Injuries happen all the time in football, and the NFL has a variety of roster moves that can be done with an injured player. This year, we have examples of each type involving former Seminoles that we can talk about.
During the preseason, a team may not intend to keep a player for the regular season, but he becomes hurt prior to cuts. In those cases, the team waives the player with an injured designation. If the player passes through waivers unclaimed by any other team (which is usually the case), the team can either reach an injury settlement with the player and release him or place him on their injured reserve list. If placed on IR, the player works to recover from his injury, and then is released as soon as he's no longer injured. We've already seen this happen twice, with James Wilder Jr. being released by the Bills and Tony Carter being released by the Saints after they recovered sufficiently from their injuries. We still have one more Nole facing this situation: Josue Matias was cut by the Titans in August but has a knee injury that's kept him on their injured reserve list. Once he's recovered (which may not be until the offseason), he'll be released.
Players also may be placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list during the preseason and shifted to the regular season PUP list once the season starts. After six weeks out, the team has a window of five weeks to have the player start practicing, and after that a three week period to put him on the active roster. Missing those windows causes the player to be lost for the season. Tre' Jackson has been on the Patriots PUP list with a knee injury since the preseason, and we are reaching the end of week 10, meaning Jackson has just one week to return to practice or his season is over.
During the season, players who've experienced major injuries that would prevent them from even practicing for at least six weeks can be placed on the injured reserve list, which frees up their roster spot for a healthy player. Since 2012, the NFL has had a rule that allows one player per team to return to the team after week 8. For the Oakland Raiders, that player will most likely be Mario Edwards Jr., who's been on IR with a hip injury since the preseason. MEJ is working to round back into playing form with the Raiders medical staff. He's not been cleared to practice yet, but if he heals sufficiently to practice, all signs point to him being the player the Raiders will choose to activate from IR.
However, most players don't come off IR, and PJ Williams appears to be following that path. On IR since he received a bad concussion and neck injury from being slammed in the head by two different knees during week 2, PJ appears to be lost for the season as the Saints are being extremely careful with him. He also missed his rookie season in 2015 because of a torn hamstring suffered in training camp. Here's hoping 2017 is the year he finally stays healthy. Joining PJ on IR is Antone Smith, who suffered a season-ending injury for the Bucs last week.
Big Performances Last Week
We saw a pair of linebackers put up big numbers in losing efforts last week. Nigel Bradham put up 10 tackles with a pass defense to go with it as the Eagles lost to the Giants, while Lawrence Timmons had one fewer tackles but one more pass defense as the Steelers fell to the Ravens. They'll be kept busy this week going up against two of the top offenses in the NFL, Bradham versus the Falcons and Timmons against the Cowboys.
It was just a single tackle, but it had to feel sweet to Terrance Smith, who got his first action as a professional player last week in a win against the Jaguars. This week, Smith joins his fellow Chiefs in taking on the Panthers.
It was another losing effort for the Bucs against the Falcons last week, but Jameis Winston did his part, completing over 60% of his passes and tossing three touchdowns. Unfortunately, the Bucs continue to be overmatched on defense.
Injury and Depth Chart Updates
Rashad Greene has not been showing up on injury reports, but he's been trying to recover from an achilles injury nonetheless. Rashad's been inactive the past two weeks, and it's unclear if he'll play against Houston today.
Eddie Goldman continues to work his way back from that ugly ankle injury he suffered early in the season. He's currently listed as questionable, which is an improvement over the out and doubtful statuses he's normally had.
Lamarcus Joyner played through a broken toe earlier this year, but now he's questionable with a back injury. He fully participated in practice Friday, so expect him to play.
There are no questions about Terrence Brooks, who's already been declared out by the Eagles with a hamstring injury.
One positive bit of news on the injury front is the fact that Menelik Watson, who played last week in a big Raiders win over Denver, is not on the injury report at all. Hopefully Menelik can keep it that way.
One depth chart adjustment to note: Chris Thompson is now being listed as Washington's primary kick returner.
Storylines to Watch
Thursday night featured an interior matchup between Timmy Jernigan and Cam Erving. Timmy won that matchup, recording a sack and a tackle for loss while the Ravens kept the Browns winless on the season.
Nigel Bradham will be hunting Devonta Freeman today as the Eagles host the Falcons.
