Fantasy Football Injuries: Is Puka Nacua’s Season Over?

Nothing can wreck a fantasy season like injuries.

But injuries also present opportunity. You can gain an edge over your competition by having a better understanding of injuries, how long they’ll keep players out, and how they’ll impact performance upon return.

I'm a doctor of physical therapy with more than a decade of sports medicine experience, and I'm here to separate reality from rumor, explain timelines, and give you the performance outlook you need to make sharper decisions.

Here's what you need to know about the key fantasy football injuries coming out of Week 9 ...

Fantasy Football Injuries: QBs

Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs

• Injury: Forearm strain, possible UCL sprain
• Expected Weeks Missed: 0-2

Outlook: What initially looked like a devastating elbow or shoulder injury has now left Patrick Mahomes considered “day-to-day.” It never ceases to amaze me what the bodies of high-level athletes can handle.

Reports indicate that Mahomes' MRI was negative for any significant structural injuries, such as a full UCL tear. He is likely dealing with a strain of the forearm flexor tendons (which you could see him grab immediately following the injury) or a Grade 1 UCL sprain.

At this point, Mahomes is unlikely to miss any extended time. However, we can expect a moderate performance impact, particularly on his ability to throw the ball downfield, due to persistent pain and weakness in the forearm flexors.

Justin Herbert, Chargers

• Injury: Left hand/finger
• Expected Weeks Missed: 0

Outlook: Imaging on Monday determined that Justin Herbert avoided a finger fracture. Most importantly, the injury is to his non-throwing hand. 

He will likely play this coming week with only a slight performance impact, primarily related to ball security.

Malik Willis, Dolphins

• Injury: Groin and abdominal strain
• Expected Weeks Missed: 4 to season ending

Outlook: Malik Willis was clearly limited on Sunday by his ongoing groin strain.

Unfortunately, one of the major risks of playing through soft tissue injuries has now become reality: the injury can worsen. Willis aggravated his groin strain, and it now also involves the lower abdominal musculature, raising concern for a possible sports hernia.

Reports indicate that he will attempt to return this season, but there is a legitimate chance he misses the remainder of the year if rehab does not go perfectly. The combination of groin and lower abdominal involvement makes this a particularly difficult injury to recover from.

Drew Lock, Seahawks

• Injury: Elbow tendinitis, oblique strain
• Expected Weeks Missed: 0-2

Outlook: Drew Lock has been dealing with elbow tendinitis for the past month, and he played through it last week. Pain and weakness will continue to limit his ability to throw the ball downfield.

To make matters worse, Lock suffered an oblique strain on Sunday. The oblique muscles help rotate the torso, a movement that is pivotal to throwing.

From the sounds of it, neither injury is likely to keep Lock off the field, but we should expect a moderate performance impact.

Fantasy Football Injuries: RBs

Josh Jacobs, Packers

• Injury: Finger fracture
• Expected Weeks Missed: 3-6

Outlook: Josh Jacobs got his finger caught in a helmet, resulting in a fracture. He is scheduled to undergo surgery to stabilize the bone. The most likely recovery timeline for a RB with this type of injury is 4-6 weeks.

He will need sufficient bone healing, along with full range of motion and near-full strength, before returning to play. Once back on the field, ball security will be the primary performance concern.

Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots

• Injury: Plantaris tendon
• Expected Weeks Missed: 2-4

Outlook: The plantaris muscle has one of the longest tendons in the body and assists with knee flexion and plantarflexion of the foot. This is much less significant than other tendon injuries such as those involving the Achilles or patellar tendon.

Rhamondre Stevenson will avoid surgery and focus on controlling swelling, regaining range of motion, and rebuilding strength, with a likely return in a few weeks.

This is definitely a situation where Stevenson could sustain a new injury upon return, particularly as he works back toward full football activity. Expect a slight to moderate performance impact during his first few weeks back.

Fantasy Football Injuries: WRs

Puka Nacua, Rams

• Injury: MCL sprain, PCL sprain, turf toe
• Expected Weeks Missed: 4 to season ending

Outlook: Puka Nacua will land on IR after sustaining all three injuries at the end of Sunday's game. The most important details we don't know yet are the severity of each injury. For now, we are assuming none involve full ligament ruptures.

All three injuries involve ligament damage, and each has the potential to heal without surgery. That being said, the PCL or turf toe injury will most likely be the limiting factor and take the longest to heal.

If all three injuries are lower-grade sprains and rehab progresses perfectly, it's possible we could see Nacua back on the field as early as Week 15. Any higher-grade injuries or setbacks during recovery, however, could cost him the remainder of the season.

Michael Wilson, Cardinals

• Injury: Neck fracture
• Expected Weeks Missed: Season ending

Outlook: Cervical vertebrae fracture: very bad. 

Michael Wilson reportedly played through what he thought was a relatively minor injury, but in reality, he was at significant risk of a potentially life-altering injury. Luckily, Wilson avoided making the situation worse. He will now be in a neck brace for the next 6-8 weeks and will miss the remainder of the season.

At this point, there are no significant long-term concerns. He is expected to make a full recovery and return at 100% for next season.

Luther Burden, Bears
Jaylen Waddle, Broncos

• Injury: Concussion
• Expected Weeks Missed: 0

Outlook: Luther Burden and Jaylen Waddle head into their bye weeks with what should be plenty of time to complete the five-step concussion protocol.

While neither return is guaranteed, the timing gives both an additional week to progress through the protocol without missing another game. 

Barring any setbacks or lingering symptoms, we expect both to be cleared and available for Week 11.

Ladd McConkey, Chargers

• Injury: Back spasms
• Expected Weeks Missed: 0-2 

Outlook: Ladd McConkey makes his way back into this article with a very relatable injury. He was unable to start Sunday's game after back spasms hit during warmups.

Back spasms can be difficult to calm down and can cause hours of significant pain, loss of motion, and reduced athletic function. If managed properly and not related to any significant underlying pathology, they often do not result in prolonged absences.

However, McConkey will be at an increased risk of exiting games early if the back spasms recur.

Omar Cooper, Jets

• Injury: Right ankle sprain
• Expected Weeks Missed: 0-4

Outlook: Omar Cooper hopped off the field in frustration after re-injuring his right ankle.

We don't have any official update from the team on the severity of the injury, but don't be surprised if he misses additional time. This is the same ankle he hurt back in Week 1, costing him the next four games.

We will be monitoring updates from the Jets this week, particularly Cooper’s practice participation, for a better indication of the severity and likelihood of missing Sunday's game.

Xavier Worthy, Chiefs

• Injury: Hamstring strain
• Expected Weeks Missed: 2-4

Outlook: Xavier Worthy was quickly ruled out after leaving the game, which is typically a good indicator that this is more than a minor strain.

Hamstring injuries are particularly prone to recurrence and often result in a minimum absence of 1-2 games. Don't be surprised if his absence extends beyond that, depending on the severity of the strain and how he progresses through rehab.

Upon his return, expect some limitations with top-end speed, particularly during his first week back.

Fantasy Football Injuries: TEs

Jake Ferguson, Cowboys

• Injury: MCL sprain, PCL sprain
• Expected Weeks Missed: 2-6

Outlook: Jake Ferguson suffered sprains to two of the four major knee ligaments. No ligament injury is ideal, but if I had to pick two of the four, these would be the two.

If Ferguson avoided full ruptures of both ligaments, he has a realistic chance of returning to the field in 2-4 weeks.

However, if either injury involves a more severe sprain, expect that timeline to extend to approximately six weeks.

What Do These Injuries Mean For Your Fantasy Team?

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