After each week of NFL football games for the 2017-2018 season, the Heads 'N Tales podcast will be posting an episode dedicated to injuries and health & safety topics surrounding the NFL. Specifically we will talk about possible prevention strategies, the rulebook, equipment and other injury buzz around the league. My co-host and strategist for these episodes will be one of my closest friends, Josh Boyd (hence the J in "JK"..I'm the K...). Josh and I grew up playing baseball together. Josh was a division-1 center fielder for Monmouth University and experienced his fair share of injuries throughout his career. Although Josh never played organized football, the dude flat-out knows the game of football and undoubtably knows more about the ins-and-outs of the sport better than I do from both a fan and x's & o's perspective. Our intention for these episodes is to spark conversations around topics that are usually brushed under the rug or only minimally covered in the hopes of making football and all sports safer for the athletes who play them.

You are currently looking at the show notes for Week 7 with special guest, James Kratch, New York Giants Beat Writer for The Star Ledger/NJ.com. James played football with me in high school and we have been friends since second grade. He also player baseball with both Josh and I in high school. Before coming a New York Giants beat writer, James was the sports editor of The Daily Gamecock at The University of South Carolina.

Follow @JamesKratch

Week 7 Injuries:

Carson Palmer, QB Arizona, Broken Arm, Out at least 8 weeks

Joe Thomas, OT Cleveland, Arm Injury, Snapped longest consecutive snaps played streak in NFL History. (Article, No Video) UPDATE: Torn Triceps, Out for Season

Mike Wallace, WR Baltimore, Concussion/Protocol

Mike Wallace ... yikes. This is a made-me-wince hit pic.twitter.com/bWeZPN1M7m
— Jason McIntyre (@jasonrmcintyre) October 22, 2017

Legal hit in NFL due to the WR being a “runner” at this point in the play, but should the rule be changed to similar to college targeting rule?

Jay Cutler, QB Miami, Chest/Rib Injury, Cracked Ribs 2-3 Weeks

Malik Hooker, S Indianapolis , Torn ACL, Rookie from Ohio State

Malik Hooker did walk off the field under his own power after this hit for the #Colts ... but that knee injury looked serious 😬😬😬 pic.twitter.com/uiYhdxvYgI
— Andy McDonnell (@Andy_McDonnell) October 22, 2017

Dirty block?

Updates and Fines from Week 6:

Luke Kuechly, LB Carolina, Inactive for this weeks game vs CHI, Injury Report listed Kuechly as sitting out of Practice Wednesday due to the Protocol but Thursday and Friday due to a Concussion. Seems as if, contrary to Adam Schefter's Report last week the Panthers have diagnosed Kuechly with a Concussion. Last note on this for reference, at the end of last season Kuechly missed the last 6 games of the season with a concussion however he was cleared from the protocol and eligible to play after 3 weeks. The Panthers have historically been very cautious with Kuechly and Concussions.

Mike Mitchell, S Pit, Fined 9k (Normal Roughing the Passer Fine) for hit on Alex Smith. However Mitchell was also fined 45k for a different hit in the KC game, amount of the fine due to being a repeat offender. There was no penalty on the play for that hit.

But what about this Charcandrick West hit that Mike Mitchell went all in on? pic.twitter.com/gGE4hacQmh
— Nick Jacobs (@Jacobs71) October 19, 2017

Laquan Treadwell, WR Minnesota, Fined 24k for block we discussion in last week's episode.

Vontaze Burfict, LB Cincinatti, Kick vs Pittsburgh, Suspended again? C'mon Man!

Two plays in and Vontaze Burfict kicks Rosie Nix after a play. Then points at Nix for some reason. #Steelers #Bengals pic.twitter.com/lioNLDDMvX
— Josh Rowntree (@JRown32) October 22, 2017

View from inside an NFL Locker Room with James Kratch:

General Player Safety including Thursday Night Games, Practice times and recovery, concussions, concussion protocol and defenseless receiver plays.
Quality of play including CBA effects on contracts, younger players on average across the league and offensive line play.
Teaching of Extra Effort/Playing through the whistle, does it need to change? Is it “just football”? Can in be tough and coached out of the game at younger levels?
Fan vs Reporter: How has your personal fandom for the Giants as well as NFL changed as a whole changed since you’ve starting covering the team for a living?