Updated NFL Injury Report After Preseason Week 2

Now that Week 2 of the 2012 NFL preseason has concluded, there are a number of notable injuries around the league to keep track of—both old and new. 

Some injuries have been well documented but are worth updating because key players are close to returning and providing a boost to their respective teams. Other injuries were suffered in Week 2 of the preseason and could have a drastic impact on the shape of the NFL. 

Here we will try to track the most important injuries from around the NFL. What follows is an updated injury report after preseason Week 2.

Brian Orakpo, Washington Redskins

Brian Orakpo is one of the best linebackers in the NFL and an integral part of the ultimate success or failure of the Washington Redskins in 2012. 

On Saturday against the Chicago Bears, Orakpo injured his shoulder attempting to make a tackle in the first quarter. As expected, he didn't return to the meaningless game. 

The injury is most concerning for Orakpo because it is the same shoulder he had an operation on back in January. The seriousness of the injury is not known yet, but the initial reaction is not good. 

With any luck, Orakpo will not miss any regular-season time. If he does, the Redskins, led by a rookie quarterback, could be in for a rough year in the ultra-competitive NFC East. 

LaMichael James, San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers selected LaMichael James in the 2012 NFL draft to add a new wrinkle to the offense and a spark to the running game the team was previously missing. 

James cannot do that from the bench. 

Saturday against the Houston Texans, James suffered what appears to be a left foot injury, resulting in him being carted off the field. 

The 49ers are certainly deep at running back, but losing James hurts. He's a special talent that could have added a special dimension to the offense. We currently don't know how much time he will miss, but any missed time will be detrimental to his development. 

Update

Seems like James thinks he'll be just fine, as he revealed to the world via Twitter:

"

 

I will be 100% at practice Monday In full force believe that go 9ers thanks for all the support I love you guys!

— LaMichael James (@LaMichaelJames) August 19, 2012

 

 

No official word from the organization yet. 

"

Brandon Jacobs, San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers running backs are dropping like flies, with the most recent victim being Brandon Jacobs. 

Jacobs suffered what ProFootballTalk is calling a "severe left knee injury" against the Houston Texans on Saturday. It is yet another blow to the running back spot after LaMichael James suffered an injury in the same game. 

San Francisco plucked Jacobs off of the free-agent market this offseason to provide a serious short-yardage threat and to round out the extremely versatile position. With Jacobs missing potentially serious time, the position just became much weaker. 

Vincent Brown, San Diego Chargers

Vincent Brown was supposed to make the San Diego Chargers' life after Vincent Jackson much more tolerable. 

Brown won't be able to do that with a broken ankle. 

Against the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday night, Brown caught his foot under another player and had to be carted off the field after breaking his ankle. 

It is currently unknown how much time Brown will miss, but this is the last thing the Chargers needed offensively. Jackson is gone and star running back Ryan Mathews could miss significant time as well.

Things keep getting worse in San Diego. 

Brandon Hardin, Chicago Bears

Brandon Hardin is by no means a household name, but that does not mean his injury is any less significant. 

In the third quarter against the Washington Redskins, the Chicago Bears' third-round pick had to be taken off the field on a stretcher after lowering his head for a tackle and not getting back up. 

The impact on the Bears is a lesser issue here. The bigger focal point should be on Hardin's overall health. Any time a player suffers a neck or back injury that leaves them immobile, everything else should be put aside. 

Here's to hoping for a complete and speedy recovery for Hardin. 

Levi Brown, Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals are having a hard enough time flipping a coin to decide the starting quarterback job between Kevin Kolb and John Skelton. Now the winner (and probably the loser) will be without the team's starting left tackle for the entire season. 

According to ProFootballTalk, Levi Brown was diagnosed with a torn tricep after receiving an MRI Friday, meaning his season has now ended prematurely. 

Of course, this is devastating news for Brown, who is heading into his sixth season. It is also horrible news for the Cardinals because there is not much in the way of quality after Brown on the depth chart. 

With Brown lost for the season, don't be surprised to see the Cardinals suddenly active in free agency and trade talks.

Stefan Logan, Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions have been relying on Stefan Logan while Jahvid Best and Mikel Leshoure continue their slow returns from injury. 

That may not be a luxury the Lions have anymore. 

