David Chao, MD
2 min read • July 31, 2022
Posted in
2021 record: 13-4 | 2022 FanDuel O/U win total: 11.5
It was a whirlwind of a week for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the team began training camp. Unfortunately, starting center Ryan Jensen was carted off the field with a knee injury on the second day of camp. Our team of Pro Football Docs are concerned the 31-year-old offensive tackle tore his ACL.
The team then brought wide receiver Julio Jones aboard with a one-year, $6 million deal to beef up the receiving corps.
After his brief retirement stint, starting quarterback Tom Brady is back and motivated to lead his Buccaneers back to the Super Bowl.
The 44-year-old quarterback is going to be without his top receiver as Chris Godwin is still recovering from his Week 15 ACL tear. The former Penn State receiver led the team last season with 28 receptions for 1,103 yards and 5 touchdowns. Godwin still has a long way to go until he will be 100 percent.
Brady lost powerhouse tight end Rob Gronkowski to retirement though there are rumors he could return in the middle of the season. Kyle Rudolph joined the Buccaneers from the Vikings as a potential Gronk replacement. The other option at tight end is Cameron Brate so both top tight ends are in their early 30s, which is worth noting.
While running back Leonard Fournette received a lot of heat for showing up to the Bucs’ facility overweight and out-of-shape during minicamp, head coach Todd Bowles said at the first day of training camp the starting running back is explosive and running well.
Vita Vea is healthy and poised to lead the dominant defensive front as the team's top nose tackle. The team, on the other, elected not to resign defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.
Linebacker Lavonte David who has a 94 SIC Score should not be hampered by his 2021 Lisfranc foot injury that held him out for the last two games of the regular season. The 31-year-old linebacker was able to play through the injury in the playoffs but he later revealed he was not nearly at full-strength. David has been cleared for training camp.
Godwin is not likely to be healthy for the start of the season as he continues to come back from Week 15 ACL tear in his right knee. His production will increase towards the second half of the season once he is a year post-surgery. For any indication for how Godwin will perform this season, look to Odell Beckham after he returned following his mid-season ACL tear.
While The future Hall of Fame quarterback is turning 45 years old in a matter of days, there is no evidence his body is slowing down any time soon. His health and body are in great shape for his 23rd season in the league. The fact Brady has not missed a game because of injury in 14 years is a testament to how the quarterback maintains and treats his body. There is no reason to believe Brady will be hampered by injuries this season as he looks for his eighth Super Bowl win.
The 33-year-old receiver's grade is lowered considering his age and lingering hamstring issues. He has missed 17 games over the last two years because of the same hamstring injury. Jones' foot which has had three surgeries on should not give the receiver any problems.
The second-year right tackle is back on the field after he injured his ankle on the game-opening drive during the NFC Wild Card game. He then was held out of the Buc’s division round playoff loss to the Rams.
The fifth-year nose tackle, who recently signed a 4-year, more than $70 extension, played every game in 2021. He should be not feel any effects of his 2020 foot fracture that limited him to five games that season.
2021 record: 9-8| 2022 FanDuel O/U win total: 8.5
As the Saints head into the 2022 season without Sean Payton, fans are hopeful star receiver Michael Thomas will be back to begin the new era in New Orleans under head coach Dennis Allen. Thomas has not played in a game in almost two years.
In addition to Thomas, starting quarterback Jameis Winston is making way back from his ACL tear. He only started in 7 games where finished with 1170 yards, 14 touchdowns and 3 interceptions before the injury.
The Saints added former wide Ohio State receiver Chris Olave in the 2022 draft and receiver Jarvis Landry in free-agency in the event Thomas is no longer the same player prior to his injury.
Running back Alvin Kamara, while not injury-related, may miss time this season because of his offseason arrest for battery. His backup Mark Ingram is getting up there in age at 32 years old.
Although the two main question marks on offense are Winston and Thomas, right tackle Ryan Ramcyzk had knee surgery in the offseason. The Saints had said the procedure was minor and should not impact him this season.
