Entering Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season, there are plenty of notable players who have suffered serious injuries that required a stint on injured reserve (IR). Both NFL teams and fantasy football teams have been impacted by these unfortunate injuries.
Which players on IR are nearing a return, and who will miss the remainder of the season? Each week, we examine the latest news and recovery timeline for every fantasy-relevant player on IR.
Dak Prescott
QB | Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott suffered a significant hamstring injury in the team’s Week 9 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Although Prescott was questionable to return initially, the news took a turn for the worse after he underwent an MRI on Monday (Nov. 11).
The Cowboys quarterback initially appeared to be headed to injured reserve, knocking him out until at least Week 14. However, he was not placed on IR ahead of Week 10 as Dallas evaluated its options.
The injury turned out to be an avulsion, meaning that the hamstring has torn off the bone. Prescott said after Week 10 that he was planning on consulting with a specialist in New York to confirm he needed season-ending surgery. That surgery officially arrived prior to Week 11 and ended Prescott’s season.
#Cowboys QB Dak Prescott is scheduled to undergo surgery Wednesday on his injured hamstring and is out for the season, owner Jerry Jones told @1053thefan.
It’s Cooper Rush — and maybe Trey Lance — the rest of the way for Dallas, while Dak rehabs for a 2025 return. pic.twitter.com/IrNgtZXT6c
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 12, 2024
With the Cowboys effectively out of contention, it behooves Prescott to regroup and get back to full health for 2025. Dallas will start Cooper Rush in the meantime, though Trey Lance looms as a quarterback the Cowboys could take a look at. The former third overall pick is scheduled for free agency after the season, and Dallas may want to give Lance the opportunity to showcase his development behind the scenes.
Aidan O’Connell
QB | Las Vegas Raiders
Aidan O’Connell took over as the Las Vegas Raiders’ starting quarterback in Week 6 but only lasted two games before getting hurt in Week 7 against the Los Angeles Rams. Further testing revealed a broken thumb, landing him on IR.
With the Raiders having their bye in Week 10, that makes Week 13 at the Kansas City Chiefs his earliest possible return.
With Gardner Minshew II continuing to struggle and being benched for Desmond Ridder at times, it’s possible the Raiders could take another look at O’Connell to end the season. As a rookie, O’Connell went 5-5 as a starter with 12 passing touchdowns to seven interceptions.
J.J. McCarthy
QB | Minnesota Vikings
J.J. McCarthy was the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and was projected to potentially start over Sam Darnold for the Minnesota Vikings. Unfortunately, McCarthy needed a season-ending meniscus repair after the team’s preseason opener.
.@jjmccarthy09's throw.
Trishton's catch.@JJettas2's reaction.
Everything about this video is gold.
Absolute gold.
📺: @FOX9 | @NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/qVMMx4e5BY
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) August 10, 2024
It’s unclear when exactly McCarthy suffered the injury. Two days after the game, McCarthy missed the Vikings’ night practice. A day later, the team announced that he would undergo a procedure to determine why he was experiencing discomfort in his right knee.
McCarthy’s recovery timeline is expected to be six to eight months, which should place him on track to be fully healthy by the 2025 season. The hope is that McCarthy will be ready for offseason workouts, which will likely begin April 21 (that’s the date clubs with returning head coaches are allowed to begin their offseason program).
Isiah Pacheco
RB | Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs starting running back Isiah Pacheco was placed on IR after he fractured his fibula and suffered damage to his ankle ligaments in Week 2. After a lengthy absence, the return of the Chiefs’ RB1 is finally imminent.
Pacheco recently shared a video on social media of him moving at a relatively quick pace on a treadmill. Initial reports suggested that Pacheco could miss six to eight weeks, a timeframe he has already cleared.
Prior to Week 11, Pacheco finally saw his 21-day practice window opened, giving him time to ramp up. Pacheco logged three limited practices prior to Week 11, an encouraging sign that there were no setbacks.
#Chiefs HC Andy Reid Isiah Pacheco, Charles Omenihu and JuJu Smith-Schuster: "They're all close. JuJu closer than the other two. I'd tell you, we might have them out there (at practice). They're all close, all three of them."
— Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) November 11, 2024
And on Sunday, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported that Pacheco is expected to return for the team’s Week 12 game vs. the Carolina Panthers. This aligns with a Rapoport report from two weeks ago, which pinpointed “late November” as Pacheco’s return timeline.
