This article is part of our Injury Analysis series.
Occasionally injuries will come in waves attacking a specific unit on a NFL team. Multiple injuries to offensive linemen can bring down the skill players of an offense, while numerous injuries to a secondary can be a big win for opposing teams. Entering Week 9, there are several teams that could be forced to start unheralded options at key spots due to injury concerns elsewhere.
James Conner and the Pittsburgh RBs
The Steelers starting running back came out of Monday night's win over the Dolphins with his right arm in a sling. The injury was diagnosed as an acromioclavicular (AC) sprain of his shoulder and Conner is expected to be further evaluated in the coming days. The severity of the sprain will go a long way to determining if Conner will miss any time, though the team has shown some initial optimism. The AC joint is located where the collarbone meets the shoulder blade, creating a strut for the entire shoulder joint. Low-grade sprains of the AC joint are manageable and can be braced and stabilized with additional padding.
Conner will be needed with the rest of the Steelers backfield also nursing injuries. Backup Benny Snell Jr. is managing an undisclosed knee injury, and Jaylen Samuels is still working his way back from arthroscopic knee surgery. If you are desperate for a running back option, Trey Edmunds could be worth a speculative add.
Derrius Guice and the Washington RBs
Washington could be welcoming back Guice in the near future. The
Occasionally injuries will come in waves attacking a specific unit on a NFL team. Multiple injuries to offensive linemen can bring down the skill players of an offense, while numerous injuries to a secondary can be a big win for opposing teams. Entering Week 9, there are several teams that could be forced to start unheralded options at key spots due to injury concerns elsewhere.
James Conner and the Pittsburgh RBs
The Steelers starting running back came out of Monday night's win over the Dolphins with his right arm in a sling. The injury was diagnosed as an acromioclavicular (AC) sprain of his shoulder and Conner is expected to be further evaluated in the coming days. The severity of the sprain will go a long way to determining if Conner will miss any time, though the team has shown some initial optimism. The AC joint is located where the collarbone meets the shoulder blade, creating a strut for the entire shoulder joint. Low-grade sprains of the AC joint are manageable and can be braced and stabilized with additional padding.
Conner will be needed with the rest of the Steelers backfield also nursing injuries. Backup Benny Snell Jr. is managing an undisclosed knee injury, and Jaylen Samuels is still working his way back from arthroscopic knee surgery. If you are desperate for a running back option, Trey Edmunds could be worth a speculative add.
Derrius Guice and the Washington RBs
Washington could be welcoming back Guice in the near future. The second-year running back is recovering from a meniscus surgery performed following his Week 1 appearance but has returned to practice. Meniscus surgeries can be broken down into two basic types, repairs and removals. The location of the injury and the type of tear that has occurred will ultimately decide which route is taken. Tears can be repaired if isolated to the outer portions of the meniscus.
A meniscectomy, or removal, is the more common of the two techniques and is often accompanied by a shorter recovery window. Following a meniscectomy, players can often return to activity within six weeks. However, the quick turnaround doesn't come without consequences, as removals do elevate the risk of long-term issues like osteoarthritis and other complications like cysts. Guice's procedure was described as a trim of the meniscus, suggesting he had a meniscectomy to address a small tear of the peripheral of the disc.
It seems likely Washington will welcome back Guice following their Week 10 bye. He could immediately resume a sizeable role in the team's offense given Adrian Peterson's sporadic productivity and Chris Thompson's lingering toe injury.
David Johnson and the Arizona RBs
The Cardinals running back depth is being challenged as well as the team hits the halfway point of the season. Johnson continues to work his way back from an ankle injury that limited him to just one carry over the past two weeks. His absence is likely to carry over into this week with the team playing on Thursday, truncating his recovery and prep time. Chase Edmonds will definitely be in street clothes against the Vikings after he suffered a moderate hamstring strain that is likely to keep him out for multiple weeks. The overall health of the backfield did receive a bit of a boost following the Cardinals trade for Kenyan Drake. Drake could see a feature role in the week ahead but will also be on a limited time table and will be a precarious play with the Vikings defense on tap.
Turf Burns
Sam Darnold: The Jets quarterback is dealing with a sprained left thumb, though the team does not expect him to miss time. Thumb sprains can hurt a quarterback's ability to grip the ball, but Darnold should be okay as the injury occurred to his nonthrowing hand. It seems likely New York will limit his snap count in this week's slate of practices to protect the digit and give it ample time to recover. His value for Week 9 against the Dolphins will remain intact.
Joe Flacco: The former Super Bowl MVP is far from a hot fantasy commodity, but any lingering value is now gone due to a neck injury. Flacco was seen having the area examined during Sunday's loss to the Colts and has now been ruled out for Week 9. The injury will elevate Brandon Allen to starting quarterback, but how long he stays atop the Denver depth chart remains to be seen. The injury is disc related, meaning a lengthy recovery could be in store and an injured reserve designation is possible. Disc injuries can result in impingement in the area and negatively impact a quarterback's arm strength. Given the potential severity of the issue, Flacco is worth dropping in all formats.
DeSean Jackson: The veteran wide receiver has an outside chance at suiting up against the Bears this week though the Eagles will continue to take a conservative approach with his recovery from an abdominal injury. As a result, a Week 11 return seems more likely with the Eagles off in Week 10.
Cam Newton: The Panthers quarterback will miss his sixth straight outing this week as he continues to receive treatment for a Lisfranc sprain in his foot. He has progressed nicely over the past few weeks but isn't quite where the Panthers medical staff would like. As a result, Kyle Allen will get at least one more start and a chance to bounce back from his poor performance against the Niners in which he threw three interceptions and was held to 158 passing yards with no touchdowns.
Matt Ryan: The Falcons expect Ryan to resume his starting role following their Week 9 bye. Ryan missed Sunday's game with a right ankle sprain though the injury doesn't appear overly serious. Despite the team's overall struggles, Ryan has been a reliable fantasy option, averaging 25.9 points per outing.
J.J. Watt: Another year and yet another season-ending injury for the Texans defensive end. Watt suffered a torn pectoral muscle that will require surgery. These types of injuries usually occur near the shoulder where the pec extends across the chest and attaches on the upper arm bone. The injury makes Watt droppable in IDP leagues and knocks the Texans team defense down a bit, despite a favorable schedule to end the season.
