The Sunday slate of Week 2 games opens this afternoon with a number of teams featuring key players with nagging injuries that could affect their status as kickoff approaches. In particular, the Atlanta Falcons’ WR situation is up in the air for its 1:00 p.m. start against the St. Louis Rams, with both Julio Jones and Roddy White nursing injuries and listed as questionable on the team’s official report. Here are some key injuries, and their impact, for Week 2:
NFL Week 2 injury report: Tony Romo, Roddy White & Julio Jones expected to play
A long list of superstars enter Week 2 with injury concerns. How will that impact Sunday’s games?
Quarterbacks
Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys, ribs
DAL (1-0) @ KC (1-0), 1:00 p.m.
Romo was momentarily knocked out of his team's 36-31 win over the Giants last Sunday night after being sandwiched between two New York defenders late in the first half. It was reported that Romo merely had the wind knocked out of him, but the team has paid particular attention to his ribs after having suffered two fracture injuries – one resulting in a punctured lung – to the area over his career. Romo has practiced fully this week and doesn’t appear to have any lingering effects, with pain management being a particular concern with rib injuries.
Running backs
Jamaal Charles, Kansas City Chiefs, quadriceps
KC (1-0) vs. DAL (1-0), 1:00 p.m.
The Chiefs' star running back left quadriceps muscle during the third quarter of last week’s 28-2 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars with a contusion to the quadriceps. Charles was able to take the field for a few plays after the injury, then was removed from the game with Kansas City winning handily. Charles has increased his workload at practice as the week has gone on, and all indications are that he will be full-go this afternoon. With a quadriceps contusion, which is a deep bruise of the muscle, the greatest concern would be managing the pain associated with contact to the affected area. Backup running back Knile Davis stands to gain playing time if Charles aggravates the injury against the Cowboys.
Wide receivers
Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys, foot
DAL (1-0) @ KC (1-0), 1:00 p.m.
Big things are expected of Bryant this season, and Cowboys’ fans had a major scare last week when Bryant suffered a mild foot sprain that appeared worse than it has turned out to be. The Dallas WR was able to participate in practice the entire week, and it seems he avoided any significant swelling or resultant pain that could limit his range of motion or effectiveness today at Kansas City.
Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals, hamstring
ARI (0-1) vs. DET (1-0), 4:05 p.m.
Fitzgerald has been limited in practice this week after suffering a mild hamstring strain in practice this past Wednesday and is listed as questionable on the team’s injury report. All indications are that the star WR, who appears to have established a nice connection with new Cardinals’ QB Carson Palmer, will get the start this afternoon against the Lions. However, the situation is one to monitor today and going forward, as hamstring injuries are particularly prone to aggravation and can prove a nagging ailment for weeks at a time.
Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons, knee
ATL (0-1) vs. StL (1-0), 1:00 p.m.
Jones popped up on the Falcons’ injury list in the middle of the week with a knee injury, but after missing practice on Wednesday has been able to participate on a limited basis thereafter. The team has not elaborated on the nature of the injury to its star WR, who caught seven balls for 76 yards and a TD in last week’s loss to the Saints; however, it appears Jones will be able to play today.
Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons, ankle
The Falcons’ receiver, who has not missed a game in his eight-year NFL career, sprained his right ankle in Atlanta’s Aug. 15 preseason contest at Baltimore, and despite playing last week against the Saints was a shadow of his normal self with just two catches for 19 yards. White has practiced on a limited basis this week, but indications are that he will get the start again this afternoon. His effectiveness, however, is a question given the relatively high risk of re-injury with ankle sprains and . If White is unable to play or exits the game early, Harry Douglas would likely get the majority of snaps at WR alongside Julio Jones.
Tight ends
GB (0-1) vs. WAS (0-1), 1:00 p.m.
Finley suffered a toe injury in the Packers’ Week 1 loss at San Francisco, and early in the week it appeared his status would be iffy at best for today’s contest against Washington. However, as the week progressed, the Green Bay TE’s status was upgraded to probable, and he has been able to participate in practice on a limited basis the past several days. If he’s able to play at full-go, Finley could be a good fantasy start against a Washington defense that has historically struggled in pass defense, especially in the middle of the field. If Finley is a surprise scratch today, backup Andrew Quarless would stand to get the majority of playing time at TE for the Packers.
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