Injuries continue to mount throughout the NFL. Plenty of players were banged up in Week 12, while others suffered injuries that could knock them out for several weeks or more.
Let’s round up the most notable injury updates looking ahead to Week 13 for teams playing on Sunday and Monday.
Atlanta Falcons
Drake London, WR
Updated at 11:30 AM ET on Sunday, December 1
London is active for today's game.
Drake London (hip) was added to the Atlanta Falcons’ Thursday injury report as a limited participant after not being listed on Wednesday. However, London returned to practice in full on Friday and did not carry any designation on the final report of the week.
Normally, a mid-week downgrade would be cause for concern, but London has been dealing with a hip issue for weeks. This is likely part of the Falcons’ maintenance plan for him the rest of the season and shouldn’t affect his ability to face the Chargers in Week 13.
Darnell Mooney, WR
Updated at 11:30 AM on Sunday, December 1
Mooney is active today.
Falcons wideout Darnell Mooney followed a limited-full-DNP practice pattern this week. He did not practice on Friday, but it was due to rest reasons and not because of an Achilles injury that limited him in a practice session earlier this week.
Mooney injured his hamstring in Week 11 and never returned. At the time, Mooney said he would “be fine,” noting that his injury wasn’t severe. He was able to rest during Atlanta’s Week 12 bye, and he did not receive any designation on the final injury report of the week.
Mooney, who inked a three-year, $39 million deal with the Falcons over the offseason, still leads the club in receiving yards (711) despite missing the second half of Week 11. He’s second on the team to Drake London in targets, receptions, and receiving touchdowns.
Buffalo Bills
Amari Cooper, WR
Updated at 6:50 PM ET on Sunday, December 1
Cooper is active for tonight's game.
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Amari Cooper (wrist) fully practiced all week and did not receive an injury designation on the final report ahead of Week 13.
Keon Coleman, WR
Updated at 6:50 PM ET on Sunday, December 1
Coleman is inactive for tonight's game.
Bills rookie wideout Keon Coleman was limited in practice all week while recovering from a wrist injury. He received a questionable designation on the final Friday report.
Coleman injured his wrist near the end of Week 9 and had not practiced or played since. His presence on the field is a step in the right direction, but Coleman appears to be a true game-time call for Sunday night. Head coach Sean McDermott had suggested that Coleman was facing a multi-week injury.
Dalton Kincaid, TE
Updated at 6:50 PM ET on Sunday, December 1
Kincaid is inactive for tonight's game.
Bills tight end Dalton Kincaid did not practice all week as he battles an ongoing knee injury. He was formally declared out on the final injury report and will not face the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night.
Kincaid went down just before halftime of the Bills’ Week 10 win over the Colts. While he initially returned to that game, he departed again after a few snaps. Kincaid didn’t practice leading up to Week 11 and then missed the Bills’ game against the Chiefs.
Buffalo had a bye in Week 12, so it’s worrisome that Kincaid still hasn’t made it back to practice. With Kincaid sidelined in Week 11, fellow Bills TE Dawson Knox posted his best game of the season, hauling in four catches for 40 yards while finishing as fantasy’s TE18.
Carolina Panthers
Jalen Coker, WR
Updated at 2:35 PM ET on Sunday, December 1
Coker is inactive for today's game.
Carolina Panthers rookie wideout Jalen Coker missed Week 12 with a quad injury and did not participate in practice all week ahead of Week 13. Unsurprisingly, Coker was formally ruled out on the final injury report.
Coker wasn’t listed on the Panthers’ early-week injury reports entering Week 12, suggesting he may have been hurt during Friday’s practice. End-of-the-week downgrades are never a positive sign and often indicate that a player will miss the upcoming game — which Coker did.
The undrafted rookie finished as the fantasy WR17 in Week 8 but has otherwise finished outside the top 40 wideouts each week. With Coker sidelined on Sunday, Xavier Legette and David Moore were Bryce Young’s top two wideouts, while a returning Adam Thielen played 61% of Carolina’s offensive snaps.
Adam Thielen, WR
Updated at 2:35 PM ET on Sunday, December 1
Thielen is active for today's game.
