The 2017 week four injury report for the NFL saw quite a number of players added to this list following play on Sunday. Out of all the players to sustain injuries in week four, arguably none was bigger than the Minnesota Vikings rookie phenom, running back Dalvin Cook, who’s knee injury (non-contact) couldn’t have come at a worse time. The Vikings have already been without quarterback Sam Bradford (knee injury) for several weeks now, but are hopeful that he can return to action in the coming weeks. For a team with playoff aspirations, the Vikings can’t afford for to lose anymore of their playmakers.
Other notable injuries from week four include Seattle Seahawks running back Chris Carson (broken ankle), Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (back), and Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota (hamstring). Mariota isn’t expected to miss any time, but it is a situation to keep an eye on heading into Week Five. For the Raiders and Carr, it’s a different story all together. Oakland’s season rest on their franchise quarterback getting healthy as soon as possible.
Below is a roundup of all the notable injuries to occur in Week Four, as well as updates on players whose injuries kept them off the field this past Sunday. Some injuries are more serious than others, but all the injuries, serious or non-serious, impact their respectful teams nonetheless.
2017 Week Four Injury Report
RB Dalvin Cook – Minnesota Vikings
On Monday, Minnesota Vikings (2-2) head coach Mike Zimmerman confirmed that their rookie running back, Dalvin Cook, suffered a torn ACL in Sunday’s 14-7 loss to the Detroit Lions (2-2), and is out for the remainder of the season. Cook tore his left ACL while making a cut in the third quarter. It was a non-contact injury.
The Vikings second round pick out of Florida State will be sorely missed as the season progresses. Luckily for Minnesota they have Latavius Murray who they signed as a free agent this past off-season, and who’s been backing up Cook since the rookie beat him out in preseason for the starting job.
Through the first four games of the season, Dalvin Cook ranks third in the NFL with 354 yards rushing to along with two touchdowns.
QB Derek Carr – Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders (2-2) will be without their franchise quarterback for up to six weeks with a transverse process fracture in his back. The injury occurred on a sack late in the third quarter forcing Carr to leave the game. Oakland would go on to lose 16-10 to their divisional rival, the Denver Broncos (3-1).
During Jack Del Rio‘s Monday press conference, he indicated that Carr could be out as little as two weeks – or it could be longer. Tony Romo had the same injury as a member of the Dallas Cowboys, and he only missed one game. Until the Raiders know for sure how long Carr will be out, they’ll turn to backup quarterback E.J. Manuel. The former first round pick of the Buffalo Bills, Manuel went 11-of-17 for 106 yards with one interception in relief of Derek Carr.
The Raiders are coming off back-to-back losses after starting the season 2-0, and are arguably playing in the toughest division in the NFL. If Carr does indeed miss the next six weeks, then what Oakland does between now and then could very well make or break their season. Their next four opponents include the Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Buffalo Bills.
RB Chris Carson – Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks (2-2) placed running back Chris Carson on injured reserve with a broken leg. Head coach Pete Carroll revealed that Carson suffered a fracture below his knee during a radio interview with ESPN 710 on Monday morning.
Chris Carson was drafted in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma State by the Seahawks, and quickly separated himself from the other running backs on Seattle’s roster to become the starter. Before this untimely injury, Carson had rushed for 208 yards through the first four games. Now Seattle must turn to Thomas Rawls, J.D. McKissic, or former Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy to see who can fill the void left by Carson.
LT Rees Odhiambo – Seattle Seahawks
Rees Odhiambo was hospitalized after suffering a cardiac contusion (bruised heart) during Sunday night’s contest against the Indianapolis Colts. The team medical staff tended to Odhiambo following the game after he alerted team officials that he was having difficulty breathing. The lineman was hit in the chest following an interception in the third quarter.
The Seahawks offensive line, which is considered one of the worst in football, next to the New York Giants (0-4), could see Odhiambo miss some time. That means that Matt Tobin (acquired via trade this off-season) would likely take Odhiambo’s spot in the starting lineup.
WR Mohamed Sanu – Atlanta Falcons
ESPN‘s Vaughn McClure reports that the Atlanta Falcons (3-1) will most likely be without wide receiver Mohamed Sanu for two-to-three weeks as he tries to recover from a hamstring injury. Sanu underwent an MRI on Monday, but we’re still awaiting the results from team officials.
