Week 11 was another tough one for a number of teams. We had numerous All-Pro players go down and a burgeoning franchise quarterback was lost for the season.
Here’s a team-by-team breakdown of all the latest injury news as we head into Thanksgiving and Week 12:
Arizona Cardinals
Cardinals’ safety Jalen Thompson injured the same ankle that landed him on the IR earlier this season. Thompson missed Weeks 2 through 8 with an ankle injury, but has been a key part of Arizona’s secondary since returning, allowing just 5.3 yards per completion. Deionte Thompson filled in when Jalen Thomason was out earlier this season. Deionte Thompson struggled, receiving an overall grade of 53.7 from Pro Football Focus. Quarterback Kyler Murray is dealing with a shoulder issue, but it’s minor and shouldn’t affect his ability to play in Week 12.
Atlanta Falcons
Wide receiver Julio Jones suffered a hamstring injury on Sunday and he is now considered a “game-time decision” for Week 12, per Raheem Morris. Jones missed two games earlier in the season with a hamstring injury, however, he is currently setting career-highs in catch percentage and yards per target. The return of Calvin Ridley does soften the blow a bit. Ridley returned in Week 11 after a two-week, one-game absence and caught five passes for 90 yards.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens’ short week got even tougher on Monday when RBs Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins tested positive for COVID-19. In addition to losing Ingram and Dobbins, DT Brandon Williams was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Gus Edwards will continue to be the lead running back for the NFL’s top rushing attack. However, outside of Lamar Jackson, only Devin Duvernay has multiple rushing attempts this season. Expect Justice Hill to possibly get some carries. Justin Ellis will get his third start of 2020 in relief of Williams. Ellis’s 47.8 PFF grade ranks 12th-worst among defensive linemen who have played 200 snaps.
Buffalo Bills
The Bills come out of their bye week with most of their team intact, save for their linebackers. Matt Milano, Tyrel Dodson, and Del’Shawn Phillips are all currently on the IR. Cornerback Josh Norman has also been out since Week 6 and remains on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Carolina Panthers
Running back Christian McCaffrey is still considered “week-to-week” and it doesn’t seem likely he’ll be ready to go in Week 12. However, Matt Rhule told the media on Monday that he expects QB Teddy Bridgewater to return from his knee injury this week. P.J. Walker replaced Bridgewater, but threw a pair of red zone interceptions in the win. Dennis Daley started at right guard for the injured John Miller, but Daley exited the game early with a concussion. Michael Schofield replaced Daley and didn’t allow a QB pressure in 24 pass-blocking snaps.
Chicago Bears
Matt Nagy isn’t ready to name a starting QB for Week 12 as Nick Foles recovers from a hip injury and Mitchell Trubisky works his way back from a shoulder injury. If for some reason neither guy can go, Tyler Bray is the emergency option. In other news, RB David Montgomery (concussion) was seen at practice on Monday and S Eddie Jackson was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday. The 2018 All-Pro has struggled this year, yielding a passer rating of 102.4 this season, a huge jump from the 40.5 and 57.6 he allowed in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
Cincinnati Bengals
The most catastrophic injury of Week 11 occurred in Cincinnati, where Joe Burrow was carted off the field with a season-ending knee injury. On Monday, it was revealed the rookie suffered a torn ACL, MCL, and other structural damage to his knee. Burrow’s recovery timeline remains blurry, but he is expected to return at least some time in 2021. Ryan Finley will become the new starter for Cincinnati. He went 0-3 and completed just 47-percent of his passes as a rookie in 2019.
Cleveland Browns
Cleveland suffered a pair of injuries in their secondary on Sunday against the Eagles. Safety Ronnie Harrison left the game with a bone bruise, but is considered day-to-day right now. Perhaps more concerning is the condition of Pro Bowl CB Denzel Ward, who had an MRI on his calf on Monday. Ward had his best game of the season against the Eagles, recording an interception, two pass breakups, and allowing just four completions on 10 targets. Cleveland also had to play without Myles Garrett, who was put on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Garrett isn’t expected to return in Week 12.
Dallas Cowboys
Dallas is hosting their annual Thanksgiving game this week and seems to be getting healthier as Andy Dalton started and Zack Martin moved to right tackle in their win over Minnesota. As for Thursday, K Greg Zuerlein is expected to play despite dealing with a back injury. Cornerback Anthony Brown isn’t expected to play due to a rib injury. Brown had a rough time against the Vikings, allowing 105 yards and two touchdowns on just five targets. Rashard Robinson has a chance to start for Brown. The veteran gave up three catches, including a touchdown, on Sunday, his first action of 2020.
Denver Broncos
Right guard Graham Glasgow is currently dealing with some soreness in his calf after being pulled in the fourth quarter of Denver’s win over Miami. Glasgow previously missed time earlier this year due to COVID-19 and was replaced by Austin Schlottmann, who really struggled in the two starts, allowing 14 quarterback pressures. For the season, Schlottmann’s 38.5 overall grade and 20.0 pass-blocking grade rank third-to-last among all guards in the NFL, according to PFF.
