‘Next man up’ is a popular NFL phrase, and if you check out the league’s weekly injury report you will understand just why.
Every franchise can only put 11 players on the field at any one time, but they need every bit of their 53-man roster over a brutal 17-game season.
Huge men engaging in violent collisions at ridiculous speed on a regular basis means injuries are more prevalent than ever, and some of them can end a team’s season in a split second.
Latest Injury Report
Our injury report is not intended to be totally exhaustive - it is all about giving the intel on new and key injuries which will really impact betting and selecting fantasy teams for the week’s upcoming games. And, of course, availability for the playoffs.
Here are the biggest injury storylines heading into this week’s Divisional Round:
Mark Andrews (TE, Baltimore Ravens)
This could be HUGE for the #1 seed Ravens as they prepare to enter the post-season with a Divisional showdown vs Houston this weekend. When the terrific tight end Andrews went down with a serious ankle injury against Cincinnati in November, it looked like his entire season could be over. But now, as the Ravens come off a Wildcard bye, Andrews is back in practice and it appears he has a chance to figure against the Texans. If that happens, Baltimore will immediately get better again - bad news for their playoff opponents.
Baker Mayfield (QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Mayfield was stellar on Monday night as the underdog Bucs stunned Philadelphia, despite the injuries he is battling. Baker, who has had quite the career renaissance this season, threw for 337 yards and three scores to key a 32-9 victory. Mayfield fought through the pain barrier on MNF, and he’ll do the same again this weekend when Tampa Bay travels to Detroit for the Divisional round. He has rib and ankle injuries, but neither will stop him from starting in Motown.
Noah Brown (WR, Houston Texans)
Brown may not be the biggest name around, but he’s been an important piece for Houston this season. Not any more though, after he was placed on injured reserve on Monday to end his season. Brown’s productivity has been impacted by ongoing injury battles since a purple patch in November, and a shoulder problem sustained in the Wildcard win over Cleveland ended his year. It’s another hit to sensational rookie QB C.J. Stroud’s array of weapons as he looks to continue an amazing first season in professional football.
Kingsley Enagbare (LB, Green Bay Packers)
Green Bay enjoyed an almost perfect day in Texas on Sunday as it destroyed Dallas 48-32 in a stunning NFC Wildcard upset. It did not come without some cost though, with the likely loss of fast-improving linebacker Kingsley Enagbare for the rest of the season. He is believed to have suffered a torn ACL in the rout of the Cowboys, and will obviously now miss the treacherous trip to San Francisco this weekend. Bad news for the Pack when they will need all hands on deck.
Christian McCaffrey (RB, San Francisco 49ers)
This is not totally unexpected, but it is still a big relief for 49ers fans ahead of that home game vs Green Bay in the Divisional round. Run CMC ended the regular season dealing with a calf injury, leading to some anxiety on the West Coast after a stellar year for ‘Run CMC’. The good news though is that McCaffrey was a ‘full go’ as the Niners began their game week practice schedule and will suit up vs the Packers.
Terrel Bernard (LB, Buffalo Bills)
The Bills have a slew of injury concerns as they prepare to face their post-season nemesis Patrick Mahomes. Buffalo overcame Pittsburgh in that delayed Wildcard game, but they came out of the win with a number of fresh worries to flesh out their growing injury report. One of the biggest might be linebacker Bernard, who has been probably their best defensive player so far this season. He suffered a sprained ankle in the win over the Steelers and left the stadium wearing a boot and on crutches. His status for the showdown with the Chiefs, unsurprisingly, is uncertain.
Alex Anzalone (LB, Detroit Lions)
Anzalone has been the heartbeat of an excellent Lions defense this season, so it was a concern for Detroit when he aggravated a shoulder injury and missed some snaps during the Wildcard win over the Rams on Sunday night. The good news though is that he should be good to go for the home game vs Tampa Bay this weekend.