Dynasty Fantasy Football: Season-Ending QB Injuries
The NFL has seen at least 48 different quarterbacks start a game this season. Whether it is injury, performance, or looking to provide a spark, the league suffers when the signal-caller goes down. We have also seen some incredibly highly-regarded quarterbacks hit injured reserve, leaving their teams without someone to call the plays.
My name is Kyle Trimble, I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy, the other half of the injury analyst team here at Dynasty League Football. We are here each and every week to break down the latest injuries and provide perspective on how to navigate the pitfalls that are injuries.
This is a bonus article focusing on the various quarterbacks who underwent season-ending surgeries and their outlook for 2024.
Anthony Richardson, IND
Injury: Right AC Joint Grade 3 Sprain
Richardson suffered a Grade 3 AC Joint sprain following a tackle from Tennessee Titans LB Harold Landry III in Week 5. After some discussion and second opinions, the decision was made to shut down Richardson for the season and undergo surgery to repair the area. In most cases, AC joint sprains do not require surgery, but in a Grade 3, the acromioclavicular and coracoclavicular ligaments are torn in addition to 25-to-100 displacement of the clavicle on the opposite side.
The rookie quarterback could have played through the injury following an injured reserve stint, but would have struggled with accuracy and power with a high potential to suffer further damage. A typical rehab for an AC Joint reconstruction is upwards of six months which places Richardson ready to return for OTA’s and training camp. When he does return, a return to prior performance and no long-term concerns are expected. This injury alone should not impact the Colts’ decision to exercise his fifth-year option or contract extension should his play warrant the discussion.
Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports
Joe Burrow, CIN
Injury: Right wrist ligament tear
Burrow went down with a right wrist injury midway through the second quarter on Thursday night against the Baltimore Ravens on a nondescript hit in the pocket. However, when he braced his fall, he landed with the wrist extended and felt a pop. He later tried throwing on the sideline and was unable to without significant pain. That fall ultimately led to a ligament tear that ended his season.
The suspected ligament that he tore is the scapholunate ligament, one of the most common ligaments to tear in the wrist. This ligament connects the scaphoid and lunate, important carpal bones that provide structural support in the wrist. Without the proper alignment and support, normal functions of the wrist become difficult, including gripping and throwing a football.
Other positions can play through this injury and delay surgery but throwing a football would be impossible in Burrow’s case. Those that do undergo surgery have acceptable outcomes with 80 percent returning to play and two-thirds returning to preinjury level of competition. Had Burrow had a partial tear or delayed surgery, there was concern for arthritic changes. Considering the Bengals signed him to a massive contract extension this past offseason, they are ensuring that he can perform at a franchise quarterback level for years to come.
Aaron Rodgers, NYJ
Injury: Left Achilles tear
Rodgers’ 2023 season lasted just four snaps as he scrambled in the pocket to avoid Buffalo Bills LB Leonard Floyd in week one. As he attempted to escape, his left foot got caught in the turf as he fell forward, rupturing his Achilles. Despite Rodgers stating that he can come back as early as mid-December, I believe his optimism is a farce as I do not believe any sane doctor or physical therapist will clear him to return even with the newer Achilles repair method, especially behind his patchwork offensive line that soon.
I fully believe that Rodgers will return in 2024, but I question his effectiveness. Research shows that he will throw for five fewer touchdown and 60 yards over the course of the season. Add in his age and missing a year of football, those numbers could worsen. I believe Rodgers will drag the Jets down into mediocrity as he ages. The Jets are also stuck with Rodgers through 2025 with dead cap hits of $66.1 and $49 million the next two years. This is what happens when you hitch your wagon to an old quarterback.
© Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey.com / USA TODAY NETWORK
Daniel Jones, NYG
Injury: Right ACL tear
Jones suffered through an injury-marred 2023 season that saw him miss three games with a neck injury before suffering a right ACL tear in week nine. As of publication, Jones has yet to undergo ACL reconstruction surgery, but these repairs occur roughly three weeks after the injury to reduce swelling and prepare the knee for surgery by performing rehab.
He will return in 2024 with week one in play but a delayed return may be necessary if he has any additional damage or setbacks. When he does return, quarterbacks play for on average another five years with no discernible dropoff in performance. Jones was incredibly fortunate that he signed his four year, $160 million contract prior to the 2023 season.
As a result, the Giants are locked into keeping him for at least 2024 with a dead cap hit of $69.3 million. They do have an out after 2025 with a dead cap hit of $22.2 million and his future may be determined by new management if general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll don’t right the ship.
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Deshaun Watson, CLE
Injury: Right shoulder glenoid fracture
Watson saw his tough 2023 season mercifully end after suffering through multiple shoulder injuries. Early in the season, he suffered a subscapularis strain of the rotator cuff that impacted his ability to power the ball downfield. He missed three out of four games after suffering the injury in week three.
In week ten, Watson was sandwiched between two defenders early in the second quarter, fracturing his glenoid, a portion of the scapula that helps create the shoulder joint. Despite initially playing through the fracture, he later suffered a high-ankle sprain that forced him out of the game.
Watson underwent surgery to repair the displaced glenoid fracture, ending his season. There isn’t much information regarding a return to performance following this type of fracture in an NFL throwing athlete. The key point coming out of the surgery will be whether he has any future instability leading to possible subluxations or dislocations. If the damage isn’t severe enough, then he can avoid that issue and restore his throwing mechanics.
This is a wait and see approach which puts the onus on the Browns to maximize his rehab. His guaranteed contract is prohibitive from cutting him as the Browns would incur a $200.9 million dead cap hit in 2024.
Kirk Cousins, MIN
Injury: Right Achilles tear
In what seems to be the year of the Achilles tear, Cousins was yet the latest high-profile NFL player to tear their Achilles, suffering the tear in week eight. The veteran quarterback underwent a more traditional repair due to the location of the tear. Despite suffering the injury in late October, Cousins should be ready to go for training camp in 2024.
When he does return, research shows a decline in production of five fewer touchdowns and 60 passing yards, the same as mentioned with Rodgers above. Fortunately, Cousins at age 35 has a strong comparable in Vinny Testaverde who tore his Achilles in 1999 at age 36. When he did return, he played for another eight seasons, though he only appeared in a full 16 games in three out of those eight seasons. He threw for 70 touchdowns and 76 interceptions over the remainder of his career. I do expect Cousins to return to close to average play and expect the Vikings to offer a new contract in the offseason.
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