National Football League

Doc Talk: NFL Week 6 injury analysis

Published Oct. 14, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

Each week, Dr. Mark Adickes shares his analysis of the key injuries in each the NFL weekend's upcoming games.

Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons

Falcons WR Julio Jones (hamstring)

Jock to Doc Take: The Falcons’ starting receiver left last week’s game against the Packers early due to a hamstring injury. He hasn’t practiced all week and will not play against Carolina on Sunday. This presents problems for the Falcons’ offense, because Tony Gonzalez, another weapon of the Atlanta passing game, is struggling with an elbow injury.

Health Rating: Julio Jones @ 0%

Indianapolis Colts at Cincinnati Bengals

Colts RB Joseph Addai (hamstring)

Jock to Doc Take: The starting RB underwent an MRI on an injury to his hamstring sustained in last week’s loss to the Chiefs, the Indianapolis Star reports. He hasn’t practiced all week and is listed as questionable, but he says he’s a longshot to play this week. If he was on my fantasy team, I’d bench him.

Health Rating: Joseph Addai @ 10%

San Francisco 49ers at Detroit Lions

49ers WR Josh Morgan (ankle)

Jock to Doc Take: Morgan sustained an ankle injury and was carted off the field late last Sunday. It was determined that he suffered a fractured right ankle and must undergo lower leg surgery to repair it, so he is out for the season.

Health Rating: Josh Morgan @ 0%

St. Louis Rams at Green Bay Packers

Packers WR Greg Jennings (groin)

Jock to Doc Take: Aaron Rodgers’ main man was limited in Wednesday’s and Thursday’s practices, the official website of the Packers reports. He is listed as questionable but it is nothing to panic about. I expect to see him do his regular thing on Sunday against the Rams.

Health Rating: Greg Jennings @ 75%

Buffalo Bills at New York Giants

Giants RB Brandon Jacobs (knee)

Jock to Doc Take: Jacobs sat out of practice for the second straight day on Thursday, the NY Daily News reports. As he struggles with a knee injury, he is listed as questionable, but I don’t expect to see him too much this Sunday.

Health Rating: Brandon Jacobs @ 40%

Jacksonville Jaguars at Pittsburgh Steelers

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger (foot)

Jock to Doc Take: Roethlisberger did not let his foot injury last week stop him from tying a team record with five touchdown passes in Sunday’s win over Tennessee. He is listed as probable this week so don’t expect an ailing foot to hinder the Steelers quarterback that much.

Health Rating: Ben Roethlisberger @ 80%

Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins

Eagles QB Michael Vick (finger)

Jock to Doc Take: Vick was a full participant in Wednesday’s and Thursday’s practices and will play on Sunday in Washington, the official site of the Eagles reports. Although his finger still hurts him, and at first glance I would say it would not affect his game play, he did throw four picks last week.

Health Rating: Michael Vick @ 75%

Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens

Texans WR Andre Johnson (hamstring)

Jock to Doc Take:  Superstar WR Andre Johnson had a procedure done on his hamstring last Wednesday to prevent scar tissue and speed recovery after sustaining a hamstring injury against Pittsburgh two weeks ago, according to the Houston Texans’ official website. Johnson did not practice this week and is listed as doubtful, and I don’t expect to see him on the field at all.

Texans QB Matt Schaub (shoulder/thigh)

Jock to Doc Take: Starting QB Matt Schaub missed Wednesday’s practice but returned in a limited capacity on Thursday. He is trying to recover from soreness sustained against the tough Oakland defense last week, and I expect to see him play. Also keep in mind that Schaub and RB Arian Foster must pick up the slack this week with Johnson out, for even the Texans’ defense is suffering with its star Mario Williams out for the season.

Health Rating: Andre Johnson @ 25%

Health Rating: Matt Schaub @ 65%

Cleveland Browns at Oakland Raiders

Raiders QB Jason Campbell (foot)

Jock to Doc Take: Campbell is listed as probable with a foot injury, the Akron Beacon Journal reports. He played well last week in Oakland’s win over Houston despite this injury, so I don’t expect it to affect him too much this week against the Browns.

Health Rating: Jason Campbell @ 80%

Dallas Cowboys at New England Patriots

Cowboys WR Miles Austin (hamstring)

Jock to Doc Take: Austin returned to practice this week for the first time in three weeks. He practiced in full on Wednesday and Thursday and is listed as probable in Sunday’s game against the Patriots. Expect to see him add to the passing game this week.

Health Rating: Miles Austin @ 80%

New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Saints TE David Thomas (concussion)

Jock to Doc Take: David Thomas sat out of practice Wednesday and Thursday due to a concussion sustained last week. He remains questionable for Sunday and I do not expect to see him on the field this weekend.

Health Rating: David Thomas @ 55%

Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears

Vikings WR Percy Harvin (ribs)

Jock to Doc Take: Harvin missed Wednesday’s and Thursday’s practice to recover from sore ribs. He had an MRI done and there was no structural damage, and head coach Leslie Frazier says he’s confident that Harvin will play this week, ESPN 1500 a.m. Twin Cities reports.

Health Rating: Percy Harvin @ 70%

Miami Dolphins at New York Jets

Jets RB LaDainian Tomlinson (calf)

Jock to Doc Take: The veteran star was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday, New York Daily News reports. If he is your fantasy running back, play him. It doesn’t seem like he will be affected too much by his calf.

Health Rating: LaDainian Tomlinson @ 75%

Health Ratings: So what do the numbers mean?

100-85% = NFL players are tough and despite injuries still perform at a high level. Let’s be honest, when is an NFL athlete really physically 100 percent ... practically never. With a rating in this range expect players to perform at peak levels.

70-85% = In this range a player's performance will be affected but they can still get the job done.

55-70% = Players with a rating this low will require assistance to do their jobs. The team might be better served by placing these warriors on the inactive list. Only some All-Pro’s can get the job done when rated this poorly.

40-55% = These players need some more time to heal. Unlikely to be active unless miraculous healing occurs or my rating was based on erroneous information.

25-40% = Players will not play but show signs of recovery opening the door for a return to the active roster the following week.

< 25% = Players will not play and there is concern that additional games may be missed.

share

Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Football League