This article is part of our Injury Analysis series.
Eagles Offense
Injuries are clipping the wings of the Eagles offense with the normal starters at each skill position nursing an assortment of ailments.
It starts at quarterback with Carson Wentz, who injured his throwing hand on a tackle attempt. It looks as though he avoided any serious damage as X-rays on the area were negative. The Eagles are listing the injury as bruised middle finger on his right hand. The injury shouldn't impact his grip, and he should be readily available against the Dolphins. The favorable matchup will give him a chance to rebound from a rough performance against the Seahawks.
Wentz's productivity could hinge on the health of his wideouts. Both Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor were in street clothes Sunday as their team struggled to move the ball against Seattle. Jeffery has been nursing an ankle injury while Agholor's problem is with his knee. The duo was reportedly trending upward late last week but were ultimately late scratches. The late-week improvement should be seen as a positive, but it's hard to get a good gauge on how things will look this week with Philadelphia remaining tight-lipped on specifics.
Philly's ground game is also hurting with Jordan Howard still dealing with a shoulder injury. The injury has been referred to as a stinger with the effects of the issue lingering. A stinger is a nerve-related injury that involves the bundle of nerves located between the neck and upper extremity. The associated symptoms are pain and numbness that can
Eagles Offense
Injuries are clipping the wings of the Eagles offense with the normal starters at each skill position nursing an assortment of ailments.
It starts at quarterback with Carson Wentz, who injured his throwing hand on a tackle attempt. It looks as though he avoided any serious damage as X-rays on the area were negative. The Eagles are listing the injury as bruised middle finger on his right hand. The injury shouldn't impact his grip, and he should be readily available against the Dolphins. The favorable matchup will give him a chance to rebound from a rough performance against the Seahawks.
Wentz's productivity could hinge on the health of his wideouts. Both Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor were in street clothes Sunday as their team struggled to move the ball against Seattle. Jeffery has been nursing an ankle injury while Agholor's problem is with his knee. The duo was reportedly trending upward late last week but were ultimately late scratches. The late-week improvement should be seen as a positive, but it's hard to get a good gauge on how things will look this week with Philadelphia remaining tight-lipped on specifics.
Philly's ground game is also hurting with Jordan Howard still dealing with a shoulder injury. The injury has been referred to as a stinger with the effects of the issue lingering. A stinger is a nerve-related injury that involves the bundle of nerves located between the neck and upper extremity. The associated symptoms are pain and numbness that can extend down the arm. The injured athlete can also experience a loss of strength as the nerves that relay signals to the muscles in the area are affected. This is precisely the problem that is keeping Howard on the sidelines. Any limitation in strength could limit Howard in a multitude of ways and increase his propensity for fumbles. Sadly, moderate to more severe nerve injuries are often very slow to heal, and Howard's situation isn't likely to resolve itself in a matter of days. Miles Sanders is in line to be the starting running back against the Dolphins.
Turf Burns
Matt Breida: The 49ers continue to roll despite Breida missing back-to-back games with a mild ankle sprain. The team hopes he can return to practice this week and give himself a chance to play Sunday against the Ravens. Fantasy owners should feel comfortable utilizing Breida as usual if he practices this week. Tevin Coleman remains the feature back despite totaling just 53 rushing yards the last two weeks.
James Conner: Conner is a big question entering the week as his sprained shoulder continues to be a problem. The Steelers running back is dealing with an acromioclavicular (AC) sprain that kept him out of three of Pittsburgh's last four outings. Surgery has been mentioned as a possibility if he returns prematurely, so Conner is making sure he successfully rehabs the area, focusing on the surrounding musculature. It sounds like he will miss at least one more week with Benny Snell and Jaylen Samuels manning the Steelers backfield. Snell did the bulk of the work in Week 12, carrying the ball 21 times for 98 yards.
Eric Ebron: The Colts tight end was placed on the injured reserve as he will require surgery on both ankles. It hasn't been revealed if Ebron is undergoing simple debridement (clean-up) procedures or if he will need some sort of ligament repair or stabilization technique. Either way, he is done for the season and will spend his offseason rehabbing. Going under the knife now will help minimize the chances that his recovery carries into 2020.
Julio Jones: The Falcons receiver briefly left the team's loss to the Buccaneers with an undisclosed injury to his right shoulder. Specifics on the injury remain vague, but Jones was designated as a non-participant in Monday's estimated practice report. Those who invested in Jones know that he tends to make routine appearances on the injury report without missing time. The situation is shaping up to be more of the same, though I'd be more confident in his availability if the nature of the injury was presented and the team wasn't scheduled to play on Thanksgiving. Keep a close eye on the situation the next few days and expect a game-time decision.
Tyreek Hill: The bye week was beneficial for Hill's troublesome hamstring injury, and the Chiefs are optimistic he will be able to suit up for Sunday's matchup with the Raiders. However, Hill's return will come with risk. Players returning from hamstring injuries often report feeling good despite the fact that the scar tissue at the injury site isn't at full strength. As a result, re-injuries or aggravations are common. Furthermore, speed-dependent receivers like Hill appear particularly prone to lower extremity strains. His ceiling is substantial enough that he is probably worth starting, but it remains a calculated gamble.
Marlon Mack: The Colts have already ruled Mack out for Sunday's game against the Titans. Mack continues to recover from surgery needed to repair a broken metacarpal in his right hand. I detailed Mack's injury last week and continue to express optimism that he will be back this season. For now, Jonathan Williams is the feature back in Indianapolis with Jordan Wilkins and Nyheim Hines also set to receive snaps.
Courtland Sutton: Sutton has been a breakout player this season, hauling in 50 receptions for 832 yards and four touchdowns. Sadly, he failed to produce last week as he was held to one reception for 27 yards in Denver's loss to Buffalo. He also tweaked an ankle in the process, though it doesn't appear to be serious. Look for Sutton to bounce back in Week 13 when the Broncos play host to the Chargers. The 24-year-old finished with four receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown when the two division rivals last faced off in Week 5.
