As NFL training camps all across the NFL are set to kick off next week, let’s dive into the players dealing with injuries from last season, the offseason, and everything in between. These NFL injuries could impact our fantasy football rankings, fantasy football player projections and fantasy football drafts with how we approach those players, especially those that we’re still unsure with when they’re going to return to the field. We’ll take a look at each major position, quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end, and look at the injury landscape of each. As a reminder, our NFL Draft Guide is FREE. Yup. Free. All you need to do is register for a FREE account and you’ll be hoisting your fantasy football league’s championship trophy or belt in no time!

 

 

NFL Injury Report

Quarterbacks

 

Joe Burrow, CIN - (Knee)

After the Super Bowl it was revealed that Joe Burrow sustained a knee injury, but everything seems to be going well after surgery.

The Bengal's star quarterback held a news conference to discuss it:

We shouldn’t be worried in the slightest with Burrow’s injury. He said he’s even faster than he was before! Look out world! 

 

Matthew Stafford, LAR - (Elbow)

According to an article written by Sarah Barshop of ESPN, all reports out of the Matthew Stafford camp are that he will be ready to throw by the time training camp rolls around. That was the last we’ve heard of Stafford’s progress after receiving an injection in his right elbow due to an injury from the 2021 season. Stafford was quoted as saying he will “definitely” be ready to throw in training camp.

 

Jameis Winston, NO - (ACL, MCL)

Recovering from tearing both your ACL and MCL is tough, but Jameis Winston seems to be making great progress. Around two weeks ago, Winston was seen shedding his knee brace and began to throw the football around without it. 

Shedding the brace doesn’t mean he’s 100%, but it’s been eight months since the initial injury and as he heads into training camp, everything is trending in the right direction for Winston to be available when Week 1 rolls around.

Running Back

 

J.K. Dobbins, BAL - (ACL)

In case you wanted to know how J.K. Dobbins’ rehab is going, he was on Twitter on Monday airing it out that he’ll be avoiding the PUP list and will be ready for Week 1.

Nothing has been solidified that he will be back for Week 1 or not, but Dobbins seems confident he will be. The Ravens did sign Mike Davis most likely as an insurance policy that he’s not.

 

Elijah Mitchell, SF - (Knee)

It was early in the offseason when we learned Elijah Mitchell was opting for a knee procedure to clean things up. There has been nothing to suggest Mitchell isn’t going to show up to training camp the day it begins and nothing to suggest Mitchell isn’t going to be the bellcow back, despite two other running backs other than himself being drafted in each of the last two drafts.

 

Gus Edwards, BAL - (ACL)

We only know about J.K. Dobbin's recovery because he took to Twitter to tell us how it was going. The report from Ian Rappoport on Monday was that Gus Edwards seems to be on track for Week 1, but like Dobbins, there’s no certainty there with both guys recovering from torn ACL’s.

 

James Robinson, JAX - (Achilles)

After a dream start to his career, the James Robinson hype train came to a halt after tearing his Achilles last season. That said, progress is being made as we’ve recently seen Robinson starting to make cuts and change directions, thanks to a video posted on Instagram.

The Jaguars and Robinson are not rushing this and are letting him heal back to 100%, which means his Week 1 status seems like it’s up in the air at this point. An Achilles tear generally takes six to 12 months to recover from according to Med Star Health and we saw Cam Akers return last season after 5.5 months. With training camp right around the corner, we’ll get a more definitive answer on Robinson’s status.

 

Raheem Mostert, MIA - (Knee)

Sometimes when players are active on social media, we know where they stand. Take Raheem Mostert for example. VERY active and he gave us an update on his knee on Twitter.

Since the May 17th report that Mostert was expected to ready for Week 1, there hasn’t been anything concrete outside of Mostert’s self-reporting. The Dolphins have a very crowded running back room and are definitely not in any rush to push the oft-injury Mostert further than they need to.

 

Chris Carson, SEA (Neck)

Things are not looking great for the one-time bell cow of the Seattle Seahawks backfield after neck surgery following a 2021 injury. Although Carson is hopeful he will return to play the game he loves, head coach Pete Carroll indicated the end could be near for Carson’s career.

Wide Receivers

 

Tee Higgins, CIN - (Torn Labrum)

In March, Tee Higgins had surgery on his shoulder due to a torn labrum. It seems as if that Higgins is going to be just fine as training camp rolls around as well. The last quote we heard back in May was that Higgins is just trying to be 100% by the time the season comes around. The Bengals training camp begins on July 27th.

 

Michael Thomas, NO - (Ankle)

It has been a rollercoaster ride for Michael Thomas the past couple of seasons and most of the ride has been spent upsidedown due to an ankle injury. Thomas did not participate in the Saints’ OTAs back in June, but he was seen rehabbing in the training facility and was on the sidelines, engaged in teams activities. There’s nothing that suggest Thomas won’t be ready for day one of training camp.

