Week 16 of the NFL season is here and for fantasy football playoffs we are into the semi-finals. Unfortunately some big names have hit the injury list with Jonathan Taylor being placed on IR and both Jalen Hurts and Nick Chubb leaving fantasy football managers scrambling to their fantasy football waiver wires for potential replacements if they are not able to play in their team's Week 16 matchups. Stick with the injury report all week long as updates will be made when news breaks this week!  With that said, let's dive into the injury news that we have so far! 

 

 

2022 NFL Injury Report Fantasy Football Week 16

 

NFL Quarterback Injury News

Jalen Hurts, QB Philadelphia Eagles (Shoulder)

UPDATE: 12/22 @ 11 AM ET: Gardner Minshew will officially start at QB in place of Jalen Hurts for the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16, as announced by head coach Nick Sirianni in Thursday's press conference. Hurts will be sidelined with the shoulder injury and it remains to be seen if he's held out next week too.

Yesterday was a brutal day for fantasy football managers with the breaking news that Eagles QB Jalen Hurts suffered a shoulder sprain during the third quarter of the team's win against the Bears in Week 15 and that his status is uncertain for Sunday's game with follow-up reports stating that the team is preparing for Hurts to not play in Week 16 against the Cowboys. Gardner Minshew will be the man stepping into the starting role should Hurts be unable to suit up.

Lamar Jackson, QB Baltimore Ravens (Knee)

Jackson has been sidelined for the last two weeks due to a knee injury suffered in Week 13.  The timeline for Jackson to return to the team has always been a bit ambiguous with head coach John Harbaugh saying that Jackson is considered week-to-week. Latest reports have been released that Jackson was not seen at the media portion of team practice on Tuesday which would again put his status for Week 16 up in the air.

Kenny Pickett, QB Pittsburgh Steelers (Concussion)

After exiting the Steelers Week 14 matchup and missing the team's Week 15 loss to the Panthers Kenny Pickett has cleared the leagues concussion protocol and is set to start in Week 16  against the Raiders according to team head coach Mike Tomlin.

Russell Wilson, QB Denver Broncos (Concussion)

Russell Wilson actually cleared the leagues concussion protocol last Friday but the Broncos made the decision to still start Brett Rypien against the Cardinals and Denver came away with the victory. That said, Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett told reporters that Wilson will be the team's Week 16 starter when the Broncos face off against the Rams on Christmas Day.

Ryan Tannehill, QB Tennessee Titans (Ankle)

UPDATE: 12/22 @ 11 AM ET: Tannehill is “very likely” to be out for the rest of this season due to his ankle injury, per Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky. At the very least, Malik Willis become Tennessee's starting QB for Week 16. 

Tannehill was carted to the locker room during the Titans Week 15 matchup against the Chargers but was eventually able to return. Unfortunately it's looking like he will not be ready to play in Week 16 with NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reporting his status is in doubt against the Texans this week.

Mike White, QB New York Jets (Ribs)

After taking a few spears that would impress a WWE crowd White was forced to miss the Jets Week 15 game due to fractured ribs which resulted in Zach Wilson making the start for the Jets against the Lions. White has still not been cleared for contact and with the Jets scheduled to play on Thursday against the Jaguars he has once again been ruled out with Wilson set to make his second straight start.

Brock Purdy, QB San Francisco 49ers (Oblique)

Purdy was a limited practice participant for the 49ers on Tuesday as the team continues to manage his oblique injury but there is no current fear that he will not suit up for the team's Week 16 matchup against the Commanders.

 

NFL Running Back Injury News

Jonathan Taylor, RB Indianapolis Colts (Ankle)

Tough news today for fantasy managers of Jonathan Taylor as the Colts RB suffered a high-ankle sprain during the team's Week 15 loss to the Vikings which has landed him on season-ending IR.  Taylor was injured on the Colts first drive last week and we saw Zack Moss handle nearly 70% of the offensive snaps with Deon Jackson sharing the backfield. Both figure to be popular waiver wire pickups this week.

Nick Chubb, RB Cleveland Browns (Foot)

Out of nowhere today came the news that Browns running back Nick Chubb did not practice due to a foot injury he suffered during the team's win over the Ravens in Week 15. When asked about Chubb's status for Week 16 head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters that “he hopes” he would be available. Kareem Hunt and D'Ernest Johnson would become fantasy football waiver wire adds where available if Chubb was to miss time. 

Kenneth Walker, RB Seattle Seahawks (Ankle)

UPDATE: 12/22 @ 11 AM ET: Walker missed practice on Wednesday with his ankle injury. The Seahawks' RB has now missed back-to-back practices due to the injury. His status needs to be monitored in the later part of the week before Saturday's game.

