Injuries are an unfortunate reality of NFL life, but everyone who follows the league — fantasy football players, sports bettors, and fans of teams — wants the latest health information. In that vein, we’re tracking every NFL injury ahead of Week 16.
Let’s review the injury report for every game on the NFL’s Week 16 schedule. Remember, you can always stay updated on the latest injury buzz around the league with PFN’s NFL and Fantasy News Tracker.
NFL Week 16 Injury Tracker
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers (Saturday)
- Bengals: WR Ja’Marr Chase, OUT (shoulder)
- Steelers: QB Kenny Pickett, OUT (ankle); S Minkah Fitzpatrick, OUT (knee); S Trenton Thompson, OUT (neck); S Elijah Riley, QUESTIONABLE (ankle)
Bengals: Chase suffered a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder during Cincinnati’s Week 15 win against the Minnesota Vikings and never practiced this week. While Chase won’t play against Pittsburgh on Saturday, head coach Zac Taylor refused to rule out the Bengals’ WR1 for the club’s Week 17 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Without Chase in the fold, Tee Higgins will become Cincinnati’s top receiving option as the Bengals try to maintain their spot in the AFC Wild Card race.
Steelers: Pickett, who’s missed Pittsburgh’s last two games after undergoing ankle surgery, was limited during this week’s practice, but head coach Mike Tomlin officially ruled him out on Thursday. Mason Rudolph will start instead of Mitchell Trubisky, who’s struggled in relief of Pickett.
Meanwhile, the Steelers’ safety depth is dwindling. Damontae Kazee was suspended for the rest of the season after a brutal Week 15 hit on Indianapolis Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr., while Fitzpatrick and Thompson won’t face the Bengals.
Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Chargers (Saturday)
- Bills: RB Ty Johnson, QUESTIONABLE (shoulder); WR Justin Shorter, QUESTIONABLE (hamstring); EDGE A.J. Epenesa, QUESTIONABLE (rib); DT DaQuan Jones, QUESTIONABLE (pectoral); CB Kaiir Elam, QUESTIONABLE; S Micah Hyde, OUT (neck stinger)
- Chargers: WR Keenan Allen, OUT (heel); TE Nick Vannett, QUESTIONABLE (back); EDGE Joey Bosa, OUT (foot); DT Nick Williams, QUESTIONABLE (shoulder); LB Tanner Muse, DOUBTFUL (knee); CB Deane Leonard, DOUBTFUL (heel); CB Essang Bassey, QUESTIONABLE (concussion)
Bills: Hyde and Epenesa missed Week 15 and were limited throughout the week. While head coach Sean McDermott indicated neither defender was likely to play against the Chargers, only Hyde has been ruled out.
Jones was believed to have suffered a season-ending pectoral injury in Week 5, but he returned to practice this week and could play on Saturday. Elam was also designated to return from injured reserve (IR) and fully practiced this week.
MORE: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
Chargers: Allen sat out last week’s beatdown from the Las Vegas Raiders and never practiced this week. His return timetable remains unclear, but with the Chargers well outside the postseason picture, there’s no reason for the veteran wideout to rush back.
Quentin Johnston, Joshua Palmer, Alex Erickson, and Jalen Guyton were Easton Stick’s top four receivers in his first NFL start in Week 15. Palmer hauled in four catches for 113 yards and a touchdown in his return from a six-game IR stint.
Bosa returned to practice on Thursday for the first time since spraining his foot in Week 11. He’s eligible to be activated from IR at any time.
Indianapolis Colts at Atlanta Falcons
- Colts: RB Zack Moss QUESTIONABLE (forearm); WR Michael Pittman Jr. QUESTIONABLE (Shoulder); OT Braden Smith OUT (knee); C Jack Anderson OUT (illness); LB Segun Olubi OUT (hip)
- Falcons: OT Kaleb McGary QUESTIONABLE (knee); EDGE Bud Dupree QUESTIONABLE (back); DT David Onyemata QUESTIONABLE (ankle); FB Keith Smith DOUBTFUL (ankle)
Colts: It was very much a mixed injury report for the Colts on Friday. While Jonathan Taylor and Matt Gay were cleared, both Pittman and Moss were questionable. Both of those were surprises with Moss expected to be out after not practicing all week and Pittman expected to be fine after being cleared from the concussion protocol.
