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The injury bug comes for everyone at some point. Washington Commanders running backs Brian Robinson Jr. (ankle), Austin Ekeler (concussion), and Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery (shoulder) are three players that are now listed on their teams' injury reports.
It's nearly time for the fantasy playoffs, so it's more crucial than ever to stay on top of injury updates for players on any of your rosters. Whether you have a first-round bye locked up, are fighting to get into the playoffs, or simply have a chance of ruining someone else's fantasy postseason hopes, it's worth it to stay informed.
So let's get to business. What's going on with these three guys?
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Is Brian Robinson Jr. Hurt?
Robinson is dealing with an ankle injury. It's the latest in a long list of issues that have affected the third-year pro, including knee and hamstring problems that he had earlier in the season. He hurt his ankle early in his Week 12 game, was cleared to return to the game, then re-aggravated it and was pulled from the contest.
Brian Robinson Jr. #commanders
Right ankle gets trapped as the defender twists him while landing on his leg.
Likely a lateral ankle sprain, possibly more but he did walk off which is good news.
Hopefully it looked worse than it was pic.twitter.com/brxBQ714ZM
— Tom Christ, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT (@FantasyInjuryT) November 24, 2024
Perhaps the medical staff didn't make the best decision. It appears he twisted his ankle. It's unknown how bad the injury is now, but considering he hurt the same part of his body twice in the same game, there are reasons for pessimism. His status for Week 13 is unclear right now.
Luckily, the injury likely isn't related to anything he's had before, so it's not like he's damaging something again that could lead to a longer absence. But fantasy managers should prepare some kind of backup plan if they have Robinson on any of their rosters. Washington could opt to hold him out due to an abundance of caution.
Is Austin Ekeler Hurt?
Ekeler, meanwhile, has effectively zero chance of playing in Week 13. He suffered his second concussion of the season in Week 12. He initially was concussed in Week 3 and sat out the game in Week 4 to recover. This time, the head injury appeared to be much worse than his first one.
And #Commanders Austin Ekeler was just knocked out cold. 😬 Hope he’s ok! #DALvsWAS #Commanders #AustinEkeler
Loud Helmet to helmet hit.? pic.twitter.com/umFOkQtKAi
— AC (@ACinPhilly) November 24, 2024
A player from the opposing Dallas Cowboys team initiated helmet-to-helmet contact, slamming his head into Ekeler's with enough force to knock him out cold. The former Los Angeles Charger stayed motionless on the ground and didn't get up for some time. This was a serious concussion.
It would probably be in his best interests for the team to place him on injured reserve. We've seen this happen with multiple players suffering their second concussions of the season. It takes the brain months to recover fully from this injury, but players are allowed to return to play once the overt symptoms have subsided.
Getting a lot of questions on Concussions, so let me bore you all with nerd content:
A concussion is a mild traumatic brain injury. When these occur, the neurotransmitters in your brain are altered, causing disruptions in how you process information, how your nervous system… pic.twitter.com/4MTyg1hMir
— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) November 2, 2024
Dr. Jeff Mueller posted a fantastic explanation on X. The team should do what's best for their player here and shut him down for the season, but he probably wants to take the field again. A stint on IR isn't guaranteed, but it's definitely possible. You'll just have to wait and see when he comes back.
Is David Montgomery Hurt?
UPDATE: Montgomery is expected to play on Thursday
Montgomery is dealing with a shoulder injury he acquired in Week 12 against the Indianapolis Colts. He absorbed a hard blow from an opposing defender while leaning forward after running after a catch. The defender hit his right shoulder, and he continued the run before being tackled. He subbed himself out afterward.
The play where David Montgomery (shoulder) got hurt
— NFL Notifications (@NFLNotify) November 24, 2024
He subsequently wasn't able to practice on Monday. The team has a game coming up on Thursday against the Chicago Bears, so he won't have much time to get healthy before his next contest. Fortunately for his fantasy managers, he indicated that he'll be ready to go on Thanksgiving.
INJURY UPDATE: David Montgomery who left today’s game with a shoulder injury says he could have came back into the game but was held out as a precaution
He’ll be good to go on Thursday vs @ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/ACsa2PCyuV
— The Fantasy Source (@FantasySource_) November 24, 2024
You're better off not overthinking it and taking his word for it. The best part is that he plays early, so if he's declared inactive before the game, make sure to swap him out for someone who plays on Sunday. After that, he'll have a long week to recover before his Week 14 game against the Green Bay Packers.
It made sense for the team to hold him out due to precaution, as the Lions easily handled the Colts 24-6. They're 10-1 now, and it's vitally important to have their players healthy for the playoffs. This year they have a great chance at making a run. Monty managers in fantasy football don't have much to worry about yet.
Expect him to be active and play in Week 13.
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