MMR, fantasy football, NFL, injuries, player updatesSo far, so good for fantasy owners from an injury standpoint this preseason.

While there have been some serious injuries, the majority have been to the non-fantasy elite. No elite fantasy player has been lost for the season, though some have suffered a few minor bumps-and-bruises along the way.

Still, fantasy owners will take it.

Keep those fingers crossed for the remainder of the preseason, particularly if you already have drafted a team or two.

Getting through each team’s third preseason game really may be the last major hurdle, save practice. Most NFL teams use the third exhibition affair as a dress rehearsal for week one with most of the starters playing until halftime. Get through that week unscathed and fantasy owners surely will be in the clear for the regular season opener.

The season opener, by the way, is just over two weeks away. Can you feel the excitement?!?Reggie Bush [RB, Saints]

From ProFootballTalk:

On this particular Thursday, Bush reportedly hurt his calf, not his oft-troubled knee.  Payton said Bush could play if there was a regular season game today, although it’s unclear if he’ll participate in New Orleans’ preseason game Saturday.

Bush did not play in Saturday’s preseason victory against the Texans, which the Saints won due in large part to the team’s running game.

Denver castoff Mike Bell emerged as the leading candidate for the No. 3 running back job in New Orleans behind Bush and Pierre Thomas. If Bush’s nagging injuries continue in the regular season, Bell could see some significant playing time. He is not a draftable commodity at this point, but someone to watch as the season progresses.

Ben Roethlisberger [QB, Steelers]

From ProFootballTalk:

As Steelers fans continue to hold their breaths (and perhaps other bodily functions) for word as to whether quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s Achilles’ tendon injury is serious, multiple reports are confirming the initial indication that Roethlisberger escaped a season-ending injury.

All indications out of Pittsburgh are that Roethlisberger escaped a truly serious injury and will be ready for the team’s regular season game. However, it is important that fantasy owners keep a very close eye on this situation as the Steelers are guarding Big Ben’s status closely.

Marc Bulger [QB, Rams]

From Fantasy Football Fools:

After taking three sacks in the preseason opener against the New York Jets, Bulger managed to injure his wee little pinky in practice, which will put him down for at least two weeks.

First Donnie Avery, now Marc Bulger. The Rams offense is heading south in a hurry and the regular season has not even started yet.

Bulger should be back by the season opener, but missing these last few weeks of preseason is not going to help his timing and chemistry with the Rams’ rag-tag group of wide receivers. If the St. Louis passing game can be moved down a notch or two on your cheat sheets, it would be a good time to do that now.

Brett Favre [QB, Vikings]

From ProFootballTalk:

Still, torn rotator cuffs don’t heal without surgery.  And they’ll worsen over time because of trauma or overuse.

“Cleared to play does not mean ‘cleared to play well’,” said the medical source.  “He’s at high risk [for greater tearing] both because of trauma and his style of play in which he will go downfield or throw with a lot of velocity.  He’s going to stress his cuff.”

Favre threw just four passes in his preseason debut with the Vikings but showed some of the zip that has made his stuff legendary over the years.

Fantasy owners need a bigger sample to get a true reading on the Minnesota passing game, which they should get in the team’s upcoming preseason matchups. Still, Favre should be regarded as no more than a QB2 going forward.

Jonathan Stewart [RB, Panthers]

From ProFootballTalk:

Panthers backup running back Jonathan Stewart has now missed more than a week of practice with a sore Achilles, and wasn’t on the field Wednesday morning.

Stewart missed almost all work before training camp with the same injury, the second straight offseason where he’s barely practiced.  (He was recovering from toe surgery last year.)

Stewart’s body continues to do him no favors. The longer he sits during the preseason, the more DeAngelo Williams becomes entrenched as a starter.

Stewart had been going as early as the 4th round in 12-team mock draft earlier this summer, but continues to slip as we near the regular season. He could be a good value pick as a 7th or 8th rounder, if he can be had that late.

Terrell Owens [WR, Bills]

From ProFootballTalk:

Coach Dick Jauron said Owens received more treatment and was told to stay off his feet after experiencing discomfort while standing after Monday’s practice.

Status Quo for TO.

Not much has changed since last week’s update. This is beginning to sound a little more troublesome, but hard to believe a toe injury is going to sideline Owens once the regular season starts. How ironic would it be if a little toe keeps Owens’ big ego off the field.

Brian Westbrook [RB, Eagles]

From FFToolBox:

Westbrook said he has felt good lately while running with the scout team, and head coach Andy Reid has increased Westbrook’s workload in each of his last three practices. Still, he may not see his first snap until the Sept. 13 opener against Carolina.

As long as he is practicing, fantasy owners need not worry about his status for this season. Westbrook has earned the right not to play in any preseason games by this point in his career.

He still can be had in the 2nd round of most fantasy drafts, which is an excellent value for those taking wide receivers like Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson and/or Randy Moss at the back end of the 1st round. Make sure to pair Westbrook with LeSean McCoy in case of injury.

Beanie Wells [RB, Cardinals]

From ProFootballTalk:

Cardinals rookie running back Chris “Beanie” Wells, the 31st overall pick in the 2009 draft, injured his ankle on the same day he signed his rookie contract.

Wells recently returned to practice.  On Tuesday night, however, Wells reinjured the ankle.

Injury prone.

There is no way Wells shakes that label anytime soon in the eyes of fantasy owners. Red flags are springing up on cheat sheets everywhere next to Wells’ name and rightfully so. He is going to have a hard time stealing playing time from Tim Hightower if he cannot even make it through a practice.

In all honesty, Hightower may be the running back to own in Arizona. He proved to be a very capable goal line option last season and figures to at least get those opportunities again this year.

Chaz Schilens [WR, Raiders]

From ProFootballTalk:

Chaz Schilens, the team’s best receiver, broke the fifth metatarsal in his left foot early Tuesday.  The timeframe of his return is unclear, although Schilens admitted that it would take a “miracle” for him to be ready for Week One.

Schilens’ injury is similar on the surface to the one suffered by Rams receiver Donnie Avery, who was expected to miss 4-6 weeks.

A tough break for Schilens, who was developing a nice rapport with Raiders’ starting quarterback JaMarcus Russell. So much for being a nice sleeper wide receiver pick late in fantasy drafts …

The MMR will continue to run every Monday morning as scheduled during the offseason. If you have an injury update or want an update on a certain player, please leave a note in the comments.

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