NOTE: This column is a living document. I'll be updating as needed after team press conferences, imaging reports, Monday Night Football injuries, etc. Major changes to the content will be noted in red. I'll also be retweeting any key pieces of news and my own reaction and analysis, so make sure you're following @JeneBramel and checking my timeline on Twitter throughout the week.
It may be a sign that I'm too immersed in discussing NFL injuries when the first thing I thought after Tramon Williams' game-sealing interception yesterday was...
I am Aaron Rodgers’ healing collarbone.
— Jene Bramel (@JeneBramel) December 16, 2013
Fortunately, I don't have to abide by the first rule of Fight Club and can freely write about yesterday's injury situations.
FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS
AARON RODGERS | FRACTURED COLLARBONE | WEEK-TO-WEEK
The Packers' dramatic comeback will make this week very interesting in Green Bay. Rodgers was clearly unhappy that he wasn't cleared to play last week. Mike McCarthy described his meeting with Rodgers and head orthopedic physician, Dr. Pat McKenzie, as a "difficult morning."
Rodgers felt he'd made significant progress with football-related activity last week and was preparing to play. But the Green Bay medical staff again did not see enough healing on Rodgers' imaging studies to clear him for contact.
I'm not sure whether Rodgers will be cleared for contact this week. The medical team likely had certain recovery goals (and a likely timeframe with them) early in the process. But I don't believe the team would be scanning him each week if they had already decided to shut him down for a minimum of eight weeks.
There's some disagreement among orthopedic surgeons I've spoken with about the likely severity of Rodgers' injury and just how conservative the Green Bay staff may be in holding him out through six weeks, eight weeks or longer. Those issues may become clear only in hindsight. So, it's difficult to guess who might win the staring contest this week should there continue to be disagreement between Rodgers and McKenzie.
But this much is clear: The Packers are in position to compete for a playoff spot. Rodgers is going to continue to lobby hard to play. And it'll be fascinating to hear what McCarthy and Rodgers have to say in their early week press conferences and radio shows.
I'll have updates on Twitter throughout the week.
adrian peterson | foot sprain | week-to-week
Something still doesn't add up to me with Peterson's injury. It certainly seems like there should be more concern than the team has shown, but that may be me reading too much into the team's decision to send Peterson's MRI to a foot specialist and keep the foot immobilized early last week.
It was very reassuring that the team has allowed Peterson to participate in practice and walkthroughs by the end of the week and at least entertain the possibility of him playing. If there was any concern for a low grade Lisfranc injury that could be much worse if aggravated, I don't see the team allowing the face of their franchise to bear weight on his foot, much less practice.
Peterson says he's going to play this week. Given his history of playing through injury, it's tough to doubt him. Whether the Vikings allow him to risk further injury is a tougher question to answer. I don't think this situation will be a game-time decision. We'll know early in the week whether he's been cleared to run and practice.
wes welker | concussion | week-to-week
We'll find out early this week how concerned the Denver medical staff is about Welker's two concussions in a three week period. There was never a chance that Welker would be cleared to play in Week 15. However, it's possible that he could be carefully advanced through the return to play protocol within two weeks if he had no residual symptoms early last week. If he's not cleared to play this week, we may not see him until the playoffs begin.
randall cobb | fractured tibia | week-to-week
I've been ultra-focused on the transcripts of Mike McCarthy's press conferences over the past three weeks. I mistakenly thought any specifics of Randall Cobb's injury would be included in the team's pressers. That wasn't the case. Ten days ago, Rob Demovsky casually dropped into a blog post that Cobb's injury was actually a broken tibia, not fibula under a headline that Cobb still had not been cleared to run.
Something always seemed fishy about Cobb's injury. The mechanism wasn't typical for a fibula fracture. The team wouldn't comment specifically on the injury. And Cobb was defensive about reports that he'd broken his fibula a month ago. Demovsky didn't provide much context or sourcing for his report and I haven't found it corroborated or discussed anywhere. But it makes sense.
The tibia is the primary weight-bearing bone of the lower leg and would be associated with a longer rehab. Players have returned from broken fibulas in 6-8 weeks, but recovery from a broken tibia generally falls somewhere between 10-16 weeks. Cobb has now been cleared to run, but it may take some time before his muscles are reconditioned and he can move laterally without pain.
Now starting his tenth week of rehab, it's possible we'll see Cobb this week. But I think it's unlikely Cobb is ready to see meaningful snaps until the postseason, should the Packers make it that far.
INJURY ROUNDS
larry fitzgerald | concussion | week-to-week
Fitzgerald was confused and not feeling well after taking a hit to the helmet on an onsides kick yesterday. He has been started on the concussion protocol. The first 24 hours are always critical. If Fitzgerald is still experiencing symptoms today, he'll be moved through the protocol cautiously and may not be cleared in time to play. I'll update with any additional information later today.
drew brees | hand | day-to-day
Brees was sacked four times yesterday and hit after he threw on another handful of dropbacks. He spoke to reporters with ice on his throwing hand, but said that the injury wasn't a concern. The Saints are notoriously tight-lipped with injury information, so Brees' comments are reassuring. And he looked comfortable throwing the ball in the second half. But keep on eye on Brees' early week practice reps. If there's more to his injury, he'll be limited in practice and possibly evasive with his comments to the media.
victor cruz | knee sprain / concussion | week-to-week
Cruz fell hard onto his helmet and hurt his knee on the same play yesterday. Clearly dazed, Cruz was ruled out of the game with a concussion. The team also said he suffered a knee sprain. On replay, it's likely it's Cruz' left knee that was injured. It's difficult to say with certainty, but the mechanism of injury suggests an MCL sprain. There are already reports that the Giants may shut Cruz down for the season, but it's not clear whether one injury is of higher concern than the other.
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Cecil Shorts has a groin injury that will require offseason surgery. That combination likely means he's been playing through a sports hernia (core abdominal muscle tear) and it's possible he'll be shut down for the rest of the season. ... Maurice Jones-Drew didn't practice last week with a hamstring injury. He may be no better than a game-time decision this week. ... Percy Harvin didn't practice this week and Pete Carroll didn't sound optimistic about Harvin's availability for Week 16 during last week's press conferences. ... Jordan Reed is at risk of being placed on injured reserve. He was still having headaches last week. ... Donald Brown left yesterday's game with a stinger. It may not a good sign that he wasn't cleared to return within 15-30 minutes. ... Carson Palmer has a high ankle sprain. He's likely to play, but will be limited for the rest of the season. ... Andre Ellington has a thigh contusion and will be re-evaluated today.
I'll be updating this feature throughout the day. Footballguys Insiders will get a full update with additional fantasy perspectives on Wednesday, with analysis of the week's game-time decisions early Sunday morning. Follow me on Twitter @JeneBramel for breaking injury news and analysis throughout the week.
