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.
FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS
In most weeks, I'll start out with a review of the most critical Sunday injuries. This week, the two most pressing discussions involve players with existing injuries. So, let's schedule the followup appointments first today.
ANDRE ELLINGTON | PERONEUS TENDON STRAIN | WEEK-TO-WEEK
After 72 hours of limited information, meaningful details on Ellington's foot injury were finally reported early Sunday afternoon with Jay Glazer revealing on the FOX pregame show that Ellington has a peroneal longus tendon strain.
That fits what had previously been reported -- a foot injury with swelling to the outside of the foot that needed an MRI and multiple specialist visits to determine the best course of action -- and it's one of the three most likely injuries I discussed on our live show last Thursday night.
The best comparison for Ellington's injury is Jamaal Charles, who suffered a low grade strain of the same tendon late in the preseason last year and did not miss any time.
Like any strain, there are multiple degrees of injury. The degree of Ellington's injury isn't yet known but it's likely somewhere between a Grade 1 and 2 strain. A higher grade would likely require surgery -- which was not recommended by the specialists Ellington saw -- and a very low grade injury likely wouldn't warrant the specialist visits and discussion.
What may also be complicating Ellington's case is residual scar tissue from surgery to repair a broken ankle in college. That scar tissue has been removed once already -- in April 2012 -- and, according to Mike Jurecki, may still be an issue.
The most ominous note to date, however, is Jurecki's hint that the tendon may be damaged enough to warrant reattaching at some point. That's more evidence that Ellington has a mid-grade injury. For now, the debate appears to be whether to allow Ellington to play through the injury or immobilize the foot for 2-4 weeks to allow the tendon to heal. Given what we now know, it makes more sense for Ellington to take the latter course. We'll know which course Ellington has decided upon Monday night.
Cam Newton | rib fracture | day-to-day
The Panthers elected to hold Cam Newton out in Week 1. Reportedly, the decision was due to worries that Newton was at risk of missing as much as additional month if his hairline rib fracture took another direct hit on Sunday.
I'm told by multiple orthopedic surgeons that a rib fracture in the back isn't at higher risk of re-injury than a rib fracture in the front or side, but that it's often more painful. And I think it's telling that multiple reports Sunday night suggested that Newton is very likely to go in Week 2. While there will be more interval healing over the next seven days, the rib fracture will not have fully healed three weeks after the injury.
I think Newton may not have been comfortable with the flak jacket and pain-killing injection plan. And I think it's likely the Panthers knew that they would have to significantly alter the offensive game plan they usual have with a healthy Newton under center. If Newton wasn't ready to run the read-option and would not feel comfortable scrambling out of the pocket when necessary, why risk him at all?
It's too early to call it a lock, but I expect to see Newton under center next week.
CECIL SHORTS | HAMSTRING STRAIN | WEEK-TO-WEEK
Shorts aggravated a hamstring strain late last week and was ruled out of Sunday's game. He told reporters today he would run on Tuesday and make a determination on whether he'll try to practice or continue to rehab his injury. Aggravations are at least the same grade as the original injury, and often a higher grade. Shorts has played through signficant injuries previously, but any significant low grade muscle strain may be tough to recover from in just 4-5 days. Week 3 is likely a more realistic return expectation for Shorts.
INJURY ROUNDS
Here are the key injuries I'll be tracking Monday and throughout the week as imaging studies and press conferences and other information is released.
Alshon Jeffery | hamstring strain | day-to-day
Both Jeffery and Marc Trestman told reporters after the game that the team was just being cautious with his hamstring injury. But Jeffery missed 32 snaps in a close game, never returning to the game after the mid-third quarter injury.
I'll list Jeffery as day-to-day right now, but it won't be shocking to hear reports that Jeffery is scheduled for an MRI tomorrow and it's likely that he'll be limited in practice early this week. I'll have any necessary updates here after the Bears Monday press conference.
