation is worth monitoring. While the current injury is on the opposite leg of the hamstring strain that forced him out of seven games during the 2023 season, prior injury is a major predictor for future injury. Jefferson remains one of the top-tier of fantasy weapons, but he will carry an elevated degree of risk.
Malik Nabers: Nabers' attempt to build on his impressive rookie campaign have been slowed by injury. A mild case of turf toe limited him during spring practice, while a shoulder injury sustained in camp has kept him off the field for the past two weeks. The specifics surrounding the injury remain undisclosed but, like with Jefferson, the team is likely handling his recovery conservatively. This problem shouldn't drastically alter his draft day value.
Chris Olave: Olave is nursing a mild ankle sprain. The New Orleans receiver did not play in the team's first preseason game, and he is considered day-to-day. The ankle injury appears to be a nonissue and shouldn't keep him sidelined. However, Olave's bigger concern is in his injury history, particularly his previous head injuries. He was limited to eight games last season after sustaining two concussions. As a result, his inherent injury risk will be higher. The effects of concussions are cumulative, meaning any subsequent head injury is more likely to result in longer and more serious side effects.
Jaylen Reed: The Packers wideout was seen wearing a protective boot on his injured left foot. This is opposite his previous toe problem and is likely to result in an extended absence. Green Bay failed to go into greater detail, but the injury is being described as a foot sprain. Considering the foot has more than100 ligaments, it's hard to pinpoint what exactly is going on with Reed. However, any sprain of the foot can result in instability and a loss of function, making it difficult to run and cut. Keep an eye out for more details, but this injury is just the latest setback for a Packers receiving corps already struggling to stay healthy.
Tyjae Spears: The Tennessee running back suffered a high-ankle sprain in the team's preseason win over Tampa Bay. He is expected to miss multiple weeks recovering, putting his availability for the regular season opener in jeopardy. Tony Pollard remains the feature back for the Titans, but Spears was hoping to carve out a nice role as RB2. Instead, Julius Chestnut and Kalel Mullings will get a chance to secure the job with Spears sidelined.
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