This article is part of our Injury Analysis series.
It didn't take long for an injury to alter the fantasy landscape as the consensus top overall pick is expected to miss two to three months with a wrist injury. Johnson was hurt in the third quarter of the Cardinals' loss to the Lions following a 24-yard reception. He continued to play but fumbled on the team's next possession before ultimately leaving the game.
Johnson will undergo surgery for what was diagnosed as a dislocated left wrist. Unfortunately, this description is a bit open-ended given the structural design of the wrist and hand. Just beyond the radius and ulna, the bones of the lower arm, sit eight tiny carpal bones. These bones form the wrist, as well as the carpal tunnel.
Each carpal bone has a unique shape that allows for it to move with precision while also serving as an anchor point for tendons. After the carpals, sit the five metacarpals of the hand. These bone bridge the area between the fingers and the wrist and also serve as attachment sites for muscle. A complex network of ligaments stabilizes the wrist, holding each bone in place.
Because Johnson's injury was described as a dislocation, we know some segment of the wrist was forced out of alignment. However, speculating on a recovery timeline or any associated long-term risk is nearly impossible without knowing the exact bone or bones involved.
The team compared Johnson's injury to that of teammate T.J. Logan, who dislocated his wrist in preseason and
It didn't take long for an injury to alter the fantasy landscape as the consensus top overall pick is expected to miss two to three months with a wrist injury. Johnson was hurt in the third quarter of the Cardinals' loss to the Lions following a 24-yard reception. He continued to play but fumbled on the team's next possession before ultimately leaving the game.
Johnson will undergo surgery for what was diagnosed as a dislocated left wrist. Unfortunately, this description is a bit open-ended given the structural design of the wrist and hand. Just beyond the radius and ulna, the bones of the lower arm, sit eight tiny carpal bones. These bones form the wrist, as well as the carpal tunnel.
Each carpal bone has a unique shape that allows for it to move with precision while also serving as an anchor point for tendons. After the carpals, sit the five metacarpals of the hand. These bone bridge the area between the fingers and the wrist and also serve as attachment sites for muscle. A complex network of ligaments stabilizes the wrist, holding each bone in place.
Because Johnson's injury was described as a dislocation, we know some segment of the wrist was forced out of alignment. However, speculating on a recovery timeline or any associated long-term risk is nearly impossible without knowing the exact bone or bones involved.
The team compared Johnson's injury to that of teammate T.J. Logan, who dislocated his wrist in preseason and was ruled out 12 weeks after surgery.
It sounds like the Cardinals will utilize a running back by committee approach with Kerwynn Williams currently atop the depth chart. Williams is worth a waiver-wire claim, though Andre Ellington could be more appealing in PPR leagues. Chris Johnson, who was released late in preseason, also re-signed with the Cardinals on Tuesday.
Allen Robinson
The Jaguars receiver is done for the year after tearing his ACL in Week 1. He will undergo surgery in the near future to fix the damage. For Jacksonville fans looking for the tiniest of silver linings, the timing of the injury should allow him to return for the entire 2018 season.
Robinson's injury does provide an opportunity to clear up some confusion regarding terminology utilized in situations such as these. When a player goes down with a significant knee injury, fans anxiously await any sort of update. The first word often used to describe an ACL tear is sprain, causing some fantasy owners to improperly relax. A total tear of the ACL is still a sprain, it's just a high-grade or severe sprain.
The word sprain begins to surface after members of the team medical staff have concluded their initial evaluation of the injury. Athletic trainers and medical professionals treating the injured individual will test the integrity of the ligament or other structures involved using an assortment of physical or "special" tests. The special tests for the knee are surprisingly accurate, and the subsequent MRI is more of a procedural confirmation of their findings. Basically, the team has a good idea of the extent of the injury before the final diagnosis is made public.
Becoming familiar with basic terminology and other subtle nuisances like these can help fantasy owners act quickly and precisely. As Week 1 so clearly made evident, properly managing injuries is a lot easier than drafting an injury free squad.
Turf Burns
Odell Beckham: The Giants offense struggled with Beckham on the sideline as Brandon Marshall and Sterling Shepard combined for eight catches and 54 receiving yards. Beckham tested his sprained ankle prior to Sunday night's game in Dallas but was unable to play. His Week 2 availability remains unknown though a return to practice would be a nice sign of progression. The Giants' schedule once again complicates the situation as New York plays in the Monday night game.
Andrew Luck: The Colts have already ruled out Luck for Week 2. The quarterback continues to work his way back from surgery to repair the labrum in his throwing shoulder and could start practicing this week. The team hasn't yet named a starter for Sunday after Jacoby Brissett replaced Scott Tolzien in Week 1.
Deshaun Watson: The Watson Era in Houston started sooner than some expected as the rookie quarterback replaced Tom Savage in the second half of the team's loss to Jacksonville. Watson will remain the starter if he can play through an ankle injury. The ailment is reportedly mild, but the team does have a shortened week of prep as they take face Cincinnati on Thursday night. Watson is an intriguing addition but likely has more value in keeper formats than standard leagues.
Kevin White: The often-injured receiver has been placed on the injured reserve after fracturing his scapula (shoulder blade) in the team's loss to the Falcons. Surgery may be needed, though the Bears wouldn't rule out a late season return. This marks the third time a bone-related injury has cost White substantial time. He missed his rookie campaign with a stress fracture in his tibia and most of last season with a fractured fibula. Given his propensity for fractures, I'm curious if the team has performed any metabolic testing on White to see if there is an underlying cause contributing to his skeletal injuries. There are multiple metabolic and endocrine issues that can predispose an individual to fractures and addressing a potential abnormality could reduce White's risk for future injury. For now, the Bears have just three available receivers including Kendall Wright and Deonte Thompson.
Danny Woodhead:The Ravens running back is expected to miss an extended period of time after aggravating his previously strained hamstring. Baltimore has yet to provide an update though the phrase out "indefinitely" has surfaced. Given Woodhead's recent hamstring woes and the unpredictability of this type of injury, look for him to miss multiple weeks recovering. Terrance West and Javorius Allen will man the Baltimore backfield and have a favorable matchup against the Browns on tap.
