Welcome to the fantasy football IR injury report. Injuries are all too common in professional football. Sometimes, they’re long-lasting, requiring NFL teams to place players on injured reserve. In this column, we will provide weekly updates on every relevant fantasy football player on injured reserve.
Which Fantasy Players Are on IR in Week 6?
Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins
Tua Tagovailoa intends to continue his NFL career after suffering his third known concussion in Week 3. He’s been on injured reserve since then.
As PFN’s Adam Beasley wrote this week, Tua seems likely to begin practicing as soon as he’s eligible in the days leading up to Week 8. Assuming he has no setbacks, Tagovailoa should be on track to return when the Miami Dolphins face the Arizona Cardinals.
Until then, it’s hard to start any Miami fantasy players confidently. Neither Tyreek Hill nor Jaylen Waddle has posted a top-30 WR finish since Tua went on IR.
Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers
Last year’s RB1 hasn’t seen the field this season.
Christian McCaffrey has spent the 2024 campaign on injured reserve while battling Achilles tenditis in both legs. He recently sought treatment in Germany, while he reportedly participated in on-field work in early October.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter recently presented a range of return dates for CMC, with dates as early as Week 7 and as late as Week 10 on the table. San Francisco has a Week 9 bye, so holding out McCaffrey through that break could make sense.
Jonathon Brooks, RB, Carolina Panthers (NFI)
Residing on the non-football injury (NFI) list as he recovers from a November torn ACL, Jonathon Brooks did not see his return window opened entering Week 5. Head coach Dave Canales said the second-round rookie is “really close” to getting back on the field, but it remains unclear when Brooks will be activated.
Jonathon Brooks is an instinctive runner, who's also a receiving threat and not afraid to block. 🏈#HookEm | #KeepPounding pic.twitter.com/rSemZmnZlr
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) April 27, 2024
In the meantime, Chuba Hubbard has thrived as Carolina’s starting running back. Through five weeks, Hubbard has rushed for 296 yards, ranking fifth among running backs in success rate (47.1%) and 10th in EPA per rush (0.08).
Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns (PUP)
Nick Chubb was never expected to be available for Week 1 after suffering a gruesome knee injury last September. However, the four-time Pro Bowler appears to be nearing a return from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list.
The Cleveland Browns opened Chubb’s 21-day practice window last Wednesday. While Chubb did not face the Washington Commanders in Week 5, Cleveland’s roster decision signals decided optimism from the club. The Browns can hold Chubb out for two more weeks but will have to activate him for Week 8.
Isiah Pacheco, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs placed Isiah Pacheco on IR after he fractured his fibula and suffered damage to ankle ligaments in Week 2. While he’s expected to miss six to eight weeks, Pacheco could conceivably be sidelined for the rest of the season. Head coach Andy Reid has been non-committal when asked if Pacheco would return in 2024.
Even if Pacheco comes back, he might not be the same player right off the bat. By the time he gets going, the fantasy playoffs could be over.
Kareem Hunt is the Chiefs RB to roster after he took 27 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown in Kansas City’s Monday night win over the New Orleans Saints.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (NFI)
Clyde Edwards-Helaire returned to practice ahead of Week 5 after dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder. CEH’s honesty about his mental health struggles should be applauded; fortunately, he appears close to a return to action.
Although Edwards-Helaire did not face the Saints on Monday night, he could be activated as soon as Week 6. Kareem Hunt looks like the Chiefs’ RB1 after taking 27 carries for 102 yards and a touchdown this week. CEH will likely compete with Samaje Perine and Carson Steele for snaps.
Kendre Miller, RB, New Orleans Saints
Kendre Miller practiced leading up to Week 5 but wasn’t activated from IR for MNF. Few NFL head coaches have been more willing to publicly deride a player than Dennis Allen has with Miller. But even Allen admitted that the 2023 third-round pick had a “good week of practice” entering Week 5.
New Orleans needs a complement to Alvin Kamara. Current RB2 Jamaal Williams ranked dead last in rushing yards over expectation in 2023 and is fifth-worst to begin this season.
