It wasn’t a good week to be an NFL running back. Scratch that — it wasn’t a good week to be any skill position player.
Week 2 was marred by an unusually high number of injuries to some of the game’s biggest stars, many of whom could miss significant time. These developments might leave your fantasy team scrambling, but they could also have very real and tangible impacts on a number of NFL teams — and they’re not all necessarily negative.
Below are the latest updates from the biggest names who went down in Week 2, as well as what it could mean for their teams going forward.
Jamaal Charles (RB) and Eric Berry (S), Kansas City Chiefs: Head coach Andy Reid announced Monday that Charles suffered a high ankle sprain, while Berry has a sprained ankle as well. Reid didn’t offer further updates, but it seems unlikely that either will play in Week 3.
The Chiefs better hope the injuries to Charles and Berry aren’t serious. They already lost three starters in Week 1 — including stud linebacker Derrick Johnson — and have showdowns with the Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots in Weeks 3 and 4.
Robert Griffin III, QB, Washington Redskins: An MRI Monday morning revealed that Griffin’s left ankle was not fractured and probably wouldn’t require surgery. That’s the good news. The bad news is that RGIII will likely miss most of the regular season and has yet to prove he can stay healthy in the NFL.
Fortunately for the Redskins, they might not need him. Backup Kirk Cousins led the team to a 41-10 rout of the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 2 after Griffin went down and has proven in the past that he can run this offense.
A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals:Â Green exited Sunday’s game with an injured toe, but it doesn’t appear to be serious. A postgame MRI came back negative, and while he’s expected to return in Week 5 against the New England Patriots, Green told ESPN’s Bob Holtzman that he hopes to be back on the field in Week 3.
Any time Green misses is significant, as he’s one of the most dynamic receivers in the game. The sooner he’s back on the field, the better.
Ryan Mathews, RB, San Diego Chargers:Â Head coach Mike McCoy confirmed Monday that Mathews sprained his MCL on Sunday and is expected to miss four to five weeks.
Losing Mathews is certainly a big blow, but it could have been worse. Philip Rivers leads a revived passing attack, and Mathews’ injury gives recently-signed running back Donald Brown the chance to prove his worth to the club.
Mark Ingram, RB, New Orleans Saints: A source told ESPN on Monday that a broken hand suffered in New Orleans’ Week 2 loss to the Browns will keep Ingram out for at least a month.
Ingram was terrific in Weeks 1 and 2, compiling a total of 143 yards and three touchdowns on the ground. Yet the Saints still have a ton of options in the run game, including veteran Pierre Thomas and second-year back Khiry Robinson. This offense should be fine.
Knowshon Moreno, RB, Miami Dophins:Â Moreno is expected to miss at least a month after dislocating his elbow on Sunday.
Moreno was a beast in Week 1 against the Patriots, and he will be missed. The Dolphins re-signed Daniel Thomas and will rely on him and Lamar Miller to fill the void, which at the moment looks like a noticeable downgrade.
Photo via Chris Humphreys/USA TODAY Sports Images