From @NFLGameDay: A regime change could be coming for the #Jaguars, while the #Chiefs are anticipating a quick return for standout RB Isiah Pacheco. pic.twitter.com/CwIH0vWHyP
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 17, 2024
Pacheco will likely be eased back into the mix, initially splitting carries with Kareem Hunt. But the Chiefs have largely leaned on a lead back under Reid, and a healthy Pacheco would likely resume a bell-cow role by the fantasy playoffs.
MarShawn Lloyd
RB | Green Bay Packers
MarShawn Lloyd has been plagued by maladies since being selected by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Lloyd dealt with injuries to his hip, hamstring, and ankle throughout the offseason and training camp.
After finally being available for his NFL debut in Week 2 of the regular season, Lloyd suffered an ankle injury against the Indianapolis Colts. The Packers placed Lloyd on IR, and he has been eligible to return since Week 7.
GM Brian Gutekunst noted during the team’s bye week that Lloyd could be brought off IR after the team returns. Unfortunately, Lloyd’s snakebitten rookie season hit another snag. After his 21-day practice window was opened, he suffered a bout of appendicitis, which would prevent him from returning within his window and require him to finish the season on injured reserve.
RB MarShawn Lloyd woke up this morning with appendicitis, Matt LaFleur said.
Since Lloyd’s 21-day practice window opened already and an appendectomy usually requires several weeks recovery, the Packers are talking to the NFL to see if there’s a way he can still play later on.
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) November 15, 2024
The Packers are seeking a potential exemption for Lloyd from the NFL due to these unique circumstances.
Still, even if the rookie is finally activated sometime in December, it’s hard to imagine him being a significant contributor after missing nearly the entire season.
Kendre Miller
RB | New Orleans Saints
The sophomore season for Saints running back Kendre Miller has been a wash. Miller already spent one stint on IR this season, missing Weeks 1-6 with a hamstring injury.
After only two games, Miller was again placed on IR due to a hamstring injury in his other leg in Week 8. That makes him ineligible to return until the team’s Week 14 game against the New York Giants.
Miller had a fraught relationship with now-fired head coach Dennis Allen, who questioned the rookie’s ability to stay healthy. Reports surfaced that Allen had “a lot to do” with Miller’s second IR stint, stemming from the coach’s “lack of trust” in the running back’s ability to stay healthy.
Allen is gone, but Miller’s second season will effectively be a redshirt with all the time he’s missed. He’ll return next year as an unknown commodity, presumably as Alvin Kamara’s backup.
Zack Moss
RB | Cincinnati Bengals
Zack Moss was added to the Bengals’ injury report on Friday before Week 9 with a neck injury. Moss was later downgraded from doubtful to out and did not play in the 41-24 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Unfortunately, Moss may be done for the 2024 NFL season. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported before Week 10 that Moss is expected to miss the rest of the regular season.
Context on the #Bengals trading for Khalil Herbert from @gmfb: RB Zack Moss is expected to miss at least the rest of the regular season with a neck injury, sources tell me and @TomPelissero. pic.twitter.com/9QaWl6js8d
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) November 5, 2024
More specifically, Garafolo noted that Moss will need two months of rest before re-evaluation. Given that he would also need to physically ramp back up even if cleared, a playoff return also feels like a stretch.
While Moss began the season as the Bengals’ starting running back, Chase Brown overtook him as the lead back by Week 7. Coupled with trade deadline acquisition Khalil Herbert, the Bengals’ backfield depth is in fine shape. Moss’ 2024 season likely ends with 242 rush yards and two rushing touchdowns on 3.3 yards per carry.
Chris Olave
WR | New Orleans Saints
Chris Olave suffered a scary head injury at the beginning of the New Orleans Saints’ Week 9 loss to the Carolina Panthers. While this was a concerning situation given Olave’s concussion history, he was thankfully able to tweet out an appreciation for everyone’s well wishes later that afternoon.
Thank God Preciate all the love & prayers Ima be aight🙏🏾🙏🏾
— Chris Olave (@chrisolave_) November 3, 2024
After being ruled out for Week 10, the Saints did the prudent thing and put Olave on IR. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Olave was meeting with an independent concussion specialist to determine a path forward given his history of concussions.
Olave has had five known concussions since 2020, dating back to his college career at Ohio State. With the 3-7 Saints playing out the string, it wouldn’t be surprising to see their WR1 sit out the rest of the season to recover and chart a more sustainable path forward.