 

Chris Godwin, WR - (ACL)

When Chris Godwin tore his ACL in Week 15 of last season, no way did we think he’d be ready for Week 1 in 2022. But Adam Schefter of ESPN was on NFL Live reporting that the Bucs are hopeful he’ll be back for Week 1.

Encouraging news for sure, but we should temper our expectations of the Bucs rushing him back considering they signed him to a three-year extension this offseason.

 

Robert Woods, TEN - (ACL)

With A.J. Brown shipped off to Philadelphia, Robert Woods will be the man in Tennessee when he’s ready to rock. Here’s the last of Robert Woods we’ve seen from Titans minicamp back in June;

It was a pleasant surprise to see him that active during camp just six months after tearing his ACL, so we’ll see how things are progressing when the Titans start training camp next week. With a current aggregate draft position thanks to Fantasy Alarm’s ADP page of 107.94, the public certainly doesn’t believe Woods will be back when the season kicks off.

 

Michael Gallup, DAL - (ACL)

Another receiver that hopes to be ready for Week 1, but the latest report is that it’s not likely that Michael Gallup is ready to begin the year and may miss the first two or three games of the year for the Cowboys, according to CEO Stephen Jones. It was only back in January that Gallup tore his ACL, so for him to be back for the first game of the year would be an incredible recovery period. Expect to be without Gallup for a few games of the fantasy season.

 

Kadarius Toney, NYG - (Knee)

We weren’t originally sure why Kadarius Toney wasn’t available for the Giants during OTAs and was seen wearing a red jersey on the sidelines, but he had a minor procedure done on his knee during the offseason. That being said, there have been no setbacks and the 2021 first-round draft pick is expected to be ready for the start of training camp.

 

Jameson Williams, DET - (ACL)

It was very unfortunate for Jameson Williams that he tore his ACL in the National Championship the last game before entering the NFL Draft, but that didn’t stop the Lions from taking him in the first round of the draft anyways. That said, when should we expect to see Williams? Head Coach Dan Campbell said he doesn’t expect him to be ready for training camp, which means he is likely placed on the PUP. He can be activated at any point during camp, however, so he could technically be ready for the first game of the year, but Williams himself has been saying that he just needs to be patient. Don’t get your hopes up for the Lions to rush Williams back. It’ll likely be a month or two into the year before we see him play his first NFL game.

 

Skyy Moore, KC - (Hamstring)

After missing most of the teams OTAs with a hamstring injury labeled minor, Skyy Moore was participating in the team’s June minicamp and was practicing with both the first and second team offense. Moore’s addition was crucial considering the departure of Tyreek Hill and he has a chance to shine in Kansas City when he’s ready. He should be a full go by the time training camp rolls around.

 

Sterling Shepard, NYG - (Achilles)

There have been a lot of reports about Sterling Shepard and his recovery this offseason and all of them suggest everyone is looking at an August return, which means he likely starts training camp on the PUP list considering the team’s practices start at the end of July. With the Giants drafting wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson in the second round while also having Kenny Galloday and Kadarius Toney on the roster, there’s no rush to get Sterling back before he’s 100%. This is a guy with a injury list as long as a Target receipt and we all know how those can look after payday.

 

KJ Hamler, DEN - (ACL)

After tearing his ACL in late September during the 2021 season, KJ Hamler could begin training camp on the PUP list. That doesn’t mean he can’t be ready for Week 1, but it would obviously hinder his chances. We did, however, see him participate in Denver’s OTAs in late May, which is obviously a great sign for him. He likely opens the season as Denver’s fourth receiver.

Odell Beckham Jr., FA - (ACL)

We're not expecting much from Odell Beckham Jr. in 2022 and thus he still hasn't even found a team as we approach training camp. The report is that the Rams believe they'll work out a deal with Beckham, but there is seemingly no rush on that front, especially with the idea we won't see Beckham back on the field until November.

Tight End

 

Robert Tonyan, GB - (ACL)

We saw Robert Tonyan at Tight End U running off to the side of practice back in June and it’s been reported that he’ll be ready for the season opener after tearing his ACL last year. 

The report of progress Tonyan has shown to this point has folks within the Packers confident he could be ready for training camp, which begins on July 27th. That’s great news for Green Bay considering the departure of Davante Adams.

 

Logan Thomas, WAS - (ACL, MCL)

We just recently heard from Logan Thomas around a month ago say that he would love to be back for Week 1, but isn’t pushing himself if he isn’t ready. Back after his surgery, his initial timeline was Week 4 considering that would be the 10 month mark. We’ll learn very season whether or not Thomas will be placed on the PUP with training camp right around the corner, but that seems like the likeliest outcome.

Tyler Higbee, LAR - (MCL)

After the Rams’ NFC Championship win, Tyler Higbee was placed on injured reserve with a sprained MCL and got offseason surgery as well. The expectation is that Higbee should be back by the beginning of the year, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll be 100% active during training camp, but should be there.

Higbee is not expected to open as the team’s top option offensively and there seems to be no rush on getting him back before he’s 100% ready to go.

 

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