All our week 5 content
Week 5 Early Injury Report
by Mark Wimer, Exclusive to
Footballguys.com
Quarterback
QB Brodie Croyle - KC - Croyle missed the game due to his ongoing right shoulder woes (he was listed as out on Friday).
QB Jake Delhomme - CAR - Delhomme took a knee to his quad muscle in the first quarter on Sunday, but stayed in the game. He had a wrap on the injury after the game and indicated he was "OK". "As the game went on it got tight," Delhomme said. "We wrapped it at half. Maybe we wrapped it a little too tight. I couldn't bend it a lot."
QB Gus Frerotte - MIN - Frerotte injured his hand late in a loss to the Titans when he was hit on a pass, and didn't return to action. He suffered a laceration to his non-throwing hand, and is expected to be fine for next week.
QB Matt Moore - CAR - Moore continues to miss games as his broken leg heals, as expected (listed as out on Friday).
QB Carson Palmer - CIN - Palmer was inactive on Sunday due to his injured right elbow, despite mid-week sentiments that he'd be ready to play (officially listed as questionable on Friday). Here is an exchange with a Cincinnati reporter (Paul Daugherty) regarding Palmer's elbow as reported on Monday: "Did the MRI show anything scary?"
Palmer: "I'm not going to comment on everything."
"Do you think it's long term?"
Palmer, after a pause: "I hope not." Stay tuned later in the week, folks. Palmer's elbow will be scrutinized carefully.
You should know that there are lots of rumors floating around that Palmer has a serious elbow issue and could miss significant time. Season ending surgery is one rumor that's floating. But there were also lots of rumors that Peyton Manning would never see the field this year so be careful. Right now, what we have above is the only verified information we have and all we can go on. But clearly, this is a worrisome issue not just for Palmer but for the Bengals passing game.
QB Patrick Ramsey - DEN - Ramsey didn't play on Sunday after being listed as probable on Friday (right elbow injury) - but he won't go unless Cutler would leave the field anyway.
QB Aaron Rodgers - GB - Aaron Rodgers missed one series during the game on Sunday due to an injury to his throwing arm shoulder that has been described at various points after the game as "bruised", "dislocated", or "subluxed" - basically, it looks like the shoulder got knocked out of joint and then popped back in during the game. Whether Rodgers suffered a serious separation of the joint or some less significant injury to the shoulder isn't clear as of Monday morning - evaluations are ongoing. It is worth noting that Rodgers did return to the game after the injury.
QB Vince Young - TEN - Young missed the game on Sunday as expected (knee, hamstring).Young was expected to miss 4-6 weeks because of his MCL sprain. Last week he began throwing passes and practicing drop backs on a side field, and Coach Jeff Fisher said Young could return to practice with the team as soon as this week.
Running Back
RB Deon Anderson - DAL - Anderson missed the game on Sunday as expected (knee, listed as out on Friday).
RB B.J. Askew - TB - Askew sat out of the game on Sunday due to his injured hamstring after being listed as doubtful to play on Friday.
RB Darian Barnes - BUF - Barnes' sprained right foot was not well enough for him to play on Sunday (he was listed as probable to go on Friday).
RB Correll Buckhalter - PHI - Buckhalter missed some time during the game vs. Chicago due to a lower back bruise, but eventually returned to action.
RB Justin Fargas - OAK - Fargas missed the game on Sunday as expected, due to his injured groin (listed as out on Friday).
RB Ahman Green - HOU - Green missed another game on Sunday (foot, questionable).
RB Andre Hall - DEN - Hall (left wrist) left the game on Sunday because of his injury and didn't return to action - he'll be evaluated further as the week goes along.
RB Mike Karney - NO - Karney missed the game on Sunday as expected (ankle injury, listed as out on Friday).
RB Jamal Lewis - CLE - Lewis was battered and bruised after the Cincy game on Sunday: "I haven't felt like this since last year, and the offensive line feels the same way. I'm beat up from pounding it up in there," Lewis said. "'Chud' kind of surprised me, running it as many times as he did early. We set the tempo and played physical." Lewis didn't suffer any injuries of note, but he'll spend some time early this week recovering.
