Injuries: Henry Out Two Months, Winston for the…

The NFL retained last season’s relaxed injured reserve rules for 2021, meaning that any player who is placed on injured reserve after the final roster cutdown day is eligible to return to practice after missing three weeks. As a result, we will continue to distinguish between players who will be placed on injured reserve (IR) and players who will likely miss the entire remainder of the season (Season).

Titans Halfback Derrick Henry—Foot (IR)

The shock injury headline of Monday morning concerned Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry, the NFL’s leading rusher over the past two-and-a-half seasons. Henry injured his foot against the Colts, but he was able to return to the game. However, the team announced today that the injury will require surgical repair, which will keep Henry off the field for six to 10 weeks. Most accounts suggest that the injury is a Jones fracture, and a recovery time of eight to 10 weeks is consistent with the usual timetable for the minority (40%) of foot fractures that are not season-ending. Henry will be placed on injured reserve this week.

With Henry’s backup, Darrynton Evans, also on injured reserve, Jeremy McNichols is next in line on the current roster. The team is also expected to sign future Hall-of-Fame veteran Adrian Peterson later today.

Saints Quarterback Jameis Winston—Knee (Season)

Jameis Winston tore his ACL and MCL against the Buccaneers, ending his season. The winner of a highly publicized offseason quarterback competition to succeed Drew Brees, Winston threw 14 touchdowns to just three interceptions this season en route to a 3.1% passing DVOA, roughly that of an average starter. However, he will miss the rest of the season, and he may face an uphill battle to be healthy in time for opening day 2022. Taysom Hill would normally be the next in line, but Hill is also hurt—concussed on a target from Winston in Week 5. That makes Trevor Siemian the most likely starter against the Falcons in Week 9, with Hill taking over starting duties when healthy.

Packers Tight End Robert Tonyan—Knee (Season)

It’s old news by now, but starting Packers tight end Robert Tonyan tore his ACL on Thursday night and will miss the rest of the season. The team has placed him on injured reserve.

Vikings Edge Rusher Danielle Hunter—Pectoral (Season)

Danielle Hunter tore his pectoral against the Cowboys and will miss the rest of the season. Hunter had returned from missing the entire 2020 season to lead the team in sacks, and he was on pace to record his fourth season of double-digit sacks since 2017. Hunter will have surgery, and even this late in the year he should be healthy in time to participate in the team’s offseason program.

Colts Defensive Tackle Tyquan Lewis—Knee (Season)

On perhaps the least fortunate play of the entire season, Tyquan Lewis recorded the first interception of his professional career against Tennessee, then fumbled the ball back to the Titans while sustaining a season-ending injury to his patellar tendon. He has already been placed on injured reserve, with surgery likely to follow. He will miss the rest of the season and faces a real struggle to be healthy in time for the 2022 season. Patellar tendon injuries are notoriously difficult to rehabilitate, widely considered even worse than the dreaded ACL tear. Lewis also recorded 2.5 sacks this season as an occasional starter on the interior defensive line.

Safety Khari Willis injured his calf. Only around 40% of calf injuries to defensive backs cause missed games, and less than 15% cause an absence of more than two games.

Football Team Center Chase Roullier—Leg (IR)

Football Team center Chase Roullier fractured his fibula against the Broncos and will miss significant time, with scans scheduled to check for additional damage. If surgery is required, it is possible that Roullier could miss the rest of the season. Only around 10% of offensive linemen in our database who miss time with lower-leg fractures have been able to return during the same season, and every one of those missed at least six weeks. At the very least, Roullier is out until mid-December, and likely beyond.

Guard Ereck Flowers also suffered a leg injury, but the exact injury has not yet been specified. He appears likely to miss time.

Browns Offensive Tackle Jack Conklin—Elbow (IR)

Jack Conklin suffered a dislocated elbow that will keep him out for “multiple weeks,” according to head coach Kevin Stefanski. It is possible that Conklin could require surgery, but Stefanski did note that he expects to return later this season. Still, the team will probably place him on injured reserve this week, and Blake Hance will ascend to the starting role during his absence.

Safety John Johnson left the game with a stinger, which is unlikely to result in a lengthy absence.

Concussions

The following players left their respective games with concussion symptoms and enter the league protocol:

• Chargers cornerback Asante Samuel
• Colts receiver T.Y. Hilton
• Panthers quarterback Sam Darnold
• Steelers kicker Chris Boswell

Based on our current data, a growing majority of players now miss at least one game following a diagnosed concussion, but around 80% return within two weeks.

Other Injuries

Bears safety Eddie Jackson injured his hamstring against the 49ers. Around two-in-three hamstring injuries to defensive backs cause at least one missed game, but only one-in-five causes an absence of more than three games. Halfback Damien Williams left the game with an ankle injury, but no further news is yet public.

Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski left Sunday’s game after six snaps due to back spasms, but head coach Bruce Arians expects him to be healthy following the bye week.

Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins aggravated his hamstring injury, but the team again hopes to have him available with extended rest. Quarterback Kyler Murray sprained his ankle against the Packers, but the team hopes that the extended rest following Thursday night football will enable him to avoid any missed games.

Chargers cornerback Michael Davis injured his hamstring against the Patriots. As with Eddie Jackson, Davis is likely to miss between one and three weeks with the injury. Halfback Justin Jackson injured his quad, but most quad injuries to halfbacks do not cause missed time and less than 25% cause a multiple-game absence.

Cowboys left tackle Tyron Smith will have scans today on the ankle injury that forced him out of the game against Minnesota, but most reports suggest that the injury is a low-ankle sprain with a recovery time of one to three weeks. Scan results and practice participation reports will tell us more about his status for Week 9. Cornerback Trevon Diggs also hurt his ankle, but reports today suggest that Diggs will be fine. Fourth-round rookie Jabril Cox, a core special teams player and backup linebacker, tore his ACL and will miss the rest of the season.

Eagles receiver Jalen Reagor hurt his ankle, but the team hopes to have him available for week 9. The same is true of right guard Jack Driscoll, who injured his hand and left the game against Detroit.

Jaguars halfback James Robinson hurt his foot against the Seahawks and left the game, but scans revealed no serious injury and Robinson is considered day-to-day.

Jets tackle George Fant and receiver Denzel Mims were hurt against the Bengals, but head coach Robert Saleh stated today that all of their injured active players apart from quarterback Zach Wilson have a chance to play on Thursday night against the Colts.

Rams receiver and returner Tutu Atwell hurt his shoulder against the Texans, but no further details are yet public.