This column is meant to offer our best predictions on what players will/will not play, as of 8 AM ET on Sunday. For the official active/inactive reports, please see our Latest NFL Player News.
We've reached the final installment of the first 18-week NFL regular season in history, and it's actually refreshingly light on COVID-19-related absences compared to recent slates. That's very positive news for those Fantasy leagues running Week 18 championship games, but as with any other closing week of a season, there's still a healthy amount of uncertainty regarding how many snaps front-line players on teams that have essentially finalized postseason positioning will receive. Without further ado, let's dive into the latest on the injury landscape as of early Sunday morning:
QUARTERBACKS
The Ravens' Lamar Jackson (ankle) is out for Sunday's game against the Steelers after missing practice all week. Tyler Huntley, who's posted a 69.2 percent completion rate in four starts this season, will be under center for a game Baltimore must win to have any chance at garnering the final AFC Wild Card spot.
The 49ers' Jimmy Garoppolo (thumb) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Rams after practicing in limited fashion all week. As per late Saturday night reports, San Francisco is trending strongly toward rolling with the veteran quarterback for Sunday's must-win contest, with rookie Trey Lance, who drew the Week 17 start versus the Texans, heading back to his usual backup role under such a scenario. There may not
This column is meant to offer our best predictions on what players will/will not play, as of 8 AM ET on Sunday. For the official active/inactive reports, please see our Latest NFL Player News.
We've reached the final installment of the first 18-week NFL regular season in history, and it's actually refreshingly light on COVID-19-related absences compared to recent slates. That's very positive news for those Fantasy leagues running Week 18 championship games, but as with any other closing week of a season, there's still a healthy amount of uncertainty regarding how many snaps front-line players on teams that have essentially finalized postseason positioning will receive. Without further ado, let's dive into the latest on the injury landscape as of early Sunday morning:
QUARTERBACKS
The Ravens' Lamar Jackson (ankle) is out for Sunday's game against the Steelers after missing practice all week. Tyler Huntley, who's posted a 69.2 percent completion rate in four starts this season, will be under center for a game Baltimore must win to have any chance at garnering the final AFC Wild Card spot.
The 49ers' Jimmy Garoppolo (thumb) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Rams after practicing in limited fashion all week. As per late Saturday night reports, San Francisco is trending strongly toward rolling with the veteran quarterback for Sunday's must-win contest, with rookie Trey Lance, who drew the Week 17 start versus the Texans, heading back to his usual backup role under such a scenario. There may not be definitive word on Garoppolo's status until inactives are announced 90 minutes before the game's 4:25pm ET kickoff.
The Bengals' Joe Burrow (knee) is out for Sunday's game against the Browns but worked back to a full practice Friday and is simply being rested ahead of the postseason. Brandon Allen will be under center for Cincinnati against Cleveland in the regular-season finale.
The Lions' Jared Goff (knee) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Packers after practicing in limited fashion all week. If Goff does return from his two-game absence, Tim Boyle will revert to his usual No. 2 role.
The Browns' Baker Mayfield (shoulder) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, ruling him out for Sunday's season finale against the Bengals. Veteran Case Keenum will be under center for Cleveland versus Cincinnati.
The Bears' Justin Fields (ankle) remains in COVID-19 protocols and will not play Sunday against the Vikings. With the rookie out for the final game of the season, Andy Dalton will draw another start for Chicago with Nick Foles serving as his backup.
The Giants' Mike Glennon (wrist) is out for Sunday's game against Washington after missing practice all week. Jake Fromm will make his second career start, with Brian Lewerke serving his backup.
RUNNING BACKS
The Packers' Aaron Jones (knee) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Lions after practicing in limited fashion all week. Even if Jones does play in a meaningless finale for Green Bay, A.J. Dillon and Patrick Taylor are expected to see the majority of backfield work.
The Bengals' Joe Mixon remains in COVID-19 protocols and will not play in Sunday's game against the Browns. In his absence, Samaje Perine should serve as the clear lead back, while Chris Evans and Trayveon Williams should mix in as complementary options.
The Patriots' Damien Harris (hamstring) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Dolphins after practicing in limited fashion all week. If Harris were to sit out, Rhamondre Stevenson would likely handle lead-back duties.
