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
I'm sure it was one of those weeks for many of you. Lots of high profile skill position players laid a statistical egg this week and blew up season-long lineups that had strolled through fantasy regular seasons. On the bright side -- assuming there's nothing much to DeMarco Murray's x-ray and T.Y. Hilton's MRI -- it wasn't a week filled with critical injuries.
demarco murray | hand injury | day-to-day
Murray had an x-ray of his hand after Sunday night's game. He told reporters he was fine and didn't seemed concerned. There's probably nothing here, especially since Jerry Jones hasn't inserted himself in front of the cameras to discuss it. But it's something to monitor through mid week.
215 ET: This is why I led with Murray this morning despite the "optimism" last night.
Stephen Jones tells @1053thefan #Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray will have surgery today on broken bone in his hand. Not ruled out for next week
— 105.3 The FAN (@1053thefan) December 15, 2014
Stephen Jones may not want to rule out Murray for Week 16, but I would consider him doubtful at best. Surgery likely means pins and a sizable splint/cast for at least a week. It's extremely difficult to carry and protect the ball, pass protect, and catch passes. I'll watch for additional reports and clues after surgery, but I don't think Murray will play this week and he could easily be out for the rest of the regular season.
240 ET: More on Murray's injury...
DeMarco Murray 2 undergo surgery today 2 repair broken 4th metacarpal, according 2 source. Emmitt Smith had similar surgery, missed 1 game
— Todd Archer (@toddarcher) December 15, 2014
The Cowboys will try to find a splint that protects the injury and allows Murray to use the hand comfortably. Expect to hear some optimism here as the week progresses, but I'm going to remain pessimistic on this one.
T.Y. HILTON | HAMSTRING strain | DAY-TO-DAY
Hilton left in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury. There didn't appear to be a single moment on video when the injury occurred, though there were two instances where he didn't finish a block on a running play late. According to Will Carroll, the Colts were concerned enough to have Hilton get an MRI last night. That's uncommon, as most players are set up for a scan on Monday. It doesn't necessarily mean the injury is more concerning than most hamstring strains, but it raises an eyebrow. The Colts are generally not forthcoming with injury information, so prepare for the potential of a week of limited to no practice and a game time decision and be happy if this becomes a non-issue.
400 ET: Chuck Pagano told reporters Hilton had a negative MRI and was expected to practice by the end of the week. That's more information than we usually get from the Colts and it feels legitimate. That's great news for Hilton.
rashad jennings | ankle sprain | week-to-week
Jennings got the first carry of the game on Sunday, bounced the run outside the tackles after being stuffed inside and was taken to the ground by a defensive lineman who rolled over both his ankles as he made the tackle. Like the initial injury, there wasn't a clear injury mechanism on video. But an ankle injury requiring 2-3 weeks to recover from initially so easily aggravated is very suspicious for a high ankle sprain.
Jennings didn't return to the game after the aggravation and I'd handicap his odds of playing this week as more doubtful than probable.
keenan allen | ankle sprain | day-to-day
Allen's injury occurred just before the television angle widened to include him, so I don't have a good sense for low vs high ankle sprain or the severity. Allen wasn't able to return and will likely have an MRI today. I'll update with any helpful news on Twitter today.
frank gore | concussion | day-to-day
carlos hyde | ankle / back | day-to-day
Gore went down in a heap after getting his head in front of a defender making a block in the open field. Such a concussion mechanism is striking, but doesn't always mean symptoms will persist and the player will be unable to clear the return to play protocol in time to play the following week.
After the game, Hyde told reporters his back was his primary concern. It's possible, but I'm skeptical. The injury mechanism was most consistent with a high ankle sprain, he had his ankle retaped at least once and was seen to be favoring his lower leg more than stretching his back. Watch the injury reports on this one and don't be surprised if you hear Hyde had a MRI on the ankle on Monday.
ryan fitzpatrick | fractured tibia | out for season
tom savage | knee sprain | day-to-day
Fitzpatrick's injury was ugly and unfortunate. He'll have surgery today. It's not a career-ending situation, but Fitzpatrick's 2015 options were likely to be limited before the injury. Savage hyperextended his knee, which can put any knee ligament under stress as well as other areas around the joint. He was able to limp back in for the final few plays, but will have an MRI today. I've listed him day-to-day, but it's possible we'll be hearing about a much more concerning injury later on Monday.
Jake Locker (shoulder subluxation) and Colt McCoy (aggravated neck sprain) also left their games on Sunday. Both are unlikely to return to the field this season.
FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS
julio jones | hip labrum injury | week-to-week
I wasn't willing to buy into the "bruised hip" or "hip pointer" diagnosis reported on Jones last week. I didn't see a direct hit to the side Jones favored coming off the field late in last week's game. But "bruised hip" doesn't always mean "hip pointer" or a superficial injury. Though it's really not getting much run -- I think folks were more interested in the "Will he play?" and "Can he be effective?" questions -- this tweet from Ed Werder is ominous.
