This article is part of our Injury Analysis series.
The Kansas City quarterback is expected to miss an extended period of time after suffering a knee injury in a win over the Broncos. Holmes suffered a dislocated patella (kneecap) while attempting a quarterback sneak. The Chiefs medical staff acted quickly and were able to return the patella to its normal alignment on the field.
Let's start by noting that this isn't a knee dislocation. In a true knee dislocation, the bones of the lower leg are forced out of their normal alignment with the femur. This applied stress is often accompanied by serious ligament damage and can resulted in blood vessel damage, making it a potentially limb-threatening injury. Several players including Zach Miller and Teddy Bridgewater have suffered this severe injury in recent seasons.
A patella dislocation is significant but not as traumatic as a knee dislocation. The patella is a mobile bone that runs in a groove known as the trochlear groove. As the knee moves, so too does the patella, moving up and down in this groove. However, if enough stress is applied to the patella it can become dislodged from the groove, similar to a train jumping its tracks. Often the malalignment will be temporary, and the patella will quickly return to its initial positioning. This is known as a subluxation. However, a dislocation occurs if the patella is forced out of alignment and stays out place until it is forced back into its normal position. Again, video from the field shows a Chiefs
The Kansas City quarterback is expected to miss an extended period of time after suffering a knee injury in a win over the Broncos. Holmes suffered a dislocated patella (kneecap) while attempting a quarterback sneak. The Chiefs medical staff acted quickly and were able to return the patella to its normal alignment on the field.
Let's start by noting that this isn't a knee dislocation. In a true knee dislocation, the bones of the lower leg are forced out of their normal alignment with the femur. This applied stress is often accompanied by serious ligament damage and can resulted in blood vessel damage, making it a potentially limb-threatening injury. Several players including Zach Miller and Teddy Bridgewater have suffered this severe injury in recent seasons.
A patella dislocation is significant but not as traumatic as a knee dislocation. The patella is a mobile bone that runs in a groove known as the trochlear groove. As the knee moves, so too does the patella, moving up and down in this groove. However, if enough stress is applied to the patella it can become dislodged from the groove, similar to a train jumping its tracks. Often the malalignment will be temporary, and the patella will quickly return to its initial positioning. This is known as a subluxation. However, a dislocation occurs if the patella is forced out of alignment and stays out place until it is forced back into its normal position. Again, video from the field shows a Chiefs physician straightening Mahomes' leg to get the patella back where it belongs.
Once the dislocation has been reduced, further medical testing will be needed to determine if any associated damage occurred when the train jumped the tracks. For patella subluxations and dislocations, the most common supplementary trauma occurs to the cartilage or stabilizing ligaments of the kneecap. Fortunately, Chiefs head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder revealed Monday that the MRI taken on Mahomes' knee produced encouraging results, and it appears the accompanying damage was minimal. As a result, Mahomes will not require surgery. Instead he will rehab the area, a process that he has already begun. The team would not commit to a timeline for Mahomes' recovery though a quick return should not be expected. The team has four weeks until its bye week and likely will assess its franchise quarterback on a week-to-week basis.
Veteran backup Matt Moore will take over as the primary signal caller in Kansas City and could be a nice bye week fill-in or a sensible replacement for fantasy owners scrambling following the loss Mahomes. However, Moore shouldn't be expected to replicate the fantasy friendly production of the reigning MVP despite the numerous weapons at his disposal.
Turf Burns
Davante Adams: The Packers wide receiver remains limited by a painful case of turf toe and is a question mark for Week 8. He has not played since sustaining the injury in Week 4 though the team has not dropped a game with him sidelined. The success could buy the Packers more time and allow them to slow play Adams' recovery to ensure he's 100 percent. Turf toe is a difficult injury to manage for wide receivers and can easily be aggravated. The more recovery time he can get, the more likely he will be to return and stay on the field. Monitor Adams' workload in this week's practices to get a better idea if he will be ready to play against the Chiefs.
Will Fuller: The Texans wideout will be on the shelf for multiple weeks after suffering a "significant" hamstring strain. Fuller has shown a propensity for injury during his time in the NFL, including multiple hamstring issues. As a result, look for Fuller to sit out through the team's Week 10 bye. His absence will create an opportunity for Kenny Stills and Keke Coutee to see increased usage and potential fantasy value.
Kerryon Johnson: An undisclosed knee injury is expected to sideline Johnson for the immediate future. The injury occurred to his right knee, the knee opposite the one that was injured last year and forced him to miss the final six games of the season. The uncertainty surrounding the problem makes Ty Johnson a must add in all formats.
Adrian Peterson: The former MVP and current Washington running back is dealing with a complex ankle injury. According to Peterson, he is dealing with a low-grade high ankle sprain and a moderate Grade 2 "low" ankle sprain. The two injuries occur to two different areas of the ankle, creating a difficult to manage scenario. Peterson was unable to practice Monday and will be hard-pressed to be near 100 percent for Thursday's matchup with his former team the Vikings. I would look elsewhere this week, despite Peterson's recent increase in workload, especially when you consider the Vikings are ranked seventh in the league against the run.
Matt Ryan: A dismal Falcons season keeps getting worse, as their quarterback is now dealing with what is believed to be a high ankle sprain. The team would not rule Ryan out for the week ahead, though he will need to show real progression throughout the week to garner the trust of fantasy owners. With a Week 9 bye on the horizon, don't be surprised if Atlanta plays it safe and lets Matt Schaub start against the Seahawks.
Sterling Shepard: The Giants receiver is reportedly symptom-free after suffering his second concussion of the season in Week 6 and hopes to progress through the league's mandated concussion protocol in the week ahead. Shepard will need to complete a full practice and be cleared by an independent neurologist before he can return to games.
Adam Thielen: A shortened week will not provide enough time for the Vikings receiver to improve enough to play. Thielen suffered a low-grade hamstring strain in Sunday's win over the Lions but will take a conservative approach to treatment. He is reportedly targeting a Week 9 return and should be benched in all formats for the week ahead.