Detroit Lions
The Lions have to bounce back quickly from their loss to the Panthers with Thanksgiving coming this week. On Monday, QB Matt Stafford (thumb), LB Jarrad Davis (knee), TE TJ Hockenson (shoulder), and WRs Danny Amendola (hip), Kenny Golladay (hip), and Marvin Hall (toe) were limited participants according to the team’s practice estimate. Running back D’Andre Swift (concussion) and CB Jeff Okudah (shoulder) were non-participants. Golladay hasn’t played since Week 8, but was limited on the initial practice reports in each of the last two weeks.
Green Bay Packers
Green Bay got their starting cornerbacks against the Colts this week, but lost their center, Corey Linsley, to a back injury. However, it appears Linsley shouldn’t miss much time with the “minor” injury. Linsley has allowed just two pressures all season and his 89.9 overall grade is 10 points higher than any other center in the NFL, per PFF.
Houston Texans
Left tackle Laremy Tunsil missed Week 11 with an illness and his status for Thanksgiving remains in question. Roderick Johnson received a 68.4 grade from PFF for his effort in relief of Tunsil on Sunday and should be the expected fill-in if Tunsil remains out. As for the rest of the team, WR Randall Cobb suffered a “significant” toe injury and might be headed to the IR. Keke Coutee filled in for Cobb on Sunday and caught two of his four targets for 10 yards and a touchdown. Coutee has played in 17 games during his three-year career, catching 54 passes for 562 yards.
Indianapolis Colts
Quarterback Philip Rivers is dealing with a sore toe, but there’s a microscopic chance that injury affects his availability on Sunday; Rivers hasn’t missed a start since 2006. The Colts best pass-rusher, Denico Autry, is on the reserve/COVID-19 list, but has a chance to play on Sunday if he remains asymptomatic. Indianapolis recorded just one sack in their win over Green Bay on Sunday.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville suffered a couple substantial injuries to their defense on Sunday. Linebacker Josh Allen will miss “significant time” with a knee injury, however, he did avoid ligament damage in that knee. Safety Daniel Thomas is expected to miss considerable time with an arm injury and CB D.J. Hayden will be out for a while with a knee injury of his own. Of the three, Allen will be the toughest to replace simply because Thomas is a role player and Hayden has been a disaster in coverage. Allen leads the Jaguars in quarterback pressures and sacks despite missing two games earlier this season. Jabaal Sheard could get some extra snaps in Allen’s absence. His 67.4 pass-rushing grade ranks third on the team, per PFF.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs shuffled their IR on Saturday, activating DE Alex Okafor and CB L’Jarius Snead. Replacing that duo is T Mitchell Schwartz (back) and DE Taco Charlton (broken leg). The return of Snead was a huge boost to the Chiefs’ secondary. Snead has allowed a passer rating of just 32.2 on 15 targets this season. That number is aided by the pair of interceptions he had in Weeks 1 and 2. The big loss here is Schwartz, who was among the top pass-blocking tackles according to PFF through Week 6. Now with his placement on the IR, Schwartz cannot return until Week 14. Mike Remmers will continue to be his replacement. Remmers has allowed just seven QB pressures and zero sacks in his five starts at right tackle.
Los Angeles Chargers
Linebacker Uchenna Nwosu suffered a sprained AC joint on Sunday and is expected to miss roughly three weeks. Nwosu had been playing in a limited role since the return of Melvin Ingram, but his 23 quarterback pressures rank fourth on the team and his 3.5 sacks are second behind Joey Bosa. Cornerback Casey Hayward suffered a groin injury on Sunday, which is another tough blow to a secondary that already has CB Chris Harris and S Derwin James on the IR. As of now, Michael Davis and Tevaughn Campbell are the only healthy cornerbacks on the Chargers’ roster.
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams entered, and left, Monday Night Football with their entire active roster intact. The loss of LT Andrew Whitworth last week pressed Joseph Noteboom into service, but he played well on Monday night, allowing just one quarterback pressure in 51 pass-blocking snaps.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders didn’t suffer any new injuries on Sunday, but they did receive some bad news regarding G Richie Incognito. Incognito has been down since Week 2 with an Achilles injury and Jon Gruden announced on Monday he had season-ending foot surgery. The Raiders are still holding out hope for RT Trent Brown, who hasn’t played since Week 2 due to a calf injury and a couple stints on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Brandon Parker started at right tackle on Sunday and didn’t allow any QB pressures.
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins offensive line took a couple of hits this week when Jesse Davis landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list and G Solomon Kindley suffered a foot injury. Davis has started games at three different positions this season and Kindley has allowed just three sacks all season. Robert Hunt filled in at right tackle when Davis slid over to fill in for Kindley. Adam Pankey or Michael Deiter could get a start in Week 12 if both Davis and Kindley are still out.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings finished Sunday’s game healthy, but lost star WR Adam Thielen to the reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday. Thielen had his best game of 2020 against Dallas, catching eight passes for 123 yards and a pair of touchdowns. It is unknown if Thielen tested positive or if this move is precautionary. The Vikings wide receivers coach did not coach in the team’s game on Sunday.
