Final Week 9 RB Injury Report: Who’s In, Who’s Out, and Game-Time Decisions

We have the latest NFL injury updates on running backs listed on the injury report heading into Week 9. Who’s in, who’s out, and what’s the status of those who are game-time decisions? Let’s take a look across the league.

Are you looking for other positions? Check out our final Week 9 injury report, which covers every skill player at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, and tight end.

Tank Bigsby | Jacksonville Jaguars

Tank Bigsby picked up an ankle injury in Week 8 and was limited for Jacksonville’s practices all week leading up to Week 9. He’s officially considered questionable for Sunday’s game against the Eagles.

Bigsby had already begun to steal work from fellow Jaguars RB Travis Etienne Jr. before the latter suffered a hamstring injury and missed two games. Etienne returned for limited practices and is a game-time decision for Sunday. Notably, head coach Doug Pederson did not label Bigsby as a GTD.

Among running backs with at least 75 carries this season, Bigsby ranks No. 1 in yards after contact per attempt (4.55) and No. 5 in explosive run rate (14.1%). He’s surpassed 100 rushing yards in two of the past four weeks, scoring two TDs in both century-mark efforts.

Jonathon Brooks | Carolina Panthers

Jonathon Brooks will not make his Carolina Panthers debut in Week 9. While he was initially listed as questionable for Sunday’s game, head coach Dave Canales said Brooks probably won’t play against the Saints. That proved to be the case when the team did not activate Brooks ahead of Saturday’s 4 PM ET deadline.

Carolina designated the second-round rookie to return from the non-football injury list two weeks ago. This week, he’s been a full participant in each of the first two practices.

Brooks, who tore his ACL with Texas in November, was the first RB off the board in April’s draft after posting 1,425 total yards and scoring 11 touchdowns in 11 games for the Texas Longhorns in 2023. While the Panthers will want to see what Brooks can do, he’ll have to battle veteran RB Chuba Hubbard for playing time.

Through eight weeks, Hubbard has rushed for 593 yards while ranking sixth among running backs in success rate (42.4%) and eighth in EPA per rush (-0.01). Carolina is not required to activate Brooks until Week 10.

Travis Etienne Jr. | Jackonsville Jaguars

While Etienne is still battling the hamstring injury that sidelined him in Weeks 7 and 8, the Jaguars RB could be closer to returning to action. On Wednesday, Pederson said he “feels good” about Etienne — who was limited on Wednesday and Thursday — suiting up against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 9.

However, on Friday, Pederson labeled Etienne a game-time decision.

Etienne was a limited practice participant on all three days leading up to Week 8 and was considered questionable to face the Packers this past Sunday. Viewed as a game-time decision, Etienne was eventually ruled out.

Bigsby was Jacksonville’s lead running back for the second consecutive week, taking 18 carries for 78 scoreless yards while adding two catches for eight yards. One week after finishing as fantasy’s RB8 against the Patriots, Bigsby ended up as the RB21 vs. Green Bay.

Jerome Ford | Cleveland Browns

Jerome Ford (hamstring) was limited at practice Wednesday and Thursday. Fortunately, he was removed from Cleveland’s injury report on Friday and will suit up against the Chargers in Week 9.

Ford has missed two straight games, but back-to-back limited practices suggested that he was ready to play. That said, with Nick Chubb having reclaimed the top job in the Cleveland Browns’ backfield, Ford’s fantasy upside has taken a notable hit ahead of Week 9 action.

Kareem Hunt | Kansas City Chiefs

Kareem Hunt has been a workhorse for the Chiefs since returning to Kansas City ahead of Week 4. However, the eighth-year pro popped up on the first practice report of the week on Thursday as limited with a quad injury. He was a full participant on Friday and Saturday and will play on Monday.

Hunt was limited with a hip injury in last week’s first practice before logging full sessions the last two practices of the week. While this is a new injury, there was no indication that Hunt was any worse for the wear after the Chiefs’ Week 8 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.