Free safety Marcus Maye joined the Saints in the offseason on a three-year deal. He is coming back from an Achilles injury that he suffered on Nov. 4, 2021. The former Jet is not going to be at full-strength to start the season.
Starting linebacker Pete Werner was added to the non-football injury list last week. It has not been revealed what Werner is dealing with. Starting defensive lineman Marcus Davenport is on the PUP list for training camp as he is recovering from shoulder injury.
Thomas is not expected to produce like he did before his reoccurring ankle injury. Prior to the injury that he suffered in Week 1 of 2020, the former Ohio State averaged 7.5 yards and 85.7 yards per game. His career year in 2019 where he finished with 149 yards and 1,725 yards and 9 touchdowns suggested the Saints have a Hall of Fame-type talent in Thomas. He decided to have a multi-ligament repair surgery that held him out of the 2021 season. The 29 year old is now back on the practice field with the Saints though recent video suggest of Thomas running routes is slowed down by the lingering ankle issues.
The former Florida State quarterback is back following last year’s season-ending knee injury. Because Winston suffered a torn ACL and MCL damage, it will take some time for Winston to regain trust in his knee and be willing to be move outside the pocket. The New Orleans may look to its running game as Winston progresses throughout the season.
Kamara enters the season with a high SIC score, but he does have a history of knee and ankle injuries. The 27-year-old running back sprained his LCL in 2016 and then tore his MCL in 2019. He suffered a MCL sprain last season that held him out of four games. His previous injuries should not impact his productivity this season though the knee injuries are something to take note of.
The pass rusher had multiple offseason surgeries: one to amputate the tip of his left pinky finger that he first injured in 2016 and two to repair his injured shoulder. The amputation should not affect his playing career considering he has been playing with an already deformed finger. The Docs are more concerned over his right shoulder recovery, which was slowed down because of the amputation. The fifth-year defensive end should be back on the field for Week 1.
Before last season, the starting right tackle did not miss time because of injury. A knee injury forced him on the sidelines for seven games. He did not need offseason surgery rather he used his time to get knee back to full strength through strength training. The former Badger should be fine for this season but knee injuries are never good for players of Ramcyzk's size.
2021 record: 5-12 | 2022 FanDuel O/U win total: 6.5
The Carolina Panthers struggled in 2021 as a result of poor quarterback play and star running back Christian McCaffrey being out with injury.
Carolina brought back its former starting quarterback Cam Newton in hopes to resurrect his career and to provide a spark to the offense — that did not last long. Sam Darnold was not much of a solution either. He threw 13 interceptions and 9 interceptions in 12 games.
The team now acquired Baker Mayfield from the Browns and drafted Matt Corral out of Ole Miss to find its future quarterback. While there is no clear indication who will be the starting quarterback Week 1, McCaffrey is expected to be back without any injury limitations.
Top receivers D.J. Moore and Robby Anderson aim to have big years with improved quarterback play. They enter the season without any injury concerns.
Panthers rookie offensive tackle and potential starting left tackle Ikem Ekwonu played the second half of the 2021 season with a shoulder harness. A harness like that is typically necessary for players dealing with shoulder instability from a labral tear. The left tackle can play out the season with the tear and have surgery in the offseason. In the meantine, Ekwonu is participating in training camp. The Docs said they do not believe the shoulder harness will much of an issue for the rookie.
On defense, starting weakside linebacker Shaq Thompson and cornerback Jaycee Horn are starting training on the PUP list. He had a knee scope in the offseason but should be fully recovered once the season starts. Our team of Pro Fooball Docs said Horn may also start the season on the PUP list.
Over the last two seasons, McCaffrey has missed 23 of 33 games because of injuries. The list of injuries include a high ankle sprain, right shoulder sprain, a thigh strain, a hamstring sprain and an ankle sprain. It was the ankle injury that prematurely ended the star running back’s season.
