Entering Week 15 of the 2024 NFL season, several notable players have suffered major injuries that landed them on injured reserve (IR). Both NFL teams and fantasy football teams have felt the impact of these unfortunate injuries.
Which players on IR are close to returning, and who will miss the remainder of the season? Each week, we examine the latest news and recovery timeline for every fantasy-relevant player on IR.
Dak Prescott
QB | Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys entered the regular season with high expectations. Yet after a slow start, things got significantly worse for Dallas. Cowboys QB Dak Prescott suffered a significant hamstring injury against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9.
While Prescott was initially questionable to return due to the injury, an MRI following the game revealed a worst-case scenario for Dallas. Prescott tore his hamstring off the bone, which ultimately forced him to be placed on IR after undergoing surgery ahead of Week 11.
Luckily for Prescott, he signed a massive contract extension before the start of the regular season. While he won’t return for the Cowboys in 2024, Dallas’ franchise QB should be fully healthy to return at the start of next season.
Trevor Lawrence
QB | Jacksonville Jaguars
It’s been a rough year for the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Trevor Lawrence’s health certainly hasn’t helped. Lawrence missed two games due to a shoulder injury earlier in the regular season. Then he suffered a concussion following a controversial hit from Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair.
Following the massive hit from Al-Shaair, Lawrence left the game in Week 13 and didn’t return. While the concussion would have forced Lawrence to miss time, it wasn’t the primary reason that Jacksonville’s starting QB was placed on injured reserve.
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson revealed that Lawrence was placed on IR due to a combination of his concussion and the lingering shoulder injury. “The reason for IR is not the injury from Sunday,” Pederson said. “It’s not that. It’s more the shoulder.”
J.J. McCarthy
QB | Minnesota Vikings
While Sam Darnold continues to play at a high level for the Minnesota Vikings, he wasn’t the franchise’s initial plan at quarterback. The Vikings selected J.J. McCarthy with the 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Unfortunately, McCarthy suffered a knee injury shortly after Minnesota’s preseason opener. While it isn’t exactly clear when McCarthy suffered the injury, it ultimately required season-ending meniscus surgery, and the Vikings’ rookie QB was eventually played on IR.
McCarthy’s recovery timeline is expected to be 6-8 months, which should place him on track to be fully healthy by the 2025 season. The hope is that McCarthy will be ready for offseason workouts.
Gardner Minshew II
QB | Las Vegas Raiders
Las Vegas Raiders QB Gardner Minshew II suffered an apparent left shoulder injury late in the team’s loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 12. Shortly after the game ended, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported that Minshew’s season was over due to a broken collarbone.
The only good news is that this shouldn’t impact his ability to be ready for offseason workouts in the spring. Minshew signed a two-year, $25 million contract with the Raiders in free agency. He should be healthy enough to potentially serve as the team’s bridge QB to whichever rookie the Raiders will likely select in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Derek Carr
QB | New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints QB Derek Carr suffered an injury to his non-throwing hand after diving forward for a first down in the fourth quarter against the New York Giants in Week 14. Carr attempted to brace his fall with his left hand and injured it.
Carr fractured his left hand and is now expected to miss several weeks, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Although it’s worth mentioning that Saints interim head coach Darren Rizzi stated on Monday that he doesn’t believe Carr will land on injured reserve.
“I don’t believe it’s going to be an [injured reserve] situation,” Rizzi said Monday. “I think it’s going to be a week-to-week situation.”
Regardless of Rizzi’s beliefs, it doesn’t seem guaranteed that Carr will return this season. Given that the Saints are 5-8 and currently outside of the playoff race, it wouldn’t make much sense for New Orleans to put Carr back on the field this season.
Christian McCaffrey
RB | San Francisco 49ers
After an unexpected, lengthy absence to begin the regular season, San Francisco 49ers star RB Christian McCaffrey made his long-awaited debut in Week 10. However, his season was cut short just four games into 2024.
McCaffrey injured his knee on a shoestring tackle against the Buffalo Bills. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed that McCaffrey suffered a PCL injury, that would eventually end McCaffrey’s season.
While the injury shouldn’t have any lingering effects on McCaffrey for next year. The bigger concern is McCaffrey’s lengthy injury history as he will be entering his age-29 season, but this particular issue will be well behind him by the time the 2025 training camp rolls around.