Logan needed crutches to leave the field after a nasty-looking hit against the Baltimore Ravens. The X-rays came back negative, and head coach Jim Schwartz seems confident about Logan's status as he told the Detroit Free Press:

"

We’ll see, Schwartz said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. It didn’t look great on film according to our doctors, but Logan’s a pretty tough guy. We’ll just see how that comes out.

"

Schwartz does not seem too concerned, but he should be. If Logan misses significant time, the Lions will be down a great return man and a solid option at running back.

LeGarrette Blount, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

LeGarrette Blount gave the Tampa Bay Buccaneers organization and their fans quite a scare Friday night against the Tennessee Titans. 

Blount took a hit and went down quickly in what appeared to be a shot to the knee. Head coach Greg Schiano cleared up the specifications of the injury and told Tampa Bay Online that Blount should be just fine:

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I think he’ll be OK, Schiano said of Blount. I don’t think it’s too bad. It’s not a knee. It’s more up in his groin area. [The trainers] are not really sure exactly. He just got bent in a funny way. He’s obviously going to be sore, but other than that I think he’ll be OK.

"

Blount avoiding a major injury is great news for the Bucs. He may be losing his starting job to rookie Doug Martin, but he will still play a pivotal role on the team as a backup and in short-yardage situations. 

Desmond Bishop, Green Bay Packers

Desmond Bishop has been an integral cog of the Green Bay Packers defense for the past two seasons in manning the middle of the defense. 

After undergoing hamstring surgery to repair a tear, Bishop may not touch the field at all in 2012. 

This is a big blow to a defense that had hoped to improve on last year's mediocre unit after acquiring rookies Jerel Worthy and Nick Perry. D.J. Smith has looked great so far in Bishop's absence, but it is only the preseason. 

Bishop's 2012 return is still up in the air, but whether or not the team decides to keep him on the 53-man roster or not is the storyline to watch here. 

Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers

Aaron Rodgers may be the best quarterback in the world, but his production would certainly take a hit without his true No. 1 target, Greg Jennings. 

Jennings suffered a concussion two weeks ago in preseason play, but appears to be inching closer and closer to a return to the playing field. 

While it is great to see that Jennings is taking the process slowly, concussions are not an injury to unnecessarily rush back from. The safe bet would be to hold him out until the regular season, but it sounds as if he will be ready to take on the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday. 

Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh Steelers

It appears as if Pittsburgh Steelers' star running back Rashard Mendenhall may be closer to returning than most thought.

According to ProFootballTalk, the Steelers took Rashard Mendenhall off the physically unable to perform list on Friday, meaning the organization thinks he will be ready and healthy enough to play football again during the first six weeks of the regular season. 

This is outstanding news because the Steelers were looking very depleted at the running back position, especially after the recent injury to Mendenhall's replacement, Isaac Redman.

Mendenhall may not be back by Week 1, but he most certainly could be. That would be a welcome sight for Steelers Nation.  

Brian Urlacher, Chicago Bears

The injury saga surrounding Chicago Bears middle linebacker Brian Urlacher continues as the 34-year old continues to battle knee injuries in an attempt to return to the field. 

It was revealed by CSNChicago that Urlacher's most recent surgery last Tuesday was not his first this year; it may have been his second or third operation. 

Urlacher is still one of the best defenders in all of football when healthy, but multiple operations to the same area in an attempt to make a comeback is never a good sign. 

It sounds as if Urlacher still wants to make his return by the time Week 1 rolls around, but that may be wishful thinking at this point. 

Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings

Despite a horrific injury about seven months ago, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson is fully rehabbed and ready to play in the NFL again. 

Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier told 1500ESPN that he is in no way shocked about Peterson's jaw-dropping return to form:

"

"Maybe if it was someone else," Frazier said. "But with Adrian, he's unique and he's always been that way in the time that I've known him in his career. He's special in so many ways and we all know the severity of the injury and what's required to come back.

"But in his case, just to see the steps we're taking along the way and how each hurdle that was put before him he always met the challenge throughout this rehab. So this is the next step. (I'm) looking forward to seeing how he responds."

"

According to the report, Peterson is cutting and ready to take on regular contact once again. The team is shooting for his full return in their third preseason game on Aug. 24. 

Peterson's return is staggering, but it shouldn't be surprising. Arguably the best back in the league, it looks as if AP is going to have to carry the abysmal Vikings through yet another long season. 

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