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Jordan Mason
Mason went down with what’s been confirmed as an AC joint sprain. This is considered minor, and luckily for RBs, The median amount of time NFL RBs miss with this injury (when not severe) is 4 days with an average of 11 days. In other words, Mason will be a game-time decision, in all likelihood. Still, there’s no reason to blow significant FAAB for another RB on this team, given the fact that this injury is not severe and CMC has an outside chance to return by Week 8.
Projected Return: Week 7/TBD
Marvin Harrison Jr. and Chris Olave
The bottom line is that concussions are highly unpredictable. Nevertheless, here’s the games-missed data:
Mean - 0.67
Median - 1
Mode - 0
91% of WRs miss 0-1 games
Only 9% of WRs miss 2+ games
For MHJ, this is his second concussion since 2022. So in theory, he shouldn’t miss any time. But as we saw with Malik Nabers, symptoms can linger. Additionally, younger players in the NFL tend to miss more time compared to veterans in general. Still, so long as he takes the typical route, the hope is Marv can be back in 1-2 weeks.
For Olave, there’s legitimate cause for concern, given that this is his fourth concussion since 2020, and he’s virtually a guarantee to miss Week 7 because it’s a Thursday night game. His best comps are Sterling Shepard and Brandin Cooks. After his third documented head injury, Shepard missed one week, reinjured, and missed more than a month of time.
Cooks missed two weeks after his third documented concussion. The Saints are in a precarious situation, and I wouldn’t advise getting into the Olave game right now. In fact, if I can get a comparable asset, I’m trading him away. The good news regarding Cooks is that he hasn’t had a documented concussion ever since.
Marvin Harrison Jr.
Projected Return: Week 7/TBD
Chris Olave
Projected Return: TBD
Jerome Ford and Travis Etienne
Similar to concussions, here are the games-missed numbers for RBs with hamstring issues:
- Mean - 1.1
- Median - 1
- Mode - 0
- 77% of RBs miss 0-1 games
- Only 23% of RBs miss 2+ games
Etienne has a history of this injury, but it goes way back to 2017. On the other hand, Ford missed a huge chunk of time in 2023 with a hammy. Things can go sideways, of course, but if we had to choose which one of these guys misses an extended period of time beyond the average, the answer is likely Ford.
Travis Etienne
Projected Return: Week 7-8
Jerome Ford
Projected Return: Week 8-10
Others to monitor
Ladd McConkey was evaluated for a concussion, and symptoms could arise spontaneously. Quentin Johnston and Jayden Reed both looked to have sustained mild ankle sprains. All three returned to play. Dontayvion Wicks went down with a shoulder injury but it appeared minor.
Projected Returns
Derek Carr: Oblique
Projected Return: Week 8-9
Advice: N/A
Devin Singletary: Groin
Projected Return: Week 6-7
Advice: Start Tyrone Tracy
James Cook: Toe
Projected Return: Week 8-9
Advice: Add Ray Davis
Luke Musgrave: Ankle
Projected Return: On IR
Advice: Start Tucker Kraft
Rachaad White: Foot
Projected Return: Week 7-9
Advice: Start Bucky Irving
Khalil Shakir: Ankle
Projected Return: Week 7-8
Advice: N/A
Nico Collins: Hamstring
Projected Return: Week 11-12
Malik Nabers: Concussion
Projected Return: Week 7/TBD
Advice: Target
Anthony Richardson: Hip Pointer
Projected Return: Week 7
Advice: Target
Jonathan Taylor: High Ankle
Projected Return: Week 7-8
Advice: Target
Rashee Rice: LCL
Advice: Drop
Projected Return: 2025
Isiah Pacheco: Ankle
Projected Return: Week 12
Advice: Target later in season as playoff contender
Cooper Kupp: High Ankle
Projected Return: Week 7-8
Advice: Target
Puka Nacua: PCL
Projected Return: Week 8-9
Advice: Target at a discount, avoid overpaying
Christian McCaffrey: Achilles/calf
Projected Return: Week 8 or 10
Advice: Target at a discount, avoid overpaying
Zamir White: Groin
Projected Return: Week 7-8
Advice: N/A