Luckily for Atlanta they have their bye-week in Week Five, which will allow time for Sanu to recover, as well as fellow teammate and superstar receiver, Julio Jones, who’s battling a hip flexor injury. Jones, however, isn’t expected to miss anytime.
Through the Falcons first four games, Sanu has 163 receiving yards and one touchdown.
WR Jordan Matthews – Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills (3-1) wide receiver Jordan Matthews was acquired via trade during the off-season from the Philadelphia Eagles, and is expected to miss three-to-four weeks with a thumb injury, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Matthews will undergo thumb surgery in which the wide receiver will have a pin inserted into his thumb. The Bills hope to have Matthews back by the end of the month because as of right now, Buffalo finds themselves atop the AFC East with a record of 3-1.
Through the first four games of the season, Matthews has ten receptions for 162 yards and one touchdown.
DE Cliff Avril – Seattle Seahawks
Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network has reported that the Seattle Seahawks (2-2) defensive end Cliff Avril is expected to be out “a while” after suffering yet another neck stinger.
Avril left Sunday night’s game against the Indianapolis Colts (1-3) due to numbness down his entire arm, as well as a sore neck. The Pro Bowler is in his tenth NFL season, and coming off a 2016 campaign in which he recorded a career-high 11.5 sacks. This season, however, Avril has only managed to register one sack through the first four games of the 2017 season.
More to come…
DL Markus Golden – Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals (2-2) defensive lineman Markus Golden‘s season came to an abrupt end on Monday when he learned that he tore his right ACL in the Cardinals overtime victory against the San Francisco 49ers 18-15 on Sunday.
Golden led Arizona in sacks in 2016 with 12.5, and between him and Chandler Jones, the two were expected to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks in 2017. Now Golden has been placed on injured reserve, and will undergo season-ending surgery in a couple of weeks.
The pass-rusher actually injured himself when he collided with fellow teammate, Budda Baker, while trying to sack 49ers quarterback Brian Hoyer.
S Kurt Coleman – Carolina Panthers
On Sunday, the Carolina Panthers (3-1) pulled off an upset by defeating the reigning Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots (2-2) by the score of 33-30. However, the Panthers lost another player to an injury, this time starting safety Kurt Coleman. He joins a growing list of players that Carolina has lost to injuries, including tight end Greg Olsen, center Ryan Kalil, and Demetrious Cox (who filled in for Coleman when he went down).
Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported that Coleman suffered a sprained MCL, and was undergoing a few tests on Monday, but no new details have emerged. Coleman is expected to miss some time however.
More to come…
DE Myles Garrett – Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns (0-4) selected Texas A&M’s defensive standout with the number one overall pick, but the prized rookie has yet to step foot on the football field this season due to a high ankle sprain. Garrett suffered the ankle injury in practice prior to the Browns Week One matchup.
According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, reports that Myles Garrett “should” make his NFL debut against the New York Jets (2-2) in Week Five.
More to come…
DE Olivier Vernon and WR Odell Beckham Jr. – New York Giants
The New York Giants began the 2017 season with Super Bowl aspirations, but because of poor offensive line play, questionable play calling, and an ankle injury to Odell Beckham Jr. that forced him to miss Week One, things got out of hand quickly.
Beckham was just starting to get healthy following his slow start against the Detroit Lions in Week Two that saw him make four catches for 34-yards. He would begin to look like himself in Week Three against the Eagles where he hauled in two touchdown passes in a heartbreaking loss. But he would re-aggravate his ankle injury in Week Four against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The superstar receiver even dislocated his index finger. As far as his status for Week Five is concerned, Beckham will more than likely play. Stay tuned.
When it comes to Olivier Vernon, the Giants pass-rusher injured his ankle in a Week Four matchup against their divisional rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles (3-1). Vernon would have an MRI following their loss to the Eagles, but the results came back negative to the delight of the Giants organization. However, Vernon was unable to participate in practice leading up to their Week Four matchup with the Bucs.
Despite missing the entire week of practice, the pass-rusher gave it a go anyway. Entering the game, Vernon was leading the Giants in sacks with two, but as soon as the game got underway, you could tell Vernon wasn’t 100%. He would eventually re-aggravate his ankle injury late in the second quarter, and was unable to return. His status for Week Five against the Los Angeles Chargers is up in the air as of now. Stay tuned.
More to come….
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