While rankings and projections are beneficial, few things are more important in fantasy football than following injury updates. Injuries not only impact the player in question but the teammates and the offenses around them. Here’s an update on some critical injury reports to watch and their fantasy football impact.
Update 12/10/21: For the most recent injury news, make sure to check out our up-to-date Week 14 Fantasy Injury Report.
Fantasy Football Injury Report: QB update
Let’s go through the injuries currently impacting quarterbacks. Monitor these situations throughout the week and have contingency plans, if necessary.
Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow was listed as DNP on Wednesday’s. He was described as practicing “a little bit,” which evidently wasn’t enough to warrant a limited designation. Burrow is dealing with a dislocated right pinky. He said he plans to play through it, but it’s not up to him. Regardless, I expect Burrow to play this week.
Andy Dalton and Justin Fields, Chicago Bears
Andy Dalton did not practice Wednesday with a left hand injury. Head coach Matt Nagy announced Justin Fields’ ribs are healed enough to gain medical clearance to play. He will resume his role as the Bears’ starting quarterback this week. Andy Dalton goes back to the bench following last week’s festival of turnovers.
Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
Jared Goff said he played through the tail-end of a bout with the flu last week. He missed practice Wednesday for the same reason. Goff is in zero jeopardy of missing this week’s game.
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
Taysom Hill is dealing with a right finger injury similar — but less severe — to the one Russell Wilson missed three games with earlier this season. Hill is going to try and play through it and will start Sunday.
Yet, it is uncertain how effective he will be throwing the ball. The Athletic’s Katherine Terrell reported that Hill looked fine throwing the ball at practice. He was listed as a full participant on Wednesday.
Daniel Jones and Mike Glennon, New York Giants
Daniel Jones is set to miss another week with his neck injury. Head coach Joe Judge reiterated he does not believe Jones’ injury is season-ending. I will reiterate that I don’t believe him.
The good news is that even though Mike Glennon didn’t practice Wednesday, Judge said he expects him to clear the concussion protocol by this weekend and start Sunday. Jake Fromm would serve as Glennon’s backup.
Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns
Baker Mayfield is listed on the injury report with a variety of maladies. He practiced in full and is at no risk of missing the Browns’ second consecutive game against the Ravens.
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers did not practice Wednesday due to his toe injury. This is going to be the routine for the foreseeable future. Rodgers will practice very little during the week, if at all, but he will play Sunday.
Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers
Ben Roethlisberger is not listed on the Steelers’ final injury report. He will play Thursday night.
Tyrod Taylor, Houston Texans
Tyrod Taylor practiced in full Wednesday despite dealing with torn ligaments in his left wrist. Regardless, Davis Mills is expected to start Sunday against the Seahawks. Whether due to injury or poor play, Taylor has lost his starting job.
Fantasy Football Injury Report: RB update
Which running backs are dealing with injuries that may affect their game status? Let’s see which RB committees are hobbled heading into Week 14.
Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
Saquon Barkley was listed as limited on Wednesday’s estimated practice report. Barkley was not on last week’s injury report, so it’s possible his ankle is a bit sore after last week’s game. He’s made it clear his ankle won’t be 100% the rest of the season, and it’s just something he will have to manage. Barkley is not in jeopardy of missing this week’s game.
Tevin Coleman, New York Jets
In an expected bit of news, Tevin Coleman experienced concussion-like symptoms earlier this week and is now in the concussion protocol. If he cannot get cleared by Sunday, Ty Johnson and Austin Walter would form a committee.
Alex Collins and Travis Homer, Seattle Seahawks
Alex Collins got in a limited practice Wednesday. He missed last week’s game with what I thought was a straight benching, but perhaps it really was due to his abdominal injury. It sounds like he will be active and involved in this week’s game.
Travis Homer was limited on Wednesday with a calf/hamstring issue. He is not fantasy-relevant himself, but his status impacts this nightmare of a backfield.
Dalvin Cook, Minnesota Vikings
Dalvin Cook got in another limited practice on Wednesday. He is listed as questionable with his shoulder injury. However, early Thursday morning, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Cook is trending in the right direction to play Thursday Night Football.
Update: Despite reports he would miss two weeks with his dislocated shoulder, Cook cleared medical tests Thursday morning and is trending toward playing. He wants to play and the team seems inclined to let him. Whether he makes it through the game is a different story, but it sounds like Cook will at least be active Thursday night.
Update 2: Dalvin Cook is active.
