Another week of NFL action means another week of injuries. Plenty of players got banged up in Week 9, 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 9 NFL Injuries Recap
Daniel Jones, QB, New York Giants
Although he had just returned from a three-game absence after injuring his neck, Daniel Jones will be sidelined for the rest of the season after suffering a severe knee injury on Sunday. A Monday MRI confirmed that Jones tore his ACL, as head coach Brian Daboll told reporters.
With Tyrod Taylor already on injured reserve (IR), rookie undrafted free agent Tommy DeVito is now the New York Giants’ starting quarterback. Taylor could reclaim the role if and when he returns from the injured list, while Big Blue also has Matt Barkley on its practice squad.
Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams
Matthew Stafford couldn’t suit up on Sunday after injuring his thumb in Week 8. After the Los Angeles Rams’ loss to the Green Bay Packers, head coach Sean McVay said Stafford is “making good progress” but said the veteran QB “wasn’t anywhere close to where we thought he would be able to go for us,” per ESPN’s Sarah Barshop.
McVay hopes Stafford can return after the Rams’ Week 10 bye. Backup Brett Rypien completed fewer than half his passes against the Packers while finishing with the week’s fourth-lowest QB rating.
Cam Akers, RB, Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings acquired Cam Akers earlier this season in an attempt to boost their backfield production, but Akers’ stint in purple has likely already come to an end. The Vikings believe Akers suffered a ruptured Achilles in Week 9, as Kevin O’Connell announced after the club’s win over the Atlanta Falcons. Akers’ diagnosis was confirmed on Monday.
Alexander Mattison will continue to handle the lion’s share of Minnesota’s RB work. Ty Chandler, the Vikings’ RB2 before their Akers acquisition, will slide back into a familiar role.
Christian Watson, WR, Green Bay Packers
Christian Watson missed the first three games of the season due to injuries, so any new issue is concerning for the Green Bay Packers wideout. Watson went down on Green Bay’s penultimate offensive drive and never returned while dealing with a chest injury, a back injury, and a possible concussion.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur didn’t address Watson’s health after Sunday’s game, so we’ll have to wait to hear more on the second-year WR.
Josh Downs, WR, Indianapolis Colts
Josh Downs picked up a knee injury during Thursday’s practice, was limited for the rest of the week, and was tagged as questionable heading into Week 9. He aggravated the knee issue during the Indianapolis Colts’ win on Sunday and did not re-enter the game.
We’ll need to monitor Downs’ practice participation throughout the week to determine if he’ll be available for Week 10.
K.J. Osborn, WR, Minnesota Vikings
After taking a scary hit on Sunday, K.J. Osborn left the Vikings’ Week 9 contest and entered the NFL’s concussion protocol. If he can’t get cleared in time for Minnesota’s Week 10 game against the New Orleans Saints, Brandon Powell will likely step in as the Vikings’ WR2 opposite Jordan Addison.
Dallas Goedert, TE, Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles’ offense is rolling, but they’ll now be without one of their key pieces for a significant period. Tight end Dallas Goedert suffered a forearm fracture on Sunday and will likely have surgery on Monday. He’s facing a four-week return timeline, so he’ll probably be sent to IR.
Jack Stoll is the next TE up in Philadelphia. Offseason acquisition Albert Okwuegbunam could be a factor, while 2022 sixth-rounder Grant Calcaterra might be active after being a healthy scratch in Week 9.
Jedrick Wills, OT, Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns left tackle Jedrick Wills was carted off the field with an air cast on his right leg on Sunday. Wills is expected to miss roughly six weeks after suffering a high-grade MCL sprain, low-grade PCL sprain, and bone bruises, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. He has been placed on IR.
The Browns were reportedly in the market for an offensive lineman at the trade deadline, but they didn’t pick anyone up. Cleveland is already without starting right tackle Jack Conklin, who tore his ACL and MCL in Week 1. Fourth-round rookie Dawand Jones is now starting at RT.
James Hudson III replaced Wills in Week 9 and will protect Deshaun Watson’s blindside moving forward. The Browns could scour the market for a free agent tackle, or they could promote Alex Leatherwood or Geron Christian from their practice squad.