Injuries continue to mount throughout the NFL. Plenty of players were banged up in Week 13, while others suffered injuries that could knock them out for several weeks or more.
Let’s round up the most notable injury updates while looking ahead to Week 14.
Carolina Panthers
Jalen Coker, WR
Rookie Carolina Panthers wide receiver Jalen Coker hasn’t played since injuring his hamstring in a pre-Week 12 practice. On Monday, head coach Dave Canales said the Panthers hope Coker can return for Week 14, noting that this week will involve “a couple of bigs days” of practice for the undrafted free agent.
Coker finished as the fantasy WR17 in Week 8 but has otherwise finished outside the top 40 wideouts each week.
Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE
Canales offered the same optimism on Panthers rookie tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders, who was involved in a frightening collision in Week 12. Fortunately, the fourth-round pick was discharged from the hospital after suffering a neck injury and seemingly has a chance to play this week.
Sanders averaged four targets per game from Week 5 on, getting more looks in Carolina’s passing game after the team traded wideouts Diontae Johnson and Jonathan Mingo at the deadline.
Fellow Panthers TE Tommy Tremble picked up where Sanders left off last week, earning eight targets from Bryce Young. There’s clearly room for a fantasy-relevant tight end in this offense,
Green Bay Packers
Josh Jacobs, RB
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs was limited by his ongoing calf injury at Monday and Tuesday’s practices.
These are the games Josh Jacobs signed with #Packers to play. The type of games he didn’t get enough of in 5 seasons with Raiders.
No need to worry about his workload Thursday night in Detroit.
“I can take as many (carries) as they need. I feel good.” pic.twitter.com/WIgtsPslkf
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood)
Jacobs has been battling this same issue for several weeks but hasn’t missed time. Green Bay gave the veteran RB two days’ worth of rest during pre-Week 13 practices. Jacobs has touched the ball 71 times over the Packers’ last three games, so the club is likely exuding caution.
As long as Jacobs doesn’t get downgraded on Wednesday, he should be ready to face the Lions on TNF.
Romeo Doubs, WR
Packers wideout Romeo Doubs returned to practice this week after sitting out the club’s Thanksgiving Night win against the Dolphins with a concussion. He was officially listed as limited on Monday and Tuesday.
The Packers have another Thursday game coming up, this time vs. the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions. Although Doubs is still in the NFL’s concussion protocol, he’s progressed to the point where he could play this week, head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters on Monday.
Asked point blank if Doubs will play on TNF, LaFleur said, “We’ll see.”
If Doubs keeps logging limited practice sessions, he might be able to do enough to be cleared in time for Thursday’s critical matchup. Still, there’s a chance he’ll be a game-time decision for this week’s game. Luckily, fantasy managers will have plenty of time to find a replacement for Week 14.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence, QB
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence suffered a concussion after absorbing a dirty hit from Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair on Sunday. Al-Shaair was ejected from Sunday’s contest and has been suspended for three games.
“It’s a play that has no business in our league,” head coach Doug Pederson said after Jacksonville’s loss.
NFL VP of Football Ops Jon Runyan: “Your lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football and all those who play, coach, and enjoy watching it, is troubling and does not reflect the core values of the NFL.” https://t.co/QtrEdUwW60
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet)
Pederson indicated it was too early to say whether Lawrence would play again the season. The Jaguars fell to 2-10 after Sunday’s loss and have no chance at a playoff berth, which could theoretically affect Lawrence and the club’s thinking.
After the game, Lawrence posted the following update on X:
“Thank you to everyone who has reached out / been praying for me. I’m home and feeling better. Means a lot, thank you all🙌🏼”
Backup quarterback Mac Jones threw for just 249 total yards, no touchdowns, and three interceptions in his two starts; both were 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.
Jones was more productive against the Texans on Sunday, completing 20 of 32 attempts for 235 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Los Angeles Chargers
Ladd McConkey, WR
Ladd McConkey never returned after his last reception with 5:39 remaining in the third quarter of Sunday’s win over the Atlanta Falcons. The Los Angeles Chargers announced that the rookie wideout was questionable to return, but he never re-entered yesterday’s game.
On Monday, Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said McConkey is “working through some things,” noting the club needs to see how the receiver progresses during the week. Asked if McConkey would practice ahead of Week 14, Harbaugh said, “We’ll see.”
The Georgia product has quickly become Justin Herbert’s favorite receiver and put up another productive day in Los Angeles’ 17-13 win over Atlanta. McConkey posted nine catches on 12 targets for 117 yards before departing. No other Chargers pass catcher earned more than four targets or two receptions.
McConkey leads all Los Angeles receivers in targets (81), catches (58), and receiving yards (815) and is second in receiving touchdowns (four).
Philadelphia Eagles
Dallas Goedert, TE
While the Philadelphia Eagles were hoping for good news on tight end Dallas Goedert after he departed Sunday’s game with a late knee injury, Goedert appears likely to miss time.
According to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane, Goedert is considered week to week ahead of Sunday’s game against the Panthers. Although Goedert’s knee injury is not season-ending, he could be placed on injured reserve.
Goedert has been banged up this year, missing Weeks 7-9 with a hamstring injury before later dealing with an ankle issue. Fellow Eagles tight end Grant Calcaterra posted at least three catches or 50 yards in three games as Goedert’s replacement, finishing as a top-25 fantasy TE in all three contests.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Baker Mayfield, QB
Baker Mayfield was stepped on during the third quarter in Week 13 and initially believed he suffered a season-ending injury. Fortunately, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback only missed one snap on Sunday.
“Honestly, it scared the daylights out of me,” Mayfield said. “I’ve seen some people pop their Achilles before, and they say it feels like you got cleated. Obviously, not knowing what exactly happened, that’s what I thought I did. It was a little painful, but I got taped again and went back out there.”
Head coach Todd Bowles said Monday that Mayfield’s leg is sore but expects his quarterback to start in Week 13.
Bucky Irving, RB
Bucs running back Bucky Irving suffered a knee injury on Sunday and missed Tampa Bay’s first second-half drive. Fortunately, he returned for the club’s second third-quarter series and played for the rest of Week 13, finishing with a career-high 25 carries for 152 yards and a touchdown.
While Irving was “laboring” after yesterday’s game, he told reporters he felt better on Monday morning.
The Buccaneers had been threatening a hot-hand approach at running back, and on Sunday, Irving received 28 opportunities to Rachaad White’s 11. While the backs essentially played the same number of snaps, Irving was the clear lead back.