The injuries are beginning to take their toll around the AFC East after a month of practices and games. Each team has had to place at least one player on injured reserve, ending their season, and have plenty more expected to miss extended time.
This is unfortunately the nature of the preseason, playing games that don’t count to get the reps in and evaluate who will ultimately make the 53-man roster.
Below are the injury updates around the division following each team’s second preseason game.
Miami Dolphins | New England Patriots | New York Jets | Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins
PUP
WR Odell Beckham (Undisclosed)
OT Isaiah Wynn (Undisclosed)
DE Bradley Chubb (ACL)
LB Cameron Goode (Patellar Tendon)
EDGE Jaelan Phillips (Right Achilles)-Removed
Analysis
Phillips was removed from PUP on August 12 and has hit the ground running as he ramps back up to play this season. He looks explosive but he lacks some power off the right side which isn’t unexpected but we may see some compensation injuries such as hamstring this season as he works to regain his form. I wouldn’t expect a lot from him during the first half of the season but to round into form for a Dolphins playoff run.
Chubb reportedly has not had any setbacks and his recovery also continues to follow the traditional timeline given when he tore the ACL.
Wynn has had compounding stuff with his undisclosed injury which continues to appear more as though he tore his quad or patellar tendon. If that is the case, then to have setbacks or a slower recovery isn’t all that much of a surprise.
Beckham continues to ramp up on the sidelines but has not returned to practice yet. We still have yet to receive any confirmation as to the exact issue he’s dealing with.
In-Game Injuries
OL Sean Harlow (Knee)
Harlow exited Saturday’s game after QB Mike White was pushed into his knee and required evaluation. Without video, how he was pushed into the knee will determine the severity of the injury.
RB Chris Brooks (Undisclosed)
Brooks exited early on Saturday, ending his night.
WR Braylon Sanders (Undisclosed)
Sanders required assistance from training staff to get to the locker room later in Saturday’s game with more information forthcoming.
CB Cam Smith (Right Hamstring)
Smith required attention to his right hamstring during Saturday’s game and did not return. He had missed most of the preseason up to this point with an undisclosed injury. It’s possible but not confirmed that the original injury was a hamstring strain.
WR River Cracraft (Undisclosed)
Cracraft required assistance to get to the locker room during Saturday’s game for an unknown issue.
RB Jaylen Wright (Undisclosed)
Wright was held out of Saturday’s game as a precaution due to an injury that occurred on August 15.
LB David Long (Undisclosed)
Long required evaluation in the medical tent during Saturday’s game and did not appear to return to the game.
Injury Updates
S Jordan Poyer (Right Thumb)
Poyer has been out since July 30 after training staff examined his right hand/thumb area. His wife specified that it was his thumb after it was suggested that Poyer was limping around. On August 12, confirmation of a broken thumb as he returned to practice. Fractures heal reliably well and he should be ready for the season opener.
WR Jaylen Waddle (Undisclosed)
Waddle has been in and out of practice due to an undisclosed injury dating back to at least August 7. More info is needed to even identify what the issue could be.
TE Tanner Conner (Undisclosed)
Connor suffered an undisclosed injury during the first preseason game and was expected to miss the next few practices.
CB Cam Smith (Undisclosed)
Smith has missed much of training camp leaving July 28 and returning August 5 before leaving August 7. It looks like he returned August 12 but the inconsistency isn’t great for a player who struggled when he played last year.
CB Ethan Bonner (Undisclosed)
Bonner exited practice on August 12 with an undisclosed issue and I haven’t seen any updates since then.
WR Erik Ezukanma (Undisclosed)
Ezukanma returned to practice on August 12 after being out since August 1 for a new injury.
WR Braxton Berrios (Undisclosed)
LB Benito Jones (Undisclosed)
Jones is day-to-day with after an injury potentially in the preseason game or immediately after.
CB Jaelan Ramsey (Undisclosed)
Ramsey is working through something with the team being proactive keeping him out of practice in the latter half of this week.
S Jevon Holland (Undisclosed)
Are you seeing a trend here? Another player day-to-day working through something minor. Holland did have MCL sprains in both knees last year but this does not appear to be related.
