As we get down to the end of the fantasy football season, there is becoming less and less room for error. One of the most common mistakes fantasy managers make is their handling of injuries. At the make or break point in the year, I’m here to help shed some light on the injuries for the week. Welcome to the Week 13 fantasy football injury report!
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Week 13 Late Inactives:
Darren Waller (TE) Las Vegas Raiders
Deebo Samuel (WR) San Francisco 49ers
Trey Sermon (RB) San Francisco 49ers
J.D. McKissic (RB) Washington Football Team
Ricky Seales-Jones (TE) Washington Football Team
Melvin Gordon (RB) Denver Broncos
Alex Collins (RB) Seattle Seahawks
Week 13 1 PM Inactives:
Jalen Hurts (QB) Philadelphia Eagles
D’Andre Swift (RB) Detroit Lions
Danny Amendola (WR) Houston Texans
Dalvin Cook (RB) Minnesota Vikings
Daniel Jones (QB) New York Giants
Sterling Shepard (WR) New York Giants
Kadarius Toney (WR) New York Giants
Keelan Cole (WR) New York Jets
Jordan Howard (RB) Philadelphia Eagles
Justin Fields (QB) Chicago Bears
Marquise Goodwin (WR) Chicago Bears
Allen Robinson II (WR) Chicago Bears
Damien Williams (RB) Chicago Bears
Phillip Lindsay (RB) Miami Dolphins
Adam Shaheen (TE) Miami Dolphins
Antonio Brown (WR) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chris Evans (RB) Cincinnati Bengals
12/4/21 Update
Jalen Hurts (QB) Philadelphia Eagles
Ankle Injury, Initial Injury: 11/28/21
The city of Philadelphia is no longer flying high after a brutal loss to THE New York Football Giants last week. To make matters worse, their starting QB Jalen Hurts, coming off a three INT game, may not be able to suit up this week. Hurts may not be the best QB in terms of winning games but he has been a top fantasy QB this year. There have not been many specifics regarding the injury other than he has a “sore ankle”. Head coach Sirianni is expected to provide an update on Wednesday regarding Hurts Week 13 availability. With a bye in Week 14 the eagles may choose to rest Hurts and let backup QB Gardner Minshew give it a go.
Hurts is currently trending in the wrong direction for his Week 13 availability. There are some conflicting reports out there but it seems an official decision will not be made until pre game warm ups. The Eagles QB is lobbying to play but would likely be limited dealing with his sprained ankle. The expectation is he will be ruled out and Gardner Minshew will get the start tomorrow. This is a favorable fantasy matchup against the Jets so monitor this situation up until inactives are released.
Hurts is dealing with an ankle injury and his game status is currently up in the air. – MONITOR
Daniel Jones (QB) New York Giants
Neck Strain, Initial Injury: 11/28/21
Coming off a big divisional win in Week 12, Giants fans of course are immediately hit with negative news. It is being reported that QB Daniel Jones injured his neck on the second play of the game. Additionally, initially there were some reports that he could miss an extended period of time due to the injury. Right away this didn’t sound right as Jones was able to play the entire rest of the game, including multiple designed QB runs. Jones has now practiced both Wednesday and Thursday at least in limited fashion and the expectation is much more optimistic. New York’s new offensive coordinator even went as far as to say he expects Jones to start at QB this week. The situation will need to be monitored further but it seems more positive news is being received throughout the week.
After an up and down week of news, Giants QB has been officially ruled out for this week. Jones has not been cleared for contact yet with his neck injury and will be unavailable for to start in Week 14. Back up QB Mike Glennon will be starting this week with newly acquired QB Jake Fromm next in line.
Jones injured his neck early in last weeks game and is out for this week. – SIT
D’Andre Swift (RB) Detroit Lions
AC Sprain, Initial Injury: 11/25/21
The Lions have not had much to be happy this year about per usual. Unfortunately, one of the few players they have been happy about, finds himself on the Week 13 injury report. RB D’Andre Swift has been having a career year to start but injured his shoulder last week. He was taken down hard on his shoulder and is currently dealing with an AC joint sprain. The AC joint connects your shoulder to your clavicle and the ligament connecting the two is commonly injured. There are numerous levels of the injury based on the amount of damage caused. Based on reports, this injury is not expected to be season-ending, but it will have Swift out at least this week and possible more. Back up RB Jamaal Williams is in a great position to take over the backfield in the time being.
