It’s the end of Week 4, and you know what that means! Depth chart changes and the first important in-season draft, where each team gets an impact player at a position of need.
As such, it’s a pretty long TWIWFL with, essentially, a team-by-team report, focused on injuries to players who were expected to start and the draft pickups.
We also have 1 QB change and 2 kickers losing their jobs.
#AAA
What is wrong with Addis Ababa? Charles Woodson‘s return in a couple weeks will help the secondary, and few teams could weather the loss of John Jefferson, Tim Brown, and Vincent Jackson like the Emperors. Still, 1-3 is not acceptable, and the addition of Tom Jackson should help the interior defense.
#AMS
Sitting undefeated, there wasn’t a ton for the Lions to address, although some key injuries–Calvin Johnson and Mel Gray are both out another month and Yale Lary 2–have hurt. Paul Worrilow returns to the WFL to help at LB, and Gino Cappelletti (their draft pick) will help cover for Johnson and Gray’s absence at WR.
#BEI
With Lee Roy Selmon, Demar Dotson, and Ken Houston all out for some time, it may be surprising Beijing has managed a .500 record. They need some more offensive pop, and are hoping Travis Kelce will provide it.
#BER
At .500 through 4 games, the Bärin’s only long term injured starter is G Kyle Long, who will miss the rest of the season. They added Gino Marchetti to bolster a less-than-stellar defense.
#BOS
Other than missing starting linemen Nick Mangold and John Hannah, Boston has been relatively healthy, but have only managed a 1-3 record. The offense has struggled, and the pickup of WR Rob Moore may help. Nick Folk‘s struggles on FGs have led to Errol Mann taking over the kicking duties for the Bulldogs.
#CTO
Jared Veldheer is back next week, but Paul Krause will miss another 2 months. The Makana’s struggles have led to Fran Tarkenton taking over at QB for Teddy Bridgewater, and Joey Porter was drafted to help the defense.
#DUB
With Andre Johnson out for another 2 months and Don Hutson now gone for the rest of the regular season, the 2-2 Damhas are struggling a little for offense. DeAndre Hopkins, Randall Cobb, and Jordy Nelson should cover well at WR, so they picked up a pass-catching TE for the first time in Pete Retzlaff.
#IST
Nobody quite understands the secret behind Istanbul’s undefeated record (other, of course, than Gary Ballman). While their injury list is deep, other than Franco Harris–who returns this week–their starters are largely intact. Abe Woodson was drafted to shore up the secondary, and grow the Janissaries’ growing collection of Woodson’s.
#LOM
Perhaps no team has been as impacted by injuries as the Dzidudu: first, Thurman Thomas being out for several weeks allowed Marshall Faulk to show what he can do, which has been a huge positive. However, missing Ruben Brown, Marcell Dareus, Sammy Watkins, and Isiah Robertson is a lot to overcome. Lomé is hoping Gill Byrd can step in to help the secondary.
#LON
London has had a good start to the year, and Jacob Green should be back in a few weeks to help the defensive line. The LBs have underperformed to date, and hopefully the draft pickup of Jessie Armstead can help with that.
#NYG
Easily the surprise of the league, the 4-0 Royal Giants get Tony Boselli back next week, followed shortly by Brad Van Pelt and Jeremy Shockey. If they’ve had a weakness, it’s been the secondary, so draftee Eddie Meador may help. Pat Summerall‘s days as their placekicker are done, with Matt Bryant returning to WFL action after a 2 game cameo in Year I with Berlin.
#RIO
A long-term injury to Lou Groza marks the first true challenge to the juggernaut of an offensive line that has been a key to the Carnival’s success. Shane Conlan was drafted to help the interior defense.
#ROM
Perhaps no injury returnee is more anticipated than Andrew Luck, given Peyton Manning‘s continued failures as a WFL QB. The only other absent starter is Terence Newman, which is actually bad news for The Empire: they are winless due to performance, not injuries. Help was needed everywhere; it came at LB in the form of Reggie Williams.
#SFO
San Francisco’s struggles have been as surprising as New York’s success, as last year’s champions are winless. 3 starters on the offensive line are missing (Joe Staley, Willie Roaf, and Mike Iupati), as are both starting CBs (Keenan Lewis and De’Vante Harris). None of those are due back in less than a month, and the Sea Lions are hoping that Bobby Bryant can help in the secondary in the meantime.
#SYD
With both Evan Mathis and Wilbert Montgomery due back in the next few weeks, the Great White are edging back towards health. Neil Smith, who saw some time on a couple different Taxi Squads in Year I, has returned as their draft pick to help out the defense.
#TOK
Tokyo can legitimately blame injuries for many of their struggles: Earl Campbell and Michael Roos have been missed on the offensive side, and Von Miller and Bud McFadin have dramatically weakened the Swallows’ defense. Phil Hansen has been brought in to help the defense, but Randy Gradishar‘s return from injury may be more impactful.