The NFL season is underway! Hopefully, if you are reading this your fantasy team is 2-0. If you are not 2-0, there’s a chance some of your better players have already missed some time due to injury. Let’s take a look at some of the injuries that have impacted some of the NFL’s biggest superstars.
Anthony Richardson: Concussion
The #4 overall draft pick in the 2023 NFL draft found himself in the concussion protocol following a rushing TD scored in the first quarter against the Houston Texans. He will have to pass a series of tests and report no symptoms in order to be cleared to play. It’s looking like Richardson is trending towards missing this Sunday’s game, but I anticipate he will return the following week. Be cautious, as second impact syndrome (obtaining a second concussion following a first one) puts him at a high re-injury risk.
Saquon Barkley: High Ankle Sprain
Saquon Barkley suffered a high ankle sprain in Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals. Given that it is a high ankle sprain, not a low ankle sprain, this will unfortunately sideline Barkley for closer to 3-6 weeks rather than 2-4. Because Barkley has sprained this ankle several times before, it puts him at a high re-injury risk when he returns to action.
Austin Ekeler: Ankle Sprain
Austin Ekeler suffered an ankle sprain in Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins. Because it is unspecified high vs. low, it’s harder to judge how much time he will miss. He missed Week 2 and is uncertain for Week 3. Average return to play from ankle injury is 2-3 weeks, so if Ekeler can’t go this Sunday, there’s a good chance he can return to action next week.
Christian Watson: Hamstring
After suffering a hamstring injury in practice, Watson has yet to play a snap for the Packers this season. Unfortunately for Watson, these soft tissue injuries can linger. Watson missed practice yesterday and is looking doubtful for Week 3. Continue to monitor his status, as these injuries can take anywhere from 3-12 weeks depending on severity. Watson seems to be inching closer to return sooner rather than later.
Diontae Johnson: Hamstring
The Steelers WR suffered a hamstring injury in Week 1 blowout loss to the 49ers, landing him on IR. He will spend at least 4 weeks here before he is eligible to return to play. Pickens should continue to see an uptick in targets until Diontae returns to the lineup.
Derrick Henry and Amon-Ra St Brown: Turf Toe
The Titans RB and the Lions star WR are suffering from “turf toe.” This term is used to describe an injury to the ligament on the bottom of your big toe and certainly impacts one’s ability to push off the ground and accelerate. Similar to any other sprain, these can vary in healing times based on severity. It looks like both are listed as questionable, and you should continue to monitor their status over the weekend. The average time missed for minor injuries is 2-3 weeks whereas more serious injuries can take upwards of 6. Judging by practice reports, it seems these two have suffered mild injuries, and should not be missing much action.
Out For the Season: Nick Chubb, Aaron Rodgers, JK Dobbins
These three players suffered gruesome injuries which have ended their 2023 seasons. Due to age (Rodgers) and prior injury history (Dobbins, Chubb) it appears these injuries might seriously impact their ability to return at full strength in 2024 and may cause a serious dip in production. If you are an owner of these three players in a dynasty league, I would recommend selling if able to get a decent return.
Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for more injury information on your favorite players all season long.
