Injuries continue to mount throughout the NFL. Plenty of players were banged up in Week 14, while others suffered injuries that could knock them out for several weeks or more.
Let’s round up the most notable injury updates while looking ahead to Week 15.
Derek Carr, QB, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr suffered a broken left hand in Week 14’s win over the New York Giants.
Carr is expected to be sidelined for several weeks. He’s also in the concussion protocol.
Given that there are only four weeks left in the regular season for the 5-8 Saints, Carr could miss the remainder of the 2024 campaign. However, on Monday, interim head coach Darren Rizzi said Carr will not require surgery and said he isn’t ruling out the veteran quarterback for Week 15.
#Saints QB Derek Carr did, in fact, suffer a significant fracture in his non-throwing hand, per me and @TomPelissero.
He’s expected to miss several weeks. Based on where we are in the season, this is almost certainly season-ending. https://t.co/4XJb9F0u2x
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 9, 2024
Carr’s $30 million base salary for 2025 is guaranteed for injury. If he were unable to pass a physical next March, the Saints would be on the hook for that total, even if they wanted to release him. Carr’s 2025 base salary will become fully guaranteed on the third day of the league year. A hand fracture probably isn’t the sort of injury that would complicate Carr’s contractual status.
Backup quarterback Jake Haener replaced Carr on Sunday. Haener filled in for Carr when he went down in Week 5, but fifth-round rookie Spencer Rattler started the next three games.
Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert left Sunday night’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs for one play after suffering an apparent leg injury. After the game, head coach Jim Harbaugh downplayed his starter’s issue.
“Contusion — leg contusion,” Harbaugh said. “Tough as they come. A warrior.”
Herbert was banged up earlier in the first half, when he appeared to injure his ankle on a scramble. NBC’s broadcast reported that the 26-year-old had a brief conversation with LA’s training staff but did not go into the medical tent.
The former Pro Bowler played through a high ankle sprain earlier this year but never missed a start. Herbert aggravated the issue against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3 and left that game in a walking boot but suited up for Week 4.
Aidan O’Connell, QB, Las Vegas Raiders
While reports indicated Aidan O’Connell had suffered a season-ending leg injury on Sunday, the Las Vegas Raiders quarterback only has a bone bruise, according to NFL Network. He hasn’t been ruled out for Week 15.
O’Connell’s injury is just the latest quarterback health issue for the Raiders. O’Connell lost the club’s Week 1 starting QB battle to free agent addition Gardner Minshew II but reclaimed the gig in Week 6. However, O’Connell injured his thumb a week later, necessitating an IR stint.
Minshew broke his collarbone in Week 12, ending his 2024 campaign and pushing O’Connell into the starting lineup in Week 13.
Backup quarterback Desmond Ridder is next in line under center and will start if O’Connell can’t go next Monday night. Ridder, who joined the Raiders in late October, has attempted 26 passes for Vegas this season.
Jonathon Brooks, RB, Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks re-tore the ACL in his right knee in Week 14, a devastating blow for a rookie running back attempting to get his NFL career on track.
Brooks went down after suffering a non-contact injury late in the first quarter of Sunday’s contest. In a potentially ominous sign, Brooks was subsequently carted from the medical tent to the Panthers’ locker room as the first quarter concluded.
For the second time in 13 months, Panthers rookie RB Jonathon Brooks tore the ACL in his right knee. Brooks went down on a non-contact injury Sunday vs. the Eagles. He tore his ACL at Texas on Nov. 11, 2023. pic.twitter.com/fBbKAG36yD
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 9, 2024
Brooks tore his ACL at the University of Texas in November 2023. Carolina traded up to select him in the second round of April’s draft after he posted 1,139 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in his final season with the Longhorns. Brooks spent most of the 2024 season on the non-football injury list and didn’t make his pro debut until Week 14.
Now, his availability for the start of the 2025 campaign will be in question. Most ACL tears involved nine months or so of recovery, but Brooks is dealing with his second significant knee injury in as many years and was slow to rebound from last year’s tear.
Bucky Irving, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Bucky Irving played just 10 snaps in Week 14 before leaving with a back injury.
On Monday, head coach Todd Bowles said Irving’s back had tightened up. Whether his back loosens up this week will determine his availability for Week 15 against the Chargers.
Irving entered Week 14 with back and hip injuries and was considered questionable after missing last Wednesday and Thursday’s practices. In Week 13, he finished with a career-high 25 carries for 152 yards and a touchdown.
After Irving departed on Sunday, Rachaad White outsnapped fellow Bucs RB Sean Tucker 47 to 11. He’s the clear back to have in Tampa Bay if Irving misses next week’s contest.
Isaac Guerendo, RB, San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers’ poor string of running back injury luck continued on Sunday.
Having already placed Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason on IR, the Niners watched new starter Isaac Guerendo suffer a foot sprain in Week 14. Guerendo missed the team’s practice on Monday and head coach Kyle Shanahan said would be surprised if the rookie RB could take part in Tuesday’s session.
San Francisco will play the Los Angeles Rams in a critical Thursday night showdown with playoff implications. With a short turnaround on tap, Guerendo may not have enough time to recover.
Before leaving Sunday’s game, Guerendo posted the best game of his brief NFL career. The fourth-round rookie finished as fantasy’s RB2 after taking 15 carries for 78 yards and two touchdowns while adding two catches for 50 yards.
San Francisco has three other RBs — Patrick Taylor, Ke’Shawn Vaughn, and recent waiver claim Israel Abanikanda — on its 53-man roster. Shanahan said Taylor will start if Guerenedo can’t go.
George Pickens, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers wideout George Pickens, who did not play in Week 14, has a Grade 2 hamstring strain, according to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor. While the Steelers remained optimistic that Pickens would suit up against the Browns on Sunday, he was a late scratch after being listed as questionable.
It remains unclear if Pickens will be available when Pittsburgh faces the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15.
Pickens has established a connection with Steelers QB Russell Wilson, hauling in 26 catches on 40 targets for 413 yards and two touchdowns since the veteran quarterback took over. Among wide receivers with at least 100 routes since Week 7, Pickens ranks sixth in yards per route run (2.60), 13th in receptions per route (16.35%), and 12th in target share (25.2%).
Demarcus Robinson, WR, Los Angeles Rams
Los Angeles Rams wideout Demarcus Robinson has a sprained AC joint in his shoulder, but head coach Sean McVay hopes his WR3 can play in a critical Thursday night matchup against the 49ers. Robinson, who left Sunday’s game due to an injury but eventually returned, did not practice on Monday.
If Robinson can’t go vs. San Francisco, Tutu Atwell, Tyler Johnson, and Jordan Whittington could be in line for additional snaps behind Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp on TNF.
Will Dissly, TE, Los Angeles Chargers
Chargers tight end Will Dissly suffered a shoulder injury just before halftime on Sunday Night Football. While the Bolts listed him as questionable to return, Dissly didn’t play a snap after the second quarter.
Los Angeles was already missing WR Ladd McConkey and RB J.K. Dobbins in Week 14 and can’t afford to lose any other skill-position pieces.
Dissly has turned into a surprising contributor for the Chargers. He’s second on the team behind McConkey in targets and receptions and third in receiving yards. Since Week 6, Dissly has offered two fantasy TE1 performances and six TE2 games.