Now for the table. As always, inactives will be updated as they are announced and stats will be updated as games conclude. My thanks for everyone's patience last weekend when I wasn't available to keep this updated in a timely fashion.
Player | Team | Position | Week 10 Status | Week 10 Stats | Season Stats |
Devonta Freeman | Atlanta Falcons | Running Back | Starter | 12 carries, 49 yards (long: 17), 3 catches, 32 yards (long: 15), 3 targets | 133 carries, 620 yards (long: 48), 3 TD, 28 catches, 220 yards (long: 27), 2 TD, 36 targets |
Timmy Jernigan | Baltimore Ravens | Defensive Tackle | Starter | 2 tackles (2 solo, 1 sack, 1 TFL), 1 QB hit | 24 tackles (11 solo, 4 sacks, 7 TFL), 3 PD, 9 QB hits, 1 INT, 0 yards, 1 fumble, 1 fumble recovery |
EJ Manuel | Buffalo Bills | Quarterback | Backup (2nd string) | Bye | 2/5 45 yards, 5 carries, 13 yards (long: 8), 1 fumble |
Garrison Sanborn | Buffalo Bills | Long Snapper | Starter | Bye | 2 tackles |
Nick O'Leary | Buffalo Bills | Tight End | Backup (2nd string) | Bye | 7 catches, 94 yards (long: 28), 8 targets, 1 kick return, 13 yards |
Ronald Darby | Buffalo Bills | Cornerback | Starter | Bye | 38 tackles (35 solo, 1 TFL), 9 PD, 1 QB hit 1 Inactive |
Graham Gano | Carolina Panthers | Place kicker | Starter | 1/1 FG (long: 42), 2/2 XP, 1 tackle (1 solo) | 14/18 FG (long: 54), 18/20 XP, 2 tackles (2 solo) |
Kelvin Benjamin | Carolina Panthers | Wide Receiver | Starter | 7 catches, 84 yards (long: 18), 12 targets, 1 fumble | 36 catches, 543 yards (long: 50), 4 TD, 64 targets |
Christian Jones | Chicago Bears | Linebacker | Backup (2nd string) | 1 tackle (1 solo) | 11 tackles (7 solo), 1 PD |
Eddie Goldman | Chicago Bears | Nose Tackle | Starter Questionable (ankle) |
4 tackles (3 solo, 1 sack, 1 TFL), 1 QB hit | 7 tackles (3 solo, 0.5 sacks), 2 QB hits 6 Inactives |
Cameron Erving | Cleveland Browns | Center | Starter | 1 tackle (1 solo), 1 fumble 3 Inactives |
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Nile Lawrence-Stample | Cleveland Browns | Defensive Lineman | Injured Reserve | ||
Dekoda Watson | Denver Broncos | Linebacker | Backup (3rd string) | 11 tackles (7 solo) | |
Anquan Boldin | Detroit Lions | Wide Receiver | Starter | Bye | 35 catches, 286 yards (long: 24), 5 TD, 48 targets |
Letroy Guion | Green Bay Packers | Nose Tackle | Starter | 12 tackles (8 solo, 3 TFL), 1 PD, 1 QB hit 1 Inactive |
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Patrick Robinson | Indianapolis Colts | Cornerback | Starter | Bye | 23 tackles (16 solo), 4 PD 3 Inactives |
Jalen Ramsey | Jacksonville Jaguars | Cornerback | Starter | 6 tackles (6 solo) | 32 tackles (25 solo, 2 TFL), 1 PD, 1 QB hit |
Rashad Greene | Jacksonville Jaguars | Wide Receiver/Punt Returner | Backup (2nd string)/ Starter | 2 punt returns, 11 yards (long: 12) | 5 catches, 32 yards (long: 9), 6 targets, 1 fumble, 15 punt returns, 106 yards (long: 42) 3 Inactives |
Telvin Smith | Jacksonville Jaguars | Linebacker | Starter | 6 tackles (4 solo) | 66 tackles (55 solo, 10 TFL), 4 PD |
Terrance Smith | Kansas City Chiefs | Linebacker | Backup (2nd) | 1 tackle | |
Lamarcus Joyner | Los Angeles Rams | Cornerback | Starter Questionable (back) |
4 tackles (2 solo) | 45 tackles (37 solo, 2 TFL), 4 PD |
Xavier Rhodes | Minnesota Vikings | Cornerback | Starter | 5 tackles (2 solo) | 20 tackles (17 solo, 1.5 TFL), 7 PD, 2 INT, 29 yards 2 Inactive |