Veteran Panthers receiver Adam Thielen played Sunday for the first time since late September, posting three catches for 57 yards in his return.
Thielen didn’t participate in Wednesday’s practice, but Carolina listed his injury as “not injury-related/rest/hamstring.” He returned for a full practice on Thursday and a limited one on Friday as part of his maintenance plan, and did not carry an injury designation for Sunday’s game on the final report.
Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE
Updated at 2:35 PM ET on Sunday, December 1
Sanders is inactive for today's game.
Panthers rookie tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders was involved in a frightening scene on Sunday when he landed on his head after hauling in a 10-yard pass in the second quarter. Sanders was carted off the field on a backboard and transported to a local hospital for evaluation.
Fortunately, Sanders was discharged from the hospital and had movement in his extremities.
“Scary moment. Right now, it appears we avoided a pretty bad injury based on the nature of the play,” Canales said Monday.
“It is a neck injury. He’s here; he’s in the building. He’s getting worked on. We’re still evaluating. We’re gonna have to take that all the way to Wednesday to see what his availability might be for this week.”
Sanders didn’t practice this week and was formally declared out on the final injury report.
Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow, QB
Updated at 11:30 AM ET on Sunday, December 1
Burrow is active for today's game.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (right wrist) fully practiced this week and will face the Steelers on Sunday. He did not receive any injury designation on the final report of the week.
Tee Higgins, WR
Updated at 11:30 AM ET on Sunday, December 1
Higgins is active for today's game.
Tee Higgins returned from a three-game hamstring injury absence in Week 11. He was limited for all three practices ahead of Week 13, but fantasy managers shouldn’t be concerned.
While Higgins worked on a practice field for the club’s first practice of the week, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said this was part of a plan for Higgins’ recovery. Cincinnati listed “rest” as the reason for Higgins’ limited status for all three practices this week, and did not give him any designation entering Sunday’s game.
Higgins came back with a vengeance in Week 11, putting up nine catches on 13 targets for 148 yards and a touchdown while finishing as fantasy’s WR2. Injuries have cost Higgins five games so far this season, but the pending free agent is averaging six catches for 82 yards per healthy contest.
Cleveland Browns
Jerry Jeudy, WR
Updated at 6:45 PM ET on Monday, December 2
Jeudy is active for tonight's game
Cleveland Browns WR Jerry Jeudy (knee) is fully practicing this week and will play in Week 13.
Cedric Tillman, WR
Updated at 6:45 PM ET on Monday, December 2
Tillman is inactive for tonight's game
Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol after going down last Thursday night (Nov. 21), head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters on Wednesday. He did not practice on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday ahead of Week 13’s Monday night trip to Denver. As a result, he’s been ruled out for the game.
Tillman suffered a third-quarter brain injury after hauling in his second of the night in an eventual win vs. the Steelers. Most players need at least one week to clear the protocol. Tillman has a few extra days to work with because the Browns are coming off a TNF game and playing on Monday night, but it still appears he won’t be able to go right away.
No Browns pass catcher benefitted more from Amari Cooper being traded than Tillman, who ranked top-20 league-wide in yards per route run and on-field target share from Weeks 7 through 10.
Jeudy and Elijah Moore will be Jameis Winston’s top two wideouts with Tillman sidelined, while sixth-round rookie Jamari Thrash or October addition Jaelon Darden could have an expanded role.
Denver Broncos
Bo Nix, QB
Updated at 6:45 PM ET on Monday, December 2
Nix is active for tonight's game
Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix is dealing with a back injury ahead of his club’s Monday night matchup against the Browns. Nix was limited for Thursday’s practice (the first of the week) but returned to a full session on Friday and Saturday.
As Underdog’s James Palmer noted, Nix appeared to be in pain during Week 12’s win over the Raiders and received attention from Denver’s medical staff.
The good news is that the upgrade in practice availability at the end of the week indicates there’s not much to be concerned about for Monday. As long as Nix isn’t downgraded on Saturday, he should be ready to play on MNF.
