The Super Wild Card Weekend had its share of drama, including a hobbled quarterback leading his team to victory and another team winning their first playoff game in a quarter of a century despite playing without their head coach.
Here’s a breakdown of all the injuries that are affecting the teams that still have Super Bowl aspirations:
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens entered Sunday’s game will all 53 players on their roster healthy and exited Sunday’s game without injury. They still have a number of key veterans on IR such as LT Ronnie Stanley, but he has effectively been replaced by Orlando Brown Jr, who has allowed zero sacks and just one quarterback hit since taking over the position in Week 8.
Buffalo Bills
Running back Zack Moss was added to the IR on Tuesday due to an ankle injury. The rookie was second on the team in rushing attempts, yards, and touchdowns this season. To make up for the loss, the Bills signed Devonta Freeman to their practice squad. Freeman struggled in five games for the Giants this season, averaging 3.2 yards per carry and scoring just one touchdown. TJ Yeldon and Antonio Williams are also in the mix to back up Devin Singletary this weekend.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns have been dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak for three weeks, but according to Ian Rapoport, the team is “all clear” heading into the Divisional Round. Head coach Kevin Stefanski has been cleared to return to practice and G Joel Bitonio and CB Denzel Ward are expected to be taken off the reserve/COVID-19 list sometime this week. It isn’t all good news as RT Jack Conklin suffered a hamstring injury on Sunday night and is considered “day-to-day” per Stefanski. Kendall Lamm filled in for Conklin against the Steelers and allowed a lone quarterback pressure in 30 pass-blocking snaps.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers made some news during their bye week, signing LT Jared Veldheer just days after he started for the Colts in the Wild Card round. Veldheer is eligible to be the first NFL player to play in the same postseason for two different teams because he was officially on the Colts’ practice squad and not the 53-man roster. Veldheer was a Packer in 2019, filling in for Bryan Bulaga during the postseason and allowing zero quarterback pressures, earning himself a pass-blocking grade of 84.3 from Pro Football Focus. The Packers are in need of tackle depth with LT David Bakhtiari on IR and RT Rick Wagner was unable to participate in practice last week as he deals with a knee injury.
Kansas City Chiefs
It was a quiet week for the Chiefs, who have no new injury updates. The Chiefs did not play a number of key veterans in Week 17, including WR Tyreek Hill (hamstring), RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (ankle), and RT Mike Remmers (back). The Chiefs don’t return to the practice field until Wednesday and Andy Reid told reporters he won’t have an update on any of those guys before then.
Los Angeles Rams
Quarterback Jared Goff was pressed into action after John Wolford suffered a stinger on Saturday and is expected to start this weekend. With pins in his thumb, Goff was unable to complete 50% of his passes, but averaged 8.2 yards per attempt and didn’t turn the ball over. Elsewhere on the roster, DT Aaron Donald is dealing with a rib injury and Cooper Kupp left Saturday’s game early with bursitis in his knee. Bot guys are considered day-to-day. Donald was the second-highest graded defensive linemen on PFF last week and Kupp managed four catches for 78 yards before exiting in the fourth quarter.
New Orleans Saints
Right guard Nick Easton was moved to IR after suffering a concussion in Week 17. Rookie Cesar Ruiz filled in for Easton against the Bears and really struggled, earning the second-lowest grade among offensive linemen on PFF. Defensive end Trey Hendrickson was inactive with a neck injury and is questionable for the Divisional Round. One guy who could return against Tampa Bay is WR Tre’Quan Smith, who has been on IR since suffering an ankle injury in Week 15. Smith is second on the team in yards per catch and fourth in receiving yards. He’ll be a depth option behind Michael Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Running back Ronald Jones II injured his quad last week. Bruce Arians told reporters he will “wait and see” if Jones can be ready to go against New Orleans after not playing in the Wild Card round. Leonard Fournette was the lead back against Washington, carrying the ball 19 times for 93 yards and a touchdown. Starting right guard Alex Cappa broke his ankle and will miss the remainder of the postseason. Ted Larsen will be Cappa’s replacement after playing his first snaps of the season on Saturday night. Larsen has played over 1800 snaps at right guard in his 11-year career. Linebacker Kevin Minter was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday, effectively ruling him out for the Divisional Round. Minter had started the last two games with Devin White on the reserve/COVID-19 list, but White was activated on Monday and should assume his starting role against New Orleans.