Swift is out this week and possibly more with his shoulder injury. – SIT
12/2/21 Update
Alvin Kamara (RB) New Orleans Saints
MCL Sprain, Initial Injury: 11/7/21
Alvin Kamara is a pivotal player on this Saints offense and many fantasy football teams around the globe. The Saints RB suffered a mild knee sprain in Week 9 and was unable to practice at all or play in Week 10. New Orleans featured back returned to practice Wednesday (11/17) as a limited participant. However, it seems his knee was not ready to return so soon. Kamara went on to be held out of practice Thursday and Friday last week and ultimately missed the Week 11 game. As of Tuesday (11/24) this week, Kamara has still not practiced and is in danger of missing his third straight game. He still has one more chance to practice but there is not much optimism at this point.
An MCL sprain refers to damage to a ligament responsible for the side-to-side stability of the knee. In mild cases such as this, the recovery timeline is usually one to two weeks. Unfortunately, it seems like Kamara reinjured his knee when he returned to practice. This setback has extended his recovery timeline and will likely cause him to miss more time.
Despite Kamara returning to practice this week in a limited fashion, Kamara has been officially ruled out this week. The Saints will also be down there two starting tackles and QB Taysom Hill will be making his first start of the year. RBs Mark Ingram and Ty Montgomery are in line for more carries in the backfield this week.
Kamara returned to practice this week but has been ruled out for Thursday. – SIT
Amari Cooper (WR) Dallas Cowboys
COVID-19/Reserve List
Dallas has been rolling so far this season, lead by an explosive offense. A major reason for their success has been due to having two star WRs to attack defenses. However, Dallas will be without their more experienced WR Amari Cooper for at least the next two games. He tested positive for COVID-19 and as an unvaccinated player, he will have to miss a minimum of 10 days. The Cowboys play on Thanksgiving next Thursday, so Cooper has already been ruled out for Week 12. This is a big blow to the offense but look for WR Michael Gallup to see a boost in targets in Cooper’s absence.
After already missing a required two games due to a positive COVID test while unvaccinated, Cooper is in danger of missing his third. The Dallas WR was reportedly back in the building today but still not feeling well. His practice status for today is still to be determined and coach McCarthy expressed concern for his game status if he can’t practice this week.
Cooper is officially listed as questionable for Thursday’s game. He returned to practice Wednesday in a limited fashion and is expected to play this week. Dallas WR CeeDee Lamb is also returning to the lineup this week and is in a better standing health wise. Cooper is a much riskier play than usual this week but depending on your options the potential to boom may be too big to sit.
Cooper is officially questionable and will likely be limited due to his lingering COVID symptoms. – SIT IF ABLE TO.
Deebo Samuel (WR) San Francisco 49ers
Groin Injury, Initial Injury: 11/28/21
Deebo Samuel is easily the most versatile player on this Week 13 injury report. The San Francisco has been a Swiss army knife for this offense, racking up two rushing touchdowns just last week. Unfortunately, he also picked up an injury to go along with his productive fantasy day. Samuel reports that he felt his groin “tighten up” and immediately came out of the game to avoid further injury. He is currently expected to miss one to two weeks with the injury, meaning it is likely a mild groin strain.
A groin strain refers to damage to the musculature located on the inner and/or front part of our upper legs. Recovery timelines are based on the amount of damage done, with a mild strain typically taking two to three weeks to heal. Groin strains come with a high reinjury rate and can commonly linger throughout the season if not rehabbed properly.
Washington WR Curtis Samuel is a great example of this as a groin strain suffered in June has derailed his season. This injury will limit Samuel’s ability to quickly change direction and can hinder a player’s route running ability. The 49ers will likely look to multiple players to help replace Samuel’s production, with WR Brandon Aiyuk receiving a clear fantasy boost.
