We have officially completed the first quadrant of the NFL season. As Week 5 approaches, we are well into the Fantasy Football season, and you need to start stacking up wins. The fantasy playoffs will be here before you know it, and you don’t want to be on the outside looking in. Between mounting injuries, bye weeks (see below), and constant player news, your team is becoming more difficult to manage. Thankfully, you have your friends here at SGPN to help you out. Let’s break down some injuries and secure some W’s. Welcome to the Week 5 Fantasy Football Injury Report!
Week 5 Bye Weeks: Los Angeles Chargers, Cleveland Browns, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Injury news happens fast and can change quickly, so for the most up-to-date news and analysis, follow me on X @SGPNFootballDoc! Additionally, this article updates daily until Monday Night Football, so check back in before setting your lineup!
MORE SGPN FANTASY FOOTBALL CONTENT
Follow SGPN Fantasy Football on Youtube
Week 5 Fantasy Football Injury Report
Week 5 Inactives
Juwan Johnson (TE) New Orleans Saints
Pat Freiermuth (TE) Pittsburgh Steelers
Treylon Burks (WR) Tennessee Titans
Peyton Hendershot (TE) Dallas Cowboys
Elijah Mitchell (RB) San Francisco
Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR) Detroit Lions
Jahmyr Gibbs (RB) Detroit Lions
Saquon Barkley (RB) New York Giants
Kenny Pickett (QB) Pittsburgh Steelers
Injury: Bone Bruise
Injury Date: 10/1/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 1-2 weeks
Recovery Time to Week 5: 7 days
Replacement Player(s) to Target: CJ Stroud (QB) Houston Texans
The Week 5 Fantasy Football Injury Report kicks off with some good news on the injury front. Steelers QB Kenny Pickett took a sack on a crucial fourth down play and took an awkward hit to his knee. Thankfully, the hit looked worse than the injury, as he only suffered a minor bone bruise. The expectation is that he will practice in some capacity tomorrow based on how he is feeling.
A bone bruise, in the simplest of terms, is damage to the bone, causing a bruise or inflammation response. This leads to swelling and tenderness, which causes pain in the knee. These symptoms can also negatively affect his running ability or stability in the pocket. On the other hand, the good news is this is likely a short-term issue. With a minor bone bruise, most players return in 1-2 weeks. The Steelers do have a bye in Week 6 if they decide to play it safe.
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett is expected to play but between injury hindering mobility and matchup – SIT.
Cooper Kupp (WR) Los Angeles Rams
Injury: Hamstring Stain
Injury Date: 8/1/2023, Reinjury Date: 8/31/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 2-4 weeks
Recovery Time to Week 5: 5.5 weeks
Replacement Player to Target: Wait and See
The Week 5 Fantasy Football Injury Report rolls on with a former league winner in WR Cooper Kupp. The Rams pass-catcher was looking to return to fantasy glory this season after an injury-riddled year. Unfortunately, his 2023 campaign is off to a rocky start as he is dealing with hamstring issues.
Kupp originally suffered a mild hamstring strain near the start of training camp. The hope was that with over five weeks until Week 1, he would be good to go for the season. Unfortunately, hamstring injuries are the most burdensome injuries in the NFL for a reason. Hamstring injuries carry a high reinjury rate and are difficult to recover from. The injury often feels better before the muscle is fully recovered, leading to players returning too soon.
As with most soft tissue injuries, reinjury is devastating as there is an injury to already damaged tissue. Kupp is now set to return to practice this week and be activated off the PUP. The Rams have stressed this being a long-term play, so I would not expect Kupp to be rushed back. There are also some conflicting reports on how close Kupp is to returning to the field. We will have many more answers after Wednesday’s practice this week.
Rams WR Cooper Kupp is expected to play this week and looks good in practice, like his matchup – START.
Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR) Detroit Lions
Injury: Abdomen (Specifics unknown)
Injury Date: 10/1/2023
Expected Recovery Time: Dependent on injury
Recovery Time to Week 5: ?? (Best guess is 2-4 weeks)
Replacement Player(s) to Target: Josh Reynolds (WR) Detroit Lions
A late add to the Week 5 Fantasy Football Injury Report is Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown. After playing the full game last week, he picked up an unspecified abdomen injury. After missing the first two days of practice, there was not a ton of concern as he was running on a side field with a trainer. However, he did not practice AGAIN Friday, and is officially being listed as doubtful.
Doubtful in the NFL is as good as OUT. Although encouraging that he was running on the side, lateral movement is typically the more difficult piece with abdomen injuries. There is a wide range of possibilities for an “abdomen” injury, but the fact he did not practice at all this week concerns me for next week as well.
