After 18 glorious weeks of the NFL, we have arrived at the big dance. The best 14 teams will be battling it out for Super Bowl LVIII. Injuries are already a huge part of the game, but this only amplifies in the playoffs. After a long season, the NFL playoffs can truly be a war of attrition. Headed into the first round, it’s time to figure out which guys can play hurt and which are truly injured. Here is a breakdown of the BIGGEST injuries this week. Welcome to the Super Wild Card Injury Report!
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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Super Wild Card Injury Report
Super Wild Card Inactives
Cedreick Tillman (WR) Cleveland Browns
Grant Delpit (S) Cleveland Browns
Dustin Hopkins (K) Cleveland Browns
Jerry Hughes (DE) Houston Texans
Wanya Morris (OT) Kansas City Chiefs
Jerome Baker (LB) Miami Dolphins
Andrew Van Ginkel (OLB) Miami Dolphins
Cameron Goode (LB) Miami Dolphins
Xaiven Howard (CB) Miami Dolphins
TJ Watt (OLB) Pittsburgh Steelers
Gabe Davis (WR) Buffalo Bills
Taylor Rapp (S) Buffalo Bills
AJ Dillon (RB) Green Bay Packers
Kalif Raymond (WR) Detroit Lions
AJ Brown (WR) Philadelphia Eagles
Sidney Brown (S) Philadelphia Eagles
Activated to Active Roster (Likely to play this week)
Damontae Kazee (S) Pittsburgh Steelers
Grant Delpit (S) Cleveland Browns
Duke Shelley (DB) Los Angeles Rams
Mark Andrews (TE) Baltimore Ravens
Melvin Ingram (OLB) Miami Dolphins
AJ Brown (WR) Philadelphia Eagles
Injury: Knee Injury (Likely MCL Sprain)
Injury Date: 1/7/2024
Expected Recovery Time: 1-2 weeks
Recovery Time to Wild Card: 1 week
The Philadelphia Eagles are absolutely limping to the playoffs after a 10-1 start to the season. This string of losses culminated with an absolute beatdown at the hands of the New York Giants last week. With a playoff spot already locked up, even more damaging was an injury to their stud WR AJ Brown.
Brown joins the growing list of players injured by a hip drop tackle, and he exited the game with a knee injury. Despite it looking bad and causing him to be in enough pain to fumble, it appears Brown and the entire city of Philadelphia dodged a bullet.
The injury is being called minor, and it is not expected to keep him out this week. Based on the injury mechanism, Brown is likely dealing with a minor MCL sprain. The MCL is a major stabilizing ligament in the medial knee. It primarily serves to help provide lateral stability.
Additionally, it is the best major knee ligament to injure as it has the best healing potential. Typically, it only takes 1-2 weeks for a mild MCL sprain to heal, and most guys play through it. Despite initial optimism, Brown has yet to practice this week.
After being ruled out with a knee injury last week, AJ Brown will miss the first round of the playoffs – SIT.
TJ Watt (OLB) Pittsburgh Steelers
Injury: MCL Sprain
Injury Date: 1/6/2024
Expected Recovery Time: 2-4 weeks
Recovery Time to Wild Card: 1 week
This Super Wild Card Injury Report kicks off with two players both dealing with a similar injury. All-world OLB TJ Watt was the victim of some friendly fire last week. His own player dove into his knee, causing it to hyperextend and move inward.
Despite initial fears of a significant knee injury, thankfully, the MRI only showed a moderate MCL injury. The Steelers OLB is already ruled out this week but let’s take a look at his playoff outlook.
The MCL is a stabilizing ligament located in the medial knee. It primarily aids in lateral or side-to-side stability. Unlike the other three major knee ligaments, the prognosis for MCL injuries is actually pretty good. With a good blood supply, these injuries have a higher healing potential.
Typically, a grade 2 MCL sprain comes with a 2-4 week recovery window. In the best case, Watt will be able to play with a brace next week. He would be limited some but effective enough to be a force on the D-line.
TJ Watt Injury Update 🤕
HUGE improvement in prognosis from last night 🙌🏽
Typical MCL sprain recovery
Grade 2: 2-4 weeks
Grade 3: 6+ weeksMeans Watt has a chance to return for round 2 of the #NFLPlayoffs 📈
Now let’s see if the Steelers can make it there 👀 #HereWeGo #NFL https://t.co/BywLnKBbK6 pic.twitter.com/Yevhkyk8YA
— Sebastian Fearon PT, DPT, CSCS, TSAC-F, OCS (@SGPNFootballDoc) January 7, 2024
Steelers TJ Watt is OUT this week with a knee injury but is likely to return next week if Pittsburgh advances – SIT.
