Photo: Rich Barnes, USA Today Sports
offseason injury storylines
Through 16 weeks, there are over 350 players currently on some form of injured reserve. While that sounds like a lot -- and it is a lot -- it's not that different from previous seasons. There were 365 players on injured reserve at some point in the 2014 season. Many of these are strictly procedural, but we'll head into this offseason with many critical players recovering from major injuries.
The table below will not be an exhaustive list of every skill position and major defensive injury, but it will serve as a checkpoint for key situations I'll be tracking closely throughout the offseason months. I've sprinkled in a few players (Andy Dalton, Julian Edelman, etc.) who may still return to play before the end of the NFL playoffs. With luck, we'll not be adding many more players to this table in the next six weeks.
offseason injury tracker
| PLAYER | INJURY | DATE OF INJury | RECOVERY | EXPECTATION |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANDREW LUCK | KIDNEY LACERATION | MID NOVEMBER | WEEK-TO-WEEK | COULD RETURN W17; NO LONG TERM CONCERN |
| ANDY DALTON | RIGHT THUMB FRACTURE | MID DECEMBER | WEEK-TO-WEEK | COULD RETURN IN PLAYOFFS |
| COLIN KAEPERNICK | LABRAL SURGERY LEFT SHOULDER | LATE NOVEMBER | 4-6 MONTHS | MAY NOT RETURN UNTIL CAMP; MAY NOT BE WITH 49ERS |
| DREW BREES | RIGHT PLANTAR FASCIA TEAR | LATE DECEMBER | ONGOING | LESS LIMITED THAN EXPECTED W/ ORTHOTIC IN W16 |
| JOE FLACCO | LEFT ACL/MCL TEAR | EARLY DECEMBER | 6-9 MONTHS | EARLIEST REALISTIC RETURN IS TRAINING CAMP |
| MARCUS MARIOTA | RIGHT MCL SPRAIN | MID DECEMBER | WEEK-TO-WEEK | NO OFFSEASON LIMITATIONS EXPECTED |
| PEYTON MANNING | LEFT PLANTAR FASCIA TEAR | MID NOVEMBER | WEEK-TO-WEEK | COULD RETURN W17; LIKELY HEALTHY ENOUGH FOR PLAYOFFS |
| TONY ROMO | LEFT CLAVICLE FRACTURE | LATE NOVEMBER | 8-10 WEEKS | NO OFFSEASON LIMITATIONS EXPECTED |
| ARIAN FOSTER | RIGHT ACHILLES TEAR | LATE OCTOBER | 8-9 MONTHS | COULD RETURN FOR CAMP; RE-CONDITIONING INJURY ALSO A CONCERN |
| CARLOS HYDE | LEFT METATARSAL STRESS FRACTURE | MID OCTOBER | WEEK-TO-WEEK | 49ERS WILL MONITOR PROGRESS; COULD REQUIRE SURGERY IF NOT HEALING |
| CHRIS JOHNSON | FRACTURED TIBIA | LATE NOVEMBER | 6-10 WEEKS | HOPING FOR RETURN DURING PLAYOFFS |
| DION LEWIS | LEFT ACL TEAR | EARLY NOVEMBER | 6-9 MONTHS | RETURN FOR TRAINING CAMP WILL BE GOAL |