615 PM ET: Trestman did not offer any updates on the status of Jeffery in today's press conference. Trestman would only say that Jeffery is "being evaluated." Unless news breaks tonight or tomorrow, the Wednesday practice participation report may be our first indication of Jeffery's Week 2 status.
EDDIE LACY | CONCUSSION | DAY-TO-DAY
Lacy suffered a concussion after a helmet-to-helmet hit on a third quarter run. Mike McCarthy told reporters that Lacy had cleared the first step of the concussion protocol the day after the game. That means Lacy's symptoms had resolved with rest and he had progressed into the staged exercise steps of the protocol.
(For more details on how teams handle concussion recovery, here's my long form feature on the NFL's return to play protocol from last season.)
Lacy was inactive in Week 2 of the 2013 season after a concussion, so there is some cause for concern with this latest injury. The quick resolution of symptoms is a excellent prognostic sign, however. And Lacy will have an extra 72 hours to gain clearance between the Thursday night game and his Week 2 game this Sunday.
Jordan Cameron | AC sprain aggravation | day-to-day
Cameron has been battling a shoulder injury since the early days of training camp. After taking more than a week off, Cameron played in each of the last three preseason games and looked to be over the injury.
However, Cameron called his shoulder injury an aggravation when talking to the media in the locker room after the game. The pain was significant enough to keep Cameron from returning in a close divisional game despite a strong second half charge in which the Browns tied the score in Pittsburgh.
AC joint injuries come in varying degrees. Most low grade injuries can be managed with a harness, additional padding and pain control. Cameron's initial injury was likely of the lowest grade.
If Cameron's aggravation is of a higher grade, it's possible he'll need a week or two to allow the ligaments to heal and allow Cameron to return to play without any restrictions in his range of motion.
I'll update with more as the day progresses.
Ben Tate | knee | week-to-week
Tate took a hit to the front and outside of his left knee on a 25-yard run early in yesterday's game. The hit looked scary at full speed. When I took a closer look at the slow-motion television replays, I did not conclusively see a classic injury mechanism. That leaves anything from a ligament injury to a bony injury to a meniscus tear as possible diagnoses.
Tate will have an MRI on Monday in Cleveland. I'll update his condition after the results are reported.
615 PM ET: Mike Pettine joined Marc Trestman in refusing to say anything about his injured players in his Monday press conference. Tate's diagnosis is unknown, leaving his Week 2 status in limbo for now.
Jadeveon Clowney | MCL sprain / meniscus tear | week-to-week
First reported as an MCL sprain, Clowney's knee injury was later amended to a torn meniscus. While it may be that imaging clarified the diagnosis, it's possible that Clowney has damage to both his MCL and meniscus. Clowney will reportedly have surgery to repair the meniscus tomorrow and has already been given a 4-6 week recovery timetable.
In reality, it's too soon to know how long Clowney will need to recover. A straight forward arthroscopic removal of a torn meniscus fragment often carries a 2-4 week return to play estimate. A more involved repair of the meniscus tissue means a longer recovery, usually on the order of 8-12 weeks. Interestingly, a high grade MCL sprain often takes 4-6 weeks to heal.
There's enough here to expect Clowney to miss multiple weeks, but until his surgeon sees the extent of the damage to the knee, a clear estimate cannot be given.
615 PM ET: The Texans reported that Clowney had successful surgery on his torn meniscus today. There was no mention of a MCL injury and the 4-6 week timetable offered yesterday hasn't changed.
Doug Martin | knee | day-to-day
Martin left yesterday's game, then returned, with what was reported to be a left knee injury. After the game, reporters noted a wrap on Martin's lower leg and Martin said "someone rolled on his leg."
I wasn't able to identify a mechanism of injury, although Greg Hardy finished a tackle by landing on Martin's left leg on the play before Martin left the game. The Tampa Bay medical staff was shown working around the top of Martin's shin before taking him to the locker room, likely for an x-ray.
