This article is part of our Injury Analysis series.
DeMarco Murray
The NFL's leading rusher underwent surgery Monday to repair a broken bone in his hand. Murray sustained a fracture to the fourth metacarpal in his left hand during Sunday night's win over the Eagles. The Cowboys acted quickly and a surgical screw was inserted into the bone to insure the fracture is properly aligned and better positioned to heal. While any surgery should be considered serious, Murray has not been ruled out for the team's Week 16 matchup against the Colts.
The wrist and the hand are comprised of numerous bones. Just distal to the bone of the forearm sit the eight carpal bones of the wrist. These tiny bones form the wrist as well as the carpal tunnel and are connected by a complex network of ligaments. After the carpals, sit the five metacarpals of the hand. The metacarpals serve as the transitions bones between the phalanges (fingers) and the wrist and serve as an anchor site for muscle attachment.
The second and third metacarpals are tightly anchored to the carpal bones and as a result are generally immobile. However the fourth and fifth metacarpals are mobile to allow for a high degree of motion at the wrist and pinkie though neither is a huge component of grip strength.
For Murray the injury will be a bigger problem when attempting to stiff arm a defender or catch passes out of the backfield. Both result in stress applied to the injury site and could easily irritate the area eliciting pain. A specialized designed protective glove could help disperse force from the area though that could alter his grip on the ball.
The Dallas medical staff is quite familiar with the injury having previously handled two prominent cases. During the 1999 season, Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith broke his fourth metacarpal when it became stuck in the facemask of a defender. Smith's surgery to mend the bone included the insertion of metal plate and six surgical screws. The league's all-time leading rusher returned to the field just 12 days later and missed just one game in the process. Enigmatic receiver Terrell Owens also fractured his fourth metacarpal during the 2006 season while a member of the Cowboys. Like Smith, Owens' injury was plated but he did not miss a game thanks to a conveniently timed bye week. These cases show a quick return is feasible especially considering Murray's surgery was not as extensive.
However there's a big difference between active and effective as we've seen in recent weeks with Ravens receiver Torrey Smith and Giants running back Rashad Jennings. If Murray does suit up I suspect he sees limited action with Joseph Randle receiving the bulk of the carries. The picture will become clearer as the week progresses but it's hard to have much confidence in Murray this week.
Cam Newton
The Panthers quarterback is still recovering from the injuries he sustained in last week's car accident. However there is growing optimism he will be available to play against the Browns.
As I discussed earlier this season when Tony Romo suffered a similar injury, the transverse processes are bony projections on either side of the vertebrae. They play a role in movement and serve as an attachment site for muscle and ligaments.
If Newton's throwing motion is fluid and the fractures are stable then he should be fine and the focus shifts to protecting the area and minimizing the associated symptoms. Romo opted to use pain-killing injections and a Kevlar-infused flak jacket to protect his fracture site and I'd expect Newton to take a similar approach if he opts to play. However even then he may not be as inclined to leave the pocket so his rushing yards may decline. Expect the Panthers to have a better grasp of the situation after he gets a few practice reps under his belt. A decision should be made before game time with Derek Anderson taking over if Newton cannot go.
Turf Burns
Ryan Fitzpatrick and Tom Savage: The injury bug has ravaged Houston quarterbacks in recent weeks. Starter Ryan Mallett saw his season premature end after he suffered a torn pectoral muscle. His replacement Fitzpatrick was taken off the field in an air cast on Sunday after breaking his leg and will miss the remainder of the year. Savage didn't fare much better and limped off the field in the team's Week 15 loss. Subsequent testing revealed the damage to his knee was significant enough to rule him out for Sunday. The team has signed Case Keenum to take over the primary signal caller duties though he isn't worth fantasy consideration.
Andre Johnson: The veteran wide out may not have a quarterback but he's expected to return for Week 16 after sitting missing the team's loss to the Colts with a concussion. Johnson has reportedly been cleared to return to practice after completing the league's mandated concussion protocol. As long as his symptoms do not return during this week's practice, Johnson remains in line to play against the Ravens.
Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde: The 49ers running back suffered a concussion of his own while blocking Seattle linebacker Bobby Wagner. Gore will need to complete the protocol to play against the Chargers but, with the playoffs no longer an option, don't be surprised if San Francisco plays things conservatively. Gore's primary backup, Carlos Hyde, is nursing back and ankle injuries so he's no guarantee either. Hyde was slated to undergo a MRI to determine the severity of his ailments. Look for those results to go a long way on determining who takes the backfield versus San Diego.
T.Y. Hilton: The MRI on Hilton's hamstring came back negative and the team is hoping he will available to practice. Hamstring issues can be very problematic, especially for receivers, and this situation is worth monitoring until game time, despite Indianapolis' optimism.
Julio Jones: It sounds like Jones will be ready for Week 16 after missing last week's contest with a hip injury. Head coach Mike Smith said Jones nearly made it back on Sunday and should be fine after a week of practice. Jones remains a must start but his injury risk does slightly elevate.
