The 2022 NFL regular season is coming to a close with just one more week separating us from the postseason.
With almost half of the league having nothing to gain in Week 18, we could be looking at a lot of lop-sided matchups this weekend with a few game-deciding postseason fates.
Here’s a team-by-team breakdown of all the injury news coming out of the weekend
Arizona Cardinals Injuries
James Conner is considered day-to-day after suffering a shin injury against the Falcons. Conner still totaled 110 yards before exiting early.
Former Eagle Corey Clement was second on the team in rushing, carrying the ball seven times for 32 yards.
Atlanta Falcons Injuries
Punt returner Avery Williams was ruled out late in Sunday’s win with a foot injury. He had a season-high 30 yards from scrimmage in Week 16.
Williams’s 16.2 yards per punt return leads the NFL.
Baltimore Ravens Injuries
Lamar Jackson has missed four straight and it seems like he will miss a fifth after John Harbaugh told reporters that he didn’t know if Jackson would even return to the practice field this week.
With no chance of catching the Bengals in the AFC, the Ravens don’t have much to play for in Week 18, but their anemic offense is concerning heading into the postseason. Baltimore has averaged just 11.8 points in their last five contests.
Carolina Panthers Injuries
The Panthers placed Jaycee Horn on the IR, ending his season. The second-year cornerback had surgery on his wrist following Week 16 and wasn’t expected to be ready to play until possibly the postseason.
With Horn out against the Buccaneers, Tom Brady and Mike Evans picked on the duo of Keith Taylor and C.J. Henderson.
Henderson allowed seven catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns to Evans on nine targets and Taylor was beaten for two catches and 76 yards on a pair of targets.
Chicago Bears Injuries
Wide receiver Dante Pettis was hospitalized after leaving Sunday’s loss to the Lions with a head injury, but has been discharged and flew home with the team. He has already cleared concussion protocol.
As for Justin Fields, Matt Eberflus did not commit to him starting the meaningless season finale after taking seven sacks against the Lions.
Fields is just 64 yards shy of setting the single-season rushing record for a quarterback.
Cleveland Browns Injuries
The Browns didn’t have an update on Jack Conklin or Denzel Ward on Monday. Ward left the game in the first quarter with a shoulder injury and Conklin was replaced by James Hudson after suffering an ankle injury.
Hudson didn’t allow any pressures and was the Browns’ highest-graded pass blocker on PFF, but played just seven pass blocking snaps.
Ward was replaced by Martin Emerson who allowed one catch for 20 yards, but also added a pair of pass breakups.
Dallas Cowboys Injuries
Tony Pollard is expected to return to practice this week after missing Week 17 with a thigh injury.
Pollard is just 12 yards shy of a 1000-yard season and the Cowboys need a win and an Eagles loss to secure the NFC East and the top seed in the NFC.
The Cowboys struggled to run the ball against the Titans on Thursday night, with Ezekiel Elliott carrying the ball 19 times and gaining just 37 yards.
Dak Prescott also played through a hyperextended knee against the Titans, but the team has zero concern about his condition moving toward the playoffs.
Denver Broncos Injuries
Dalton Risner suffered a UCL injury in the loss to the Chiefs and is expected to be inactive for the season finale.
Risner was replaced by Quinn Bailey on Sunday. If Bailey starts next week, it will be his first NFL start after playing 137 offensive snaps in four seasons in the league. He allowed one sack against the Chiefs.
Detroit Lions Injuries
Starting safety DeShon Elliott has missed the last two games with a shoulder injury and his status for Week 18 is firmly questionable. Despite missing the last two games, he is still second on the team in total tackles.
The Lions used a rotation led by Ifeatu Melifonwu to fill Elliott’s role against the Bears on Sunday.
Melifonwu was the third-highest graded Lions defender on Pro Football Focus this week.
Green Bay Packers Injuries
Return specialist Keisean Nixon was questionable due to a groin injury, but he ended up playing and returning a kickoff 105 yards for a touchdown.
Right tackle Yosh Nijman also went down with an undisclosed injury, but was able to return after being replaced by Zach Tom for eight snaps.
