Benched Report – The Fine Cost of Injuries

When piling up facts to write a good NFL game preview, football pundits pay attention to lots of different factors, injury reports being one of the most important. Likewise, failure to file an accurate report might prove as costly to a team as benching its most important key players due to illness. One such case is the recent fine imposed on the Miami Dolphins and coach Adam Gase related to the incorrect listing of quarterback Ryan Tannehill as “good to go” for the practice held on October 11th, ahead of their match on the 14th of the same month against the Bears.

As result of Tannehill’s bad report, the Miami Dolphins were fined $30,000, plus an additional $15,000 for head coach Gase, all set in accordance to the dispositions dictated by the NFL’s Injury Report Policy. The Miami squad released a brief statement in the same regard where they declared that: “We have been fully cooperative and transparent with the NFL throughout this process…” – It appears that the Dolphins have peaceably accepted the verdict and decided not to make any additional comments about the mishap. Tannehill had been healing a shoulder injury received during week 6.

According to Gase, the QB won’t be making it for Sunday’s match against the Green Bay Packers, but are hopeful that Tannehill will return for their next match against the Indianapolis Colts, right after their upcoming bye week.

Josh Allen returns to Bill’s lineup

On happier notes, the desperate Buffalo Bills are excited to see QB Josh Allen return to the playing field after dealing with an elbow injury that kept him out for nearly three weeks. What remains unclear is if Allen will be joining his squad for this week’s game against the New York Jets; according to Allen’s own comments, the hard recovery work, supported by offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, plus veteran Derek Anderson’s help, have been essential in his stepping back as Bills starting QB position.

An additional bye week scheduled for after their Jets duel could provide Allen with an additional week to rest and charge up his batteries before tackling the second half of the regular season.

On other injury news, New York Jets QB Sam Darnold was not expected to join Thursday’s practice ahead of their match against the Bills. Darnold suffered a foot sprain during last Sunday’s loss to Miami.

Arrested recovery for Darren Sproles

Darren Sproles’ recovery is a completely different story; the Eagles running back seems to have worsened his hamstring injury during this weeks practice and will now have to undergo an MRI procedure before any conclusive decision is made in regards to his fate for the rest of the season.

The player had been sent away since week 1, and his long 7-week absence had been placated by the addition of Corey Clement, Wendell Smallwood and Josh Adams.

Saints’ head coach Sean Payton announced that wide receiver Cameron Meredith has been sent to injury reserve as of Thursday; Meredith is now dealing with a knee injury, apparently connected to a previous swelling problem that started back in August of last year.

Falcons’ Matt Bryant was expected for this Thursday’s practice and looks to have pleasantly recovered from his hamstring injury; the kicker had missed the previous two games with Atlanta.