We are officially T-minus one week from the start of the Fantasy Football playoffs. Whether you are trying to avoid a last-place punishment, clawing into a playoff spot, or fighting for a first round bye, this week is CRUCIAL. You need to ensure your roster is ready for a championship run, and I’m here to help you do that. There are a ton of injuries to break down heading into this week, and unfortunately, most are not minor injuries. Welcome to the Week 14 Fantasy Football Injury Report! Does anyone have an ankle these guys can borrow?
Week 14 Bye Weeks: Arizona Cardinals, Washington Commanders
Injury news happens fast and can change quickly, so for the most up-to-date news and analysis, follow me on X @SGPNFootballDoc! This article is updated daily until Monday Night Football, so check back in before setting your lineup!
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Week 14 Fantasy Football Injury Report
Week 14 Inactives
Rhamondre Stevenson (RB) New England Patriots
Kenny Pickett (QB) Pittsburgh Steelers
Demario Douglas (WR) New England Patriots
Hayden Hurst (TE) Carolina Panthers
Jonathan Taylor (RB) Indianapolis Colts
Christian Kirk (WR) Jacksonville Jaguars
Isiah Pacheco (RB) Kansas City Chiefs
Joshua Palmer (WR) Los Angeles Chargers
Tyler Higbee (TE) Los Angeles Rams
Aaron Rodgers (QB) New York Jets
Dalton Schultz (TE) Houston Texans
Christian Watson (WR) Green Bay Packers
Taysom Hill (TE) New Orleans Saints
Tank Dell (WR) Houston Texans
Injury: Fibula Fracture
Injury Date: 12/3/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 3-4 months
Recovery Time to Week 14: 1 week
Replacement Player(s) to Target: Noah Brown (WR) Houston Texans
We’re kicking off this Week 14 Fantasy Football Injury Report with the WORST news. Texans rookie WR Tank Dell is a star and has been a welcomed surprise to Houston and fantasy managers alike. Unfortunately, the rookie’s season is over. While blocking on the goal line, his ankle was rolled up on by a defender.
This typically leads to an ankle sprain, but in severe cases it can also provide enough force to actually break a lower leg bone. Dell’s fibula fractured, which will require season-ending surgery. Although his rookie season is over, I do expect him to come back strong next season. See Tony Pollard this season for an example.
Houston rookie WR Tank Dell is OUT for the season with a fibula fracture – DROP.
Christian Kirk (WR) Jacksonville Jaguars
Injury: Groin Strain
Injury Date: 12/4/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 6-8 weeks
Recovery Time to Week 14: 1 week
Replacement Player(s) to Target: Jameson Williams (WR) Detroit Lions
Monday Night Football is typically something teams look forward to. I’m not sure the Jacksonville Jaguars feel that way after last week. Among a few key injuries, WR Christian Kirk only lasted one snap before being injured. Wide open down the field, Kirk contorts his body to make the catch and immediately grabs for his groin area. Initially, there were some questions on whether Kirk hurt his groin or simply hit his manhood. Unfortunately, it is a groin strain he is dealing with, which is a nagging in-season injury.
The groin is an umbrella term that refers to the region between the lower abdominals and the inner thigh. The muscles in this region allow the body to change direction, bend, and twist. Like all soft tissue injuries, there are different severities of the injury. Kirk is dealing with a fairly severe injury, as surgery is being reportedly as likely. Once the surgery is confirmed and completed, he is looking at over an 8-week recovery timeline.
WR Christian Kirk is definitely OUT for the fantasy football season and potentially the NFL season – DROP.
Not looking great for Jags WR Christian Kirk
In serious pain heading to the locker room
Depends on severity but groin strains are nagging injuries with high reinjury rates
Expect Kirk OUT 2+ weeks & limited closer to 4 📉 #DUUUVAL #CINatJAX #AskFFT https://t.co/kFYPO6nckz pic.twitter.com/r3hF82IItp
— Sebastian Fearon PT, DPT, CSCS, TSAC-F, OCS (@SGPNFootballDoc) December 5, 2023
Najee Harris (RB) Pittsburgh Steelers
Injury: Knee Injury
Injury Date: 12/3/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 1-2 weeks
Recovery Time to Week 14: 1 week
Replacement Player(s) to Target: Keaton Mitchell (RB) Baltimore Ravens
RB Najee Harris becomes the second Steeler on this Week 14 Fantasy Football Injury Report. Harris is a bit of a surprise add as he was added to the team’s injury report on Tuesday this week. The team didn’t practice Monday, so the assumption is he hurt his knee at some point in the game last week. Harris missed both Tuesday and Wednesday practices and is officially listed as questionable. We don’t know much about the injury but being limited, the short week, and this Patriot’s defense all have me OFF Harris this week.
