Arthritis?

[Karim]

I just started a new career with an allocation draft and in the first round picked a 27 year old 94/94 MLB to anchor my defense, costing me $16.9 million under the cap. After week 3, he is listed as "Doubtful" with "Arthritis". I finished the season without him improving. I'm now in the exhibition season and he hasn't changed.

1) Should I play him or will that result in a career ending injury?

2) Will he ever improve or does the chronic nature of arthritis mean he's more fragile than other players?

3) Should I put him on IR and lose him for yet another year?

Not sure how to deal with a full-strength prognosis of "unknown"...

[chinaski]

I dont think with Arthritis there's a chance for reinjury, correct? If so, id just continue to play him and take the performance hit.

[sawblade300]

In the player card, if you click on the injury, it will tell you the odds of him being reinjured. That will give you a better idea of whether or not he'll be hurt further or if there's no risk of reinjury and you can play him with piece of mind.

[Karim]

Originally Posted by sawblade300

In the player card, if you click on the injury, it will tell you the odds of him being reinjured. That will give you a better idea of whether or not he'll be hurt further or if there's no risk of reinjury and you can play him with piece of mind.

Wow... I've had this game for years and never realized you could do that. Thanks!

[stevew]

If he's doubtful, it seems like he could be in the lineup but then still not play.

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by stevew

If he's doubtful, it seems like he could be in the lineup but then still not play.

This really depends on your willingness to play injured setting. Personally I keep it as high as 90 (probably should even yank it up to the max of 100) which as far as I've seen, makes sure that the 'doubtful' players will play as much as a 100% fit player. If you leave it on a low scale (like 25), it's roughly a coin flip whether your doubtful players will even play as single down.

This setting also determines the QB pulling logic in case he gets hurt but can still play.

The only downside is the very rare case of a concussion + reinjury, but those also occur when the setting is in the 20s.

[davehibb]

I've had a WR doubtful with arthritis for most of the season and even though he's set as my WR1 on the depth chart I don't think he's played a snap and if he has then he hasn't been targetted.

I think my play injured setting is at 50.

Any ideas on how long this injury is likely to last for guys?

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by davehibb

I think my play injured setting is at 50.

50 isn't enough, it gives too much room for the AI to bench players at will and/or pulling your QB with a papercut late in the 3rd quarter.
Granted, I haven't tried it with arthritis, so I don't know what the soft spot is, but I've had success with my strategy mentioned above to keep my turf toe and strained hammy players active. I keep my setting up at 90 at all times.

[Karim]

I put him in the lineup but he didn't see a snap. I ended up making him inactive again. He missed 18 games over two seasons, not counting pre-season or playoffs before he became healthy.

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by Karim

I put him in the lineup but he didn't see a snap. I ended up making him inactive again. He missed 18 games over two seasons, not counting pre-season or playoffs before he became healthy.

How high did you set willingness to use injured players?

[JohnRckr]

Any change to his ratings once he became healthy again?

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by JohnRckr

Any change to his ratings once he became healthy again?

Given that he was 'doubtful' it wouldn't make sense for him to get a ratings hit, I think. I'm actually surprised to read Arthritis is a 'doubtful' injury.

[Karim]

I like playing as a GM so don't touch the game plan at all so whatever the coach had the injury setting as is what it was. It's currently at 45 so obviously that's not high enough.

As to his ratings, he was injured as a 94/94 but is now a 90/90 so not a big deal. There has been no noticeable drop in his play. Mind you, I did change scouts in the off-season so that difference may be even less.

[MIJB#19]

Originally Posted by Karim

I like playing as a GM so don't touch the game plan at all so whatever the coach had the injury setting as is what it was. It's currently at 45 so obviously that's not high enough.

With a setting of 45, it doesn't surprise me that your player didn't play a down, players at 'doubtful' or with length 'unknown' are very unlikely to play with settings like that. It would surprise me if that setting would be altered much by what your HC recommends, the recommendation is usually between 45 and 55, which in effect means that your coach decided to put the 'doubtful' player s a starter in the depth chart and the same time will be change his mind come game time, week after week.

Under these circumstance, you could overrule your HC and either inactivate the player (he won't play anyway) or overule the desire to use injured players (to make the set depth chart actually get used). But in the end it's up to you, of course.