Since Week 4, Hunt’s 21 carries per game are the second-most in the NFL (Kyren Williams is averaging 21.8). Due to that volume, he’s RB10 overall in that span. Although Hunt’s averaging a meager 3.7 yards per rush, he’s scored in three straight games and has gotten a steady diet of goal-line work.

Bucky Irving | Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Bucky Irving did not practice to begin the week with a toe injury. This ended up mirroring last week’s DNP-DNP-LP practice pattern, which saw Irving play against the Atlanta Falcons. He is officially listed as questionable against the Chiefs.

The rookie logged nine rushes for 44 yards and seven receptions for 40 yards in that game as part of a three-headed timeshare with Rachaad White and Sean Tucker.

Unfortunately, head coach Todd Bowles has suggested that Irving’s toe could be problematic for the rest of the season.

Todd Bowles said Bucky Irving will be dealing with his toe issue all year. Bucs holding him out of some practices to make sure he can get on the field.

— JoeBucsFan (@JoeBucsFan) October 31, 2024

Tampa Bay’s backfield is a headache for fantasy managers. Over the last two weeks, the carry distribution has gone to Irving (18), White (16), and Tucker (seven). Irving has gotten both carries from the 5-yard line or closer, but that’s not enough of a sample to definitively label him the goal-line back.

Based on their usage this season, White would see a larger bump in value than Tucker if Irving cannot play.

Josh Jacobs | Green Bay Packers

Love wasn’t Green Bay’s only skill-position player to miss practice on Wednesday. Running back Josh Jacobs also missed the session.

LaFleur said the veteran RB is dealing with an ankle injury suffered in the Jaguars’ Week 8 victory over the Jaguars. Jacobs, however, told reporters after practice that he expects to be ready for Week 9.

Josh Jacobs didn’t practice today because of an ankle injury suffered Sunday:

“I’ll be good game time.” pic.twitter.com/ep8eEallVs

— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) October 30, 2024

LaFleur indicated that Jacobs wanted to re-enter Sunday’s game against Jacksonville, but the former believed the veteran RB needed to get his ankle examined.

Jacobs returned to a limited practice on Thursday after sitting out Wednesday’s session, suggesting that he’s on track to play without significant limitations. He practiced again on Friday and is considered qualified for Sunday’s game.

Detroit is a dreadful matchup. Dan Campbell’s team allows the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing RBs.

Alvin Kamara | New Orleans Saints

Alvin Kamara (hand/rib) was limited for Wednesday’s practice, just as he was for every session leading up to Week 8. He was limited again on Thursday before being removed from the New Orleans Saints’ injury report on Friday. He will suit up again at the Panthers on Sunday.

Kamara recently told reporters that he’s been playing through a broken hand and is dealing with the broken ribs he suffered in Week 3.

Carr’s return to New Orleans’ starting lineup should help all of the club’s skill players, Kamara included. Kamara was fantasy’s RB6 or better three times over the first four weeks of the season. He’s still been effective since, with RB21, RB17, RB33, and RB13 performances over the ensuing four games — but Kamara hasn’t found his ceiling recently.

Fellow Saints RB Jamaal Williams (groin) is doubtful for Week 9, while Kendre Miller (hamstring) has been ruled out. Taysom Hill could work as Kamara’s backup on Sunday.

Jordan Mason | San Francisco 49ers

Week 9 status: BYE

This past Sunday, Jordan Mason appeared to aggravate the shoulder injury he initially suffered in Week 6. The 49ers RB initially went down on the club’s second drive but then reappeared for the next series, running the ball three times before the Niners were stopped on downs.

Rookie running back Isaac Guerendo handled San Francisco’s backfield work on the club’s fourth and final drive of the first half. While the 49ers announced Mason was questionable to return with a shoulder injury, he never re-entered the contest.

Fortunately, his shoulder injury doesn’t appear to be serious. Head coach Kyle Shanahan suggested that Mason “maybe” could’ve returned to Week 8 if needed.

Christian McCaffrey (Achilles tendinitis) is expected to return in Week 10, leaving Mason as a handcuff — albeit one of the most valuable handcuffs in fantasy football.

