This article is part of our Injury Analysis series.
With Turkey Day approaching, multiple teams taking part in the three Thanksgiving Day games find themselves facing difficult injury situations.
Dallas Cowboys
Amari Cooper did not play in Sunday's loss to the Chiefs after testing positive COVID-19. The Pro Bowl wideout is not vaccinated, meaning he is required to quarantine for 10 consecutive days. As a result, he will not be eligible to play in Dallas' Thursday matchup with Las Vegas. The Cowboys depth at wide receiver could be further tested if second-year pro CeeDee Lamb is unable to complete the league's mandated concussion protocol. Lamb suffered the head injury on Dallas' final play of the first half when his head hit the turf. He was ruled out of the game and must now clear a five-step return-to-participation process before he can play against the Raiders.
To start, any player diagnosed with a concussion is not allowed to perform any activities until he is symptom-free. Once the symptoms have subsided, the injured athlete can resume light exercise but is not allowed to return to football-specific activities. If he remains symptom-free following the increase in activity, he can gradually buildup of his level of participation, beginning with basic strength training before moving on to controlled, noncontact football activities. Progression to each activity is predicated on the athlete remaining symptom-free. Should the injured athlete report any sort of symptom, whether it be sensitivity to light or a headache, he cannot move on to the next level of the protocol. If a symptom-free player
With Turkey Day approaching, multiple teams taking part in the three Thanksgiving Day games find themselves facing difficult injury situations.
Dallas Cowboys
Amari Cooper did not play in Sunday's loss to the Chiefs after testing positive COVID-19. The Pro Bowl wideout is not vaccinated, meaning he is required to quarantine for 10 consecutive days. As a result, he will not be eligible to play in Dallas' Thursday matchup with Las Vegas. The Cowboys depth at wide receiver could be further tested if second-year pro CeeDee Lamb is unable to complete the league's mandated concussion protocol. Lamb suffered the head injury on Dallas' final play of the first half when his head hit the turf. He was ruled out of the game and must now clear a five-step return-to-participation process before he can play against the Raiders.
To start, any player diagnosed with a concussion is not allowed to perform any activities until he is symptom-free. Once the symptoms have subsided, the injured athlete can resume light exercise but is not allowed to return to football-specific activities. If he remains symptom-free following the increase in activity, he can gradually buildup of his level of participation, beginning with basic strength training before moving on to controlled, noncontact football activities. Progression to each activity is predicated on the athlete remaining symptom-free. Should the injured athlete report any sort of symptom, whether it be sensitivity to light or a headache, he cannot move on to the next level of the protocol. If a symptom-free player passes each step, he must then be examined by an independent neurologist. If the neurologist and the team's physician determine the concussion is no longer an issue, the player can be cleared and participate in the team's next full practice or game.
Lamb would have no issues completing the program if Dallas were playing on Sunday, but because the team is taking part in its annual Thanksgiving Day game, he may be hard-pressed to receive full clearance in time. While the early reports are encouraging, Lamb remains a big question mark for Week 12. If Lamb and Cooper are both out, Michael Gallup would become Dak Prescott's top wide receiver with Cedrick Wilson and Noah Brown moving up the depth chart. Dalton Schultz should also see an increase in usage.
Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott was a limited participant in Monday's practice and will likely remain on the injury report with a lingering knee contusion. Elliott aggravated the injury Sunday against the Chiefs after initially injuring the knee in Week 9. It seems unlikely Zeke sits on Thursday, but he has struggled in recent weeks, and the knee could easily been a limiting factor. He has not rushed for more than 100 yards since Week 5 and is averaging just 41.3 rushing yards since sustaining the original injury. Look for the Cowboys to lean a bit more on Tony Pollard until Elliott gets closer to full strength.
The Saints are taking part in the evening game on Thursday, but it remains uncertain if Kamara will be able to suit up. The New Orleans running back has been a spectator for back-to-back games thanks to a sprained medial collateral ligament (MCL). Sprains are assigned grades based on the severity of damage accrued to the fibers of the involved ligament. The higher the grade, the longer the associated recovery window. Kansas City running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire missed five weeks earlier this season with a more moderate sprain, while Green Bay's Aaron Jones is hoping to be back on the field after missing last week's contest against Minnesota with a mild MCL sprain. Kamara was a nonparticipant in Monday's practice and would seemingly need to register one full practice before fantasy managers can consider utilizing him in Week 12. Even if he can play against the Buffalo, it seems likely Mark Ingram sees his fair share of carries as New Orleans eases Kamara back into the fold.
The Lions quarterback continues to nurse a strained oblique muscle that kept him out of Detroit's Week 11 loss. More commonly seen in baseball pitchers, oblique strains involve one of two muscle groups attached on either side of the ribcage. The internal and external obliques work synergistically to complete trunk rotation and breathing. An oblique strain results in significant pain and loss of function, making throwing a football difficult. Goff will have a truncated week to prove to the Lions' medical team he is healthy and ready to go against the Bears. Considering he is averaging an uninspired 16.4 fantasy points per start when healthy, it's hard to put much confidence in a potentially limited Goff. Tim Boyle will get another start should Goff miss a second straight game.
Chicago is also facing uncertainty at quarterback after Fields suffered a rib injury against the Ravens. The injury was diagnosed as a rib contusion, but the team is still "gathering the facts" according to coach Matt Nagy. Rib injuries can be complicated. The bones themselves are thin and flat, and sometimes fractures fail to show up on initial X-rays and are only detected once the healing process has begun. Even if Fields' problem is in fact a contusion, it remains a very painful and limiting injury. Fields isn't expected to suit up on Thursday, with Andy Dalton taking over as starting quarterback.
Turf Burns
Chris Carson: The Seahawks running back will not play again this year as he will need to undergo surgery to address a neck injury. Carson has a bulging disc in his cervical spine and will undergo a disc fusion procedure to alleviate the associating symptoms. His availability for the 2022 season will become clearer in the offseason, but there is a chance he remains limited entering training camp. Alex Collins remains Seattle's feature back, with Travis Homer and DeeJay Dallas slated to see spot duties.
Michael Carter: The Jets will be without Carter for at least two weeks after he suffered a high ankle sprain against the Dolphins. The injury is a disappointing setback for the rookie, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him sit closer to four weeks. Ty Johnson and Tevin Coleman will play more prominent roles for a New York team set to take on Houston and their porous run defense. The Texans are currently ranked 27th against the run, with opposing RBs averaging 21.5 points.
Lamar Jackson: The Ravens quarterback is reportedly feeling better after missing Sunday's win due to a non-COVID illness. The illness is reported as a viral issue, meaning antibiotics will be ineffective, and the medical focus will be treating Jackson's symptoms and letting the virus run its course. The mild improvement in his health is a step in the right direction, and he does appear to have a chance at playing against the Browns on Sunday. Tyler Huntley would get a second consecutive start should Jackson be unable to play.
