Injuries continue to mount throughout the NFL. Plenty of players were banged up in Week 15, while others suffered injuries that could knock them out for several weeks or more.
Let’s round up the most notable injury updates looking ahead to Week 16.
Carolina Panthers
Xavier Legette, WR
The Carolina Panthers rookie WR left Sunday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys early with a groin injury. Given that the team already essentially ruled him out for next week, there’s a decent chance we’ve seen the last of Xavier Legette this season.
Xavier Legette (groin) likely will be out vs. the Cardinals and is considered week to week.
— Joe Person (@josephperson) December 16, 2024
If this is indeed it for Legette, he will finish the season with 41 receptions for 439 yards and four touchdowns, a very underwhelming debut for the first-round rookie and not one that bodes well for his chances of becoming an impact player in the future.
Cleveland Browns
Nick Chubb, RB
For the second consecutive year, Nick Chubb’s season has come to an early end. While his latest injury is far less serious, this late in the season, a broken foot spells the end of Chubb’s 2024. He finishes the season averaging a career-low 3.25 yards per carry.
Jerome Ford will take over as the RB1 for the final three games. He’s averaging 5.2 yards per carry this season and has experience in the role, having filled in for Chubb after his devastating knee injury last year.
David Njoku, TE
David Njoku missed last week’s game with a hamstring strain. Njoku suffered the injury in the second quarter of the previous week but was able to finish the game. That, combined with head coach Kevin Stefanski describing the tight end as day-to-day, plus the fact that Njoku took it to game time to warm up before being ruled out, suggests the injury is relatively minor.
#Browns Kevin Stefanski said he's "hopeful" that TE David Njoku (hamstring) and WR Cedric Tillman (concussion) can play against the Bengals this week. Said both are "getting better."
— Camryn Justice (@camijustice) December 16, 2024
Denver Broncos
Jaleel McLaughlin, RB
Jaleel McLaughlin picked up a quad injury in the Denver Broncos’ victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. He was listed as a DNP on Monday’s estimated practice report. He’ll need to return to at least a limited session on Tuesday or Wednesday to play on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Detroit Lions
David Montgomery, RB
Early in the Detroit Lions’ loss to the Buffalo Bills, David Montgomery injured his knee. He missed a little bit but then returned to the game. As it turns out, things were far more serious than initially believed. Montgomery tore his MCL and is done for the season.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell said RB David Montgomery will require surgery for a knee injury that will end his season.
— Tim Twentyman (@ttwentyman) December 16, 2024
With Montgomery out, this won’t be a committee anymore. Sonic now has all the chaos emeralds. Jahmyr Gibbs played three games as a rookie without Montgomery and saw 23.7 opportunities. He will leave the field when he is tired.
Houston Texans
Joe Mixon, RB
For the second time this season, Joe Mixon was the victim of an unflagged hip-drop tackle. The first instance cost Mixon three games with a high ankle sprain. Fortunately, he appears to have escaped this time without injury.
Mixon briefly left the game to get his ankle looked at but ultimately returned. On Monday, head coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed that Mixon is all good.
'Joe came out fine, Joe will be fine,' #Texans coach DeMeco Ryans on Joe Mixon, who got his ankle checked during the game and finished the game @KPRC2
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) December 16, 2024
Indianapolis Colts
Alec Pierce, WR
Alec Pierce suffered a concussion in the Colts’ loss to the Broncos. He will need to progress through the NFL’s concussion protocol before returning to the field.
Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes, QB
There is nothing more terrifying for the Kansas City Chiefs than seeing Patrick Mahomes barely able to walk. This is not the first time Mahomes has suffered a high ankle sprain. He’s shown an ability to play through it before.
The #Chiefs will know more as the practice week rolls on, and there is a chance that Patrick Mahomes practices this week. He's week-to-week, so his status this week is in doubt.
Most importantly: "He'll be fine long-term," a source said. https://t.co/TqBZtDIiOH
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 16, 2024
With the Chiefs having clinched the AFC West and still in possession of the No. 1 seed in the AFC, this is not the time for them to push their quarterback to play through injury. In all likelihood, they will hold Mahomes out as long as they need to in order to ensure he is as healthy as possible for the postseason. Carson Wentz will start any games Mahomes misses.
Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert, QB
Frequently banged up but rarely missing games, Justin Herbert has been nursing an ankle injury for a couple of weeks. Ahead of the short week, Herbert was listed as limited on Monday’s estimated practice report. He is in no jeopardy of missing Thursday’s game
Quentin Johnston, WR
Like his quarterback, Quentin Johnston is also dealing with an ankle injury. However, the wide receiver was listed as a DNP on Monday’s estimated practice report. We will need to see if he can return to a limited session on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Will Dissly, TE
Will Dissly did not practice on Monday with his shoulder issue. He missed last week’s game and the injury was deemed a multi-week one. With the Chargers playing Thursday, it’s safe to say we’re looking at another week of Stone Smartt as the team’s primary TE.
Miami Dolphins
Jaylen Waddle, WR
Jaylen Waddle failed to record a reception before a knee injury ended his day early. Waddle did return to the sideline after getting checked out, which suggests the injury isn’t overly serious. Head coach Mike McDaniel confirmed those suspicions on Monday.
Mike McDaniel says on Jaylen Waddle: Not major. Not surgery. But in question for this week. Day to day.
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) December 16, 2024
With that said, Waddle remains a dicey proposition for Week 16. Given the state of the Miami Dolphins season, we should consider Waddle on the wrong side of questionable.
After a painfully slow start to the season, Waddle was really starting to come on strong over the past three weeks. That momentum came to a screeching halt due to the knee injury. Malik Washington would take over as the WR2 opposite Tyreek Hill for as long as Waddle is sidelined.
New Orleans Saints
Alvin Kamara, RB
Alvin Kamara tweaked his groin in the second half of the New Orleans Saints’ loss to the Washington Commanders. At this point, it’s unclear whether the injury will cost him any time.
Darren Rizzi said Alvin Kamara's injury is a groin abductor type of situation. He said it felt minor and he felt it on the touchdown, but he's going to continue to go through tests. But then when asked if it was minor, Rizzi said he wasn't going to make a medical declaration.
— Katherine Terrell (@Kat_Terrell) December 16, 2024
With the Saints amid a lost season and Kamara nearing 30 years old, it wouldn’t be surprising if the team played it safe and got an extended look at Kendre Miller.
Pittsburgh Steelers
George Pickens, WR
George Pickens has missed the last two games after straining his hamstring at practice ahead of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 14 game. Pittsburgh has clinched a playoff spot, is notoriously cautious with injuries, and Pickens did not appear particularly close to playing last week. We will get another update no later than Wednesday, but unless Pickens is a crazy fast healer, he’s unlikely to return from a Grade 2 hamstring strain in just two weeks.
Seattle Seahawks
Geno Smith, QB
In the second half of an abominable performance by the Seattle Seahawks offense, Geno Smith left the game with a knee injury. He tried to return but was unable to go.
Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald says on @SeattleSports radio show that there is a chance Geno Smith plays Sunday against Minnesota. Says X-rays showed nothing broken and reiterates there appeared to be no structural damage. ….
— Bob Condotta (@bcondotta) December 16, 2024
It sounds as though Smith avoided serious injury but sounds legitimately 50/50 to play next week against the Minnesota Vikings.
If Smith can’t go, it could be an unmitigated disaster for the Seahawks. In limited action in relief of Smith, Sam Howell had about as bad of a performance as any backup QB in the history of football.
Sam Howell had 5 Net Yards vs. the Packers
That is the 9th worst game by a QB with 15+ Dropbacks in any game since 2000 😬
That ranks 13,004th out of 13,012 https://t.co/oXFO5sHF2D pic.twitter.com/yUeSLWaqHW
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) December 16, 2024
Washington Commanders
Zach Ertz, TE
The Commanders TE suffered a concussion in the first half of the team’s narrow win over the Saints. He will have to clear the protocol to return in time for this weekend’s game.