NFL Injury Analysis: Brown Could Miss Rest of Preseason

Antonio Brown

The Brown saga carries over into another week as the wideout is now at odds with the league regarding his helmet. The helmet Brown has worn throughout his career is no longer certified by the National Operating Committee for Standards and Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE), the group tasked with testing and grading the safety and effectiveness of sporting equipment. However, Brown insists his helmet meets his specific needs and should not be banned as it has never been adequately tested. The outcome of the dispute will be interesting to monitor, given the ongoing issues surrounding head injuries in the NFL.

As the helmet issue persists, Brown is still managing the injury on the opposite end of his body. Brown has been dealing with extremely blistered feet, linked to a mishap in a cryotherapy chamber. Cryotherapy chambers have risen to popularity amongst professional athletes in recent years, with many teams now utilizing their own chambers in house. In the treatment, an athlete enters a cylindrical chamber. Over a three-minute period, the individual is exposed to temperatures as low as -140 degrees C. The low temperatures are achieved in one of two ways, liquid nitrogen or refrigerated cold air. The treatment is based on the idea that by exposing the body to subzero temps, its natural response will be stimulated following a period of vasoconstriction (narrowing of the body's blood vessels). As a result, the individual will report feeling better and healing will occur quicker.

However, there are safety measures that must be taken throughout the procedure, including wearing appropriate footwear.  Wet socks are not allowed and even sweaty skin should be toweled down to help avoid frostbite. This appears to be where things got problematic for Brown, as his trip inside the cryo chamber left him with badly blistered feet. Brown isn't the first professional athlete to suffer this type of injury. Former Cavaliers guard Manny Harris suffered second degree ice burns on his feet after wearing wet socks during a cryotherapy session, and US sprinter Justin Gatlin was hampered by frostbite and blisters on his feet during the 2011 world championships.

The situation Brown now finds himself is unprecedented and is creating a headache for fantasy players. The injury should heal, but it wouldn't be surprising if he sees limited to no preseason action, especially if the helmet issue lingers.  The veteran remains a top-10 talent but there will be some who shy away from the unnecessary drama and opt to invest in a player like T.Y. Hilton or Keenan Allen.

Jerick McKinnon

McKinnon missed the entire 2018 season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his right knee on September 1, 2018. He was progressing well throughout the offseason before suffering what was described as a "flare up" late last week. To address the problem he underwent a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection. PRP is designed to help stimulate the body's nature immune response and create an environment more favorable for healing. Furthermore, some studies have suggested PRP can aid in graft strength and improve range of motion. However, time off following the injection is often recommended, and it appears the 49ers will keep McKinnon out of action for a few weeks. Unfortunately, McKinnon has already spent time on the PUP list, and any further delay in recovery could force the team to place him on the IR to start the year. If that does occur, he will not be eligible to return until eight games have been played. His absence does help clear up the talented, but deep, backfield depth chart. Tevin Coleman remains the top back with Matt Breida slotted in behind him. 

Turf Burns

Keke Coutee: The Texans receiver was helped off the field of Thursday's preseason loss to the Packers. Fortunately, further testing revealed nothing more than a "minor" ankle injury, though the team remains noncommittal on a recovery timeline. Don't be surprised if the next time we see Coutee in uniform is in Week 1 against the Saints.

Derrick Henry: There's been minimal updates on Henry's strained calf, but he has begun participating in controlled work off to the side of Tennessee's full practice. It may not be the step forward fantasy owners are looking for, but it is a sign of progress. Henry should maintain his current ADP if he continues to trend in the right direction.

Andrew Luck: Luck Watch 2019 is looking eerily similar to Luck Watch 2017 with little progression seen from the ailing quarterback. Indy's signal-caller has been a bystander for the last nine Colts practices as he continues to nurse a lingering calf injury. Yes, calf injuries can be difficult to manage, but the problem has been an issue since spring workouts, and Luck recently admitted there is still pain in the area. Until he puts together a stretch of sustained good health, anyone willing to draft Luck is taking a calculated risk.

Dede Westbrook: The Jacksonville receiver has emerged as a sleeper in some circles, as injuries and player departures have him positioned as the top target for the Jaguars. However, the speedy receiver has been limited by groin soreness over the past few days. The groin muscles are responsible for lateral movement and can be particularly limiting for speed-based wideouts. Hopefully this is nothing more than a mild strain, but keep an eye on how Westbrook progresses during the week ahead to determine if he remains a player to watch.

Damien Williams: Williams did not play in Kansas City's preseason opener against Cincinnati but has returned to limited practice. Like mentioned with Henry, it's nice to see some positive steps forward in recovery, though the Chiefs will likely handle the remainder of his recovery conservatively. Carlos Hyde ran with the first unit in the exhibition game, finishing with two carries for two yards and a touchdown. 

Aaron Jones: The Packers are taking a similar approach with Jones, who sat out Thursday's preseason opener with a hamstring injury of his own. Fortunately, he was back at practice over the weekend, and the team doesn't seem worried about his long-term availability. Jones' backup, third-year running back Jamaal Williams, is also nursing a hamstring injury, allowing rookie Dexter Williams to receive valuable reps with the starters.