Injuries continue to mount throughout the NFL. Plenty of players were banged up in Week 16, while others suffered injuries that could knock them out for the rest of the regular season.
Let’s round up the most notable injury updates looking ahead to Week 17.
Arizona Cardinals
James Conner, RB
As a reminder to everyone out there, these guys love football. The Arizona Cardinals may be out of the playoff race, but James Conner is going to play if his knee allows him to.
On Tuesday, head coach Jonathan Gannon ruled out two offensive linemen. He did not rule out Conner.
As of now, RB James Conner fell into the group of players that Gannon said “we’ll see how the week goes” as far as playing Saturday night against the Rams… https://t.co/dnwMlviYRH
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) December 24, 2024
The Cardinals did not hold an official practice on Tuesday, but they did have a walkthrough. Conner was listed as limited, which is incredibly promising for his chances of playing on Saturday.
Trey Benson, RB
After missing time with an ankle sprain, Trey Benson was listed as limited at Tuesday’s walkthrough. The Cardinals RB situation is currently as unclear as it gets, with both Benson and Conner working through injuries. Michael Carter could end up being the starter … or he could end up being completely irrelevant with both Conner and Benson playing.
Baltimore Ravens
Justice Hill, RB
Week 17 status: OUT
The Baltimore Ravens’ passing-down back had a scary-looking concussion on Saturday, landing on his head and immediately getting knocked out. Fortunately, Justice Hill was able to walk off the field under his own power. The shifty running back will now have to progress through protocol before returning to action.
With just four days separating the Ravens’ two games, Hill will not play on Wednesday. Expect the Ravens to have Keaton Mitchell active, but it remains to be seen whether he will serve as the RB2 ahead of Rasheen Ali.
Zay Flowers, WR
Week 17 status: QUESTIONABLE
Apparently, Zay Flowers picked up a shoulder injury in the Ravens’ victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. He did not practice on Monday, but head coach John Harbaugh does not seem overly concerned. Flowers returned to a limited session on Wednesday. I tentatively expect him to play.
Cincinnati Bengals
Joe Burrow, QB
The Cincinnati Bengals QB has been playing through a knee injury for a couple of weeks. Joe Burrow was limited at Tuesday’s practice, as the team manages his reps. Burrow was also listed with his weekly right wrist issue, which is a non-issue. Either way, Burrow is playing on Saturday.
Tee Higgins, WR
Tee Higgins picked up ankle and knee injuries in last week’s game. He was limited at Tuesday’s practice but should be fine to play on Saturday.
Cleveland Browns
Dorian Thompson-Robinson, QB
Making his first start of the season, Dorian Thompson-Robinson hurt his calf in the Cleveland Browns’ embarrassing offensive performance against the Bengals’ bottom-of-the-barrel defense. Head coach Kevin Stefanski already said DTR will start again if he is healthy enough to go.
David Njoku, TE
After a one-game absence, David Njoku was able to convince coaches he was healthy enough to play through a hamstring strain despite just one limited practice at the end of the week. The good news is Njoku came out of Sunday’s game with his hamstring no worse for wear. The bad news is he picked up a knee injury of currently unknown severity.
As is always the case with Njoku, if he can play, he will. We await Wednesday’s first official practice report.
Denver Broncos
Jaleel McLaughlin, RB
Last week, Jaleel McLaughlin tried to practice through a quad injury but was ultimately unable to go. He’s off to a better start this week with limited practice. If he is able to practice again on Wednesday, there’s a good chance McLaughlin can return to action on Saturday.
Houston Texans
Tank Dell, WR
Week 17 status: IR
The weekend’s most devastating injury belonged to Tank Dell, who was really starting to put it together after a slow start to the season, likely precipitated by his 2023 fractured leg. Unfortunately, Dell dislocated his knee, tore his ACL, MCL, and LCL, and also suffered meniscus damage on an impressive touchdown grab in the Texans’ loss to the Chiefs.