TE Jody Fortson (Undisclosed)
Cracraft required assistance to get to the locker room during Saturday’s game for an unknown issue.
Fortson left Saturday’s game with an undisclosed injury but was able to return to practice on August 15 with a red non-contact jersey.
LB Anthony Walker/LB Jordyn Brooks (Undisclosed)
Both have been out since August 1 with undisclosed injuries.
Injured Reserve
LB Grayson Murphy (Right knee MCL sprain)
Murphy was placed on injured reserve due to a right MCL sprain suffered late in the first half of the Dolphins first preseason game. Since has has been placed on injured reserve, he cannot come back this year unless he reaches an injury settlement.
LB Cam Brown (Undisclosed)
Brown was placed on injured reserve, ending his season following the Dolphins’ first preseason game.
New England Patriots
PUP
LB Sione Takitaki (Knee Scope)
OL Cole Strange (Patellar Tendon)
WR Kendrick Bourne (Right ACL)
Analysis
Nothing new out of these three listed above, though I am surprised that Takitaki isn’t close to coming off PUP yet.
New Injuries
OLB Josh Uche/C Nick Leverette/OT Calvin Anderson/OLB Oshane Ximines/CB Shaun Wade, DL Armon Watts (Undisclosed)
All of these players missed Saturday’s practice with undisclosed issues possibly from Thursday’s game. No one appeared injured on the play-by-play report either.
WR JaQuay Johnson (Left Knee)
Johnson was carted off during Thursday’s game with a left knee injury and missed Saturday’s practice. The severity of his injury is unknown at time of publishing.
TE Austin Hooper (Undisclosed)
Hopper suffered an injury on practice on Saturday and was unable to finish the session.
Injury Updates
DT Christian Barmore (Blood Clots)
The only new thing for Barmore is if they plan to put him on injured reserve for the last day of preseason. This would allow him to return during the regular season if he is cleared. The fact that he hasn’t been placed there is promising.
TE Hunter Henry (Undisclosed)
Henry missed practice beginning August 13, missing the preseason game versus the Eagles. He was still out of practice as of August 17 with an undisclosed issue.
CB Jonathan Jones (Undisclosed)
Jones missed practice during last week on August 11 and 13 before returning but did not play in the preseason game against the Eagles. He returned to practice August 17.
DE John Morgan (Undisclosed)
Morgan sat out of practice on August 11 for an undisclosed reason but was able to return for the next practice and play Thursday.
S Marte Mapu (Undisclosed)
Mapu continues to miss games and practice dating back to July 28 without any new information.
CB Marcus Jones (Undisclosed)
Jones returned to practice on August 17 after missing practices dating back to August 5.
New York Jets
In-Game Injuries
CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse (Groin)
JBC was doubtful to return due to a groin injury suffered in Saturday’s win over the Carolina Panthers. Considering this is soft tissue, he could be out for the final preseason game.
WR Irv Charles (Hip)
Charles was questionable to return during the Jets preseason win over the Carolina Panthers due to a hip injury.
Injury Updates
WR Mike Williams (ACL)
Williams continues to ramp up his activity as he returns from last season’s ACL tear.
TE Jeremy Ruckert (Concussion)
Ruckert suffered a concussion at some point, potentially in the first preseason game and has been off to the side ramping his activity back up as he passes through the concussion protocol.
OT Tyron Smith (Maintenance)
Smith continues to sit out of practice and miss time due to the team looking to preserve his workload for the regular season.
DT Quinnen Williams (Shoulder)
Williams missed practice on August 15 due to a sore shoulder.
CB Michael Carter (Ankle)
Carter continues to miss time due to an ankle injury suffered originally on August 3.
Injured Reserve
LB Jimmy Ciarlo (Torn ACL)
Ciarlo suffered a torn ACL in the Jets first preseason game, ending his season as he’s placed on injured reserve followed by an injury settlement.
Buffalo Bills
For an injury update before the Bills preseason game versus the Steelers, click below.
Top Photo Credit: Phinsider.com