David Bakhtiari made his return to the lineup after a four-week absence. He allowed just a single pressure in 56 snaps.
Houston Texans Injuries
Guard Jimmy Morrissey was inactive on Sunday due to a concussion he suffered a week earlier. However, the return of rookie Kenyon Green would have moved him to the bench anyway.
Green has struggled in pass protection this season, allowing 43 pressures and 11 quarterback hits.
Indianapolis Colts Injuries
Nick Foles has been ruled out of Week 18 after suffering a rib injury against the Giants on Sunday. He struggled in his two starts, throwing four interceptions and averaging just 5.3 yards per attempt.
The Colts will hand the reigns back to Sam Ehlinger who struggled so bad in his last start, Frank Reich was fired the next day.
Ehlinger did throw a meaningless touchdown against the Giants and completed nine of his 14 pass attempts for 60 years.
Jacksonville Jaguars Injuries
Brandon Scherff missed the end of Sunday’s win, but it was mostly precautionary as he came into the game questionable with abdominal and ankle injuries.
Trevor Lawrence also bowed out early once the game was decided, playing just 44 snaps with his toe injury.
Kansas City Chiefs Injuries
Cornerback L’Jarius Snead suffered a hip injury in the win over the Broncos and is considered day-to-day by the team.
Joshua Williams filled in and played 14 snaps, getting targeted once and committing a pair of penalties.
The bigger concern in Kansas City is the health of Joe Thuney who sat out the end of the game due to an ankle injury. Thuney missed time earlier this year due to the same issue.
Nick Allegretti made two starts at left guard earlier this season, allowing six pressures and two quarterback hits.
Las Vegas Raiders Injuries
The Raiders will play their meaningless season finale without defensive starters Rock Ya-Sin, Chandler Jones, and Denzel Perryman, all of whom were added to the IR last week.
Amik Robertson filled in for Ya-Sin in the last two weeks and earned his second-career interception against the 49ers.
The Raider run defense struggled against the 49ers, allowing Christian McCaffrey to rush for 121 yards on 19 carries in the overtime loss.
Los Angeles Chargers Injuries
Joey Bosa returned to the field for the first time since Week 3, playing 24 snaps and pressuring the quarterback three times. Bosa suffered a groin injury in September.
Derwin James wasn’t on the field as he remains in concussion protocol following his vicious hit on Monday Night Football last week.
Alohi Gilman played 49 snaps at safety, allowing a 39-yard completion and making three tackles.
Los Angeles Rams Injuries
Right tackle Rob Havenstein did not miss a snap against the Chargers, but is dealing with a knee injury according to Sean McVay. He is expected to play in the season finale against the Seahawks.
Havenstein has allowed six sacks and eight quarterback hits this season.
Miami Dolphins Injuries
The Dolphins don’t expect Tua Tagovailoa to play in Week 18 as he remains in concussion protocol. That means it will be Teddy Bridgewater or Skylar Thompson under center against the Jets.
Bridgewater started in Week 17, but was pulled after suffering an injury to his throwing hand.
Thompson has played in six games this season, starting one. He’s completed 54 percent of his passes and averaged 5.2 yards per attempt while scoring one touchdown and turning the ball over five times.
Minnesota Vikings Injuries
Right tackle Brian O’Neill will be absent for Week 18 and could miss the postseason after suffering a significant calf injury on Sunday.
O’Neill had allowed 24 pressures this season and was graded as the seventh-best tackle in the NFL by Pro Football Focus.
Oli Udoh filled in for O’Neill against the Packers and allowed one pressure on 32 pass blocking snaps. Udoh was the Vikings starting right guard last season, but has never started a game at right tackle in his four-year career.
New England Patriots Injuries
Jakobi Meyers is still dealing with a shoulder injury, but told reporters that he’s “fine” following Sunday’s win over the Dolphins.
Since missing Week 14, Meyers has 14 catches for 178 yards and two touchdowns in three games. In seven career games against the Bills, Meyers has averaged three catches for 30 yards.
New Orleans Saints Injuries
The Saints struggled to protect Andy Dalton once Ryan Ramczyk went out with a hip injury. Landon Young allowed two sacks and three additional pressures in 26 pass blocking snaps.
