This article is part of our Injury Analysis series.
The Philadelphia Eagles
The injury bug continues to make its home in Philadelphia and claimed two more players over the weekend. Miles Sanders and Zach Ertz were both unable to finish the team's loss to Baltimore and are set to miss time recovering from their respective injuries. Sanders suffered an undisclosed knee injury that looks a lot like a MCL sprain. Even if it is a low-grade sprain, Sanders would be hard-pressed to play in a normal week of preparation. Unfortunately, that seems increasingly unlikely with the Eagles taking on the Giants on Thursday of Week 7. Look for Boston Scott to lead the Eagles running attack.
After losing Dallas Goedert to a broken ankle in Week 3, the Eagles have lost another tight end to an ankle injury. Ertz suffered a high ankle sprain in the team's loss to the Ravens and is expected to miss at least three weeks. High ankle sprains involve the distal tibiofibular joint, the area where the ends of the two lower leg bones are fortified by multiple ligaments. High ankle sprains often take longer to heal than "normal" lateral ankle sprains and have gained notoriety this season with players like Michael Thomas and Christian McCaffrey sustaining the injury. Those invested in Ertz will need to find a replacement for the immediate future.
As mentioned with Sanders, the Eagles have a short week of preparation, making it difficult to get a great gauge on their other injured players including DeSean Jackson (hamstring), Alshon Jeffery (Lisfranc)
The Philadelphia Eagles
The injury bug continues to make its home in Philadelphia and claimed two more players over the weekend. Miles Sanders and Zach Ertz were both unable to finish the team's loss to Baltimore and are set to miss time recovering from their respective injuries. Sanders suffered an undisclosed knee injury that looks a lot like a MCL sprain. Even if it is a low-grade sprain, Sanders would be hard-pressed to play in a normal week of preparation. Unfortunately, that seems increasingly unlikely with the Eagles taking on the Giants on Thursday of Week 7. Look for Boston Scott to lead the Eagles running attack.
After losing Dallas Goedert to a broken ankle in Week 3, the Eagles have lost another tight end to an ankle injury. Ertz suffered a high ankle sprain in the team's loss to the Ravens and is expected to miss at least three weeks. High ankle sprains involve the distal tibiofibular joint, the area where the ends of the two lower leg bones are fortified by multiple ligaments. High ankle sprains often take longer to heal than "normal" lateral ankle sprains and have gained notoriety this season with players like Michael Thomas and Christian McCaffrey sustaining the injury. Those invested in Ertz will need to find a replacement for the immediate future.
As mentioned with Sanders, the Eagles have a short week of preparation, making it difficult to get a great gauge on their other injured players including DeSean Jackson (hamstring), Alshon Jeffery (Lisfranc) and Jalen Reagor (thumb). Reagor and Goedert are both eligible to return from the IR this week and could have a shot at suiting up, but will need to get some early week reps to garner trust from the fantasy community. Travis Fulgham is the healthiest of the receivers and has the most upside after hauling in a touchdown reception in three straight outings.
The Panthers running back remains without a definitive return date as he works his way back from a high ankle sprain. He has missed four games already and was given an initial recovery window of four to six weeks. The Panthers schedule may be working against McCaffrey a bit. The team takes on New Orleans in Week 7 and then faces Atlanta in a Thursday night matchup in Week 8. The shortened week could cause Carolina to push back McCaffrey's return to Week 9 against Kansas City if he remains limited. Furthermore, the emergence of Mike Davis has bought the team time and could allow them to continue a conservative course of treatment. Despite a quiet Week 6, Davis has scored four touchdowns, and amassed 271 rushing yards and 135 receiving yards while filling in for the injured McCaffrey. Keep an eye on McCaffrey's progress in the week ahead, but an activation from the IR does not appear imminent.
Dallas Cowboys O-Line
Dak Prescott's gruesome ankle injury rightfully received lots of attention. The season-ending injury was a nasty one. However, the injuries to Dallas' once dominant offensive line should not get lost in the shuffle. It started before the season began with the early retirement of center Travis Frederick. The team then lost both starting tackles to injury, with All-Pro tackle Tyron Smith undergoing neck surgery and La'el Collins going under the knife for a hip issue. Monday night brought more bad news as All-Pro right guard Zack Martin made an early exit with a concussion. Martin could return in time for Sunday's matchup with Washington, but a complete recovery is key to his long-term health. As a result, the Dallas offensive line now comprises a group of rookies and unproven veterans. The performance of the patchwork unit could have a trickle-down effect on the numbers for Andy Dalton and the rest of Dallas' offensive weapons. Expectations for running back Ezekiel Elliott should also be scaled back, especially if he continues to battle through a case of fumblitis.
Turf Burns
Mark Ingram: The Ravens running back will benefit from a well-timed bye week and should not miss any time with his freshly sprained ankle. The injury does not appear to be a high ankle sprain and should be fine with a week of rest and recovery. Gus Edwards is worth a speculative stash just in case, but Ingram appears to have avoided a serious injury.
Baker Mayfield: The Browns quarterback did not finish his team's blowout loss to the Steelers. The decision was made after Mayfield aggravated his previously injured ribs. Mayfield was sacked four times before being removed, and it appears even his Kevlar-infused flak jacket couldn't protect his still healing ribs. Mayfield looked unimpressive when he was playing, finishing 10-of-18 for 119 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. His ineffectiveness and his lingering rib issue could prompt Cleveland to at least consider starting Case Keenum for Week 7. Look for updates on his availability throughout the week ahead.
Joe Mixon: The Bengal running back missed time on Sunday with an undisclosed foot injury, and his Week 7 status could be in jeopardy. The team hopes to have more information in the coming days, but the early reports sound optimistic. Look for updates here on Rotowire to get a better idea on if Mixon will be in uniform come Sunday. Those invested in the situation may want to make a play for Giovani Bernard just in case Mixon is ruled out.
Raheem Mostert: After missing time earlier in the season with a sprained MCL in his knee, Mostert is now expected to miss at least three weeks with a high ankle sprain. The team is likely to place the running back on the injured reserve in the coming days, elevating Jerick McKinnon back to the top of the San Francisco depth chart. Mostert's growing list of injuries is becoming a concern, and he will carry an elevated degree of injury risk for the remainder of the season.
Jonnu Smith: The Titans should have Smith in uniform for their big matchup with the Steelers, as further testing on his injured right ankle revealed a low-grade sprain. Smith may opt to tape or brace the area, but it sounds like he will be good to go on Sunday.