Samuel suffered a groin strain and is expected to miss this week at the very least. – SIT/MONITOR
Randall Cobb (WR) Green Bay Packers
Groin Injury, Initial Injury: 11/28/21
Another groin injury pops up on this Week 13 fantasy football injury report. WR Randall Cobb put together his best game of the season so far last week but it came at a price. Near the end of the first half, he caught a touchdown pass and picked up a groin strain along the way. The severity of the injury is currently unknown but it was significant enough to keep him out of the second half. Groin injuries are difficult to manage due to their high reinjury rate and ability to linger throughout the season. Thankfully, the Packers have a bye this week, allowing Cobb to let the injury rest and heal. Cobb’s ability to quickly change direction and run crisp routes will be limited until his groin is fully healed.
Cobb is dealing with a groin injury but does have a bye week for recovery. – SIT
Dalvin Cook (RB) Minnesota Vikings
Shoulder Dislocation, Initial Injury: 11/28/21
Dalvin Cook has been a consistent top 5 RB in the NFL for the past few years. He has been no stranger to the injury report however and finds himself again dealing with a shoulder injury. Minnesota’s top RB was carted off in the third quarter last week after taking a hit so hard he fumbled the ball. At first, there was some concern the injury may be season-ending but this is no longer the expectation. Cook is dealing with a dislocated shoulder which caused the labrum of his shoulder to tear. This is common with shoulder dislocations and the biggest concern was the size of his tear. As the expectation is the injury is not season-ending, an MRI likely showed the tear is on the smaller size.
The labrum works to help stabilize and protect the shoulder joint. Unfortunately, Cook has dealt with shoulder instability issues before and will likely require surgery after the season. However, due to the tear not being severe, the hope is he will rehab his shoulder and play with a harness in a couple of weeks. The potential for reinjury is elevated with this injury and it will be painful to play through. A similar injury occurred in 2019 and the Vikings chose to let Cook rest for two games until the start of the playoffs. I would expect them to take a similar approach in prioritizing having him healthy for a late playoff push. Backup RB Alexander Mattison has shown on numerous occasions that he is a capable replacement while Cook is out.
Cook is dealing with a shoulder labrum tear and is expected to miss a couple of weeks. – SIT
Christian McCaffrey (RB) Carolina Panthers
Ankle Sprain, Initial Injury: 11/28/2021
The last place fantasy managers want to see their top RB is the injury report, but this is exactly where CMC is for Week 13 and beyond. Panthers RB and consensus fantasy football first pick Christian McCaffrey officially finishes this season as a bust. He injured his ankle last week and it was initially not thought to be too serious. However, an MRI Monday revealed that the injury was severe enough for him to land on the injured reserve list. Due to McCaffrey already spending time on the IR with a hamstring strain this year, he is now automatically done for the rest of the year. There has not been any reports on the specifics of the injury but that is irrelevant to most fantasy managers at this point. The top target on most draft boards is done for the year and will not help secure any fantasy championships.
McCaffrey is on the IR for a second time this year with an ankle injury, thus ending his season. – DROP
Dan Arnold (TE) Jacksonville Jaguars
Knee Injury, Initial Injury: 11/28/21
The young TE has strung together some productive weeks recently. Just as he was becoming a bigger part of the offense, he injured his knee against Atlanta and was unable to return. An MRI has revealed that Arnold has a grade 2 MCL sprain. Additionally, he is expected to miss four to six weeks which may end his season depending on his recovery. An MCL sprain refers to damage to his inner knee ligament which helps to stabilize the knee, especially in side-to-side movements. The timeline given is consistent for an average recovery time for a grade 2, or moderate damage, sprain. This abysmal Jaguars offense just took a step backward due to the Week 13 injury report.
Arnold has a grade 2 MCL sprain and will miss multiple weeks. – DROP/SIT
Miles Sanders (RB) Philadelphia Eagles
Ankle Sprain, Initial Injury: 10/24/21 Re-injury: 11/28/21
The Eagles were enjoying a major boost in the running game, which led to their recent win streak. However, Philadelphia lost its win streak last week and Miles Sanders going down with an injury played a key role. Sanders was enjoying a productive first half until he injured his ankle. The nature and severity of the injury are still unknown but it was serious enough to keep him out of the second half.
