Michael Gallup Tears ACL | Football Outsiders

NFL Week 17 – As teams are eliminated, they become more likely to place their players on injured reserve with relatively minor injuries. Therefore, any injuries to eliminated teams will be listed under other injuries unless they are injuries to major players that are likely to affect the 2022 season.

Players marked (IR) will be eligible to return after missing three games. Players marked (Season) will probably miss the rest of the season.

Cowboys Receiver Michael Gallup—Knee (Season)

Michael Gallup tore his ACL against the Cardinals and will miss the rest of the season. A 1,000-yard receiver in 2019, Gallup was restricted to just eight appearances in 2021, catching 35 of 62 targets for 445 yards for the lowest yards-per-target figure of his career. Gallup had significant negative receiving DVOA in three of his four seasons in Dallas, with that 2019 campaign the lone exception. Even before this injury, it appeared that the Cowboys intended to let him leave this offseason.

Gallup had only one regular-season game remaining on his contract, so this injury could hardly have come at a worse time for him. A typical timetable for ACL recovery and rehabilitation is approximately nine months, so Gallup is almost certain to miss most, if not all, of any prospective suitor’s offseason program. Though he has a chance to be healthy for the start of the regular season, he is more likely to begin the season on the Reserve (PUP) list. He would then be unable to return until the end of the mandatory absence period in mid-October, so absent a strong offer he may be better served waiting to sign with a team until after he completes his rehabilitation.

Chiefs Tackle Lucas Niang—Knee (Season)

Lucas Niang drew an unexpected start at left tackle after Orlando Brown injured his calf during warmups, but Niang tore his patellar tendon in the first quarter and will miss the rest of the season. Patellar tendon rehabilitation is notoriously grueling, and Niang is very likely to miss not only the team’s entire offseason program, but also a significant portion of the 2022 regular season. He is almost certain to begin the season on the Reserve (PUP) list, but he may be able to return later in the year.

Fortunately for the team’s immediate prospects, Brown’s calf injury is considered minor. He should be fine for the playoffs.

Titans Tight End MyCole Pruitt—Ankle (Season)

MyCole Pruitt suffered a gruesome fracture/dislocation of his ankle against the Dolphins, a major injury that will require surgery and end his season. Geoff Swaim is the main starter at tight end for the Titans, but Pruitt has also started nine games as the primary blocking tight end in Tennessee’s run-focused offense. His loss is more significant for the Titans than the equivalent player would be on most other teams, more akin to losing a starting offensive lineman than a modern tight end. Fortunately, Pruitt should recover in time to participate in the team’s offseason program; however, he will certainly miss the entire postseason.

Concussions

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

• Jets halfback Michael Carter

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

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow tweaked an existing knee injury late against the Chiefs, but there is no suggestion that the injury is anything significant. Guard Quinton Spain injured his ankle, which may be more significant. The injury mechanism suggests a high-ankle sprain, which usually means an absence of around two weeks for offensive linemen. That gives Spain a chance to return for the team’s first playoff game, but he will probably miss Week 18. Indeed, the newly crowned AFC North champions may be best served to rest their starters as they are very unlikely to earn a playoff bye.

Buccaneers halfback Ronald Jones injured his ankle against the Jets, and the team is awaiting MRI scan results to assess the injury’s severity. Fellow halfback Ke’Shawn Vaughn has bruised ribs, which may cause a brief absence depending on pain tolerance.

Chargers center Corey Linsley left the victory over Denver with a back injury. Reports after the game suggest the injury was just muscle tightness and the team is optimistic about his status for Week 18.

Football Team tight end Ricky Seals-Jones left the game on a backboard after a frightening collision with a camera operator near the end zone, but head coach Ron Rivera confirmed after the game that Seals-Jones is fine. Offensive lineman Charles Leno injured his knee.

Jets tackle George Fant left Sunday’s game with a knee injury. Tight end Dan Brown injured his hip. Defensive end Bryce Huff injured his ankle.

Patriots halfback Damien Harris left the game with a hamstring injury, but reports suggest that his absence was mainly precautionary. Harris could have returned if required, but Rhamondre Stevenson took over due to the team’s massive lead over the Jaguars.

Saints defensive back P.J. Williams left Sunday’s game with an ankle injury.

Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner sprained his MCL and PCL against the Lions and will not play in Week 18, but he should be fully healthy well in time for the start of the offseason program. Defensive end Carlos Dunlap left Sunday’s game with an ankle injury.