The 2023 injured reserve (IR) has not seen too many fantasy football-relevant players end up listed, but we’ve still had some really big names find their way onto the IR this year. As we head into Week 10 of the 2023 season, let’s take a look at the latest injury updates for the fantasy options currently on IR.
Among those we could see returning soon are James Conner, Justin Jefferson, De’Von Achane, Khalil Herbert, and Kyren Williams.
Week 10 IR Injury Report: Who Is Close To Returning?
James Conner, RB | Arizona Cardinals
As we expected, we got an update on Conner from head coach Jonathan Gannon ahead of Week 10. With Conner now eligible to return, Gannon told the media that the RB is “doing well.” He went on to tell the media that Conner will “ramp up and we’ll see how he does.” He finished by adding, “Hopefully, we’ll get him out there too.”
This is good news for Conner because when he was placed on IR with a knee injury, there wasn’t a set timeframe for his return. However, it looks as though it will just be a minimum stint on the IR for the Arizona Cardinals’ RB unless he suffers a setback.
MORE: James Conner Injury Update
There was some concern that with the Cardinals floundering at 1-8, they may not bring him back immediately or at all. However, with just one year remaining on his contract, it was always likely that Conner was going to want to play again to demonstrate his importance to the team.
The uncertainty now revolves around Conner’s usage. Will we see him heavily utilized, or will Arizona look to protect him?
With none of his salary for next year guaranteed and the dead money value not high, we could still see the Cardinals use Conner heavily. Hopefully, that will translate to a solid fantasy value down the stretch.
Justin Jefferson, WR | Minnesota Vikings
We also got an update on Jefferson at the end of Minnesota Vikings’ head coach Kevin O’Connell’s media availability. Jefferson is eligible to return from his hamstring injury in Week 10, but there were early reports that four weeks could be the minimum time he misses.
“Yeah, we’re working through that. Justin has done a phenomenal job in his rehab. He’s still been a part of meetings. He’s mentally in it. We’ll see, I’ll give you guys an update Wednesday as far as where he’s at,” O’Connell told reporters. “You know, we’re still working through that, and it’s possible that we will open up his window on Wednesday.”
However, he went on to add, “But we’re going to do what’s best for Justin and make sure that we’re doing everything responsibly to make sure that when Justin does return, he can be the Justin Jefferson we all know and expect to see out there, and I just credit him for how he’s worked through it and through this whole process.”
That was less than committal from O’Connell, and now all eyes will be on whether Jefferson can practice Wednesday. There might be a week or two needed to ramp up, but if Jefferson is active for Week 10, it will be hard for fantasy managers not to start him.
De’Von Achane, RB | Miami Dolphins
There was also positive news on Achane as he looks to return from his knee injury. On Monday, head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters there have been “no setbacks with De’Von (Achane) so we’ll see. So far, so good.”
McDaniel went on to say, “There hasn’t been any reason to think it’ll take longer, but you know how those things are. You have to take it one day at a time, so we’ll approach that when we need to make a more firm decision.”
That all largely sounds positive for Achane returning to the field now that he has missed the mandatory four games. However, we will have to wait a week longer at the very least because the Miami Dolphins are on a bye in Week 10. Therefore, fantasy managers will have to be patient a little bit longer on getting Achane back in their lineups.
Khalil Herbert, RB | Chicago Bears
For the most part, it was good news all around for Herbert’s potential return from an ankle injury on Thursday Night Football in Week 10. Ahead of the Bears’ opening practice for the week, they designated Herbert as one of three players to return to practice from IR.
That doesn’t definitively mean Herbert will play this week, as the Bears now have 21 days to put their RB back on the 53-man roster. However, Herbert was also listed as a full participant in the Bears’ estimated practice report for Monday. The team only held a walkthrough practice, but had it been a full practice, it appears there would have been no limitations on Herbert.
It looks as though we will have Herbert back, but the backfield situation is complex. D’Onta Foreman has found success while Herbert has been out, having been a healthy scratch before the latter got hurt. There’s also likely to be a ramp-up period as Herbert returns from his high ankle sprain. This might be a week to sit him in fantasy matchups if you can.
Kyren Williams, RB | Los Angeles Rams
Despite still being a couple of weeks away from a potential return for Williams’ from an ankle injury, we got an update from head coach Sean McVay on where things stand with the RB. “Coming after Seattle then we expect to get (RB) Kyren Williams back,” McVay told reporters when asked about the second half of the season.
MORE: Fantasy News Tracker
That is hopefully a good sign that we should see Williams back by Week 12, but fantasy managers are going to have a wait a little longer.
The Los Angeles Rams are on a bye in Week 10, and then Week 11 will be the final game of his mandatory four-game absence. From a fantasy perspective, we also currently do not know what his role will look like.
Other Fantasy Options on IR
- Aaron Rodgers, QB, NYJ | Week 6
- Damien Harris, RB, BUF | Week 11
- Pat Freiermuth, TE, PIT | Week 11
- Greg Dulcich, TE, DEN | Week 12
- Zach Ertz, TE, ARI | Week 12
- Ronnie Rivers, RB, LAR | Week 12
Fantasy-Relevant Players Ruled Out for 2023
- Nick Chubb, RB, CLE
- Anthony Richardson, QB, IND
- J.K. Dobbins, RB, BAL
- Kirk Cousins, QB, MIN
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