Miles Sanders dealt with an ankle injury about a month ago that caused him to miss some time. Although it has not been confirmed, this may be an aggravation of his previous ankle injury. The good news, however, is that this injury does seem nearly as significant as his previous. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni stated early in the week that Sander’s injury is “headed in the right direction”. There is some optimism that sanders will be able to play this week but his practice status needs to be monitored.
Sanders has another ankle injury but has a chance to play this week. – MONITOR
AJ Brown (WR) Tennessee Titans
Chest, Rib, and Hand Injuries, Initial Injury: 11/21/21
The Titans are losing playmakers left and right in recent weeks. With offensive stars Julio Jones and Derrick Henry already out for an extended period of time, AJ Brown is joining them. Brown was placed on the injured reserve list today with a slew of injuries he suffered last week. The Tennessee WR is dealing with injuries to. his chest, ribs, and hand currently. The severity of the injuries is unknown at this time but it was significant enough for him to land on IR. He will miss at least three games and will need to be monitored for a longer absence.
Brown is on IR with multiple injuries and is out for at least three weeks. – SIT/IR
Eric Ebron (TE) Pittsburgh Steelers
Knee Injury, Initial Injury: 11/21/2021
The time Steelers TE will spend on this Week 13 injury report is currently up in the air, but it’s not looking good. Eric Ebron has been slowly phased out of the offense this year but did record a season-high three catches last week. However, he also suffered a knee injury that will likely force him to have surgery in the near future. There are still tests and evaluations being done but it is looking likely that Ebron will be facing an extended absence. Ebron has been officially placed on the injured reserve list and will miss at least three games. With the emergence of rookie TE Pat Freiermuth in the Steelers’ offense, Ebron may have placed his last snaps in Pittsburgh.
Ebron suffered a knee injury that is expected to require surgery and a long absence. – MONITOR/DROP
Michael Carter (RB) New York Jets
High Ankle Sprain, Initial Injury: 11/21/2021
The Jets’ rookie RB has been one of the few bright spots on the team this year. Putting together another nice game on Sunday, Carter, unfortunately, injured his ankle and was unable to return. Head Coach Robert Saleh updated his status, saying he would miss a couple of weeks with a mild high ankle sprain. This is a bit of concerning news for fantasy managers due to the type of injury. Additionally, Carter has been placed on IR and will miss at least the next three games
High ankle sprains refer to damage to the ligaments above the ankle, which hold together the lower leg bones. These injuries have a longer recovery timeline than the common low ankle sprains. More force is required for these injuries to occur which correlates to more damage done. I would not expect Carter to make a fully healthy return until three to four weeks from now. New York RB’s Ty Johnson and Tevin Coleman will battle to take over the Jets’ backfield.
Carter will miss multiple weeks with a mild high ankle sprain. – SIT/IR
Jamal Agnew (WR) Jacksonville Jaguars
Hip Injury, Initial Injury: 11/21/2021
Jamal Agnew has been a jack of all trades for Jacksonville this year. He was the team’s primary returner on punts and kicks, as well as a receiving and rushing threat on offense. Unfortunately, the Jaguars season will likely become worse as Agnew injured his hip last week. He has been placed on injured reserve and is expected to miss the rest of the season. Already with a kick return and missed field goal return for a TD, Agnew also lead the team in all-purpose yards. Not even Tebow could save Jacksonville now.
Agnew will miss the rest of the year with a hip injury. – DROP
Adam Trautman (TE) New Orleans Saints
MCL Sprain, Initial Injury: 11/21/2021
New Orleans Saints TE Adam Trautman started the season on the injury report and now rejoins in Week 13. During a productive game, Trautman went up to make a catch and was hit by two defenders, hurting his knee. He is dealing with an MCL sprain is expected to miss four to six weeks with the injury. An MCL sprain refers to damage to one of the ligaments of the knee that works to stabilize it during side to side movement. There is likely significant damage to the ligament as the recovery timeline for a mild injury is only one to three weeks. This injury pretty much knocks Trautman out for the rest of the fantasy season. He would be likely able to return if the Saints are able to make a push for the postseason.
