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.
Carolina Panthers
Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE
Carolina 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,” head coach Dave 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.”
Dallas Cowboys
Cooper Rush, QB
The Dallas Cowboys only held an estimated practice on Monday and Tuesday, but quarterback Cooper Rush (knee) was considered limited.
Rush’s injury could be minor, but with the Cowboys facing a game on Thursday, we’ll need to monitor his participation to complete the week. As long as he logs limited (or better) practices, Rush should be ready to go against the Giants.
If Rush were forced to sit vs. New York, Trey Lance would start under center for Dallas.
Brandin Cooks, WR
Could Brandin Cooks return from injured reserve to play on Thanksgiving? Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones said Monday (Nov. 25) that the veteran receiver has a “good chance” to suit up against the Giants this week.
Cooks was limited for Monday and Tuesday’s walkthroughs. Dallas opened his IR return window last Wednesday (Nov. 20). Cooks hasn’t played since September while battling a knee injury and subsequent infection. The 31-year-old was limited for every practice leading up to Week 12 but did not play despite being listed as questionable.
Cooks posted nine catches for 91 yards and a touchdown in four games before going down. While he could overtake Jalen Tolbert to become Dallas’ WR2 down the stretch, there’s not much fantasy appeal in a Cowboys offense helmed by Rush or Lance.
CeeDee Lamb, WR
CeeDee Lamb (back/foot) was limited for Monday and Tuesday’s walkthroughs. The Cowboys are likely taking it easy on their star wideout, who’s battled injury issues all season.
Last week, Lamb went limited-DNP-full before being removed from Dallas’ injury report. With the Cowboys facing another game in three days, Lamb could log more limited sessions leading up to Thursday.
Lamb has remained the featured weapon in Dallas’ offense with Rush under. He caught eight passes for 93 yards in Week 11 and hauled in 10 catches for 67 yards in Week 12, finishing as fantasy’s WR14 in both weeks.
Jake Ferguson, TE
While the Cowboys hope to get Cooks on the field this week, tight end Jake Ferguson (concussion) is “little more of a long shot,” Jones said Monday.
He didn’t participate in practice on Monday or Tuesday. With the short turnaround before Thursday’s game, Ferguson will likely need more time to exit the NFL’s concussion protocol. He never practiced last week and didn’t play in Dallas’ win over the Commanders in Week 12.
Luke Schoonmaker, the Cowboys’ second-round pick in 2023, has been a viable replacement with Ferguson sidelined for most of the past two games. He caught six passes for 56 yards in Week 11 before collecting three catches for 55 yards and his first touchdown of the year in Week 12, finishing as a top-10 fantasy TE in both games.
Detroit Lions
David Montgomery, RB
After suffering a shoulder injury in the Detroit Lions’ Week 12 win against Indianapolis, running back David Montgomery didn’t participate in Monday’s walkthrough ahead of his club’s Thanksgiving Day game. He was upgraded to limited for Tuesday’s session.
Montgomery told reporters after Sunday’s victory that he expects to play against the Bears on Thursday. On Tuesday, Lions head coach Dan Campbell said he felt good about Montgomery heading into Thursday’s tilt.
#Lions coach Dan Campbell says he feels good about the status of WR Amon-Ra St. Brown (knee) and RB David Montgomery (shoulder) vs. Chicago Bears on Thursday.
— Nolan Bianchi (@nolanbianchi) November 26, 2024
Detroit’s optimism about Montgomery’s Week 13 availability is clearly a good sign heading into Week 13. The fact that he logged a limited session on Tuesday should make fantasy managers feel secure about his status.
If Montgomery unexpectedly can’t go on Thursday, fellow Lions RB Jahmyr Gibbs would offer slate-breaking upside.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR
Star Lions wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown was a non-participant in Detroit’s estimated Monday practice due to a knee injury. Fortunately, he was upgraded to limited on Tuesday.
St. Brown never went down or left the game in Week 12. He played 68 offensive snaps — his second-highest total of the year — while reeling in six catches for 62 yards. The fact that he played almost every snap on Sunday is a good sign, but this is a new injury for St. Brown.
On Monday, Campbell did not include St. Brown in the group of injured Lions he’s “most concerned” about (WR Kalif Raymond, OT Taylor Decker, and CB Carlton Davis III). Campbell did admit that St. Brown is “a little banged up” but continued to express optimism about his WR1’s status on Tuesday.
Green Bay Packers
Josh Jacobs, RB
Green Bay Packers RB Josh Jacobs received a rest day on Monday and Tuesday.
Romeo Doubs, WR
Wideout Romeo Doubs did not practice on Monday or Tuesday after suffering a concussion in Week 12.
Doubs missed the remainder of Sunday’s game and will likely be sidelined for Thanksgiving. With such a tight turnaround, he probably won’t be able to clear the NFL’s concussion protocol in time.
“That’s unfortunate because I thought Romeo was really having himself a really great game,” Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said. “He came out, made some critical plays: that third-down long was pretty special where he almost got out the backside.
“He is very, very consistent. So, you know, if we don’t have him that’s a big loss, but we do feel like we have other guys. This can open up some other opportunities for some of these other guys.”
Wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks will step into Green Bay’s starting lineup if Doubs can’t play on Thursday.
Indianapolis Colts
Josh Downs, WR
Indianapolis Colts wideout Josh Downs is in danger of missing 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.
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.
Downs 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.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence, QB
After missing the Jacksonville Jaguars’ two games before their Week 12 bye, quarterback Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) returned to practice on Monday.