RB Najee Harris is dealing with a minor injury but the matchup and potential limited snaps have me looking in other directions – SIT.
Justin Jefferson (WR) Minnesota Vikings
Injury: Hamstring Strain
Injury Date: 10/8/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 4-6 weeks
Recovery Time to Week 14: 9 weeks
This is one of the most devastating injuries on this 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 in Week 5 while running a route. He immediately took himself out of the game and did not return. After some speculation, we quickly learned the injury is pretty serious as he was quickly placed on the IR.
Placing Jefferson on the IR guarantees he will miss 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 negatively affects his acceleration and jumping ability until fully healed. Additionally, a reinjury or setback would lead to more time lost and could easily derail Jefferson’s season. Therefore, the Vikings will be cautious with Jefferson.
WEEK 14 UPDATE: Jefferson returned to practice after the bye week with a full participation. It’s been plenty of time to recover and this the team showing confidence that he is healthy. He’s Backkkkk!
#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
WR Justin Jefferson is back at practice and lined up for a big week – START.
Dallas Goedert (TE) Philadelphia Eagles
Injury: Forearm Fracture
Injury Date: 11/5/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 4-6 weeks
Recovery Time to Week 14: 5 weeks
The Philadelphia Eagles pulled off a big divisional rivalry win a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, it came at a price. Starting TE Dallas Goedert was taken awkwardly by his arm by a Cowboys defender. He immediately left the field and walked off to the locker room to get X-rays. The X-rays found a fracture in his forearm, and he is expected to have surgery and miss around four games.
Bones need TIME to heal, and surgery can help this process for stability, but it doesn’t speed up healing. With Goedert being a pass catcher, it’s also not a situation where he can play through this with a cast. After missing the past few weeks, Goedert is attempting to return to the field this week. The Eagles offense has definitely missed him, and welcomed him back to practice last week. His practice participation should be monitored. As long as the bone is healed, there is a low reinjury risk.
The Eagles TE is dealing with a broken bone in his forearm and has a good chance to return this week – MONITOR.
Aaron Jones (RB) Green Bay Packers
Injury: MCL Sprain
Injury Date: 11/19/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 2-4 weeks
Recovery Time to Week 14: 3 weeks
Replacement Player(s) to Target: Ezekiel Elliot (RB) New England Patriots
Aaron Jones is an absolute BUST this season. As a fellow Jones manager, it pains me to say that the struggle will continue. After dealing with a hamstring strain to start the season, he was again knocked out of a game due to injury. He injured his knee and is dealing with an MCL sprain. He is being called week to week, which tells me he likely has a grade 2 or moderate sprain.
The MCL is a stabilizing ligament located on the inside of your knee that is important in lateral stability. The good news for Jones is the MCL is the best healing major ligament in the knee due to its good blood supply. The bad news is that the Packers have underutilized Aaron Jones, even while healthy. He does have a chance to play this week, and Jones should return before the end of the fantasy football postseason. Let’s see if he is able to practice this week. His cutting ability will be tested, but this injury carries a low reinjury risk.
Packers RB Aaron Jones lives on the injury report this year, and this week is no different as he is questionable – MONITOR.
Puka Nacua (WR) Los Angeles Rams
Injury: AC Sprain
Injury Date: 12/3/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 1-2 weeks
Recovery Time to Week 14: 1 week
Rams rookie WR Puka Nacua is on pace for a wonderful rookie season. For a brief moment, the rest of his season was threatened by a shoulder injury. Nacua made a great catch on the sidelined and came down on his shoulder HARD. The immediate concern was a collarbone fracture, but thankfully it was just an AC sprain. The AC joint connects your collarbone and shoulders, and it allows for full overhead movement. The good news is that this is typically a minor injury that most guys play through. I would expect Nacua to be limited in practice but to be good to go for Week 14.
Rams WR Puka Nacua Injuy 🤕
Went straight to locker room after making this great catch
Landed HARD on shoulder
Immediate concern is for collarbone fracture (4-6 week recovery)
Hopefully just an AC sprain (1-2 week recovery IF minor)
🩻🔜 #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/klbrn2edCu
— Sebastian Fearon PT, DPT, CSCS, TSAC-F, OCS (@SGPNFootballDoc) December 3, 2023
Rams WR Puka Nacua is dealing with an AC sprain but is likely close to a full go by Sunday – START.