Brandin Cooks
WR | Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys placed veteran wide receiver Brandin Cooks on IR due to a knee infection on Oct. 5. Cooks was eligible to return for the Cowboys in Week 10 but did not see his 21-day practice window opened.
Head coach Mike McCarthy did have a slightly positive update on Cooks before Week 11, saying that a return was “possible.” Updated reports have highlighted how Cooks himself seems ready to return, but his persistent stay on IR remains a mystery.
Is WR Brandin Cooks nearing his return to the active roster? @clarencehilljr gives an update
Tune into the rest of the show here⬇️
⭐️https://t.co/lKT0eJASJ1 pic.twitter.com/pNBpCv3qI6— DLLS Cowboys (@DLLS_Cowboys) November 14, 2024
Cooks was initially expected to miss just one game due to a knee injury, but the procedure on his knee resulted in an infection. Therefore, Cooks was forced to undergo a clean-up procedure, which has sidelined Dallas’ second-best wide receiver for at least four weeks.
Allen Lazard
WR | New York Jets
Allen Lazard was injured during the New York Jets’ Week 7 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. While his absence was initially expected to be a short-term one, Lazard was placed on IR ahead of the Thursday night Week 9 game versus the Houston Texans with a chest injury.
Lazard will be eligible to return in Week 14 against the Miami Dolphins. The seventh-year veteran has had a surprisingly large role as one of the few Jets players to earn Aaron Rodgers’ trust. Through seven weeks, he led the Jets with five receiving touchdowns and ranked second with 412 receiving yards.
Adam Thielen
WR | Carolina Panthers
Panthers veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen was injured in Week 3 after hauling in a 31-yard touchdown from Andy Dalton. While Thielen appeared to be trending in the right direction with Dalton at quarterback, he landed on IR due to a hamstring injury.
Carolina opened Thielen’s 21-day practice window on Oct. 23. Thielen appeared to be moving well after riding a golf cart to the practice field.
More returns! Adam Thielen and Clowney both here to kick off the week. Thielen came off the golf cart bouncing and excited. pic.twitter.com/S7pVu9T0cp
— Kassidy Hill (@KassidyGHill) October 23, 2024
But despite earlier reports that he would be activated ahead of the team’s Week 10 game in Germany versus the New York Giants, Thielen remained on IR. Curiously, he did not practice at all ahead of Week 10 after participating in the previous weeks, indicating a potential setback.
Carolina still activated Thielen off IR during its Week 11 bye, preserving the 34-year-old’s ability to play again at some point this season. The Panthers will return to practice ahead of Week 12, which will give a better indication as to whether Thielen is ready.
Treylon Burks
WR | Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans wide receiver Treylon Burks has had a tough time staying healthy throughout his career. This season added another chapter after Burks suffered a knee injury in practice ahead of Week 7. That means he must sit out until at least Week 11.
Burks has only played in 27 out of 43 possible games since being drafted in 2022. With Calvin Ridley leading the Titans’ receiving corps, Burks has just four catches for 34 yards in five games this season.
Stefon Diggs
WR | Houston Texans
Stefon Diggs went down with a non-contact knee injury during the Texans’ Week 8 win over the Indianapolis Colts.
Unfortunately, the team’s worst fears were realized when Diggs was confirmed to have suffered a season-ending torn ACL.
Before getting hurt, Diggs was averaging 5.8 receptions and 62 yards per game. He had three receiving touchdowns and one rushing TD on the season.
Diggs will turn 31 in November and is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent after re-working his deal upon being traded to the Texans from the Buffalo Bills in the offseason.
Brandon Aiyuk
WR | San Francisco 49ers
Brandon Aiyuk was having a tough start to his 2024 season, which ended with a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee against Kansas City in Week 7.
After a protracted holdout and rumors of a trade, Aiyuk signed a four-year, $120 million extension with San Francisco before the start of the season. That extension kicks in next season and keeps him under contract with the team through 2028.
Given the severity of this injury, it’s possible that Aiyuk won’t be ready to return by the time the 2025 season kicks off. He finished his fifth season with 25 receptions for 374 yards.
Chris Godwin
WR | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chris Godwin suffered a gruesome ankle injury at the end of Tampa Bay’s Week 7 loss to Baltimore. He was carted off with an air cast on his leg and later diagnosed with a dislocated ankle.
