RB Fantasy Injury Report Week 4: Latest on Aaron Jones, Saquon Barkley, Austin Ekeler, and Others

As we get closer to the kickoff of Week 4, there are still a lot of RBs with questionable designations. Which RBs and their injuries do we need to monitor heading into the next week of the fantasy football season?

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Injury Updates for Top Fantasy Football RBs

Saquon Barkley, New York Giants

Barkley has been battling a high ankle sprain he sustained at the end of Week 2. With him on the sidelines, the Giants had to put their eggs in the Matt Breida and Gary Brightwell basket for Week 3, and it did not prove fruitful.

Head coach Brian Daboll continues to say Barkley is day-to-day, but he did not practice on Tuesday. The original timeline was for the running back to miss three games, but managers hope he progresses faster.

Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers

Ekeler’s void continues to exist for the Chargers and fantasy managers. Since he hurt his ankle in Week 1, we have yet to see him take the field once. Last week, HC Brandon Staley scared managers even further by saying, “We will see how it goes in the next few weeks.”

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Thankfully, Ekeler did log a limited practice on Wednesday. The Chargers desperately need Ekeler back — backup RB Joshua Kelley has not been performing well, but if we do have another week without Ekeler, he will be the replacement.

Austin Ekeler participating in drills for the first time since his ankle injury. We'll get to talk with Brandon Staley after practice for an official update. pic.twitter.com/bBYM0F6VYU

— Bridget Condon (@BridgetCondon_) September 27, 2023

David Montgomery, Detroit Lions

With Detroit playing the Thursday night game against Green Bay, fantasy managers are waiting to see if David Montgomery has had enough time to recover. He is still recovering from a thigh bruise he suffered in Week 2. Currently, Montgomery is listed as questionable for Thursday’s game, as he was a limited participant in practice all week. He should be a game-time decision.

Rookie RB Jahmyr Gibbs was the Lions’ RB1 on Sunday and performed well, so there seems less of a rush to hurry Montgomery back. If he has to miss another week, expect Gibbs’ usage to be high once again, with some Craig Reynolds touches sprinkled in.

Salvon Ahmed, Miami Dolphins

HC Mike McDaniel told reporters that Ahmed is “progressing” with his groin injury. The rusher did not play for Miami in Week 3, and rookie RB De’Von Achane and RB Raheem Mostert seemed to hand the load fine, as both finished with four TDs each.

Ahmed was listed as limited in practice on Wednesday. If he sits out again, assume another week with solid Achane and Mostert usage. This time, though, they’ll be playing against a more formidable Buffalo defense. If Ahmed does play, he will be third in the pecking order among RBs.

Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens

After Hill missed Week 3 due to a toe injury, Ravens fans and fantasy managers were curious if he would suit up for the Week 4 matchup with the Cleveland Browns. It has been reported that Hill does “have a chance to return.”

Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens

In the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game, Gus Edwards went down to a bad hit, and after the game, it was announced he was in the concussion protocol. Thankfully, Edwards seems to be progressing, as he was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday.

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If he cannot clear the protocol, the backfield will be Hill (if healthy), Melvin Gordon, and Kenyan Drake.

James Connor, Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals have looked better than expected, and James Connor is one of the reasons why. With almost 300 yards and two TDs already, he is the workhorse in the desert. Regardless, Connor appeared on the injury report and was limited at practice on Wednesday due to a back injury. He is often injury-prone, so monitor him for the rest of the week.

Jerome Ford, Cleveland Browns

Cleveland RB Jerome Ford popped up on the injury report today with a shoulder issue and was limited in practice. He stepped into the RB1 role for Cleveland nicely on Sunday after the team lost Nick Chubb for the season. Ford had two TDs on 51 all-purpose yards.

If he can’t go on Sunday, expect to see RBs Kareem Hunt and Pierre Strong.

Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers

Green Bay plays Thursday night, and they hope to have starting RB Aaron Jones back on the field. He has missed two games due to a hamstring injury sustained in Week 1. He was fantastic in his debut, and fantasy managers are waiting to throw him into their lineup again.

Jones has been listed as a limited practice participant all week, and he is questionable for Week 4, but it looks hopeful for him.

Kareem Hunt, Cleveland Browns

Kareem Hunt, who was recently signed by Cleveland, missed practice on Wednesday due to rib and groin injuries. HC Kevin Stefanski told the media today that he is not concerned about his Week 4 availability, despite Hunt not practicing today. Jerome Ford continues to be the RB1 in Cleveland.