RB Kregg Lumpkin - GB - Lumpkin sat out of the game on Sunday due to his injured hamstring after being listed as doubtful to play on Friday.
RB Darren McFadden - OAK - McFadden was limited due to his turf toe injury, but did suit up and play in a part-time role on Sunday. "Darren wasn't right today. We even thought about not putting him out, not dressing him but we didn't have anybody else to dress," coach Lane Kiffin explained after the game when asked why McFadden suited up.
RB Antonio Pittman - STL - Pittman missed the game on Sunday due to his lower leg injury as expected (he was listed as out on Friday).
RB B.J. Sams - KC - Sams' sore hamstring sidelined him on Sunday (listed as questionable to play on Friday).
RB Aaron Stecker - NO - Stecker missed the game on Sunday due to his injured hamstring after being listed as questionable to play on Friday.
RB Mike Tolbert - SD - Tolbert tweaked an ankle during the game on Sunday - he'll be evaluated further as the week goes along.
RB Ryan Torain - DEN - Torain missed another game as expected due to his broken arm/elbow injury (he was listed as out on Friday).
RB Lawrence Vickers - CLE - Vickers was hit in the left eye with a beer bottle on Jamal Lewis' touchdown run during the game on Sunday, but wasn't seriously injured.
RB Kenny Watson - CIN - Watson missed the game on Sunday due to his injured hamstring (he was listed as questionable on Friday).
RB Brian Westbrook - PHI - Westbrook sat out of the game on Sunday due to his injured ankle after being listed as questionable on Friday.
Wide Receiver
WR Drew Bennett - STL - Bennett missed the game on Sunday due to his ongoing problem with a foot injury, as expected (he was listed as out on Friday).
WR Anquan Boldin - ARI - Boldin was knocked unconscious during the game vs. the New York Jets on Sunday - Boldin was alert and was moving his extremities after leaving the field. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in New York for what coach Ken Whisenhunt said were precautionary reasons. Boldin appears to have avoided serious injury to his spinal column or nervous system, but further evaluations are ongoing. The hope is that he'll be right back in action but that remains to be seen. Stay tuned this week to see how he progresses.
WR Keenan Burton - STL - Burton missed the game on Sunday due to his ongoing problem with a knee injury, as expected (he was listed as out on Friday).
WR David Clowney - NYJ - Clowney missed another game due to his shoulder injury, as expected (he was listed as out on Friday).
WR Marques Colston - NO - Colston missed the game on Sunday as expected (thumb injury, listed as out on Friday).
WR Kevin Curtis - PHI - Curtis sat out of the game on Sunday as expected due to his hernia, after being listed as doubtful on Friday.
WR Joey Galloway - TB - Galloway missed the game as expected (foot, out).
WR Darrell Jackson - DEN - Jackson was sidelined on Sunday due to his calf injury (he was listed as out on Friday).
WR James Jones - GB - Jones sat out of the game on Sunday due to his injured knee after being listed as doubtful to play on Friday.
WR Malcolm Kelly - WAS - Kelly missed the game on Sunday as expected (ankle, doubtful).
WR Brandon Lloyd - CHI - Lloyd went to the locker room with a left knee injury at the end of the first half on Sunday, and did not return to action. Lloyd left the stadium wearing a brace. He'll be evaluated further as the week goes along - the severity of the injury isn't currently known.
WR Dane Looker - STL - Looker suffered a concussion during the game on Sunday, and didn't return to action. He'll be further evaluated as the week goes along to discover if he can pass the "baseline" test - concussions often cause complications days after they are initially inflicted on a player.
WR Mario Manningham - NYG - Manningham is not participating in practice on Monday because he has the flu, according to coach Tom Coughlin, who added, "He tried to do everything, but he was sick." Coughlin added that the team thought it better that Manningham wasn't around the rest of the Giants until he feels better.
WR Roscoe Parrish - BUF - Parrish missed the game on Sunday as he rehabs his surgically repaired thumb, as expected (listed as out on Friday).
