Another week of NFL action means another week of injuries. Plenty of players got banged up in Week 13, while others suffered injuries that could knock them out for several weeks or more. Let’s round up the most notable injury updates from Sunday.
Week 13 NFL Injuries Recap
Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
While Kenny Pickett has been banged up this season, he hasn’t missed any game action — that’s about to change. Pickett suffered an ankle injury in Week 13 and will undergo surgery on Monday. He’s expected to miss two to four weeks, but that timeline could be expanded once the operation is performed.
The Steelers aren’t placing Pickett on injured reserve (IR), suggesting they hope he can return in time for the club’s regular-season finale against the AFC North-rival Baltimore Ravens. Mitchell Trubisky is next up under center, with his first assignment coming against the New England Patriots on Thursday Night Football.
Derek Carr, QB, New Orleans Saints
Like Pickett, Derek Carr has taken a number of shots in 2023 but has yet to miss a game. He went down again in Week 13, suffering a rib injury in addition to a concussion.
Perhaps Carr can make another miraculous recovery in time to get cleared for Week 14, but Jameis Winston looks like the favorite to start for the Saints when they play the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. Still, expect Carr back under center when he’s healthy. He’s making too much money for New Orleans to bench him.
Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots
Rhamondre Stevenson became the latest NFL player to fall victim to a hip-drop tackle, but the Patriots RB may have escaped a significant injury. X-rays on Stevenson’s ankle came back negative, but he’s still expected to miss time and could be sidelined for multiple weeks.
New England faces a tight turnaround with TNF on tap, so RB2 Ezekiel Elliott will almost surely start against the Steelers. Ty Montgomery and JaMycal Hasty could also be involved in the backfield.
Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans
While initial reports suggested Derrick Henry had been placed in the NFL’s concussion protocol after departing the Titans’ Week 13 game, head coach Mike Vrabel indicated on Monday that Henry is not in the protocol and has no symptoms. However, Tennessee will monitor the veteran back ahead of its Monday night game against the Miami Dolphins.
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If Henry suffers a setback, third-round rookie Tyjae Spears would be in line to make his first career start. Spears, who totaled more than 1,800 yards during his final season at Tulane, had only played 32 fewer offensive snaps than Henry entering Week 13 but had handled almost 100 fewer touches than the veteran back.
Brian Robinson Jr., RB, Washington Commanders
Brian Robinson Jr. handled a goal-line carry with roughly 12 minutes remaining in the second quarter of the Commanders’ loss to the Dolphins on Sunday but didn’t take another snap. Washington eventually ruled him out with a hamstring injury during halftime.
While the Commanders haven’t updated Robinson’s status, hamstring injuries can be tricky. Washington is on bye in Week 14, so Robinson might be healthy by then. If not, Antonio Gibson and Chris Rodriguez Jr. will likely split the team’s backfield work.
Tank Dell, WR, Houston Texans
Of all the injuries suffered by NFL players in Week 13, Tank Dell’s was perhaps the most devastating. The third-round rookie had become a phenom during his rookie campaign, teaming with C.J. Stroud to create fireworks on a weekly basis. But Dell fractured his fibula on Sunday and will head to IR.
Assuming his first pro season has concluded, Dell will finish 2023 with 47 catches for 709 yards and seven touchdowns. Houston will move forward with Nico Collins, Robert Woods, and Noah Brown as its top three wideouts.
Amari Cooper, WR, Cleveland Browns
Already playing through a rib injury, Amari Cooper was concussed after being hit by two defenders in Week 13. The Browns’ leading receiver, Cooper will have trouble getting cleared by next Sunday, when Cleveland will face the the Jacksonville Jaguars.
While the Browns would be in the playoffs if the season ended today, they’ll have to fend off the Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, and other teams searching for a Wild Card berth. If Cooper misses next week, Elijah Moore and Cedric Tillman will be Cleveland’s top WRs.
Christian Watson, WR, Green Bay Packers
Christian Watson might have the worst injury luck in the NFL. In the midst of his best game of the season (7-71-2), Watson converted a first down to ice the Packers’ win over the Kansas City Chiefs — and promptly injured his hamstring.
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While he was high-fiving his teammates after Sunday’s victory and appeared in good spirits, Watson missed multiple games with a hamstring issue during the 2022 campaign, then injured his hamstring again near the end of this year’s training camp. Green Bay will be cautious, given his track record.
Marquise Brown, WR, Arizona Cardinals
Marquise Brown failed to practice leading up to Week 13 and was listed as questionable with a heel injury. While he ultimately suited up, Brown didn’t catch a pass and then left the game with the same heel issue.
Arizona has yet to update Brown’s status. While the Cardinals aren’t going anywhere this season, Brown will be a free agent in 2024, so he has every reason to get back on the field.
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