Injuries are piling up across the NFL, and Week 8 seems to have more than what can be considered normal. We’re tracking every injury around the league related to fantasy-relevant quarterbacks so you can have all the information you need for your fantasy football lineups.
Looking for all the injuries at all positions? Check out our final NFL Week 8 Injury Report heading into the weekend.
Is Your Quarterback Playing Today in Week 8?
Derek Carr, QB, New Orleans Saints
Derek Carr has missed the New Orleans Saints’ last two games after suffering an oblique injury in Week 5. Carr did not practice leading up to last week’s Thursday night game vs. the Denver Broncos. However, he is back to throwing, which suggests a return could be imminent. However, he missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday, and head coach Dennis Allen told reporters that Carr is unlikely to suit up in Week 8.
Saints coach Dennis Allen said Spencer Rattler is the expected quarterback Sunday at the Chargers.
Derek Carr has resumed throwing but isn’t likely to be back yet this week.
— Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) October 23, 2024
With Carr likely sidelined again, Allen has made it clear that he’s sticking with fifth-round rookie Spencer Rattler at quarterback.
From a fantasy perspective, that’s bad news for the Saints’ offense. New Orleans scored 27 points in the second quarter of Rattler’s first start vs. Tampa Bay but has otherwise put up three points in seven quarters with him (Jake Haener led their only touchdown drive vs. Denver).
Andy Dalton, QB, Carolina Panthers
Andy Dalton will not start for the Carolina Panthers in Week 8 after being involved in a car accident. Dalton sprained his thumb in the incident but otherwise “feels good,” head coach Dave Canales told reporters on Wednesday.
Instead, former No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young will be back under center for the Panthers when they face the Broncos on Sunday. Carolina benched Young after he started in Weeks 1 and 2, and it was difficult to argue with the club’s decision.
Young failed to improve on his dismal rookie campaign, even after the Panthers augmented his offensive environment. He ranked dead last in EPA per dropback (-0.44) before Canales pulled the plug.
Young’s inclusion in the starting lineup represents a downgrade for all of Carolina’s pass catchers. That’s doubly true against a Denver pass defense that ranks No. 1 in efficiency and No. 3 in success rate against opposing passing attacks.
Jayden Daniels, QB, Washington Commanders
Jayden Daniels would be a shoo-in for Rookie of the Year honors if the 2024 NFL season ended today. However, the Washington Commanders quarterback is currently sidelined with a rib injury after taking a hard first-quarter hit in Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers.
Daniels was replaced by backup quarterback Marcus Mariota on Washington’s second drive. While he was ruled out for the rest of Sunday’s game, Daniels returned to the Commanders’ sideline in street clothes.
A smiling Jayden Daniels returns to the sideline pic.twitter.com/bYuuJc9oOT
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) October 20, 2024
Subsequent updates on his condition have been positive. Daniels’ mother tweeted, “He’s fine,” in reference to her son’s injury. Meanwhile, FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz reported that tests revealed no fractures to Daniels’ ribs.
On Monday, head coach Dan Quinn labeled Daniels “week to week” ahead of Washington’s Week 8 game against the Chicago Bears. “We’re hopeful he can play, but we’ll also make sure to take every precautionary step and do it smartly for the player and the man,” Quinn said.
While Quinn was optimistic about Daniels’ Week 8 status earlier in the week, the rookie quarterback did not participate in practice on Wednesday or Thursday.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Daniels would attempt to practice on Friday. However, the rookie signal-caller ultimately could not participate.
Quinn and the Commanders consider Daniels a game-time decision for Week 8. Daniels is officially questionable for Sunday’s game.
“We will assess how he responds to the work that we did over the next 48 hours,” Quinn said. “But we really pushed it today.”
NFL Network has suggested that Mariota will likely start against the Bears on Sunday. Washington’s QB2 carved up the Panthers’ sieve of a defense in Week 7, completing 18 of 23 attempts for 205 yards and two touchdowns. Chicago’s defense — which ranks No. 2 in EPA against the pass — represents a much stiffer test.
Daniels has been the NFL’s most efficient quarterback through seven weeks, ranking No. 1 in EPA per dropback (0.27). He’s also third in passing success rate (52.1%), indicating he’s consistent on a down-to-down basis.
Will Levis, QB, Tennessee Titans
Will Levis continues to be hindered by the right shoulder injury he suffered in Week 4. He did not practice on Wednesday or Thursday, while Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan said his club will likely give Levis another week to recover.
