Matt Wilhelm Calf Injury - Tim Dobbins to Start in his place (1 Viewer)

[Sigmund Bloom]

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Matt Wilhelm has been eagerly awaiting that initial opportunity to run out on the football field as part of the Chargers' first-team defense.

He'll now be waiting even longer.

The inside linebacker will miss Sunday's exhibition game against Seattle because of a strained right calf muscle. It's possible that the injury that occurred Thursday could sideline Wilhelm through most of the preseason.

"Hopefully it is a week-to-two-week injury," coach Norv Turner said Friday. "I think there is some concern that it might be a three-to-four week injury. I don't want to jump the gun on that; that's something we'll know better in a couple of days."

Wilhelm injured the calf during a one-on-one drill and missed the rest of Thursday's practice. He was wearing a boot Friday to help alleviate pressure on the calf.

He's optimistic that he will be sidelined no more than two weeks and promised to rehab the calf as ardently as possible.

While the length of time he'll miss still needs firming up, it was immediately clear to Wilhelm that the timing of such an injury is far from a worst-case scenario.

"Having it happen now is so much more in my favor and in our favor than in having it happen closer to September," Wilhelm said.

Yet that doesn't lessen the pain of being a spectator against the Seahawks. Wilhelm is one of three new defensive starters ---- linebacker Stephen Cooper and safety Clinton Hart are the others ---- on a team with Super Bowl aspirations.

"It is disappointing," Wilhelm said. "It's my first opportunity to really have a stronghold at this position. I really wanted to go there for this debut with this defense, with Coop and myself on the inside and Clinton starting at safety.

"I was very, very excited. I was very prepared and looking forward to the opportunity to play in front of these fans who I've wanted to start in front of for so long."

Tim Dobbins, a second-year player from Iowa State, will start in place of Wilhelm.

"I'm just filling in right now," Dobbins said. "It's really going to be interesting to see if I can fill his shoes.

"I want to see if I can hold up to what he's been doing."

 

[Anthony Borbely]

This is something to watch. I was very impressed with Dobbins last year in his limited time. I also can't wait to see Anthony Waters play.

I wonder what effect this may have on who plays the WILB spot. I have always believed Cooper is a better player than Wilhelm, and I wonder if he might get some time at WILB in the preseason.

The Chargers are pretty deep at ILB. Wilhelm could not have gotten hurt at a worse time for him with so many talented players waiting in the wings.

 

[spec1alk]

 

[ATC1]

 

[pyite76]

 

[pretender]

 

[Penguin]

NFL Network had on their "crawl" that Wilhelm might miss the entire preseason.

 

[dgreen]

I also can't wait to see Anthony Waters play.

I didn't get to see to much of the game last night. How did Waters look?

 

[RUN HARD]

What about Dobbins????

 

[Chaos Commish]

I wrote a little bit about these guys in the game thread. Honestly, there wasn't much to go on.

Waters started the second quarter. That's probably a good sign for him. They got a good look at him with plenty of top talent still on the field. He didn't look particularly good or bad. He made a couple stops as his role dictated. They weren't spectacular, the plays came right to him. I'm really down on this guy because of stuff I read at other sites. I'm open minded to having that wrong.

Dobbins had four solos in the first quarter. That's a nice start, but again, I wouldn't call it spectacular. All of those tackles were 5-10 yards down the field (ah, the old DonnieEdwards criticism). Points is points I guess. I will say I thought Dobbins looked light and lean and he was seen a few times fairly deep in coverage and all the way to the sideline so he was covering ground. Dobbins may do a better Edwards impersonation than Wilhelm.

Siler looked very aggressive in the second half. He was holding his ground, pressuring the point of attack, and of course against the scrubs playing for his life, but he was better than I expected.

Polk was used in a variety of ways, both inside and out. He's a player too.

 

[noneother]

cooper with 12 tackles. Does he become the FBG darling on This SD squad ? Replacing wilhelm.

 

[Jene Bramel]

cooper with 12 tackles. Does he become the FBG darling on This SD squad ? Replacing wilhelm.

I've always felt he was the best LB after Edwards left, and the previous coaching staff/front office seemed to think that way too. He was much more sudden and aggressive than Dobbins tonight and he was the nickel ILB, which boosted his stats since the Rams were in a lot of 3 WR sets. His outlooks is still dependent on what happens if/when Wilhelm returns. If Wilhelm is better than Dobbins and takes the nickel job, it's probably still a Wilhelm LB3 and Cooper LB4-5 situation. If Cooper wins the every down job, then he's going back into the top 30 for me.

 

[GridironMenace]

cooper with 12 tackles. Does he become the FBG darling on This SD squad ? Replacing wilhelm.

If Wilhelm is better than Dobbins and takes the nickel job, it's probably still a Wilhelm LB3 and Cooper LB4-5 situation. If Cooper wins the every down job, then he's going back into the top 30 for me.

Unless your draft is after the season then you'll have to make that decision before we actually know the answer. What are you going to do on draft day?

 

[Anthony Borbely]

I will take my chances on Cooper's upside if I have that choice. There is no way to know, but I have felt all along that Cooper is more athletic and believe he is better in coverage.

 

[Jene Bramel]

cooper with 12 tackles. Does he become the FBG darling on This SD squad ? Replacing wilhelm.

