Trivial | Mild | Uncomfortable | Distressing | Intense | Excruciating
CB Ray Buchanan - Broken elbow - Out for season- Intense - The Vikings are still looking for that coveted NFC playoff spot. They could still get admittance with a loss this week, but it's looking more and more likely that they need to win this game against the Redskins to succeed in their playoff goal. Their only opponent remaining, the Redskins may play their backups after securing their division last week. They have already clinched the #3 seed, which is a good reason as to why they shouldn't play their starters. These three injuries this week is another outstanding reason. This could be a free game for the Vikings. However, just last week I had thought the Packers were a free game and they proved me wrong by keeping their big names on offense in the game.
This, like a majority of the injuries on the list this week will affect their team throughout the playoffs, not just one or two games. Ray Buchanan is arguably the Vikings best corner. I say arguably because his height can be a liability on certain match ups and he doesn't quite have the speed to make up for this deficiency. The Vikings other corners include all young players with potential and who need snaps to get better. However, with no playoff progression, now is hardly to time to give them those snaps.
Although the Vikings depth is pretty good, going up against elite receivers and elite QBs in the playoffs is going to hurt the Vikings without Buchanan there to keep them contained. I believe this injury could take them out of the running for a trip to the Superbowl. NFC is really tough this year. The Vikings will need multiple amazing consecutive games from Moss to keep up in the playoffs I feel.
HB Charlie Garner - Abdominal tear - 7 weeks- Trivial -Charlie Garner is the third back on the depth chart for the Raiders. I feel like they got lucky with this one when you compare it to the rest of the teams on this list.
Trivial.
HB Duce Staley - Foot stress fracture - 6 weeks- Excruciating - Does this mean the death for the Panthers season? No, I think they can still beat the Saints without much of a problem, but I do believe that they are going to hit a wall when they face an opponent with a great pass defense in the playoffs. At the start of the season, the Panthers had probably one of the best back fields in the season. This past draft, their starter, Willis McGahee fell down to the late second-round because of fears that he was injury prone. He was able to make it most of the season, but walked away in week 14 with an injury that would take him out for the rest of the year and the playoffs.
Staley was the exact opposite of McGahee. McGahee has the potential to be a top ten back in the league, but Staley has basically hit his potential already. Still, he was a solid second option for the Panthers.
Unfortunately, they do not have a solid third option. RB Dee Brown and the newly acquired Travis Stephens are the only options left. Travis Stephens has five rushes in his entire career, but was able to average eleven yards per carry last season! I mean, it was only one carry, but...still? I guess...
Dee Brown has seen some work throughout the last three seasons but has never impressed with his rushing skills. I'm not sure what the Panthers are going to do here, since they are all bad options. The only choice I see available is trying to rely on the pass instead. They are ranked #7 when it comes to the rush, so I feel like this forced change of gameplan is going to end up costing them. And that's if they can even beat the Saints and get into the playoffs to begin with. Still a chance that they miss.
If the Panthers can succeed in the playoffs after this injury, I'll be shocked. Excruciating.
CB Allen Rossum - High ankle sprain - 6 weeks- Excruciating - I don't have very nice things to say about the Falcons Corner talent, but it somehow seems to work for them. Rossum is a speedster. He may miss tackles, and coverage, but he has the speed to recover and close on receivers quick. I suspect that Allen Rossum might be the Corner on this team that makes their scheme work. I don't know if any of their other young Corners can do for the Falcons what Rossum has been able to do this season. The Falcons are now relying on their ground game with Trent Green's injury. If they get into a shootout, which has become more likely with this injury, I think they are toast.
With a match-up against the Seahawks being the only thing between them and a playoff spot, I think their entrance is almost guaranteed. However, this is, just like two of the other injuries this week, most likely going to cost them a chance at the Superbowl. If they even had one to begin with, without Green their to lead them. I don't know how the Falcons corners could expect to cover a receiver like Randy Moss or Eric Moulds and for this Falcons offense to even attempt to match point for point.
