NFL Week 13 Injury Notebook

Whether your Thanksgiving saw you warm up your rotator cuff in order to play quarterback for the family football game or doze off to sleep after a large meal—though please keep in mind tryptophan-induced slumber is nothing more than a myth—Week 13 got underway on Thursday with three relatively injury-free games across the NFL.

In fact, many teams also escaped Week 12 largely unscathed.

Let's hope that trend continues.

Who's still hurting? Who will return this Sunday? Let's take a look in this week's injury notebook.

Please note that the original form of this slideshow is current through Friday evening and will receive periodic updates throughout the weekend.

Drew Stanton, QB, Arizona Cardinals (Green-Yellow)

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Player: Drew Stanton, QB, Arizona Cardinals

Injury: Ankle sprain

Latest News: According to ESPN.com's Josh Weinfuss, shortly after Stanton's injury occurred last week, the quarterback reassured Cardinals fans against anything serious:

"

With about 7 minutes left in Sunday's 19-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Stanton went to the sideline and got his left ankle taped.

"We're good," he said.

"I was just scrambling, got rolled up a little bit, just kinda got caught in the pile," he added. "It wasn't anything major

"

The team's injury report notes he practiced in full all week.

Alert Level: Green-yellow

Relevant Medicine and Anatomy: When a player plants or pushes off one of his feet, he stresses the ligaments that span his ankle and connect his leg to his heel. Ankle sprains injure those ligaments and prevent them from stabilizing the joint as effectively. The tape that Weinfuss mentions reinforces the joint in an attempt to make up for the loss.

Possible On-Field Limitations and Considerations: Stanton doesn't run a whole lot, but he does average more than three attempts per game, according to NFL.com's statistics. Don't expect much more than that this week.

Additionally, Stanton's injury involves his lead leg. His push-off and arm strength shouldn't be affected, but his accuracy could theoretically suffer if his ankle becomes painful throughout the game and affects his follow-through motion.

All of that said, Stanton's injury sounds quite minor. Pain control and supportive taping should prove more than enough.

Fantasy Advice: There may be better quarterback options than Stanton available in your league. However, if you need to start him, his injury probably shouldn't dissuade you.

Follow-Up: Barring a setback, Stanton's sprain should heal well soon.

Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans (Yellow)

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Player: Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans

Injury: Groin strain

Latest News: According to ESPN.com's Tania Ganguli, Texans head coach Bill O'Brien expects Foster to play this week.

Alert Level: Yellow

Relevant Medicine and Anatomy: The groin muscles connect the femur—the thigh bone—to the pelvis. Groin strains usually involve tearing of one of the hip adductors, the muscles responsible for pulling the leg back toward the body's midline.

Possible On-Field Limitations and Considerations: As mentioned several times before in previous injury notebooks, groin strains can make life extremely difficult for an NFL running back.

Why?

Planting a foot out to the side in an attempt to cut back in the opposite direction is one of the position's most important movements, and that movement heavily stresses the hip adductors.

Fantasy Advice: This Sunday marks the four-week anniversary of Foster's original injury, even though optimism that he wouldn't miss time surfaced shortly after it occurred. His prolonged recovery suggests either his strain was a bit more serious than reports first implied or that he suffered a setback sometime along the way.

Unfortunately, that setback risk still exists even today.

Foster's elite fantasy potential justifies starting him this week, as does the fact that he faces a weak Tennessee Titans defense. However, the chance that he exits the game early is still quite real.

Follow-Up: If Foster can successfully avoid a setback, he will become a safer and safer start each week.

Latavius Murray, RB, Oakland Raiders (Red)

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Player: Latavius Murray, RB, Oakland Raiders

Injury: Concussion

Latest News: According to the team's injury report, Murray practiced on a limited basis on both Wednesday and Thursday, which suggests he was progressing toward a full recovery. However, CSN Bay Area's Scott Bair reported Friday that the team ruled him out for this week.

Alert Level: Red

Relevant Medicine and Anatomy: Concussion return-to-play protocols involve phases of exercise of steadily increasing intensity. Each step stresses the healing brain more than the last. Murray's progress throughout the week implies he was approaching the end of the protocol, but the team's ruling him out after Thursday's practice suggests he re-experienced symptoms.