Zack Moss | Cincinnati Bengals

Late-week injury downgrades are never what you want to see. On Friday, Zack Moss (neck) was added to the Cincinnati Bengals’ injury report for the first time this week. Given that he didn’t pop up until the end of the week, Moss was likely injured during practice.

He’s considered doubtful for Sunday’s game against the Raiders. Assuming Moss can’t go, fellow Bengals RB Chase Brown should receive a full workload in Week 9. Trayveon Williams is the only other back on Cincinnati’s active roster, and he hasn’t played an offensive snap this season.

Las Vegas represents a decent fantasy matchup for Brown. The Raiders’ defense ranks in the middle of the pack in EPA per rush and rushing success rate but has given up the 10st-most fantasy points to opposing RBs. However, Brown likely won’t have left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. (doubtful; knee/fibula) blocking for him on Sunday.

Tony Pollard | Tennessee Titans

Tony Pollard did not practice all week while battling a foot injury, but the Tennessee Titans are still listing him as questionable for Week 9.

This is a new issue for Pollard, who has not been listed on the Titans’ injury report this entire season.

With fellow RB Tyjae Spears sidelined in Weeks 7 and 8, Pollard hit an 80% snap share in both games. He’s been fantasy’s RB20 or better in five of seven games in 2024.

Fellow Titans RB Tony Pollard (foot) is questionable to play on Sunday after sitting out of practice all week. If neither Tennessee back can play in Week 9, Julius Chestnut — a 2022 UDFA with 24 career touches — will start against the Patriots. New England is allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs and ranks 21st in rushing success rate.

Brian Robinson Jr. | Washington Commanders

Brian Robinson Jr. is dealing with a new hamstring injury ahead of Week 9. The Commanders’ RB1 was a limited participant at practice on Wednesday and Thursday.

Robinson was limited again on Friday and is considered questionable to play against the Giants on Sunday. Given that he practiced every day this week, Robinson should be expected to suit up unless he suffers a setback over the weekend.

Robinson has already missed one game this season, sitting out Week 6 with a knee issue. He’s returned to handle 28 carries over the past two weeks.

If Robinson can’t go, Washington would likely deploy the same arrangement it used without Robinson in Week 6. Austin Ekeler played 75% of the club’s snaps and took 13 touches, while Jeremy McNichols checked in at 44% playing time and two touches.

Tyjae Spears | Tennessee Titans

Tyjae Spears missed the Titans’ past two games with a hamstring injury. Head coach Brian Callahan thought Spears had a chance to suit up in Week 8, but he ended up not playing despite managing limited practices all week.

Spears put in another limited practice on Wednesday, but he regressed to a DNP on Thursday. After failing to participate on Friday, Spears was officially ruled out for Week 9.

Fellow Titans RB Tony Pollard (foot) is questionable to play on Sunday after sitting out of practice all week. If neither Tennessee back can play in Week 9, Julius Chestnut — a 2022 UDFA with 24 career touches — will start against the Patriots. New England is allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs and ranks 21st in rushing success rate.

Tyrone Tracy Jr. | New York Giants

Tyrone Tracy Jr. has maintained his 1A running back role for the Giants even after Devin Singletary returned from injury in Week 7. However, Tracy suffered a concussion in Week 8 and didn’t practice on Wednesday.

Fortunately, Tracy returned for a limited session on Thursday. On Friday, Tracy officially exited the NFL’s concussion protocol and fully practiced. He’s good to go for Week 9 and will not carry an injury designation into Sunday’s NFC East matchup against the Commanders.

TYRONE TRACY JR. 🔥

A 45-YARD TOUCHDOWN TO KEEP THE GIANTS IN IT 😤 #NYGvsPIT | ABC, ESPN, ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/MRLgsnavoq

— ESPN (@espn) October 29, 2024

The fifth-round rookie has out-snapped Singletary 80-40 and out-touched the veteran 31-10 over the past two games. In Week 8, Tracy took 20 carries for a career-high 145 yards and a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He’s finished as the fantasy RB18 or better in three of the past four weeks.