A player's injury status can have a significant effect on fantasy football — it can alter draft strategy, roster construction and, most importantly, start-or-sit decisions for your fantasy team.
Each week, I will review the positional players’ injuries from Thursday's and Sunday’s games. Injuries are fluid, so make sure to stay up to date by following @mario_pilato on Twitter.
Thursday, Oct. 22
New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles
New York Giants:
RB Devonta Freeman, PFF Week 7 Consensus Rank: RB2 — Ankle injury
Freeman suffered an ankle injury in the third quarter. He possibly suffered a high ankle sprain, which would cost him a couple of days to three-plus weeks, depending on severity. Freeman will undergo further evaluation to determine the specific injury and severity.
Philadelphia Eagles:
WR DeSean Jackson, PFF Week 7 Consensus Rank: WR68 — Ankle injury
Jackson suffered a non-displaced fracture in his ankle in the fourth quarter of Thursday Night Football. He will miss the next six to eight weeks.
Sunday, Oct. 25
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Tennessee Titans
Pittsburgh Steelers:
WR Diontae Johnson, PFF Week 7 Consensus Rank: WR32 — Ankle injury
Johnson exited the game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury. I don’t believe this is a serious injury, but he will have some discomfort.
Tennessee Titans: N/A
Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Football Team
Dallas Cowboys:
QB Andy Dalton, PFF Week 7 Consensus Rank: QB21 — Head injury
Dalton suffered a serious head injury when he took a cheap shot in the third quarter. He will likely enter the five-step concussion protocol. I do not expect him to be ready for Week 8.
Washington Football Team: N/A
Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets
Buffalo Bills: N/A
New York Jets:
WR Breshad Perriman, PFF Week 7 Consensus Rank: WR44 — Head injury
Perriman suffered a head injury late in the game. He will enter the five-step concussion protocol.
Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints
Carolina Panthers: N/A
New Orleans Saints: N/A
Green Bay Packers @ Houston Texans
Green Bay Packers: N/A
Houston Texans: N/A
Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns:
WR Odell Beckham Jr., PFF Week 7 Consensus Rank: WR20 — Knee injury
Beckham tore his ACL during the first quarter. I believe his foot inverting may have prevented an ACL tear but that was not the case. I believe he also damaged his meniscus. Beckham will undergo surgery and he will miss the remainder of the season.
Cincinnati Bengals: N/A
Detroit Lions @ Atlanta Falcons
Detroit Lions: N/A
Atlanta Falcons:
WR Russell Gage, PFF Week 7 Consensus Rank: WR50 — Knee injury
Gage sustained a knee injury in the first quarter but returned to play in the second half.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Las Vegas Raiders
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: N/A
Las Vegas Raiders: N/A
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Los Angeles Chargers
Jacksonville Jaguars:
WR Dede Westbrook, PFF Week 7 Consensus Rank: WR NR — Knee injury
Westbrook was carted off in the fourth quarter with a serious knee injury. I believe he suffered a torn ACL. Westbrook will undergo an MRI on Monday to confirm his injury.
Los Angeles Chargers:
TE Virgil Green, PFF Week 7 Consensus Rank: TE55 — Ankle injury
Green suffered an ankle injury during a touchdown catch in the third quarter. The injury looks like a low-lateral ankle injury. I expect him to land on IR and miss several weeks.
San Francisco 49ers @ New England Patriots
San Francisco 49ers:
WR Deebo Samuel, PFF Week 7 Consensus Rank: WR34 — Hamstring injury
Samuel injured his hamstring in the fourth quarter. I believe it is a Grade 1 strain that will cause him to miss the next two to three weeks.
RB Jeff Wilson Jr., PFF Week 7 Consensus Rank: RB55 — Ankle injury
Wilson injured his ankle while scoring his third touchdown of the game in the third quarter. I believe he suffered a high ankle sprain. He could miss a couple of days to three-plus weeks, depending on the severity.
New England Patriots:
WR N’Keal Harry, PFF Week 7 Consensus Rank: WR58 — Head injury
Harry sustained a head injury in the second quarter. He will enter the five-step concussion protocol.
Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos
Kansas City Chiefs: N/A
Denver Broncos:
WR Tim Patrick, PFF Week 7 Consensus Rank: WR39 — Hamstring injury
Patrick suffered a hamstring injury in the fourth quarter. I believe he suffered a Grade 1 strain and will miss the next two to three weeks.
RB Phillip Lindsay, PFF Week 7 Consensus Rank: RB36 — Head injury
Lindsay suffered a head injury in the first half. He will enter the five-step concussion protocol.
Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona Cardinals
Seattle Seahawks:
RB Chris Carson, PFF Week 7 Consensus Rank: RB5 — Foot injury
Carson suffered a mid-foot sprain in the second quarter of Sunday Night Football. If it is a Grade 1 sprain, he will miss one week. If it's a Grade 2 sprain, he will miss up to five weeks. He will undergo further evaluation Monday.
Arizona Cardinals:
RB Kenyan Drake, PFF Week 7 Consensus Rank: RB22 — Undisclosed injury
Drake left in the fourth quarter due to an undisclosed injury. He will undergo further testing Monday to determine the specific injury and severity.
Mario Pilato has a master's degree in Kinesiology and a bachelor's degree in Exercise Sports Science, along with eight years of experience in the strength and conditioning industry, including at the collegiate and NFL level. His injury analysis articles will appear weekly.
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