The preseason trudges on as the NFL gets closer and closer to Week 1 of the 2023 regular season. Each team around the division continues to work through various injury issues with several teams having scares that could alter their trajectory and playoff hopes this season.
The goal of the preseason is to stay healthy and get everyone to Week 1, though that is not always possible. Below are all the injury notes following the fourth week of practice including updates on Breece Hall, Terron Armstead, Von Miller, Mike Gesicki, and many more.
New York Jets | New England Patriots | Miami Dolphins | Buffalo Bills
New York Jets
Camp Injuries
CB Javelin Guidry (Knee)
Guidry suffered a knee injury in a joint practice against the Buccaneers on Wednesday and was expected to undergo surgery. He was quickly placed waived and later placed on IR for the season. He could structure an injury settlement, but that will depend on how significant the injury is to recover from.
G Lakin Tomlinson (Leg)
G Alijah Vera-Tucker (Ankle)
AVT is working through an ankle, side not specified, that is keeping him day-to-day. h
DE Carl Lawson (Back)
Lawson has missed most of the two weeks working through a back injury. He missed three practices prior to August 9 and I have not seen that he attempted to return to practice since then.
This is something to monitor moving forward if he continues to miss practice.
OT Max Mitchell (Back)
TE Jeremy Ruckert (Shoulder)
Other Observations
RB Breece Hall (Left ACL tear)
Hall was activated from PUP earlier this week and has looked impressive as he ramps up his workload as seen in the video below.
He has come out and stated that his knee still gets sore at times and is unsure of some cuts, but Hall appears ready to go for Week 1. Even if they don’t want to give him a full workload to avoid setbacks, they have Dalvin Cook to hand off to with the hopes that Hall continues to improve throughout the year.
Miami Dolphins
OT Terron Armstead (Right knee)
This was some of the biggest news coming out of Thursday’s camp news when Armstead walked off the field to put a sneaker on, not able to extend his right knee or put weight on it. This was especially significant as Armstead had an off-season knee scope to clean out the knee following his injury-marred 2022 season.
He required the cart to get off the field which isn’t too concerning as that is the most efficient way to move players during camp. He was later seen on crutches as he went to go get an MRI and further examinations. While the crutches were necessary, Armstead did show the ability to walk relatively normally without assistance.
Hours later, he came out and stated that everything was fine and that someone landed on his leg. Reports indicate that he will be ready in Week 1 which is incredibly promising.
After everything that Armstead battled through last season, these types of injuries are not promising, but the latest news is. It doesn’t sound like this is a significant injury, but Armstead is a very important player and we should get more updates in the coming days.
OT Liam Eichenburg
CB Cam Smith (Shoulder) CB Kader Kohou (Undisclosed) WR Jaylen Waddle (Rib/abdomen)
Smith is working through a shoulder injury sustained midway through the second quarter on Saturday that saw him leave the game. The team isn’t too concerned about the injury, but they are not rushing him back either.
Waddle, on the other hand, is trying to get back after working through a rib/abdomen injury Tuesday. He has been chomping at the bit to get out and practice in front of his hometown and play Saturday.
WR Robbie Chosen
New England Patriots
Camp Injuries
The Patriots continue to battle through injuries with the below group continuing to miss practice.
CB Jonathan Jones (Undisclosed), RB Ty Montgomery (Left leg), RB Pierre Strong (Undisclosed), OT Conner McDermott (Undisclosed), OT Cole Strange (Left knee)
-Jones continues to miss practice dating back to August 3 for unknown reasons.
-Strong was able to play in the preseason game on Thursday but from what I found, he has not been able to practice since then.
-Montgomery has not been able to practice since a collision with Terez Hall back on July 27.
-McDermott missed Wednesday’s and Thursday’s practice with an undisclosed injury.
-Strange has not been able to practice since suffering a left knee injury on July 31.
TE Mike Gesicki (Shoulder)
Gesicki suffered a shoulder injury with rather odd reporting from Ian Rapoport as a result of a tackling drill.
While it’s entirely possible that he did indeed suffer a shoulder dislocation, the note that it was an AC sprain at the end is contradictory. An AC sprain is damage at where the end of the clavicle meets the acromion. A dislocated shoulder is when the humeral head comes out from where it articulates with the labrum and glenoid fossa.
Gesicki had a similar injury in Miami last year and played through it, potentially suffering a dislocated shoulder at the time. If that was the case, then a subluxation or dislocation would be the more appropriate injury. It’s very possible he suffered another subluxation to his shoulder due to this hit.
He did not practice Thursday and it’s unlikely that he plays Saturday due to the decency of the injury. As more information is known, that’ll clarify the timeline and when he can reasonably be expected to return.