Trautman has a grade 2 MCL sprain is out four to six weeks. – DROP/IR
Chris Carson (RB) Seattle Seahawks
Neck Injury, Initial Injury: Preseason (Long Term Issue)
In a bit of surprise, Seattle’s starting running back made his way onto the injury report last Tuesday ahead of their Thursday night game. Initially, it was unclear how serious of an issue this would be but at this point, Carson has not practiced in two weeks and will miss his second straight game. There have also been talks about possibly putting Carson on the IR with this neck issue. A clear diagnosis has not been given but Carson is likely dealing with a disc issue in his neck. These types of injuries take a while to get under control and often require surgery or weeks of rehab to be fully treated.
This clearly has been bothering Carson for some time as the Seahawks running back was on the Week 1 injury report with a neck injury. He was able to fully practice that week and started all four games earlier in the year but he appears to have aggravated the injury in practice. After trying to manage his injury with rest, Carson was unable to progress as originally hoped. The decision has been made for the Seahawks RB to undergo neck surgery to help treat his disc issue. This is a season-ending surgery and Carson’s season ultimately ends as a disappointment.
Carson will have season-ending neck surgery. – DROP
Julio Jones (WR) Tennessee Titans
Hamstring Strain, Initial Injury: 9/26/21, Re-injured: 10/18/21, 11/12/21
Ahead of Week 13, star WR Julio Jones finds himself in a familiar place over these last few years, the injury report. Back in Week 3, Jones initially left the game due to what was being called hamstring “tightness”. This was a big undersell as Jones would go on to miss the next two weeks with this hamstring strain. He was finally able to return last Monday night but left the game in the fourth quarter and was unable to return with the same injury. After being able to suit up for Week 9, Jones again aggravated the injury in practice last week and is on the IR.
Hamstring injuries have a high reinjury rate and can lead to more severe injuries if a player returns too soon. Jones is a prime example here, as it seems the hamstring muscle was not fully healed and now has even more damage after this re-injury. A hamstring strain also limits a player’s speed and jumping ability. After improper management of the injury, Jones will finally be able to fully focus on rest and rehab while on IR. He is eligible to return Week 14 but his fantasy season has been a major disappointment due to this injury. Tennessee WRs AJ Brown and Chester Rodgers are in line to receive a boost in targets with Julio sidelined again with this injury.
Jones has finally landed on IR with his lingering hamstring issue. – DROP/IR
DJ Chark (WR) Jacksonville Jaguars
Ankle Fracture, Initial Injury: 9/30/21
This Week 13 report contains an added injury to the insult that is Jacksonville Jaguars football. Last Thursday night, their big-play WR D.J. Chark was rolled up on by a fellow teammate and had to be carted off the field. Unfortunately, Chark fractured his ankle, which will require surgery and likely end his 2021 season. With the Jags looking abysmal, there is no reason for them to risk bringing back their young WR this year. Fellow WRs Marvin Jones Jr. and Laviska Shenault should see a boost in targets for the rest of the season.
Chark’s season is likely over with a fractured ankle. – DROP
Calvin Ridley (WR) Atlanta Falcons
Personal Matter
Atlanta Falcon’s WR Calvin Ridley was expected to have a break-out year after the departure of fellow WR Julio Jones. Although he has put together a couple of good performances, his season has been negatively impacted by a “personal matter”. It is still unclear what exactly this means but Ridley had missed two of the last three games as a healthy scratch. Ridley recently took to Twitter to share that he needs to “step away” from football and focus on his “mental wellbeing”. I am not going to speculate what is going on here and wish the best for this young man. Ridley has been officially placed on the non-football injury list and will be out a minimum of three games. It is unclear exactly how long Ridley will be out at this time, but I hope he is off the Week 13 injury report soon.
Ridley is stepping away from the team for an undisclosed amount of time. – SIT/IR
Michael Thomas (WR) New Orleans Saints
Ankle Surgery, Initial Injury: 8/13/20, Surgery: June 2021
Adding to this Week 13 injury report is the diva of the group. After a disappointing 2020 season due to an ankle injury, the general consensus was that Thomas was going to have offseason ankle surgery in the offseason and there would be no lingering effects going into the 2021 season. Of course, things didn’t go as planned and he had the surgery done in June, basically guaranteeing he would miss the start of the 2021 season.