New England Patriots
Rex Burkhead did not travel home with the team after suffering a knee injury in Houston on Sunday. On Tuesday, it was confirmed Burkhead will miss the rest of the 2020 season. Expect an increased role for James White as the team’s primary receiving back moving forward. White currently leads the Patriots in receptions per game.
New Orleans Saints
Left guard Andrus Peat left Sunday’s game after just 18 snaps due to a concussion. The two-time Pro Bowler was replaced by Nick Easton, who received a 55.3 overall grade from PFF for his effort. We’re still waiting on an update on Peat’s condition, but Easton filled in at left guard when Peat missed time earlier this season. Easton allowed a single quarterback pressure in two starts at left guard.
New York Giants
The Giants are getting healthy coming out of their bye week. Safety Xavier McKinney and LB Oshane Ximines were designated to return from the IR and the pair of P Riley Dixon and LS Casey Kreiter were activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list after being close contacts with K Graham Gano. McKinney hasn’t played all season after suffering a broken foot in training camp. Logan Ryan and Jabrill Peppers have been the Giants’ safeties all year, but neither has been particularly impressive. Ximines recorded three quarterback pressures in three starts before landing on the IR following Week 4.
New York Jets
Running back La’Mical Perine suffered a high-ankle sprain and is expected to miss at least a couple weeks. Former Eagles RB Josh Adams has been added to the active roster. In other news, both T Chuma Edoga (ankle) and T George Fant (ankle/knee) left Sunday’s game early. The good news is rookie T Mekhi Becton played his first full game since Week 8. However, if Edoga and Fant are out, it looks like Conor McDermott could start at right tackle. The former Patriot allowed two quarterback hits in just nine pass-blocking snaps on Sunday.
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles finished Sunday’s game with both starting tackles on the bench. Left tackle Jason Peters left with an undisclosed injury and Lane Johnson exited with a shoulder injury. Neither injury should factor into Week 12, but we’ll know more later in the week. Slot CB Cre’Von Leblanc exited with a high-ankle sprain and is expected to land on IR. Nickell Robey-Coleman should take over the slot duties in the interim. Robey-Coleman is suffering through the worst year of his career, allowing a passer rating of 119.5 when targeted.
Pittsburgh Steelers
The undefeated Steelers play the Ravens on Thursday night and leading receiver Juju Smith-Schuster missed Monday’s practice due to a toe injury. The toe injury was sustained when Smith-Schuster was trotting off the field and slipped on a referee’s flag. Mike Tomlin told reporters the injury wasn’t serious, but because of the short week, it may be tough for Smith-Schuster to get ready in time for Thursday night. Smith-Schuster hasn’t missed a game this season and leads the Steelers with 58 catches and 535 yards. Expect a bigger role for Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool if Smith-Schuster is inactive.
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers could finally start getting healthy coming off their bye week. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel is expected to return this week and veterans such as CB Richard Sherman and RB Tevin Coleman also have a shot at returning to the practice field. Prior to this week, the 49ers led the entire NFL in players on the injured reserve.
Seattle Seahawks
Tackle Brandon Shell suffered an ankle sprain on Thursday night and his availability for Week 12 against the Eagles is in question. Cedric Ogbuehi will start for Seattle at right tackle if Shell can’t go. Ogbuehi has played just 25 snaps at that position since playing nearly 600 as a Bengal in 2016. Elsewhere, Pete Carroll said he fully expects RB Chris Carson to return on Sunday. Carson has been out since Week 7 with a foot sprain. He will join Carlos Hyde in a rejuvenated backfield.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers were without Ali Marpet for the third-straight game as he works his way through concussion protocol. Left tackle Donovan Smith suffered an ankle injury on the game’s opening drive, but managed to return later in the first quarter and play the remainder of the game. The biggest injury suffered on Monday night was the concussion to CB Jamel Dean. Dean has started four straight games and has graded out well on PFF, earning an overall grade of 76.7 for his effort. However, Dean’s coverage has slipped in recent weeks, allowing four touchdowns in the last three games. Veteran CB Ross Cockrell will be the next man up if Dean misses time, per Bruce Arians.
Tennessee Titans
Linebacker, and Titans leading tackler, Jayon Brown suffered a fractured arm on Sunday and will miss the rest of the 2020 season. Will Compton replaced Brown on Sunday and could for the long-term after being activated off the practice squad last week. The 31-year-old has struggled to stay healthy since having a 100-tackle season for the Washington Football Team in 2016.
Washington Football Team
Washington travels to Dallas for a Thanksgiving clash with the Cowboys. The biggest name on the Football Team’s injury report is WR Terry McLaurin, who missed Monday’s practice with an ankle injury. However, McLaurin hasn’t been limited in any games this season, so this could be a precautionary measure given the short week. Kicker Dustin Hopkins and RB Antonio Gibson did not participate in Monday’s practice either. JD McKissic could start for Washington if Gibson is unable to play on Thursday.
