LE Derrick Burgess - Torn pectoral - 8 weeks- Mild -The Eagles still have one more game to win for this season to be a success, and their injuries are really starting to pile up. Derrick Burgess used to be a huge part of this defense, putting up 13 sacks in 2002 and 12 in 2003. This season he has put up only two, and even went weeks without recording any stats at all, making me assume that he was sitting on the bench. I'm not sure what has happened to Derrick Burgess this season, but he is clearly not a fundamental part of this defense anymore.
The Eagles have two games left, with the easier game against the Rams happening this week. The Rams have nothing to much left to for. Hopefully for the Eagles, they can take the win and walk into week 17 relieved that they've earned themselves another year with GM Leonard Henry at the helm.
Putting this one to Mild since the Eagles themselves seemed to have no issues with benching Burgess earlier this season, so should have no problems with him being injured these last two weeks. I decided on not putting it to Trivial because Burgess could be an excellent player on this defense.
HB Corey Dillon - Torn hamstring - 6 weeks- Uncomfortable - The AFC North is in a hilarious situation with all teams sitting at 7-7, but there is nothing funny about this injury to Corey Dillon with just two games to play and the whole division on the line. The Bengals have, in my opinion, the best shot at taking this division - though it's still not an easy one. The easiest road for them is by first winning their next two games. With match-ups against the Giants and the Eagles, this 'is' a doable task. Next, the Browns need to at least lose one of their next two match-ups. The Browns have a much harder schedule against the Dolphins and the Texans, so it's likely that this will happen. After that, it no longer matters the outcome of the Steelers or Ravens match-ups, for the Bengals swept them both this year.
As for the injury? The Bengals have Rudi Johnson waiting to help out. Corey Dillon is a whole tier above Rudi at halfback, but Dillon has not had the greatest season. At only 4.17 YPC, he is not moving the chains like he should be and instead, the Bengals have had to rely on the skillset of Jon Kitna and their receivers. Jon Kitna is having a top ten season at quarterback, and they are going to need him to keep going in order to pick up these wins.
This injury still hurts though. Getting into the playoffs is just the first part, next is winning a playoff game, and that's going to be harder without Corey Dillon. It could have been worse, but I'm going to give this an Uncomfortable. If Corey Dillon was having an excellent season that Rudi Johnson couldn't match, I would have raised it higher.
CB Blue Adams - Torn pectoral - 5 weeks- Trivial -The Cowboys are still trailing just behind the Redskins in the division. I say this because although they have a better division record than the Redskins currently, their game against the Redskins this week is what it may all come down to. If the Redskins win this week, the Cowboys only hope is a 10-6 wild-card slot, and that's looking less and less likely.
The Cowboys need this win to stay alive, so every player matters. Even someone like Blue Adams. As a third round pick in 2003, some GMs might find him to have potential, but I am not really one of them. He has decent speed, but I find his height and the rest of his attributes to be borderline unstartable. I would consider Blue Adams to be a lifetime depth option, so I'm a little surprised he's starting.
However, the Cowboys do not have many options at Corner. I argue that Derek Ross and Greg Brooks could use the progression more, but hey, that's just me. Their lack of depth means any Cornerback injury is going to hurt, but only barely. Going with Trivial. I don't like Blue Adams as a current or future option and I don't think his speed makes up for everything else. However, I could be wrong.
SS Corey Chavous - Mild concussion - 3 weeks- Distressing - I think it was implied by GM Gary Hickman that the Packers planned to rest their starters after securing a first round bye. That's a plus for the Vikings who are trying to earn a wild-card spot. With scheduled games against the Packers and the Redskins, they could have had a really tough fight ahead of them to earn that spot. With at least one of those teams resting their starters, that playoff spot might still be happening. The Redskins could actually clinch their division with a win this week too, so the Vikings could finish their season playing two backup QBs.
Corey Chavous is a good safety on paper with 19 deflections and only 4 catches allowed. He has two forced fumbles and 57 Tackles. He hasn't been able to grab a pick this season, but with five in 2002 and three in 2003, one has to assume that offenses are just unlikely to throw near him. The safety depth on the Vikings is terrible, with either Willie Offord and Sean Taylor getting the start at Safety. Chavous 'will' be missed on this defense, but the Vikings could have him back for the playoffs if they can get through the wild-card round. With how the Vikings are playing right now, I can easily see that happening.
The Vikings might need to win these next two games just to have a chance at seeing the playoffs. They have the hardest or easiest schedule among the other 10-4 teams, depending on whether or not starters get rested, and just how many starters get rested. We could be seeing the first 11-5 team to miss the playoffs in the SFL, and for that I'm giving this one a rating of Distressing.
HB Curtis Martin - Sprained elbow - 1 week- Trivial - The Broncos are... kind of in the race? And by that, I mean it's not out of the realm of possibility, but the chances are pretty abysmal. The Raiders need to lose their next two games against the Chiefs and the Jaguars. The Broncos need to win their next two games against the Titans and the Colts. On top of that, the Broncos also need the Chargers to lose a game as well. I'm not sure even Riddell is going to stay in this fight. I wouldn't be surprised to see Sorgi out there. I'm not as high on Sorgi as GM Riddell appears to be, but I can understand his desire to attempt to progress him after using a second-round pick to grab him.
I don't believe this injury is going to hurt that much because of what I've just said. With Riddell probably already throwing in the towel, and the Broncos needing a miracle to win this division, I don't think a one week injury to Martin plays much of a factor. If the Raiders lose next week and Martin's injury lingers, it might go up a bit, but for now, I'm sticking with Trivial.
LE Greg Spires - Mild concussion - 1 week- Trivial - With a 10-4 record and a match-up against the Lions this week, the Bears can almost say they've clinched a trip to the playoffs. However, the NFC is tough right now, and a 11-5 record might 'still' not make the playoffs. No matter, though, Greg Spires is a FA pickup and nothing special. He might have even been hurt on return duties, because it doesn't look like he's starting.
Trivial.