Martin was able to trot to the locker room and return to the game. That area of the shin is critical to weight bearing. Martin wouldn't have been able to walk easily and definitely would not have been cleared to return if he had any findings on x-ray. He likely suffered a bruise around the area. While those can be very painful, it's a day-to-day injury.
Jordan Reed | hamstring strain | week-to-week
Reed was active on Sunday after being questionable with a thumb injury but strained a hamstring hurdling a player early in yesterday's game. He didn't return to the game and will have an MRI on Monday. Jay Gruden appeared concerned about the injury in his post-game press conference. Hope for the best here, but prepare to hear that Reed has a mid grade strain, which would be a multiple week injury.
615 ET: Jay Gruden called Reed's hamstring strain "mild" today but told reporters that Reed may miss signficant time. That doesn't sound minor to me. If Reed has a borderline Grade 1-2 strain, it's possible he could miss 2-4 weeks.
Tyler Eifert | dislocated elbow | week-to-week
Eifert dislocated his elbow during the first half yesterday. (I'll spare everyone a GIF of the gruesome injury.) Jay Glazer reported the Bengals were optimistic that Eifert would miss just a few weeks, presumably because the medical staff was able to get the joint back in place without difficulty.
However, it's too early to set a timetable for Eifert. He'll need an MRI to assess for significant ligament damage (by defintion, an elbow dislocation involves at least low-mid grade ligament strains) and x-rays to rule out any fractures around the joint. If his elbow is structurally intact, it's possible Eifert could return within a month, with the precise timetable dependent on how quickly the injured ligaments tighten back up. If there are high grade ligament injuries or a fracture around the joint, Eifert's absence could be six weeks or longer.
ROBERT MATHIS | TORN ACHILLES | OUT FOR SEASON
615 ET: Mathis suffered a torn Achilles while working out last week in Atlanta, away from the team while serving his suspension. It's not necessarily a death sentence for his career -- Derrick Burgess, Greg Ellis, Terrell Suggs and other edge rushers have returned from a torn Achilles to put up double digit sack seasons -- but Mathis will miss the rest of the season.
AROUND THE TRAINING TABLE
Dez Bryant left his game to have an arm injury evaluated, then was in and out of the game in the second half for dehydration. Bryant took a big hit to his back at one point, however, and although there was no reported concern during or after the game, it's something to track until we see the Wednesday practice report.
Brandon Marshall missed multiple snaps with an ankle injury yesterday. He was able to return to the game. Marc Trestman today said that Marshall was still being evaluated, but offered no additional information.
Bryan Bulaga and Evan Mathis both reportedly have MCL sprains. Neither injury has been reported to be high grade, and surgery is not a common treatment for MCL sprains. Return to play after on MCL sprain depends on when the looseness in the joint resolves and when the player no longer feels any give in the knee. For low grade injuries, that's often within 7-14 days. Some low grade and most mid grade sprains will take longer. There's a wide range of expectation for those cases. Sometimes players are ready in 2-3 weeks, sometimes it's on the order of 4-6 weeks.
Toby Gerhart was "sore" after his game with an ankle injury.
Derrick Johnson tore his Achilles tendon and is out for the season.
Vontaze Burfict, Aaron Williams, and Johnathan Cyprien left their games with concussions and will be re-evaluated as they progress through their team's respective return to play protocols.
Zach Brown left his game early with a shoulder injury and did not return.
Dannell Ellerbe (hip), Koa Misi (ankle), Chris Long (ankle) and Jerrell Freeman (hamstring) also left their games and were unable to return.
615 PM ET: Brown reportedly has a torn pectoral muscle and will be evaluated by a specialist tomorrow. He's at risk of missing the rest of the season. The Dolphins told reporters that Misi would be out indefinitely with an ankle injury. On replay, Misi looks to have at least a mid-grade high ankle sprain and it's possible his injury could involve a fracture to his fibula. Ellerbe was place on injured reserve 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.
