The pads finally went on earlier this week around the AFC East as each team inched closer to their first preseason game. As the activity levels and intensity has ramped up, so have the injuries. Fortunately, no season-ending injuries have occurred though one players season is in jeopardy due to health issues.
Read below for the latest injury updates around the AFC East.
Miami Dolphins | New York Jets | New England Patriots | Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins
PUP
LB Jaelan Phillips (Achilles)
DE Bradley Chubb (ACL)
LB Cameron Goode (Patellar Tendon)
OT Isaiah Wynn (Undisclosed)
WR Odell Beckham Jr. (Undisclosed)
Analysis
It’s positive to see that Mike McDaniel noted that there were not any setbacks with Phillips or Chubb, though I have not seen anything to suggest that there have been any setbacks.
There was some brief video of Phillips working out on the blocking sleds which doesn’t show much regarding his left Achilles, but is positive to see he continues to ramp up. Chris Perkins of the Sun Sentinel believes Phillips may be cleared to practice soon.
Finally, Perkins noted that Beckham is performing drills without any noticeable limp or issues.
Removed from PUP
LB David Long Jr. (Undisclosed)
Long was removed from PUP on Sunday and returned to practice.
Injury Updates
CB Cam Smith (Undisclosed)
Smith was removed from practice on Sunday and missed the entire week of practice.
OT Terron Armstead (Undisclosed)
Armstead returned to practice on Monday as he ramps up to practice. He is observed wearing a sleeve on his right knee as he has had plenty of knee injuries in the past including last year.
Pro Football Network noted that the Dolphins are focusing on managing his workload to prepare him for the season and keep him healthy.
S Jordan Poyer (Right Hand)
Poyer injured his right hand/thumb on Tuesday, missing practice the rest of the week.
RB Salvon Ahmed (Left Leg)
Ahmed continues to miss practice, seen wearing a boot on his left leg according to Chris Perkins.
WR Erik Ezukanma
TE Jonnu Smith
OL Ireland Brown
DT Neville Gallimore
LB Anthony Walker Jr.
All missed practice on Thursday for unknown reasons.
On Friday Brown and Gallimore returned.
Ezukanma, Walker, WR River Cracraft, LB Jordyn Brooks missed for undisclosed reasons on Friday according to Chris Perkins.
On Saturday, Brown was released.
New York Jets
PUP/NFI
WR Mike Williams (ACL)
QB Jordan Travis (Ankle Fracture)
FB Nick Bawden (Undisclosed)- Released
Bawden was removed from the PUP list on Monday and then released the following day.
Injury Updates
WR Allen Lazard (Soreness)
Lazard missed Wednesday’s practice with generalized soreness after a physical practice the prior day. He was able to return on Friday.
CB Brandin Echols (Ribs)
Echols returned to practice on Tuesday after leaving on July 26 with a rib contusion.
RB Michael Carter II (Ankle)
Carter exited Wednesday’s practice with an ankle injury that does not appear to be concerning. He also missed Friday’s practice. After Saleh said he wasn’t worried, they came back and said that he would miss a week or two.
WR Malik Taylor (Shoulder)
Taylor did not practice on Saturday.
DE Takk McKinley (Undisclosed)
McKinley was off to the side working out with a trainer during Friday’s practice.
WR Xavier Gipson (Leg)
Gipson has not returned back to practice since suffering a leg injury on July 26. He was expected to miss 1-2 weeks.
Analysis
The Jets are looking pretty good injury wise and I would expect that Mike Williams returns here soon. The injuries they are dealing with are relatively minor and don’t elicit any cause for concern.
New England Patriots
PUP
C Jake Andrews (Undisclosed)
LB Sione Takitaki (Knee Scope)
OL Cole Strange (Left Patellar Tendon)
WR Kendrick Bourne (Right ACL)
Analysis
There is nothing new regarding the group other than Bourne has been working off to the side and continues to ramp up. I would expect that he will be activated soon along with Takitaki.
Removed from PUP
RB Antonio Gibson (Undisclosed)
Injury Updates
S Marte Mapu (Undisclosed)
Mapu has been out since July 28th with an undisclosed injury. He did appear on the practice field without a helmet on August 1.
WR DeMario Douglas (Hand)
Douglas has been limited since July 24 as he works through a hand injury, though the specifics are unknown.
New Injuries
OT Tyrone Whitley- cut
TE Jaheim Bell
Both missed practice on August 1 with an undisclosed issue.
S Jabrill Peppers (Undisclosed)
The nature of Peppers’s injury is unknown but it appears to be a lower-body injury as he was observed to be walking gingerly back on July 29th and has been out since then. He was able to return to practice on August 2.
WR Tyquan Thornton (Undisclosed)
S Joshuah Bledsoe (Undisclosed)
Both were new, undisclosed issues for Saturday’s practice.
CB Marcus Jones (Undisclosed)
Jones appeared to get injured during Friday’s practice and was unable to participate on Saturday.
OT Calvin Anderson (Lower Body)
Anderson walked off with trainers during Friday’s practice but returned to finish before missing on Saturday.
OT Chukwuma Okorafor (Undisclosed)
DT Christian Barmore (Blood Clots)
By far the biggest injury issue for the Patriots this week was the news that Christian Barmore was diagnosed with blood clots and would be sidelined indefinitely. Blood clots can originate in the lower leg veins known as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), though they can present elsewhere in the body. This can happen for a variety of causes including obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and previous injuries or surgeries, among other issues.
The fact that they caught the blood clot before it traveled to his heart, lungs, or brain is fortunate, but he is currently on blood thinners to prevent a reoccurrence. Athletes on average lose about six months of playing sports which means that Barmore could miss the season. Hopefully, they can find out what caused the blood clot and treat it to allow him to return. Here is a great Reddit post from a Patriots fan providing some extra details on their own experience with blood clots.
Below is a list of players who have dealt with blood clots in their NFL career. Everyone returned to play except Billy Price who retired because of the clots.
Billy Price
Marquise Goodwin
David Andrews
Kenneth Walker
Max Mitchell
Trey Smith
Hopefully Barmore gets the treatment he needs to live a normal and healthy life at the very least. It will be a wait and see approach before he returns to football.
Buffalo Bills
For a full injury analysis, check out the link here.
Final Thoughts
By far the most concerning issue is the Patriots Christian Barmore blood clots as that will not only force him to miss the season, but could jeopardize his career. He is getting fantastic help and will be given every opportunity to return to play.
The Bills and Dolphins are both dealing with plenty of injuries of different severity. The Dolphins are still missing players from last season’s injuries while the Bills have accumulated a lot of new injuries over the last two weeks.
The Jets are staying steady dealing with a few small injuries here and there, pointed in the right duration. Next week will be discussing preseason football games, be sure to check back often.
Top Photo Credit: Phinsider.com