Possible On-Field Limitations and Considerations: Once Murray fully recovers—he should—he'll play at full speed. He just isn't there yet. Recoveries that take longer than a week or two are not uncommon. Rarely, concussion symptoms linger indefinitely, but nothing suggests Murray will follow such a path.

Fantasy Advice: Obviously, owners need to bench him this week. However, if and when he receives medical clearance, you can start him comfortably.

Follow-Up: Watch Murray's practice status leading up to Week 14. If he can complete a full practice without symptoms returning, he'll likely receive medical clearance shortly thereafter.

Odell Beckham Jr., WR, New York Giants (Green)

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Player: Odell Beckham Jr., WR, New York Giants

Injury: Back injury

Latest News: Beckham does not appear on the Giants' injury report. Earlier this week, ESPN's Dan Graziano tweeted the receiver was merely "sore."

Alert Level: Green

Relevant Medicine and Anatomy: Those watching Beckham's injury saw him take a knee to the back. Presumably, he dealt with a minor contusion—a bruise—in the days that followed.

Possible On-Field Limitations and Considerations: Beckham might receive some anti-inflammatory treatment prior to the game, but he didn't miss any time this week. It looks like he is in the clear.

Fantasy Advice: Start him as you normally would.

Follow-Up: Barring another direct hit to his back, he should experience few, if any, limitations from this injury.

Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals (Orange)

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Player: Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals

Injury: Grade-2 MCL sprain

Latest News: The team's injury report lists Fitzgerald as "questionable." He practiced on a limited basis on Friday but missed all of Wednesday's and Thursday's workouts. The team's Twitter account called him a "game-day decision."

Alert Level: Orange

Relevant Medicine and Anatomy: A Grade-2 MCL sprain means an MRI showed tearing within the ligament. Tears lead to looseness within the knee, and an injured ligament is less able to support the joint.

Possible On-Field Limitations and Considerations: It's only been two weeks since Fitzgerald went down, so his knee is still in the middle of the healing process. His availability and production may come down to his ability to play sharply while wearing a knee brace.

Fantasy Advice: Fitzgerald takes on a porous Atlanta Falcons secondary this week, but his upside stops there. For instance, his knee is almost certainly not yet 100 percent, and his stats with Drew Stanton under center have been quite inconsistent. Regardless of his availability, fantasy owners should look elsewhere and let the wideout prove his health—and the fact that he won't play decoy—first.

Follow-Up: MCL sprains do not require surgery. He will heal with enough time and rest.

Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons (Yellow-Orange)

Brynn Anderson/Associated Press

Player: Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons

Injury: Ankle injury

Latest News: ESPN.com's Vaughn McClure reports White is "questionable for Sunday's game against Arizona." The wideout did not practice all week, but McClure adds head coach Mike Smith "is confident about White playing Sunday despite the injury and missed practice time."

Alert Level: Yellow-orange

Relevant Medicine and Anatomy: Details are lacking, though the smart money says White is dealing with a minor sprain. If so, athletic trainers can add supportive taping to bolster his agility.

Possible On-Field Limitations and Considerations: White's ankle injury is new this week. However, if it is nothing more than a mild low-ankle sprain, he can play through it with only minimal trouble. The opposite is true for a more serious sprain.

Fantasy Advice: Without more specifics, it's difficult to know what's going on from the far outside looking in. That said, last year, White warned fantasy owners against starting him when he misses practice time. Follow his status closely this weekend.

Follow-Up: Most mild low-ankle sprains heal well with time and rest.

Jordan Cameron, TE, Cleveland Browns (Green to Red)

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Player: Jordan Cameron, TE, Cleveland Browns

Injury: Concussion

Latest News: Cameron suffered his injury all the way back in October. The team lists him as "questionable" for Week 13 after he practiced on a limited basis this week.

Alert Level: Green if active, otherwise red

Relevant Medicine and Anatomy: Concussion recoveries tend to take longer with each successive injury. In other words, a concussion-naive athlete will probably heal more quickly than one with a documented history. Cameron falls into the latter category.