The only good news is that NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported that Godwin was expected to make a full recovery before the 2025 season after his scheduled ankle surgery.
#Bucs WR Chris Godwin will undergo surgery on his dislocated ankle this week, sources say. He’ll see a doctor today to determine the damage & is expected to make a full recovery for 2025 — when he’ll be a FA.
Godwin was in a career year with 576 receiving yds — 2nd in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/UPVOqFwjXT
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 22, 2024
Sports Injury Central compared the injury to the severe left high ankle fracture/dislocation Dak Prescott suffered in 2020, which ended his season. It will require surgery and end his season, according to SIC.
Godwin turns 29 this February and will be an unrestricted free agent. He finished the season with 50 receptions for 576 yards. Only Ja’Marr Chase had more receiving yards in the league at the time of Godwin’s injury.
Christian Kirk
WR | Jacksonville Jaguars
Christian Kirk went down during the Jacksonville Jaguars’ Week 8 loss to the Packers. The play turned out to be his last of the season, as Kirk suffered a broken collarbone and will miss the rest of the 2024 campaign, according to Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
Kirk was poised to be among the most attractive wide receivers remaining on the block after Davante Adams, Amari Cooper, and DeAndre Hopkins changed teams. With Kirk out for the year, the Jaguars didn’t have the option to exchange him for draft capital before the trade deadline.
Kirk posted 84 catches for 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns for Jacksonville in 2022 and was on a similar pace in 2023 before suffering a season-ending groin injury in Week 13.
The 27-year-old inked a four-year, $72 million free agent deal with the Jaguars in 2022 after spending four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. He’s due a $15.5 million, non-guaranteed base salary in 2025. Jacksonville could release Kirk next offseason while clearing $10.7 million in salary cap space.
Rashid Shaheed
WR | New Orleans Saints
Shaheed finished the Saints’ Week 6 game against the Buccaneers, seemingly coming out unharmed. However, shortly after, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported that Shaheed suffered a concerning knee injury.
His knee ultimately required season-ending surgery to repair the meniscus, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter revealed that he’ll be out for 4-6 months as he recovers. This timeline indicates that Shaheed underwent a full repair of his meniscus, which is better for the long-term health of his knee. Had he opted for a trim, he would be sidelined for 4-6 weeks but could have some issues down the road, though it may not have been an option.
Shaheed can be dropped in redraft leagues since he’s out for the year. Fortunately, he’s expected to be fine for the start of the 2025 season (potentially even in time for spring OTAs and minicamp).
Hollywood Brown
WR | Kansas City Chiefs
Hollywood Brown fell awkwardly on his shoulder in the Chiefs’ first preseason game. He was taken to the hospital as a precaution, and it was determined that he suffered a sternoclavicular joint dislocation.
Kansas City placed him on IR after Brown underwent surgery on Sept. 16 to repair the joint.
Unfortunately, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Brown is not expected to play for the remainder of the 2024 regular season.
Rashee Rice
WR | Kansas City Chiefs
The second-year wide receiver had knee surgery on Oct. 8, and Reid noted that the timeline for recovery is similar to that of a torn ACL, meaning Rice’s season is over.
Rashee Rice had surgery on his posterolateral corner (PLC), per Coach Reid, who added the following:
"It's probably the same result you would get timewise for an ACL. It takes a while…He'll get into his rehab and get rolling on that."
— Matt McMullen (@KCChiefs_Matt) October 14, 2024
Rice will remain on IR for the remainder of the regular season, so there’s no need to hang onto him in redraft leagues.
While Rice is expected to be healthy for the start of the 2025 season, he may have to miss additional time since the NFL is expected to suspend him for his role in a high-speed hit-and-run in March 2024. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported that Rice may try to serve his potential suspension while injured.
Tyler Higbee
TE | Los Angeles Rams (PUP)
Tyler Higbee suffered a torn ACL and MCL against the Lions in the playoffs last season. Higbee has been on the PUP list since the start of training camp and has yet to return to practice for the Los Angeles Rams.
The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue reported this summer that Los Angeles always expected Higbee to miss more than the minimum four games.
Head coach Sean McVay finally provided a more concrete update prior to Week 11, calling Higbee “a couple weeks away” from returning to the lineup. With the Rams on the fringes of the NFC Wild Card race, Higbee’s return could be an important boost for the final few weeks of the season.