The Saints will be without their number one receiver for at least the first six weeks of the regular season as Thomas was placed on the Injured Reserve (IR). On the injury front, the surgery should improve his route running and run after catch ability. Michael Thomas is not a WR you are going to be able to depend on to get you to your fantasy playoffs this year. However, he may help you win in the playoffs IF things go according to plan this time.
It looks like we are going to have our first full season member of the injury report. It has been reported that Thomas has suffered a new and different ankle injury in his rehab to return to the field. He has now been ruled out for the season and will play zero snaps this year. There is a reason he was on my Top 5 Most Worried list this year!
Thomas is out for the season after suffering a new ankle injury. – DROP
Derrick Henry (RB) Tennessee Titans
Foot surgery, Initial Injury: 10/31/21
Derrick Henry has been shattering opposing defenses, rushing records, and the stat sheet. Unfortunately, it has been announced that he suffered an injury that will shatter fantasy managers’ hearts. This is by far the biggest injury on this Week 13 report, and it can be league-altering in my opinion. The Titans running back is the heart and soul of this Tennessee offense and many fantasy teams across the globe.
Henry reportedly suffered a Jones fracture and will undergo surgery this week. A Jones fracture refers to breaking the base of your pinky toe and is a fairly common NFL injury. Wide recovery timelines have been reported ranging from six to twelve weeks but eight is likely a realistic goal. The bone needs proper healing time and this is an injury that can reinjure if Henry is rushed back to the field. The Titans RB should not be limited once the bone is healed, but whether that happens before the fantasy season is over is another story.
Henry will be undergoing foot surgery this week and will likely be out for around two months. – IR
Jameis Winston (QB) New Orleans Saints
ACL Tear, Initial Injury: 10/31/21
After much uncertainty this offseason, it seems like the Jameis experiment was working and the team was headed in the right direction. Unfortunately, the Saints will have to carry on without their newfound starting QB. Jameis Winston was injured in last week’s game with a significant knee injury, having to be carted off the field. It has been confirmed that he has torn his ACL and suffered some MCL damage. These are major knee stabilizing ligaments, and this injury will require surgery. Winston’s season is done and it may be Taysom Hill’s team after all if he can recover from his concussion.
Winston has torn his ACL and will be out the rest of the season. – DROP
JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR) Pittsburgh Steelers
Shoulder Dislocation, Initial Injury: 10/10/21
Juju may have played his last snap for the city of Pittsburgh. In the second quarter of the game against the Broncos, he took a hard hit to his shoulder and instantly walked off the field. The Steelers WR dislocated his shoulder and required season-ending surgery. Let’s not forget that Smith-Schuster tested the free agency market before signing just a 1 year deal with Pittsburgh. Juju will have to work hard this off-season to build some stability in his shoulder as dislocations can become a chronic issue for players. Luckily for the Steelers, WRs Chase Claypool, Diontae Johnson, and James Washington are all capable playmakers.
Juju is out for the rest of the season after shoulder surgery. – DROP
Robert Woods (WR) Los Angeles Rams
ACL Tear, Initial Injury: 11/12/21
Talk about having a bad weekend. Los Angeles Rams WR Robert Woods injured his knee in practice on Friday. Then, he found out that his team has traded for another WR, who doesn’t mind vocalizing his desire for more targets. Finally, to top it all off, Woods was confirmed to have an ACL tear via further testing of his knee. An ACL tear requires surgery to help restore some stability in his knee, and his season is over. This is an unfortunate break for Woods and the Rams. However, it does increase the importance of the Odell Beckham Jr. acquisition. WR2 in the Rams offense is up for grabs and it will be up to Beckham Jr. or Van Jefferson Jr. to fill it in. Woods should now be focused on rehabbing his knee for next season.
Woods tore his ACL and is out for the season. – DROP
This injury report updates until Week 13 ends. Make sure to stay up to date on all the latest injuries this season over on Twitter @SGPNFootballDoc!
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