The deeper we get into the NFL season, the more frequently a team's bye week will be incorporated into recovery plans. Multiple teams on the Week 7 NFL Injury Report find themselves prepping for an upcoming bye and could opt to handle their hurt players conservatively.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield is making a strong early case for MVP. His candidacy will only be strengthened if he can continue to record wins with his top offensive weapons shelved. Veteran Mike Evans has missed three straight games with a hamstring strain and was recently joined on the sidelines by teammates Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin. Like Evans, Egbuka suffered a hamstring strain and was slated to undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury. As we've seen with multiple wide receivers this season, hamstring strains, even mild ones, are usually accompanied by time lost. With a bye week slated for Week 9, a two-week absence for the rookie should be expected with a likely return in Week 10.
Godwin did not play in Week 6 due to a fibula injury in his previously dislocated ankle. The fibula is the thinner of the two lower leg bones and sits on the outside aspect of the leg. Its distal end, the lateral malleolus, forms part of the ankle joint while the opposite end forms an arthrodial joint with the shinbone near the knee. Possible fibula injuries include bone bruises, stress-related injuries or fractures. Godwin's prior injury history is likely influencing this current injury, though it sounds like it could be up closer to the knee. Regardless of location, the Bucs have tagged Godwin with the dreaded "week-to-week" label and already have ruled him out for Week 7.
A sidelined Godwin and a likely Egbuka absence could be eased a bit by the possible return of Evans. He is expected to return to practice this week and could suit up if deemed healthy. However, Evans will be at a high risk for reinjury moving forward given his lengthy injury history.
It's not just wideouts, as Bucky Irving will miss Week 7 due to his shoulder and foot injuries, discussed here last week. Look for Rachaad White to log another start on Monday night against the Lions. White has been a strong plug-and-play option totaling 157 yards from scrimmage with three rushing touchdowns over the past two weeks.
The Cardinals quarterback did not play in Week 6 due to a midfoot sprain suffered in his previous start. The midfoot injury is being called a "version of a Lisfranc injury."
The foot is made up of tarsals, the metatarsals and the phalanges (toes). The five metatarsals bridge the area between the tarsal bones of the midfoot and the bones of the toes. The numerous joints of the foot are positioned where these bones articulate with one another. The Lisfranc joint is specifically located where the second metatarsal articulates with the bones of the midfoot. The joint serves as the linchpin of the area and is stabilized by the Lisfranc ligament complex. A sprain of the Lisfranc joint can impact the overall stability of the foot, making it a difficult injury to manage.
A 2023 study on Lisfranc injuries among NFL players recorded quarterbacks missing an average of two weeks with a drop in performance upon return. As a result, a second straight absence should be anticipated. Furthermore, I think the effects of the injury are likely to linger especially when Murray's style of play is considered. Scale back your expectations here for the foreseeable future. Jacoby Brissett will continue to start if Murray sits.
The NFL's leading receiver limped off the field Sunday with a left ankle injury. He eventually returned to the game but was not targeted during his remaining playing time. The injury has been described as a left ankle sprain as the term high ankle sprain was avoided. The description, coupled with coach Sean McVay calling his receiver "day-to-day," suggests a mild lateral ankle sprain. Despite the overall optimism about the injury expressed in the days that have followed, Nacua isn't a lock for Week 7. The Rams are slated to play the Jaguars in London, setting up a truncated week of practice with extended travel time. As a result, Nacua will not have the luxury of a normal routine with allotted treatment time. I wouldn't be surprised if this ends up being a true game-time decision. Keep in mind the Rams have a scheduled bye in Week 8, meaning a one-week absence will turn into two weeks of recovery and recuperation.
Turf Burns
Chuba Hubbard: The Panthers running back continues to nurse a calf strain and has had to watch from the sidelines as Rico Dowdle has churned out record-setting numbers in his place. Dowdle has averaged 194.5 rushing yards and 42.0 receiving yards over the past two contests, while finding the end zone twice. Dowdle's emergence means the Panthers can slow play Hubbard's return or plug him in as part of a running-back-by-committee approach. Either way, it's clear Dowdle's has earned a spot as a regular member of the offense game plan and Hubbard isn't coming back as a bell cow.
CeeDee Lamb: The Cowboys offense has been red hot and could get another big weapon back in Week 7, which is one of the better recent NFL injury updates. Lamb, out since suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 3, hopes to return to practice Wednesday in time to prepare for their matchup with the Commanders. Lamb's ceiling is too high to consider keeping him on the bench, but it may take a week or two until he returns to top form.
Garrett Wilson: The Jets are happy to report Wilson did not suffer a severe or season-ending knee injury in the team's loss to the Broncos when he hyperextended the knee late in the game. However, the team is still bracing for Wilson to miss time. Like the Buccaneers, the Jets have a Week 9 bye and may elect to keep Wilson in street clothes until Week 10.
Anthony Richardson: The Colts backup quarterback suffered one of the more bizarre injuries of recent memory, suffering a facial fracture during pregame. Richardson was using a resistive band to warm up when the pole the band was attached to snapped and struck the quarterback in the face. He suffered a fracture of the eye socket, clinically known as an orbital fracture. The associated swelling is impeding Richardson's vision, and he has been placed on the IR. The injury won't make a major impact on fantasy rosters but could come into play if Daniel Jones suffers an injury of his own. The Colts are currently evaluating all options for a reliable backup.
