C.J. Spiller's first carry yesterday against the Vikings turned out to be his last, as the speedy Buffalo Bills running back broke his left clavicle at the end of a 52-yard run and is scheduled for surgery on Monday. The clavicle, also known as the collarbone, bridges the scapula (shoulder blade) and sternum (breastbone) and serves as a strut keeping the upper limb apart from the midsection, allowing for maximum range of motion of the shoulder. A fractured clavicle limits normal motion of the affected side and is extremely painful.
C.J. Spiller, Fred Jackson injuries top a rough week for running backs
Sunday’s NFL action included a long list of injuries that were especially unkind for the Buffalo Bills. SB Nation medical expert Dr. Ali Mohamadi surveys the Week 7 injury report.
Tom Szczerbowski
Although a fractured clavicle can be treated conservatively without an operation, surgery typically speeds up the recovery process. Without surgery, the affected arm is first immobilized in a sling for several weeks followed by intensive physical therapy, and it takes approximately 2-3 months for a return to competitive play. Surgery realigns the bone using plates and screws and can cut the healing time down to as few as six weeks, making it theoretically possible that Spiller could return later this year. With the prospect of Spiller and his partner-in-crime Fred Jackson missing significant time due to injuries, the Bills will turn to Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown next week against the New York Jets.
Fred Jackson, Buffalo Bills (groin)
Just minutes before Spiller’s injury, Jackson exited the game on a cart after suffering a groin strain. Early indications are that he will miss two weeks at a minimum. Jackson will undergo an MRI Monday to determine the severity of the injury and clarify the timetable for his return. Groin strains are notoriously slow to heal and easy to aggravate if an athlete returns to action before completely healed. For a running back especially, it is not an injury to take lightly, and so the most likely scenario is that Jackson will be on the shelf beyond Week 8.
Trent Richardson, Indianapolis Colts (hamstring)
The Indianapolis running back, who was looking strong with 77 yards on the ground through almost three quarters, left the Colts' 27-0 thrashing of Cincinnati with a hamstring injury and did not return. Richardson himself sounded rather optimistic for a speedy recovery after the game, but the Colts will need to wait to see how his hamstring responds over the next several days before determining his availability for next Sunday's game at Pittsburgh. If Richardson is unable to play, Ahmad Bradshaw would see an increase workload against the Steelers.
James Starks, Green Bay Packers (ankle)
Starks, who scored his first touchdown of the season earlier in Green Bay's win over Carolina, left in the third quarter after sustaining an ankle injury and did not return to the game. The Packers haven't disclosed the severity of the injury to this point, although given how far ahead they were at the time of Starks' exit, it is possible he was held out on a precautionary basis. Starks will undergo further testing Monday to help determine his prognosis going forward, starting with next Sunday night against the Saints.
Pierre Thomas, New Orleans Saints (shoulder)
Thomas, who was splitting time with Mark Ingram, Khiry Robinson, and Travaris Cadet in the Saints' backfield, suffered a shoulder injury in the third quarter of New Orleans' heartbreaking loss to Detroit, missing the remainder of the game. Shoulder injuries run the gamut from mild sprains that heal within the week to separations or fractures that could require significant time off. The Saints are particularly versed in dealing with shoulder injuries, as teammate Jimmy Graham has been dealing with one of his own, and Thomas will likely undergo the same set of evaluations leading into next week's contest with Green Bay.
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