NFL Week 1 injury report: Latest news on Cam Newton, Andre Ellington and others
SB Nation’s medical expert Dr. Ali Mohamadi has the latest outlook for Cam Newton, who will reportedly not start Sunday, and other key players on kickoff weekend.
It’s the first Sunday morning of the NFL season, which means fantasy football owners across the country are getting ready to unveil their 2014 squads in full force. Throughout the season, SB Nation Medical Expert Dr. Ali Mohamadi will provide his insights on the most notable injuries in the fantasy landscape and how they might affect your roster decisions on game day.
Here are some key injuries, and their impact, for Week 1:
Quarterbacks
Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers, ribs
Carolina at Tampa Bay, 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday
Cam Newton update
The status of Panthers quarterback Cam Newton has been one of the league’s biggest mysteries entering the regular season, after he sustained a hairline fracture in his ribs in the team’s preseason contest with New England on Aug. 22. Newton, who suffered the injury when he was kneed in the lower back by the Patriots’ Jamie Collins, missed Carolina’s preseason finale and was held out of practice until late this week. After Saturday’s session, though, when Newton participated without any lingering effects from the injury, all indications seemed to point toward his starting today's game with Tampa Bay. However, Newton may yet be held out of the game, according to NFL.com's Ian Rapoport.
The most significant issue with rib injuries is pain management, and players often wear protective jackets during the game to lessen the effect of hits to the affected area. If Newton is unable to play, backup Derek Anderson would get the nod at QB.
Running backs
Andre Ellington, Arizona Cardinals, foot
San Diego at Arizona, Monday 10:20 p.m. ET
Ellington, penciled in as the Arizona’s feature back and a sleeper in fantasy football, aggravated a left foot injury in practice Thursday and is likely to be a game-time decision for tomorrow night’s game at San Diego. The Cardinals haven’t disclosed many details this week, but reports indicate it may be a muscle injury and not the dreaded Lisfranc injury, meaning a full recovery will take rest and allowing any inflammation and pain to subside. If Ellington cannot play against the Chargers, Jonathan Dwyer and Stepfan Taylor are likely to split carries for Arizona.
Wide receivers
San Francisco at Dallas, 4:25 p.m. Sunday
As if the 49ers aren’t dealing with enough injuries, Crabtree was listed as questionable on this week’s injury report due to a calf injury that has limited his practice. While it appears the San Francisco receiver will be able to take the field when his team faces the Cowboys this afternoon, lower extremity muscle injuries are notoriously prone to aggravation if tested before having healed completely. Keep a close eye on Crabtree’s status around the time of pregame warmups; if he tests the calf and is unable to go, Anquan Boldin and Stevie Johnson would likely see more targets against the maligned Dallas defense.
Tight ends
Garrett Graham, Houston Texans, back
Washington at Houston, 1 p.m. Sunday
Graham, an emerging threat in the Texans' offense, is listed as questionable on the Texans’ injury report, but appears iffy at best to see the field against Washington. The Houston tight end suffered the injury in practice earlier this week and has been unable to participate since Wednesday. He will likely be evaluated this morning on the field before a decision is made. Rookie C.J. Fiedorowicz would get the start at TE if Graham is unable to suit up.
Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots, knee
New England at Miami, 1 p.m. Sunday
The mind games they play in New England: whereas the Patriots tight end made news this past Monday by telling reporters he would play today against Miami, the first time since his December knee surgery, head coach Bill Belichick was far less optimistic about Gronkowski’s availability in comments this week. Gronkowski tore his ACL in Week 13 of the 2013 season, capping off a frustrating season in which he had already missed significant time after recovering from previous surgeries to his forearm and back. If Gronkowski can suit up, he represents a dynamic option for QB Tom Brady in the New England offense, and a week-in, week-out fantasy threat. If not, backup second-year TE Tim Wright is likely to see significant action this afternoon in Miami.