Jarrett Stidham is the Broncos’ backup quarterback and would start if Nix were unexpectedly sidelined.
Josh Reynolds, WR
Updated at 6:45 PM ET on Monday, December 2
Reynolds is inactive for tonight's game
Josh Reynolds (hand) has been sidelined since Week 5. He’s fully practicing this week, but he’s also fully practiced over the past two weeks — before eventually being ruled out for games.
The Broncos designated Reynolds for return on Nov. 13. They’ll have three weeks from that date to formally activate the veteran wideout to their active roster. His continued full participation would seem to suggest that a return is imminent but is officially questionable heading into Monday night’s game.
Houston Texans
Nico Collins, WR
Updated at 11:30 AM on Sunday, December 1
Collins is active today.
Houston Texans wideout Nico Collins was given rest on Wednesday and was listed as limited. He is not injured and did not appear on the final injury report.
Indianapolis Colts
Josh Downs, WR
Updated at 11:30 AM ET on Sunday, December 1
Downs is inactive for today's game.
Indianapolis Colts wideout Josh Downs will miss Week 13 after injuring his shoulder on Sunday. NFL Network reported while Downs is not believed to have a serious injury, he is a “long shot” to play in Week 13. He didn’t practice all week and was declared out on the final injury report.
Downs’ right shoulder was driven into the ground on an end-around early in the fourth quarter of the Colts’ Week 12 matchup against the Lions. Indianapolis announced that he was questionable to return as a result.
The 2023 third-round pick re-entered the game on the Colts’ next offensive drive. However, he didn’t look right after failing to catch a deep pass from Anthony Richardson with roughly five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
Downs returned to Indianapolis’ sideline and appeared to be having trouble with his shoulder injury. He finished the game with just three catches for 27 yards.
Alec Pierce, WR
Updated at 11:30 AM on Sunday, December 1
Pierce is active today
Downs isn’t the only Colts wide receiver dealing with an injury issue. Alec Pierce also failed to practice on Wednesday and Thursday due to a foot problem.
Head coach Shane Steichen said Pierce was “good” on Monday after gingerly walking in the locker room after Sunday’s game. The positive news is that Pierce returned for a full practice on Friday, though he still ended up with a questionable designation.
With Josh Downs sidelined this week, Michael Pittman Jr. and second-round rookie Adonai Mitchell could see expanded roles, particularly if Pierce is limited or out.
Michael Pittman Jr., WR
Updated at 11:30 AM ET on Sunday, December 1
Pittman Jr. is active for today's game.
Pittman (back) fully practiced all week and was off the final injury report of the week.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence, QB
Updated at 11:30 AM ET on Sunday, December 1
Lawrence is active for today's game.
After missing the Jacksonville Jaguars’ two games before their Week 12 bye, quarterback Trevor Lawrence returned to practice this week. He was limited in all three practices this week as he returns from a severe AC joint sprain in his left shoulder.
NFL Network reported that there is a “good possibility” that Lawerence will start against in Week 13, assuming he suffers no setbacks. On Friday morning, head coach Doug Pederson said that Lawrence should be ready to suit up, despite the questionable tag he received on the final injury report.
HC Doug Pederson meets with the media. https://t.co/qoqk7BKZFt
— Jacksonville Jaguars (@Jaguars) November 29, 2024
Backup quarterback Mac Jones threw for just 249 total yards, no touchdowns, and three interceptions in his two starts, both Jacksonville losses. He ranked dead last in passing success rate (31%) and next-to-last in EPA per dropback (-0.30) from Weeks 10 to 11.
Tank Bigsby, RB
Updated at 11:30 AM ET on Sunday, December 1
Bigsby is active for today's game.
Tank Bigsby (ankle) fully practiced all week and did not carry any injury designation on the final report of the week.
The second-year running back missed Week 11 but was able to rest during Jacksonville’s Week 12 bye. Now Bigsby will return in Week 13, creating a frustrating — at least, for fantasy managers — running back committee with Travis Etienne Jr.
Los Angeles Chargers
J.K. Dobbins, RB
Updated at 11:30 AM on Sunday, December 1
The Chargers placed Dobbins (MCL sprain) on injured reserve. He will now be out for the next four games.