Trevor Lawrence (QB) Jacksonville Jaguars
Injury: High Ankle Sprain
Injury Date: 12/4/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 4-6 weeks
Recovery Time to Week 14: 1 week
Replacement Player(s) to Target: Gardner Minshew (QB) Indianapolis Colts
After already losing WR Christian Kirk early in the game, Jags fans were uneasy. Then, as Jacksonville was storming down the field in the fourth quarter, tragedy struck. QB Trevor Lawrence took some friendly fire as his LT stepped on his ankle, causing him to fall in pain. Lawrence tried to walk off the injury, but he immediately had difficulty putting any weight through his leg. He then threw his helmet in frustration, much like the reaction of his fantasy managers.
Despite some initial concerns for a fracture, X-rays were negative, and Lawrence was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain. The high ankle is located just above your ankle, and it serves to hold the two lower leg bones (tibia and fibula) together. This injury typically takes 4-6 weeks to fully heal, but Lawrence may try to return a week or two earlier. His mobility will be limited as he recovers from his injury. Another high ankle sprain added to the Week 14 Fantasy Football Injury Report.
Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence is dealing with a high ankle sprain and is likely to miss multiple weeks – SIT.
Kenny Pickett (QB) Pittsburgh Steelers
Injury: High Ankle Sprain
Injury Date: 12/3/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 4-6 weeks
Recovery Time to Week 14: 1 week
Replacement Player(s) to Target: Gardner Minshew (QB) Indianapolis Colts
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett entered the week with an ankle injury and left the game with a much worse ankle injury. In the first half, Pickett led his team to the redzone and took off towards the end zone. Being tackled short was the least of his problems, as his ankle rolled inward during the tackle, leading to a high ankle sprain. A high ankle sprain refers to damage to the ligaments (syndesmosis) connecting the two lower leg bones. This injury requires more force than a typical low ankle sprain and consequently results in more damage.
The damage to these ligaments can lead to the two lower leg bones separating. In these more serious cases, players can opt into receiving TightRope surgery. In this surgery, the surgeon essentially ties the two lower leg bones together with a medical cord or “rope”. This helps to speed up the recovery timeline to 4-6 weeks. This injury most affects a player’s mobility and stability when running and jumping. I would not expect Pickett back until around Week 17, and even then, his mobility will not be 100%.
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett is recovering from TightRope after his high ankle sprain and will miss multiple weeks – IR.
Rhamondre Stevenson (RB) New England Patriots
Injury: High Ankle Sprain
Injury Date: 12/3/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 4-6 weeks
Recovery Time to Week 14: 1 week
Replacement Player(s) to Target: Ezekiel Elliot (RB) New England Patriots
The Week 14 Fantasy Football Injury Report rolls on with ANOTHER high ankle sprain. During the absolute snooze fest last week, Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson injured his ankle and was carted off. Unfortunately, the defender landed on the outside of his ankle while his foot was planted, leading to a high ankle sprain. This injury refers to damage to the ligaments holding the lower leg bones together. This area located just above the ankle is responsible for lower leg shock absorption and stability.
This is a difficult injury to come back from, but it does seem the sprain is fairly mild, as there was no fracture or talks of surgery. However, even in mild cases, it typically takes 4-6 weeks for a player to fully recover. This is especially true for the RB position that has to rely on their cutting ability and run after catch. Stevenson is not practicing this week and will NOT be playing in Thursday Night Football.
Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson is dealing with a high ankle sprain that will likely cause him to miss multiple weeks – SIT.
Jonathan Taylor (RB) Indianapolis Colts
Injury: Thumb Injury
Injury Date: 11/26/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 2-4 weeks
Recovery Time to Week 14: 2 weeks
Replacement Player(s) to Target: Ezekiel Elliot (RB) New England Patriots
After a dominant two-TD performance last week, Jonathan Taylor looked like a train that could not be stopped. Unfortunately, this train is off the track and on the Week 14 Fantasy Football Injury Report. After seemingly making it through the game injury-free, it was reported that he was dealing with a thumb injury.
A few hours later, news broke that he would be having surgery this week to repair his injured thumb. Injury specifics have not been released yet, but the team is hoping he only misses a few weeks. Taylor missing only two games seems like the best case scenario, and there is a real chance he finds himself on the IR. For now, it’s Zack Moss time.
Colts RB Jonathan Taylor undergoes thumb surgery this week that will keep him out for at least one more week – SIT.
