
The Friday report is ugly at wide receiver so best to keep tabs on availability heading into the weekend
📝 News & Notes
Nico Collins was a non-participant at Thursday's practice with the hamstring after a limited Wednesday, putting his Sunday status in real doubt for Houston. Deepak Chona notes he also carries a significant hamstring history.
My take: I am treating him as out this week, with next likely questionable. This guts an already thin Texans passing game and drops C.J. Stroud a tier. Dalton Schultz becomes an interesting streamer as I’m not interested in guessing which WR gets a TD.
Zay Flowers sat out again Thursday, a second straight non-participant that all but rules him out for Week 2, and Baltimore worked out veteran Brandin Cooks for depth.
My take: This situation becomes similar to the Texans above, albeit a much better QB and more explosive offense. If I’m starting a Ravens WR, it’s Rashod Bateman but I don’t have confidence in the play.
Josh Jacobs is back in the news, with a judge reportedly denying the victim's motion to seal the evidence in his ongoing case. I'm not going to speculate on the legal side, but I trust Drew Davenport, who looked into it and reads it as procedural, a small bump in the process rather than a final decision.
My take: His status is unchanged for now, but this is the kind of thing that can move quickly, so keep MarShawn Lloyd stashed just in case.
Elsewhere, the Thursday board brought some relief: Alvin Kamara said he "feels great" with "no limitations" for Sunday at Baltimore, Ja'Marr Chase said his knee feels great, Joe Burrow (back) was limited but is expected to play, Kyler Murray (concussion) practiced on a limited basis as he works through the protocol, and RJ Harvey (hamstring) was back on the field.
⚕️ Injury Corner w/ Deepak Chona
Nico Collins (HOU): it is rare to sustain a hamstring on Wednesday and play Sunday, the average absence is about two weeks with severity TBD pending an MRI, and his significant hamstring history raises the re-injury concern.
Joe Burrow (CIN): low short-term concern, and he is likely playing without a limit.
Brock Bowers (LV): he sat out Wednesday, the data favors sitting Week 2 with a Week 3-4 return, and comments point to Week 3 with the usual rapid ramp-up.
Zay Flowers (BAL): another Wednesday absence, and it would be a heavy outlier for him to play one week after a hamstring re-aggravation, even a mild one.
Sam Darnold (SEA): avoiding IR is promising, the lean is a Week 4-5 return, and expect some mobility limits once he is back.
Ladd McConkey (LAC): he did not practice Wednesday, and while a return one week after a rib contusion is possible, most receivers see a snap-share and production dip if they play through it.
Jalen Coker (CAR): a suspected low-ankle sprain, limited Wednesday, and most receivers play through this without a stat dip if they can log a full practice first.
RJ Harvey (DEN): did not practice with the hamstring, and most hamstring injuries cost at least a week, so Jonah Coleman may be worth an add.
Alec Pierce (IND): a first full practice Wednesday, and with only about 30 snaps in Week 1 he is likely to see a major jump in snap share and production.
George Kittle (SF): limited Wednesday, so project a gradual ramp with a persistent efficiency dip. He saw high-yield snaps in Week 1 and can still score, but expect a volatile season.
Deepak Chona is an Orthopedic Sports Surgeon by day, data-driven injury analyst by night. You can follow more of his insights at @SportMDAnalysis.
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