National Football League

Doc Talk: Week 3 injury report analysis

Published Sep. 23, 2010 1:00 a.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

To learn about the ins-and-outs of hamstring and groin strains and the status of key players affected by these injuries see the video above. Below I give my Jock-to-Doc analysis on the key players who are hurt and how their performances will affected.

Atanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints
Falcons RB Michael Turner (groin strain)

Jock-to-Doc take: Turner left Sunday's blowout win over the Arizona Cardinals with a groin strain. Coach Mike Smith said the move was precautionary and that he could have returned to the game. Given Jason Snelling's performance obviously that was not required. Turner should play and be effective. Going against the Saints' 19th-ranked run defense, I expect him to put up some good numbers this week. The question remains whether this injury will heal completely or become chronic, making Turner a regular on the weekly injury report.

Health Rating: Michael Turner @ 85%

Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots
Patriots RB Fred Taylor (toe) and WR Julian Edelman (foot)

Jock-to-Doc take: Taylor and Edelman have been limited all week in practice. Taylor has a toe injury that occurred in the season opener. These toe injuries generally don't heal completely until the offseason so we can expect to see Taylor on the injury list all year. Taylor ran for only 11 yards on five carries in Week 2 but showed a burst during a 38-yard run that was negated by a penalty.

Edelman missed the final three games of the preseason and the season opener. But in Week 2, he finally got his chance to play and he had one catch for six yards and two punt returns for 26 yards. Not too exciting but with Tom Brady as your quarterback those numbers could grow quickly as the season progresses.

Health Ratings: Fred Taylor @ 90%; Julian Edelman @ 80%

Cincinnati Bengals at Carolina Panthers
Bengals WR Terrell Owens (stiff back); Panthers WR Steve Smith (thigh)

Jock-to-Doc take: Owens and Smith were limited in practice this week. Both are expected to play and both should not be hampered significantly by their injuries. While Owens has a partner in Chad Ochocinco, Smith is the lone stud of the Carolina receiving corps. He absolutely crucial to the success of rookie quarterback Jimmy Clausen this week. Without Smith, Clausen will be hard pressed to find open receivers. In addition to a sore thigh, Smith is also suffering from a wrist injury.

Health Rating: Terrell Owens @ 99%; Steve Smith @ 75%

Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens
Browns QB Jake Delhomme (sprained ankle) ; Ravens FB Le'Ron McClain (shoulder)

Jock-to-Doc take: The Browns are the walking wounded this week with eight starters led by Delhomme limited in their preparation. Delhomme will almost certainly miss this week's game against Baltimore. The Browns have been intentionally cryptic in describing his ankle injury and the bigger question is how many more games will the starting quarterback miss.

McClain has been nursing a shoulder injury and was limited Wednesday but returned to full go on  Thursday. His fantasy numbers are not spectacular but both Ray Rice and Joe Flacco would have diminished output if McClain is not firing on all cylinders.

Health Rating: Jack Delhomme @ 0%; Le'Ron McClain @ 80%

Dallas Cowboys at Houston Texans
Cowboys WR Dez Bryant (ribs); Texans WR Andre Johnson (sprained ankle)

Jock-to-Doc take: Bryant injured his ribs against the Washington Redskins two weeks ago and was in full pads Thursday. Expect him to be full go and unhindered by the nagging injury. Arguably the league's best wide receiver, Johnson has what is being billed as a "mild ankle sprain". He did not practice Wednesday and was limited Thursday. Johnson says he expects to play and this physical specimen would not step on the field if he didn't feel he could perform at his best.

Health Rating: Dez Bryant @ 95%; Andre Johnson @ 80%

Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings
Lions QB Matthew Stafford (shoulder); Vikings WR Percy Harvin (migraines/hip)

Jock-to-Doc take: Stafford continues to recover from a Grade 2 right (throwing) shoulder separation. He said he is feeling much better but has not tried to throw yet. Shaun Hill has been named the starter for the tilt against the Vikings. Brett Favre continues to battle through his ankle pain and has been full participation in practice all week. Favre is far more concerned about the health of his receiving corps than his own. Harvin missed practice Wednesday with another migraine but was back on the field Thursday running routes but his hip injury is a bigger concern. With Sidney Rice sidelined for at least another month after hip surgery, the doomsday scenario for Favre and the Vikings is for Harvin to also miss significant chunks of time because of his continued hip pain.