J.K. Dobbins had defied his lengthy injury history until Week 12, when the Los Angeles Chargers running back departed his club’s Monday night loss to the Ravens and never returned.
Dobbins was declared out against the Falcons in Week 13 after not practicing all week and could miss more time moving forward after spraining his MCL.
Gus Edwards received nine carries on Monday night and will likely have the first crack at replacing Dobbins. However, the Chargers’ backfield could quickly devolve into a full-blown committee.
Edwards is a non-factor in the receiving game. He’s been in the NFL since 2018 and has never garnered over three targets in a single contest.
There’s room for Hassan Haskins and sixth-round rookie Kimani Vidal to establish roles in Los Angeles, depending on how long Dobbins is sidelined. That’s especially true behind a solid Bolts offensive line that features outstanding tackles Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt.
Will Dissly, TE
Updated at 11:30 AM on Sunday, December 1
Dissly is active today.
Chargers tight end Will Dissly did not practice on Wednesday due to a groin injury. But he steadily progressed to limited on Thursday and full on Friday, and does not carry any injury status entering Sunday’s game.
Dissly played 52 offensive snaps in Week 12, tied for his second-highest total of the year. Given that, his injury might not be all that serious and this could be a maintenance plan to keep him fresh.
The Chargers’ offseason addition has become a viable weapon recently, catching at least four passes in each of the club’s last three games. He finished as fantasy’s TE5 after putting up a 4-80-1 line against the Bengals in Week 11.
Fellow L.A. tight end Hayden Hurst is already on IR, leaving Stone Smartt and Tucker Fish as the next men up.
New England Patriots
DeMario Douglas, WR
Updated at 11:30 AM on Sunday, December 1
Douglas is active today.
New England Patriots wide receiver DeMario Douglas was limited by an ankle injury during all three practices this week and received a questionable designation on the final report.
Douglas played 68% of New England’s offensive snaps in Week 12 (his highest rate in three games), so his ankle injury doesn’t appear to be serious. Given that he made it to every practice this week, he should have a good chance to suit up on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.
Douglas is rarely an explosive option, but he catches enough passes to be viable in PPR leagues. He’s scored just one touchdown this year, finishing as fantasy’s WR8 when he found the end zone in Week 6.
New York Jets
Breece Hall, RB
Updated at 11:30 AM on Sunday, December 1
Hall is active today
New York Jets RB Breece Hall didn’t practice on Wednesday while he deals with a knee injury. However, he made progress all week, returning to a limited session on Thursday and a full one on Friday. He received a questionable tag on the final report of the week.
Interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said Hall tweaked his knee against the Colts in Week 11 — before New York’s Week 12 bye — but remained in the game and later developed soreness.
The fact that Hall is still battling an injury even after Gang Green’s bye week is undoubtedly concerning. The good news is that Hall spoke to the media after Friday’s practice and said he “felt good.” His progression in practice this week suggests he should be able to play Sunday.
Breece Hall says that he tweaked his knee in the second quarter of the Jets' game against the Colts.
Hall felt good today in practice. pic.twitter.com/mC37kwzDN3
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) November 29, 2024
Hall’s production has been spotty recently inside a broken Jets offense, but he finished as fantasy’s RB3 against the Colts. He’s been RB24 or better in seven of 11 games this year.
If Hall is out or limited against the Seahawks, fourth-round rookie Braelon Allen will handle the majority of New York’s backfield touches. Allen was more involved earlier this season and even finished as fantasy’s RB6 after scoring twice in Week 2. However, the Wisconsin product played just nine snaps and took two carries in Week 11.
Seattle isn’t a great matchup for whoever New York RB carries the load on Sunday, as the Seahawks have improved against the run after acquiring LB Ernest Jones at the trade deadline. Since Week 9, Seattle ranks fifth-best in the NFL with a 67.2% run-defense success rate on defense.
Philadelphia Eagles
Saquon Barkley, RB
Updated at 2:55 PM ET on Sunday, December 1
Barkley is active for today's game.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley was given a rest day on Wednesday after rushing for 255 yards — the ninth-most in a single game in NFL history — in Week 12. He is not injured and did not carry a designation on the final injury report.
