Keeping up with injuries entering the fantasy football draft season is tremendously important. While it may be early yet, gamers should follow along to avoid any potential mishaps. At a minimum, it never hurts to stay in the know, even if you don’t typically draft until August or September.
The most notable names from the traditional pool of skill players are in focus below. We’ll monitor their statuses throughout the summer and advise accordingly.
Quarterbacks
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals: Murray underwent knee reconstruction in around the start of the year and still doesn’t have a timetable for his expected return. Owner Michael Bidwell thinks it will be before midseason, and ACL recovery tends to be less than nine months for physical stability but can be a full year or more before the player is trusting of the knee. Murray’s rushing skills set him apart in fantasy football, so erring on the side of caution suggests he won’t be a reliable QB1 in 2023.
Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets: Rodgers tweaked his hamstring in OTAs and is considered day to day. Given his age, importance, familiarity with the offense, and contract, expect the team to be overly careful.
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams: A bruised spinal cord suffered in late November sidelined him the rest of the year. Despite swirling retirement rumors, Stafford will have no limitations and is ready to roll, according to head coach Sean McVay.
Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans: An ankle injury landed him on the Reserve/Injured list late last season, but Tannehill reported to the offseason workout program and is ready to go.
Jimmy Garoppolo, Las Vegas Raiders: Jimmy G. underwent a procedure this offseason after fracturing a bone in his foot during Week 13 action. He could be sidelined until training camp in late July.
Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers: The second-year passer underwent surgery in March to repair damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Purdy will be able to begin throwing the week of May 29. If all goes well, he’ll compete with Trey Lance for the starting job.
Trey Lance, San Francisco 49ers: Lance’s shot at being the starter in 2022 lasted until he was placed on the Reserve/Injured list on Sept. 21. He was cleared in February and will get to showcase his reported improvement as a passer while Brock Purdy (elbow) remains sidelined. While the door hasn’t closed on Lance returning to the starting lineup, San Fran putting him on the trading block this offseason doesn’t bode well for his chances if Purdy can return to form.
Colt McCoy, Arizona Cardinals: McCoy is expected to start for the injured Kyler Murray (knee) entering the year, but it’s unclear how long he’ll be under center. Murray could return before midseason. McCoy is recovering from an undisclosed procedure that is has been deemed “minor” by ESPN report Josh Weinfuss. More recent reports suggest it is a neck issue and Football Outsiders’ Aaron Schatz says the veteran may not be available for Week 1.
Hendon Hooker, Detroit Lions: The rookie continues to work his way back from a torn ACL and is expected to redshirt the 2023 season behind Jared Goff.
Running backs
Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts: The standout back underwent arthroscopic surgery in January to clean up the ankle that sidelined him in 2022. No further damage was found, and he’s expected to make a full recovery. He remains sidelined at OTAs, but should be fine well ahead of Week 1.
Breece Hall, New York Jets: Hall was having a strong rookie campaign before tearing an ACL, an injury that tends to take six to nine months to heal but around a year or so before the player returns to form. Adrian Peterson is the only running back in recent memory to bounce back with an RB1 season after tearing up his knee. The odds of Hall being himself in 2023, at least in the first half of the year, are working against him.
Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys: Pollard fractured his left fibula, which didn’t require surgery, but a Jan. 24 procedure was done to repair the severe high-ankle sprain he suffered in the NFC Divisional Round. As of May 25, Pollard was doing light work during OTAs and is on schedule to return in training camp.
Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings: The subject of trade and release rumors, Cook opted for surgery in February to repair a shoulder injury suffered way back in 2019. He is coming along well, according to reports as of early April.
Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos: Williams was a limited participant in OTAs on May 25 as he works his way back from last year’s ACL tear, torn lateral collateral ligament, and posterolateral corner. He’s expected to be ready for training camp after the Week 4 injury. That said, expect it to be a slow go until midseason, but Williams suffered the injury early enough in the ’22 season to return to form in the upcoming campaign.
Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans: Pierce’s promising rookie season was cut short after an ankle injury cost him the final four contests. He was on pace for 1,443 total yards and six offensive scores. Pierce was on the field for late-May practices and showed no ill-effects from the high-ankle sprain.
David Montgomery, Chicago Bears: Montgomery (undisclosed) left practice early Thursday, May 25, with no available status update at the time of this writing.
Jahmyr Gibbs, Detroit Lions: A minor ankle injury suffered in rookie minicamp is behind him; the No. 12 overall pick is on the field for OTAs and looks healthy.
Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs: Pacheco found himself under the knife twice since the Super Bowl, requiring medical intervention for a broken hand bone and a torn shoulder labrum. No official timetable for his return has been established, per Andy Reid.
Antonio Gibson, Washington Commanders: A Jan. 5 surgery to fix his broken foot has Gibson, which he played through before a sprained knee cut his season short. The versatile back was attending OTAs and is good to go.
Kendre Miller, New Orleans Saints: The rookie is recovering from what has been called both a torn meniscus and sprained medial collateral ligament in different reports. With a potential suspension looming over Alvin Kamara, Miller’s speedy return is imperative.
Wide receivers
Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams: Kupp underwent “tightrope” surgery to repair a high-ankle sprain. He missed the start of OTAs due to the birth of his child, but it’s unclear if he has been officially cleared to practice. The prolific wideout said in January that he felt good about the status of his rehab. The team has no incentive to rush Kupp back, so don’t be surprise if he remains out until training camp.
Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints: A rash of injuries in recent years have completely derailed the one-time best receiver in fantasy. Thomas (toe) is nearly 100 percent healthy and is expected to be ready for the start of training camp, per head coach Dennis Allen.
Amari Cooper, Cleveland Browns: Cooper played through a core injury last year and opted for surgery in the offseason. He’s not practicing yet at OTAs, though the recovery isn’t expected to impede his availability for training camp.
Odell Beckham Jr., Baltimore Ravens: Beckham’s second ACL reconstruction was performed Feb. 22, 2022, so the health of his knee is no longer a concern.
DJ Chark Jr., Carolina Panthers: The oft-injured vertical threat had cleanup surgery in March on his nagging ankle and is ready to return any day now. He was spotted at practice May 23 but didn’t participate on the field.
Allen Robinson, Pittsburgh Steelers: A stress fracture in his foot led to surgery the insertion of a screw for stability. He passed his physical after being traded to the Steelers and is expected to work out of the slot once Robinson is ready to return at full speed in training camp. Thus far, he has lightly participated in OTAs.
Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears: After finishing the 2022 season on IR in late November, Mooney (foot, ankle) is still making progress, according to his head coach, so it’s unlikely we’ll see him on the field before training camp. He had screws put into his foot and also had tightrope surgery to stabilize a fractured fibula.
Nico Collins, Houston Texans: Collins has been participating in organized team activities after suffering a Week 13 foot injury that cost him the remainder of the 2022 season.
Rondale Moore, Arizona Cardinals: Moore ended 2022 on IR and recently said he had both sides of his groin surgically repaired for sports hernia and had his pinkie finger operated on. He’s already back on the field for OTAs.
Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens: A Lisfranc injury required surgery that ended Bateman’s season, but the good news is his midfoot sprain is healed and he’s back on the field for OTAs.
John Metchie, Houston Texans: After missing his rookie season while battling leukemia, Metchie was cleared and returned for minicamp but suffered a hamstring strain that will keep him out until the start of training camp.
Tim Patrick, Denver Broncos: A torn ACL suffered last August robbed him of the entire 2022 season. Patrick has confirmed he’s fully recovered and cleared to do all football activities.
Wan’Dale Robinson, New York Giants: Yet another ACL tear on the list … Robinson is aiming for a return during training camp, which means the second-year pro will be without the benefits of a full offseason program.
Mecole Hardman, New York Jets: Hardman (pelvis) hoped to be ready for OTAs in a March update, and he said on Twitter on May 23 that he is, “Just ready to be healthy and be able to play football again!” Expect a full return for training camp.
Kyle Philips, Tennessee Titans: The slot receiver’s 2022 season was cut short thanks to a hamstring injury, and he’s ready to roll after bulking up.
KJ Hamler, Denver Broncos: The constantly injured receiver underwent surgery in March to repair a torn pectoral muscle and has a chance to be ready for Week 1.
Sterling Shepard, New York Giants: Yet another major injury — this time a torn ACL — has Shepard once again on the mend entering the offseason. He was running routes during the May 25 practice and is on track to be a full-go before Week 1.
Justyn Ross, Kansas City Chiefs: A 2020 spine injury derailed Ross’ FBS career. He returned in ’21 for a 10-game slate at Clemson and missed his entire 2022 rookie season with a foot issue. As of mid-April, he was working on routes with Patrick Mahomes, and Ross was praised during early OTA action.
Tight ends
Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons: Following a Nov. 29 surgery for a Grade 2 torn medial collateral ligament, Pitts’ knee still has him on the sidelines as of May 25. The timeline for such a procedure has come and gone, however, suggesting he is being rested for precautionary purposes. Should his absence linger into training camp, Pitts then becomes a much riskier fantasy option.
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers: A minor MCL sprain suffered vs. Cleveland on Jan. 8 didn’t result in surgery, and Freiermuth is already back on the field for OTAs.
Greg Dulcich, Denver Broncos: A hamstring injury saw Dulcich end his rookie year on IR. Denver added veteran blocker Chris Manhertz and former New Orleans Saints tight end Adam Trautman to be reunited with Sean Payton. While Dulcich is now healthy, he may be on a short leash following an inconsistently productive yet abbreviated first season.
Zach Ertz, Arizona Cardinals: A torn ACL has the 32-year-old pro on the mend with a target date of a Week 1 return. In the meantime, Arizona will have to navigate two injured quarterbacks and regime change that brings a new system. As Ertz works his way back, the Cardinals’ coaching staff will get a close look at 2022 second-rounder Trey McBride.
Hayden Hurst, Carolina Panthers: The oft-injured Hurst is coming off a respectable season with the Cincinnati Bengals but sits out of Carolina’s OTAs following hernia surgery. This is another favorable situation for the journeyman, provided he can return in a timely manner and build chemistry with the No. 1 overall pick, Bryce Young.
Will Dissly, Seattle Seahawks: Dissly is no stranger to missing time, and his knee/leg injury that has been termed “unique” didn’t require surgery. It’s a favorable outlook that he didn’t need to go under the knife, but there’s not much to evaluate until more is known.
Jelani Woods, Indianapolis Colts: Woods missed practice May 25 with a hamstring injury, though the severity is unknown. Should he sit an extended period of time, Woods could fall behind in the Colts’ extremely deep tight end battle.