Pittman is listed with a shoulder injury and was limited on Friday. There was no major indication he will not play, but we will need to look for inactive when they are released on Sunday. Additionally, the loss of Smith and Anderson on the offensive line is far from ideal for the Colts.
Falcons: Overall it was good news for the Falcons on Friday. Three of their four offensive linemen were cleared, leaving only McGary, who missed last week’s game, as questionable. Dupree and Onyemata would be a loss if they missed time, and Smith is unlikely to play after being a Friday downgrade.
Seattle Seahawks at Tennessee Titans
- Seahawks: WR Dee Eskridge OUT (ribs); EDGE Frank Clark OUT (illness); S Jamal Adams OUT (knee)
- Titans: QB Will Levis QUESTIONABLE (ankle); WR Kyle Philips OUT (hamstring); TE Trevon Wesco QUESTIONABLE (shin); G Daniel Brunskill QUESTIONABLE (ankle); C Aaron Brewer QUESTIONABLE (ankle); EDGE Arden Key (back); DT Jeffery Simmons OUT (knee); DL TK McClendon Jr. OUT (shoulder); LB Jack Gibbens OUT (back); LB Luke Gifford OUT (hamstring); CB Sean Murphy-Bunting OUT (hip); S Amani Hooker IR (knee); S K’Von Wallace OUT (quad); CB Caleb Farley OUT (back); TE Chig Okonkwo QUESTIONABLE (illness); TE Josh Whyle OUT (Questionable)
Seahawks: The Seahawks could not have asked for a much better final injury report with Geno Smith and Kenneth Walker III both cleared to play. Clark, Eskridge, and Adams have all been ruled out. Pete Carroll did not rule out the idea of shutting Adams down for the season.
Titans: The Titans ruled out eight players on Friday, but QB Will Levis was not among them. Mike Vrabel told reporters that he “progressed a little bit and we’ll continue to work with him, and he will continue to get treatment.” It seems as though Levis will not go, meaning Ryan Tannehill will be the starter for the Titans in Week 16.
Beyond Levis, this is perhaps the biggest injury report of the week. The Titans have ruled out nine players and have another six listed as questionable. One of the questionable players is TE Chig Okonkwo who was absent from practice Friday with illness.
Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings
- Lions: FB Jason Cabinda OUT (knee); TE Brock Wright OUT (hip); LB Derrick Barnes DOUBTFUL (shoulder); S C.J. Gardner-Johnson OUT (pectoral); CB Jerry Jacobs OUT (hamstring)
- Vikings: RB Alexander Mattison QUESTIONABLE (ankle); OT Brian O’Neill QUESTIONABLE (ankle); DT Harrison Phillips QUESTIONABLE (back); DT Jonathan Bullard QUESTIONABLE (ankle); CB Byron Murphy OUT (knee); WR Jalen Nailor OUT (concussion)
Lions: The Lions will be short in the secondary with Jacobs not able to go and Gardner-Johnson not ready to return from the IR yet. This injury report looked a lot worse earlier in the week when OT Penei Sewell and DT Levi Onwuzurike were listed, but both were able to practice in full over the last two days.
Vikings: This ended up being a relatively good final injury report for the Vikings with just two players ruled out. Mattison missed last week but did manage to get back on the practice field Friday to be listed as questionable. He will likely still be limited this week.
The Vikings will be hoping that at least a handful of the questionable options can get on the field this week. Two key names from that group other than Mattison include DT Phillips and OT O’Neill.
Washington Commanders at New York Jets
- Commanders: RB Brian Robinson Jr. OUT (hamstring); OT Charles Leno Jr. OUT (calf); C Tyler Larsen OUT (knee); S Percy Butler QUESTIONABLE (Illness)
- Jets: QB Aaron Rodgers OUT (Achilles); QB Zach Wilson OUT (concussion); RB Israel Abanikanda QUESTIONABLE (ankle); EDGE John Franklin-Myers QUESTIONABLE (hip); OL Duane Brown (back); S Jordan Whitehead QUESTIONABLE (knee)
Commanders: Robinson hasn’t been able to practice since going down in Week 14 and unsurprisingly is ruled out alongside Leno and Larsen. Butler was added to the injury report Friday with an illness but should be able to play.
