We are well into the NFL season, and unfortunately, the injury train is showing no signs of slowing down. Between bye weeks, constant updates, and injury news, managing a Fantasy Football team can be overwhelming. Have no fear, my friends. Get all the help you need here at SGPN. For the injury front, I’ll be leading you through this gauntlet. Welcome to the Week 6 Fantasy Football Injury Report!
Week 6 Bye Weeks: Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers
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 is updated daily until Monday Night Football, so check back in before setting your lineup!
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Week 6 Fantasy Football Injury Report
Week 6 Inactives
Treylon Burks (WR) Tennessee Titans
Deshaun Watson (QB) Cleveland Browns
Cedric Tillman (WR) Cleveland Browns
Jahmyr Gibbs (RB) Detroit Lions
Miles Sanders (RB) Carolina Panthers
Ian Thomas (TE) Carolina Panthers
Jeff Wilson Jr. (RB) Miami Dolphins
Zay Jones (WR) Jacksonville Jaguars
Khalil Herbert (RB) Chicago Bears
Roschon Johnson (RB) Chicago Bears
Juwan Johnson (TE) New Orleans Saints
Tank Dell (WR) Houston Texans
Quez Watkins (WR) Philadelphia Eagles
Juju Smith-Schuster (WR) New England Patriots
Demario Douglas (WR) New England Patriots
Daniel Jones (QB) New York Giants
Anthony Richardson (QB) Indianapolis Colts
Injury: AC Sprain
Injury Date: 10/8/2023
Expected Recovery Time:
Recovery Time to Week 6: 7 days
Replacement Player(s) to Target: Baker Mayfield (QB) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Despite already missing one game due to injury and not being injured in only one game this year, the Colts rookie QB is off to a good year. Indianapolis QB Anthony Richardson has played well, but it seems his biggest concern has been staying healthy. Richardson was tackled and driven into the ground on his shoulder last week, causing him to injure his AC joint. The AC joint connects your shoulder to your collarbone.
AC sprains are graded by severity from one to six. The initial diagnosis for Richardson is a grade 3 sprain. This means the injury is pretty severe, and there are two possible treatment routes. With grade 3 sprains, about half of the patients are able to treat the injury with just rehab, but the other half require surgery. Richardson has already been ruled OUT this week and is seeking more medical opinions on the injury.
In the best case scenario where he is able to just rehab the injury, he would be looking at a 6-8 week recovery timeline. In the worst-case scenario, he would need surgery, and it would end his season early. I would expect the rookie QB to try to rehab his shoulder first, with the option for surgery if it fails.
#ForTheShoe Anthony Richardson Injury Thread🚨
Medical Diagnosis: AC Sprain
Laymen’s Terms: Damage to shoulder/clavicle
Gameplay Affect:
1) Throwing Ability
2) Willingness to Run
Level of Concern: High
Takeaway: Surgery or Rehab 🤔 makes a BIG difference, but OUT multiple weeks pic.twitter.com/RzFdPgYwla— Sebastian Fearon PT, DPT, CSCS, TSAC-F, OCS (@SGPNFootballDoc) October 10, 2023
Colts QB Anthony Richardson will be out several weeks with a shoulder injury that could be season ending – IR.
Justin Jefferson (WR) Minnesota Vikings
Injury: Hamstring Strain
Injury Date: 10/8/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 4-6 weeks
Recovery Time to Week 6: 7 days
Replacement Player(s) to Target: KJ Osborn (WR) Minnesota Vikings
This is by far the most devastating injury on this Week 6 Fantasy Football Injury Report. Not only did it happen to arguably the best WR in the NFL, but it’s a brutal in-season injury. Vikings WR Justin Jefferson injured his hamstring last week while running a route. He immediately took himself out of the game and did not return. After some speculation, we quickly learned the injury was pretty serious as he was quickly placed on the IR.
Placing Jefferson on the IR guarantees he misses AT LEAST four games, and it tells me he suffered a grade 2 strain. This refers to a moderate hamstring strain where more damage is done to the muscle than in a mild case. A grade 2 hamstring strain typically takes 4-6 weeks to recover fully. Unfortunately, hamstring strains also carry a high reinjury rate, especially in the first two weeks of a player returning to play.
The hamstrings play a BIG role in generating a player’s speed and power. The injury will negatively affect his acceleration and jumping ability until it is fully healed. Additionally, a reinjury or setback would lead to more time lost and could easily derail Jefferson’s season. There’s a reason why hamstring strains were found to be one of the most burdensome injuries in the NFL.
#Skol Justin Jefferson Injury Thread 🤕
Medical Diagnosis: Hamstring strain
Laymen’s Terms: Damage to muscle in back of upper leg
Gameplay Affected:
1) Acceleration
2) Jumpball AbilityLevel of concern: HIGH
Takeaway: Quick IR decision tells me grade 2, poor ROS outlook 📉 pic.twitter.com/iMhxfV3MYM
— Sebastian Fearon PT, DPT, CSCS, TSAC-F, OCS (@SGPNFootballDoc) October 11, 2023
Vikings WR has landed on IR with a hamstring strain that severely hurts his season outlook – IR.