Lions WR Amon Ra St. Brown is doubtful with an abdomen injury, expect him OUT – SIT.
Javonte Willams (RB) Denver Broncos
Injury: Hip Flexor Strain
Injury Date: 10/1/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 1-3 weeks
Recovery Time to Week 5: 7 days
Replacement Player to Target: Jaleel McLaughlin (RB) Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos were able to claw their way to a win in the Toilet Bowl last week. Unfortunately, it was not all good news, as they lost their young RB in the process. Broncos RB Javonte Williams was ruled out of the game with a hip injury early in the second quarter. Williams is coming back from a significant knee injury in which he tore his ACL, LCL, and PCL. This hip injury only makes his road back to a healthy, elite runner more difficult.
Initial reports are that the hip injury is not serious and only a mild hip flexor strain. Your hip flexor refers to the muscles in the front of your hip that allow you to lift your leg up. These injuries take between 1-3 to recover in mild cases. Like all soft tissue injuries, there is a reinjury risk if the player returns to soon. Williams practice participation will be a key indicator but I would plan for him to miss this week or at least be limited.
Broncos RB Javonte Williams picked up a minor hip injury that will limit him this week – SIT.
Tee Higgins (WR) Cincinnati Bengals
Injury: Rib Fracture
Injury Date: 10/1/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 2-4 weeks
Recovery Time to Week 5: 7 days
Replacement Player to Target: Michael Wilson (WR) Arizona Cardinals
Cincinnati Bengals WR Tee Higgins is off to a rough start to the season, much like his team. Being added to the Week 5 Fantasy Football Injury Report is not going to help him break out of his slump. During the first half of his Week 4 matchup, Higgins picked up a fractured rib after landing awkwardly. X-rays confirmed the injury, and he was ruled out for the rest of the game.
Rib fractures refer to one of your rib bones suffering a break. This is a very painful injury that causes pain every time you rotate, bend over, laugh, or even sneeze. The bones themselves will not fully heal until about six weeks, but players typically return in 2-4 weeks. Playing through these injuries is painful but typically has a low reinjury risk with proper protection. Higgins may try to play through this injury, but I would NOT trust him this week.
Bengals WR Tee Higgins has a fractured rib, which will limit his game for multiple weeks – SIT.
Matthew Stafford (QB) Los Angeles Rams
Injury: Hip Injury
Injury Date: 10/1/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 3-7 days
Recovery Time to Week 5: 7 days
Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford was hit and driven into the ground right on his hip last week. Although clearly in discomfort, he was able to play through the pain and lead his team to victory. As expected, the injury is being called a hip contusion and is not expected to threaten his Week 5 availability.
The injury is essentially a bruise to his hip bone, which was caused by him landing directly on it. There is some pain and soreness associated with this injury, but I expect him to be good to go by Sunday. His practice participation may be worth monitoring, but most players play through this injury fairly easily. This is not a Week 5 Fantasy Football injury; I expect to be on the injury report very long.
Rams QB Matthew Stafford suffered a minor hip bruise and should be good to go this week – START.
Pat Freiermuth (TE) Pittsburgh Steelers
Injury: Hamstring Stain
Injury Date: 10/1/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 2-4 weeks
Recovery Time to Week 5: 7 days
Replacement Player to Target: Jake Ferguson (TE) Dallas Cowboys
Despite an amazing display in the preseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers offense has been very unimpressive. Things will only get more difficult as they will be missing their starting TE due to injury for a few weeks. Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth suffered a hamstring injury last week and was quickly ruled out. He has also been ruled out for this week, and the expectation is he will miss 2-3 weeks.
A hamstring strain refers to damage (tear) to the muscle in the back of the upper leg. The hamstring plays a big power-generating role for your leg and affects a player’s acceleration and speed. These injuries are extremely difficult to rehab during the season. In fact, they were found to be one of the most burdensome injuries in the NFL, with almost 75% of injuries resulting in missed game time.
The Steelers have a bye in Week 6, so there is some hope Freiermuth can return in Week 7. I would still expect him to be limited until at least Week 8, and reinjury is a big concern with hamstrings. Let’s hope Freiermuth is able to return after just a few weeks.
Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth is dealing with a hamstring strain and already ruled OUT – SIT.