DeVonta Smith, WR
Updated at 2:55 PM ET on Sunday, December 1
Smith is inactive for today's game.
After sitting out Week 12 with a hamstring injury, Eagles wideout DeVonta Smith started Week 13 on the wrong foot by missing Wednesday’s practice. He returned for a limited session on Thursday and Friday and was limited as questionable on the final report.
This is the same practice pattern he had in Week 11. Smith went DNP-limited-limited and suited up vs. the Washington Commanders. Last week, he never practiced at all, so this is an improvement that bodes well for his chances of suiting up.
It’s possible that Smith returned to game action too quickly. Hamstring injuries can often linger, and if Smith aggravated his issue in Week 11, that would explain why he needed a week off.
A.J. Brown only saw seven targets in Week 12 as the Eagles leaned into Barkley and the rushing attack, but that should change against a Baltimore secondary that ranks the fifth-worst in defensive pass efficiency.
San Francisco 49ers
Brock Purdy, QB
Updated at 6:50 PM ET on Sunday, December 1
Purdy is active for tonight's game.
After missing Week 12 due to a right shoulder injury, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was limited in practice Wednesday and Thursday before a full session on Friday. He was declared questionable on the final injury report, but head coach Kyle Shanahan said he expected his starting QB to return.
Purdy was also limited for last week’s Wednesday session. He went limited again last Thursday before being downgraded and ruled out on Friday.
Purdy’s upward trajectory at practice this week was a great sign. The clearest sign of his return arrived on Friday, when he threw at practice and backup quarterback Brandon Allen occupied a scout team role.
Unlike last Friday, Brock Purdy is throwing today. What’s more, Brandon Allen is in a scout-teamer-of-week jersey, suggesting he’s not the starter. pic.twitter.com/KQVwFjjIDA
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) November 29, 2024
Allen completed 17 of 29 attempts for 199 yards, one touchdown, and one interception vs. Green Bay. He earned a C (72.8) in PFN’s QB+ grades, No. 19 among 26 quarterbacks who played in Week 12.
Christian McCaffrey, RB
Updated at 6:50 PM ET on Sunday, December 1
McCaffrey is active for tonight's game.
Christian McCaffrey received a rest day on Wednesday. He returned to fully practice the rest of the week and carries no injury designation for Sunday night.
Seattle Seahawks
Tyler Lockett, WR
Updated at 11:30 AM on Sunday, December 1
Lockett is active today.
Seattle Seahawks wideout Tyler Lockett did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday, but returned to a full practice on Friday and does not carry an injury designation on the final report.
Lockett is dealing with a new knee issue, but Seattle has been known to give rest days to its veterans. Last week, Lockett got a rest day on Wednesday, went full on Thursday, and was limited on Friday (with rest/foot given as his designation). He played 65.6% of the snaps against the Arizona Cardinals and should be fine to carry a similar workload on Sunday.
DK Metcalf, WR
Updated at 11:30 AM ET on Sunday, December 1
Metcalf is active for today's game.
Lockett isn’t the only Seahawks wide receiver following the DNP-DNP-full pattern. DK Metcalf (shoulder) also received a pair of days off before logging a full practice on Friday. He doesn’t carry any designation on the final injury report.
As Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times notes, this was the first we heard of Metcalf’s shoulder injury. He was sidelined by a knee injury earlier this season, but this new issue clearly isn’t as severe.
Metcalf hasn’t been quite as productive in two games since returning from his MCL sprain. He’s recorded 11 catches for 129 yards and a 20% target rate in two games. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who feasted in Metcalf’s absence, has retained his status as the Seahawks top receiver, recording 16 catches for 187 yards and a 27% target rate in that same span.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Mike Evans, WR
Updated at 2:35 PM ET on Sunday, December 1
Evans is active for today's game.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) — who returned from a three-game injury absence in Week 12 — fully practiced before receiving a limited day on Friday. He did not carry any injury designation on the final Week 13 report, so he’s good to go.
