We’re down to just eight teams left in the 2021 NFL Postseason, and no surprise, they’ve all been very healthy this season.
However, there were some key injuries suffered last week in the Wild Card round, with key linemen going down for teams in both conferences. With Derrick Henry prime to play for the first time since October, health and injuries are as important as ever for these teams vying for the Lombardi Trophy:
Cincinnati Bengals at Tennessee Titans; (Sat.) 4:30 PM
Bengals
| Player | Position | Injury | Tue | Wed | Thu | Game Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Trey Hendrickson
|
DE | Concussion | LP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Stanley Morgan
|
WR | Hamstring | LP | LP | LP | Questionable |
|
Josh Tupou
|
DT | Knee | LP | LP | FP | (-) |
|
Jalen Davis
|
CB | Ankle | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Mike Hilton
|
CB | Ankle | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Sam Hubbard
|
DE | Rib | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
– The Bengals defensive line is in better shape than expected heading into Saturday with Trey Hendrickson out of concussion protocol and Sam Hubbard fully healed from his rib injury. The only loss will be Larry Ogunjobi, who is on the IR with a season-ending injury.
B.J. Hill will fill-in for Ogunjobi at defensive tackle. The former third-round pick has played well this season, ranking 16th among all interior defensive linemen against the run on Pro Football Focus and seventh in run stop percentage.
Titans
| Player | Position | Injury | Tue | Wed | Thu | Game Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Teair Tart
|
DT | Ankle | LP | LP | LP | Questionable |
|
Naquan Jones
|
DT | Knee | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Buster Skrine
|
CB | Hamstring | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Jackrabbit Jenkins
|
CB | Ankle | (-) | DNP | FP | (-) |
– The big news of the week is Derrick Henry’s activation from the Injured Reserve on Friday. The Titans are the only team remaining that doesn’t have a passing offense ranked in the top-nine in expected points added this year, hence their reliance on the run game.
Henry hasn’t played since October, but he was averaging almost 30 touches per game in the first eight weeks of the season, scoring three touchdowns in three separate games.
One thing worth noting is just how slow Henry started in most games this season, averaging just 2.8 yards per carry in the first quarter compared to 5.3 yards per carry in the fourth quarter. Relying on Henry and the running game early could lead to a sluggish start for Tennessee.
San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers; (Sat.) 8:15 PM
49ers
| Player | Position | Injury | Tue | Wed | Thu | Game Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Nick Bosa
|
DL | Concussion | DNP | LP | FP | Questionable |
|
Jordan Willis
|
DL | Ankle | DNP | LP | LP | Questionable |
|
Azeez Al-Shaair
|
LB | Knee | LP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Jimmy Garoppolo
|
QB | Right Shoulder/Right Thumb | LP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Dre Greenlaw
|
LB | Groin | LP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Marcell Harris
|
LB | Achilles | LP | LP | FP | (-) |
|
Talanoa Hufanga
|
S | Knee | LP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Elijah Mitchell
|
RB | Knee | LP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Ambry Thomas
|
CB | Knee | LP | LP | LP | Questionable |
|
Fred Warner
|
LB | Ankle | LP | FP | FP | (-) |
– Jimmy Garoppolo added a shoulder injury to his throwing arm last week, but doesn’t carry an injury designation into the weekend. When the two teams met earlier this season, Garoppolo threw the ball 40 times, but averaged just 6.4 yards per attempt and also took three sacks.
– Nick Bosa cleared concussion protocol and will be active on Saturday night for the 49ers. He finished the season ranked fourth in the NFL in sacks and his 17 quarterback hits ranked second among edge rushers behind Maxx Crosby.
Bosa only recorded two quarterback pressures against the Packers in Week 3, but he has since started rushing more from the left side of the defense, as opposed to the right side he favored back in the early part of 2021.
Packers right tackle Billy Turner is expected to play after being a full participant in practice all week. He hasn’t allowed a sack since Week 7 or a quarterback hit since Week 8.
Packers
| Player | Position | Injury | Tue | Wed | Thu | Game Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Jaire Alexander
|
CB | Shoulder | LP | LP | LP | Questionable |
|
David Bakhtiari
|
T | Knee | DNP | LP | DNP | Questionable |
|
De’Vondre Campbell
|
LB | Elbow | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Aaron Jones
|
RB | Knee | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Aaron Rodgers
|
QB | Toe | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Billy Turner
|
G/T | Knee | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Marquez Valdes-Scantling
|
WR | Back | LP | DNP | DNP | Doubtful |
|
Marcedes Lewis
|
TE | NIR | (-) | DNP | FP | (-) |
– Left tackle David Bakhtiari is questionable after being a non-participant in two practices this week. The former All Pro made his 2021 debut in Week 18, playing 27 snaps against the Lions after spending the whole season recovering from a knee injury.
Yosh Nijman would step back into the left tackle spot if Bakhtiari is absent again, but it’s unclear if Bakhtiari’s absence this week was mostly precautionary.