The Raiders' Josh Jacobs (ribs) is questionable for Sunday night's game against the Chargers after practicing in limited fashion all week. Although Jacobs is likely to play in what amounts to an elimination game for both clubs, Peyton Barber and Jalen Richard would be in line to handle the backfield workload if he were to sit.
The Browns' Kareem Hunt (ankle) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Bengals after practicing in limited fashion all week. If Hunt is unable to suit up, D'Ernest Johnson would serve as the complementary option to Nick Chubb.
The Saints' Mark Ingram (knee) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Falcons and finished the week with two missed practices. If Ingram is unable to go versus Atlanta, Tony Jones could see a larger role behind Alvin Kamara.
The Cardinals' James Conner (heel) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Seahawks after practicing in limited fashion all week. If Conner were to sit out a third straight game, Eno Benjamin and Jonathan Ward would be in line to serve as Arizona's backfield options with Chase Edmonds (ribs) already ruled out.
The Cardinals' Chase Edmonds (ribs) is out for Sunday's game against the Seahawks after missing practice all week. Eno Benjamin and Jonathan Ward would be in line for significantly expanded roles if James Conner (heel) joined Edmonds on the inactives list.
The Buccaneers' Ronald Jones (ankle) is out for Sunday's game against the Panthers after missing practice all week. Second-year back Ke'Shawn Vaughn and veteran Le'Veon Bell are in line to handle the bulk of Tampa Bay's backfield work versus Carolina.
WIDE RECEIVERS
The Washington Football Team's Curtis Samuel (hamstring) is out for Sunday's game against the Giants after missing practice all week. DeAndre Carter should bump up to the No. 4 receiver role behind the top trio of Terry McLaurin, Adam Humphries and Cam Sims.
The Bills' Emmanuel Sanders (knee) is doubtful for Sunday's game against the Jets after missing practice all week. If Sanders is forced to sit out, Gabriel Davis would likely step into an outside receiver spot, while Cole Beasley should remain in his usual slot role.
The Patriots' Jakobi Meyers (thigh) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Dolphins after practicing in limited fashion all week. If Meyers suits up, he'll serve in his usual No. 1 receiver role versus Miami.
The Lions' Josh Reynolds (thigh) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Packers after apparently suffering the injury in Friday's practice. If he sits out, Kalif Raymond would project to move up to the No. 2 receiver role alongside top option Amon-Ra St. Brown.
The Cardinals' Rondale Moore (ankle) is out for Sunday's game against the Seahawks after finishing the week with a missed practice. In Moore's absence, Antoine Wesley is slated to bump up to the No. 3 receiver role versus Seattle.
The Ravens' Devin Duvernay (ankle) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Steelers but worked back to a full practice Friday. If Duvernay can't suit up, Tylan Wallace is likely to bump up to the role of No. 4 receiver versus Pittsburgh.
The Giants' Kadarius Toney (shoulder) is out for Sunday's game against Washington after missing the last two practices of the week. Darius Slayton should serve as the No. 2 receiver alongside top wideout Kenny Golladay.
The Panthers' Robby Anderson (quadriceps) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers after practicing in limited fashion all week. If Anderson can't go Sunday, Brandon Zylstra is expected to move up to the No. 2 role alongside top receiver DJ Moore.
The Jets' Braxton Berrios (quadriceps) was placed on injured reserve Friday, ruling him out for Sunday's game against the Bills. Berrios' absence Sunday will be partly offset by the return of Jamison Crowder from a calf injury, and Jeff Smith should also move up to the No. 3 receiver role.
The Texans' Chris Conley (knee) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Titans after practicing in limited fashion all week. The returning Danny Amendola would likely bump up to the No. 3 receiver role if Conley sits out.
The Bears' Jakeem Grant (ankle) was placed on injured reserve Thursday, sidelining him for Sunday's game against the Vikings.
The Giants' John Ross (knee) is out for Sunday's game against Washington after missing practice all week.
The Texans' Chris Moore (illness) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Titans but finished the week with a limited practice Friday.
The Buccaneers' Justin Watson (quadriceps) is out for Sunday's game against the Panthers after missing practice all week.
The Giants' Collin Johnson (hamstring) is questionable for Sunday's game against Washington but did finish the week with two limited practices.
The Panthers' Shi Smith remains in COVID-19 protocols and will not play Sunday against the Buccaneers.