Tennessee Titans
Tyjae Spears, RB
Updated at 11:30 AM ET on Sunday, December 1
Spears is active for today's game.
Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears is trending toward returning from a concussion to play in Week 13.
Spears was a limited practice participant on Wednesday but was upgraded to a full session on Thursday and Friday. He was officially listed as questionable on the final report. On Friday, head coach Brian Callahan noted that Spears was officially expected to clear concussion protocol at the end of the week.
The second-year RB went down in Week 11 and missed the Titans’ Week 12 win over the Texans. Spears also missed Weeks 7 through 9 with a hamstring injury, allowing fellow Titans RB Tony Pollard to turn into a genuine workhorse. Pollard played at least 82% of Tennessee’s snaps and handled 22+ touches in each game without Spears.
Pollard took it to another level last week, playing 94% of the team’s snaps while touching the ball 27 times, his second-highest usage of the year.
Calvin Ridley, WR
Updated at 11:30 AM ET on Sunday, December 1
Ridley is active for today's game.
Titans wideout Calvin Ridley did not practice on Wednesday due to an ankle injury. However, he was upgraded to a full practice on Thursday and Friday and did not carry any injury designation into Week 13.
Ridley has been hampered by other injuries this year and has missed practices, but he’s yet to be sidelined for a game. He became the Titans’ unquestioned WR1 after Tennessee traded DeAndre Hopkins in October. In five games since, Ridley has averaged six catches for 90 yards while scoring twice.
Washington Commanders
Austin Ekeler, RB
Updated at 11:30 AM on Sunday, December 1
The Commanders placed Ekeler (concussion) on injured reserve. He will now be out for the next four games.
The Washington Commanders will be missing part of their backfield in Week 13. Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler both went down with injuries in the club’s Week 12 loss to the Cowboys.
Robinson went down first, so Ekeler stepped into Washington’s starting RB role. However, he suffered a concussion on a kick return just before the end of regulation and was even taken to a local hospital out of an abundance of caution.
Ekeler is now in the NFL’s concussion protocol officially declared out for Sunday’s game after not practicing all week. This is Ekeler’s second documented concussion of the season (he missed Week 4 because of the same injury), which could lead to a prolonged absence as the team and player both need to exercise caution about a return to play.
Brian Robinson Jr., RB
Updated at 11:30 AM ET on Sunday, December 1
Robinson Jr. is active for today's game.
Robinson rolled his ankle on the Commanders’ first offensive play of Week 12. While he was deemed questionable to return and did come back in for a few plays, Robinson didn’t take a snap in the second half.
On Monday, head coach Dan Quinn said Robinson is receiving treatment for his ankle injury, adding that the team will have a better sense of his Week 13 availability later in the week.
Fortunately, Robinson was able to practice in limited fashion on Wednesday and Thursday before logging a full practice on Friday. He doesn’t carry any injury designation on the final report, so he’ll be good to go on Sunday.
With Ekeler out against Tennessee, Robinson should see a sizable workload. When Ekeler missed Week 4, Robinson logged a season-high 21 carries in a win over the Arizona Cardinals. Jeremy McNichols will serve as the No. 2 back and could also see a larger role than usual.
Noah Brown, WR
Updated at 11:30 AM on Sunday, December 1
Brown is active today.
Wideout Noah Brown popped up on Thursday’s report as a DNP with a knee injury, raising some alarms. However, that turned out to be a maintenance day. Brown was a full participant on Friday and does not carry any injury designation on the final report.
The veteran receiver ranks third on the team with 426 receiving yards this season, trailing Terry McLaurin and Zach Ertz. He just set season-highs in targets (10) and catches (six) in last week’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys, while also recording 71 yards. Apart from his Hail Mary-aided performance against the Chicago Bears, that’s the only team Brown has eclipsed 60 yards in a game this year.
Zach Ertz, TE
Updated at 11:30 AM on Sunday, December 1
Ertz is active today.
Veteran Commanders TE Zach Ertz was given a rest day on Wednesday. He returned to a full practice the rest of the week and carries no injury status entering Sunday’s game.