Jordan Mason
RB | San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers have battled injuries to key players all season long, and San Francisco lost two running backs to injury against the Bills. After McCaffrey suffered a knee injury in Buffalo’s snowstorm, his replacement also went down.
Jordan Mason stepped in for McCaffrey and appeared to be off to another strong performance in relief of the team’s starting RB, but he suffered a high-ankle sprain against the Bills in Week 13.
Mason was placed on injured reserve and will be forced to miss at least four games. Since Mason won’t be eligible to return until Week 18 at the earliest, he won’t be available to help in most fantasy championship games.
Jonathon Brooks
RB | Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers rookie RB Jonathon Brooks didn’t make his NFL debut until Nov. 24 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Brooks worked his way back from a torn ACL that he suffered during his final season at Texas before entering the 2024 NFL Draft.
Unfortunately, Brooks went down with a non-contact injury while carrying the ball against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 14. Brooks was carted to Carolina’s locker room as many anticipated the worst for Carolina’s rookie RB.
Further testing confirmed the worst-case scenario for Brooks and the Panthers. Brooks re-tore his right ACL that he initially tore for the first time in Nov. 2023 at Texas. Now Brooks is in for a lengthy recovery process as he’ll attempt to beat the odds and return to the field, despite tearing the same ACL twice.
J.K. Dobbins
RB | Los Angeles Chargers
Injuries have plagued J.K. Dobbins throughout his NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens, yet after signing with the Los Angeles Chargers in the offseason, he was enjoying an uncharacteristically healthy start to the regular season with his new team.
However, Dobbins suffered a knee injury against his former team in Week 12 and never returned to the game. Further imaging revealed that Dobbins suffered a sprained MCL, which forced him to be placed on IR before Week 13.
Now Dobbins will miss a minimum of four games as the Chargers attempt to stay alive in the AFC playoff race. Dobbins will be eligible to return in Week 17 when the Chargers will travel on the road to visit the New England Patriots.
Austin Ekeler
RB | Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders got off to a scorching-hot start to the regular season, thanks to the play of rookie QB Jayden Daniels and the team’s dynamic RB duo. Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler complemented each other well, although both players have dealt with injuries.
Unfortunately, Ekeler suffered a concussion and was placed on IR ahead of Week 13. It was Ekeler’s second concussion of this season, which is likely why he landed on injured reserve as the Commanders closely monitor the health of the team’s pass-catching RB.
Ekeler won’t be eligible to return until Week 18, since the Commanders had a bye week in Week 14. That will put Ekeler in line to return against the Dallas Cowboys, which could prove to be a significant matchup for Washington’s playoff hopes.
Zack Moss
RB | Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals suddenly added RB Zack Moss to the team’s injury report on the Friday before Week 9’s matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders. Moss was listed with a neck injury and later downgraded from doubtful to out for Cincinnati’s victory over the Raiders.
Moss is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season due to his neck injury, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. Moss’ injury will require two months of rest before he can be re-evaluated.
While Moss’ absence is unfortunate, it has allowed Chase Brown to step up as Cincinnati’s top running back in his second season with the Bengals. Brown has shown that he can do it all out of the backfield and should be a key player for the team moving forward.
MarShawn Lloyd
RB | Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers rookie RB MarShawn Lloyd has been plagued by injuries since being selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Lloyd has dealt with injuries to his hip, hamstring, and ankle throughout offseason workouts and training camp.
Lloyd finally worked his way back onto the field to make his NFL debut in Week 2 of the regular season. Yet, he suffered an ankle injury against the Indianapolis Colts and was placed on IR.
While Lloyd was technically available to be activated in Week 7, he never returned to action for the Packers. Although Green Bay activated Lloyd’s 21-day practice window, he suffered a case of appendicitis, which prevented him from returning while the window was still open.
The Packers eventually activated him off IR as a procedural move that would allow them to send him to the non-football injury list. Now Lloyd is out until Week 16, at the earliest.
Stefon Diggs
WR | Houston Texans
The Houston Texans’ prized offseason acquisition Stefon Diggs suffered a non-contact knee injury in Week 8 against the Indianapolis Colts. Further testing eventually confirmed Houston’s biggest fears as Diggs suffered a season-ending torn ACL.
Before suffering the injury, Diggs averaged 5.8 receptions and 62 receiving yards per game, scoring three receiving touchdowns and one rushing touchdown in 2024.
