Atlanta Falcons' wide receiver Julio Jones put together a monster, 259-yard receiving performance last Monday night in a loss to the Packers, but it came at a price. The Pro Bowler left late in the game with a left hip injury that has kept him out of practice the entire week. The Falcons' staff has been somewhat coy about the injury this week, listing him as questionable for Sunday's matchup with Pittsburgh, but being sparing of details regarding the exact diagnosis. Early indications are that Jones will not play this week.
Julio Jones expected to sit, Eddie Lacy probable to play
With fantasy playoffs in full swing in Week 15 -- and many NFL teams jockeying for playoff position -- SB Nation medical expert Dr. Ali Mohamadi gives insight into the most notable injuries in the NFL landscape and how they might affect your roster decisions.
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On the play that caused him to exit the game against the Packers, Jones fell to the ground then came up favoring the front of the hip area, which seems less likely a hip pointer than a joint injury, and if so, it could mean missing this and future weeks as well.
Another hip injury from last Monday night could have a huge impact on this week's matchups: Packers' running back Eddie Lacy, who is listed as probable for Sunday's game at Buffalo. While there is little question Lacy will take the field, the big question is whether he will cede carries to James Starks based on the pain he has been dealing with all week, all the worse given the short work week Green Bay is dealing with. The pain has been concern enough for the team to limit his contact in practice this week; while there is no need for concern regarding Lacy's status for today, Packers fans and fantasy owners alike may be holding their breath hoping he is able to get his usual workload.
Julius Thomas left early in Denver's Week 11 loss to St. Louis after suffering an ankle injury, missed Weeks 12 and 13, and although he was active for the Broncos' win over Buffalo, did not see the field at all. This week, however, would appear to be different. Thomas has participated in practice and is listed as probable for this week's game with San Diego. While all indications are that he will see a full workload against the Chargers, it remains to be seen whether Peyton Manning will ease him back into action, or whether Thomas will be back to his TD-catching ways this week in a key divisional matchup.
To say the Washington offense has limped down the stretch would be an understatement, and missing DeSean Jackson to a lower leg contusion certainly didn't help last week as the team was shut out by St. Louis, 24-0. Jackson suffered the injury in Week 13 after being hit low and out of bounds by the Colts' Mike Adams, and, after attempting to play through the injury, left the game in obvious pain. Pain control during pre-game warmups will likely be the most important factor in determining whether Washington's offensive MVP will be able to return to the field against the New York Giants.
Percy Harvin was having his best game as a New York Jet last week in a loss to the Vikings, with 124 yards and a touchdown through the air before departing with a left ankle injury. Early in the week, it appeared a foregone conclusion the elusive receiver would miss this week's game with Tennessee, but Harvin returned to practice late in the week (albeit in a limited basis) and is listed as questionable on the Jets' injury report. Neither Harvin nor the Jets' coaching staff had much to say about the injury this week, and it appears he may be a game-time decision for Sunday afternoon's 4:05 p.m. ET start.
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