This article is part of our Injury Analysis series.
Jimmy Graham and Mark Ingram
The surprisingly sputtering Saints will use a Week 6 bye as a chance to lick their wounds and let several injured players recuperate. The team's primary concern is their Pro Bowl tight end who left Sunday's loss to the Buccaneers with a shoulder injury. Graham attempted to play though the injury, originally sustained in the first half, but eventually left the field in visible pain and discomfort. X-rays were taken and no reports of fractures have surfaced. Instead New Orleans is simply calling the injury a sprain. The injury description is a bit vague given the various joints that compromise the shoulder but it does indicate the injury involves at least one ligament. Coach Sean Payton failed to elaborate on the injury Monday but did say that Graham was held out after the team concluded Graham could not properly perform at game speed.
The bye week comes at the perfect time for Graham but a Week 7 return is no guarantee. Shoulder injuries are particularly limiting for tight ends that must perform duties like blocking, in addition to catching passes and absorbing contact from defenders. Hopefully the Saints will provide a more specific update that includes severity of the sprain and location. In the meantime, closely monitor the situation to see how active Graham is over the next 10-to-14 days.
Ingram, out since suffering a fractured hand in Week 2, appears poised to return in Week 7 against the Lions. Ingram was a pleasant surprise in the first two weeks of the seasons, totaling 143 yards and three touchdowns. He will likely wear some sort of padded protection on his surgically repaired left thumb that may increase his chances of fumbling. He's worth a speculative addition for teams in desperate need of help at running back but fantasy owners may want to see how he's used in Week 7 before heavily investing. The New Orleans backfield is crowded with Pierre Thomas and Khiry Robinson receiving carries on a regular basis.
Knowshon Moreno
The bye week seems to have done wonders for Moreno who was a surprise participant in practice Monday. His appearance in the limited workout comes just days after he speculated it could be four more weeks before he returns. Moreno is recovering from a dislocated elbow suffered in a Week 2 loss at Buffalo. The initial timeline provided was four-to-eight weeks. The fact that Moreno could be ready on the early end of this estimate is a good sign that minimal damage occurred to the bone. Moreno has already stated he will likely wear a protective brace on the injured arm. While his availability through the week will serve as a strong indicator as to whether or not Moreno will play Sunday, the fact that the team waived running back Orleans Darkwa suggests Miami likes his chances. Like Ingram, Moreno is worth a pickup if he's available off the waiver wire but it may be a week or two before he's back up at full speed.
Rashad Jennings
The Giants will be without the services of Jennings this week against their divisional rival the Eagles. Jennings suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his left knee on his first rushing attempt of the second half.
The MCL sits on the inside portion of the leg and stabilizes the knee during lateral movements like cutting. Unlike ACL sprains or tears, most MCL injuries do not require surgical intervention, as the ligament is capable of healing on its own. Jennings also appears to have avoided any meniscus damage, a common occurrence in MCL sprains. He will spend the next few days treating the associated symptoms, like swelling and pain, before beginning functional rehab. Jennings also stated he may turn to PRP injections to aid in his recovery after having previous success with the procedure.
Rookie Andre Williams will take over for Week 6 and it sounds like he will be the starter against Dallas in Week 7 as well. With a bye week in Week 8, the Giants seem poised to give Jennings almost a full month to recover. Add Williams if you can and hope Jennings can bounce back in Week 9.
Montee Ball
Like Jennings, Ball will spend the next few weeks in street clothes after suffering a significant groin strain against the Cardinals. Coach John Fox did not reveal the severity of the strain but did say surgery was not warranted. The injury is another setback for Ball who missed a majority of training camp recovering from an appendectomy. Two major injuries to the core muscles of the trunk and legs is never a good thing and fantasy owners should be worried about his health moving forward. The groin, medically known as the adductors, help with both lateral movement and acceleration. Strains to the area are often very painful and tend to linger. Furthermore, the groin musculature is located in the lower abdomen bridging the muscles of the abdominal wall and the muscles of the lower leg. Based on this location, groin injuries can have a cascade effect on the core, the legs, or both. The Broncos would be wise to treat Ball conservatively to avoid a more significant injury like a sports hernia. Ronnie Hillman will take over for the Broncos and is a must-add in all formats.
Turf Burns
Drew Stanton and Carson Palmer: The Cardinals' depth at quarterback is being severely tested. Palmer was not active Sunday against the Broncos as he recovers from an axillary nerve contusion and Stanton left the loss with a concussion. Logan Thomas remains the only healthy quarterback in Arizona though Palmer hopes to return in Week 6 against Washington. Palmer spent additional time in Denver visiting with a nerve specialist that provided him with a specific treatment designed to stimulate the affected muscles. If Palmer continues to improve then he has a chance to return though nerve injuries can be easily irritated. Stanton will be eligible to play if and when he completes the league's mandated concussion protocol.
Donald Brown: Brown will also have to complete the concussion protocol after leaving the field Sunday after just nine carries. Rookie Branden Oliver took over exploding for 114 yards on 19 carries and should be a solid option until Ryan Mathews returns from a MCL sprain.
Eric Decker: The Jets top receiver was inactive against the Chargers with a right hamstring strain that has left him limited for the past few weeks. The rest will improve Decker's odds of playing against his former team in Week 6 but he remains a risky play.
Marshawn Lynch: Beast Mode sat out the Seahawks first drive on Monday night after experiencing back tightness. He looked fine moving forward, carrying the ball 17 times and adding a receiving touchdown.
Zac Stacy: Stacy suffered a calf strain in Week 5 but the Rams believe he has a decent shot at playing Monday against the 49ers. The late games makes him a gamble for this week and fantasy owners should look elsewhere or buy stock in Benny Cunningham.