Tre' Jackson | New England Patriots | Guard | Physically Unable to Play | ||
P.J. Williams | New Orleans Saints | Cornerback | Injured Reserve | 7 tackles (5 solo), 2 PD | |
Bobby Hart | New York Giants | Offensive Guard | Backup (2nd string) | ||
Mario Edwards Jr. | Oakland Raiders | Defensive End | Injured Reserve | Bye | |
Menelik Watson | Oakland Raiders | Offensive Tackle | Starter | Bye | 6 Inactives |
Rodney Hudson | Oakland Raiders | Offensive Guard | Starter | Bye | |
Sebastian Janikowski | Oakland Raiders | Place kicker | Starter | Bye | 16/22 FG (long: 56), 23/23 XP |
Nigel Bradham | Philadelphia Eagles | Linebacker | Starter | 4 tackles (3 solo), 1 PD | 52 tackles (36 solo, 1 sack, 7 TFL), 4 PD, 2 QB hits, 1 INT, 28 yards, 1 fumble recovery |
Terrence Brooks | Philadelphia Eagles | Safety | Backup (3rd string) Out (hamstring) |
Inactive | 1 tackle (1 solo) 3 Inactives |
Karlos Williams | Pittsburgh Steelers | Running Back | Practice Squad | ||
Lawrence Timmons | Pittsburgh Steelers | Linebacker | Starter | 6 tackles (4 solo) | 57 tackles (39 solo, 0.5 sack, 3 TFL), 3 PD, 2 QB hits |
Vince Williams | Pittsburgh Steelers | Linebacker | Backup (2nd string) | 2 tackles | 42 tackles (34 solo, 2 sacks, 6 TFL), 3 QB hit |
Christian Ponder | San Francisco 49ers | Quarterback | Backup (3rd string) | Inactive | 8 Inactives |
Tank Carradine | San Francisco 49ers | Linebacker | Backup (2nd string) | 2 tackles (2 solo) | 9 tackles (5 solo, 1 TFL), 3 QB hit |
Antone Smith | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Running Back | Injured Reserve | 10 carries, 47 yards (long: 8), 6 catches, 77 yards (long: 30), 9 targets, 2 fumbles, 1 fumble recovery | |
Jameis Winston | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Quarterback | Starter | 23/33, 312 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT | 181/307, 1857 yards, 17 TD, 9 INT, 26 carries, 79 yards (long: 10), 1 TD, 5 fumbles, 1 fumble recovery |
Javien Elliott | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Defensive Back | Practice Squad | ||
Roberto Aguayo | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Place kicker | Starter | 2/2 FG (long: 30),. 4/4 XP | 7/12 FG (long: 43), 15/17 XP |
Josue Matias | Tennessee Titans | Guard | Injured Reserve | ||
Chris Thompson | Washington Redskins | Running Back/kick returner | Backup (2nd string)/ Starter | 4 carries, 25 yards (long: 9), 3 catches, 11 yards (long: 6), 3 targets, 1 fumble, 1 kick return, 27 yards | 45 carries, 207 yards (long: 20), 1 TD, 27 catches, 250 yards (long: 38), 1 TD, 30 targets, 8 kick returns, 166 yards (long: 28) |
Dustin Hopkins | Washington Redskins | Place kicker | Starter | 4/4 FG (long: 50), 2/2 XP | 18/22 FG (long: 50), 18/19 XP |
Antonio Cromartie | x-Free Agent | Cornerback | Cut by Indianapolis in Week 5 | 14 tackles (14 solo), 2 PD | |
Bjoern Werner | x-Free Agent | Defensive Lineman | Cut to 75 | ||
Bryan Stork | x-Free Agent | Offensive Lineman | Cut to 75 | ||
Giorgio Newberry | x-Free Agent | Defensive Tackle | Cut to 75 | ||
James Wilder Jr. | x-Free Agent | Running Back | Cut to 53, placed on Injured Reserve, release finalized Week 4 | ||
Lamarcus Brutus | x-Free Agent | Safety | Cut to 75 | ||
Rodney Smith | x-Free Agent | Wide Receiver | Cut to 75 | ||
Tony Carter | x-Free Agent | Cornerback | Cut in preseason, placed on Injured Reserve, release finalized Week 7 |