WR David Patten - NO - Patten left the game after re-injuring his groin, and didn't return to action. He'll be evaluated further during the week, but unfortunately this injury is starting to look chronic - he can't seem to avoid tweaking his sore groin.
WR Jerry Porter - JAX - Porter, sidelined since hamstring surgery in July, made his first appearance for the Jaguars against Houston on Sunday and caught just one pass for 6 yards. "He was very excited," quarterback David Garrard said. "I'm sure he wanted to catch more balls. It was a good game for him to get back in the flow of it, get his legs back into it. I thought he ran great today. We're going to make sure he gets more balls thrown to him. He's a receiver who's got great hands and great range, just like Matt [Jones]. He might not be as tall as Matt, but he plays about as tall as Matt."
WR Laurent Robinson - ATL - Robinson was sidelined by his injured knee, as expected (listed as out on Friday).
WR Ryne Robinson - CAR - Robinson missed another game due to his ongoing knee woes (he was listed as questionable to play on Friday).
WR Cliff Russell - DEN - Russell accompanied the rest of the team on its charter flight to Denver after a scary fourth-quarter incident Sunday that left him numb, strapped to a backboard and hospitalized.
"All the tests have been normal so far," head athletic trainer Steve Antonopulos said in the locker room after the game. "His symptoms have resolved... Everything looks good now." The injury is now characterized as a sprained neck.
WR Donte Stallworth - CLE - Stallworth was unable to play on Sunday due to his ongoing quadriceps injury problem (listed as doubtful to play on Friday).
WR Troy Williamson - JAX - Williamson was inactive on Sunday despite being listed as probable to play on Friday (thigh).
Tight End
TE Mark Bruener - HOU - Bruener sat out of the game on Sunday due to his injured hamstring after being listed as out on Friday.
TE Derek Fine - BUF - Fine missed the game due to his injured hand, as expected (listed as out on Friday).
TE Randy McMichael - STL - McMichael suffered an ankle injury on a couple of occasions Sunday, and the second time, with less than 3 minutes to play, the injury looked serious. McMichael was on crutches and wearing a boot after the game.
TE Martin Rucker - CLE - Rucker missed the game on Sunday due to his injured knee (he was listed as out on Friday).
TE Jeremy Shockey - NO - Shockey missed the game on Sunday as expected (sports hernia injury/surgery, listed as out on Friday).
TE L.J. Smith - PHI - Smith sat out of the game on Sunday as expected due to his back injury, after being listed as doubtful on Friday.
TE Ben Troupe - OAK - Troupe missed the game on Sunday as expected, due to his injured foot (listed as out on Friday).
TE Jerame Tuman - ARI - Tuman missed another game due to his ongoing hamstring woes (listed as doubtful on Friday).
Kicker
PK Martin Gramatica - NO - Gramatica tweaked a groin muscle during pregame warmups on Sunday. He kicked extra points and short field goals vs. San Francisco, but punter Steve Weatherford took over kickoff duties. Gramatica will be evaluated further as the week goes along.
PK Mike Nugent - NYJ - Nugent missed another game due to his ongoing right thigh injury, as expected (he was listed as out on Friday).
Offensive Line
OL San Francisco 49ers - SF - T Jonas Jennings missed the game on Sunday due to his injured shoulder (listed as out on Friday).
OL Chicago Bears - CHI - T Chris Williams sat out of the game on Sunday as expected due to his back injury, after being listed as doubtful on Friday.
OL Denver Broncos - DEN - OG Chris Kuper banged up his left thigh and missed some time on Sunday before returning to action. He'll be evaluated further as the week goes along.
OL Cleveland Browns - CLE - G Ryan Tucker missed the game on Sunday due to his injured hip after being listed as questionable to play on Friday. LT Kevin Shaffer suffered a concussion with 3:38 left in the third quarter on Sunday and was replaced by Isaac Sowells. He'll be evaluated further as the week goes along.
OL Tampa Bay Buccaneers - TB - OG Davin Joseph missed the game on Sunday due to his sore foot (listed as doubtful to play on Friday).