| JAMAAL CHARLES | RIGHT ACL TEAR | MID OCTOBER | 6-9 MONTHS | GOOD CHANCE TO RETURN FOR TRAINING CAMP |
| JONATHAN STEWART | LEFT FOOT SPRAIN | MID DECEMBER | WEEK-TO-WEEK | HAS YET TO PRACTICE SINCE INJURY; SPECIFICS UNKNOWN |
| JUSTIN FORSETT | BROKEN RIGHT RADIUS/ULNA | LATE NOVEMBER | 10-12 WEEKS | NO OFFSEASON LIMITATIONS EXPECTED |
| LEGARRETTE BLOUNT | LEFT HIP ??? | MID DECEMBER | MONTH-TO-MONTH | PATRIOTS HAVEN'T UPDATED STATUS; UNKNOWN WHETHER SURGERY REQUIRED |
| LESEAN MCCOY | RIGHT MCL SPRAIN | LATE DECEMBER | WEEK-TO-WEEK | UNLIKELY TO RETURN IN 2015 BUT NO OFFSEASON LIMITATIONS EXPECTED |
| LEVEON BELL | RIGHT MCL/PCL SPRAIN | EARLY NOVEMBER | 6-9 MONTHS | COULD BE READY FOR TRAINING CAMP W/ SMOOTH RECOVERY |
| MARK INGRAM | LEFT ROTATOR CUFF TEAR | EARLY DECEMBER | 5-6 MONTHS | SHOULD BE READY FOR TRAINING CAMP |
| MARSHAWN LYNCH | CORE ABDOMINAL SURGERY | LATE NOVEMBER | WEEK-TO-WEEK | OUTSIDE CHANCE TO SEE LIMITED W17 WORKLOAD |
| MELVIN GORDON | LEFT KNEE CARTILAGE TEAR | LATE DECEMBER | MONTH-TO-MONTH | DEPENDENT ON TYPE OF SURGERY BUT SHOULD BE READY FOR TRAINING CAMP |
| REGGIE BUSH | LEFT KNEE SURGERY | EARLY NOVEMBER | 4-6 MONTHS | EXTENT OF INJURY (LIGAMENT/CARTILAGE?) REMAINS UNCLEAR |
| THOMAS RAWLS | LEFT FIBULA FRACTURE | MID DECEMBER | 10-12 WEEKS | RETURN FOR OTA POSSIBLE; SHOULD BE READY WELL IN ADVANCE OF CAMP |
| TJ YELDON | LEFT MCL SPRAIN | MID DECEMBER | WEEK-TO-WEEK | UNLIKELY TO RETURN IN 2015 BUT NO OFFSEASON LIMITATIONS EXPECTED |
| BRESHAD PERRIMAN | RIGHT PCL SPRAIN | EARLY AUGUST | WEEK-TO-WEEK | NOT EXPECTED TO BE LIMITED DURING OTA AND MINICAMP |
| STEVE SMITH | RIGHT ACHILLES TEAR | EARLY NOVEMBER | 8-9 MONTHS | PLANS TO TRY TO RETURN; NOT LIKELY TO BE CLEARED UNTIL TRAINING CAMP |
| JULIAN EDELMAN | LEFT FIFTH METATARSAL FRACTURE | MID NOVEMBER | WEEK-TO-WEEK | COULD RETURN FOR LIMITED DUTY IN W17; SHOULD RETURN DURING PLAYOFFS |
| KEENAN ALLEN | KIDNEY LACERATION | EARLY NOVEMBER | WEEK-TO-WEEK | NO OFFSEASON LIMITATIONS EXPECTED |
| KELVIN BENJAMIN | LEFT ACL TEAR | MID AUGUST | 6-9 MONTHS | SHOULD BE CLEARED FOR TRAINING CAMP; POSSIBLY SOONER |
| KEVIN WHITE | TIBIAL STRESS FRACTURE | MID JUNE | WEEK-TO-WEEK | WILL LIKELY BE CLEARED FOR OTA WORKOUTS |
| DEZ BRYANT | RIGHT FIFTH METATARSAL FRACTURE | MID SEPTEMBER | DAY-TO-DAY | NO OFFSEASON LIMITATIONS EXPECTED |
