Fantasy Football Week 8 Injury Report: Maye the Waivers Be in Your Favor
Jordan Love, QB Green Bay Packers
Injury: Left Groin Strain
Projected Timetable: Week 11-12
Initial Thoughts:
Love looked hobbled throughout the majority of the game, though the Packers announced that his injury is not viewed as a long-term concern. He likely misses week 9, continues to recover through the week 10 bye, and then returns either week 11 or 12. The average missed time is roughly 2 weeks for quarterbacks with mild to moderate groin strain. Anticipate Malik Willis starting in week 9.
Drake Maye, QB New England Patriots
Injury: Concussion
Projected Timetable: Week 10-11
Initial Thoughts:
The average missed time is just over 1 week due to concussion, though we have seen some clear protocol in time to avoid missing any time. Plan on Maye missing week 9, but hopefully, we are pleasantly surprised by his practice status.
Kendre Miller, RB New Orleans Saints
Injury: Hamstring Strain
Projected Timetable: Dennis Allen's Inferno
Initial Thoughts:
Of all of the injury news we wish we didn't have, this has to be the worst for anyone holding onto hope that Kendre Miller eventually hits. He has suffered yet another hamstring strain, entering the gates of Dennis Allen's wrath once again. Given his history and if this is truly a reinjury of his prior hamstring strain, he may wind up being placed on IR again (reminder that players can be activated off of IR twice in one season, though unsure if the Saints will want to use another designation on him). Hopefully, this is mild and not IR-worthy, but keep an eye on his status.
Jordan Mason, RB San Francisco 49ers
Injury: Left Shoulder/AC reinjury
Projected Timetable: Week 10-11
Initial Thoughts:
AC sprain reinjury rates are fairly high for running backs. Mason suffered his early in the game in a pile-up and was unable to return. Thankfully he has a bye week coming up, but Christian McCaffrey is set to return for week 10. His time as RB1 may be done, but keep stashing him.
Tyrone Tracy, RB New York Giants
Injury: Concussion
Projected Timetable: Week 10-12
Initial Thoughts:
I anticipate the team confirming that Tracy suffered a concussion after his head slammed down into the turf. On a short week, I do not anticipate him being able to clear concussion protocol in time to play week 9, so he likely returns week 10 or after their bye week. Plan accordingly.
Christian Kirk, WR Jacksonville Jaguars
Injury: Left Clavicle Fracture
Projected Timetable: Season-Ending
Initial Thoughts:
Huge bummer for both Kirk and the Jaguars, who were gearing up to trade him as the trade deadline nears. Kirk was viewed as one of the top wide receivers available for trade. He will now miss the remainder of the season and eye 2025. He could wind up being a decent buy low in Dynasty, but exercise caution on the price tag.
Brian Thomas, WR Jacksonville Jaguars
Injury: Chest/Ribs
Projected Timetable: 1-3 Weeks
Initial Thoughts:
This injury could vary on the timetable for his return, fully dependent on the severity of the damage. If rib cartilage is damaged, he will likely miss at least one game if not multiple. If just bruised, there is a chance he could play in week 9. Monitor his practice status, but anticipate him missing some time. If active Week 9, he will likely be on the higher end of reinjury risk if he were to take a big hit or land hard on his ribs again.
Gabe Davis, WR Jacksonville Jaguars
Injury: Shoulder Reinjury
Projected Timetable: 1-3 Weeks
Initial Thoughts:
Davis has reinjured his shoulder for the third time this season, and this one could finally cost him time. This marks the third starting Jaguars wide receiver injured this week. Parker Washington should be on everyone's radar off of waivers. He and Tim Jones are currently the only healthy receivers on the Jaguars' active roster.
Sterling Shepard, WR Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Injury: Hamstring
Projected Timetable: Week 9-12
Initial Thoughts:
With a week 11 bye, I believe there is a risk that Shepard will miss these next two weeks with a hamstring strain. He was able to return to the game for a few snaps but was ineffective. The Bucs likely lean on getting Jalen McMillan more involved with Cade Otton as the primary cog in the passing attack. Mike Evans will remain out until after the bye week, as well.
Stefon Diggs, WR Houston Texans
Injury: Right Knee ACL Tear
Projected Timetable: TBD
Initial Thoughts:
The primary concern is an ACL tear as it appeared that Diggs' knee buckled inwards after a hard plant to cut inside, coming up limping with the non-contact injury. Worst worst-case scenario is an ACL tear that costs him his season, while best best-case scenario is a bone bruise or meniscus injury that may only cost him a few weeks unless it requires surgery. Keep an eye out for updates, but I am anticipating bad news on this one. Update: Confirmed ACL tear for Diggs, his season is now over.