OL San Diego Chargers - SD - RT Jeromey Clary left the game for a series in the first quarter on Sunday with a knee injury but returned the next series. The Chargers also reported a injury after the game to right guard Mike Goff (knee) - both players will be evaluated further later in the week.
OL Kansas City Chiefs - KC - LT Branden Albert was carted off the field late in the second quarter Sunday because of a hyperextended right elbow. He'll be evaluated further as the week goes along.
OL Dallas Cowboys - DAL - G Kyle Kosier missed the game on Sunday as expected (foot, listed as out on Friday).
OL Philadelphia Eagles - PHI - G Shawn Andrews sat out of the game on Sunday as expected due to his back injury, after being listed as doubtful on Friday.
OL Atlanta Falcons - ATL - LT Sam Baker missed the game on Sunday due to lingering after effects of a concussion and also a flu-like illness. C Alex Stepanovich, who has been battling a back problem, also missed the game due to his injury.
OL Jacksonville Jaguars - JAX - C Brad Meester (biceps) and G Chris Naeole (knee) were out on Sunday as expected.
OL Green Bay Packers - GB - G Josh Sitton did not play on Sunday despite being active and listed as probable to go on Friday (knee injury).
OL Carolina Panthers - CAR - Both LT Jordan Gross and RT Jeff Otah were injured in Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons. Gross left in the first quarter with a head injury and did not return. "It was really scary," said coach John Fox after the game. "Typically, players and coaches think the worst. We were all scared for Jordan. We're happy it ended out the way it did." Gross regained consciousness and was taken to the locker room. Otah injured his right ankle with 2:26 to play in the third period, but stated after the game he didn't believe the injury was serious. Both players will be evaluated further as the week goes along.
OL Oakland Raiders - OAK - T Seth Wand missed the game on Sunday as expected, due to his injured knee (listed as out on Friday). G Cooper Carlisle was also out due to his injured ankle (he was listed as doubtful to play on Friday).
OL Houston Texans - HOU - T Ephraim Salaam (knee) did not play on Sunday and T Eric Winston (knee) was inactive despite both being listed as probable to play on Friday.
Defensive Tackle
DT Tommie Harris - CHI - Harris was unable to play on Sunday due to his injured knee, after being listed as questionable to play on Friday.
DT Tony McDaniel - JAX - McDaniel was inactive on Sunday despite being listed as probable on Friday (biceps injury).
DT Dewayne Robertson - DEN - Robertson missed the game on Sunday due to his sore knee (he was listed as questionable on Friday). Robertson said he could have played, "but I guess they wanted me to rest up and let it heal."
DT Josh Shaw - DEN - Shaw sat out of the game due to a groin injury (he was listed as out on Friday).
DT Ryan Sims - TB - Sims missed the game on Sunday due to his groin injury (listed as questionable to play on Friday).
DT Gabriel Watson - ARI - Watson sat out of another contest due to his ongoing knee woes (he was listed as questionable to play on Friday).
Defensive End
DE Victor Abiamiri - PHI - Abiamiri missed the game on Sunday as expected due to his injured wrist (listed as out on Friday).
DE Bertrand Berry - ARI - Berry was inactive on Sunday due to his groin injury (listed as out on Friday).
DE Stephen Bowen - DAL - Bowen suffered a first-half hamstring injury on Sunday and didn't continue to play on special teams as a result.
DE Ray Edwards - MIN - Edwards missed the game on Sunday after being listed as questionable to play on Friday (shoulder injury).
DE Jason Hunter - GB - Hunter suffered a hamstring injury on Sunday and didn't return to action - he'll be evaluated further as the week goes along.
DE Cullen Jenkins - GB - Jenkins suffered a shoulder injury on Sunday and couldn't return to action - he'll be evaluated further on Monday.
DE Jason Taylor - WAS - Taylor missed the game on Sunday as expected (calf, out). "He's in shoes, doing fine, he wants to get back. What's really good about that situation is there's no infection. That would be a setback. There's no infection, things are healing, [and] he'll be progressing now. I don't know how long one of those takes. It's my first time seeing this." coach Jim Zorn commented after the game - Taylor could be out several more weeks due to the compartment syndrome, a buildup of pressure on muscle groups within the body because of internal bleeding.