Right guard Calvin Throckmorton also allowed a pair of sacks in the win.
New York Giants Injuries
The Giants have nothing to play for this week, and if the betting line for Week 18 is any indication, they won’t allow any key starters get in harm’s way.
Leonard Williams is probably the most likely guy to sit out as he deals with a neck injury that has lingered for a while and isn’t expected to fully heal until the offseason. His 11 quarterback hits rank fifth among defensive linemen this season.
New York Jets Injuries
Mike White is dealing with rib soreness again, but he is expected to suit up for Week 18.
White struggled against the Seahawks, going 23-46 for 240 yards and tossing a pair of interceptions. In his three starts this season, White has five turnovers and just one touchdown.
Rookie safety Tony Adams should get the start this weekend with Lamarcus Joyner ruled out with a hip injury. Adams played 60 snaps against the Seahawks, earning four tackles.
Philadelphia Eagles Injuries
The Eagles expect Jalen Hurts to return this week after missing a pair of games due to a shoulder injury. The Eagles have dropped both games Hurts has missed and still need just one win to lock up the NFC East.
Edge rusher Josh Sweat was carted off the field early in the loss to the Saints and was transported to the hospital with a neck injury. However, he was released from the hospital and is considered day-to-day.
With Lane Johnson out, Jack Driscoll started at right tackle and allowed two sacks. Johnson hadn’t allowed a sack since 2020 prior to getting injured.
Pittsburgh Steelers Injuries
Cornerback James Pierre is in concussion protocol after suffering a head injury against the Ravens on Sunday night.
However, Mike Tomlin is more optimistic that both Myles Jack and Minkah Fitzpatrick will be ready to go this weekend.
Jack was limited to just six snaps against the Ravens due to a groin injury and Fitzpatrick is dealing with an ankle issue.
San Francisco 49ers Injuries
Christian McCaffrey is considered day-to-day after suffering a sprained ankle against the Raiders on Sunday. The good news is Elijah Mitchell is expected to return to the practice field this week, opening his 21-day window.
The 49ers have already ruled out Aaron Banks for Week 18 as he deals with both knee and ankle sprains. Daniel Brunskill played 50 snaps against the Raiders and didn’t allow a single pressure.
Brunskill was the team’s starting right guard last season, but had just two snaps of left guard experience prior to this year.
Seattle Seahawks Injuries
Tyler Lockett did return from his finger injury in Week 17, but left the game for a brief moment after suffering a leg contusion.
Against the Jets, the Seahawks phased their wide receivers out of the passing game with DK Metcalf having just one catch for three yards and Lockett adding two catches for 15 yards.
As for linebacker Jordyn Brooks, he will miss the rest of the season after tearing his ACL. Tanner Muse could get his first NFL start after playing 19 snaps against the Jets and earning one quarterback pressure and a pass breakup.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Injuries
Despite being designated to return from the IR last week, there is still no chance Ryan Jensen will play in the Buccaneers regular season finale. At this point, he remains a longshot to even return for the postseason.
Todd Bowles did tell reporters he isn’t sure if his starters will play in a meaningless game before hosting a playoff game in Wild Card Weekend. Tom Brady hasn’t missed a game since his four-game suspension in 2016.
Tennessee Titans Injuries
Despite still having a chance at winning the AFC South with a win over the Jaguars on Saturday night, the Titans added six players to the IR last week and played on Thursday night without Derrick Henry.
The Titans have 22 players currently on the IR, but Henry could return after his one-game absence.
Hassan Haskins was the team’s leading rusher against the Cowboys, carring the ball 12 times for 40 yards.
Washington Commanders Injuries
Jonathan Allen is dealing with a hyperextended knee according to Ron Rivera. He played just 17 snaps against the Browns and could sit out Week 18 with the Commanders now eliminated from playoff contention.
Carson Wentz returned to the starting lineup for the first time since he injured his finger back in Week 6 and it was a performance to forget. His 31.4 passer rating was the lowest of his career and his three interceptions tied a career-high.