Tee Higgins, WR Cincinnati Bengals
Injury: Quad Strain
Projected Timetable: Week 10-11
Initial Thoughts:
Higgins suffered his quadriceps strain in Friday's practice and was unable to run on Sunday. This injury likely costs him more time and am projecting him to miss week 9 given proximity of the strain. He will likely have a chance to play in week 10 or 11 prior to their bye week. If he is active Week 9, he will carry high reinjury risk as a long-strider and jumper with high reliance on his quadriceps.
Deebo Samuel, WR San Francisco 49ers
Injury: Rib Sprain
Projected Timetable: Week 10-11
Initial Thoughts:
Samuel suffered a rib sprain at the end of the game and was unable to finish out. Thankfully the 49ers have a bye week this next week, so hopefully Samuel can heal up and suit up for week 10.
TJ Hockenson, TE Minnesota Vikings
Injury: ACLR Return to Play Protocol
Projected Timetable: Week 9
Initial Thoughts:
I simply wanted to talk about Hockenson's impending debut in week 9. Currently projecting close to 70% snaps in his return considering Minnesota has slow-played his return and given him a plethora of practice reps prior to his in-game debut. This should be a huge boost to the Vikings offense, and with the loss of Christian Darrisaw (ACL/MCL), I anticipate Sam Darnold getting the ball out quicker, possibly favoring shorter ADOT targets toward Hockenson.
| Player | Position | Team | Injury | Week of Injury | Projected Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A.J. Dillon | RB | GB | Neck, Stinger | IR | Season-Ending |
| Elijah Mitchell | RB | SF | Hamstring Surgery | IR | Season Ending |
| J.J. McCarthy | QB | MIN | Right Meniscus Repair | IR | Season Ending |
| Deshaun Watson | QB | CLE | Right Achilles | Week 7 | Season Ending |
| Christian Kirk | WR | JAC | Left Clavicle Fracture | Week 8 | Season Ending |
| Jonathon Brooks | RB | CAR | ACLR | PUP | Week 9-TBD |
| Keaton Mitchell | RB | BAL | ACLR | PUP | Week 10-14 |
| Kendre Miller | RB | NO | Hamstring | Week 8 | Week 10-14 |
| Christian McCaffrey | RB | SF | Calf, Achilles | IR | Week 10 |
| Hollywood Brown | WR | KC | Left SC Surgery | IR | Week 18+ |
| Rashee Rice | WR | KC | Right LCL, HS Repair | Week 4 | Season-Ending |
| Nico Collins | WR | HOU | Hamstring reinjury | Week 5 | Week 10-12 |
| Isiah Pacheco | RB | KC | Right Fibula Surgery | Week 2 | Week 10-12 |
| Adam Thielen | WR | CAR | Hamstring | Week 3 | Week 9-10 |
| Chris Godwin | WR | TB | Ankle Fracture | Week 7 | Season Ending |
| Tyjae Spears | RB | TEN | Hamstring Strain | Week 6 | Week 9 |
| Brandon Aiyuk | WR | SF | Right ACL, MCL | Week 7 | Season Ending |
| DK Metcalf | WR | SEA | Right MCL | Week 7 | Week 9 |
| Aidan O'Connell | QB | LVR | Right Thumb Fracture | Week 7 | Week 11-13 |
| Travis Etienne | RB | JAC | Hamstring Strain | Week 6 | Week 9 |
| Quentin Johnston | WR | LAC | Ankle Sprain | Week 6 | Week 9 |
| Juju Smith-Schuster | WR | KC | Hamstring Strain reinjury | Week 7 | Week 10-11 |
| Dallas Goedert | TE | PHI | Hamstring Strain | Week 6 | Week 9-10 |
| Ja'Lynn Polk | WR | NE | Concussion | Week 7 | Week 9-10 |
| Jauan Jennings | WR | SF | Groin Strain | Week 6 | Week 10 |
| Mike Evans | WR | TB | Hamstring Strain reinjury | Week 7 | Week 12 |
| Drake Maye | QB | NE | Concussion | Week 8 | Week 10-11 |
| Jordan Love | QB | GB | Left Groin Strain | Week 8 | Week 11 |
| Brian Thomas | WR | JAC | Rib/Chest | Week 8 | Week 9-11 |
| Gabe Davis | WR | JAC | Shoulder reinjury | Week 8 | Week 9-11 |
| Sterling Shepard | WR | TB | Hamstring Strain | Week 8 | Week 9-12 |
| Stefon Diggs | WR | HOU | Right ACL Tear | Week 8 | Season Ending |
| Tee Higgins | WR | CIN | Quad Strain | Week 8 | Week 10-11 |
| Deebo Samuel | WR | SF | Rib Injury | Week 8 | Week 10-11 |
| Jordan Mason | RB | SF | AC Sprain reinjury | Week 8 | Week 10-11 |
| Tyrone Tracy | RB | NYG | Concussion | Week 8 | Week 10-12 |
