Preseason buzz is humming! With practices ramping up, make sure you don't have any players on the preseason injury report.
In this Defensive Preseason Injury Report, I'll sift through the injuries report by each NFL team to bring you relevant updates for your favorite defensive fantasy players. Teams are not required to release an official injury report until the regular season.
Some teams seem to take this more to heart than others, leading many players to miss practice with "undisclosed" injuries. While this lack of detail can be frustrating, it is still vital to monitor these player's practice presence.
This list will be updated as any new information comes in.
J.J. Watt, Edge
Watt was placed on the preseason PUP list on July 28 with a hamstring injury. For now, the Cardinals appear to be likely to get Watt back on the field by Week 1.
Reserve/COVID-19 List
Several players were placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on August 13, due to close contact with a fellow player who tested positive. The players include Leki Fotu and Charles Washington on the defensive side of the ball. While none of the players involved are highly drafted fantasy options, it's worth monitoring to make sure there are no further additions to the list.
No significant injuries were reported.
No significant injuries were reported.
Matt Milano, LB
Milano left practice early with a mouth injury, of all things. It's not likely to keep him out of practice for long.
A.J. Bouye, CB
Bouye is already slated to miss the first two games of the season due to a suspension. Now he's nursing a soft-tissue injury that could keep him out of practice for "a couple of weeks" according to head coach Matt Rhule.
Matt Rhule says AJ Bouye could miss a couple weeks with a soft-tissue injury.
— Joe Person (@josephperson) August 5, 2021
Roquan Smith, LB
Smith is nursing a groin injury and will not suit up for the Bears' first preseason game against the Dolphins. A timeline for his return has not yet been given, so keep an eye out for the third-ranked linebacker to return to practice in the coming weeks.
Danny Trevathan, LB
Trevathan will also miss the Bears' first preseason game with soreness in his knee. Once again, there is limited information on the severity of the injury. The combination of injuries to Smith and Trevathan at least give IDP managers an opportunity to see what the Bears' linebacker position looks like behind them.
Trey Hendrickson, Edge
Hendrickson missed a couple of practices with, what the Bengals have been referring to as, "a minor groin strain." He should be back on the field by Week 1.
Myles Garrett, Edge
Garrett popped up with a hamstring injury earlier in the week. Like most teams, the Browns are being cautious with bringing him back. No cause for alarm yet, but watch to make sure Garrett makes his return in the coming weeks.
Grant Delpit, S
The second-year safety missed his entire rookie season with an Achilles injury and is now missing time with a hamstring injury. There's some question as to his ability to make it back for Week 1.
Ronnie Harrison, S
Harrison is also sidelined with a hamstring injury. This appears to be milder than Delpit's injury but is still worth monitoring considering the potential IDP production from the Browns' safety position.
Denzel Ward, CB
Ward has been missing some practices with soreness of some kind. Probably nothing that will keep him out long-term.
Mack Wilson, LB
Wilson left Saturday's preseason game with a shoulder injury that is believed to be minor.
Here are some #Browns players not expected to face the #Jaguars tonight pic.twitter.com/fYU9H3zjoE
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) August 14, 2021
Neville Gallimore, DT
Gallimore left Friday's preseason game with what was originally called a hyperextension of his elbow. He received an MRI on Saturday, revealing that his elbow was dislocated. Gallimore's current timeline for return is estimated at 6-8 weeks. For more details and up-to-date information, check out Joey the Tooth's article, Neville Gallimore Exits with Elbow Injury.
Trysten Hill, DT
Hill is currently on the preseason PUP list recovering from an ACL tear sustained last season. He will likely have to work his way off of the PUP list soon to be ready for Week 1.
Malik Hooker, S
Hooker is still working his way back from an Achilles injury suffered last season. Hooker is a new addition to a somewhat murky safety room in Dallas, making his practice involvement worth monitoring. Currently, he has been limited to individual drills.
DeMarcus Lawrence, Edge
Lawrence began training camp on the PUP list as he recovered from off-season back surgery. He was able to pass his physical on August 3rd, allowing him to now be removed from the PUP list. He has not yet resumed full practice, but the expectation is that he will be ready in time for Week 1.
Back injuries are unpredictable, so there is a certain amount of risk associated with Lawrence moving forward. Don't be surprised if the veteran pops up on the IDP injury report frequently this season as the Cowboys manage his workload.
Baron Browning, LB
Browning had a lower leg injury pop up during OTA's earlier in the summer and is currently on the PUP list. There is no timetable for his return at the moment. There was optimism for the rookie to begin practicing in late July, but he apparently suffered a setback in his recovery soon after.
Josey Jewell, LB
Jewell was first sidelined with a groin injury on August 3rd. He was originally expected to miss less than 2 weeks but was not able to participate in the Broncos' first preseason game on August 14th.
Levi Onwuzurike, DT
The Lions' 2nd round rookie has been sidelined with a sore back and did not play in their preseason opener. Details have been unclear to this point as to the severity of his injury.
No significant injuries were reported.
No significant injuries were reported.
