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Each NFL team in wild-card round’s most impactful injury

Posted by on Jan 2, 2015 07:07

NFL teams do their best to ensure their players are as healthy as possible heading into the postseason.

Each team playing in the wild-card round is dealing with an injury to at least one key player that could impact their respective team’s performance, and many of these guys aren’t signal callers.

These players’ injuries could drastically affect the outcome of this weekend’s games. Let’s take a look at who will and won’t play.

Pittsburgh Steelers: RB Le’Veon Bell (knee)

Injury update: Bell is currently listed as questionable.

Bell led all NFL running backs in receiving yards and finished second in rushing. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has surely benefited from his production. Most important is Bell’s pass-blocking skills—an area that suffers a downgrade with Josh Harris, Dri Archer or Ben Tate in the backfield.

Even if Pittsburgh hadn’t cut LeGarrette Blount earlier in the season, the team was playing with fire in the event of a Bell injury due to lack of depth at the position. With a healthy Bell, an argument can be made that the Steelers have the best running back, receiver and offensive line on the AFC side of the bracket.

Baltimore Ravens: LT Eugene Monroe (ankle)

Injury update: Monroe has yet to practice this week and his status remains uncertain.

Monroe has had an injury-filled “down” year as the blindside protector for Joe Flacco. He seems to be turning a corner, though, having allowed three hurries, one sack and no hits in Week 15 and Week 16 combined before sitting out in Week 17.

Baltimore had perhaps the AFC’s best offensive line until injuries rocked the unit and right tackle Ricky Wagner was put on injured reserve. The potential return of Monroe—depending on how healthy he is—will be crucial to fend off the Steelers’ vaunted pass rush and facilitate the Ravens’ run game.

Indianapolis Colts: WR T.Y. Hilton (hamstring)

Injury update: Hilton practiced in full Wednesday and is expected to play Sunday.

Reading the tea leaves, it looks like Hilton will play. But the real question is how limited he will be from his hamstring ailment. Will he still be able to stretch the Bengals’ defense with his speed?

Andrew Luck ranks 24th in passer rating among quarterbacks who have taken at least 50 percent of their team’s snaps over the past four games. Hilton, who tallied the ninth-most receiving yards in Colts history this season, played through his injury in a meaningless Week 17 contest. He played in 27 snaps, with zero catches on three targets. Reggie Wayne and Hakeem Nicks have struggled this year and rookie Donte Montcrief presents the only other real deep threat for Luck. He desperately needs a healthy Hilton out there to throw to.

Cincinnati Bengals: WR A.J. Green (concussion)

Injury update: Green returned to practice Thursday and was a limited participant. He is currently listed as questionable.

Green will likely be a game-time decision Sunday morning. The extra day to pass the concussion test could work out in his favor. Green leads the league in yards per route run but has been ineffective the past two weeks while playing through a bicep injury.

When healthy, Green is an elite receiver. His importance to the team was apparent when Cincy looked abysmal without him in its 27-0 loss at Indy earlier this year.

Dallas Cowboys: LB Anthony Hitchens (ankle)

Injury update: Hitchens sat out Thursday’s practice and his status remains uncertain.

Hitchens was thrust into action midseason, but has continued to improve since. He left the team’s game against the Redskins with an ankle injury.

Hitchens led the Cowboys in tackles and stops in Week 16’s game against Indy. Dallas’ banged-up linebacker corps would benefit from trotting out McClain, Hitchens and Watson at near-full strength, given what Reggie Bush and Joique Bell can do to opposing defenders.

The loss of defensive tackle Henry Melton will put more strain on the defensive front, and the Cowboys will need their linebackers at their best.

Detroit Lions: RG Larry Warford (knee)

Injury update: Warford sat out Thursday’s practice and his status remains uncertain.

Ndamukong Suh avoided suspension, but the Lions still wait anxiously for the status of their cog in the interior of their offensive line. Warford exited Sunday’s game with a knee injury and began wearing a large brace early this week.

A full game with center Dominic Raiola—coming off a suspension—adjacent to Warford would greatly benefit Joique Bell, who averaged over five yards per carry in the first half against Green Bay.

Carolina Panthers: RB DeAngelo Williams (hand)

Injury update: Williams is currently listed as probable.

Jonathan Stewart has rattled off 486 rushing yards in the past five games, and has been key during the Panthers’ four-game winning streak. But on a team which currently has few injured players, Williams stands out as the main question mark.

The Panthers are hot, but they can benefit from having this change-of-pace back in their arsenal. And Williams does have a history of gashing defenses here and there once Stewart softens them up. Williams remains a good home-run threat to add to the mix of an offense perfectly content with throwing less than 20 times, as the Panthers did in Atlanta.

Arizona Cardinals: QB Drew Stanton (knee)

Injury update: Stanton has now been declared out for Sunday.

The Cardinals had prepared for Ryan Lindley to start under center this weekend. And it looks like the possibility of him playing is now a certainty.

The team’s offense may suffer as a result. During the past two games, the mere thought of Lindley completing a pass was a pleasant surprise and the defense was reduced to grasping for turnovers to give the team a chance to win. Speaking of turnovers, Lindley threw three interceptions in Week 17, but he also racked up 316 passing yards in the 20-17 loss.

NFL Films’ Greg Cosell actually declared Lindley the better option regardless of health this week on the Ross Tucker Football Podcast. Even so, Lindley could run into issues with Charles Johnson and Star Lotulelei pressuring him. He’ll have to limit his turnovers to give the team a chance to win.

The injury bug has hit the Cardinals hard this season, and not having Stanton under center really puts a damper on the team’s Super Bowl hopes.

About Thomas Emerick

Merry freelancer. NFL Lead Writer at The Sports Daily, Contributor to Sporting News. May have also seen my work at USA Today, Bleacher Report, Pro Football Focus and the late AOL FanHouse. VT grad. I am also an avid diabetic.

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