Every week bones break and muscles rip around the NFL. We’ll take a look at the most significant injuries, and what happens next.
It seems we’ve developed a bit of a theme with our weekly hurt rundown. A few weeks back it was a bad time to be a running back for the Buffalo Bills when C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson went down on the same Sunday.
Now it’s a bad time time to be pretty much anyone important on the Philadelphia Eagles.
See you in six weeks(?), Nick Foles
The Eagles beat the Houston Texans yesterday, taking over control of the NFC East when the Cowboys lost. That was the extent of the day’s pleasant news, as quarterback Nick Foles is now gone for up to six weeks with a fractured collarbone after he was crunched by linebacker Whitney Mercilus.
Eagles QB Nick Foles does not need surgery on his fractured collarbone, source says. Best possible news. Hope is he’s back in 6 weeks.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) November 3, 2014
As Mike Garafolo reports, the hope is to have him back by Week 16. But for now Mark Sanchez ascends to a starting role.
Before you scream in horror know this: Sanchez will be just fine, or at least as fine as a backup quarterback can possibly be in an extended role, and plenty good enough to keep the Eagles in playoff contention.
Foles crumbled on the very last play of the first quarter Sunday, giving Sanchez three full quarters to first shake of any layers of rust, and then get comfortable in the Eagles offense at regular-season game speed. He did both of those things quickly, hitting Jeremy Maclin for a 52-yard gain on his first throw.
The primary criticism of Sanchez in New York was his decision-making ability. He threw 18 interceptions in each of his final two seasons as the Jets starting quarterback.
The quick-hitting nature of Chip Kelly’s offense should minimize those mistakes. It’s fast pace leans heavily on making rapid reads, though still the right reads. Foles was struggling with the second part in his second season under Kelly while throwing 10 interceptions. But remember, he threw only two interceptions on 317 attempts in 2013.
A respectable supporting cast with weapons to churn out yards after the catch was also a problem for Sanchez in New York, and that’s certainly gone now too. Arm strength wasn’t an issue, and if he can keep hitting receivers in stride as he did yesterday on four passes that went for 20-plus yards it’s not outlandish to think Kelly hesitates when Foles is healthy.
See you next year, DeMeco Ryans
We meet again, non-contact injury.
Eagles linebacker DeMeco Ryans intercepted a Ryan Fitzpatrick pass during the fourth quarter of that game and then fell suddenly. Assumptions of a horrible injury after he had to be carted off were later confirmed: he tore his Achilles and will be lost for the season.
Rising up the depth chart at middle linebacker will be a combination of Casey Matthews and Emmanuel Acho, both steep downgrades. Ryan’s 45 tackles leads the Eagles defense and he’s reliable in coverage, recording four passes defensed this season while giving up an opposing passer rating of only 62.2, according to Pro Football Focus.
Arian Foster’s good luck runs dry
Well, it sort of did.
Entering every season it’s expected that Arian Foster will break or rip at some point. He’s currently logged 1,507 career touches, a high volume over only 67 career games. That wear on the body has resulted in numerous soft-tissue injuries (hamstring and calf) that lingered and finally sideline Foster for eight games last year.
So when Foster left Sunday’s game with another muscle problem (groin) there was immediate concern followed by pessimism.
Sensing some pessimism about Foster’s groin injury. MRI will give a clearer picture. #Texans
— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) November 2, 2014
We still don’t really know a whole lot about Foster’s status aside from him being day-to-day (thanks Bill O’Brien!). Missed time of any significance would be devastating for the playoff aspirations of the still very much alive Texans (they’re 4-5 and only one game back of the division-leading Colts in the win column, so hey maybe?).
Foster has been their offensive engine, averaging 102.8 yards per game on the ground while also adding 26 catches for 229 yards. The Texans have scored 23 offensive touchdowns this year, and Foster is responsible for 10.
But while reactionary pessimism is floating around there’s still reason for gleeful optimism. The Texans are now entering their Week 10 bye, meaning Foster has 13 days to rest and receive treatment before his next meaningful snap.
