AFC East: Key injury update May 29, 2008 12:01 PM Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando This is the first in a series of divisional reports examining pivotal injuries that could impact each NFL team heading into training camp and the regular season. ESPN.com fantasy sports expert Christopher Harris provides a "fantasy spin" on each player. We begin by focusing on a key injury affecting each team in the AFC East. BUFFALO BILLS Player, position, injury: Paul Posluszny, LB, broken left arm. Rehab status: Posluszny has been cleared for contact. He is practicing with the Bills during their ongoing camp and even picked off a Trent Edwards pass near the goal line Wednesday. He appears fully recovered after undergoing season-ending surgery in September to repair two broken bones in his forearm. Next step: Being cleared for full-contact work is one thing. Participating in full-contact work is quite another. Posluszny won't get that chance until training camp. He's had plenty of time to recover, however, and the Bills expect him to help fortify their run defense. Posluszny has the potential to be an impact player. Fantasy spin: No impact. MIAMI DOLPHINS Player, position, injury: Ronnie Brown, RB, torn right knee ligaments. Rehab status: Brown underwent surgery to repair a torn anterior-cruciate ligament on Nov. 1. He is carrying the ball and changing direction effectively during the Dolphins' ongoing practices. The team is taking precautions to protect Brown from unnecessary contact. Next step: The Dolphins expect Brown to be ready for training camp. They are encouraged by his progress so far, but it's still early. Only seven months have passed since Brown underwent surgery. Fantasy spin: Ricky Williams will be a fly in the fantasy ointment even if Brown is ready to go by training camp. Bill Parcells (and his proxy Tony Sparano) have been known to favor backfield committees, and Williams reported to organized team activities in very good shape. Brown is a terrific pass-catcher and has additional value in points-per-reception leagues, but despite his strong start in '07, he's not a No. 1 fantasy back entering '08. And if his knee isn't healthy? Williams's value would spike, and rookie Jalen Parmele could steal third-down touches. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS Player, position, injury: Benjamin Watson, TE, cartilage damage in left ankle. Rehab status: Watson continues to rehab following the ankle surgery he underwent in March. He is not participating in the Patriots' ongoing passing camp. Watson initially injured the ankle when Dallas' Roy Williams tackled him awkwardly during an Oct. 14 game. He was hurt again during a Dec. 9 game against Pittsburgh. Next step: The team holds a mandatory camp beginning June 6. There's no reason to expect the Patriots to rush their most dynamic tight end. Getting Watson on the field for training camp could be the top priority. Even then, the Patriots might be wise to ease him into action. Fantasy spin: If Watson is healthy and regains explosiveness, he'll resume his role as a primary red-zone threat for one of the league's scariest offenses. He's not a candidate for 100-plus targets, but even 75 would make him a borderline fantasy starter. David Thomas would benefit as a pass-catcher if Watson can't get his ankle right; the aging Marcus Pollard looked stiff in minicamp and doesn't seem like much of a fantasy threat. NEW YORK JETS Player, position, injury: Laveranues Coles, WR, high ankle sprain. Rehab status: Coles is participating in ongoing practices after recovering from the knee, calf, ankle, torso and head injuries that reportedly slowed him last season. The ankle injury bothered Coles most noticeably, leading the Jets to place him on injured reserve in December. Next step: Coles simply needed some downtime to recuperate from his injuries. While the Jets are notoriously tight-lipped about injuries, nothing should stop Coles from regaining the consistency he showed while never missing a game from 2001 until last season. Fantasy spin: If he's healthy, Coles is one of the league's faster receivers, but the Jets continue to use him almost like a possession guy. He was 72nd in yards per reception among qualifiers last year. Perhaps if Kellen Clemens improves, Coles will get more downfield chances. If Coles struggles with injury again, Brad Smith and Chansi Stuckey figure to get chances, though neither guy projects as much of an outside threat or fantasy option. Rookie Marcus Henry is a project.
