We have officially reached the point of the season where the NFL Injury Report feels a little bit like Groundhog Day. The same injuries continue to pop up often to the same players. Even worse, the same players continue to find new ways to get hurt, with their previous injuries often influencing their new ailments.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs wide receiving corps has been snake bitten since the season started with multiple players missing time with an assortment of injuries. Mike Evans missed three straight weeks with a strained hamstring but was able to play Monday Night against the Lions. Sadly, his return was brief, as he was carted to the locker room with a concussion and a shoulder injury. Evans' head struck the turf as he attempted to haul in a deep pass. The momentum also drove his right shoulder into the ground, placing an axial load through the clavicle (collarbone), a force that was amplified as Lions cornerback Rock Ya-Sin fell on top of Evans. As a result, Evans' collarbone broke, and he is expected to miss significant time. Surgery seems likely, but Evans will have an outside shot at a late-season return if the break is clean and the AC joint is not involved. Tampa Bay could opt to place him on the injured reserve, but fantasy managers will need to find a long-term replacement.
Emeka Egbuka managed to suit up against Detroit despite suffering a hamstring strain in Tampa's prior contest. The rookie was relatively quiet, finishing with four receptions and 58 yards. He was targeted 12 times and should remain the focal point of the Buccaneers aerial attack with Evans out. The increase in workload is a bit worrisome for a player who is already carrying a high degree of inherent injury risk due to his recently strained hamstring. Teammate Chris Godwin remains sidelined with a fibula injury.
The injuries make Tez Johnson a waiver wire target. Johnson has scored a touchdown in back-to-back games and finished Monday's loss with four receptions on nine targets for 58 yards and a touchdown.
The Commanders quarterback is once again injured after he suffered a hamstring strain in the team's loss to the Cowboys. Daniels limped off the field following a second-half fumble and did not return to the game. Fortunately, testing on the injured muscle group came back with positive results, as Washington is calling the injury, "not significant." Still, as we have seen with Lamar Jackson, even a mild hamstring strain can be limiting and result in missed time. Daniels' style of play should also be taken into consideration, as hamstring injuries can be limiting particularly for mobile quarterbacks. Marcus Mariota, who started two games earlier this season while Daniels recovered from a knee sprain, would get the nod at quarterback if Daniels is unable to play.
The Dolphins tight end did not suffer a season-ending injury in the loss to the Browns but will be considered "week-to-week" due to a strained pectoral muscle.
The pectoral muscles ("pecs") form in the upper portion of the chest with the pectoralis major laying over the pectoralis minor. Together the pecs are most often associated with the chest and bench pressing, but the pec major anchors to the upper arm bone, the humerus. As a result, the muscle is also involved in shoulder motion, helping flex, extend, adduct and rotate the upper arm. The pec minor serves as a shoulder stabilizer, drawing the scapula (shoulder blade) down and in.
Pec strains are relatively uncommon in football, though the blocking position does leave the area vulnerable to injury. A 2019 study showed offensive and defensive linemen were the positions most likely to suffer the injury. Tight ends were the second ranked offensive position. The same study also revealed an average time lost of 18.1 days for NFL players that sustained a pectoralis major strain that did not require surgery.
After missing the first three weeks of the season with a hip injury, Waller is poised to miss additional time, with head coach Mike McDaniel suggesting he will not play in Week 8 or Week 9. Tight ends Julian Hill and Tanner Conner will see an increases in usage with Waller sidelined.
Turf Burns
Lamar Jackson: Jackson did not participate in Baltimore's first practice following their bye week. The quarterback has not played since straining his right hamstring in Week 4. He has not been ruled out for Week 8 but will need to log at least one practice before he can gain the confidence of fantasy managers.
Kendre Miller: Just as the Saints running back was beginning to carve out a role in the New Orleans offense, Miller's season ends, as he tore the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his knee. Alvin Kamara remains the feature back in New Orleans with Devin Neal moving up the depth chart.
Michael Penix: The Falcons quarterback is considered day-to-day after suffering a bone bruise in his foot. Bone bruises in the lower extremities are often slow to heal, especially if a weight-bearing structure is involved. However, it sounds like Penix avoided a more serious ailment and should be available against the Dolphins. Kirk Cousins would start if Penix is ruled out.
Brock Purdy: Head coach Kyle Shanahan said it would be "a reach" for Purdy to return this week. The 49ers quarterback has missed five of San Francisco's seven games due to a turf toe injury that has lingered. Those invested in Purdy should continue to look elsewhere for the week ahead. Mac Jones will remain the starter against the Texans.
Bryce Young: The Panthers are on a three-game winning streak after beating the Jets in Week 7. However, the streak will have to continue without Young after the quarterback suffered a high ankle sprain against New York. As we have seen with multiple players, including CeeDee Lamb and J.J. McCarthy, a high ankle sprain often results in a multiweek absence. While the sprain is considered mild, the team is preparing to be without Young for at least Week 8 with Andy Dalton taking over at quarterback.