If Wilhelm is better than Dobbins and takes the nickel job, it's probably still a Wilhelm LB3 and Cooper LB4-5 situation. If Cooper wins the every down job, then he's going back into the top 30 for me.

Unless your draft is after the season then you'll have to make that decision before we actually know the answer. What are you going to do on draft day?

Redraft? I'm taking neither. Both are too large a risk for what looks like minimal upside. Dynasty? Depending on any number of drafting scenarios, I'm taking who I believe is the best player -- Cooper.My next set of rankings will probably have Wilhelm in the 50s and Cooper in the late 30s.

 

[redman]

What do Dobbins' prospects look like heading into the regular season? Is he worth keeping?

 

[msommer]

cooper with 12 tackles. Does he become the FBG darling on This SD squad ? Replacing wilhelm.

If Wilhelm is better than Dobbins and takes the nickel job, it's probably still a Wilhelm LB3 and Cooper LB4-5 situation. If Cooper wins the every down job, then he's going back into the top 30 for me.

Unless your draft is after the season then you'll have to make that decision before we actually know the answer. What are you going to do on draft day?

Redraft? I'm taking neither. Both are too large a risk for what looks like minimal upside. Dynasty? Depending on any number of drafting scenarios, I'm taking who I believe is the best player -- Cooper.My next set of rankings will probably have Wilhelm in the 50s and Cooper in the late 30s.

And here I thought I was going to have to cut CooperPS Typing on a French keyboard blows

 

[redman]

PS Typing on a French keyboard blows

Why? Is every key a backspace?

 

[Dominion]

PS Typing on a French keyboard blows

Why? Is every key a backspace?

 

[Anthony Borbely]

Any updates on Wilhelm's recovery? I haven't seen anything.

 

[Jene Bramel]

Any updates on Wilhelm's recovery? I haven't seen anything.

He was back at practice last week. No new news on alignments that I've seen or read.

 

[redman]

What do Dobbins' prospects look like heading into the regular season? Is he worth keeping?

 

[Anthony Borbely]

What do Dobbins' prospects look like heading into the regular season? Is he worth keeping?

I don't think he will play this year unless Cooper or Wilhelm get hurt, but I kept him in a couple of deep leagues. He has some talent, but unsure of any opportunity he might get in the near future.

 

[redman]

Geez, someone in one of my deep dynasty IDP leagues just dropped both Wilhelm and Dobbins.

 

[mario8723]

Geez, someone in one of my deep dynasty IDP leagues just dropped both Wilhelm and Dobbins.

Anybody have the latest on this situation? I own both Wilhelm and Cooper in one league and don't know who to start. If Wilhelm is healthy, I'll start him otherwise I may be looking at a choice between Cooper and Vrabel. My first two starts are Demeco Ryans and Ernie Sims.

 

[mario8723]

Geez, someone in one of my deep dynasty IDP leagues just dropped both Wilhelm and Dobbins.

Anybody have the latest on this situation? I own both Wilhelm and Cooper in one league and don't know who to start. If Wilhelm is healthy, I'll start him otherwise I may be looking at a choice between Cooper and Vrabel. My first two starts are Demeco Ryans and Ernie Sims.

Anybody? Wilhelm, Cooper or Vrabel?

 

[pretender]

Geez, someone in one of my deep dynasty IDP leagues just dropped both Wilhelm and Dobbins.

Anybody have the latest on this situation? I own both Wilhelm and Cooper in one league and don't know who to start. If Wilhelm is healthy, I'll start him otherwise I may be looking at a choice between Cooper and Vrabel. My first two starts are Demeco Ryans and Ernie Sims.

Anybody? Wilhelm, Cooper or Vrabel?

I am starting Cooper in a couple of leagues. IMHO he will have more opportunites than Vrabel and Wilhelm - not sure what his health status is.

 

[Jene Bramel]

Geez, someone in one of my deep dynasty IDP leagues just dropped both Wilhelm and Dobbins.

Anybody have the latest on this situation? I own both Wilhelm and Cooper in one league and don't know who to start. If Wilhelm is healthy, I'll start him otherwise I may be looking at a choice between Cooper and Vrabel. My first two starts are Demeco Ryans and Ernie Sims.

Anybody? Wilhelm, Cooper or Vrabel?

Wilhelm is apparently healthy and theoretically the nickel backer. Hard to know how many snaps Cooper gets if he sits on passing downs and Vrabel's status is up in-the-air with the Pats scheme so variable given the recent injuries.Advice requests will probably get more responses in the IDP AC forum -- scoring system will help there as well.

 

[chook]

Cooper is looking excellent out there today. He's getting to everything.

 

[ninerfanatic492000]

Dobbins getting a start, i know these forums had supporters of him earler in preseason-what can dobbins do this week and since whilhelm hasn't been awe inspiring can he keep the job(if he produces)?

 

[Jestefarean]

I like him...he showed some flashes last preseason..it's a longshot, but if he comes in with a bang this game who knows...

 

[redman]

Dobbins getting a start, i know these forums had supporters of him earler in preseason-what can dobbins do this week and since whilhelm hasn't been awe inspiring can he keep the job(if he produces)?

Any sign of Dobbins in this game? I had the misfortune of starting him (yeah, I'm thin at LB on that team)