This article is part of our Injury Analysis series.
Jimmy Garoppolo, Matt Breida and Alfred Morris
Garoppolo was expected to be the future of the franchise when the 49ers traded for him and then signed him to a sizeable extension. However, those plans have been derailed for the immediate future as Jimmy G. tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee. He will undergo surgery in the coming weeks, which should shine a better light on the expected length of his recovery. Hopefully the damage remains isolated to the ACL, allowing him to get a quicker start on his rehabilitation. If there's any additional ligament or meniscus damage, Garoppolo would likely wear the brace and be placed in a non-weight bearing protocol for an extended period of time. Fortunately, the injury did occur early enough in the season that he should be able to play in Week 1 of the 2019 season, regardless of what surgery reveals. Backup C.J. Beathard assumes the role of starting quarterback for the time being.
The 49ers backfield is also nursing injuries, though nothing as severe as Garoppolo. Breida left Sunday's game after injuring his right knee but was able to return and run effectively. Coach Kyle Shanahan described the injury as a hyperextended knee, one of my least favorite injury designations. The term hyperextension simply refers to how the injury occurred and doesn't specify what tissue structures were injured when the joint was pushed beyond its normal range of motion. Breida likely suffered some sort of sprain or strain, though
Jimmy Garoppolo, Matt Breida and Alfred Morris
Garoppolo was expected to be the future of the franchise when the 49ers traded for him and then signed him to a sizeable extension. However, those plans have been derailed for the immediate future as Jimmy G. tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee. He will undergo surgery in the coming weeks, which should shine a better light on the expected length of his recovery. Hopefully the damage remains isolated to the ACL, allowing him to get a quicker start on his rehabilitation. If there's any additional ligament or meniscus damage, Garoppolo would likely wear the brace and be placed in a non-weight bearing protocol for an extended period of time. Fortunately, the injury did occur early enough in the season that he should be able to play in Week 1 of the 2019 season, regardless of what surgery reveals. Backup C.J. Beathard assumes the role of starting quarterback for the time being.
The 49ers backfield is also nursing injuries, though nothing as severe as Garoppolo. Breida left Sunday's game after injuring his right knee but was able to return and run effectively. Coach Kyle Shanahan described the injury as a hyperextended knee, one of my least favorite injury designations. The term hyperextension simply refers to how the injury occurred and doesn't specify what tissue structures were injured when the joint was pushed beyond its normal range of motion. Breida likely suffered some sort of sprain or strain, though that remains undeclared. I suspect Breida is a limited participant throughout the week with a good shot at playing against the Chargers. If Breida is unable to play, the Niners would turn to Morris. Unfortunately, he too is banged up, as he suffered an undisclosed ankle injury in Week 2. The team downplayed the severity of Morris' injury, but look for his practice time to be closely monitored.
The Titans quarterback returned to action Sunday but only after Blaine Gabbert suffered a concussion. Despite leading the team to a win, Mariota remains limited due to a lingering elbow injury. Details surrounding the injury remain a bit vague, but it appears there is a neurological component to the problem. Mariota continues to deal with numbness and tingling into his fingers. This is likely due to some sort of problem with a nerve. Nerve injuries tend to fall into two categories: acute injury or impingement. Acute injuries occur when nerves are damaged following direct contact. If this is the case, Mariota could be looking at a prolonged recovery as nerve tissue heals at an incredibly slow rate. However some nerve problem can be secondary to soft tissue trauma at the joint. For example, if Mariota's elbow is swollen due to a soft tissue contusion or sprain, the resulting swelling could be putting pressure on a neighboring nerve. This impingement would then produce nerve-related symptoms, like numbness, tingling or a decrease in strength. Fortunately, this type of injury is often easier to manage and improves at a quicker rate since the involved area is not dependent on new nerve growth.
Mariota appears to have regained the starting role, especially with Gabbert still in the league-mandated concussion protocol. However, the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner may still be a week or two away from putting up fantasy friendly stat lines, as the associated symptoms of his injury remain.
Turf Burns
Jay Ajayi: The Eagles provided fantasy owners with plenty of notice that Ajayi would not be playing in their Week 3 matchup with the Colts. Fortunately, the inverse now holds true, with coach Doug Pederson telling reporters they expect Ajayi and backup Darren Sproles to return to action Sunday against the Titans. Ajayi has dealt with an undisclosed back injury over the past few weeks, although the injury does appear to be muscular in nature. With Carson Wentz back in the mix and Alshon Jeffery progressing, we could see some explosiveness return to the Philadelphia offense very soon.
Dalvin Cook: The Vikings running back was in street clothes during the team's surprising loss to the Bills. He initially suffered what was called a hamstring cramp during their overtime matchup with Green Bay but was unable to shake the lingering effects heading into Week 3. As a result, it seems more likely that Cook is dealing with a hamstring strain. Sadly, these injuries tend to be fickle, and a compressed week of practice may impact Cook's potential availability. He's planning on playing Thursday against the Rams, but fantasy owners should plan on it being a gametime decision. He was a non-participant on Monday, casting further doubt on his health.
LeSean McCoy: McCoy was also a spectator for the Bills-Vikings Week 2 matchup. He was a late scratch due to the damaged cartilage in his ribs. Pain tolerance remains the primary limiting factor and that should be improved with a week off. However, any direct hit to the area could easily aggravate the issue, making McCoy a risky option, even if he is able to play against the Packers.
Leonard Fournette: In Jacksonville, Fournette remains day-to-day with a hamstring strain after missing two straight games. Fournette's workload in practice has gradually increased over time and he continues to trend upward. However, brace for this to once again be a gametime decision.
Greg Olsen: There's growing optimism in Carolina that Olsen will return ahead of schedule. His fractured fifth metatarsal is reportedly healing nicely and he hopes to be back quicker than last season when he missed nine games with the same injury. However, I would advise exhibiting patience here. Time remains the best treatment plan to insure the bone is completely healed. If Olsen were to return prematurely, he runs the risk of once again injuring the affected bone. This is particularly true since the former Pro Bowler still has surgical hardware in the area from his initial break in 2017. A Week 6 return would be a welcome site for fantasy owners, but I'd be more comfortable if he waited until Week 7 or 8.
