NFL teams
Kevin Seifert, ESPN Staff Writer 8y

Jared Goff, Carson Wentz lead NFL Week 1 preseason injury list

The first rule of preseason, of course, is to stay healthy.

(It's OK to talk about it. Just don't get hurt.)

The NFL's two most-hyped rookies got the message a little late. Neither injury is season-ending, but they are reminders that months of analysis and debate can come to a halt in a single preseason moment.

Let's take a closer look at the most significant injuries in Week 1 of the NFL preseason. (Fantasy alert: If you don't see the player you're looking for on this list, chances are his injury is minor.)

QB Jared Goff, Los Angeles Rams

Injury: Sore left shoulder

Prognosis: The Rams held Goff out of the second half Saturday night because of a hit he absorbed in the second quarter of their 28-24 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. The injury is to Goff's non-throwing shoulder, and coach Jeff Fisher said Sunday that Goff would resume practicing and likely get some work with the Rams' first-team offense. It does not appear that the injury will slow Goff's path to the Rams' starting job, held on by what is widely assumed to be a temporary basis by veteran Case Keenum.

QB Carson Wentz, Philadelphia Eagles

Injury: Hairline fracture in his ribs

Prognosis: Wentz, the No. 2 overall pick of the 2016 draft, suffered the injury on a hit Thursday night in the Eagles' 17-9 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Coach Doug Pederson said the team hopes to have Wentz back before the preseason ends Sept. 1. This injury will halt any attempt to move up the depth chart or at least pressure veterans Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel before the season begins. Any playing time he receives this season will be the result of either multiple injuries or poor performances elsewhere, as opposed to a surge in preseason games.


WR Malcolm Mitchell, New England Patriots

Injury: Dislocated left elbow

Prognosis: Initial reports suggest Mitchell will miss four weeks. That timetable calls into question whether he'll be ready for the Patriots' regular-season opener Sept. 11 at the Arizona Cardinals, but overall it's great news, given how gruesome the injury looked on video in the Patriots' 34-22 victory Thursday over the New Orleans Saints. Mitchell had four catches for 55 yards to that point, continuing a surge that hinted he would be a significant part of the Patriots' offense this season. He'll still have that chance.


LB IK Enemkpali, Buffalo Bills

Injury: Torn right ACL

Prognosis: Enemkpali will miss the season after suffering the injury Saturday in the second quarter of the Bills' 19-18 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Enemkpali had been working with the first-team defense throughout camp, partially because of injuries to other players, but his injury leaves the Bills' defensive line significantly depleted. Yes, this is the same Enemkpali who forever changed New York Jets history last summer when he broke the jaw of quarterback Geno Smith during a locker-room altercation. The Bills claimed Enemkpali after the Jets waived him.

WR Bennie Fowler, Denver Broncos

Injury: Right elbow fracture

Prognosis: Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said Fowler will miss "a few weeks," which implies that he might be ready to return when the regular season begins. (Apparently elbow fractures heal quickly.) Fowler, who suffered the injury on a punt return in Thursday night's 22-0 victory over the Chicago Bears, has been working as the Broncos' No. 3 receiver during training camp.

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