Walker returned to the Seahawks starting lineup last week after suffering an ankle injury two weeks prior but got nothing really going against a tough 49ers defense. Walker did not practice on Tuesday with the Seahawks looking towards a matchup against the Chiefs in Week 16.  If Walker is unable to go a mix of Travis Homer and DeeJay Dallas would likely share the workload.

Christian McCaffrey, RB San Francisco 49ers

Like QB Brock Purdy, CMC was limited at practice on Tuesday as the team continues to manage whatever knee ailment he is dealing with. CMC saw 32 touches in the team's Week 15 win against the Seahawks so this appears to be more of a rest and maintenance day than something fantasy managers should have to worry about. 

Khalil Herbert, RB Chicago Bears

Bears running back Khalil Herbert was activated off of the IR and is expected to be available for the team's Week 16 matchup against the Bills. Given the current injuries among the Bears receivers getting a healthy Herbert back into their backfield mix will be key, especially given the expected weather conditions in this game against the Bills this weekend where passing the football will be difficult to do.

AJ Dillon, RB Green Bay Packers (Concussion)

Dillon left the Packers win over the Rams to be evaluated for a concussion but the latest reports on Tuesday are that Dillon cleared the leagues concussion protocol and should be ready to go for the team's Week 16 matchup against the Dolphins.

 

NFL Wide Receiver Injury News

Deebo Samuel, WR San Francisco 49ers (Knee)

Samuel is not expected to practice this week with head coach Kyle Shanahan telling reporters the plan is to see where Samuel is at next Monday and make a determination on whether or not he will be an option for the team's Week 17 matchhup.

Treylon Burks, WR Tennessee Titans (Concussion)

Burks missed his second straight game in Week 15 as he continues to deal with the effects of the concussion he suffered back in the Titans Week 13 contest. He will need to pass the leagues concussion protocols before being cleared to practice and play in Week 16 against the Texans.

Courtland Sutton, WR Denver Broncos (Hamstring)

Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett told reporters that wide receiver Courtland Sutton is “potentially available” for the team's Week 16 matchup against the Rams. Sutton has missed each of the last two games due to a hamstring injury.

Nico Collins, WR Houston Texans (Foot)

Nico Collins has missed the past few weeks for the Texans due to a foot injury. When asked about Collins availability for the team's Week 16 game against the Titans head coach Lovie Smith told reporters that he would have to see where Collins is with his practice availability.

Brandin Cooks, WR Houston Texans (Calf)

While Cooks did practice in a limited fashion last week the team opted to hold him out for the third straight week. Like the report regarding Nico Collins, head coach Lovie Smith told reporters that he would need to see where Cooks is at with practice this week ahead of their Week 16 matchup against the Titans.

Corey Davis, WR New York Jets (Concussion)

Davis was a limited practice participant on Tuesday ahead of the team's Thursday game against the Jaguars. Davis missed last week's contest due to a concussion and would need to clear the leagues concussion protocol before being able to suit up for Week 16.

Diontae Johnson, WR Pittsburgh Steelers (Toe)

Johnson was limited at practice on Tuesday due to turf toe but the injury is not something that is expected to keep him from playing in Week 16 where the Steelers will face off against the Raiders in what is a favorable matchup.

Chris Olave, WR New Orleans Saints (Hamstring)

The  Saints did not have practice on Tuesday but reports are that Olave would not have practiced due to a hamstring injury he suffered during the team's Week 15 game against the Falcons. Olave has had a breakout rookie season and fantasy managers will be paying close attention to the Saints practice reports heading into Week 16 against the Browns.

Chase Claypool, WR Chicago Bears (Knee)

Claypool missed the Bears Week 15 matchup against the Eagles but was a limited participant at practice on Tuesday ahead of the team's Week 16 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Seeing that Claypool didn't practice at all last week this is a positive sign towards his availability. 

Equanimeous St. Brown, WR Chicago Bears (Concussion)

ESB was forced from the Bears Week 15 game due to a concussion and he was not at practice on Tuesday. St.Brown will need to clear concussion protocol and get back on the practice field ahead of Saturday if he has any hopes of suiting up against the Bills.

 

NFL Tight End Injury News

Dallas Goedert, TE Philadelphia Eagles (Shoulder)

After many speculated the Eagles would have activated Goedert ahead of the team's Week 15 game against the Bears the move never took place. However, the Eagles did activated Goedert on Tuesday ahead of the team's matchup against the Cowboys. Of course, the biggest story this week surrounding the Eagles is not the return of Goedert but the possibility that Jalen Hurts will not be able to play. Last season we saw Gardner Minshew and Dallas Goedert connect for a monster performance against the Jets.

Hayden Hurst, TE Cincinnati Bengals (Calf)

After missing the past few weeks due to a calf injury Hurst was a limited practice participant on Tuesday which makes it increasingly more likely that he suits up for the Bengals in their Week 16 matchup.

 

 

 

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