Dez Bryant’s broken foot will knock him out for the next four to six weeks
Week 1 provided us with a reminder of how dangerous football can be, as New York Jets’ rookie linebacker Lorenzo Mauldin was taken off the field on a spine board. Mauldin was unconscious on the field but, thankfully, reports later indicated that he was awake at the hospital with sensation in all of his extremities.
Here is an initial update for some other key injuries from Week 1 that could impact your fantasy team next week.
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- Dez Bryant (DAL WR) is expected to miss four to six weeks after suffering a broken bone in his right foot during the Cowboys’ 27-26 Sunday night win over the Giants. Bryant will have to undergo surgery to repair the bone. Considering that Dallas has a Week 6 bye, the club could choose to hold him out through the off week and play him in Week 7. His absence will elevate Terrance Williams into WR2 territory at the very least while Cole Beasley becomes a viable flex play.
- Baltimore D/ST will be without Terrell Suggs for the remainder of the season, as coach John Harbaugh announced in the post-game news conference that the Ravens linebacker tore his left Achilles tendon.
- Carolina D/ST could take a hit next week, if Luke Kuechly is unable to play next week. Kuechly suffered a concussion during the second quarter of the Panthers’ opening game against Jacksonville and missed the remainder of the contest. Kuechly led with his head when attempting to tackle T.J. Yeldon and head coach Ron Rivera indicated that Kuechly was in the NFL’s concussion protocol.
- Andre Ellington (ARI RB) left Sunday’s game with a non-contact injury to his right knee. Arizona’s athletic training staff helped him off the field, but he was then carted to the Cardinals’ locker room. Later, reports indicated that Ellington tore his posterior cruciate ligament, but more tests are forthcoming. The PCL serves a similar function to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), in that they both keep the lower leg in the proper alignment with the thigh. While the ACL prevents the lower leg from moving forward in relation to the thigh, called anterior tibial translation, the PCL prevents it from moving backward, called posterior tibial translation. Key football moves, like sprinting and cutting are very difficult without an intact PCL. Expect Ellington to have an MRI, after which a more accurate time frame for his return can be established.
- Mike Evans (TB WR) did not play in Tampa Bay’s season debut, and his absence certainly hurt the Buccaneers’ chances. Monitor Evans’ progress during the week leading into next week.
- Frank Gore (IND RB) was forced out of Sunday’s contest against the Bills despite Indianapolis’ best efforts during the preseason to keep their featured back healthy. Gore experienced cramping in his calf, which limited his action and hindered the Colts’ comeback attempt. This injury doesn’t sound serious, so I do expect him to be ready for next week.
- T.Y. Hilton (IND WR) is expected to miss time due to a knee injury. X-rays were negative, and it appears that it is just a contusion (bruise) but any absence will also impact Andrew Luck’s fantasy value. The Colts’ offense sputtered after Hilton departed Sunday’s game against Buffalo.
- DeSean Jackson (WAS WR) suffered a hamstring injury during the first quarter and missed the rest of Washington’s game against Miami. Jackson is scheduled for an MRI. Washington plays next Sunday against the Rams and then goes right into a Thursday night game against the Giants. Therefore, even a minor injury could cause Jackson to miss two games. However, we will have a better idea of his status after the MRI. Jackson led the NFL with 13 catches of 40 yards or more last season. If Washington is unable to stretch the field, the whole offense could be downgraded if Jackson will miss an extended period of time.
- Josh McCown (CLE QB) took a big hit during the first quarter when trying to dive for a touchdown, pinwheeling through the air. He left with a concussion and will work through the concussion protocol. If Johnny Manziel plays next week look for the Browns to rely more heavily on the running game.
- New York Jets D/ST might lose their best player for an extended time period, as cornerback Antonio Cromartie left the game against Cleveland with an apparent knee injury. Cromartie tried to adjust to a route and his left knee folded awkwardly. He will have an MRI on Monday, but the non-contact nature of this injury indicates it could be severe.
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Jeremy Tiermini is a correspondent at FantasyPros. To read more from Jeremy follow him @JeremyTiermini.
