Injured thumbs will affect NFL preseason betting this week and possibly beyond. Tampa Bay's Josh Freeman is out for the rest of the exhibition schedule and AJ Feely is nursing a bad digit in St. Louis.
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Injuries
Josh Freeman, Quarterback
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Freeman fractured his thumb on his throwing hand in Week 2 of the preseason and will now miss the rest of the exhibition games. He’s questionable for Week 1 of the regular season and a number of Buccaneers lines have been pulled from the sportsbook as we wait and see how he heals.
A.J. Feely, Quarterback
St. Louis Rams
Feeley has a swollen thumb on his throwing hand and is going for an MRI. It looks like the Sam Bradford era might start sooner than expected if this problem lingers. The early diagnosis is that it is a sprained thumb and it should be healed by Week 1 – if not sooner.
Steven Jackson, Running Back
St. Louis Rams
Steven Jackson started on Saturday for the St. Louis Rams and finished with 20 yards on four carries. It was his first game action since undergoing back surgery in April.
Leon Washington, Running Back
Seattle Seahawks
Leon Washington saw his first action since breaking his leg last season and he looked like he hasn’t lost his burst. He had an 11-yard touchdown run, which was part of his four carries for 19 yards. He also had one catch for six yards.
Percy Harvin, Wide Receiver
Minnesota Vikings
Harvin collapsed at a Vikings practice earlier in the week and obviously missed the team’s contest. He spent Thursday night in the hospital but then was examined by specialists. The oddest piece of news may be the fact that the team trainer suggested that Harvin could have played on Sunday.
Migraines and football don’t mix, so this could be an on-going issue all year long.
Wes Welker, Wide Receiver
New England Patriots
Wes Welker made his preseason debut on Thursday and looked quick and shifty as usual. He caught two passes for 20 yards.
Chaz Schilens, Wide Receiver
Oakland Raiders
Schilens broke his foot in the 2009 preseason and injuries have crept up again as he may need knee surgery. He hasn’t been a factor for a while, so even if it is just a scope, there’s no sense in expecting production out of him until at least midseason.
Russell Okung, Tackle
Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks drafted Okung No. 6 overall in the 2010 NFL Draft to secure the blindside of Matt Hasselbeck but Okung won’t be able to do that until maybe Week 2 of the regular season. He’s questionable for Week 1 and will miss the rest of the preseason after spraining his ankle. This could be a key loss if he can’t get back in action for Week 1 as backup Ray Willis is also out after knee surgery.
Depth Chart Battles
Jamaal Charles vs Thomas Jones, Running Backs
Kansas City Chiefs
For a second straight week, Charles outproduced Thomas Jones. Charles has a 7.0 yards per carry through two weeks while Jones is at 3.1.
Ryan Mathews vs Mike Tolbert, Running Backs
San Diego Chargers
Maybe more of an update for fantasy players, but Tolbert appears to be the goal line hammer for the Chargers this year. Mathews got two shots inside the three-yard line this week and failed to score.
Larry Johnson vs Clinton Portis, Running Backs
Washington Redskins
Larry Johnson got the start on Saturday but the only thing his performance did was cement Clinton Portis as the starter. Johnson carried the ball eight times for four yards.
David Garrard vs Luke McCown, Quarterbacks
Jacksonville Jaguars
These two are battling? Sounds crazy, right? We’ve already heard from the Jack Del Rio’s mouth that Garrard’s leash is going to be short and many NFL betting cappers thought that was a joke since the Jaguars have no better options. But backup Luke McCown 396 passing yards and four touchdowns through two weeks. Garrard will start but if he doesn’t produce, McCown will get a shot.