The return of regular-season NFL action, unfortunately, also brings the return 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 this past week.
Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen was evaluated for multiple injuries after taking a hard hit from Houston Texans defender Mario Edwards Jr. in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s loss.
Allen’s head bounced off the turf, while the Bills quarterback also indicated he injured his chest and rolled his ankle on the play. While he spent time in the blue medical tent along Buffalo’s sideline, Allen ultimately missed only one offensive snap.
He will get an additional day of recovery before the Bills face the AFC East-rival New York Jets on Monday Night Football in Week 6.
De’Von Achane, RB, Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins’ offense had already been struggling without quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Somehow, Miami found a way to win in Week 5 while also missing their RB1.
De’Von Achane suffered a concussion after taking what appeared to be a helmet-to-helmet hit near the Dolphins’ sideline in the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots.
Dolphins RB De’Von Achane left the game after taking a big hit and landing hard on this play.
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 6, 2024
The good news for Miami is that Achane will have two weeks to exit the NFL’s concussion protocol because the Dolphins have a Week 6 bye before facing the Indianapolis Colts in Week 7.
With Achane sidelined yesterday, Raheem Mostert — who missed Weeks 3 and 4 with an injury — took 19 carries for 80 yards. Fourth-round rookie Jaylen Wright, meanwhile, averaged 6.6 yards per carry on 13 attempts.
Aaron Jones, RB, Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings remained undefeated after picking up a Week 5 win over the New York Jets in London, but they did so without their starting running back.
It remains unclear when veteran RB Aaron Jones was injured on Sunday, but he was ruled out at halftime with a hip injury. Jones was spotted limping on the sideline and appeared visibly frustrated. His final carry came with 1:04 remaining in the first quarter.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell said he’s “keeping his fingers crossed that that will hopefully be short term.” Jones will undergo an MRI on Monday.
Ty Chandler is next up on Minnesota’s running back depth chart. Chandler struggled to gain traction against the Jets on Sunday, posting just 30 yards on 14 carries.
Nico Collins, WR, Houston Texans
Nico Collins scored what we might call a Pyrrhic touchdown in the Texans’ Week 5 win against the Bills. While he hauled in a 67-yard score from C.J. Stroud in the first quarter of Sunday’s game, Collins aggravated an existing hamstring injury and never returned to yesterday’s victory.
Fortunately, Houston’s WR1 is considered day-to-day. The Texans will play the Patriots in Week 6; Collins’ practice participation throughout the upcoming week will determine whether he can suit up.
Texans WR Nico Collins was the only player with 70+ receiving yards in each of the first four weeks.
He has 78 yards in the first quarter today and this TD. 🚀pic.twitter.com/LbErau6GEE
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 6, 2024
It’s hard to overstate how significant a loss Collins would represent for Houston. He was lapping the NFL in receiving yards entering Sunday’s game. Collins (489 yards) had 103 more receiving yards than any other pass catcher through four weeks.
The star Texans wideout ranks second in the league in yards per route run (3.49) and fifth in team target share (29.1%). Only Malik Nabers, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Michael Pittman Jr., and Diontae Johnson have earned a high share of their clubs’ targets in 2024.
Rashee Rice, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
Rashee Rice is on injured reserve after suffering a knee injury in Week 4, but the Chiefs are holding out at least some hope that the second-year wideout could return this season.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Rice is expected to undergo a procedure on Monday, which could shed more light on the severity of his knee injury. There is a scenario in which Rice could only be sidelined for six to eight weeks. However, Kansas City won’t know how realistic that outcome is until doctors get a closer look at his knee.
Jake Moody, K, San Francisco 49ers
Losing a kicker in-game is always a nightmare for an NFL team.
The 49ers watched kicker Jake Moody hobble off the field after trying to make a tackle on a second-quarter kickoff on Sunday. He never re-entered the game and is now dealing with a high ankle sprain.
Moody’s absence was felt late in the third quarter when the 49ers passed up a 45-yard field goal on 4th-and-23 while leading 23-13. San Francisco eventually lost to Arizona by one point, 24-23.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan said the Niners will quickly sign a new kicker. San Francisco had kickers Matthew Wright and Zane Gonzalez on their offseason roster in 2023, and both are available on the free agent market. Other unsigned kickers include Brandon McManus, Randy Bullock, Riley Patterson, and Anders Carlson.