This article is part of our Injury Analysis series.
In a season synonymous with injury, it seems only fitting that the top receiver in the NFL joins the unfortunately long list of impactful injuries. Brown suffered a partially torn calf muscle Sunday and is done for the rest of the regular season.
Muscles of the body can be bruised or strained. Strains occur in a variety of ways and can be described as a pull or a tear. However, these designations often just describe the degree of damage to the muscle itself. Medically, strains are assigned grades based on the severity of this accrued damage. A Grade I strain, often called a "pulled muscle" is the least severe and often considered minor. In low-grade strains, microtearing of the tissue has occurred, though the injured individual often reports little to no loss of function. A Grade 2 strain is considered moderate and involves damage to actual muscle fibers. Grade 2 injuries are often referred to as partial tears. Anything given a higher grade is considered severe, and the tear is usually complete. Grade 3 injuries are accompanied by a loss of both stability and function and generally require surgery intervention.
Brown's injury appears to be a Grade 2 strain of the calf. The calf is actually a muscle group comprising multiple muscles that share a conjoined tendon. Brown's injury appears to have occurred to the muscle belly and not the Achilles tendon. As a result, he has a chance to return for the postseason though he faces an
In a season synonymous with injury, it seems only fitting that the top receiver in the NFL joins the unfortunately long list of impactful injuries. Brown suffered a partially torn calf muscle Sunday and is done for the rest of the regular season.
Muscles of the body can be bruised or strained. Strains occur in a variety of ways and can be described as a pull or a tear. However, these designations often just describe the degree of damage to the muscle itself. Medically, strains are assigned grades based on the severity of this accrued damage. A Grade I strain, often called a "pulled muscle" is the least severe and often considered minor. In low-grade strains, microtearing of the tissue has occurred, though the injured individual often reports little to no loss of function. A Grade 2 strain is considered moderate and involves damage to actual muscle fibers. Grade 2 injuries are often referred to as partial tears. Anything given a higher grade is considered severe, and the tear is usually complete. Grade 3 injuries are accompanied by a loss of both stability and function and generally require surgery intervention.
Brown's injury appears to be a Grade 2 strain of the calf. The calf is actually a muscle group comprising multiple muscles that share a conjoined tendon. Brown's injury appears to have occurred to the muscle belly and not the Achilles tendon. As a result, he has a chance to return for the postseason though he faces an uphill battle during recovery. The calf is a highly utilized muscle in accelerating and decelerating, and vital for a receiver. Any limitation here would be detrimental to his elite skill set. Furthermore, calf injuries can be aggravated easily and open up the individual to other injuries along the kinetic chain, specifically the hamstring. Fantasy owners still alive will have to scramble for a replacement.
Comparatively speaking, kidney injuries are relatively uncommon in the NFL with one recent study putting the incident rate at roughly three per season. However, the injury has gained notoriety over the past few seasons with big name players including Andrew Luck and Keenan Allen suffering renal injuries. Now Henry joins this company after suffering a kidney laceration over the weekend following a hit from the Chiefs' Bennie Logan.
The kidneys are a key component in maintaining an individual's homeostasis, particularly during the excretion of waste products. They sit behind the ribs on both sides of the body. However, the bean-shaped organs remain vulnerable to injury following significant impact. A kidney can be contused (bruised) or, as was the case for Henry, lacerated. Fortunately, surgery isn't necessary if the damage is minimal, with rest remaining the best course of treatment. However, this can take weeks not days, and Henry's availability for the remainder of the year is in doubt. Look for his progress to be updated throughout the week, but play it safe and have a backup tight end readily available.
Turf Burns
Rex Burkhead: The Patriots running back suffered a left knee injury in the team's late-game win over the Steelers. Burkhead left in the third quarter of the game following a tackle from Pittsburgh's Tyson Alualu. Initial tests, later confirmed by an MRI, ruled out a severe sprain to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), though a mild knee sprain and bone contusion was discovered. In a predictable move, New England did not reveal the involved ligament but has ruled him out for the remainder of the regular season. Burkhead is droppable in yearly leagues, with Mike Gillislee likely to assume goal-line responsibilities. Dion Lewis and James White both will see an increase in their usage over the final two weeks.
Leonard Fournette: The Jaguars running back was a surprise scratch Sunday due to a quadriceps contusion. The rookie was limited throughout the week before being ruled out. While not as severe as a strain, a quad contusion can be very painful and functionally limiting, making the simple task of straightening the leg difficult. As a result, more complex activities like running or jumping can be almost impossible to perform without pain.
The Jaguars likely were taking a conservative approach with Fournette's care, knowing his long-term health is essential if the team wants to compete in the postseason. Chris Ivory started in his place, rushing for 42 yards on 17 carries. Ivory may have gotten the start but he was outpaced by teammate Corey Grant who rushed for 69 yards and a touchdown on seven fewer carries. Fullback Tommy Bohanon was active at the goaline, punching in two touchdowns from the one-yard line.
Fournette should be back for Week 16, but with a playoff spot guaranteed they will need to see significant progress to risk exposing him to injury.
Aaron Rodgers: Rodgers looked fine physically on Sunday in his return from a broken collarbone. However, his timing appeared off after weeks on the sidelines. The Panthers may have anticipated the rust, as they blitzed Green Bay frequently in Sunday's loss, sacking him three times and hitting him seven. The impact showed in Rodger's final stat line; he finished with three interceptions and a season-low 57.8 completion percentage.
The Falcons win on Monday night knocked the Packers out of the playoff hunt, a move that could convince Green Bay to shut down Rodgers for the remainder of the season. By prematurely ending his season, the Packers can eliminate the risk of Rodgers aggravating the still-healing injury site and allow him to return completely healthy for training camp. Look for a decision to come within the next few days.
Davante Adams: The Packers wideout suffered a brutal hit in Sunday's loss to the Panthers. The blind side collision left Adams with a concussion, his second documented case of the regular season. Multiple concussions for an individual are particularly problematic as the effects from each injury are cumulative. As a result, the associated symptoms can be more severe and last for a longer period of time. Adams must complete the league's mandated protocol before returning to play, but that's far from a guarantee. Even if Adams is cleared, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Packers keep him in street clothes, especially with Rodgers' status still unclear and the team officially eliminated from the playoffs.
