The second week of the preseason is over, and that means all preseason action for expected starters is a thing of the past, too. Teams generally treat the final preseason game as a chance to evaluate depth charts, battles for backup roles, roster spots and practice squad spots. Starters, meanwhile, will have their attention fully turned to Week 1 at last.
This training camp and preseason cycle have been particularly busy on the injury front, unfortunately. Hopefully, that's mostly behind us as teams hone in on Week 1 prep. As such, we've turned our injury analysis toward Week 1.
As injury news continues to filter in, we'll be tracking not only the bumps and bruises (and sometimes more) but also their impact on season openers' availability. Aug. 24 -- Lower-body injury. Dan Quinn said Monday that Jacory Croskey-Merritt is dealing with an undisclosed injury, potentially sustained near the end of last week, and reporters said he has a lower-body injury.
He could be back next week. Dave Canales said Monday that Chuba Hubbard is expected to return for Week 1 and that Hubbard and Jonathon Brooks would operate in a committee in that case. Hubbard himself said his hamstring feels good, but the team is protecting him from himself after he returned too early last year.
Oweh, who signed a four-year, $96 million deal with the Commanders this offseason, suffered a calf strain either Aug. 17 or 18 (he did not practice on the 18th), and Quinn announced the injury on the 19th. Hall suffered a non-contact groin sprain, but coach Aaron Glenn said it would sideline him for 2 to 3 weeks and not carry over into the regular season. The Jets' Week 1 opener was nearly four weeks away when Glenn provided the timetable.
Aug. 24 -- Neck injury recovery. Jesse Minter said, "I don't know the answer to that right now," when asked about Madubuike's Week 1 availability. Madubuike suffered the injury -- thought to be career-threatening at one point -- early last season.
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