This article is part of our Injury Analysis series.
The Bears tight end suffered one of the more frightening injuries over the weekend, severely injuring his knee. Miller suffered a knee dislocation while attempting to haul in a touchdown pass late in the third quarter. The medical staff reacted quickly and carted Miller off the field. The skillful eye of the Chicago medical team also appropriately identified a vascular component of the injury, and Miller was rushed to surgery.
Miller's injury was more complex than a patella (kneecap) dislocation. It involved the true knee joint, meaning the bones of the lower leg were forced out of their normal alignment with the femur. This forced action resulted in damage to the popliteal artery, the blood vessel located behind the knee that is responsible for supplying blood to the lower leg. Reports indicate the artery was "shredded" and required a venous graft to repair. The emergency surgery may have very well saved Miller's leg, as prolonged blood flow restriction can lead to permanent muscle damage.
Miller will spend the next few weeks recovering before he begins another round of leg surgeries to address the complex ligament damage associated with the injury. It is typical for multiple ligaments to tear during a knee dislocation, as they are the primary structures designed to prevent this motion. Last season, Minnesota quarterback Teddy Bridgewater sustained a complex knee dislocation that included a torn ACL. Fortunately, Bridgewater avoided any substantial vascular damage.
Miller faces a lengthy and intricate road to recovery. Sadly, a return
The Bears tight end suffered one of the more frightening injuries over the weekend, severely injuring his knee. Miller suffered a knee dislocation while attempting to haul in a touchdown pass late in the third quarter. The medical staff reacted quickly and carted Miller off the field. The skillful eye of the Chicago medical team also appropriately identified a vascular component of the injury, and Miller was rushed to surgery.
Miller's injury was more complex than a patella (kneecap) dislocation. It involved the true knee joint, meaning the bones of the lower leg were forced out of their normal alignment with the femur. This forced action resulted in damage to the popliteal artery, the blood vessel located behind the knee that is responsible for supplying blood to the lower leg. Reports indicate the artery was "shredded" and required a venous graft to repair. The emergency surgery may have very well saved Miller's leg, as prolonged blood flow restriction can lead to permanent muscle damage.
Miller will spend the next few weeks recovering before he begins another round of leg surgeries to address the complex ligament damage associated with the injury. It is typical for multiple ligaments to tear during a knee dislocation, as they are the primary structures designed to prevent this motion. Last season, Minnesota quarterback Teddy Bridgewater sustained a complex knee dislocation that included a torn ACL. Fortunately, Bridgewater avoided any substantial vascular damage.
Miller faces a lengthy and intricate road to recovery. Sadly, a return to football is unlikely due to the complexity and severity of the damage.
Freeman's carries remained low for the third straight outing, though it appears an injury may have influenced his workload. Freeman carried the ball just 12 times on Sunday but suffered a shoulder injury in the second half that is being reported as a stinger. A "stinger" or "burner" occurs when a bundle of nerves in the shoulder and neck area, known as the brachial plexus, is stretched or compressed. The injury is often accompanied by pain and numbness that can extend all the way from the shoulder to the fingers of the hand. As a result, a running back may have trouble controlling the ball following this type of injury. If this was the case, it makes sense that Atlanta handed over the reins to Tevin Coleman to close out the game. Rest is often the best course of treatment, though nerve issues can be slow to heal. Look for Freeman to see limited reps this week in practice ahead of Sunday's contest against the Panthers. Fantasy owners should scale back their expectations of Freeman for Week 9 with Coleman likely to see a healthy number of reps.
Turf Burns
Jay Cutler: Multiple rib fractures will cost Cutler only one week, as he will return to the lineup after missing Thursday's shutout at the hands of the Ravens. He likely will wear a flak jacket to protect the area but he should be functionally okay. Pain management remains the biggest remaining issue.
Joe Flacco: The Ravens quarterback remains in the NFL's concussion protocol but is progressing following Thursday's injury. He's currently symptom free and has plenty of time to meet each of the protocol's benchmarks to return to play. The team will continue to report his completion of each of the various steps, but look for the former Super Bowl MVP to be available Sunday against the Titans.
Leonard Fournette: It appears the two weeks off were enough for the rookie running back. Fournette is working his way back from an ankle injury sustained in Week 6 but was able to participate in light work during Monday's practice. Keep a close eye on his progression throughout the week, but all signs point to Fournette playing against the Bengals.
Chris Hogan: The Patriots wide receiver won't need surgery for his injured right shoulder but is expected to miss time, despite a Week 9 bye. The exact nature of the injury hasn't been disclosed but there have been hints it was a dislocation. It's unsurprising to see New England remain tight-lipped regarding injury information, but Hogan owners should plan ahead.
DeMarco Murray: The Titans are optimistic that Murray will be healthy enough to start on Sunday against the Ravens. Murray has been managing hamstring and shoulder injuries, but reportedly improved during the team's off week. He will likely see limited reps throughout this week's practice but remains Tennessee's feature back. However, his injury history suggests handcuffing him with Derrick Henry remains a safe strategy.
Corey Davis: In addition to Murray, the Titans are hoping to have Davis back in uniform. The rookie wide out hasn't played since Week 2 due to hamstring woes that first surfaced during training camp. However, he was back at practice on Monday as a limited participant and should be ready for Sunday. The fifth overall pick should help bolster the Tennessee offense if he can avoid a setback, a task that is easier said than done. Hamstring injuries are particularly problematic for wide receivers as they are vital for the explosive bursts and cuts required to adequately play the position. As a result, they are easily aggravated, and Davis' owners shouldn't feel comfortable until he's played multiple weeks without a setback.
Jordan Reed: The often-injured tight end isn't expected to play Sunday against the Seahawks. Reed made an early exit Sunday against Dallas after straining his hamstring. It wouldn't be surprising to see this issue force him out of multiple games given his extensive history of hamstring injuries. The problems first began in college and have continued in the NFL. A hamstring strain caused him to sit out five weeks, including four consecutive games, during the 2014 season. He was sidelined again during the 2015 preseason with a similar problem. Reed remains a high-risk, high-reward option that is currently high on risk and low on reward. Look elsewhere this week and consider adding a more reliable long-term option as well.
