NFL Injury Roundup: Montee Ball, Rashad Jennings Among Week 5 Casualties

Some NFL teams can overcome losing key players to injury. Other teams cannot.

Week 5 certainly proved that point, as several squads under-performed without their big names, while others continued on seamlessly.

In Detroit, wide receiver Calvin Johnson’s departure in the first quarter led to a virtual shutdown of the Lions’ offense in a 17-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills. In Denver and New York, however, the Broncos and the Giants overcame injuries to running backs Montee Ball and Rashad Jennings to put up huge numbers en route to wins.

So what do these injuries — and several others that put a damper on an otherwise awesome Sunday — mean for their teams going forward? That depends on how long their stars are out.

Let’s take a look at the latest on the Week 5 injury front.

Calvin Johnson, Wide Receiver, Detroit Lions: As previously noted, Johnson left Sunday’s game early with an ankle injury and did not return. Head coach Jim Caldwell said Monday that he’s “strongly” considering keeping Johnson out of the team’s Week 6 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.

That might be the right move, as Johnson has just three catches for 19 yards over his last two games and is clearly bothered by the injury.

Montee Ball, Running Back, Denver Broncos: Ball strained his groin against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, and the Denver Post’s Mike Klis reports that he could miss “several weeks” due to the injury.

Expect to see a lot more of Ronnie Hillman, who filled in nicely for Ball after he went down. The Broncos also have C.J. Anderson and rookie Juwan Thompson to complement their potent passing attack.

Rashad Jennings, Running Back, New York Giants: Jennings left Sunday’s game with a knee injury, and an MRI on Monday revealed a sprained left MCL that will cause him to miss “at least a few weeks,” according to ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano.

The spotlight now turns to former Boston College star Andre Williams, who put up 65 rushing yards and a touchdown after Jennings went down.

Jimmy Graham, Tight End, New Orleans Saints: Graham departed Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury, and the Saints fear it could be a sprain. The team has a bye week coming up, though, and there’s “reason for optimism” that the tight end could return in Week 7, according to ESPN.com’s Mike Triplett.

Triplett added that running back Mark Ingram also could come back in Week 7 after missing three games with a broken hand.

Zac Stacy, Running Back, St. Louis Rams: Stacy suffered a calf injury in Sunday’s game and didn’t return, but it doesn’t appear to be serious, as head coach Jeff Fisher believes his running back will be ready to go in Week 6.

Benny Cunningham rushed for 47 yards and a touchdown in Stacy’s absence, so he’d be the guy St. Louis calls on if Stacy is still dealing with his injury.

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