Our O-Line expert Brad Wire is here to give you the latest updates on injuries for guys in the trenches for you to consider when setting your fantasy football lineups.
Arizona Cardinals
Mason Cole – Out (Hamstring) – Cole played 36 snaps in Week 1 before going down with the injury and was replaced by Lamont Gaillard. Gaillard posted a 83.2 pass blocking grade in the remaining 46 snaps, but it very well could be a much different story in Week 2 against the strong Washington front. I have the Washington defense in my DFS lineups this week. Check out @2on1FFB other good D-Line matchups this week on Twitter.
Atlanta Falcons
Jake Matthews – Questionable (Knee) – Matthews sustained the injury during the Week 1 game against Seattle, but did not miss any time. He was limited in practice this week, but he’s another one I feel would’ve drawn the probable tag. This matchup against the Cowboys should be high flying so the Falcons will need him if they want to stay in it.
Baltimore Ravens
Ronnie Stanley – Questionable (Hip/Ankle) – Stanley suffered an ankle injury during Week 1 during the third quarter and did not return to finish the contest. D.J. Fluker replaced Stanley and struggled a bit against the Cleveland D-Line. Stanley turned in a limited practice on Thursday and a full practice on Friday so it seems he’ll give it a go on Sunday. Houston still has some good pass rushers so hopefully Stanley will be able to tough it out for this one.
No surprises on the #Ravens injury report.
Out: Justin Madubuike (knee), Chris Moore (finger)
Questionable: Ronnie Stanley (hip), Jimmy Smith (hip), Justice Hill (thigh)Stanley and Hill participated fully in practice today. Smith was limited.
— Aaron Kasinitz (@AaronKazreports) September 18, 2020
Carolina Panthers
Dennis Daley – Out (Ankle) – Daley has once again been ruled out for Week 2. He was not able to log any practice of any sort and it seems they are taking it easy with Daley which shows they have confidence in the veteran Michael Schofield.
Dallas Cowboys
Tyron Smith – Questionable (Neck) – Smith has been ruled as a game-time decision for the Week 2 battle against the Falcons. He was not able to practice this week, but being a veteran makes that a little less important here. Head Coach Mike McCarthy said he was not alarmed by it yet. I would be surprised to see him not play this week, but in any case, it is always good to look at the depth here. The Cowboys are already without La’el Collins who is on IR. Cam Erving went down during a PAT and it has been determined that he sprained his MCL and will be out a few weeks. He had already lost the starting Right Tackle job to UDFA Terence Steele. This leaves the Cowboys pretty thin at Tackle. I would assume Connor McGovern would step in to play Left Tackle, but this line would be left decimated if that were to happen. I’m still starting Dak due to the prime matchup, but we might have to temper expectations on deep plays if Smith were to miss time.
Source: #Cowboys LT Tyron Smith is a game-day decision because of the neck injury he suffered in Thursday’s practice.
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) September 19, 2020
Denver Broncos
Garett Bolles – Questionable (Elbow) – Bolles played through the injury last week and should be good to go this week against the Steelers. This Steelers defense allowed a -0.15 adjusted line yards in Week 1 to the Giants. This looks to be a tough matchup, but without Lindsay I’m still starting Melvin Gordon. He should at least be able to get some receiving work and maybe luck into a touchdown.
Detroit Lions
Halapoulivaati Vaitai – Questionable (Foot); Joe Dahl – Out (Groin) – Vaitai was able to get in some practice this week and has drawn the questionable tag. I would expect the Lions to be cautious with their new big ticket tackle and roll out Tyrell Crosby once again. He didn’t allow a sack last week against the Bears, but this week might be a different story against the fully healthy Smith Brothers. Dahl sustained the injury during practice on Thursday and has been officially ruled out for Sundays game against the Packers. Oday Aboushi should be the one to replace Dahl as he did for a few games in 2019. Luckily for the Lions Kenny Clark has also been ruled out so this softens the blow a bit.
Green Bay Packers
Billy Turner – Questionable (Knee) – After sitting out Week 1 and watching fellow teammate Lane Taylor go down with a torn ACL, Turner got in some limited practice this week. If he were able to play he would seemingly go back to his Right Guard spot from last year. Elgton Jenkins would once again be at Left Guard and Rick Wagner would play Right Tackle. The Packers are one team that has a luxury of depth for now as Lucas Patrick and Rookie Jon Runyan also got snaps in last week and could play Right Guard if they wanted to roll out Billy Turner at Right Tackle, the spot he won during training camp.
Houston Texans
Tytus Howard – Questionable (Ankle) – After watching Howard backpedal and get toasted on a pass set it seems fair that PFF game him a pass blocking grade of 49. He was able to practice all week albeit only limited each day, but that is a good sign. He would draw another tough matchup against the Ravens stout front. Watson will once again be scrambling a lot in this one regardless if Howard plays or not.
Las Vegas Raiders
Trent Brown – Doubtful (Calf); Sam Young – Doubtful (Groin); Richie Incognito – Questionable (Achilles) – Brown managed to play a whopping 3 snaps last week after missing a good chunk of camp with this calf injury. Young was the one to replace Brown, but also sustained an injury which took him out of the contest after only 15 snaps. This left Denzelle Good to play Right Tackle for the remainder of the game. The good news for the Raiders is that the MRI Brown had down revealed that he did not sustain any major injury and if Head Coach Jon Gruden has anything to say about it Brown will play the full game this week. They draw a much tougher matchup with the Saints and will need the power that Brown brings in order to sustain drives. Incognito popped up on the injury report with an Achilles injury. This might be something to watch as we get closer to Monday.
Jon Gruden says Trent Brown (calf), Nick Kwiatkoski (pectoral) and Sam Young (groin) are improving but likely will be listed as doubtful for #Raiders. Per @fboutsiders 99% of players listed as doubtful in 2016-19 missed the game
— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) September 19, 2020
New Orleans Saints
Cesar Ruiz – (Ankle) – Ruiz has not been given an injury designation at this time due to the Saints playing on Monday, but he turned in full practice on Friday. This is good news for the rookie and he should be able to make his debut against the Raiders.
Philadelphia Eagles
Lane Johnson (Ankle) – Johnson does not have an injury designation for this Sunday. The Eagles are a meager 6-12 without him so you can bet they are relieved to have him back. They draw Aaron Donald this week, however, so this will once again be a tough matchup up front.
Pittsburgh Steelers
David DeCastro – Out (Knee); Stefen Wisniewski – IR (Pectoral); Zach Banner – IR (ACL) – Injuries have already ravaged the Steelers this year as they lose Zach Banner and presumably Stefen Wisniewski for the year. DeCastro also will be out this week as he was a late scratch in Week 1. With Wisniewski going on IR this will leave them to start Rookie Kevin Dotson at Right Guard. Chukwuma Okorafor will start in Banner’s place at Right Tackle. Their depth has been severely depleted already, but they did sign Jerald Hawkins and promoted Derwin Gray from the practice squad.
San Francisco 49ers
Ben Garland (Ankle) – I was surprised that Garland sat out Week 1 against the Cardinals. Maybe they thought it wouldn’t hurt them as much. Just one player may not have made a difference, but they will be glad to have him out there for Week 2 against the Jets.
For more from Brad, check out his comprehensive Offensive Line rankings. Brad will be making updates to the rankings regularly throughout the season. Don’t forget that you can also follow @TheUndroppables to catch all of the latest content drops to our site!