TIGHT ENDS
The Raiders' Darren Waller (knee) is questionable for Sunday night's game against the Chargers after practicing in limited fashion all week. If Waller were to sit out again, Hunter Renfrow and the rest of Las Vegas' pass-catching corps will see extra targets to varying degree, while Foster Moreau will once again step in as the top tight end for Derek Carr.
The Falcons' Kyle Pitts (hamstring) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Saints but finished the week with two limited practices after missing Wednesday's session. If he were to sit out, Hayden Hurst will be set to serve as the top tight end for Atlanta, while the likes of wideouts Russell Gage and Tajae Sharpe would be in for some extra targets.
The Browns' David Njoku (shoulder) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Bengals after only getting in a limited Friday practice this past week. If Njoku were to sit out, Austin Hooper and Harrison Bryant would be in line for some extra targets from Case Keenum.
The Bengals' C.J. Uzomah (knee) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Browns after missing practice all week. If Uzomah sits out, Drew Sample would be in line to serve as the top tight end for starting quarterback Brandon Allen.
Washington's Ricky Seals-Jones (concussion) was placed on injured reserve Saturday, ruling him out for Sunday's game against the Giants. With Sammis Reyes (hamstring) also out, John Bates is in line to serve as the top tight end for the Football Team.
The Seahawks' Will Dissly (heel) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Cardinals after missing practice all week. If Dissly sits out, Colby Parkinson would be in line for a bump up to the No. 2 tight end spot behind Gerald Everett.
The Jaguars' James O'Shaughnessy (hip) is out for Sunday's game versus the Colts after missing practice all week. Luke Farrell and Jacob Hollister are set to serve as the top tight ends for Jacksonville against Indianapolis.
The Lions' Brock Wright (groin) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Packers after practicing in limited fashion all week. If Wright sits out, Jared Pinkney is slated to serve as Detroit's top tight end versus Green Bay.
The Jets' Ryan Griffin remains in COVID-19 protocols and will not play in Sunday's game against the Bills.
The Texans' Jordan Akins (illness) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Titans but worked back to a limited practice Friday.
KICKERS
The Patriots' Nick Folk (knee) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Dolphins after practicing in limited fashion all week. Folk is fully expected to continue playing through his season-long injury and fill his usual placekicking duties versus Miami.
The Bengals' Evan McPherson (groin) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Browns but finished the week with a full practice Friday. However, with Elliott Fry being elevated from the practice squad Saturday, it appears McPherson may not suit up for the regular-season finale.
KEY DEFENSIVE PLAYERS
Cornerbacks
The Browns' Denzel Ward remains in COVID-19 protocols and will not play in Sunday's game against the Bengals.
Safeties
The Patriots' Adrian Phillips (knee) is questionable for Sunday's game versus the Dolphins.
The Patriots' Kyle Dugger (hand) is out for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.
The Browns' Ronnie Harrison (ankle) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Bengals.
The Browns' John Johnson (hamstring) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Bengals.
The 49ers' Jaquiski Tartt (shoulder) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Rams.
The Bengals' Vonn Bell remains in COVID-19 protocols and is out for Sunday's game against the Browns.
The Texans' Justin Reid remains in COVID-19 protocols and is out for Sunday's game against the Titans.
Defensive Linemen
The Bears' Akiem Hicks (ankle) is out for Sunday's game against the Vikings.
The Colts' DeForest Buckner (knee) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Jaguars.
Washington's Montez Sweat (personal) is out for Sunday's game against the Giants.
The Seahawks' Carlos Dunlap (ankle) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
The Bengals' Sam Hubbard (thigh) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Browns.
The Bengals' Trey Hendrickson remains in COVID-19 protocols and will not play Sunday against the Browns.
Linebackers
The 49ers' Azeez Al-Shaair (knee) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Rams.
The Buccaneers' Jason Pierre-Paul (shoulder) is out for Sunday's game against the Panthers.
The Buccaneers' Shaquil Barrett (knee/COVID-19 protocols) is out for Sunday's game against the Panthers.
The Patriots' Dont'a Hightower (knee) is out for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.
The Chargers' Drue Tranquill (ankle) is questionable for Sunday night's game against the Raiders.
The Packers' De'Vondre Campbell (elbow) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Lions.
The Bears' Robert Quinn (shoulder) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Vikings.
The Seahawks' Bobby Wagner (knee) is out for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
The Vikings' Eric Kendricks remains in COVID-19 protocols and will not play Sunday against the Bears.
