NFL Week 4 Injury Report: Who Will Play, Who Will Sit?

Coming into Week 4 of the 2012 NFL regular season, there are a number of injured stars that weren't able to fully practice with the rest of the team this week. Along those lines, we want to examine what their status will be for this weekend's games and try to determine if they will start, be declared inactive or if they will have some sort of revised role.

Not only will this information be something that fans of specific teams want to know, but it also has obvious fantasy football implications.

Some of these players will wind up being game-time decisions, so if you are checking this out for fantasy football purposes, we always advise you to check back prior to kickoff to learn if the player has suffered any kind of further setback or been upgraded prior to opening kickoff.

(Injury reports from NFL.com as of 9/29)

Detroit Lions RB Mikel Leshoure

Detroit Lions RB Mikel Leshoure finally made his NFL debut in Week 3, as Detroit eased him into action with 30 touches. More like it threw him to the wolves.

Leshoure came up sore as a result with a groin injury that kept him limited in practice, making it seem that the Lions will have no choice but to cut back on some of the touches this week when the Lions face NFC Central division foe Minnesota Vikings.

He is going to play, but it would be a surprise if he has that many touches again in Week 4.

Oakland Raiders WR Darrius Heyward-Bey

Oakland Raiders WR Darrius Heyward-Bey suffered a concussion in Week 3. As a result, he hasn't been able to practice this week.

Expect Heyward-Bey to miss the Raiders' Week 4 contest, and we'll have to wait and see how much longer he is out due to the serious injury he suffered.

Buffalo Bills RB C.J. Spiller

Buffalo Bills RB C.J. Spiller may try to play this coming Sunday in the Bills' big game with the New England Patriots, which could easily have an impact on the AFC East division.

Spiller was leading the NFL in rushing after the first two weeks, only to go down in the first quarter in Week 3 against the Cleveland Browns with a sprained shoulder. Spiller has been able to rejoin the Bills team for practices this week, and it is sounding more and more like he could dress for the game.

Just how effective will he be, however? As of now, the Bills have kept the news on Spiller as low-key as possible. Nobody knows what his state of health will be this Sunday. Based on how much pain he was in against Cleveland, it would be a major surprise to see him take on a key role against New England.

Perhaps the Bills intend to use Spiller as more of a decoy to spread out the defense and give Fred Jackson or Tashard Choice some better lanes to run through. The Bills have lined Spiller up on the outside as a receiver before, and with the loss of WR David Nelson to injured reserve, he could be useful in that capacity again.

Either way, I wouldn't expect too much production out of Spiller this weekend, and I don't envision a very big fantasy output this week.

Houston Texans WR Andre Johnson

Houston Texans WR Andre Johnson was limited in practices this week due to his groin injury.

Johnson is still the favorite target of Matt Schaub and will continue to be a player that you want to start in your weekly lineup.

Check back to make sure that there haven't been any setbacks, but I expect Johnson to be playing this Sunday and putting up some good production numbers for your team.

New York Giants WR Hakeem Nicks

New York Giants WR Hakeem Nicks is an example of a player that can get a setback during the practice week. That appears to be exactly the case for Nicks, who is not looking quite doubtful for the Giants' Week 4 contest on Sunday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles.

According to this tweet from Art Stapleton of The Record, it looks grim for Nicks this week.

"

Hakeem Nicks is doubtful for Sunday. Has swelling in knee in addition to his previous foot issue #NYG

— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) September 28, 2012"

The Giants will probably turn to Victor Cruz and Ramses Barden to pick up the slack, so you can only hope that Nicks will be back for the Week 5 game against the Cleveland Browns.

As for Week 4, you need to put Nicks on your bench.

Atlanta Falcons WR Julio Jones

Atlanta Falcons WR Julio Jones has been dealing with a nasty laceration on his hand but was able to put in some practice time this week.

Jones will play this week against Carolina, so if you normally start Jones, go ahead and do so again this week. We don't know how well the healing process has gone, but I would expect Jones to play through any issues for a complete game.

Denver Broncos RB Willis McGahee

Denver Broncos RB Willis McGahee is dealing with a rib injury, which isn't necessarily the easiest thing for a running back to do, considering the type of shots that backs can take on every rush.

McGahee expects to wear extra pads this week to protect the rib, and he was able to practice this week with the injury, so if you were going to normally start McGahee on your fantasy team, go ahead and plug him in this week against the Oakland Raiders.

It would be a surprise if McGahee isn't still the guy that gets the majority of rush attempts out of the Broncos backfield this weekend.

New York Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw

New York Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw has been able to practice this week with his neck injury, but while he has been less than 100 percent physically lately, backup Andre Brown is now looking like a player that is deserving of a bigger role in the Giants offense.

Bradshaw looks to be able to play this weekend against the Philadelphia Eagles, but the only thing we can't predict for sure is how much of the workload he will be asked to assume.

