RG Zach Wiegert - Broken elbow - Out for season- Mild -The last time the Ravens had an injury appear on this list, I was a bit hasty in ruling them out of the playoff race. The Steelers looked strong and the rest of the division sat between the Ravens and the division win. Not much has changed except that instead of the Steelers, it's the Browns that look strong. All four teams sit within just one game of each other, so it would be unfair to say that the Ravens chances are dead. The Ravens have the toughest road ahead of them with a 1-3 division record but it's still anyone's race at this point.
As for Zach Wiegert's injury? Good depth at guard keeps this from hurting too much. Ethan Brooks is the backup, and he started for the Ravens for the first two seasons. In fact he had an excellent zero sacks-allowed season just last year. There isn't any doubt that Wiegert is the better player; not only in progression but in athletic ability as well. Still, for the struggling Ravens, it's probably one of the better choice of players for Madden to injury. I'm only going to give this a Mild.
QB Carson Palmer - Abdominal tear - 5 weeks- Distressing - The hope remained alive in Arizona just last week as they saw a chance at a divisional win after the news of the injury to 49ers QB Jeff Garcia went public. I think it's safe to say that the dwindling hope has been extinguished for good with this one.
Personally, I thought the Cardinals chances were already quite dead. I didn't think the 49ers were going to plummet with Garcia's injury, and I just didn't see a reasonable chance for the Cardinals to catch up in the six games that remained. So instead of reasoning that this killed the Cardinals chances, I'm going to calculate this as loss of a progression point or two. Because, truthfully, that's what's going to hurt more going into next season.
Carson Palmer has been progressing nicely but he's still below that threshold that you want to see for a playoff caliber quarterback. I think he'll hit that point sometimes next season, but this injury is probably going to make that happen a whole progression period later, and that's what earns this a Distressing rating from me.
MLB Earl Holmes - Abdominal strain - 3 weeks- Uncomfortable -The Saints are two games down and still face the Panthers twice during the last five games of the season. If they could somehow win both games(unlikely), they actually give themselves a pretty good chance. Though I do not see that actually happening anytime soon, it's still a possibility; this is Madden after all. This injury takes their best linebacker out for one of those match ups, which is tough.
Because the chances of a playoff trip is pretty unlikely with or without this injury, I can't reasonably rate it that high. I'm comfortable with giving this one an Uncomfortable.
MLB Jamie Sharper - Broken ribs - 1 week- Trivial - It appears me calling the Chargers season dead has ignited a fire underneath them with their first win since week 6. However, this is the Raiders division race to lose. They have an easy road ahead of them. Facing the Chiefs twice, the Titans, Jaguars and the Falcons(who have lost their QB). I still think the Chargers season is dead, and this injury doesn't change anything for me. Even if the Raiders weren't there, the Broncos are also a roadblock for them with their second match up coming this week.
For anyone who thinks the Chargers still have a chance, this injury might register as a mild or an uncomfortable, but for myself, it's trivial.
QB Tom Brady - Bruised shoulder - 1 week- Distressing - This injury probably cost the Patriots one win already, and with this injury lingering for a week, Brady won't see his return until Week 15 against Miami. The Patriots currently sit at the top of the division, ahead of the Dolphins with a tie breaker. The Jets sit just one game down.
The Patriots' next two match ups are the Browns and the Bengals, which is a whole other set of problems. The Browns and the Bengals are in their own tight Division race, with both teams fighting tooth and nail for that coveted playoff spot. Neither of these games will be easy and I predict at least one loss, if not two in the next two weeks.
In a hope to remain positive, I will give this just a Distressing rating, because that's about how I'm feeling at the moment. In no way do I see this as a season killer, but my cheeks are clenched.
TE Keith Heinrich - Bruised shoulder - Doubtful- Mild - The Cowboys sit just a hair behind the Redskins in the NFC East at 7-4. They've won three in a row and seem to be surging. They face the Seahawks next week which 'should' be a freebie for this team. If they find a way to lose, I don't think GM William Cook is going to have Keith Heinrich on his mind when trying to rationalize it as to the reason why.
Keith Heinrich is tall, and because of that he has been able to make himself known with 300 yards receiving. He's a nice safety net to have, but I don't think the Cowboys are going to need him against Seattle.
I'll give this one a Mild because the Cowboys do not have a reasonable backup option.
