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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.
INJURY ROUNDS
Sunday was an unusual day for injuries. Though there aren't likely any long term absences coming for critical skill position players, there were two solid organ injuries -- Justin Hunter (spleen laceration) and Miles Austin (kidney contusion). Both will be monitored overnight and aren't likely to return to play for multiple weeks. I wrote about splenic laceration two years ago on the old Second Opinion blog after an injury to Jason Witten. If you're interested in more details on Hunter's injury and recovery, you can read my 2012 feature here.
The severity of this week's injuries will be determined by how these players feel this morning. The injuries to Andre Ellington, Rashad Jennings, Ben Roethlisberger and DeSean Jackson are all prone to swelling and, while they may look minor in the locker room after the game, sometimes become a bigger worry the following morning.
I'll mark many of these players day-to-day, but any of them could become week-to-week after further evaluation today.
andre ellington | hip pointer | day-to-day
Ellington took a shot to his upper thigh and hip during the first half and didn't return. The Cardinals reported the injury to be a hip pointer, which is essentially a very painful bruise to the pelvic bone at the waistline. The difficulty with these injuries is the struggle to get the bleeding in the tissue to go away quickly. That bleeding sits on a nerve that runs along the bone and causes muscle spasm and pain whenever the leg is moved in any direction.
With aggressive treatment and luck, the contusion may heal within 3-4 days and allow enough time to prepare to play the following week. But players, especially running backs, usually have trouble playing within seven days. Gio Bernard's hip injury and multi-game absence (which may or may not have been a hip pointer though it was reported as such) is the most recent example.
How Ellington looks and feels in the training room today will tell the Cardinals how likely it is he'll be playing in Week 14. Prepare for Ellington to remain a game-time decision all week.
rashad jennings | ankle | day-to-day
I looked at Jennings' injury frame by frame and I'd lean toward high ankle sprain over low ankle sprain, but I'm not confident. It also didn't look severe, but the moment of maximal stress was not shown on the television broadcast angle.
Jennings told reporters he'd be fine after the game, but he's been optimistic previously and not played the following week. I'll be looking for any useful information, including the need for an MRI and any results today.
ben roethlisberger | hand | day-to-day
It's unlikely Roethlisberger has a fracture in his hand. It's something the team would've x-rayed at halftime and even a player like Roethlisberger, who has played through serious injury in the past, would have been held out if there was a significant injury. But this was more than a simple smack on the helmet during a follow through and it took a number of minutes and plays for Roethlisberger to feel comfortable again. The Steelers' medical staff will work hard to keep the swelling down in the hand and I expect Roethlisberger to play this week through the pain.
I'm also watching closely for news on Torrey Smith, who may have aggravated a knee sprain late in the game. There wasn't the usual optimism on Smith after the game in the locker room and Smith's status may change depending on imaging studies today. DeSean Jackson will also be fighting pain and range of motion concerns after a lower leg bruise. He's likely to be limited in practice this week, too. Finally, Zach Mettenberger's shoulder injury is reportedly a low grade AC sprain. Unfortunately, it's his throwing shoulder and will limit him more than it would have a player at another position. He'll have a tough time getting ready for this week's game.
FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS
larry fitzgerald | mcl sprain | WEEK-TO-WEEK
Fitzgerald is closer to returning, but still needing a brace to stabilize his knee. Until he either sheds the brace or feels more comfortable changing direction in it, he'll not be on the practice field and he'll continue to rest on Sundays. There's a good chance we'll see Fitzgerald work out on Wednesday (with and without the brace) and then decide with the medical staff whether he's safe to return this week. Continue to consider him a game time decision unless his practice participation argues otherwise.
julius thomas | ankle sprain | day-to-day
Thomas looked better in practice this week than last -- which isn't a surprise, that's what happens when a player is appropriately cautious and doesn't stress an injured joint sooner than he should. I think there's a strong chance we'll see Thomas back this week, but Wednesday and Thursday practices will be key.
roddy white | ankle sprain | day-to-day
Continue to follow the Roddy Rule here. If White practices by the end of the week and is optimistic in his Friday media session, he can be expected to be back in form. If not, he's told us he's not ready to return until he practices. There's been little reported about White's ankle injury thus far and I don't expect any details this week, so we'll have to be patient again and use the injury reports as our guide.
latavius murray | concussion | day-to-day
It's not clear whether Murray had a setback with a return of concussion symptoms on Friday or whether the Raiders were being extra cautious after he didn't "feel right." If it's the former, Murray will be advanced through the return to play exercise protocol much more slowly and could miss at least another week. If it's the latter, Murray will be practicing on Wednesday and likely to play this week.
nick foles | clavicle | week-to-week
Foles CT scan last week was routine and intended to check the healing process and make sure the two ends of the bone were coming together appropriately. By all reports, the scan was reassuring. But that doesn't mean he's any closer to a return. The Eagles are fully expected to give Foles at least eight weeks to heal, which would put his likely return near the end of the regular season. There's no guarantee he'll be back as the Philadelphia starter.
jordan cameron | concussion | indefinite
Last week, Cameron had three consecutive limited practices, which is the first sign the Browns are continuing to advance him through the return to play protocol in the hopes he can return this year. If he has any recurrence in symptoms, you can expect Cameron to be placed on injured reserve quickly. If he continues to feel good and is cleared to practice again this week, the Browns may finally be ready to send Cameron to the independent neurologist to get clearance for a return to games.
Khiry Robinson will reportedly be back in a limited fashion after missing five weeks with an arm injury. I'll also be watching progress reports on Jerick McKinnon and Austin Seferian-Jenkins, both of whom missed last week's game with back injuries.
AROUND THE TRAINING TABLE
The Giants' offensive line situation remains fluid with injury. Geoff Schwartz was carted off with an ankle injury. He'd only recently returned from a toe injury that cost him multiple weeks. Paul Fanaika (RG-Arizona) and Louis Vasquez (LT-Denver) also left with injury. Vasquez was able to return.
Defensive injuries of note include Brett Keisel (tricep) and Robert Ayers (pectoral), who will both miss the rest of the season. Vontae Davis (concussion), Anthony Barr (aggravated knee injury), and Tyrann Mathieu (fractured thumb) will also be in doubt for this week.
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.