According to Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News, Giants offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said he will ride the hot hand this week:

"

(Brown has) really changed the dynamic of our run game. He’s run the ball very very well both games. So yeah, he definitely earned the right to get into the mix. He’ll play some. It’s just a matter of us trying to get a feel what plays certain guys run a little more effectively than others. And you’re always hoping somebody gets hot and you feed the hot hand.

"

After weighing all of the above factors, I would consider starting another option at running back this week instead of Bradshaw. He could be your flex player based on who your other options are.

Tennessee Titans WR Kenny Britt

Tennessee Titans WR Kenny Britt is hurt again, this time with an ankle injury. He missed practices this week, so this is looking like it will be closer to a game-time decision.

Britt hasn't exactly been somebody you can rely on lately from a fantasy perspective, so if you have other options, I would consider leaving him on your bench.

As for this Sunday, it's anybody's guess. Check in prior to kickoff to see if the team decided to make Britt inactive. If he dresses for the game, I would only use him if you had no other options to play.

San Diego Chargers K Nate Kaeding

San Diego Chargers K Nate Kaeding developed a groin injury this week, and it was bad enough for the team to rule him out for Week 4.

As a result, the Chargers signed Nick Novak to handle the kicking duties this weekend. If Kaeding was the kicker on your fantasy team, you need to find another option for this week.

Oakland Raiders RB Darren McFadden

Oakland Raiders RB Darren McFadden has been limited in practice this week due to a shoulder injury.

The Raiders feel like McFadden will play this weekend, but they want to protect his injured shoulder by limiting the contact he has during the week.

I look for McFadden to carry the majority of the workload for the Raiders' ground game this Sunday and be a key guy for your fantasy team in Week 4.

Miami Dolphins RB Reggie Bush

Miami Dolphins RB Reggie Bush has been dealing with knee issues, which kept him from fully practicing this week.

Bush has been coming up with some strong production this year, so you want to continue riding him while you can. All indications point to Bush serving as the main back this weekend again for Miami, so if you were planning to start Bush, go ahead and play him this week.

Keep in mind, however, that the Dolphins are traveling to Arizona this week, and the Cardinals defense has been playing inspired football this year. Without knowing who your other options are, you might want to think through the decision to play him, but only because of the matchup.

New England Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez

New England Patriots TE Aaron Hernandez was seen walking around mid-week without his walking boot on, and that got people excited that he might be able to play this week.

That is not going to happen, as Hernandez has been ruled out for this Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. No word yet if he will be a go for Week 5, but you definitely want to find a replacement for him on your fantasy football team for this week.

St. Louis Rams RB Steven Jackson

St. Louis Rams RB Steven Jackson has been trying to cope with a groin injury that has prevented him from doing much practicing this week. The way that things are shaping up, this is looking like it will be a game-time decision on Sunday.

If you have the luxury of another option on your fantasy team, you might want to have him at the ready in case the Rams decide that they are going to designate Jackson as inactive for Week 4.

As reported by Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

"

RB Steven Jackson (groin) very limited Friday. Coach Jeff Fisher says it will come down once again to how Jackson looks and feels in pregame

— Jim Thomas (@jthom1) September 28, 2012"

Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford

Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford had a hip injury in Week 3 that forced the Lions to bring in Shaun Hill to take over.

Stafford was able to practice this week, so there is no reason to keep him sidelined or benched in the Lions' NFC North division contest with the Minnesota Vikings this weekend.

Look for Stafford to be throwing it all over this week and giving some work to Mikel Leshoure on the side.

Chicago Bears RB Matt Forte

Chicago Bears RB Matt Forte is trying to get ready to play on Monday Night Football, but he is dealing with an ankle injury that has prevented from fully practicing with the team this week.

Because it is a Monday night game, the Bears do have the luxury of trying to nurse Forte along this weekend, but that may not be a luxury that you have for your fantasy team.

Look at your bench and figure out if you like any of the matchups for your reserves, because if the Bears come back with an announcement that Forte is inactive, then you have no other option.

My best guess is that since this is a nationally televised game, Forte will find a way to play. However, keep in mind that the Bears still have Michael Bush as the go-to back in the red zone, and Forte's overall touchdown production will be limited due to Bush's presence.

Buffalo Bills RB Fred Jackson

Fred Jackson injured his knee in the Week 1 contest at the New York Jets. His sprained knee ligament was projected to be an injury that could take anywhere from three to eight weeks to heal, but based on the results of practices this week, Jackson is looking to take the field three weeks later.

When asked how his knee felt after the first practice this week, Jackson sounded optimistic that he could play, but it didn't sound like he would be at 100 percent health for the contest either.  

Since fellow RB C.J. Spiller is also injured and expected to miss this week's key showdown in the AFC East division with the New England Patriots, that places more pressure on Jackson to try to step up and take on a role that he might not be physically ready for. Tashard Choice stepped in last week at Cleveland in relief of Spiller and gained over 90 yards in a support role.

Expect Jackson to start this Sunday, but I project that he will be in a time-share deal with Choice, and as a result, his production will be limited due to the fewer touches.

Thanks for checking out the presentation.