– Also questionable is Jaire Alexander, who hasn’t played since Week 4 due to a shoulder injury. Alexander hasn’t played since Week 4 and his shoulder remains questionable for contact.
Expect Alexander to start opposite either Eric Stokes or Rasul Douglas, who have both played well this season, although Douglas has been the better of the two this season.
– Marquez Valdes-Scantling has practiced just once in the past two weeks and should be inactive on Sunday. The arsenal won’t be completely bare for Aaron Rodgers with Randall Cobb returning from the IR this week.
Cobb should join Davante Adams and Allen Lazard in the starting lineup against the 49ers.
– The Packers will also get pass rushers Whitney Mercilus and Za’Darius Smith from the IR this week. Smith has played just nine snaps this year while Mercilus has been absent since Week 6.
Expect the two veterans to rotate in with Rashan Gary (81 pressures) and Preston Smith (62 pressures) on the edge.
Los Angeles Rams at Tampa Bay Buccaneers; 3:00 PM
Rams
| Player | Position | Injury | Wed | Thu | Fri | Game Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Andrew Whitworth
|
OL | Knee | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
|
Buddy Howell
|
RB | Hamstring | DNP | DNP | DNP | Doubtful |
|
Taylor Rapp
|
S | Concussion | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
|
Brandon Powell
|
WR | Ribs | LP | LP | FP | (-) |
|
Troy Reeder
|
ILB | Ankle | LP | LP | FP | (-) |
|
Ben Skowronek
|
WR | Back | LP | LP | FP | (-) |
– Andrew Whitworth will be a big loss for the Rams, especially against the Buccaneers aggressive, blitz-heavy defense. Joseph Noteboom will fill in for Whitworth again after playing 33 snaps against the Cardinals last week. Noteboom has played well this season, allowing zero sacks and just one pressure in almost 150 snaps at left tackle.
Buccaneers
| Player | Position | Injury | Wed | Thu | Fri | Game Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Shaquil Barrett
|
OLB | Knee | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Giovani Bernard
|
RB | Hip/Knee | LP | LP | FP | (-) |
|
Lavonte David
|
ILB | Foot | LP | LP | LP | (-) |
|
Mike Edwards
|
S | Elbow | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Cyril Grayson Jr.
|
WR | Hamstring | DNP | DNP | LP | Questionable |
|
Ryan Jensen
|
C | Ankle | DNP | DNP | LP | Questionable |
|
Ronald Jones II
|
RB | Ankle | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
|
Sean Murphy-Bunting
|
CB | Hamstring | DNP | LP | FP | Questionable |
|
Breshad Perriman
|
WR | Hip/Abdomen | DNP | DNP | DNP | Out |
|
Jason Pierre-Paul
|
OLB | NIR-Personal | DNP | DNP | DNP | Questionable |
|
Josh Wells
|
T | Quadriceps | LP | LP | LP | (-) |
|
Tristan Wirfs
|
T | Ankle | DNP | DNP | LP | Questionable |
– The Buccaneers offensive line is banged up with Ryan Jenson and Tristan Wirfs both dealing with ankle injuries. Wirfs had a tremendous season, but really struggled last week against Ryan Kerrigan after suffering his injury, allowing a sack and earning the lowest PFF blocking grade of his young career.
Josh Wells relieved Wirfs against the Eagles and didn’t fair much better, allowing a sack as well. Jensen didn’t miss a single snap last week and even though he is questionable, he should be suited up against the Rams.
Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs; 6:30 PM
Bills
| Player | Position | Injury | Wed | Thu | Fri | Game Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mario Addison
|
DE | Shoulder | LP | LP | FP | (-) |
Chiefs
| Player | Position | Injury | Wed | Thu | Fri | Game Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Darrel Williams
|
RB | Toe | DNP | DNP | LP | Questionable |
|
Clyde Edwards-Helaire
|
RB | Shoulder | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Tyreek Hill
|
WR | Heel | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
L’Jarius Sneed
|
CB | Knee | FP | FP | FP | (-) |
|
Rashad Fenton
|
CB | Back | DNP | DNP | DNP | Questionable |
|
Willie Gay
|
LB | NIR (Personal) | (-) | DNP | FP | (-) |
|
Anthony Hitchens
|
LB | Back | (-) | LP | LP | (-) |
|
Prince Tega Wanogho
|
T | Rib | (-) | LP | FP | (-) |
– Clyde Edwards-Helaire will be active on Sunday for the first time since suffering a shoulder injury back in Week 16. The second-year back struggled against the Bills back in Week 5, earning just 13 yards on seven carries before exiting with an injury. The Chiefs relied on Jerick McKinnon last week. The veteran gained 142 yards from scrimmage and caught a touchdown pass from Patrick Mahomes.
The Bills did allow 17 touchdowns to opposing running backs this year, but were the best team in defending running backs in the passing game, allowing just 57 catches for 495 yards on 92 targets.