James Connor (RB) Arizona Cardinals
Injury: Knee Injury
Injury Date: 10/8/2023
Expected Recovery Time: At least 4 weeks
Recovery Time to Week 6: 7 days
Replacement Player(s) to Target: Emari Demarcado (RB) Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals have had a rough start to their season. Their star RB getting added to the injury report in Week 6 does not make anyone’s life easier, including James Connor fantasy football managers. Connor was knocked out of the game with a knee injury and was placed on IR. No specifics on the knee injury have been given, but what we do know is that he will miss AT LEAST four games. I would expect more information to be out soon.
Cardinals RB James Connor has been placed on the IR with an undisclosed knee injury – IR.
Khalil Herbert (RB) Chicago Bears
Injury: High Ankle Sprain
Injury Date: 10/5/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 3-6 weeks
Recovery Time to Week 6: 1 week
Replacement Player(s) to Target: Roschon Johnson (RB) Chicago Bears
The Bears picked up their first win of the season last week, but it wasn’t all good news. In the process, they unfortunately lost their starting RB for several weeks. RB1 Khalil Herbert had an awkward fall while attempting to catch a pass and suffered a high ankle sprain. He attempted to return to the game but it was clear that he was not able to cut off of his ankle and this injury was serious.
High ankle sprains refer to damage to the ligaments connecting your lower leg bones. This injury is more serious than a typical low ankle sprain. More force is required to cause the injury, leading to more damage and a longer recovery time. The expected recovery timeline is 3-6 weeks, but a player will be limited until closer to the six week mark. Herbert was not placed on IR, which means the Bears are hoping he can return before four weeks.
Yeah, Bears RB Khalil Herbert is likely OUT for the game
Clearly can’t cut on that ankle
Concern for a high ankle sprain here, 3-6 week recovery 📉#DaBears RBs VERY thin with Roschon Johnson (concussion) OUT & Travis Homer (hamstring) questionable pic.twitter.com/9UYAV93jAN
— Sebastian Fearon PT, DPT, CSCS, TSAC-F, OCS (@SGPNFootballDoc) October 6, 2023
Bears RB Khalil Herbert is likely dealing with a high ankle sprain that will limit him for over a month – IR.
Mike Evans (WR) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Injury: Hamstring Strain
Injury Date: 10/1/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 2-3 weeks
Recovery Time to Week 6: 2 weeks
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could not have timed their bye week any better. Big play WR Mike Evans left their last game in the second quarter due to a mild hamstring strain. This refers to damage to the muscle in the upper back of your leg. The hamstring is responsible for a good portion of the body’s lower extremity power. A player’s speed and jumping ability are negatively affected until it fully heals.
The good news for Mike Evans is that the injury is reportedly mild. A grade 1 hamstring strain typically takes between 2-3 weeks to heal. Evans definitely does have a shot of playing this week, but his practice participation will paint a clearer picture. There is a reinjury risk with hamstring strains, especially right after a player returns to playing full speed. This is a situation we will definitely want to monitor before Sunday.
Bucs WR Mike Evans is dealing with a mild hamstring but is good to go for this week – START.
De’Von Achane (RB) Miami Dolphins
Injury: Knee Injury
Injury Date: 10/8/2023
Expected Recovery Time: Week to Week
Recovery Time to Week 6: 7 days
Replacement Player(s) to Target: Jeff Wilson Jr. (RB) Miami Dolphins
Miami RB De’Von Achane is the second player on this Week 6 Fantasy Football Injury Report with a mystery knee injury. In the second half of his game against the Giants, Achane seemed to pick up a lower-body injury. He was able to return to the game, and the injury was very much downplayed. However, this week, it was revealed the injury is not so minor, and this knee injury will keep Achane sidelined for multiple weeks.
There have been no specifics given on the injury, but based on the video for the play he was injured and his initial reaction, my two top hypotheses are an MCL or meniscus injury. An MCL sprain is preferable here due to its good blood supply. A meniscus injury has a more variable recovery timeline from a few weeks to season-ending. At this point, we know he’s expected to miss multiple weeks and will have to wait and see just how many weeks it is.
Miami Dolphins RB is dealing with a mystery knee injury that will limit him for multiple weeks – IR.
Travis Kelce (TE) Kansas City Chiefs
Injury: Low Ankle Sprain
Injury Date: 10/8/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 1-2 weeks
Recovery Time to Week 6: 5 days
Here is some good news for the Week 6 Fantasy Football Injury Report. Despite an in-game scare last week, the stud Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce should be okay. As seen below, Kelce rolled his ankle awkwardly while trying to turn upfield after a catch. He was visibly frustrated after the injury and was walking with a pronounced limp. The fantasy football community then spent halftime thinking of worst-case scenarios.
