Injury roundup
Week 5 didn’t lead to too many devastating injuries, but a handful that will the depth of certain teams. Denver lost starting running back Montee Ball for “some time.” Ball has not lived up to what the team had expected out of a 2013 first-round pick, so they’ll look to Ronnie Hillman and a back-by-committee approach going forward. They face the Jets Week 6.
Giants workhorse Rashad Jennings was forced out of the win over Atlanta, leaving rookie Andre Williams to shoulder the workload. Williams scored a touchdown in relief of Jennings, who doesn’t believe his injury will sideline him very long.
Reggie Bush was the only healthy back entering the Lions’ game against Buffalo but a fourth-quarter ankle injury forced him from the game. This means he, Joique Bell and Theo Riddick are all sidelined and George Winn may be starting Week 6 for Detroit.
Jimmy Graham was having a monster game against Tampa before injuring his shoulder and then sitting out the second half. Reports indicate the injury isn’t too serious, and perhaps keeping the tight end out was a precautionary measure.
Another Chargers back went down, this time Donald Brown. Brown left the Chargers’ game against New York with a concussion, leaving fourth-stringer Branden Oliver to get the bulk of the workload. Brown could be back next week, should he pass concussion protocol tests.
Jake Locker again was hurt, this one a thumb injury on his throwing hand. X-rays came back clean, but more tests will be needed. Charlie Whitehurst, who started Week 4 against Indy, is in line to start Week 6 against the Jags if Locker is a no-go.