| VICTOR CRUZ | CALF STRAINS/PATELLAR TENDON TEAR | MID NOVEMBER | MONTH-TO-MONTH | STILL HAS TO PROVE HE'S FULLY RECOVERED FROM PATELLAR TENDON REPAIR |
| VINCENT JACKSON | RIGHT MCL SPRAIN | MID DECEMBER | WEEK-TO-WEEK | NO OFFSEASON LIMITATIONS EXPECTED |
| ALSHON JEFFERY | HAMSTRING STRAIN | LATE DECEMBER | WEEK-TO-WEEK | DOUBTFUL TO RETURN THIS SEASON; NO OFFSEASON LIMITATIONS EXPECTED |
| JORDY NELSON | RIGHT ACL TEAR | LATE AUGUST | 6-9 MONTHS | SHOULD BE CLEARED FOR TRAINING CAMP; POSSIBLY SOONER |
| DANNY AMENDOLA | LEFT KNEE SPRAIN | LATE DECEMBER | WEEK-TO-WEEK | MAY NOT RETURN UNTIL PLAYOFFS |
| DEVIN SMITH | RIGHT ACL TEAR | MID DECEMBER | 6-9 MONTHS | COULD BE CLEARED FOR TRAINING CAMP W/ VERY SMOOTH REHAB |
| JIMMY GRAHAM | RIGHT PATELLAR TENDON TEAR | LATE NOVEMBER | 8-9 MONTHS | MAY START 2016 TRAINING CAMP ON PUP LIST |
| DENNIS PITTA | HIP FRACTURE/DISLOCATION(S) | SEPTEMBER 2014 | UNDETERMINED | YET TO BE CLEARED FOR CONTACT; CAREER LIKELY OVER |
| TYLER EIFERT | CONCUSSION | MID DECEMBER | WEEK-TO-WEEK | MAY NOT BE CLEARED TO RETURN UNTIL PLAYOFFS |
| TERRELL SUGGS | LEFT ACHILLES TEAR | MID SEPTEMBER | 8-9 MONTHS | GOOD CHANCE TO BE CLEARED FOR TRAINING CAMP |
| HENRY ANDERSON | RIGHT ACL TEAR | EARLY NOVEMBER | 6-9 MONTHS | COULD BE CLEARED FOR TRAINING CAMP W/ SMOOTH REHAB |
| DONTE FOWLER | LEFT ACL TEAR | LATE MAY | 6-9 MONTHS | EXPECTED TO BE CLEARED FOR OFFSEASON ACTIVITIES |
| JUSTIN HOUSTON | PCL SPRAIN | LATE NOVEMBER | WEEK-TO-WEEK | LIKELY TO BE HELD OUT UNTIL PLAYOFFS |
| CAMERON WAKE | LEFT ACHILLES TEAR | LATE OCTOBER | 8-9 MONTHS | COULD BE CLEARED FOR TRAINING CAMP W/ SMOOTH REHAB |
| TYRANN MATHIEU | RIGHT ACL TEAR | LATE DECEMBER | 6-9 MONTHS | COULD BE CLEARED FOR TRAINING CAMP W/ SMOOTH REHAB |
| JORDAN HICKS | TORN PECTORAL MUSCLE | EARLY NOVEMBER | 4-6 MONTHS | SHOULD BE READY FOR OFFSEASON ACTIVITIES |
| ROBERT QUINN | BACK SURGERY | EARLY DECEMBER | 3-4 MONTHS | LIKELY DISCECTOMY; SHOULD RETURN BEFORE CAMP IF SUCCESSFUL |
| ALEC OGLETREE | FIBULA FRACTURE | EARLY OCTOBER | WEEK-TO-WEEK | LIKELY WON'T PLAY IN W17; NO OFFSEASON LIMITATIONS EXPECTED |
| DEANDRE LEVY | HIP IMPINGEMENT? | MID OCTOBER | MONTH-TO-MONTH | SHOULD BE READY FOR OFFSEASON ACTIVITIES |
Check back for more injury analysis throughout the offseason and follow on Twitter @JeneBramel for breaking injury news, commentary and analysis of any injury news around the NFL.
Tags:Injuries