Thankfully, Kelce came out of the locker room with his ankle taped and negative X-rays. He returned to the game shortly after and was productive enough to find the endzone. The Chiefs TE suffered a mild low ankle sprain, which refers to damage to his lateral ankle ligaments. This is a common injury that takes 1-2 weeks to fully heal. Most players successfully play through this injury, and I expect Kelce to do the same on Thursday night.
#ChiefsKingdom TE Travis Kelce – R foot/ankle injury
Definitely awkward non-contact fall
Initial thought: Mild low ankle sprain
Able to get up right away & limp off
His reaction & ginger limp into locker room tells me may be more serious
X-rays 🔜pic.twitter.com/d0AbnrSBEQ
— Sebastian Fearon PT, DPT, CSCS, TSAC-F, OCS (@SGPNFootballDoc) October 8, 2023
TE Travis Kelce is dealing with a minor injury, but I expect him to play and take advantage of a great matchup – START.
Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR) Detroit Lions
Injury: Abdomen (Specifics unknown)
Injury Date: 10/1/2023
Expected Recovery Time: Dependent on injury (Best guess is 2-4 weeks)
Recovery Time to Week 6: 2 weeks
Replacement Player(s) to Target: Josh Reynolds (WR) Detroit Lions
A late addition to the Lions injury report last week was WR Amon-Ra St. Brown. After playing the full game in Week 4, he picked up an unspecified abdomen injury. St. Brown missed the entire week of practice but was doing some straight-line running with the trainers. Unfortunately, this was not enough, as he was ruled inactive for Detroit’s Week 5 game.
Although it is 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 this week. Some injury details and practice participation are what we are looking for from St. Brown this week.
Lions WR Amon Ra St. Brown is dealing with a mystery abdomen injury but id off the injury report – START.
Javonte Willams (RB) Denver Broncos
Injury: Hip Flexor Strain
Injury Date: 10/1/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 1-3 weeks
Recovery Time to Week 6: 7 days
The Denver Broncos were able to claw their way to a win in the Toilet Bowl in Week 4. 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 too soon. Williams recorded a FULL practice today, which puts him on track to playing on Thursday Night.
Broncos RB Javonte Williams is off the injury report and will play, but his matchup and backfield competition are worrisome – SIT.
Tee Higgins (WR) Cincinnati Bengals
Injury: Rib Fracture
Injury Date: 10/1/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 2-4 weeks
Recovery Time to Week 6: 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 6 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.
Austin Ekeler (RB) Los Angeles Chargers
Injury: High ankle sprain
Injury Date: 9/10/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 3-6 weeks
Recovery Time to Week 6: 3 weeks
Replacement Player(s) to Target: De’Von Achane (RB) Miami Dolphins
Los Angeles Chargers RB Austin Ekeler is a clear fantasy football favorite, so it hurts to have him on the injury report again in Week 6. Due to his fantasy production and the fireworks in their Week 1 game, this is an injury that was not the most obvious. Late in the third quarter, Ekeler was tackled (video below) and was forced to leave the field with a bit of a limp. He returned to the game, but only for four snaps, and was clearly limited.
Due to the lack of a clear video of the injury and the Chargers keeping things close to the vest, there is some mystery to Ekeler’s ankle injury. However, due to his lack of practice participation and missing the past three weeks, he is likely dealing with a high ankle sprain. A high ankle sprain is a more serious injury in which the ligaments that stabilize the lower leg bones are damaged. These injuries take closer to 3-6 weeks to fully recover.
Over four weeks removed from the injury, Ekeler was able to log his first full practice participation since the injury. It will be interesting to see how his ankle responds to practice, but at this point, I am expecting him to play on Monday Night. If Ekeler does play, his run after the catch and cutting ability will be limited. He will also carry an elevated reinjury risk.
We’ll have to wait until tomorrow to get a better idea of the Austin Ekeler ankle injury situation
The #BoltUp RB:
– Injured late in 3rd Q
– Limited & limping
– Only 4 snaps post injuryRB Joshua Kelley = #FF 🎯 either way
Also respect for choosing the funeral over practice🙌🏽 https://t.co/HtIqBFM2vx
— Sebastian Fearon PT, DPT, CSCS, TSAC-F, OCS (@SGPNFootballDoc) September 13, 2023
Chargers RB Austin Ekeler is dealing with a high ankle sprain but is finally back this week – START.
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 6: 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 6 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 ramped up in practice this week but is still questionable with A LOT of OLine injuries – MONITOR.
Top Waiver Wire Targets
Baker Mayfield (QB) Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Logan Thomas (TE) Washington Commanders
Emari Demarcado (RB) Arizona Cardinals
Salvon Ahmed (RB) Miami Dolphins
D’Onta Foreman (RB) Chicago Bears
KJ Osborn (WR) Minnesota Vikings
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
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