The 26 year old, however, is entering this season with a clean bill of health and should be productive. In those 10 games appearances, the former Stanford running back averaged 115.9 yards from scrimmage. Hopefully the quarterback situation improves in Carolina so McCaffrey will not have to carry the Carolina offense as the main receiving and rushing threat.
The second-year cornerback only appeared in three games before he broke his right foot. While head coach Matt Rhule said at training camp Horn's injury should not be an issue, Horn will probably not be able to play during the first few weeks of the season.
Mayfield is healthy after recovering from labrum surgery on his non-throwing shoulder. The former Browns quarterback suffered a torn labrum while attempting to tackle after throwing an interception. He elected to play through the Week 2 injury, which lingered throughout the season and impacted his play. Mayfield finished the year with 17 touchdowns, 13 interceptions and a dismal 35.1 QB rating.
The starting left guard was placed on the injured reserve in September last season because of a hamstring injury. He returned from IR in November and did not experience any lingering effects. He has previously dealt with thumb, ankle and shoulder injuries, which the latter of the two he needed surgery for.
2021 record: 7-10| 2022 FanDuel O/U win total: 4.5
It is a new era in Atlanta with former franchise quarterback Matt Ryan traded to Colts in the offseason. As fans eagerly await the development of 2022 draft pick Desmond Ridder, former second overall pick Marcus Mariota will take over the QB one position.
Over the last two years with the Las Vegas Raiders as Derek Carr’s backup, Mariota has appeared in 11 games and thrown for 230 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. This year will be the first time since his stint with the Titans where Mariota will have the opportunity for substantial playing time.
Catching Mariota’s passes will be 2022 first-round pick Drake London who is returning after a dominant college career at USC. He is expected to be healthy following his ankle injury that limited him in workouts prior to the draft. In just eight games last year, the dynamic receiver raked up 88 receptions for 1,084 yards and 7 touchdowns.
Altanta’s breakout star in 2021 Cordarelle Patterson returns to the squad as a rushing and receiving option. In his career-high year, the versatile receiver ran for 618 yards and 3 touchdowns while catching passes for 548 yards and 5 touchdowns.
Cornerback Isaiah Oliver is nearly 10 months removed from his ACL injury. He is not on PUP but is not 100 percent to start the year.
Linebacker Deion Jones is on the physically unable to perform list because he had shoulder surgery after last season. It is a shoulder injury that has lingered from college but the Docs believe Jones will not have any lingering effects once he is fully recovered.
Starting free safety Jaylinn Hawkins who dealt with an ankle injury that kept him out for three games is fully healthy.
Mariota’s demise as a starter in Tennessee began with injuries. The former Titans starting quarterback injury issues began in 2018 when suffered a pinched nerve in his elbow, which resulted in issues with gripping the ball. The nerve issues continued to plague the quarterback as his deep ball accuracy faltered. He ultimately lost his job to Ryan Tannehill with the nerve issues lingering.
As Carr's back up in Las Vegas, Mariota dealt with injuries to his quad and pec. The Docs do not anticipate those injuries impacting Mariota in his first season as Matt Ryan’s replacement.
While the former USC receiver suffered a right ankle fracture and dislocation that ended his college career early, he is not likely to be limited by the injury in his first season in the NFL. It is the same injury Dolphins’ Jaylen Waddle sustained before his rookie season, which did not limit him in any way considering he posted a 1,015-yard season. The 2022 first-round draft pick said he is back to 100 percent.
Written by David Chao, MD
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Deep ball from Saints’ Jameis Winston to Chris Olave in 11-on-11 — and check out the way Olave called it when he saw the free space in front of him.
#Falcons 8th overall pick, WR Drake London, with a catch in tight coverage.
The @Buccaneers already know the news and we believe it to be bad. The delay in announcement allows team to make roster moves. Analysis here.
By limited video, our panel of Pro Football Docs have significant worry #Bucs center Ryan Jensen suffered a season-ending knee injury on this play 🏈Full details⏩bit.ly/3JdQrZJ
Christian McCaffrey practicing after yesterday’s day off.