#Falcons WR coach Terry Robiskie expected to work out Julio Jones pregame. Still on training room table. Labrum injury to hip. Sore, swollen
— Ed Werder (@Edwerderespn) December 14, 2014
A labral injury is an entirely different kind of "bruised" hip. And If Werder's report is accurate, Jones may be headed for surgery soon.
Similar to the labrum in the shoulder, the labrum in the hip is a layer of tough cartilage that protects the surface of the joint socket. It helps the joint work smoothly and helps the thigh bone to stay secure in the socket. Damage to the cartilage, whether it being a bruise or a tear, can cause pain with any movement of the leg away from the body.
If Jones' has only bruising, he may be able to return sooner than later with continued treatment, including rest and pain management. If Jones has a labral tear, his return is much more in doubt. Lots of players have played through hip labrum injuries -- Brandon Marshall, Percy Harvin among them -- with varying degrees of effectiveness. Those with labral tears eventually succumb and have surgery. Most players with femoral acetabular impingement (FAI), a diagnosis gaining favor for hip pain in recent years that can lead to labral bruising and tearing, eventually choose surgery, too.
It's too soon to know where Jones is on this spectrum. He could return this week. He could continue to struggle with pain and need surgery before his return. But this much is certain: Jones does not have a simple "bruised hip."
230 ET: Mike Smith "anticipates" Jones will play this week and says "he's better now than he was this time last week." While this optimism may prove true, we've heard this before from Smith. Remember, Smith has already said multiple times the decision is up to the medical staff. And the next decision for the medical staff comes on Wednesday, when they decide if Jones is ready to practice or not. It's way too soon in the week to "anticipate" anything with this injury. Cross your fingers, but don't plan on Jones being available just yet.
cam newton | transverse process fractures | week-to-week
Newton was discharged from the hospital after observation and has no additional major injuries. You'll continue to hear his injury compared to Tony Romo's this week, with those comparisons focusing on Romo's return after missing just one week.
While Newton may return to play this week, I again want to note that there are two significant differences in play between Newton's injury and Romo's. Newton's injury was a much higher velocity injury (rollover vehicle accident vs knee to the back) than Romo's. That raises chance of associated complicating issues (persistent back spasm, other general soreness, more severe fractures) and could lead to a lengthier recovery time. Also, Newton's fractures are lower in the back, according to last week's reports, than Romo's were. Bigger bones and bigger muscles attached to those bones mean longer healing time.
I'm not ruling Newton out for Week 16. But give him the benefit of the doubt if he's unable to go.
ryan mathews | high ankle sprain | week-to-week
I didn't get a close look at Mathews' injury mechanism last Monday. But a slow motion Vine with magnification posted by Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune last Wednesday night showed the mechanism clearly. I updated the Wednesday feature and tried to update Twitter and our podcasts with my feeling that this is clearly a high ankle sprain.
Mathews was still in a boot this weekend and barring a surprise improvement and some practice participation this week, I think it's unlikely he plays in Week 16.
drew stanton | acl / mcl sprain | week-to-week
I'm being generous and listing Stanton as week-to-week here. A partial ACL tear -- and that's what an ACL "sprain" means here -- and Grade 2 MCL sprain is an unstable knee joint. It's likely to take Stanton at least 3-4 weeks to heal the MCL sprain. Most partial ACL tears won't heal well and often progress to surgery. If Stanton has a very small percentage tear of the ACL, it's possible he can avoid surgery. But there's no chance he plays with a joint that's unstable in two directions until the MCL is fully healed.
The Cardinals know they're in the playoffs. They recognize they have little chance of advancing with Logan Thomas or Ryan Lindley. So, they'll likely keep Stanton's options open as long as possible. But it's unlikely we see him back on the field this season.
andre johnson | concussion | week-to-week
I downgrade players who don't progress through the return to play protocol within 5-7 days to week-to-week status. I haven't seen anything clearly concerning about Johnson's recovery, but if he's not back at practice by Wednesday or Thursday, it becomes possible he'll be ruled out for the rest of the season.
AROUND THE TRAINING TABLE
Russell Okung (chest wall) and Trent Williams (shioulder) left their games on Sunday and didn't return. Okung's loss could be significant if he's unable to practice and play this week.
Gerald McCoy hyperextended his knee Sunday. While it's reportedly not related to last week's injury, it's something that could shut him down for the season. Danny Trevathan had pain in his knee and didn't finish the game. Brandon Marshall was in a walking boot after the game for a foot injury. Video was inconclusive on Marshall and the team didn't relay any major concern, but follow this one closely on Monday and through the week. Chris Borland rolled his ankle on Eric Reid's interception return. He attempted to return but couldn't play through the injury.
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.