Fantasy Football 2009 Week 4 Prep Injuries and Waiver Wire

Injuries

49ers RB Frank Gore is suffering from a high ankle strain and likely will miss at least the next two games, according to a league source. The hope is that he could return after the 49ers’ Week 6 bye. “It happened,” coach Mike Singletary said following the game. “But I had every bit of confidence in Glen Coffee going into the game and did not blink.”

UPDATE *** Chad Pennington has a torn capsule in his throwing shoulder and is awaiting a second opinion, ESPN’s Chris Mortenson reports via Twitter. Pennington is expected to miss the rest of the season.

Dolphins QB Chad Pennington was knocked out of Sunday’s game against the Chargers with an injury to his right shoulder. Pennington was thrown to the ground after throwing an incomplete pass on third-and-7 from the Dolphins 40. He was slow to get up, then once he got to the sideline, took off his helmet and shoulder pads and had a bag of ice on his shoulder. The Dolphins might be without quarterback Chad Pennington for next week’s AFC clash against the Buffalo Bills.

Patriots RB Laurence Maroney left Sunday’s game against the Falcons in the second quarter with a thigh injury, finished up with four carries for 17 yards in the Patriots’ win. We’ll track Maroney’s status in the coming days.

Lions RB Kevin Smith suffered a shoulder injury during the second half of Detroit’s win against the Redskins and did not return. The Lions wouldn’t comment on the severity of the injury, but it appeared significant.

“Yeah, Kevin’s got a shoulder and Kevin was running extremely well,” said head coach Jim Schwartz. “He was running physical and was giving hits, taking hits, and things like that. “He’s got a shoulder (injury), I don’t know where it’s going to be. We’ll have a lot of tests he’ll wind up doing tomorrow.”

Rams QB Marc Bulger will undergo an MRI on Monday to determine the extent of an injury sustained to his throwing shoulder during the team’s loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Bulger said he was injured when he was hit by Aaron Kampman as he was cocking to throw then went back out on the field for the Rams’ next offensive series, but he aggravated the injury trying to recover a fumble by running back Steven Jackson.

Rams WR Laurent Robinson exited the game against Green Bay in the second quarter with a lower right leg injury.

Waiver Wire

New York Jets QB Mark Sanchez – His stats aren’t the best, but he is consistent. Week 4 he will be trying to keep pace withe Drew Brees. No matter how good the Jets defense is

San Francisco RB Glen Coffee – Frank Gore will be out a few weeks. Coffee plays the Rams next week, and the 49ers are still a run first team.

Cleveland RB Jerome Harrison – Jamal Lewis was out and Harrison did decently against the Ravens. Lewis may miss more time, and Jerome will still get carries when JL comes back.

Houston WR Kevin Walter – Nice debut from injury for Walter. 7 garbs for 96 yards and a TD.

Jacksonville WR Mike Sims-Walker – We were all over this guy last week, and he didn’t disappoint.

Detroit WR Bryant Johnson – Johnson had a good game lining up on the other side of Calvin Johnson. As Stafford gets better, Johnson’s numbers will improve.