Injuries are a big part of the NFL season. The game's physicality and brutality can cause injuries at any moment. And now that the regular season is in its final month, injuries could derail a team's hopes. Here is the Week 18 injury report.
Key Injuries
- Justin Herbert, quarterback, LA Chargers (fractured finger): Herbert left the Chargers' Week 14 game with an injury to his right index finger. The Chargers star will miss the rest of the season following surgery.
- TJ Hockenson, tight end, Minnesota Vikings (ACL/MCL): Following an ACL/MCL tear in Week 16, TJ Hockenson will miss the rest of the season.
- DJ Wonnum, linebacker, Minnesota Vikings (quad): Wonnum tore his quadricep last Sunday. He has undergone season-ending surgery.
- Alim McNeill, defensive tackle, Detroit Lions (knee): Earlier this week, Detroit placed influential defensive tackle Alim McNeill on injured reserve. The defender has a knee injury and will miss at least four weeks of action.
- Kareem Hunt, running back, Cleveland Browns (groin): Kareem Hunt has missed all of Cleveland's practice sessions this week. The Browns will likely give Hunt as much time as possible to recover, and his status could be a game-time decision.
- Hayden Hurst, tight end, Carolina Panthers (concussion): The Panthers diagnosed Hayden Hurst with concussion and post-traumatic amnesia on Thursday. Hurst is adamant that this won't end his career, but this is a severe injury.
- Tank Dell, wide receiver, Houston Texans (broken leg): Rookie Tank Dell's season ended last Sunday. The impressive wideout suffered a broken leg.
- Yannick Ngakoue, defensive end, Chicago Bears (ankle): Earlier this week, the Bears placed Yannick Ngakoue on injured reserve. Ngakoue broke his ankle last week and will miss the rest of the season. .
- Greg Dulcich, tight end, Denver Broncos (hamstring): Dulcich has not trained this week, and it could be a gameday decision.
- Dawand Jones, right tackle, Cleveland Browns (knee): Jones suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 14.
- Grant Delpit, defensive back, Cleveland Browns (groin): The Browns placed Delpit on injured reserve due to a groin injury. Delpit will miss the rest of the regular season.
- Juan Thornhill, defensive back, Cleveland Browns (calf): Thornhill has not participated in this week's training sessions. It is unlikely he will play this week.
- Mo Hurst, defensive tackle, Cleveland Browns (pectoral): Cleveland also sent Mo Hurst to injured reserve. Hurst tore his pectoral muscle in Week 14, and his season is over.
- Christian Watson, wide receiver, Green Bay Packers (hamstring): Watson injured his hamstring two weeks ago and missed out in Week 15. He has now missed this week's Wednesday and Thursday training sessions.
- Kristian Fulton, defensive back, Tennessee Titans (hamstring): The Titans placed Fulton on injured reserve due to a nagging hamstring injury. Fulton's season is over.
- Connor Williams, offensive lineman, Miami Dolphins (ACL): Williams' season ended Monday night with an ACL tear.
- De'Von Achane, running back, Miami Dolphins (rib/toe): Achane is now battling rib and toe injuries. He is another Dolphin to have missed this week's training sessions.
- Terron Armstead, offensive lineman, Miami Dolphins (knee/ankle): Armstead's multiple injuries have forced him to sit out this week's practice.
- Rhamondre Stevenson, running back, New England Patriots (ankle sprain): Stevenson missed Wednesday's training session and could miss several games with a high ankle sprain.
- Keaton Mitchell, running back, Baltimore Ravens (ACL): Keaton Mitchell sustained an ACL injury and is out for the season, according to head coach John Harbaugh.
- DJ Reader, defensive tackle, Cincinnati Bengals (quadricep): Reader tore his quadricep on Saturday and is out for the season.
- Trevor Lawrence, quarterback, Jacksonville Jaguars (shoulder): .Lawrence ended Jacksonville's Week 16 game with a shoulder injury. He has not trained this week.
