As if making the fantasy football playoffs was not hard enough, now you have to deal with injuries. Both Saturday and Sunday brought significant injuries that are sure to affect lineups moving forward. I discuss the impact of each below.
Key:
(Position) Player | Injury | My Projection for Return to Play
WR Ja'Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals | AC joint sprain | Timeline TBD
Ja'Marr Chase might have had the most impactful fantasy football injury as the 2023 first-round pick in most leagues exited Saturday with a "separated shoulder." Chase's injury was later confirmed to be an AC joint sprain.
On Sunday, reports out of Bengals camp seemed to be more optimistic that Chase could play, and there are recent examples this season of players dealing with AC joint sprains and not missing time. But those sprains appeared to be minor as, in most circumstances, it did not prevent them from finishing the game.
Most NFL wide receivers with AC joint sprains miss 1-3 weeks. The most serious sprains can result in 6+ weeks missed.
Chase will likely be a game-time decision, and I would not expect him to practice this week. The Bengals play on Saturday again in Week 16 so we should know early on if Chase we can start him or not.
Tuesday Update: Chase is not expected to play in Week 16. Per Ian Rapoport Chase is expected to "miss some time." This is does not sound promising and does not really elaborate on the specifics of Chase's injury.
WR Michael Pittman Jr, Indianapolis Colts | Concussion | Projecting Week 17+ Return
Michael Pittman Jr took a significant blow to the head Saturday and was immediately ruled out with a concussion. We have seen some players clear the concussion protocol in one week. However, while it's impossible to discern the concussion symptoms Pittman is experiencing based on the video, I would make other plans for Week 16 as I would be very surprised to see him suit up next week.
Tuesday Update: Pittman Jr. remains in the concussion protocol to start this week.
RB Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts | Arm Injury | Projecting Week 16 Return
Zack Moss injured his right arm Saturday and was unable to finish the game. Moss, who missed most of the preseason and Week 1 of the regular season with an arm fracture, had X-rays, and per NFL insider Mike Garafolo, those tests were all negative for a fracture.
It has been reported that Moss was struggling to grip the football and that is why he was unable to continue. This impairment could be for multiple reasons:
- A nerve contusion/stinger, which in most cases is minor, and Moss could be back next week.
- A wrist flexor (muscle) strain could be more serious but also would not necessarily keep Moss out next week.
Overall, a positive sign for Moss playing next in Week 16.
Tuesday Update: With x-rays negative, Moss is probable to return in Week 16. Jonathan Taylor has been on the mend and he could also return this week.
TE Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals | Shoulder Injury | Projecting Week 16 Return
Trey McBride briefly missed time during Sunday's loss to the 49ers with a shoulder injury. Mcbride's injury fit that of an AC joint sprain, but he was able to continue and finished the game with an impressive stat line of 10 receptions for 102 yards.
AC joint sprains can be painful, so it's possible that McBride will not practice much this week, but fantasy managers should not fret. Because McBride was able to finish the game, I like his chances to play next week.
QB Will Levis, Tennessee Titans | Left Leg Injury | Timeline TBD
In overtime (OT) of Sunday's game versus the Houston Texans, Will Levis had his left leg rolled up on and appeared to be in some pain afterward. Because the play happened during the Titan's last offensive possession and the Texans scored in OT to win, we do not have a lot of clarity on the severity of Levis' injury. By video, it looked like Levis had his left ankle trapped, and the mechanism of injury fit that of a high ankle sprain. However, it's also possible that Levis sustained an injury to his left knee as well (MCL sprain most likely if that were to be the case).
Regarding a possible ankle injury, it is a good sign that Levis was able to walk off the field since the inability to do so could point to a fracture. Two weeks prior, Trevor Lawrence sustained a high ankle sprain and did not miss any games. Assuming that Levis does have an ankle injury, he could be back next week.
If Levis has a knee injury, then he could miss more time. We will have to wait and see what the injury report shows this week, but if you were relying on Will Levis, your fantasy team could still have him for the playoffs.
Tuesday Update: Reports confirm high ankle sprain for Will Levis. The Titans are eliminated from playoff contention so there is not a real reason for Levis to rush back. Although Levis could play through this injury, it's very possible that he misses time.
TE Hunter Henry, New England Patriots | Knee Injury | Projecting Week 17 Return
Hunter Henry was unable to finish Sunday's game due to a knee injury. Although we do not have the specifics regarding his knee injury, data shows us that NFL TEs miss, on average, two games with nonspecific knee injuries, and 65% miss at least one game.
Even without the official diagnosis, we can have some idea that Henry misses time.
WR Jayden Reed, Green Bay Packers | Toe Injury | Projecting Week 18+ Return
Jayden Reed was pulled from Sunday's game due to a toe injury. There are currently no specifics on what type of toe injury Reed is dealing with, but based on his inability to finish the game and the most common toe injury in football, he may be dealing with turf toe.
If Reed is dealing with the dreaded turf toe, this could be a major issue for fantasy managers. The sample is small, but since 2017, 100% of WRs I've documented with turf toe have missed at least one game (average time missed 3.4 weeks). Reed has had an impressive rookie campaign and, with Christian Watson out, has thrived. If we get word that Reed has a turf toe injury, that would all come to a screeching halt.
WR Marquise Brown, Arizona Cardinals | Heel (Re-)Injury | Projecting Week 17/18 Return
Marquise Brown was forced to exit Sunday's game early due to a heel injury. His heel injury is not new; it has appeared on the injury report dating back to Week 12.
Brown's inability to finish the game with this injury suggests he will not be ready to compete until this issue is resolved. Arizona may shut Brown down until he can get right, but even if they don't, he is way too risky to keep in fantasy lineups.
RB Keaton Mitchell, Baltimore Ravens | Knee Injury | Likely Season Ending
Late in Sunday Night's game in Jacksonville, Keaton Mitchell sustained a left knee injury where he hyperextended his knee and did not return.
This is the play Keaton Mitchell was injured on
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) December 18, 2023
pic.twitter.com/BNjnyLveOU
Video is never diagnostic, but Mitchell's injury did not look good. We have seen this type of injury before (even this season), and it fits the mechanism of an ACL tear with the possibility of other ligament damage. Nothing is official yet, but after the game, reports from the Ravens indicate that Mitchell's season is over.
Tuesday Update: The Ravens confirm that Mitchell has a torn ACL. His season is over.
WR Zay Jones, Jacksonville Jaguars | Hamstring | Projecting Week 18+ Return
Another injury from Sunday Night came from the Jaguars as Zay Jones sustained a hamstring injury. Jones has been battling a knee injury for most of the season. Unfortunately, when a player is dealing with a lingering lower-body injury (Jones was spotted wearing a large brace on his right knee during the game), compensation injuries can sometimes occur.
For NFL WRs, the average time missed with a hamstring strain is 2.5 weeks. When you compound this with the aforementioned knee injury that Jones has been dealing with this new hamstring injury, it's likely that he miss at least two weeks, possibly more, depending on how long Jacksonville's season continues.
WR Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars | Concussion | Projecting Week 17 Return
Trevor Lawrence was a late addition to the injury report. After Sunday's game, the Jaguars reported that their franchise QB was in the concussion protocol. Lawrence's availability for next week is up in the air.
WR Skyy Moore, Kansas City Chiefs | Knee| Season-Ending
Kansas City has placed Skyy Moore on IR with a knee injury. His 2023 season is over.