In a best-case scenario, Dell makes a full recovery and is able to get back on the field sometime in the 2025 season. However, there’s a very real chance we won’t see Dell again until 2026. John Metchie III will likely occupy the WR2 role behind Nico Collins for the remainder of the season.
Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes, QB
Week 17 status: PLAYING
Patrick Mahomes says his ankle feels much better now than it did a week ago. Mahomes practiced in full ahead of last week’s game and played with no issue. He was listed as a full participant all week and will play on Wednesday.
Xavier Worthy, WR
Week 17 status: PLAYING
The speedy rookie tweaked his ankle on Saturday and missed a handful of plays before ultimately returning. Xavier Worthy remains on the practice report with the injury but is listed as participating fully. He will play on Wednesday.
Los Angeles Chargers
J.K. Dobbins, RB
On Monday, the Los Angeles Chargers designated J.K. Dobbins to return from injured reserve. He’s been out the last four games with a knee injury. There’s a chance Dobbins can return for this week’s game. He was limited at Tuesday’s practice.
Gus Edwards, RB
Coming off the best game of his career, Gus Edwards apparently tweaked his ankle last week. He was limited on Tuesday and should be good to go on Saturday.
Will Dissly, TE
After not practicing for multiple weeks, Will Dissly was back on the field Tuesday for a limited session. This puts him on track to return on Saturday.
New York Giants
Drew Lock, QB
Drew Lock returned to the starting lineup after a one-week absence but evidently hurt his shoulder. He underwent an MRI on Monday. It appears the results were good, as head coach Brian Daboll announced Lock would start this week.
Tyrone Tracy Jr., RB
Tyrone Tracy Jr. was limited at all three practices last week with an ankle injury. Head coach Brian Daboll said Tracy aggravated the injury in last week’s game. It’s still very early, but it does not sound too promising for the talented rookie for Week 17. Devin Singletary will start if Tracy is unable to go.
Philadelphia Eagles
Jalen Hurts, QB
Jalen Hurts is currently in the concussion protocol. With the Philadelphia Eagles not one of the many teams playing on a short week, there remains a chance he can clear by the time they play again on Sunday.
Pittsburgh Steelers
George Pickens, WR
Week 17 status: PLAYING
After being listed as limited on Sunday’s practice report, George Pickens was upgraded to a full participant on Monday. He practiced in full again on Tuesday and is ready to go for Christmas.
Mike Williams, WR
Week 17 status: PLAYING
The Pittsburgh Steelers gave Mike Williams Sunday off from practice, as they have been doing on the first day of the work week since acquiring him. Williams returned to a full practice on Monday and will play on Wednesday.
Seattle Seahawks
Kenneth Walker III, RB
The Seattle Seahawks were required to release an estimated practice report on Monday. Kenneth Walker III was listed as DNP with a new ankle injury. On Tuesday, The News Tribune’s Gregg Bell reported that Walker was “hobbling around the locker room.” He did not practice once again.
At this point, it seems extremely unlikely that Walker will be ready for a limited practice on Wednesday, let alone a game on Thursday. With everything on the line in Week 17, fantasy managers will likely be able to order one final glass of Zach Charbonnet.
Zach Charbonnet, RB
Evidently, Charbonnet’s oblique injury was a bit more significant than we realized. That explains his strange usage, plus Kenny McIntosh entering the game before him.
This latest update from Mike Macdonald is a positive development. Charbonnet did appear on Monday’s practice report as limited, but he was listed as dealing with an elbow injury. The oblique wasn’t even noted, which implies it is no longer an issue. An elbow injury for a running back is far less concerning.
Charbonnet was upgraded to full on Tuesday and is ready to start on Thursday, as Walker is almost certain to be ruled out on Wednesday.
Noah Fant, TE
The Seahawks’ starting TE was listed as limited on Monday’s estimated practice report with a knee injury. Fant missed a month earlier this season with a knee issue, so this is likely the team just managing his reps. He practiced in full on Tuesday and should be fine to play on Thursday.