This article is part of our Injury Analysis series.
The first significant injury of the 2017 season has occurred with Tannehill re-injuring his troublesome left knee. Tannehill missed the final three games of last year after partially tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). He opted not to go under the knife, instead utilizing conservative treatment including stem cell treatment. However, he hyperextended the same knee in a recent practice and suffered a new partial tear. Now it seems likely that Tannehill will undergo surgery to fix the damaged ligament and will miss the entire season.
The team's decision to sign Cutler as Tannehill's replacement is a calculated gamble. Cutler, who successfully paired with Miami head coach Adam Gase during the 2015 season, underwent surgery in December for a labrum injury in his shoulder. The recovery for this procedure is often intense and can negatively impact a quarterback's strength if not fully healed. A similar recovery continues to sideline Indianapolis quarterback Andrew Luck who had surgery one month after Cutler's trip to the operating room. The Dolphins medical staff had to sign off on Cutler's shoulder, but it will be interesting to see where he stands physically, as he had been prepping to be in the broadcast booth and not on the field. Fortunately, Cutler stated he was cleared in March for throwing, suggesting his repair was less intensive than Luck's. Regardless, I wouldn't invest in Cutler in single QB leagues and remain leery even in two QB formats. His work for the remainder of
The first significant injury of the 2017 season has occurred with Tannehill re-injuring his troublesome left knee. Tannehill missed the final three games of last year after partially tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). He opted not to go under the knife, instead utilizing conservative treatment including stem cell treatment. However, he hyperextended the same knee in a recent practice and suffered a new partial tear. Now it seems likely that Tannehill will undergo surgery to fix the damaged ligament and will miss the entire season.
The team's decision to sign Cutler as Tannehill's replacement is a calculated gamble. Cutler, who successfully paired with Miami head coach Adam Gase during the 2015 season, underwent surgery in December for a labrum injury in his shoulder. The recovery for this procedure is often intense and can negatively impact a quarterback's strength if not fully healed. A similar recovery continues to sideline Indianapolis quarterback Andrew Luck who had surgery one month after Cutler's trip to the operating room. The Dolphins medical staff had to sign off on Cutler's shoulder, but it will be interesting to see where he stands physically, as he had been prepping to be in the broadcast booth and not on the field. Fortunately, Cutler stated he was cleared in March for throwing, suggesting his repair was less intensive than Luck's. Regardless, I wouldn't invest in Cutler in single QB leagues and remain leery even in two QB formats. His work for the remainder of training camp and preseason should provide better insight about his shoulder, but he's likely to be little more than a temporary stop gap fantasy option.
In Tennessee, Murray hasn't practiced for five consecutive days due to a mild hamstring issue. The Titans have downplayed the severity of the injury and have said his absence is purely precautionary. However, the veteran running back has a lengthy history of injuries, including hamstring problems as far back as 2008 while in college at Oklahoma. While he has missed just one game over the last three seasons, be sure to include his elevated injury risk into your draft day calculations. Derrick Henry has taken advantage of the opportunity and looked impressive in his work with the starting unit.
Turf Burns
Jay Ajayi: Miami's running back remains sidelined by a concussion sustained last week. He has shown signs of progression through the league's mandated protocol, taking part in some brief, light running. However, he appears to be at least three steps away from being cleared, and it's hard to imagine him playing in Thursday's preseason game.
Amari Cooper: The Raiders remain tight-lipped regarding Cooper's recent left leg injury. He was seen icing his knee following an incident last Monday and has since been spotted wearing a compression sleeve on the extremity. However, it would unwise to speculate on what is going on without a solid piece of information. Bump him down your board a notch or two for now and hope he returns to the practice field soon.
Jamison Crowder: A potential sleeper at the wide receiver position, Crowder has been plagued by a nagging hamstring injury. Hamstring injuries often are tricky injuries to manage but even more so for speedy receivers due to their explosive movements and sudden starts and stops. Crowder dealt with a similar issue during last year's training camp but was able to play in all 16 games for the second time in his brief career. Washington likely will continue their conservative handling of the situation, especially with teammate Josh Doctson now nursing a hamstring strain of his own. Additionally, the team could potentially relieve Crowder of his punt-returning responsibilities to further protect the 24-year-old. His current ADP places him in the seventh round of a 10-team league and should hold steady for now.
Quincy Enunwa: The Jets had Enunwa penciled in as their top receiver entering the season. However, those plans have changed following a noncontact neck injury. Enunwa has been placed on the injured reserve and is expected to miss the entire season. His exact diagnosis was a bulging disc in his neck that will require surgery. It seems likely that Enunwa will undergo a microdiscectomy, a procedure made famous by former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning. Team doctors don't feel this injury is career-threatening, though the expected recovery is six to nine months. Robby Anderson becomes New York's top wide receiver threat, with rookie ArDarius Stewart and second-year receiver Charone Peake next up on the depth chart.
Travis Kelce: The Chief Pro Bowl tight end isn't practicing due to lingering swelling in his knee. Coach Andy Reid seems unconcerned about the situation, stating it has been a common occurrence since Kelce underwent surgery on the joint during his rookie season. Kelce needed microfracture surgery on his right knee in 2013, limiting him to just one game played. However, he hasn't missed a game due to injury since and should be fine moving forward. It's worth monitoring his availability in practice, but there's no need panic here just yet.
Marcus Mariota: Fantasy owners still hesitant to trust Mariota following last year's season-ending broken fibula and associated surgery will get a chance to see him in action prior to most drafts. The third-year quarterback will start the Titans' preseason against the Jets on Saturday after being an active participant in training camp. There are still some lingering concerns about his mobility, even though the success rate for his procedure is high. He may not play more than a series but it will be nice to see how fluid he looks back on the field. His fantasy value and ADP should remain fixed for now.
Latavius Murray: Minnesota's big offseason acquisition was activated off the PUP list on Monday. He had yet to partake in a practice after undergoing an offseason ankle debridement. With the bone spurs gone, Murray's ankle issues should be a thing of the past. While Dalvin Cook remains a threat, Murray now has a legitimate chance to at least compete with the rookie for the top spot on the depth chart. Closely monitor this battle as the preseason progresses.