Last week, Levis was limited on Wednesday and Friday but fully practiced on Thursday. Despite being listed as questionable, Levis was not active for Sunday’s game.
This may be a soft benching for the 2023 second-round pick, who has thrown five touchdowns and seven interceptions in five games. After all, he is practicing in a limited capacity.
However, it’s not as if replacement Mason Rudolph exactly lit the world on fire while completing 25 of 40 passes for 215 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in the Titans’ 34-10 loss to the Bills.
The Titans are averaging -0.19 EPA per play with Levis on the field, which would rank 30th in the NFL. With Rudolph on the field, the Titans are averaging -0.17 EPA per play, which would rank 28th.
Gardner Minshew II, QB, Las Vegas Raiders
Gardner Minshew II is back in the starting lineup for the Las Vegas Raiders now that Aidan O’Connell is sidelined for several weeks with a broken thumb. And although Minshew showed up on the Raiders injury report on Wednesday, it looks like it’s nothing to be too concerned about.
Despite his listed right elbow injury, he was a full participant in practice on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. He will not carry an injury designation into Week 8’s game against the Chiefs.
Spencer Rattler, QB, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen said Wednesday that Spencer Rattler (hip) likely will be the Saints’ starting quarterback Sunday at the Chargers.
Carr, who has been sidelined the last two games due to an oblique injury, took part in throwing sessions on Monday and Tuesday, which seemed to be scheduled to determine his recovery status. However, he wasn’t able to practice on Wednesday or Thursday.
Allen doesn’t believe Carr will be ready for Week 8 action, allowing Rattler to get a third start in a row. Rattler emerged from last Thursday’s to the Broncos with a hip pointer, but the issue won’t stop him from being available this weekend.
In his first two career starters, the rookie fifth-rounder has completed 47 of 75 passes for 415 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, rushed nine times for 61 yards, and fumbled three times (two lost).
Aaron Rodgers, QB, New York Jets
Aaron Rodgers was already dealing with knee and ankle injuries in recent weeks. Now, the veteran New York Jets quarterback is also battling a hamstring injury that interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said “flared up” against the Steelers on Sunday Night Football.
Still, Ulbrich never seemed concerned about Rodgers — who was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday — missing the Jets’ Week 8 matchup against the New England Patriots.
“They’re gonna assess it all week long,” Ulbrich said. “(Rodgers is) gonna treat his butt off like he always does, and (I) don’t anticipate this affecting him in playing.”
NFL Network reported on Friday that Rodgers was expected to play in Week 8, and he was soon removed from the Jets’ injury report.
Last week, Rodgers didn’t practice on Wednesday or Thursday before returning for a full session on Friday. He was removed from New York’s injury report heading into its game against Pittsburgh.
Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa’s presence at Wednesday’s practice had to be a sight for the Miami Dolphins’ sore eyes. After struggling with Skylar Thompson, Tyler Huntley, and Tim Boyle while Tagovailoa recovered from his Week 3 concussion, the Dolphins’ offense should get a significant boost now that Tua is back in the saddle.
With Tua sidelined from Weeks 3 through 7, Miami ranked 31st in offensive EPA per play (-0.23). Only the Patriots were worse during that stretch. Neither Tyreek Hill nor Jaylen Waddle has produced a top-30 fantasy WR finish since Tua exited.
Big day for the Miami Dolphins.
Tua Tagovailoa is back at practice for the first time in six weeks.
Players not spotted today: Terron Armstead, Calais Campbell, Kader Kohou, Storm Duck, and Tyler Huntley. pic.twitter.com/yjyyV9ArL1
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) October 23, 2024
Here’s what PFN’s Adam Beasley wrote from Wednesday’s Dolphins practice:
“Tagovailoa, who, as he signaled, did not wear a Guardian Cap, looked sharp during the 20+ minute window open to reporters. Only one of his many throws hit the ground: An in-breaking route to Jaylen Waddle that was just beyond his grasp.”
After getting in a limited practice on Wednesday, Tagovailoa practiced in full on Thursday, which is a great sign.
On Friday, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel announced that Tua had exited the NFL’s concussion protocol and will start against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Tagovailoa is only listed as questionable because he’s technically still on IR.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson, QB, Cleveland Browns
Head coach Kevin Stefanski noted Wednesday that the Browns plan to see how Thompson-Robinson progresses from his finger injury — specifically in terms of his throwing — before a determination on the QB’s Week 8 availability is made.
Thompson-Robinson participated fully in practice all week. He will serve as Clevleand’s QB2 behind new starter Jamies Winston.