MarShawn Lloyd, RB, Green Bay Packers
MarShawn Lloyd battled multiple injuries in training camp and the preseason before finally making his NFL debut in Week 2. Unfortunately, he left as quickly as he arrived after spraining his ankle.
Lloyd was placed on IR rather quickly. Given how well Emanuel Wilson has performed behind Josh Jacobs, it’s unlikely Lloyd will have any fantasy value when he returns. He can be safely dropped if you need the IR spot.
Keaton Mitchell, RB, Baltimore Ravens (PUP)
Keaton Mitchell looked electric in his 2023 rookie debut, averaging an absurd 8.4 yards per carry on 47 attempts before tearing his ACL in Week 15. He was on the PUP list all offseason and remained there as the regular season began.
While Mitchell can theoretically be activated in Week 5, the timing of his injury makes that unlikely. The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec reported in August that Mitchell is not expected back until the latter portion of the season.
Derrick Henry led the NFL in rushing attempts in four of the past five years and has posted 442 yards over the past three weeks. He doesn’t necessarily need any help in Baltimore’s backfield, but Mitchell could add another dimension when he eventually returns.
Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Puka Nacua appeared to aggravate the knee injury he battled through training camp during the Los Angeles Rams’ season-opening loss to the Detroit Lions. The second-year WR initially returned to Week 1 for one play before being carted to the locker room at halftime.
Head coach Sean McVay soon announced that Nacua had a sprained PCL and would go to injured reserve.
In Week 4, Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer reported that Nacua would be out for at least another month, suggesting that the 2023 fifth-round choice will be sidelined until Week 9 at the earliest.
Rashee Rice, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
While surgery revealed that Rashee Rice didn’t tear his ACL in Week 4, he’s still expected to miss the rest of the 2024 season. The second-year wide receiver had an LCL repair done on Oct. 8; even the most optimistic return timelines likely won’t let Rice play again this year.
The Chiefs officially placed Rice on injured reserve on Oct. 3, before they were certain he’d miss the rest of the season. He’ll reside on the injured list for the remainder of the year, so there’s no need to hang onto him in redraft leagues.
Rice is facing an NFL suspension after being served with eight felony charges stemming from a high-speed hit-and-run in March 2024. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio reported that Rice may try to serve his pending ban while injured.
Adam Thielen, WR, Carolina Panthers
Adam Thielen hauled in a 31-yard touchdown from Dalton with 28 seconds remaining in the second half of Week 4. He immediately appeared to be in pain while his Carolina Panthers teammates started signaling for medical attention. Thielen eventually left the field with a limp.
The 34-year-old suffered a hamstring strain that was severe enough for Carolina to place him on injured reserve. Thielen missed Week 5 and won’t be eligible to suit up again until Week 9 when the Saints will face the division rival Saints.
With Thielen out at least a month, Diontae Johnson is locked in as a high-end WR2, if not a WR1. First-round rookie Xavier Legette was the clear WR2 in Week 4 and is worth an extended look from fantasy managers despite receiving just one target in Week 5.
T.J. Hockenson, TE, Minnesota Vikings (PUP)
T.J. Hockenson injured his knee in December, making Week 1 an unlikely possibility. However, he impressed the Minnesota Vikings’ staff at training camp, leading to rumors that he could be available for the start of the season.
Still, Hockenson remained on PUP at final roster cutdowns, so he had to miss at least four games before making his 2024 debut. Minnesota opened Hockenson’s PUP return window on Friday, but he didn’t play against the New York Jets in London.
.@TheeHOCK8 🤘🤘 pic.twitter.com/2O693qHCuG
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 4, 2024
The Vikings have a Week 6 bye following their trip across the pond. NFL Network reported that Minnesota may let Hockenson use his entire three-week return window before coming back. In that case, he’d return in Week 8 against the Rams.
Tyler Higbee, TE, Los Angeles Rams (PUP)
Tyler Higbee suffered the same knee injury — torn ACL and MCL — as Hockenson, but the Rams TE went down about a month later, lengthening his return timeline. The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue reported this summer that Los Angeles always expected Higbee to miss more than the minimum four games.
Head coach Sean McVay hasn’t offered any recent updates on Higbee’s status. If the 1-4 Rams keep losing, Higbee won’t have much motivation to work his way back quickly.
