This article is part of our Injury Analysis series.
Two of the NFC's top running backs were unable to finish their Week 2 contests due to muscle cramping. Cook suffered a cramp in his hamstring during overtime of Minnesota's matchup with Green Bay, and Gurley exited late in the second half of Los Angeles' blowout win over Arizona.
A cramp occurs when a muscle involuntarily contracts, often eliciting pain. During a game, athletes are vulnerable to experiencing a tonic spasm in which the forced muscle contraction is persistent preventing the muscle from relaxing. The contraction hinders the function of the involved muscle, limiting a player's performance. Furthermore, cramps can lead to actual muscle strains if the spasm is violent enough, resulting in lingering consequences.
The cause of cramping often varies from person to person. The prevailing thought is that cramps are the result of overuse and fatigue. Fluid loss and electrolyte levels also appear to be contributing factors. However, some studies suggest that fatigue may not be the only cause and that some individuals may actually be genetically predisposed to cramping. As a result, treatment for cramps must be individualized for the affected player.
Gurley's removal from his game was deemed as purely precautionary and was an easy decision with the Rams holding a sizeable lead. Fantasy owners can't complain about the early departure considering the running back had already found the end zone three times. It does not appear to be a serious problem, and Gurley should be an active participant in practice
Two of the NFC's top running backs were unable to finish their Week 2 contests due to muscle cramping. Cook suffered a cramp in his hamstring during overtime of Minnesota's matchup with Green Bay, and Gurley exited late in the second half of Los Angeles' blowout win over Arizona.
A cramp occurs when a muscle involuntarily contracts, often eliciting pain. During a game, athletes are vulnerable to experiencing a tonic spasm in which the forced muscle contraction is persistent preventing the muscle from relaxing. The contraction hinders the function of the involved muscle, limiting a player's performance. Furthermore, cramps can lead to actual muscle strains if the spasm is violent enough, resulting in lingering consequences.
The cause of cramping often varies from person to person. The prevailing thought is that cramps are the result of overuse and fatigue. Fluid loss and electrolyte levels also appear to be contributing factors. However, some studies suggest that fatigue may not be the only cause and that some individuals may actually be genetically predisposed to cramping. As a result, treatment for cramps must be individualized for the affected player.
Gurley's removal from his game was deemed as purely precautionary and was an easy decision with the Rams holding a sizeable lead. Fantasy owners can't complain about the early departure considering the running back had already found the end zone three times. It does not appear to be a serious problem, and Gurley should be an active participant in practice and readily available for Week 3 against the Chargers.
Cook's situation isn't as cut and dry as his area of concern involves the hamstrings, a muscle group that has caused him problems in the past. However, the Vikings downplayed the issue following the game and expect Cook to play in what will be a fantasy friendly matchup against the Bills. Keep an eye on Cook's progression throughout the week for any possible changes in his status.
Buffalo's offense has sputtered to start the season, and an injury to their lead running back only complicates the problem. McCoy is dealing with a very specific rib injury that could sideline him for Week 3.
The rib cage comprises 12 pairs of ribs, the sternum (the breastbone), the 12 thoracic vertebrae of the spine, and a specialized type of connective tissue known as costal cartilage. The costal cartilages of the true ribs, the first seven pairs of ribs, connect these bones directly to the sternum. The false ribs, ribs 8 through 10, attach to the costal cartilage of the ribs directly above them. The remaining two rib pairs, 11 and 12, don't attach to the sternum at all and are known as floating ribs. The floating ribs remain attached to the spine.
McCoy's injury is not a true fracture of the bone but involves the costal cartilage. The exact area hasn't been revealed though most costal cartilage injuries occur to the upper ribs near the chest. Costochondral injuries are relative common in the NFL with several notable players missing time in recent seasons. For example, former NFL quarterback Michael Vick missed multiple weeks while with the Eagles when he damaged the costal cartilages of ribs 2 and 3.
Players who sustain injuries to the costal cartilage often report extremely sharp pain with activity that increases with breathing and trunk movement. Some individuals may even report a stabbing pain that lingers for multiple days following the initial injury. Don't let the "positive" X-ray report fool you, a cartilage injury is a significant injury and could potentially take longer to heal than a normal fracture.
McCoy hasn't been officially ruled out for Week 3, but it sounds like the Bills are preparing for his absence. McCoy's availability will likely depend on his pain tolerance, and the team could take steps to pad and protect the injury site. However, flak jackets can be bulky in the midsection and could cause him potential problems carrying the ball. Nevertheless, McCoy will be a precarious play in Week 3 given the complexity of the injury and a tough matchup with the Vikings defense.
Turf Burns
Larry Fitzgerald: The veteran wide receiver is nursing a mild hamstring strain. It isn't expected to keep Fitz off the field but will elevate his level of injury risk. Unfortunately, it's hard to put much confidence in a dinged up receiver paired with an ineffective quarterback.
Leonard Fournette: The Jaguars didn't need their starting running back to beat the Patriots but would happily welcome him back for Week 3. Fournette suffered a mild hamstring injury in Week 1, and the team opted to conservatively manage his care. Fournette's level of participation in this week's practice should provide more insight about his potential availability against the Titans. Still, I'm guessing we see another week of limited action and another gametime decision.
Joe Mixon: The Bengals running back is expected to miss at least two weeks after undergoing an arthroscopic procedure on his knee. The procedure was likely a debridement, designed to remove damaged cartilage or a floating piece of bone. The recovery is fairly simple once the irritant is removed, and Mixon should be fine relatively quickly. Giovani Bernard will assume the primary backfield duties while Mixon is out.
Mike Wallace: The Eagles receiving corps continues to take hits as Wallace will be sidelined indefinitely with a fractured fibula. The fibula is the bone located on the outer aspect of the leg and makes up the lateral portion of the ankle. It appears Wallace may avoid surgery, though the team has not ruled out placing him on the injured reserve. Nelson Agholor remains the Eagles' top receiver for now, though Alshon Jeffery is expected to return the practice field in the near future.
Carson Wentz: While the Eagles receivers may be a bit banged up, the team will welcome back their starting quarterback. Wentz has been cleared to return to contact, just a shade over nine months after surgery on his left knee. Wentz tore his ACL and sustained additional damage to his LCL, IT band and meniscus. He won't be an automatic start for fantasy purposes but should return to top form by the end of the year.
Greg Zuerlein: Kickers rarely show up on the injury report, but the Rams are expected to be without Zuerlein's big boot for at least a few weeks. The former Pro Bowler suffered a strained groin in the win over Arizona and has already been ruled out. The team quickly signed Sam Ficken who filled in for Zuerlein last season. The easiest option for fantasy owners is to simply move on from Zuerlein, despite his impressive resume. Groin injuries for kickers can be difficult to manage and have lingering ramifications. Last season former Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey missed five games with a groin injury and struggled upon his return, missing an extra-point and five field goal attempts over the final month of the season.