Jonathan Williams (concussion) was not listed on the injury report as he has reverted to the practice squad. We will get a better idea of his situation on Saturday if the Commanders elevate him from the practice squad again.
Jets: New York activated Rodgers from IR on Wednesday, but he will not play the rest of this season now that Gang Green has been eliminated from the playoffs. Wilson is still in the NFL’s concussion protocol and was ruled out Friday. The Jets will roll with Trevor Siemian at QB.
RB Abanikanda is listed as questionable along with Franklin-Myers, Whitehead, and Brown, who was added to the injury report Friday as a non-participant with a back issue.
Green Bay Packers at Carolina Panthers
- Packers: RB AJ Dillon QUESTIONABLE (thumb); WR Jayden Reed QUESTIONABLE (toe/chest); WR Dontayvion Wicks QUESTIONABLE (ankle); DT Tedarrell Slaton QUESTIONABLE (knee); CB Jaire Alexander QUESTIONABLE (shoulder); RB Emanuel Wilson DOUBTFUL (shoulder); WR Christian Watson DOUBTFUL (hamstring); OT Luke Tenuta DOUBTFUL (ankle); TE Luke Musgrave OUT (kidney); LB De’Vondre Campbell OUT (neck); S Darnell Savage OUT (shoulder)
- Panthers: TE Ian Thomas (ankle); LB Claudin Cherelus (knee); S Sam Franklin Jr. (quad)
Packers: The Packers have quite the lengthy injury report heading into Friday. Aaron Jones was at least cleared, and Dillon has a chance to join him. Meanwhile, WR it is a bit of a mess with Watson doubtful and both Reed and Wicks questionable. Chances are at least one of Reed or Wicks suits up, but we will need to see on Sunday.
MORE: Pro Football Network’s Week 16 NFL Power Rankings
Musgrave will not play this week after lacerating his kidney earlier this season, but the Packers opened his return window on Thursday. Head coach Matt LaFleur said he expects the rookie TE to return at some point this year. Campbell and Savage were both ruled out, but Alexander still has a chance to play.
Panthers: It ended up being a pretty clear final injury report for the Panthers. Franklin, Thomas, and Cherelus are all questionable. Chris Tabor seemed positive about the chance for Thomas to play, so he should be active this week.
Cleveland Browns at Houston Texans
- Browns: G Joel Bitonio QUESTIONABLE (back/knee); EDGE Ogbo Okoronkwo OUT (pectoral); LB Anthony Walker OUT (knee); LB Jordan Kunaszyk OUT (calf); S Juan Thornhill OUT (calf)
- Texans: DE Will Anderson Jr. OUT (ankle); LB Blake Cashman OUT (hamstring); QB C.J. Stroud OUT (concussion); WR Nico Collins QUESTIONABLE (calf); DT Maliek Collins QUESTIONABLE (hip); LB Denzel Perryman QUESTIONABLE (Achilles)
Browns: Okoronkwo, Kunaszyk, Walker, and Thornhill have all been ruled out. Cleveland had planned to place Okoronwko on season-ending IR, but head coach Kevin Stefasnki said the club is holding out hope the veteran pass rusher can return this year.
Bitonio returned to practice on Friday, and there is hope he can play. Kevin Stefanski told reporters they will see how he responds over the next 48 hours.
Texans: Stroud has been ruled out for Week 16 after failing to clear the NFL concussion protocol. That will leave Case Keenum to start for the Texans this week. Their leading pass-catcher, Nico Collins, is questionable for the week, along with Maliek Collins and Denzel Perryman.
Rookie defensive end Anderson has been ruled out along with LB Blake Cashman. Key players are missing for Houston this week on both sides of the ball.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Jaguars: QB Trevor Lawrence QUESTIONABLE (ankle/concussion); WR Zay Jones QUESTIONABLE (knee/hamstring); TE Brenton Strange QUESTIONABLE (foot); CB Tyson Campbell QUESTIONABLE (quad); CB Christian Braswell QUESTIONABLE (hamstring); S Andre Cisco QUESTIONABLE (groin)
- Buccaneers: DT William Gholston QUESTIONABLE (knee/ankle); S Antoine Winfield Jr. QUESTIONABLE (calf)
Jaguars: Lawrence was back at practice on Friday and cleared the concussion protocol ahead of Sunday’s game. He is still listed as questionable with an ankle injury, but the door remains very much open for the Jaguars’ QB to be able to play this week. C.J. Beathard will start at QB if Lawrence sits out.