DeForest Buckner, DT
Buckner has missed some practice time with a foot injury but is not expected to miss significant time.
Kwity Paye, Edge
Paye was seen in a walking boot on August 12th after suffering an ankle injury. Click here for more on the fantasy ramifications of Paye's injury. The Colts have been very optimistic with all of their injured players this preseason including Paye, saying that it "isn't serious."
Colts are optimistic that Kwity Paye’s sprained right ankle isn’t serious.
Being “overly cautious” with Buckner
— Joel A. Erickson (@JoelAErickson) August 12, 2021
Dayo Odeyingbo, Edge
The Colts' second-round selection is on the NFI (Non-Football Injury) list having suffered a torn Achilles in January. There is some optimism for him to see some action this season, but I would consider this a lost season for the rookie edge rusher.
Dylan Moses, LB
Moses has been on the NFI list up to this point with a knee injury dating back to his 2020 college season. If Moses is able to get on the practice field soon, he may have an opportunity to carve out a role with veteran Joe Schobert traded to Pittsburgh.
Frank Clark, Edge
Clark suffered a hamstring strain on August 12 and will likely be eased back cautiously. He already has a potential suspension coming due to his pending firearms charges.
Read KC's Embattled Frank Clark Tweaks Hamstring During Practice for Joey the Tooth's thoughts on Frank Clark's current fantasy value.
Willie Gay, LB
Willie Gay entered the concussion protocol on August 5. He was able to return to practice this week but did not play in the Chiefs' first preseason game.
No significant injuries were reported.
Kenneth Murray, LB
Murray missed practice with an ankle injury and did not participate in the Chargers' first preseason game. The team has been positive, however, and suggested that Murray may have been able to suit up for a regular-season game.
Bobby Brown, DT
Brown had surgery to repair a torn UCL (ulnar collateral ligament) in his thumb. According to the OrthoVirginia website, return to sport can be as long as 3 to 4 months, although the team is currently not expecting him to miss much time. It is possible, given his position, that Brown will wear some kind of protective cast allowing him to return to action sooner than the three-month timeline.
No significant injuries were reported.
No significant injuries were reported.
Stephon Gilmore, CB
The star corner began training camp on the PUP list as a result of a quadriceps injury suffered last season. His status for the beginning of the season has not been in doubt up to this point, but I will feel a lot better once he has been removed from the PUP list.
Chase Winovich, Edge
Winovich started training camp on the PUP list due to an undisclosed injury. Fortunately, the second-year pro and his luscious locks have been cleared to rejoin the team's practices. Everything seems on track for him to be ready for Week 1.
Chase Winovich makes his #Patriots training camp debut. The flow is in midseason form! pic.twitter.com/srJlxASdmt
— The Camera Guys (@NBCSCameraGuys) August 16, 2021
David Onyemata, DT
The interior lineman will miss the first 6 games of the season serving a suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing substance policy. The Saints' bye week is Week 6, which means Onyemata won't be available for your IDP rosters until Week 8.
Pete Werner, LB
The Saints' rookie linebacker missed the team's first preseason game and some practices last week with a leg injury. There has not been a timeline given for his return, but it appears that he will have plenty of time to get back on the field before Week 1.
Blake Martinez, LB
Martinez missed the Giants' preseason opener with an illness. He has activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list a few weeks ago, but this is apparently not related.
Aaron Robinson, CB
The rookie cornerback started training camp on the PUP list and recently underwent core-muscle surgery. His expected timeline is 3-8 weeks.
Quinnen Williams, DT
In case you missed it, Williams suffered a foot injury that required surgery earlier in the summer. He was able to pass his physical this week and was activated from the PUP list. This was the expectation all along, but it is good to see the recovery going as planned. He should be ready by Week 1 but may not play in the preseason.
Ashtyn Davis, S
Davis landed on the PUP list to begin training camp and has not been cleared at this point. Unfortunately, the injury has not been disclosed but the team has said that they might get him back by Week 2. The lack of details has me concerned that this absence may stretch farther into the season.
Rodney McLeod, S
McLeod suffered a torn ACL last December and is currently on the PUP list. He may still be able to return by Week 1, but at this point, we don't know where he is in his recovery.
No significant injuries were reported.
No significant injuries were reported.
Nick Bosa, Edge
Bosa is nearing his return from last season's ACL tear. If he resumes practice soon, there is no reason to doubt that he will be one of the league's most prolific pass rushers again this season.
Javon Kinlaw, DT
Kinlaw left practice Monday with a shoulder injury and is week-to-week. This is a brand new injury, so there aren't many details yet.
Javon Kinlaw suffered a shoulder injury and is week to week, Kyle Shanahan said.
— Chris Biderman (@ChrisBiderman) August 16, 2021
No significant injuries were reported.
No significant injuries were reported.
Montez Sweat, Edge
Sweat sat out Washington's preseason game last week with a non-COVID illness. He should make his return to practice soon if he hasn't already done so under the radar.
Thanks for reading! If you are ever looking for some fantasy feedback, hit me up on Twitter at @DynastyDVM and follow @IDPGuys for more great content.
