This article is part of our Injury Analysis series.
The Patriots drafted Michel with the intent to have him play an integral role in their backfield. They did so knowing the rookie running back had a lengthy injury history dating back to high school, but felt the potential reward would outweigh the risk. Unfortunately, Michel is already having an issue with one of his knees and could be limited for the remainder of the preseason. Michel had his knee drained, likely using a technique known as a joint aspiration. In the procedure, fluid is removed from the space surrounding the knee joint. Removing the problematic fluid can result in improved joint motion and a decrease in associated pain. However, an aspiration is far from a cure. The individual can experience a recurrence of the previous problems if the cause of the accumulated fluid remains. Reasons for an aspiration vary but can be linked to arthritis or bursitis.
While there has been no confirmation of which knee is currently the problem, history suggests it is likely his left knee. Michel tore the ACL in his left knee during high school and resprained the joint while at the University of Georgia. The knee was flagged during the predraft process by multiple teams, and reports surfaced that the surface of the joint was "bone-on-bone." This would occur with significant cartilage damage and could potentially lead to an accumulation of fluid.
However, New England is being unsurprisingly coy in their injury information and have simply stated they expect Michel to miss
The Patriots drafted Michel with the intent to have him play an integral role in their backfield. They did so knowing the rookie running back had a lengthy injury history dating back to high school, but felt the potential reward would outweigh the risk. Unfortunately, Michel is already having an issue with one of his knees and could be limited for the remainder of the preseason. Michel had his knee drained, likely using a technique known as a joint aspiration. In the procedure, fluid is removed from the space surrounding the knee joint. Removing the problematic fluid can result in improved joint motion and a decrease in associated pain. However, an aspiration is far from a cure. The individual can experience a recurrence of the previous problems if the cause of the accumulated fluid remains. Reasons for an aspiration vary but can be linked to arthritis or bursitis.
While there has been no confirmation of which knee is currently the problem, history suggests it is likely his left knee. Michel tore the ACL in his left knee during high school and resprained the joint while at the University of Georgia. The knee was flagged during the predraft process by multiple teams, and reports surfaced that the surface of the joint was "bone-on-bone." This would occur with significant cartilage damage and could potentially lead to an accumulation of fluid.
However, New England is being unsurprisingly coy in their injury information and have simply stated they expect Michel to miss at least 10 days. However, it appears very likely he will miss a more significant amount of time, causing him to lose valuable practice time with the Patriots first unit. He could still be a contributor if the knee improves, though it may take longer than some anticipated. Look for him to be eased back into the swing of things with Rex Burkhead and James White getting extra reps to start the season.
Doug Baldwin
The Seattle receiver remains sidelined by a nondescript injury. The team insists there is no concern about Baldwin's long-term status despite the fact that a sore knee has kept him out of practice since July 27. Head coach Pete Carroll admitted Baldwin received some sort of treatment and should be fine for Week 1. Unfortunately, this is little comfort to fantasy owners who would like more details on the situation.
The Seahawks do have a history of utilizing Regenokine for their players, though Carroll would not confirm that was Baldwin's treatment of choice. Regenokine is a procedure that utilizes the injured athlete's own blood as an anti-inflammatory. It varies from platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections and still lacks FDA approval. Regenokine, also known as Orthokine, was made famous by NBA star Kobe Bryant and his frequent trips to Germany to receive the treatment.
Baldwin's situation is slightly comparable to Michel's. Both players have knee issues and are actively addressing the symptoms. However, both will need to continue regular maintenance on the problem upon their return and will remain inherently precarious fantasy investments. Baldwin likely has a higher ceiling, but his dropping ADP is warranted.
Turf Burns
Dalvin Cook: The news continues to be encouraging for the Vikings running back as he continues his way back from last season's torn ACL. Head coach Mike Zimmer recently confirmed that Cook will see action during the preseason, a good sign that his surgically repaired knee is holding up with the increase in workload. Cook remains a top round selection.
Josh Doctson: The Washington receiver has shown a propensity for injury since being drafted and is already back on the injury report. He underwent a, "precautionary MRI" on his leg during the early days of camp and suffered a mild shoulder sprain late last week. The injury was to the acromioclavicular (AC) joint of the shoulder and is often known as a shoulder separation. Fortunately, the degree of severity appears low and Doctson should be back in action soon. The team also refuted reports that the wideout had his heel drained, although the early bumps and bruises make heavily investing in Doctson difficult.
Jordan Matthews: A "significant" hamstring injury has ended Matthews' brief tenure with New England. Matthews was hoping to have a bounceback season after undergoing multiple surgeries in the offseason. However, his latest injury resulted in his release, and the Patriots have now turned to Eric Decker, another receiver with a history of injury problems. Matthews was able to reach a settlement with the team that would allow him to play again this season, though his health will remain a predicating factor.
Christian McCaffrey: The second-year running back missed a practice over the weekend due to an undisclosed illness. It doesn't sound like a serious problem, and McCaffery's draft value should remain unchanged.
Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster: The Steelers' top receiving threats were grounded over the weekend, as both Brown and Smith-Schuster were limited by injury. Brown was sent home to Pittsburgh earlier in the week with an undisclosed injury. Head coach Mike Tomlin downplayed the issue and called it a "minor injury." Smith-Schuster did not take part in practice on Sunday and was seen icing his left knee. Details remain scarce, though he was limited during June minicamps with a minor knee injury. Don't panic just yet, as the team likely is taking a conservative approach with their receivers.
Terrance Williams: The Cowboys receiving corps remains a work in progress, as one of its key members continues to work his way back from offseason surgery. Williams recently told reporters that he's still experiencing pain in his surgically repaired fifth metatarsal. Pain and soreness isn't surprising at this point of his recovery, however, I'll be keeping a closer eye on the situation. The success rate for Williams' type of surgery is high, but secondary procedures are relativity common. Watch to see if Williams is able to take part in any of Dallas' early preseason outings to get a better indication of his overall health.
