INJURY CONCERNS

COOPER KUPP, LOS ANGELES RAMS

Kupp suffered an ankle injury in Week 10 that ended his season and ultimately required surgery. Rams trainers seem pleased with the 2021 receiving triple crown winner’s progress.

KEENAN ALLEN, LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

The 31-year-old Allen missed seven games with a hamstring injury from which he never seemed to fully recover. It was the least productive season of his 10-year career outside of a 2016 campaign in which he played only one game due to injury.

DEEBO SAMUEL, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Hamstring and ankle injuries forced Samuel to miss four games and parts of others. With Christian McCaffrey there to handle the bulk of the 49ers’ rushing work, Samuel can focus more on receiving and not get beaten up as much on handoffs.

MIKE WILLIAMS, LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

While Williams missed only four regular-season games with a bad ankle, he was less than 100 percent for much of the season. Then in the season finale, Williams suffered a back injury. He is expected to be 100 percent healthy for the start of the season.

KADARIUS TONEY, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

The Giants unloaded Toney to Kansas City last season because he couldn’t stay healthy, and all he did was score a TD in the Super Bowl. Still, Toney has missed 15 games through two NFL seasons.

RASHOD BATEMAN, BALTIMORE RAVENS

A foot injury cut Bateman’s 2022 season short after six games. Plus, free-agent signing Odell Beckham Jr. and rookie first-round pick Zay Flowers also will be competing for targets.

TIM PATRICK, DENVER BRONCOS

Patrick averaged 52 catches for 738 yards in 202021, but he never got to develop a rapport with new QB Russell Wilson due to a torn ACL last August that cost him the season. There should be room for Patrick to contribute in Sean Payton’s passing attack.

STERLING SHEPARD, NEW YORK GIANTS

Shepard has played in only 10 games over the past two seasons. Still, despite an Achilles injury in 2021 and a torn ACL in ’22, the Giants signed the 30-yearold to a one-year extension for this season.

JAMESON WILLIAMS, DETROIT LIONS

Williams missed most of his rookie season because of the torn ACL he suffered in the 2021 national championship game. The Lions will now have to wait again; Williams was suspended for the first six games for violating the NFL’s gambling policy.

MICHAEL THOMAS, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Thomas had one of the best fantasy seasons ever in 2019. But then he missed nine games in ’20 and was out all of ’21 with an ankle injury. Fantasy managers were hoping for a return to form in ’22, but Thomas was limited to three games. He turned 30 in March.