Week 15 Injury Report

Added on Dec 19, 2011 by Scott in

NFL

With the postseason only three weeks away, contenders with hopes of advancing to the Big Game are crossing their fingers they can remain healthy during the all-important stretch run. The loss of one or two key players could mean the difference between winning a title or being eliminated in the Wild Card round. However, the ability to overcome injuries is often what defines a championship team. Here are the most significant of the Week 15 bruises and breaks.

Johnny Knox (Bears) – It’s been a terrible month for the Monsters of the Midway. Jay Cutler, Matt Forte and now Knox have all been lost to serious injuries. The scary collision that bent the third-year receiver in half will require surgery to repair a damaged vertebrae. He is expected to make a full recovery.

Bryan Bulaga (Packers) – The starting right tackle will undergo an MRI on his left knee to determine the severity of the damage. It doesn’t appear to be serious, although Bulaga did miss two games earlier in the season with a left knee issue.

Derek Sherrod (Packers) – The news wasn’t as good for Bulaga’s replacement. Sherrod is out for the year with a broken right leg.

A.J. Green (Bengals) – The rookie wideout suffered a shoulder sprain but is not expected to miss any games. According to Green, he plans to play through the pain. With the Bengals angling for a Wild Card berth, they can ill afford to lose him for any amount of time.

Mark Sanchez (Jets) – Sanchez got his neck twisted in the Jets blowout defeat in Philly. He was visibly favoring it after the game, but he should be fine for Week 16.

Andre Carter (Patriots) – The Patriots best pass rusher is likely done for the season with a quadriceps injury that will require surgery. His 10 sacks were tops on the team.

Asante Samuel (Eagles) – A slight hamstring strain forced the Pro Bowl cornerback out of Sunday’s game. Head coach Andy Reid is confident Samuel will be able to go in Saturday’s rematch with Dallas.

Chris Houston (Lions) – The already depleted Lions secondary saw Houston exit with an unspecified knee injury. He’ll likely undergo further testing today.

Stevie Johnson (Bills) – Johnson left with a groin strain and will be reevaluated as the week progresses. It’s uncertain he’ll be available for Week 16.