Fantasy Football Week 16 Injury Report: Wounded but not Defeated
The 2025 NFL Week 16 brought us too many injuries that will impact our fantasy teams, particularly to quarterbacks. I will continue to update the injury tracker and post any updates as team reports come out. Be sure to bookmark the 4for4 2025 Injury Tracker for continuous weekly updates.
Lamar Jackson, QB Baltimore Ravens
Injury: Back
Projected Timetable: TBD
Initial Thoughts:
By video, the defender's knee slammed directly into the left side of Jackson's back, leaving concern for a back contusion, rib injury, or possibly spleen or kidney injury. There has not been any news about him being sent to the hospital, so it is unlikely to be organ-related, but it could still involve fractures. We will likely hear more over the next few days.
Jordan Love, QB Green Bay Packers
Injury: Concussion
Projected Timetable: Week 17-18
Initial Thoughts:
On average, quarterbacks miss one week with concussion symptoms. Keep an eye on Malik Willis' status because he also picked up an injury to his right shoulder, likely an AC sprain, after landing hard on his right side during a tackle, but was able to continue playing.
Marcus Mariota, QB Washington Commanders
Injury: Right Hand, Quad
Projected Timetable: Week 18-2026
Initial Thoughts:
Mariota was unable to return to the game. No news on a fracture, so severity is still unknown, but there is some concern that he will not be able to play the rest of the season. Josh Johnson could wind up starting next week.
Josh Allen, QB Buffalo Bills
Injury: Right Foot
Projected Timetable: Week 17
Initial Thoughts:
He received X-Rays which ruled out a fracture, but he may have been hindered by the injury in week 16. His production was his lowest in many, many years. Hopefully, this does not impact him negatively in week 17.
JJ McCarthy, QB Minnesota Vikings
Injury: Right Hand
Projected Timetable: Week 17-18
Initial Thoughts:
Fracture has already been ruled out, but McCarthy was clearly in a ton of pain as the training staff was evaluating his right hand. As of right now, I am unsure if he will be able to suit up for week 17. Keep an eye on his status this week in practice.
Gardner Minshew, QB Kansas City Chiefs
Injury: ACL Tear
Projected Timetable: 2026
Initial Thoughts:
Minshew can now rehab step by step with Patrick Mahomes. The Chiefs are now a potential wasteland for week 17 production.
Shedeur Sanders, QB Cleveland Browns
Injury: Right Pinky Finger, Nail
Projected Timetable: Week 17-18
Initial Thoughts:
As of right now, I believe Sanders will be able to suit up for week 17 despite the finger injury. Unfortunately, he was even more inaccurate than he normally is, likely due to the nail and distal digit issue. Keep an eye on his status, but I would remain in the "only start Harold Fannin" boat for week 17.
Quinshon Judkins, RB Cleveland Browns
Injury: Dislocated Ankle, Fracture
Projected Timetable: 2026
Initial Thoughts:
Judkins has already been confirmed to require surgery for a dislocated ankle and fracture, but it was also reported that he is still undergoing evaluation for a knee injury as well. My initial concern on video was a possible ACL and/or LCL injury to his knee before he got wrapped up, so hopefully, he does not have all of this involved, and it is just the ankle. As many have asked, the ankle injury is technically preferred to a multi-ligament knee injury in terms of 2026 availability.
TreVeyon Henderson, RB New England Patriots
Injury: Concussion
Projected Timetable: Week 18
Initial Thoughts:
On average, players miss 1 game due to concussion protocol. Monitor his status in practice.
Jordan Mason, RB Minnesota Vikings
Injury: Ankle Sprain
Projected Timetable: TBD
Initial Thoughts:
Mason was ruled out fairly quickly, with concern of a potential high ankle sprain. Thankfully, Aaron Jones was able to return from his own low ankle sprain and finish the game. I would not trust any other running backs on this team outside of Jones, even if Mason misses.
Kimani Vidal, RB Los Angeles Chargers
Injury: Neck
Projected Timetable: TBD
Initial Thoughts:
Vidal was unable to return to the game due to a neck injury. Severity is unknown still, but if he were to miss time, we will likely see a very heavy workload for Omarion Hampton, which is what we all hope for anyways.