Health Rating: Matthew Stafford @ 20%; Percy Harvin @ 75%

Indianapolis Colts at Denver Broncos
Colts RB Joseph Addai (knee); Broncos CB Champ Bailey (foot)

Jock-to-Doc take: You can learn more about Colts wide receiver Pierre Garcon by viewing my video above. Addai missed practice Wednesday with a knee injury and was limited on Thursday but did suit up. It is a good sign to see him on the practice field and we can expect to see him play this weekend. The questions are will he be effective and can he last the entire game? Bailey was held out of practice Wednesday and Thursday. With Peyton Manning coming to town, the thought of facing the Colts' potent passing attack without their best cover man has to have everyone in Denver concerned. Bailey looks to be a game-time decision.

Health Rating: Joseph Addai @ 85%; Champ Bailey @ 65%


Oakland Raiders at Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals RB Chris "Beanie" Wells (knee)

Jock-to-Doc take: Wells has practiced this week in a limited fashion despite recovering from a knee injury. This is good news as it doesn't appear that any setbacks have occurred. Coach Ken Whisenhunt said that barring issues Friday, he fully expects Wells to play. See my video above for news on Cardinals wide receiver Early Doucet.

Health Rating: Beanie Wells @ 70%

Philadelphia Eagles at Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew (ankle)

Jock-to-Doc take: Jones-Drew, coming of a dismal performance last week, has been limited in practice all week. Despite this, Jaguars offensive coordinator Dirk Koettner said the only way MJD doesn't play Sunday is if he is dragged from the field. Jones-Drew is one of the league's tough guys and he will be fired up to perform well and bounce back from his performance last week.

Health Rating: Maurice Jones-Drew @ 77%

Washington Redskins at St. Louis Rams
Rams RB Steven Jackson (inflamed knee)

Jock-to-Doc take: Jackson has been battling the knee injury for several weeks. He had an MRI which showed no significant damage to the knee but the Rams have been handling him with great care. He has performed well every week despite the injury. Jackson is expected to play this week and will surely put up his usual excellent numbers. I think we can expect to see him on the injury report throughout the year but on the field as well.

Health Rating: Steven Jackson @ 80%

Pittsburgh Steelers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers RB Carnell "Cadillac" Williams (hamstring)

Jock-to-Doc take: Williams was limited on Wednesday but was full go on Thursday. He is expected to play Sunday and should be at full speed. Against the Steelers' run defense, however, I wouldn't expect him to put up any serious numbers.

Health Rating: Carnell Williams @ 90%

San Diego Chargers at Seattle Seahawks
Chargers WR Malcom Floyd (leg)

Jock-to-Doc take: Floyd did not practice Wednesday with "leg soreness" but was full go Thursday. I expect him to put up some big numbers this week against Seattle's 26th-ranked pass defense.

Health Rating: Malcom Floyd @ 95%

San Francisco 49ers at Kansas City Chiefs
49ers WR Ted Ginn (knee sprain)

Jock-to-Doc take: Ginn has continued to miss practice with an MCL sprain. He missed Monday night's loss to the Saints and does not look like he will be able to go this weekend. Coach Mike Singletary holds out hope that he may play and lists him as day to day.

Health Rating: Ted Ginn @ 50%


Tennessee Titans at New York Giants
Giants TE Kevin Boss (concussion)

Jock-to-Doc take: After suffering his third concussion in two years, Boss is back at full speed in practice. He is going to play and should make Eli Manning's job a little easier against the Titans.

Health Rating: Kevin Boss @ 90%

New York Jets at Miami Dolphins
Jets CB Darrelle Revis (strained hamstring)

Jock-to-Doc take: Revis is out for this Sunday's game. His Grade 1 hamstring strain turned into a Grade 2 strain last week trying to keep up with the Pats' Randy Moss before his injury had fully healed. Obviously missing training camp plays a role in this injury and hopefully for the Jets this does not become a chronic issue as the season progresses.

Health Rating: Darrelle Revis @ 10%

share

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

in this topic

National Football League