- Alexander Mattison, running back, Minnesota Vikings (ankle): Mattison missed Thursday's training session and is unlikely to play against the Lions in Week 16.
- Jayden Reed, wide receiver, Green Bay Packers (toe): Reed injured his toe in Week 15 and has not trained this week.
- Tyreek Hill, wide receiver, Miami Dolphins (ankle): Hill is dealing with an ongoing ankle injury and missed Miami's Wednesday training session.
- Jaylen Waddle, wide receiver, Miami Dolphins (ankle): Waddle also missed Wednesday's session with an ankle injury.
- Kenneth Walker, running back, Seattle Seahawks (shoulder): Kenneth Walker has not practised this week due to a shoulder injury.
- Kyle Hamilton, defensive back, Baltimore Ravens (knee): Star defender Kyle Hamilton has missed this week's training sessions due to a knee injury.
With the Ravens having locked up the top seed, they are unlikely to risk Hamilton. - Carlton Davis, cornerback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (concussion): Carlton Davis is in concussion protocol and is unlikely to play on Sunday.
- Najee Harris, running back, Pittsburgh Steelers (knee): Harris has not trained this week due to a knee injury. With the Steelers playing on Saturday afternoon, he is unlikely to play.
- Zay Flowers, wide receiver, Baltimore Ravens (calf): Flowers is another Raven to have not trained this week.
- Marlon Humphrey, cornerback, Baltimore Ravens (calf): Humphrey has missed all of Baltimore's training sessions.
- Will Anderson Jr, defensive end, Houston Texans (ankle): Rookie Will Anderson has not trained this week. He is likely to be a gameday decision.
- Baker Mayfield, quarterback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ribs): The Bucs have listed Mayfield as questionable on their injury report. Mayfield sustained a rib injury in Week 17, and the Bucs will likely decide on his status on gameday.
- Zach Wilson, quarterback, New York Jets (concussion): The Jets have ruled Wilson out ahead of their Week 18 game.
- Taylor Heinicke, quarterback, Atlanta Falcons (ankle): Heinicke has played a limited role in training this week.
- Alvin Kamara, running back, New Orleans Saints (ankle): Kamara could be a gameday decision as he is battling an ankle injury.
- Will Levis, quarterback, Tennessee Titans (foot0: Levis has not trained this week with an ongoing foot injury.
- Darnell Mooney, wide receiver, Chicago Bears (concussion): Mooney is in the concussion protocol
- Terron Armstead, offensive tackle, Miami Dolphins (back): Armstead has not practised this week.
- Bradley Chubb, linebacker, Miami Dolphins (ACL): Chubb's season is over after suffering an ACL injury in Week 17
- Raheem Mostert, running back, Miami Dolphins (knee): Moster has not trained this week.
Returns
- Aaron Rodgers, quarterback, New York Jets (Achilles): After tearing his Achilles tendon on opening day, Aaron Rodgers has returned to practice in a limited capacity. The Jets have activated Rodgers onto the 53 man squad, but Rodgers will not play again this season.
- Ceedy Duce, defensive back, Detroit Lions (pectoral):Following his pectoral tear in September, Duce returned to training this week. He is in contention to start for the Lions in Week 18.
- Jonathan Taylor, running back, Indianapolis Colts (thumb): Following last month's thumb surgery, Taylor returned to training in full capacity on Wednesday. The powerhouse running back looks fit to return to the starting lineup.
- Nico Collins, wide receiver, Houston Texans (calf): Collins has trained in a limited role this week. He was close to playing last week and is trending towards playing this week.
- Kenny Pickett, quarterback, Pittsburgh Steelers (ankle): Pickett has started training again following an ankle injury. But Pickett is unlikely to start after Mason Rudolph's stellar performance last week.
- Trevor Lawrence, quarterback, Jacksonville Jaguars (finger): Lawrence missed last week with an injury. However, he is on track to start this week.
- Christian Kirk, wide receiver, Jacksonville Jaguars (groin): Kirk's 21-day window opened this week. He could return to the team if the Jaguars make the playoffs.