Inside Linebacker
ILB E.J. Henderson - MIN - Henderson was taken to the locker room on a cart on Sunday but returned late in the 2nd quarter despite a left foot injury. He was replaced by David Herron in the second half. The severity of his injury was not known immediately, and further tests were expected. Henderson was benched for the first series of the game for disciplinary reasons, as well - he had a rough day.
ILB DeMeco Ryans - HOU - Ryans had to leave the game for a few plays on Sunday when he rolled his ankle. He had it re-taped and returned to the game a few minutes later. Ryans was limping after the game, but hasn't missed a start in some time - however, he'll be evaluated further as the week goes along.
Outside Linebacker
OLB Vinny Ciurciu - MIN - Ciurciu missed the game on Sunday after being listed as questionable to play on Friday (knee injury).
OLB Justin Durant - JAX - Durant sat out of the game on Sunday due to his injured groin after being listed as doubtful to play on Friday.
OLB Donnie Edwards - KC - Edwards missed the game on Sunday due to his shoulder injury (he was listed as out on Friday).
OLB Donnie Edwards - KC - Edwards' streak of 156 consecutive game appearances was snapped when he sat out Sunday's game because of an ankle injury. The last time he'd missed a game was in October 1998. He'll be evaluated further as the week goes along.
OLB Greg Ellis - DAL - Ellis hurt his left heel on Sunday, which had the veteran linebacker wondering if he injured the Achilles' tendon that knocked him out of seven games during the 2006 season. "But they did a test on it and it wasn't the Achilles," Ellis said. "I think I just got kicked."
OLB Louis Green - DEN - Green missed the game despite being listed as probable to play on Friday (hamstring injury).
OLB A.J. Hawk - GB - Hawk suffered a groin pull that knocked him out of the game and could be serious, according to reports out of Green Bay. An Internet report said the Packers were concerned that Hawk had suffered a tear, but a source close to Hawk said he didn't think that was accurate. Evaluations are ongoing as of Monday morning.
OLB Manny Lawson - SF - Lawson strained his left hamstring while on special-teams coverage on Sunday and did not return to action. He'll be evaluated further later in the week.
OLB Willie McGinest - CLE - McGinest was inactive on Sunday due to his injured hamstring (listed as doubtful on Friday).
OLB Shaun Phillips - SD - Phillips tweaked an ankle during the game on Sunday - he'll be evaluated further as the week goes along.
OLB Jyles Tucker - SD - Tucker's injury (he left the game in the 2nd quarter on Sunday) was described as hamstring "tightness" after the game. The Chargers are hopeful he will play next Sunday at Miami. He'll be evaluated further as the week goes along.
Cornerback
CB William Blackmon - GB - Blackmon had to miss some time on Sunday after banging up a thigh - he'll be evaluated further as the week goes along (he did return to action).
CB Aaron Glenn - NO - Glenn missed the game on Sunday due to his injured hamstring after being listed as questionable to play on Friday.
CB Al Harris - GB - Harris missed the game as expected due to his spleen injury (listed as out on Friday).
CB Tye Hill - STL - Hill injured his right knee in the first quarter during a 31-14 loss to the Bills on Sunday - he didn't return to action. He'll be evaluated further as the week goes along. "I kind of hyperextended my knee," Hill said after the game. "I think it's all right."
CB Johnathan Joseph - CIN - Joseph missed the game on Sunday due to his injured ankle (listed as doubtful to play on Friday).
CB Rashean Mathis - JAX - Mathis left the game early in the second quarter with a bruised shin and didn't return to action - he'll be evaluated further as the week goes along.
CB Terrence McGee - BUF - McGee was sidelined early in the game on Sunday with a sprained left knee, and didn't return to action. He'll be evaluated further as the week goes along.
CB Justin Miller - NYJ - Miller's foot injury landed him on the inactive list this week (he was listed as questionable to play on Friday).
