Injuries Pile Up after Week 7

The loss of Doug Martin hurts an already struggling Tampa Bay team. Which contenders are suffering the same fate from the injury bug?

Injuries are a part of the game. Athletes learn that at an early stage of their playing careers. As devastating and untimely as they may be, individuals and organizations must stare them down when confronted.

Week 7 of the NFL schedule saw multiple teams lose key players to season ending injuries. While teammates and fans mourn the absence of these players, everyone must move on at the end of the day. As important as the injured stars were to respective team's season plans, ugly injuries have intervened.

As cliché as it sounds, it's time for the next man to step up. Let's take a look at some key injuries suffered and who will be counted on to make up for the lost production:

Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts

This may be the hardest injury for an organization to deal with. Without taking into account Wayne's on-field production, you simply cannot replace his veteran presence and calm demeanor in the huddle. Colts players have been quick to mention that Andrew Luck is their field-general on Sundays, but Wayne was undoubtedly the emotional leader on the field and in the locker room. During his 13-year career, very few receivers have been as productive as Wayne. Losing a productive veteran on a relatively young team is devastating, but the Colts have talented players who should prove capable of masking the loss.

Second-year man T.Y. Hilton and newcomer Darius Heyward-Bey will be counted on to keep the passing game productive. Both receivers are young, athletic deep threats, but will also have to make the tough catches over the middle, especially on third-downs, that Wayne had been so accustomed to doing. Second-year Tight End Cody Fleener will also have an increased role and should help with valuable production in the middle of the field. One huge element of the offense that will need to step up to make up for the loss will be the running game. Donald Brown and Trent Richardson must become more viable options out of the backfield, and should see an increase of swing passes and dump-downs when defenses decide to blitz.

It will difficult for the Colts to replace Reggie Wayne, but they have enough talented skill players, and a young prodigy in Quarterback Andrew Luck to remain a top contender in the AFC.

Brian Cushing, Houston Texans

This has to be devastating for Cushing. A year removed from missing a majority of the season with a torn ACL, the linebacker now has a broken fibula and a torn LCL. If not for All-World Defensive End J.J. Watt, Cushing would be the unquestioned leader of the number-one ranked Texans defense. Once again the unit must find a way to replace Cushing, widely considered to be one of the top middle linebackers in the league when healthy.

To shoulder a number of responsibilities once held by Cushing, the team may look to a current starter, third-year pro Brooks Reed. An athletic outside linebacker, Reed will be expected to cover tight ends over the middle as well as help bring pressure on the quarterback. Reed is already a good blitzing linebacker, consistently causing havoc on obvious passing downs. The real challenge will be getting him to transition into the complete linebacker Cushing was, dropping back and being an effective cover linebacker. I expect the Texans to ease the pain of the Cushing loss by doing different things schematically, but the play of Reed will be heavily counted on.

Randall Cobb, Green Bay Packers 

This injury actually occurred in Week 6, but it was necessary to include Cobb in this post. The third-year man out of Kentucky was coming into his own this year until a devastating low hit from a Ravens safety had him sidelined indefinitely. The hit itself was controversial and could have an entire post dedicated to it, but lets focus on the aftermath. Jarrett Boykin was the man called upon to replace Cobb in Week 7, and he did his best to help the team move past Cobb's absence. Before I get into the production of Boykin, I want to make it clear that it will be impossible for the Packers to replicate the all-purpose impact that Cobb provided. Strictly as a receiver, Boykin passed the test. He stepped up alongside Jordy Nelson and produced a 100-yard day while also catching a touchdown. His productivity is still a question mark until Cobb can return, but for one week Boykin gave Packer fans a glimmer of hope. It will be interesting to see how the second-year receiver handles the increased workload over the next few weeks.

Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears

Losing Jay Cutler seems to be an annual routine for the Chicago Bears. This season is no different, as the team's signal caller will be sidelined up to four weeks with a groin tear. Journeyman Josh McCown will take over as the team's starting quarterback, and if Week 7 was any indication, he is up to the task. No one around Chicago expects McCown to replicate Cutlers production on the field. The team just needs him to manage the tempo of the offense and make the throws when they are there. Matt Forte will see an increased workload with Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery needing to be even better for a less talented McCown. If their defense can continue to be dominant, which will be tough with starter Lance Briggs slated to miss some time, this team should press through the absence of Cutler. McCown's play will be crucial, but every aspect of this team will need to step up to help this organization continue to win games.