Every week bones break and muscles rip around the NFL. We’ll take a look at the most significant injuries, and what happens next.
Staying on the field has always been a problem for running backs in Carolina. But Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams usually have the courtesy to schedule their injuries at different times.
This year? Not so much.
You might get a call from the Panthers soon
Jonathan Stewart is a bulldozing brute when healthy. But he’s missed 17 games over the past two years, and sat out the Panthers’ Week 4 loss to Baltimore with a knee injury.
No worries though, because DeAngelo Williams has ox-like bones, right? So wrong. Williams went down with an ankle injury Sunday, leaving the Panthers to roll with undrafted free agent Darrin Reaves as the primary ball-carrier.
Williams is being described as “week-to-week” with an ankle sprain, and although he made an appearance on the practice field Friday, Stewart’s status for Week 5 is also uncertain. That means the Panthers could be forced to support Cam Newton (who’s gone through some recent bruising and injury recovery of his own) for another week with a rookie undrafted free agent who has 12 career carries to his name.
Oh, Raiders
Reports of Dennis Allen’s demise may have been a touch premature. But Allen’s dismissal by default still feels inevitable, and it will happen through little fault of his own (Reggie McKenzie proudly assembled a 2009 Pro Bowl team).
When Allen is finally put out of his misery, the Raiders’ interim head coach (likely Tony Sparano) will have to pick up the pieces with either Matt McGloin or Matt Schaub as his quarterback. Yes, it’s come to that.
During a London trouncing that ended in Oakland losing 38-14 to Miami, rookie quarterback Derek Carr suffered both high-ankle and MCL sprains. He’ll be out for at least a few weeks, leaving Raiders Head Coach X to choose between either McGloin or Schaub.
The Raiders are eternally re-building regardless, and will have a top five pick next spring.
The Bills could be missing a big man
Kyle Williams is a crucial cog up front for the Bills, powering their surge and pass rush up the middle. And now he could be gone for at least a few weeks.
An estimated timetable hasn’t surfaced yet, but Williams immediately left the Bills’ loss to Houston with a knee injury after he was rolled over by fellow lineman Marcell Dareus. A former NFL team physician who’s much smarter than me watched the tape and came to this early diagnosis…
Kyle Williams DT @buffalobills by video has moderate R MCL sprain caused by teammate @marcelldareus. Estimate out 2-4wks. @JohnMurphyShow
— David J. Chao, MD (@ProFootballDoc) September 28, 2014
The other Williams on the Bills’ defensive line (Mario) gets a lot of deserved attention. But Kyle Williams plays a significant and versatile role while clogging running lanes, and collapsing the pocket.
In 2013 he finished with a career high 10.5 sacks. His previous single-season high before that? 5.5.
Bridgewater bullet = dodged?
After looking like a quarterback who had absolutely no business dropping out of the top 10 in last May’s draft, Vikings rookie Teddy Bridgewater suffered an ankle injury.
At first the worst was assumed, as it is any time a cart is needed to remove a player from the sideline. But initial tests came back negative, meaning he’s likely dealing with a sprain.
Depending on how he responds to the injury Bridgewater could be forced to sit out a week, and we’ll all have to endure Christian Ponder again. But this could have been a lot worse, and at least now we’ll still get the pleasure of watching a rookie with pinpoint accuracy carve up defenses this year.
Bridgewater led the Vikings to 520 yards of offense through just over three quarters.
And More Pain…
- Both Mike Evans and Dashon Goldson went down during the Bucs’ comeback win over Pittsburgh. Evans has a groin injury, which is far less than ideal for a receiver who relies on explosiveness both at the line and while leaping to grab contested balls. Meanwhile, Goldson had a boot on his left foot following the game, and should be considered week-to-week.
- The 49ers haven’t had much luck with guys named Davis, with both Anthony and Vernon missing time early this season. During their win Sunday over Philadelphia the tackle and tight end went down again. Colin Kaepernick was already under constant pressure and sacked four times before Anthony Davis left with a knee problem, and losing his favorite target in the passing game due to a back issue didn’t help matters. They’ll both likely miss practice time and be considered questionable for Week 5.