Possible On-Field Limitations and Considerations: Like with Latavius Murray, once Cameron returns, he will likely play at full speed. Rarely, symptoms can return after a player receives medical clearance.

Fantasy Advice: If the Browns confirm Cameron will play this week, fantasy owners can start him comfortably.

Follow-Up: Unfortunately, Cameron's lengthening concussion history is becoming a bit concerning. Hopefully, he can avoid another head injury this year.

Julius Thomas, TE, Denver Broncos (Orange)

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Player: Julius Thomas, TE, Denver Broncos

Injury: Ankle sprain

Latest News: According to the team's injury report, Thomas practiced on a limited basis on Thursday and Friday. The team gave him a "questionable" tag. ESPN's Jeff Legwold tweeted head coach John Fox thought the tight end looked "much better" this week than last week.

Alert Level: Orange

Relevant Medicine and Anatomy: Ankle sprains stretch and tear one or more ligaments, and most of the time, those ligaments will scar down with nothing more than time. The amount of time, however, depends on the severity of the initial injury.

Possible On-Field Limitations and Considerations: If Thomas plays, he likely won't be able to plant and push off his injured foot quite as well.

Fantasy Advice: Should the Broncos put Thomas out there this week—it looks unlikely—his fantasy value will probably rely mostly on receptions in the end zone. However, with Peyton Manning under center, Thomas can very well remain a touchdown threat despite the injury.

Follow-Up: Setback-free time is all Thomas needs.

Jadeveon Clowney, LB, Houston Texans (Red)

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Player: Jadeveon Clowney, LB, Houston Texans

Injury: Lateral meniscus tear and meniscectomy

Latest News: Texans head coach Bill O'Brien—via NFL.com's Dan Hanzus—said, "Clowney is not expected to play against the Tennessee Titans because of ongoing issues with his surgically repaired knee." Hanzus added that "the team officially ruled out Clowney" not long after.

Alert Level: Red

Relevant Medicine and Anatomy: Each knee houses two menisci that serve as shock-absorbing cushions within the joint. The medial meniscus lies on the inner portion of the joint—closer to the body's midline—whereas the lateral meniscus buffers its outer surfaces.

Medial meniscus tears occur more frequently, and players suffering such an injury recover more predictably. Lateral meniscus tear recoveries do not always proceed so smoothly.

Possible On-Field Limitations and Considerations: Lateral meniscus tears result in postoperative pain, swelling and other issues more frequently than medial injuries. Clowney's ongoing struggles are not as much a function of his healing ability or rehab potential but rather the nature of the injury itself. In short, lateral meniscus tears are a different animal.

Fantasy Advice: The Texans remain a strong fantasy option this week despite Clowney's absence. They face a struggling Tennessee Titans defense.

Follow-Up: As mentioned, studies show that lateral meniscus tears lead to rehab complications, including further knee surgery, more often than their medial counterparts. However, many players return to full strength after those complications arise.

Fantasy Football Quick Hits

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 Quarterbacks

• New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady remains on his team's injury report due to an ankle injury. This seems to be a longstanding, minor issue that does not figure to limit him in any way this week.

Running backs

• The Denver Broncos ruled out running back Montee Ball this week. He continues to deal with a setback of his groin injury.
• San Diego Chargers running back Ryan Mathews practiced in full all week through a shoulder injury. The team's injury report lists him as "probable."

Wide receivers

• The Minnesota Vikings' injury report lists wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson as "probable" as he deals with a knee problem. Unfortunately, he has not been a viable fantasy option for some time.
• Miami Dolphins wide receiver Mike Wallace is dealing with a chest injury, according to the team's injury report. He practiced on a limited basis on Thursday and Friday. If he plays this week, his production will come down to pain control and avoiding big hits to the chest or back.

Tight ends

• The Washington Redskins list tight end Jordan Reed as "questionable" with a hamstring injury. However, his practice status trended up during the week, as he practiced in full on Friday.

Dr. Dave Siebert is a second-year resident physician at the University of Washington and a member of the Professional Football Writers of America. He plans to pursue fellowship training in Primary Care (nonoperative) Sports Medicine.

Stats were obtained from NFL.com official statistics.

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