Joe Burrow (QB) Cincinnati Bengals
Injury: Calf Strain
Injury Date: 7/27/2023, Reinjury Date: 9/17/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 2-4 weeks
Recovery Time to Week 5: 3 weeks
Replacement Player to Target: Jordan Love (QB) Green Bay Packers
The NFL world seemingly stopped on July 27th when news broke that Bengals QB Joe Burrow had to be helped off the field with an injury. Burrow was rolling out of the pocket in practice and went down after suffering a calf injury (see below). The good news was that the injury occurred in the first week of training camp and not anytime later. This allowed for over six weeks of recovery time and for Burrow to not be rushed in his rehab.
The initial thought was six weeks should be enough time for the calf to heal, but this was not true. Calf strains can be difficult to manage in the season due to their likelihood of reinjuring. These injuries carry a moderate reinjury risk as they can be a difficult injury to gauge. Burrow experienced this common setback in Week 2 when he hurt his calf again, rolling out of the pocket.
It does not take a doctor to see that Burrow is clearly not healed at this point. His mobility has been greatly limited, and he has lost the power to throw down the field. The injury occurred to his back throwing leg, which is used to generate throw power. Despite the limitations, the Bengals will continue to start him, but that doesn’t mean you should. There is much more risk than reward for starting Burrow this week.
🤕Joe Burrow Injury Thread🚨
Medical Diganosis: Calf Strain
Laymen’s Terms: Damage to muscles in back lower leg
Gameplay Affected:
1) Acceleration
2) Throw PowerLevel of Concern: Moderate
Takeaway: 45 days until #Bengals Wk 1 should be enough time
— Sebastian Fearon PT, DPT, CSCS, TSAC-F, OCS (@SGPNFootballDoc) July 27, 2023
Saquon Barkley (RB) New York Giants
Injury: High Ankle Sprain
Injury Date: 9/17/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 3-6 weeks
Recovery Time to Week 5: 3 weeks
The New York Giants completed a 21-point comeback in the final moments of their game in Week 2. It was not all rainbows and sunshine, however, as their best player, RB Saquon Barkley, suffered an injury on their last drive. Barkley took a handoff up the middle and got his leg caught under a defender while being tackled. He suffered an “ordinary” ankle sprain and finds himself on the Week 5 Fantasy Football Injury Report.
After some speculation on what “ordinary” means, the Giants RB cleared it up himself, saying the injury is a high ankle sprain. This means he has damage to the ligaments (syndesmosis) connecting the lower leg bones above the ankle. A high ankle sprain is more serious than a low ankle sprain as more damage is involved to the ankle. They are also less common as more force is required to cause the injury.
This injury typically carries a 3-6 week recovery timeline in mild cases. It is not impossible for players to return in two weeks. However, it is not advised. The player would be very limited in their stability and be at an elevated reinjury risk. Barkley returned to practice last week but wisely sat out of the game as he was only able to log limited participation. He has a much more realistic shot to return this week but he is unlikely to be 100%.
Saquon Barkley has a chance to return this week but with only limited practices, I’m skeptical – SIT.
Top Waiver Wire Targets
Jordan Love (QB) Green Bay Packers
CJ Stroud (QB) Houston Texans
Jaleel McLaughlin (RB) Denver Broncos
Michael Wilson (WR) Arizona Cardinals
Rashee Rice (WR) Kansas City Chiefs
Wan’Dale Robinson (WR) New York Giants
Short-Term Injured Reserve
These players will miss a minimum of 4 games.
Tylan Wallace (WR) Baltimore Ravens
Julius Chesnut (RB) Tennessee Titans
Jamaal Williams (RB) New Orleans Saints
Diontae Johnson (WR) Pittsburgh Steelers
Chase Edmonds (RB) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Noah Brown (WR) Houston Texans
Evan Hull (RB) Indianapolis Colts
Kenny McIntosh (RB) Seattle Seahawks
Justin Shorter (WR) Buffalo Bills
Jelani Woods (TE) Indianapolis Colts
Keaton Mitchell (RB) Baltimore Ravens
Tyquan Thornton (WR) New England Patriots
Jeff Wilson Jr (RB) Miami Dolphins
Season Ending Injured Reserve
These players will miss the entire season.
Mike Williams (WR) Los Angeles Chargers
Nick Chubb (RB) Cleveland Browns
JK Dobbins (RB) Baltimore Ravens
Aaron Rodgers (QB) New York Jets
Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) List
These players will miss a minimum of 4 games.
Kyler Murray (QB) Arizona Cardinals
Jalen Guyton (WR) Los Angeles Chargers
Commissioner Exempt List
Players are unable to play or practice until allowed off the list.
Hassan Haskins (RB) Tennessee Titans – Aggravated Assault Charges