Lawrence, who has a severe AC joint sprain in his left shoulder, was spotted throwing at Monday’s practice. Head coach Doug Pederson said the Jags would see how Lawrence feels this week before determining whether he can start against the Texans on Sunday.
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.
Kansas City Chiefs
Kareem Hunt, RB
Kareem Hunt (toe) is fully practicing this week and will play on Black Friday. However, he may no longer be the Kansas City Chiefs’ unquestioned starting running back.
Isiah Pacheco, RB
Hunt will see competition from Isiah Pacheco, who fully practiced on Tuesday.
Pacheco has been on IR since fracturing his fibula in Week 2. He’s been practicing for two weeks but was limited in every session until Tuesday. Now that he’s fully participating, Pacheco has never been closer to a potential return.
It remains to be seen how K.C. will divide touches between Pacheco and Hunt once the former returns. Hunt has finished as a top-25 fantasy RB or better in four of seven games.
“We’ll find a way. Both of them are good players,” head coach Andy Reid recently said of the Pacheco-Hunt split. “We’ll find a way to get both of them in if and when that takes place. That’s a good problem to have.”
JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR
JuJu Smith-Schuster is fully practicing this week but is notably dealing with a new injury. The Chiefs WR is now battling a hip injury after previously missing three games with a hamstring issue. Smith-Schuster has caught just two passes since returning in Week 11.
Las Vegas Raiders
Aidan O’Connell, QB
The Las Vegas Raiders are set to have a new quarterback in Week 13.
After Gardner Minshew II broke his collarbone last week, Aidan O’Connell is expected to come off injured reserve to start against the Chiefs on Black Friday. He fully participated in practice on Tuesday.
The #Raiders are preparing to start Aidan O’Connell at QB on Friday against the #Chiefs, per sources.
On IR since breaking his thumb in Week 7, O’Connell returned to practice Monday and got the first-team reps. As long as the week goes well, it’s AOC time again. pic.twitter.com/XoVHAOuJK9
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 26, 2024
Minshew beat O’Connell for the Raiders’ QB1 job out of training camp. O’Connell reclaimed the gig in Week 6 but broke his thumb a week later, necessitating an IR stint.
O’Connell — Vegas’ fourth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft — completed 27 of 40 pass attempts for 227 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in a Week 6 loss to the Steelers.
Alexander Mattison, RB
Alexander Mattison never practiced last week and missed Sunday’s game after going down with an ankle injury in Week 11.
He was limited for Wednesday’s practice, a positive sign and an upgrade over his participation from last week. We’ll need to monitor Mattison on Wednesday and Thursday, but he could be trending toward playing vs. K.C.
Fellow Raiders RB Zamir White (quad) also missed Week 12, leaving veteran Ameer Abdullah as the club’s top running back vs. the Broncos.
White was a Wednesday DNP ahead of Week 13. If White misses another game, Abdullah could retain some standalone value — especially as a pass catcher — even if Mattison returns.
Miami Dolphins
Tyreek Hill, WR
Tyreek Hill is still battling a wrist injury and was limited for the Miami Dolphins’ Monday walkthrough.
Hill was downgraded to DNP on Tuesday, but that was due to personal reasons.
The Dolphins don’t appear to have any long-term concerns about Hill’s wrist issue. He was considered a game-time decision for Week 10 but ultimately suited up. Hill has been limited for certain practice sessions since but hasn’t missed any game action.
Despite Tua Tagovailoa returning under center in Week 8, Hill still hasn’t managed an explosive fantasy performance. He’s been a top-25 receiver just once (Week 11) since Tua re-entered the lineup.
New York Giants
Tommy DeVito, QB
New York Giants Tommy DeVito was limited by a forearm injury during Tuesday’s practice and is “not 100%” to play against the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, as head coach Brian Daboll told reporters.
DeVito’s right forearm is sore, leading the Giants to give QB2 Drew Lock some first-team reps during Tuesday’s walkthrough.
DeVito, who completed 21 of 31 attempts for 191 scoreless yards in Week 13, was not listed on New York’s Monday practice report. After Sunday’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Daboll admitted that DeVito had gotten “dinged up” but was hopeful that the second-year quarterback would be available for Week 13.
After Tuesday’s practice, DeVito said his entire body was sore. While he plans to play on Thursday, DeVito admitted he may be unable to throw at full velocity.
Tommy DeVito says his forearm and “whole body” are sore.
He said the plan is to play.
Hope he feels better when he wakes up tomorrow.
Didn’t really throw today. Will tomorrow
Said he’s “not sure” he can throw with full velocity pic.twitter.com/ZdT9IaLdDP
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) November 26, 2024
Lock was passed over for starting duties after the Giants released Daniel Jones last week. New York gave him a one-year, $5 million contract in March before watching him struggle during the preseason.
Lock completed just four of 10 passes for 17 yards and an interception in the exhibition season. Ninety-three quarterbacks took at least 10 dropbacks during the 2024 preseason; Lock’s efficiency (-0.98) ranked 92nd.
Washington Commanders
Austin Ekeler, RB
The Washington Commanders could have a running back problem 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 and will be hard-pressed to play in Sunday’s game against the Titans.
Brian Robinson Jr., RB
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.
If neither Robinson nor Ekeler can suit up against Tennessee, Jeremy McNichols could become the Commanders’ starting RB and offer surprising fantasy football potential on Sunday.