NFL Infirmary Report After Week 1
September 11th 2008

 

In all my years of following the NFL, I have never seen so many critical injuries to marquee players after just one week of action.  It is tough times for those of you who drafted Tom Brady as your number 1 pick.  Right now you are probably scrambling to replace Brady on your roster with the likes of Chad Pennington, Joe Flacco or maybe even Brian Griese.  What if Matt Cassell really is the next Brady? Matt Cassell will be starting his first football game on Sunday since playing in high school. 

These injuries to marquee players brings back some horrible memories of Jamal Anderson who tore his ACL without even getting touched against the Cowboys.  How about Shaun Alexander's fractured foot and the Madden Cover Curse?

It will be "Lights Out" for Shawne Merriman of the Chargers after one week.  How many of you thought he should have even stepped on the field to begin with?

Seattle's Wide Receiver Nate Burleson seemed like a great short term fantasy draft pick given that Branch and Engram were injured coming into the season.  Not anymore,  Burleson is out for the year with a knee injury.  Maurice Morris will apparently miss the next few games as well making Julius Jones a good fantasy start.  Hassleback's prime target on Sunday will most likely be Sammie Parker who has just been picked up by the Seahawks.

The Saints season looked very promising but now they have lost defensive tackle Hollis Thomas for the year and Marques Colston may miss up to six weeks.  David Patten will now be counted on and will get more balls thrown his way.

Vince Young will miss some games with a sprained knee.  I'm no psychiatrist, so I won't even bother with the reported police story and his mom's comments.

Jacksonville is hurting on the offensive line.  The Jaguars lost their starting left and right guards, Vince Manuwai, and Maurice Williams. This is not a good sign when you have ex-Jaguar Marcus Stroud visiting this weekend.

Finally, of rather meaningless proportions, Alex Smith didn't even start a game and he is out for the year with a shoulder injury. I'm pretty sure you will not see Smith in a 49ers jersey next season.

I wonder what week 2 will bring us!