Lawrence is one of six players listed as questionable, including Jones. Of the biggest concern is three players in the secondary being listed as questionable, Cisco, Campbell, and Braswell.
Buccaneers: It is a reasonably clear final injury report for the Buccaneers. Gholston was limited all week and should have a chance to play. The biggest concern will be Winfield, who was absent Friday with a calf injury after practicing in full the previous two days.
Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears
- Cardinals: WR Greg Dortch QUESTIONABLE (shoulder); S Andre Chachere QUESTIONABLE (shoulder); EDGE Victor Dimukeje QUESTIONABLE (foot); CB Antonio Hamilton QUESTIONABLE (calf); CB Garrett Williams OUT (knee); CB Bobby Price OUT (quad); WR Marquise Brown OUT (heel);
- Bears: RB D’Onta Foreman QUESTIONABLE (personal); RB Travis Homer QUESTIONABLE (hamstring); TE Cole Kmet QUESTIONABLE (quad); G Teven Jenkins OUT (concussion); LB Noah Sewell OUT (knee); WR Equanimeous St. Brown OUT (pectoral)
Cardinals: The Cardinals ruled out Brown, Williams, and Price on Friday. It was ultimately little surprise that Brown was ruled out with the repeated heel issues he had been dealing with. Dortch is questionable, so hopefully the Cardinals will not be too short at WR.
Bears: Kmet and Foreman were added on Thursday and despite practicing Friday are both questionable. The fact Kmet was not absent on Friday is promising for his Week 16 availability.
Dallas Cowboys at Miami Dolphins
- Cowboys: OT Tyron Smith OUT (back); G Zack Martin QUESTIONABLE (thigh); DT Johnathan Hankins OUT (knee/ankle); S Malik Hooker QUESTIONABLE (ankle); DE Viliami Fehoko QUESTIONABLE (knee); OT Matt Waletzko QUESTIONABLE (shoulder)
- Dolphins: WR Tyreek Hill QUESTIONABLE (ankle); OT Austin Jackson QUESTIONABLE (oblique); G Robert Hunt OUT (hamstring); C Liam Eichenberg QUESTIONABLE (calf); EDGE Emmanuel Ogbah QUESTIONABLE (hamstring); CB Xavien Howard QUESTIONABLE (hip); CB Cam Smith QUESTIONABLE (hamstring); S Jevon Holland QUESTIONABLE (knees); CB Elijah Campbell QUESTIONABLE (knee)
Cowboys: It seemed as though Smith will miss the game after being listed as doubtful and was downgraded to out on Saturday. Martin and Hooker are questionable, while Fehoko and Waletzko could return from the IR
It is not a major shock that Hankins was unable to go after missing practice all week.
Dolphins: After being limited on Thursday and Friday, Hill will be questionable for Week 16. It is looking promising for Hill to return in Week 16. In other good news, both De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert were cleared from the injury report on Friday.
The offensive line and the defensive backfield are major concerns. Jackson and Eichenberg are questionable while Hunt was ruled out. At least Terron Armstead was cleared. Among the defensive backs, Howard, Smith, Holland, and Cambell were listed as questionable, with Kader Kohou cleared.
New England Patriots at Denver Broncos (SNF)
- Patriots: RB Rhamondre Stevenson OUT (ankle); WR JuJu Smith-Schuster OUT (ankle); S Jabrill Peppers OUT (hamstring); TE Hunter Henry QUESTIONABLE (knee); OT Trent Brown QUESTIONABLE (ankle/hand); OT Conor McDermott QUESTIONABLE (concussion); DT Christian Barmore QUESTIONABLE (shoulder); LB Ja’Whaun Bentley QUESTIONABLE (knee); LB Jahlani Tavai QUESTIONABLE (ankle); CB Jonathan Jones QUESTIONABLE (knee); LB Anfernee Jennings (illness); ST Matthew Slater QUESTIONABLE (hamstring)
- Broncos: TE Greg Dulcich OUT (hamstring/foot); EDGE Nik Bonitto OUT (knee); OT Alex Palczewski OUT (Knee)
Patriots: The Patriots have ruled out Stevenson once again along with Peppers and Smith-Schuster. Ezekiel Elliott should handle the majority of the work with Stevenson still out due to a high-ankle sprain.
