There have been tons of moving parts with injuries so far this season, and we saw two big players come off the IR last week and go right into starting lineups in Jonathon Taylor and Cooper Kupp. Here is the latest on the fantasy-relevant players currently on IR.
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Which Players Are on IR in Week 6?
Kyler Murray, QB, Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray was eligible to be activated off the PUP last week, but sources out of Arizona have reported that he is still weeks away from being able to play and that the Cardinals are in no rush.
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Once Murray is eligible to come off the PUP, a 21-day window begins when he can practice before being added again to the active roster. A week has passed since his eligibility began, so Arizona has two more weeks to play with.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, New York Jets
Aaron Rodgers remains on the IR as he rehabs his Achilles surgery. Recovery is supposedly going well, but if we see Rodgers again, it will not be until the end of the year, and probably only if the Jets have a shot for the playoffs.
Anthony Richardson, QB, Indianapolis Colts
Analysis by Kyle Yates | The list of QBs on injured reserve continues to grow now as Anthony Richardson will now officially be sidelined for the next four games with an AC Sprain.
This one hurts fantasy managers in a big way due to Richardson’s upside and production that he was already hitting as a rookie, but the fact that he gets the IR designation in your fantasy football league is helpful. You can now stash him away for the next four weeks and still add someone else to your roster.
If you can, don’t drop him. When he comes back, he figures to be right back in the top-5 territory for fantasy rankings every single week due to his rushing ability, and that shouldn’t be out there on your league’s waiver wire.
Jamaal Williams, RB, New Orleans Saints
After suffering a hamstring injury in Week 2 against Carolina, the New Orleans Saints placed Jamaal Williams on the IR. The earliest Williams could return is Week 7 against the Jacksonville Jaguars after four weeks on the IR, but it is up in the air on how his recovery is progressing.
James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals
After suffering a knee injury in Sunday’s Week 5 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, James Conner will be placed on the IR by the Arizona Cardinals. Conner will now miss at least the next four games. The earliest he can return is Week 10 against the Atlanta Falcons.
Conner should still have rest-of-season value for fantasy managers, but his value naturally now drops considerably. In his place, we could see a combination of Keaontay Ingram, Emari Demercado, and Tony Jones Jr., who the Cardinals claimed from waivers this week.
De’Von Achane, RB, Miami Dolphins
The breakout superstar of the 2023 NFL season has been put on ice for the next five weeks with a knee injury. De’Von Achane is eligible to return in Week 10, but the Dolphins are on a bye. Therefore, he has five weeks to rest and get ready to help the Dolphins and fantasy managers down the stretch. Hopefully, he will return with just as much pop as we have seen from the rookie in the early part of the season.
Chase Edmonds, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs placed RB Chase Edmonds on the IR after he injured his MCL in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers anticipate Edmonds needing 4-6 weeks to rehab the injury, so the earliest he could return is in Week 7.
Coming off a Week 5 bye, the Tampa Bay backfield is comprised of Rachaad White, Rookie Sean Tucker, and Ke’Shawn Vaughn.
Jeff Wilson Jr., RB, Miami Dolphins
Jeff Wilson Jr. has been eligible to come off the PUP since last week. Monday, Wilson’s agent told the press that Wilson will be activated off the IR. This comes at a good time for Miami, as De’Von Achane is battling an ankle issue.
Diontae Johnson, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers WR Diontae Johnson went on IR ahead of Week 2 after sustaining a hamstring injury. That means the earliest that Johnson would be available would be Week 6, but since the Steelers have a bye that week, Johnson could return in Week 7.
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It was reported today that Johnson is targeting Week 7 for his return.
Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings
Justin Jefferson was added to the IR on Tuesday of Week 6 after suffering a hamstring injury. He will now miss at least the next four games for the Vikings. That makes Week 10 the earliest he could feasibly return. However, Tuesday morning’s reports suggest that the team has not fully evaluated the timeline at this point.
Therefore, we could see Jefferson missing more time. He is too talented to simply give up, but there is risk here. The Vikings are 1-4 and could be anywhere from 5-4 to 1-9 when he can return. If they are closer to the former, we may see them bring him straight back, but anything closer to the latter could make the Vikings hesitate before bringing back their star WR.
Greg Dulcich, TE, Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos Greg Dulcich suffered a hamstring injury during their Week 1 game against the Las Vegas Raiders. He will be eligible to return in Week 6, and the Broncos need all the help they can get.