WR Tyquan Thornton (Shoulder)
Thornton left Thursday’s practice following a diving catch from Mac Jones early in practice. He landed hard on his shoulder and was unable to return. The immediate news conjured up memories of him fracturing his clavicle last year to miss the start of the season. However, this injury appears less severe than last year which may translate to missed time, possibly one preseason game missed.
G Bill Murray (Undisclosed)
Murray was observed in a red non-contact jersey this week after he continues to work through missing practice last week.
G/C Kody Russey (Leg)
Russey was rolled up on during the preseason game on Friday and was seen throughout this week working off to the side. When I see a player get rolled up on, there is always concern for a high-ankle sprain or MCL sprain which could keep a player out for some time.
PUP/NFI
OT Michael Onwenu (Ankle surgery), DB Cody Davis (Knee), DE Trey Flowers (Undisclosed), OL Calvin Anderson (Illness)
All continue to work back from their respective injuries other than Flowers who recently signed after coming back from Detroit. Anderson continues to be out with an undisclosed illness.
Buffalo Bills
Camp Injuries
FB Reggie Gilliam (Groin)
Gilliam returned to practice after missing all of last week with a groin injury originally sustained in the scrimmage on August 4. He was able to return to practice after missing five practices on Tuesday.
DT DJ Dale (Ribs)
After getting fallen on during the Colts game, Dale did not miss practice, more likely sore and hurt rather than outright injured.
OT Tommy Doyle (Right knee)
After falling on his right knee due to getting rolled up on early in the second quarter, Doyle exited and underwent an MRI to ensure no structural damage to his surgically repaired ACL. He did not miss practice as a result.
RB Damien Harris (Right knee)
Harris sat out of practice just over a week after dealing with what the team described as right knee soreness. He had a sleeve on the knee at one point the week prior but was able to return to practice Wednesday, participating in drills.
All of Harris’s issues were to his left side last year which could rule out any chronic issues. He has had his share of injuries so when he missed time, it’s more of an concern.
DT Eli Ankou (Calf)
Ankou appeared to suffer a calf strain in Saturday’s win over the Colts, missing practice all of this week. He has had a history of calf injuries dating back several years including one that had him start on PUP last season, missing the first two weeks of training camp.
I would bet money that this is the same side from last year he is working through. It remains to be seen how long he will be out based on severity, the hope is a week or two.
CB Cam Lewis (Right groin)
Lewis returned to practice Thursday after missing time since August 6 after he attempted to bat down a pass, falling hard to the ground. He has firmly entrenched himself into the conversation to make the 53-man roster and his return Thursday can only help further his chances.
LB Terrel Bernard (Hamstring)
Bernard missed the Colts preseason game following an early practice hamstring strain during the early portion of practice on August 10. He has been working off to the side rehabbing, but this is the latest issue for Bernard after a variety of injuries suffered at Baylor.
This is the first documented soft tissue injury for Bernard, but he is not expected to play in Saturday’s game and there’s a chance he may not even play against the Bears if he can’t get into practice at some point next week.
LB Baylon Spector (Back)
Spector missed Wednesday’s practice with a back injury, though it’s unclear when this happened. This may have been more of a maintenance day but it’s promising to see that he did not miss much time.
WR Gabe Davis (Rest)
Davis missed Wednesday’s practice due to general soreness, needing a rest day. Considering how hard he has been practicing and providing highlight heel plays, it’s not surprising he needed a day off. He returned to practice Thursday.
DT Jordan Phillips (Right shoulder)
Phillips returned to practice on August 16 and has been steadily increasing his workload throughout camp as he works back from his right rotator cuff tear and labrum surgery. He is seen wearing a shoulder harness below for added protection to not stress the range of motion of the shoulder and suffer any setbacks.
PUP
DE Von Miller (Right ACL)
Miller continues to work off to the side rehabbing as he works towards returning to play. He has not been seen working out to the side since August 4 until reappearing on August 18. However, reporters may not be highlighting his participation as nothing new has changed. He may also have had a minor setback, though there is no way to confirm that without the team saying anything.
While he did rehab without a compression sleeve or brace, his participation does not tell us much about his progress. The team appears on track to keep him on PUP, missing at minimum the first four games.
LB Tyler Matakevich (Right calf)
Matakevich returned to practice Tuesday after starting the season on the PUP after suffering a calf strain prior to camp. He spent 22 days on PUP but it’s unknown when he suffered the injury. It’s likely he suffered the injury in mid-July, which put his timeline to return at roughly about a month, longer than the average.
Considering they had the time to rehab him properly, this may have factored into the longer duration to avoid a recurrence later on.
Top Photo Credit: Miami Dolphins