The Patriots listed a total of nine players as questionable, including Henry, who managed to practice for the first time this week. Jennings was limited due to illness on Friday, and while listed as questionable, is expected to play.
MORE: NFL QB Power Rankings Week 16
Broncos: Head coach Sean Payton said he still expects Dulcich — on IR for the second time this season — to play again this year. Ducich originally went back on the injured list after aggravating his hamstring issue, but he’s now dealing with swelling in his foot and has not practiced.
Bonitto, who leads Denver with seven sacks, missed Week 15 with an MCL injury and isn’t practicing this week. Payton said Bonitto would be questionable for Sunday night’s game, but he ended up being ruled out.
Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs (Christmas Day)
- Raiders: RB Josh Jacobs QUESTIONABLE (quad); WR DJ Turner QUESTIONABLE (shoulder); TE Michael Mayer OUT (groin); OT Kolton Miller QUESTIONABLE (shoulder); DB Brandon Facyson QUESTIONABLE (shin); TE Jesper Horstead QUESTIONABLE (hamstring); CB Jack Jones QUESTIONABLE (knee)
- Chiefs: RB Jerick McKinnon OUT (groin); WR Kadarius Toney OUT (hip); WR Mecole Hardman IR (thumb); OT Donovan Smith OUT (neck)
Raiders: The Raiders ruled out Mayer with his toe issue, but that was their only player ruled out Saturday. That means Jacobs is questionable, and there appeared to be plenty of optimism he could play.
Maxx Crosby and Andre James were cleared Saturday but Horstead and Jones were added to the report and listed questionable.
Chiefs: The Chiefs ruled out three pieces of their offense on Saturday. McKinnon always seemed to be facing an uphill battle, as did Toney. There was some optimism around Smith, but he could not show enough to even be questionable for Monday.
New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles (Christmas Day)
- Giants: TE Lawrence Cager QUESTIONABLE (groin); OT Evan Neal OUT (ankle); DT Dexter Lawrence QUESTIONABLE (hamstring); DT A’Shawn Robinson QUESTIONABLE (back); DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches OUT (knee); RB Gary Brightwell QUESTIONABLE (hamstring)
- Eagles: G Landon Dickerson OUT (thumb); LB Nicholas Morrow QUESTIONABLE (abdomen); LB Zach Cunningham OUT (knee); CB Darius Slay OUT (knee); CB Avonte Maddox OUT (pectoral)
Giants: Neal has missed all but one game since Week 6 and did not practice all week. Nunez-Roches also failed to practice all week. Lawrence, Cager, Robinson, and Brightwell were all able to practice, but none of them did enough to show the team they were a full go.
Eagles: Starting with the good news, Devonta Smith was cleared from the injury report Saturday and is good to go. The bad news is that the Eagles will be without two members of their secondary and potentially two of their linebackers this week.
Slay is a massive loss, but hopefully facing the Giants can negate some of that.
Baltimore Ravens at San Francisco 49ers (MNF)
- Ravens: WR Zay Flowers (foot); WR Odell Beckham Jr. (illness); OT Ronnie Stanley (concussion); LB Malik Hamm (ankle); CB Arthur Maulet (knee); CB Jalyn Armour-Davis (concussion); S Marcus Williams
- 49ers: RB Elijah Mitchell QUESTIONABLE (knee); WR Jauan Jennings OUT (concussion); TE Ross Dwelley OUT (ankle); LB Oren Burks OUT (knee); DT Arik Armstead OUT (foot/knee); DT Javon Hargrave QUESTIONABLE (hamstring)
Ravens: Beckham and Armour-Davis were the only Ravens not practicing on Thursday. Every other Baltimore player managed at least a limited session.
Flowers is dealing with foot soreness, but head coach John Harbaugh said the rookie wideout is in no danger of missing Week 16.
49ers: San Francisco ruled out Armstead but will hope that Hargrave can go Monday night against a strong running team in the Ravens. There are a lot of names on here but not many that are too impactful right now.
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