Today's blog has updates on injuries to key fantasy players whom you might be concerned about for waiver wire situations this week. There are certainly other injury concerns floating around, but these are the players about whom there is significant news at this early stage of the week. As always, practice reports yield more information about player status, so we will monitor those as the week goes on. In the meantime, if you see a name below that you recognize from your fantasy roster, take note.
Quarterbacks
Kurt Warner, Cardinals: Warner indeed has a ligament injury to his left (non-throwing) elbow, according to the Arizona Republic, and the team plans to place him in an elbow brace that will restrict his motion somewhat and allow the ligament a chance to scar down and heal. It is not so much a question of whether Warner could physically play this week as it is whether the team will let him. The elbow injury is what it is and is not likely to worsen if Warner participates in a game. The problem, as we discussed Monday, is functionality, especially ball control. Warner requires use of the left elbow when taking snaps, when bringing both arms back as he prepares to pass, and, most significantly, when handing the ball off with his left hand. Warner has had issues at times with hanging onto the football (he was originally injured this time while trying to recover a fumble). Start adding other variables to the mix that make it potentially more difficult to hang on to the football, and that becomes a cause for concern. Warner might try to practice Wednesday, and the team would then evaluate how he tolerates the activity (how much pain he has) as well as how he is able to perform. In this case, it might be another day or so before the decision is made as to whether Warner or Tim Rattay starts. If Warner is your fantasy quarterback, have someone else available. We will report on his status later in the week, but even if he starts, he might be a risky play.
Alex Smith, 49ers: Smith is raising a few eyebrows with his rapid progression back from a Grade 3 shoulder separation. Smith told the San Jose Mercury News that the shoulder "feels great" and he hopes to return to full practice on Wednesday. Practice will, of course, be the real test, and whether Smith's shoulder can sustain the endurance of repetitive throwing and whether he can demonstrate adequate strength to deliver the ball downfield will factor into the team's decision-making process. Since Smith's return is largely based on how he feels, his progress thus far is very encouraging. But keep in mind that Smith sustained the injury Sept. 30, and this Sunday is only three weeks removed from that date. That would be a very rapid return from this type of injury (usually 4-6 weeks is the norm) and he might be advised to rest an additional week before potentially subjecting the shoulder to more abuse (as in sacks, not throws). If he is your fantasy quarterback, be sure to have insurance, despite all of Smith's optimism.
Vince Young, Titans: The Tennessean is reporting that Titans coach Jeff Fisher says that Young has a "significant" strain. This does not tell us a specific grade (I or II), but it does suggest that it is more than just a one- or two-day phenomenon. Fisher indicated that Young had been receiving treatment but would not likely practice in the early part of the week (or perhaps even all week) as he lets the quadriceps (thigh) heal. Young remains day-to-day and has not been ruled out of this week's game, but be sure you have a backup ready.
Running Backs
Sammy Morris, Patriots: John Tomase of the Boston Herald is reporting that Morris will miss this week's game and perhaps several more with his chest injury. According to Tomase, a league source informed him that Morris injured "the bone connecting the sternum to the clavicle" but that early tests revealed no fractures. This would explain the reports of Morris being seen in a sling. The sternum (breastbone) and the clavicle (collarbone) meet at the front of the chest to form a joint, aptly named the sternoclavicular joint. This joint, as is typical of all joints, is reinforced by ligaments. A bony injury to either the sternum or clavicle (anything ranging from a bruise to a break) would make the joint painful. Likewise, ligaments can tear, resulting in a subluxation (slip or partial dislocation) of the sternoclavicular (SC) joint, also quite painful. Injuries to this area are often a result of high-speed motor vehicle accidents where the seatbelt restraint creates stress across the joint, or, if you happen to play football, high-impact collisions to the front of the chest or the shoulder can do the same. There is motion at the SC joint, albeit a small amount, every time the shoulder moves, so a significant injury to this area, beyond being painful, will limit Morris' ability to use his arm. Monday's report in the Hartford Courant indicated that Morris was seen wearing a sling on his left arm, suggesting the injury is to his left SC joint. Morris carries the ball on his right side, so this is a plus, however even the swinging of his left arm during running will stress the SC joint. There is also the concern of taking another hit to an already injured area. The injury here is compounded by the fact that it is nearly impossible to immobilize the SC joint directly; the best solution is to limit shoulder motion on the same side (hence a sling is often used) to keep arm movements from affecting the joint. Given that Morris plays for the Patriots, we are not likely to get many details from the team. But assuming that this latest source is accurate in describing the nature of Morris' injury, prepare for him to indeed miss some time, perhaps several weeks. Laurence Maroney is on the mend from a groin injury, but as we have seen for the last three weeks, he is by no means a lock to play just yet. Kevin Faulk is the healthiest of the three at this point, and if you have an opportunity to secure him on your fantasy roster, do so.