Minkah Fitzpatrick (S) Pittsburgh Steelers
Injury: Knee Injury
Injury Date: 12/16/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 3-4 weeks
Recovery Time to Wild Card: 4 weeks
The Steelers defense is taking a massive hit with star OLB TJ Watt out this week but it is not all bad news on the Super Wild Card Injury Report. Stud safety Minkah Fitzpatrick suffered a knee injury four weeks ago against the Colts and has been sidelined since. The exact nature of the injury is still unknown, but Minkah returned to practice last week and is fully practicing this week. The Steelers will be getting their playmaker safety back to soften the blow of no TJ Watt.
Steelers S Minkah Fitzpatrick is finally back to full practices and good to go for this week – START.
Noah Brown (WR) Houston Texans
Injury: Back Injury
Injury Date: 12/31/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 2-4 weeks
Recovery Time to Wild Card: 2 weeks
The Houston Texans have been battling injury issues all year, and it appears the playoffs will be more of the same. The Texans WR core already took a big hit with the loss of rookie sensation WR Tank Dell. The former Cowboys WR Noah Brown had stepped up well in his absence but has had trouble staying on the field. He picked up an injury in Week 17 and has been unable to practice in any capacity since. He is dealing with a back injury that is clearly limiting him significantly. At this point, the expectation is that he will be unable to suit up this week and if he does, its hard to imagine he will be effective.
Texans WR Noah Brown is dealing with a back injury that is significantly limiting his ability – SIT.
Tyrel Dodson (LB) Buffalo Bills
Injury: Shoulder Injury (Likely AC Sprain)
Injury Date: 1/7/2024
Expected Recovery Time:? weeks
Recovery Time to Wild Card: 1 week
The Buffalo Bills dealt with some brutal injury luck on the defensive side of the ball this year. Their season is in danger of ending like it started, with a few key defenders going down last week.
There is an especially crucial injury in the linebacking corps. Bills young LB Tyrel Dodson filled in for injured LB Matt Milano extremely well so far. Unfortunately, after some hard hits, he was quickly ruled out of the game with a shoulder injury.
This injury is currently the biggest mystery on the Super Wild Card Injury Report. It is difficult to know exactly which play the injury occurred and there has been no word on what the diagnostic imaging found. At this point, I think Dodson is dealing with an AC sprain, but the severity of the injury is the biggest question mark.
The AC joint connects the clavicle and shoulder, but there is a good range of recovery timelines with this injury type. In mild cases, Dodson would have no issue playing through the pain, but if he suffered a separated shoulder, this would be very unlikely. Dodson was able to practice on Friday, but only in limited fashion and is questionable.
Bills LB Tyrel Dodson is dealing with a shoulder injury of an unknown severity – MONITOR.
Gabe Davis (WR) Buffalo Bills
Injury: PCL Sprain
Injury Date: 1/7/2024
Expected Recovery Time: 2-4 weeks
Recovery Time to Wild Card: 1 week
During his cardio session last week, Bills WR Gabe Davis injured his knee and was unable to finish the game. Despite playing almost an entire half, Davis put up 0 catches, 0 yards, and 1 injury. He is dealing with a PCL strain, which refers to damage to a major stabilizing ligament in the back of the knee.
The extent of the strain is yet to be announced, but it is not expected to be major. This still does not give me a lot of hope for this week. Even in the best case of a mild PCL strain, it still takes a good two weeks to fully heal. He may still try to play through the injury, but I would not expect him to be very effective.
#BillsMafia WR Gabe Davis (knee) – Better than a calf strain but he’s unlikely to be 100% by Sunday
PCL is a major knee stabilizing ligament. Even if best case of grade 1 (mild strain) typically takes 2 weeks to heal
Wouldn’t be shocked if he tries to play but will be limited📉 pic.twitter.com/PsWZRXZvSs
— Sebastian Fearon PT, DPT, CSCS, TSAC-F, OCS (@SGPNFootballDoc) January 9, 2024
Buffalo WR Gabe Davis is dealing with a PCL strain of unknown severity, and I expect him to be forced to sit out at least one game – SIT.
Stephon Gilmore (CB) Dallas Cowboys
Injury: Shoulder Subluxation
Injury Date: 1/7/2024
Expected Recovery Time: 2-4 weeks
Recovery Time to Wild Card: 1 week
The Dallas Cowboys already lost one starting CB, and they could not afford to lose the other. Thankfully, I come bearing good news for Dallas Cowboys fans. Veteran CB Stephon Gilmore dove for a pass deflection last week and landed hard on his shoulder. This caused his shoulder to sublux or pop in and out of place.
This can be a painful injury that likely causes some labral damage. However, for a non-QB, this is definitely an injury that most play through. I expect Gilmore to play with a shoulder harness that will limit his arm mobility some but he should be close to a full go.
Cowboys CB Stephon Gilmore is dealing with a minor shoulder injury and is expected to play this week – START.
Sam LaPorta (TE) Detroit Lions
Injury: Bone Bruise
Injury Date: 1/7/2024
Expected Recovery Time: 1-3 weeks
Recovery Time to Wild Card: 1 week
The Super Wild Card Injury Report rolls on with the only rookie on it, Detroit Lions TE Sam LaPorta. Despite a concerning mechanism of injury in which his left leg hyperextends and bends awkwardly, the young TE luckily did not suffer a major injury. Instead, he is only dealing with a bone bruise on his knee.