Chase Edmonds, Arizona Cardinals
On Thursday, the Cardinals designated Chase Edmonds to return from injured reserve. They now have three weeks to activate him. He will practice this week and the hope is he will play Monday night.
Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers
Austin Ekeler popped up on Wednesday’s practice report with an ankle issue. He was listed as limited. It’s something to note, but not anything to be concerned about. Ekeler will play Sunday.
Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys
Ezekiel Elliott is apparently dealing with the type of knee injury that shows up on an MRI. It’s not a bone bruise. According to Elliott, it’s getting better, but he’s still not 100%. He has no plans to rest, though. The injury cannot get worse by playing through it.
Tony Pollard popped up on the injury report for the first time all season with a foot issue. He played last Thursday’s game in full, so it’s unclear what happened. Pollard not practicing after 10 days of rest is not a good sign. Fortunately, Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News said a source told him “he’s fine” in reference to Pollard. It sounds like Pollard will play this week.
Update: On Thursday, we learned that Pollard tore his plantar fascia. Apparently, tearing it is better than merely injuring it. Mike McCarthy expects Pollard to play, but Pollard himself stopped short of expressing confidence, calling himself a game time decision. I can’t fathom a running back playing on a torn plantar fascia, but I’m not a doctor. Perhaps he can and will. We won’t know until Sunday morning.
Melvin Gordon, Denver Broncos
Melvin Gordon got in a limited practice Wednesday as he works his way back from a hip injury. Any action at all on Wednesday puts him on track to return this week.
David Johnson, Houston Texans
Ordinarily, I would not include players practicing in full here. However, David Johnson missed last week’s game due to either a thigh injury or an illness. He practiced fully on Wednesday, so he’s set to return after just a one game absence.
Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram, New Orleans Saints
Alvin Kamara practiced in full on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Mark Ingram tested positive for COVID. Assuming he is vaccinated, he could still register consecutive negative tests on Saturday and Sunday and play. However, that is extremely unlikely. Expect Ingram to miss Sunday and for Kamara to handle all the touches he can.
J.D. McKissic, Washington Football Team
J.D. McKissic remains in the concussion protocol and still isn’t practicing. Typically, if players are trending toward getting cleared, they at least get in a limited session on Wednesday. He could always take a positive turn on Thursday or Friday, but I would not expect McKissic to play this week.
Jeremy McNichols, Tennessee Titans
Jeremy McNichols was back at practice Wednesday. He’s been out with a concussion. McNichols’ return would throw a huge wrench into the Titans’ backfield where Dontrell Hilliard had been operating as the passing down back and played quite well prior to the team’s bye. D’Onta Foreman remains the early-down back.
Elijah Mitchell and Jeff Wilson Jr., San Francisco 49ers
Elijah Mitchell was absent from practice Wednesday as he works his way through the concussion protocol. Typically, when a player is going to return from a concussion, he gets in a limited practice on Wednesday. The DNP suggests Mitchell won’t get cleared for Sunday. It’s also worth noting Mitchell had an MRI on his knee, which came back clean. Nevertheless, it’s something to monitor.
Jeff Wilson Jr. was on the practice field following last week’s knee “flare-up,” getting in a limited session. That puts him on track to play and potentially see a full workload. The only other healthy back on the 49ers’ roster right now is JaMycal Hasty.
Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals
Head coach Zac Taylor said Joe Mixon missed Wednesday’s practice due to an illness. It’s worth noting that illness was the only reason he was listed as DNP. Mixon missed a handful of plays last week with an upper body injury, but returned and looked fine. Evidently, whatever happened last week is not an issue.
He should be fine to play Sunday, but if this season has taught me anything, it’s to not dismiss illnesses as irrelevant. Chris Evans also missed Wednesday’s practice and does not appear likely to play due to an ankle injury. If for some reason Mixon can’t play, Samaje Perine would handle a heavy workload.
David Montgomery and Damien Williams, Chicago Bears
David Montgomery did not practice Wednesday due to shoulder, groin, and glute injuries. Damien Williams returned to a limited practice as he works his way back from a calf injury. Fantasy managers should probably grab Khalil Herbert just in case.
James Robinson, Jacksonville Jaguars
James Robinson was limited at Wednesday’s practice with his ongoing heel issue. This has been the routine for several weeks now. Robinson is expected to play.
D’Andre Swift, Detroit Lions
D’Andre Swift remained out of practice Wednesday with his shoulder sprain. Head coach Dan Campbell said Swift’s shoulder injury is improving, which is positive news. However, Swift is not expected to play this week. Jamaal Williams and Godwin Igwebuike will split the vast majority of the work for at least another week.