Another week of NFL action means another week of injuries. Plenty of players got banged up in Week 5, 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.
From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!
NFL Injury Updates for Week 5
Anthony Richardson, QB, Indianapolis Colts
Anthony Richardson has been one of the league’s most exciting rookies through five weeks, but he’s already incurred his second injury of the season. After missing Week 4 with a concussion, Richardson suffered a Grade 3 AC joint strain in his right shoulder, per NFL Network.
Sources: #Colts starting QB Anthony Richardson received an initial diagnosis of a Grade 3 AC joint sprain, which would mean he’d miss a month or more. He has an MRI this morning to confirm.
Either way, it’s likely Gardner Minshew next week and moving forward. pic.twitter.com/27Z04eGlJL
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 9, 2023
Richardson was set to undergo an MRI on Monday morning, while CBS Sports reported the No. 4 overall pick in this year’s draft will seek three opinions on his injury. But the expectation is that backup Gardner Minshew will be under center for the Indianapolis Colts for the next several weeks.
Daniel Jones, QB, New York Giants
Daniel Jones has been sacked 16 times over the past two weeks, making it seem nearly inevitable that he would eventually go down with an injury. On Sunday, Jones picked up a neck injury after taking a blindside hit from Miami Dolphins pass rusher Andrew Van Ginkel and did not return to the game.
Jones admitted he was sore after the Giants’ loss and compared his neck issue to a similar injury he suffered in 2021 (one that cost him six games). Jones’ current injury isn’t believed to be as severe, according to NFL Network, which labeled Jones as “iffy” for Week 6 but also said Big Blue has not yet ruled him out.
On Monday, head coach Brian Daboll said that while the Giants are still awaiting test results on Jones’ injury, they are “optimistic” he’ll be able to suit up against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night.
James Conner, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Although he returned to the Arizona Cardinals’ sideline after being listed as questionable with a second-quarter knee injury, James Conner never re-entered the club’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
MORE: Emari Demercado Fantasy Waiver Wire Week 6
Head coach Jonathan Gannon said Conner may have twisted his knee after getting his foot stuck in the ground on Sunday, adding that he would know more about his running back’s status on Monday. For what it’s worth, Conner said he was “feeling OK” after the game.
However, Arizona officially placed Conner on injured reserve on Tuesday. He will miss at least the next four games.
With usual RB2 Keaontay Ingram sidelined by a neck injury in Week 5, undrafted rookie free agent Emari Demercado picked up the slack on Sunday and scored his first NFL touchdown.
Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson, RBs, Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears won their first game of the 2023 season on Thursday night, but they lost their top two running backs in the process, forcing them to turn to fullback Khari Blasingame as their primary ball carrier in the second half.
Khalil Herbert was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain and could be placed on injured reserve (IR), according to CBS Sports. High ankle sprains typically come with a four-to-six-week return timetable.
Meanwhile, rookie Roschon Johnson suffered a concussion against the Washington Commanders on TNF. He’ll have 10 days to get cleared for the Bears’ Week 6 contest against the Minnesota Vikings.
Third-string running back Travis Homer also injured his hamstring in Week 5. D’Onta Foreman — a healthy scratch since Week 1 — should be active next Sunday.
Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings fell to 1-4 following a close loss to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, and they may have also lost the game’s best wide receiver.
#Vikings WR Justin Jefferson suffered a hamstring injury on this play.
He is questionable to return.
pic.twitter.com/aH6uHflJHR— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 8, 2023
Justin Jefferson suffered a hamstring injury near the end of the game and couldn’t return. He re-appeared on the sideline with a towel around his neck after being examined in the medical tent but couldn’t play another snap as the Vikings attempted a comeback.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell said Jefferson will undergo tests on Monday and suggested it’s too early to speculate on a timeline for the star wideout’s injury.
Meanwhile, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport indicated it would be a “stretch” to imagine Jefferson can get ready in time for the Vikings’ Week 6 matchup against the Chicago Bears, calling a potential Jefferson Sunday a “long shot.”
On Tuesday, Jefferson was placed on the IR, meaning he will miss the next four games at the very least.
Davante Adams, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
The only player listed here with a Week 5 game still on tap, Davante Adams is expected to suit up for Monday Night Football after dealing with a shoulder injury last Sunday. Adams didn’t practice on Thursday or Friday but was limited on Saturday.
You didn’t really think Adams would miss a revenge game against the Green Bay Packers, did you?
Tank Dell, WR, Houston Texans
Tank Dell has been a rookie sensation for the upstart Houston Texans, but he might have trouble getting cleared for Week 6 after suffering a concussion on Sunday. Dell had hauled in three passes for 57 yards before departing yesterday’s game.
The Texans will play the Saints in six days. Depending on the nature of his head injury, Dell might have to sit that game out.
Zay Jones, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
Zay Jones had missed the Jacksonville Jaguars’ last two games with a knee issue, and he limped off the field during Sunday’s game in London, too.
Jones didn’t return to yesterday’s game, and head coach Doug Pederson said Jones is now dealing with the same knee injury that has recently cost him time.
Doug Pederson on the Jaguars injury updates from London pic.twitter.com/3ZCiwsQNSw
— Ben Rolfe (@BenRolfePFN) October 8, 2023
If Jones ends up being sidelined again, Calvin Ridley and Christian Kirk will continue to dominate targets in Jacksonville’s aerial attack.
Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs
We already saw what the Chiefs’ passing game looked like without Travis Kelce in the club’s season-opening loss to the Detroit Lions. Luckily for Patrick Mahomes and Co., Kelce might not miss any more time after going down with an injury in Week 5.
Kelce suffered a low ankle sprain against the Vikings, per NFL Network. He returned to action for Kansas City’s second third-quarter drive, but the Chiefs have a Thursday night game against the Denver Broncos on tap. The Chiefs listed Kelce as a non-participant on Monday, so his statuses on Tuesday and Wednesday will be key.
Alijah Vera-Tucker, OL, New York Jets
New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh said he was “concerned” about offensive lineman Alijah Vera-Tucker’s Week 5 calf injury. Although early reports suggested AVT’s injury was not overly serious, an MRI indicated the 24-year-old tore his Achilles. He will miss the remainder of the season.
Nominally a right guard, Vera-Tucker shifted to right tackle in Week 3 after multiple injuries along the Jets’ OL forced a reshuffling. Max Mitchell replaced AVT yesterday, but veteran Billy Turner could also be in the mix.
Matt Milano, LB, Buffalo Bills
The Bills boast more talent than most NFL teams, but injuries are ravaging their defense. Matt Milano, one of the league’s best linebackers, is expected to miss the remainder of the season after fracturing his leg on Sunday.
Meanwhile, defensive tackle DaQuan Jones’ pectoral injury doesn’t look good, per Bills head coach Sean McDermott. Slot cornerback Taron Johnson also got banged up on Sunday, while Buffalo already lost CB1 Tre’Davious White to a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 4.
Emmanuel Moseley, CB, Detroit Lions
Emmanuel Moseley simply cannot catch a break. Making his 2023 debut after recovering from the ACL he tore last season, Moseley tore his ACL again on Sunday, as ESPN reported.
It’s an absolutely brutal outcome for Moseley, who spent the first five seasons of his career with the San Francisco 49ers before inking a one-year, $6 million deal with the Detroit Lions this offseason. Jerry Jacobs will continue to start at corner opposite Cameron Sutton.