CB Stanford Routt - OAK - Routt missed the game due to an ankle problem that landed him on the inactive list - he was listed as questionable to play on Friday.
CB Fred Smoot - WAS - Smoot was shaken up on Sunday, and admitted he was "out of there for a minute" after the collision in remarks after the game. He didn't seem seriously injured, though, as he joked he initially thought he was Batman when he got up. "I was clueless; you could have called me a blonde," he said. Smoot will be evaluated further as the week goes along.
CB Shawntae Spencer - SF - Spencer missed the game on Sunday due to his sore knee (listed as out on Friday).
CB Shawn Springs - WAS - Springs left the game midway through the third quarter and did not come back to action because of a left calf strain. He'll be evaluated further as the week goes along.
CB Scott Starks - JAX - Starks went on IR last week with a knee injury and is done for the season.
CB Patrick Surtain - KC - Surtain missed the game on Sunday due to his injured shoulder (he was listed as out on Friday).
CB Charles Tillman - CHI - Tillman suffered a shoulder injury during the game on Sunday night - he reentered the game briefly, but was then sidelined for the remainder of the contest. The initial indications are not good - he'll be evaluated further as the week goes along.
CB Charles Woodson - GB - Woodson, who has been playing with a broken toe since Week 2, continues to do well despite the injury.
Safety
S Atari Bigby - GB - Bigby sat out of the game on Sunday due to his injured hamstring after being listed as doubtful to play on Friday.
S C.C. Brown - HOU - Brown broke his arm during the 30-27 loss to Jaguars. He will have surgery Monday - coach Kubiak was unsure how long Brown would be out due to the break.
S Nick Collins - GB - Collins aggravated his sore back on Sunday (at least twice) and eventually couldn't return to action. He'll be evaluated further as the week goes along, but unfortunately this is beginning to look like a recurring injury that flares up from time to time. Stay tuned. "We know there's going to be nicks throughout the whole season. We have to get our treatment and hopefully they let us play." he said after the game.
S Brandon Harrison - HOU - Harrison's injured shoulder sidelined him on Sunday as expected (listed as out on Friday).
S Dexter Jackson - CIN - Jackson missed the game on Sunday as expected (thumb, out on Friday).
S Herana-Daze Jones - CIN - Jones missed the game on Sunday due to his ongoing hamstring woes (listed as doubtful to play on Friday).
S Sean Jones - CLE - Jones missed the game on Sunday due to his injured knee as expected (he was listed as out on Friday).
S Marlon McCree - DEN - McCree, who had suffered a stinger - a hit to nerves in the head and neck that can cause arm and shoulder pain and some numbness - last week against the Saints, was shaken up on a 13-yard run by Johnson early during the 3rd quarter on Sunday - he did return to action vs. K.C.
S Lawyer Milloy - ATL - Milloy took a knee to the rib cage early in the first quarter and had to leave the game, but later returned to action. "I was spread out into an L and this leg came up and tore some cartilage or something," Milloy said. "X-rays were negative. Dealt with it, best I could." He'll be evaluated further as the week goes along.
S Reggie Nelson - JAX - Nelson missed the game on Sunday as expected (knee).
S Sabby Piscitelli - TB - Piscitelli left in the third quarter on Sunday due to an injury to his right elbow. Piscitelli, who had his elbow wrapped in a sleeve after the game, said he didn't remember when the injury occurred and won't know the severity until later on Monday after further evaluations.
S Chris Reis - NO - Reis left with a hamstring injury on Sunday and didn't return to action - he'll be evaluated further as the week goes along.
S Aaron Rouse - GB - Rouse had to miss some time on Sunday after banging up a knee - he'll be evaluated further as the week goes along (he did return to action).
S Madieu Williams - MIN - Williams missed the game on Sunday as expected (neck, out on Friday).
S Roy Williams - DAL - Williams missed the game on Sunday as expected (broken forearm, listed as out on Friday).
S Adrian Wilson - ARI - Wilson's sore hamstring kept him on the sidelines on Sunday (he was listed as questionable to play on Friday).