Diggs and the Texans agreed to restructure his contract into a one-year deal following his arrival in Houston. Now the 31-year-old WR will be an unrestricted free agent in 2025.
Rashee Rice
WR | Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs second-year WR Rashee Rice was a topic of conversation in the offseason for all of the wrong reasons, but Rice was able to work past those issues and got off to a strong start for the Chiefs in 2024.
Unfortunately, Rice’s hot start came to a sudden stop after suffering a knee injury in Week 4 after colliding with Chiefs superstar QB Patrick Mahomes. Rice underwent surgery to repair his LCL and hamstring.
Rice was placed on injured reserve and is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season. The Chiefs have continued to have success without Rice, and the young WR is expected to be healthy for the start of the 2025 season.
Brandon Aiyuk
WR | San Francisco 49ers
Brandon Aiyuk held out for a massive contract extension from the San Francisco 49ers throughout offseason workouts and training camp. Aiyuk’s holdout eventually paid off, as he signed a four-year, $120 million contract extension with the 49ers before Week 1.
Following Aiyuk’s holdout, he got off to a relatively slow start to the regular season for the 49ers. Then he suffered a season-ending knee injury against the Chiefs in Week 7.
Aiyuk was placed on injured reserve after tearing his ACL and MCL in his right knee against Kansas City. Luckily for Aiyuk, he was able to secure a massive contract extension before suffering a major knee injury in 2024.
Chris Olave
WR | New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints WR Chris Olave suffered a terrifying head injury against the Carolina Panthers in Week 9. While the Saints ultimately lost the game to their division rival, many were primarily concerned about Olave’s health.
Olave has suffered five known concussions since 2020, which certainly heightened the concern about his injury against the Panthers. Following the injury, Olave was placed on injured reserve as he met with an independent concussion specialist to determine the best path forward given his history of concussions.
While Olave is technically able to return in Week 15, it doesn’t seem like the Saints are in any rush to have him back on the field. In Week 13, interim head coach Darren Rizzi noted that Olave was “in a good place” and had returned to the team facility, although he wasn’t participating in practice
Chris Godwin
WR | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers veteran WR Chris Godwin suffered a gruesome ankle injury late in the team’s loss to the Ravens in Week 7. Godwin was eventually carted off the field after an air cast was placed on his leg.
Godwin was diagnosed with a dislocated ankle and underwent season-ending surgery, ultimately landing on injured reserve. According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Godwin is expected to make a full recovery and be ready for the 2025 season.
This is important given that the soon-to-be 29-year-old WR is set to hit free agency in 2025. It’ll be interesting to see what Godwin’s market looks like following a major injury.
Christian Kirk
WR | Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars have dealt with a plethora of injuries during the regular season. Jaguars top WR Christian Kirk suffered a broken collarbone against the Green Bay Packers in Week 8.
Before suffering the season-ending injury, Kirk’s name was included in several rumors ahead of the NFL’s trade deadline. Following the injury, though, Kirk was placed on injured reserve and remains in Jacksonville.
Kirk was on pace to match his impressive production from 2022 when he hauled in 84 receptions for 1,108 yards and eight touchdowns. The 27-year-old WR is now heading into the final year of his four-year, $72 million contract that he signed with the Jaguars in 2022.
Hollywood Brown
WR | Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs made headlines when they signed Hollywood Brown to a one-year deal worth up to $11 million in free agency. Unfortunately, Brown fell awkwardly on his shoulder in the Chiefs’ first preseason game.
Following the fall, Brown was taken to the hospital and further testing revealed that he suffered a sternoclavicular joint dislocation, which required surgery.
Kansas City placed Brown on injured reserve after he underwent surgery on Sept. 16 to repair the joint. Brown is not expected to play for the remainder of the regular season as he recovers from the injury.
Dallas Goedert
TE | Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles starting TE Dallas Goedert suffered a knee injury against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 13. While initial reports stated that Goedert would be “week-to-week” due to the knee injury, the Eagles eventually placed him on injured reserve in Week 14.
Goedert has consistently battled injuries in recent years, as he has missed at least three games in four consecutive seasons. Although Goedert was placed on injured reserve, he is expected to be back at full speed before the playoffs, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The 29-year-old tight end will be eligible to return in Philadelphia’s regular-season finale against the New York Giants. However, the Eagles could opt to keep Goedert on the shelf until the playoffs, especially if Week 18 is meaningless for Philadelphia’s playoff seeding.