A bone bruise refers to damage to the surface of the knee bones, causing a response similar to a bruise or a contusion. Blood and inflammation rush to the injury site leading to a significant amount of pain. Pain and swelling control are going to be the biggest keys to this recovery.
Currently, it is expected unlikely that LaPorta will be healthy enough to play this weekend. There is a small possibility that the swelling and pain diminish quicker than expected but this is more of a long shot. I do expect for LaPorta to be healthy enough to play in the next round of the playoffs, if Detroit can overcome Matt Stafford.
Lions TE Sam LaPorta Injury Update🤕
HUGE news, still may miss next week but better than the entire playoffs & part of next season 🙌🏽
Bone bruise = damage & swelling to bone surface👇
Now all up to pain & swelling for how much time he’ll miss #OnePride pic.twitter.com/codBj5dcTY https://t.co/EaOQF2Bcws
— Sebastian Fearon PT, DPT, CSCS, TSAC-F, OCS (@SGPNFootballDoc) January 7, 2024
Lions TE Sam LaPorta avoided a major injury but is dealing with a bone bruise that puts his availability in jeopardy – MONITOR.
DeVonta Smith (WR) Philadelphia Eagles
Injury: High Ankle Sprain
Injury Date: 12/31/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 4-6 weeks
Recovery Time to Wild Card: 2 weeks
The situation in Philadelphia is going from bad to worse. Not only did they suffer an embarrassing loss that ruined their playoff home-field advantage, but they also suffered a key injury. Stud WR DeVonta Smith had his ankle rolled up on by a defender, causing him to leave the game and require crutches afterward.
Given the mechanism of injury, where he was hit on the outside of his leg and his ankle rolled in, the fear is he suffered a high ankle sprain.
There are reports that the sprain is mild, but even mild cases of a high ankle sprain take several weeks to recover. Typically, it takes 4-6 weeks for a mild high ankle sprain to fully recover.
This injury is going to negatively affect Smith’s ability to run routes and be stable on that ankle. With only two weeks of recovery, I am still not very optimistic about what DeVonta Smith will be able to do on the field.
He was unable to practice in any capacity last week, which tells me he wasn’t very close to returning. I would not be shocked if Smith tried to play in this game, but I would expect him to be significantly limited and with an elevated reinjury risk.
Eagles WR DeVonta Smith avoided a major injury but is likely to be limited or out in the next couple of weeks – SIT.
Jaylen Waddle (WR) Miami Dolphins
Injury: High Ankle Sprain
Injury Date: 12/24/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 4-6 weeks
Recovery Time to Wild Card: 3 weeks
The Miami Dolphins are an absolutely ELECTRIC team. There is not much in this world that can slow them down, but injuries are on this shortlist. While star WR Tyreek Hill is still on the mend with his high ankle injury, his running mate picked up the same injury. Speedy WR Jaylen Waddle is dealing with a high ankle sprain that he injured three weeks ago.
A high ankle sprain refers to damage to the ligaments connecting your tibia and fibula. These are your two lower leg bones, and the ligaments are located above your ankle. These injuries require more force to occur, which results in more damage and a longer recovery time than a typical low ankle sprain.
Even in mild cases, a high ankle sprain takes 4-6 weeks to fully recover. At this point, I expect Waddle to miss these last two regular season games and return for the playoffs. If the Dolphins do play on Wild Card Weekend in three weeks, Waddle would still be limited but has a good chance to play with the injury.
Waddle returned to practice last week in a limited fashion and continues that trend this week. He won’t be 100%, but I think Waddle will be able to move around well enough to be a factor Saturday.
Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle is dealing with a high ankle sprain but has a chance to play this week – SIT.
Christian McCaffrey (RB) San Francisco 49ers
Injury: Calf Strain
Injury Date: 12/31/2023
Expected Recovery Time: 1-3 weeks
Recovery Time to Wild Card: 2 weeks
The importance of the NFL regular season is put on display right away on this Super Wild Card Injury Report. The San Francisco 49ers locked up the number one seed in the NFC, and it allows their superstar RB time to rest up. Christian McCaffrey is the best offensive player in the NFL this season, and his health is vital to his team’s playoff chances.
The entire city of San Francisco and Niners backers everywhere held their collective breath once McCaffrey was knocked out of the game last week.
Thankfully, the injury appears minor and should not affect him in the playoffs. The 49ers stud RB injured his calf muscle and is already ruled out for this week. This is a precautionary measure as a mild calf strain typically takes 1-3 weeks to recover, and the reinjury risk increases if a player returns before two weeks.
Fortunately, due to the Niners’ regular season success, McCaffrey will have three weeks for his calf to heal. I expect him to be a full go for the second round of the playoffs at this point.
49ers RB Christian McCaffrey is dealing with a minor calf strain that is unlikely to bother him in the playoffs, but he is out this week – SIT.