Brandon Jacobs and Derrick Ward, Giants: If you are a Brandon Jacobs fantasy owner, you probably developed an ulcer over the course of Monday night's game watching Jacobs leave not once, but twice, with two separate injuries. Jacobs went out of the game after his first carry with what ESPN sideline reporter Suzy Kolber indicated was a burner (like a stinger, a burner is a hit that results in a quick stretch on a nerve and causes burning or stinging pain into the shoulder and arm). He returned relatively quickly and managed to perform well (not counting the fact that teammate Reuben Droughns became the touchdown vulture). Jacobs left again in the second half, however, with an apparent ankle injury. Head coach Tom Coughlin told reporters after the game that Jacobs is "fine." We will assess for ourselves as practice plays out this week. Meanwhile, Derrick Ward's nagging ankle is nagging him some more after Monday night. This may turn out to be the more serious of the two ankle injuries, as this has plagued Ward intermittently over the last few weeks.
Fred Taylor, Jaguars: If you have Fred Taylor on your team, then you are probably concerned that he sat out most of the second half on Sunday. I'm not that concerned. Here's why. Taylor sat out because the groin reportedly felt tight (according to the Florida Times-Union, Taylor said his adductors (groin muscles) "locked up."). It's not surprising that a groin muscle that bothered him early in the week tightened up a bit. The Jaguars played it smart and had Taylor sit out to prevent it from turning it into a more significant problem. He had already ripped off a 76-yard run and had been productive in the first half. On top of that, his teammate Maurice Jones-Drew clearly was handling running duties quite fine. There is nothing to suggest that Taylor suffered a major setback, and it appears as if the team was being proactive in trying to maintain his health across the season. Even if the second-half rest resulted in fewer fantasy points Sunday, it ultimately might translate into more consistent fantasy points for the season. Incidentally, Taylor also told the Florida Times-Union after the game that he felt fine. That all being said, we will watch this week's practice reports to see what Taylor's activity is.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends:
Andre Johnson, Texans: The up-and-down news on Johnson is a bit up again. Head coach Gary Kubiak is quoted on the Texans Web site as saying that Johnson is progressing very, very well, and they have their "fingers crossed" that he will be available for this week's game. Really this will depend on what we see Johnson do in practice, which so far is minimal. Be sure to have an alternate ready, as reports have been all over the map as far as Johnson's potential timetable for return. This is understandably a cloudy issue, as Johnson's activity is variable depending on how the knee feels from day to day. From a healing perspective, the ligament should be doing well. The issue for Johnson is whether he can run and twist, jump and land, and, above all, feel confident on that knee so that he can contribute on the field. That is measured not by a specific timeframe, but by performance, so we will watch what Johnson is able to do in practice this week.
D.J. Hackett, Seahawks: Coach Mike Holmgren told the Seattle Times that he expects Hackett to return to practice Wednesday and then play against the Rams this weekend. Hackett suffered a high ankle sprain during Week 1 and, as expected, has been out for more than a month. Hopefully the rest has allowed him to fully heal so that he returns strong this weekend. He is another one to keep an eye on in practice to see how he does, but given that the reports on him were good last week, he should be ready to go this weekend.
Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes, Steelers: Good news for once in this column! The bye-week rest apparently has helped the Steelers' receivers in their recovery. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that Ward, who originally was diagnosed with a bone bruise, later called a knee sprain, will return to the lineup this weekend. Also returning will be Santonio Holmes, no doubt eager to please his fantasy owners whom he derailed when he strained a hamstring during pre-game warmups in Week 5. The fact that coach Mike Tomlin is making this announcement this early in the week suggests there are no lingering health concerns here.
Ben Watson, Patriots: Coach Bill Belichick had no updates on Watson during his Monday news conference, so we are left to observe what Watson does during practice this week. This means we have to wait for mid-week practices to occur. Plan on securing a backup, but we will update what we know as the week goes on.
Vernon Davis, 49ers: The 49ers will be relieved to see Davis back in their lineup this week. Davis sprained his medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his knee during Week 3. He has been steadily improving and, according to the San Jose Mercury News, is expected to return to practice on Wednesday in order to play on Sunday. Practice news should give us more information, but we will be looking to see if Davis is strong in his lateral movements by the end of the week.
Todd Heap, Ravens: And the news sounded so good last Friday. Those darn hamstrings. Heap was forced to leave last Sunday's game in the first quarter after aggravating the hamstring, despite his valiant attempts to return. It is unclear at this point what his status will be for this week, but secure a backup in any event. We will update his situation as the week continues.
Check back later this week as we update these injuries and more in preparation for Week 7.