Kenneth Walker III (RB) Seattle Seahawks
Injury: Oblique Strain
Injury Date: 11/19/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 2-4 weeks
Recovery Time to Week 14: 3 weeks
Replacement Player(s) to Target: Keaton Mitchell (RB) Baltimore Ravens
The Seattle Seahawks join the party on this Week 14 Fantasy Football Injury Report with RB Kenneth Walker III. In a play that looked pretty unassuming, the Seattle RB went down as he injured his oblique muscle. The obliques are core muscles that stretch from your ribs to your hips. Heavily involved in rotational movement, obliques make these movements painful to complete.
We still need some more information regarding the severity and nature of the injury. However, at this point, he has not practiced at all since the injury, and I am concerned about his availability for this week. With the team not looking to put him on IR, the expectation is that he returns within 3-4 weeks from the initial injury. Coming off a mini-bye week, we will have to see if Walker III has progressed. For now, it looks like RB Zach Charbonnet is ready to have his chance as RB1.
Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III is dealing with a moderate oblique injury and is unlikely to play this week – SIT.
Aaron Rodgers (QB) New York Jets
Injury: Achilles Tear
Injury Date: 9/11/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 10-12 months
Recovery Time to Week 14: 13 weeks
Replacement Player(s) to Target: Jordan Love (QB) Green Bay Packers
After a badass patriotic entrance, New York Jets QB Aaron Rodgers was quickly greeted with darkness. Just FOUR snaps into an incredibly hyped season, Rodgers completely tore his Achilles tendon, and it was over. The Achilles tendon connects your calf muscle to your foot and requires surgery to repair. Rodgers now turns his sights to 2024 as he is looking at about a 10-12 month recovery window.
Although around 30% of players never return to playing after an Achilles tear, QBs do tend to come back at a higher rate. More good news is that the injury occurred to his left leg, which is his lead throwing leg and does not require as much power as his back leg. More bad news: we have another year of watching Zach Wilson try to play QB.
Well, well, well. Just 79 short days later, Aaron Rodgers officially had his 21-day practice window opened. What does this mean? He has been medically cleared to begin football activities as part of his ramp-up process. The Jets will have three weeks to decide if he is healthy enough to be activated off IR or miss the rest of the season. It does NOT mean he is cleared to play football and is nowhere near 100%. I do NOT believe Rodgers will play another snap this season. Tune into this week’s Degen Docs to hear why (link above).
79 days. 🤯
In just 79 days Jets QB Aaron Rodgers
🇺🇸 Led his team on the field
🩼 Tore his Achilles Tendon
🏈 Returned to practice
1) INSANE
2) Did he actually fully tear his Achilles
3) What surgeon signed off on this
4) He will NOT play this season 🤷🏽♂️#TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/1VhtsTaFxX
— Sebastian Fearon PT, DPT, CSCS, TSAC-F, OCS (@SGPNFootballDoc) November 29, 2023
New York Jets QB Aaron Rodgers lasted just four snaps before tearing his Achilles, and I still believe his season is over – DROP.
Top Waiver Wire Targets
Keaton Mitchell (RB) Baltimore Ravens
Parker Washington (WR) Jacksonville Jaguars
Jameson Williams (WR) Detroit Lions
Ezekiel Elliot (RB) New England Patriots
Hunter Henry (TE) New England Patriots
Brevin Jordan (TE) Houston Texans
Noah Brown (WR) Houston Texans
Gardner Minshew (QB) Indianapolis Colts
Jayden Reed (WR) Green Bay Packers
Short-Term Injured Reserve
These players will miss a minimum of 4 games.
Justin Jefferson (WR) Minnesota Vikings
Joshua Palmer (WR) Los Angeles Chargers
Darren Waller (TE) New York Giants
Luke Musgrave (TE) Green Bay Packers
Michael Thomas (WR) New Orleans Saints
Salvon Ahmed (RB) Miami Dolphins
Zach Ertz (TE) Arizona Cardinals
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.
Anthony Richardson (QB) Indianapolis Colts
Tank Dell (WR) Houston Texans
Mike Williams (WR) Los Angeles Chargers
Kirk Cousins (QB) Minnesota Vikings
Kendrick Bourne (WR) New England Patriots
Daniel Jones (QB) New York Giants
Cam Akers (RB) Minnesota Vikings
Nick Chubb (RB) Cleveland Browns
JK Dobbins (RB) Baltimore Ravens
Aaron Rodgers (QB) New York Jets
Commissioner Exempt List
Players are unable to play or practice until allowed off the list.
Hassan Haskins (RB) Tennessee Titans – Aggravated Assault Charges