Pat Bryant, WR Denver Broncos
Injury: Neck, Chest, Body
Projected Timetable: TBD
Initial Thoughts:
Prayers up for Bryant after a scary collision led him to be stretchered off the field and taken in an ambulance immediately. Sean Payton stated post-game that he has movement in his extremities, so that is a fantastic initial sign. We will likely hear of the severity and exact injury over the next few days. They play on a short week on Christmas night.
Ryan Flournoy, WR Dallas Cowboys
Injury: Knee
Projected Timetable: TBD
Initial Thoughts:
Lower on the impact list for fantasy but certainly on the list of fun players to watch succeed, Flournoy picked up a knee injury that had him ruled out fairly quickly. His right knee was bent awkwardly on a play where he took a helmet-to-helmet hit, leading to concern of potential ACL and/or MCL injury. Hopefully, we hear over the next few days, but I expect him to miss time.
| Player | Position | Team | Injury | Concern | Projected Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MarShawn Lloyd | RB | GB | Hamstring, Groin Strain | High | Season-Ending |
| Joe Mixon | RB | HOU | Bone Necrosis in Foot | High | Season-Ending |
| Austin Ekeler | RB | WAS | Right Achilles | Surgery | Season-Ending |
| Najee Harris | RB | LAC | Right Achilles | Surgery | Season-Ending |
| James Conner | RB | ARI | Right Ankle | High | Season-Ending |
| Malik Nabers | WR | NYG | Right ACL | Surgery | Season-Ending |
| Tyreek Hill | WR | MIA | Left Knee ACL, LCL, Meniscus+ | High, Surgery | Season-Ending |
| Antonio Gibson | RB | NE | Right ACL, Meniscus | High | Season-Ending |
| Miles Sanders | RB | DAL | Knee, Ankle | High | Season-Ending |
| Carson Wentz | QB | MIN | Left Shoulder Fracture, Labrum | High | Season-Ending |
| JK Dobbins | RB | DEN | Lisfranc Repair | Surgery | Season-Ending |
| Calvin Ridley | WR | TEN | Fibula Fracture | Surgery | Season-Ending |
| Trey Benson | RB | ARI | Meniscus Surgery | Surgery 10/1 | Season-Ending |
| Brandon Aiyuk | WR | SF | ACLR, MCL, PCL | High | Season-Ending |
| Braelon Allen | RB | NYJ | Left MCL Surgery | High | Season-Ending |
| Garrett Wilson | WR | NYJ | Knee Sprain Reinjury IR | Moderate | Season-Ending |
| Kendre Miller | RB | NO | ACL Tear | Moderate-High | Season-Ending |
| Quinshon Judkins | RB | CLE | Right Ankle Dislocation | High | Season-Ending |
| Cam Skattebo | RB | NYG | Right Ankle Dislocation | High | Season-Ending |
| Jayden Daniels | QB | WAS | Left Elbow Dislocation+ | High | Season-Ending |
| Tucker Kraft | TE | GB | Right MCL, possibly ACL | High | Season-Ending |
| Michael Penix Jr | QB | ATL | Knee Bruise Reinjury | High | Season-Ending |
| Sam LaPorta | TE | DET | Back Surgery | High | Season-Ending |
| Daniel Jones | QB | IND | Right Achilles | High | Season-Ending |
| Jayden Daniels | QB | WAS | Left Elbow Aggravation | Moderate | Season-Ending |
| Zach Ertz | TE | WAS | ACL++ | High | Season-Ending |
| David Njoku | TE | CLE | Left Knee Reinjury x2 | Moderate | Week 17-18 |
| Patrick Mahomes | QB | KC | ACL+ | High | Season-Ending |
| Gardner Minshew | QB | KC | ACL | High | Season-Ending |
| Bhayshul Tuten | RB | JAC | Finger | Moderate | NFL Playoffs |
| Devin Neal | RB | NO | Hamstring Strain | Moderate | Season-Ending |
| Bam Knight | RB | ARI | High Ankle | High | Season-Ending |
| Rome Odunze | WR | CHI | Stress Fracture Aggravation | High | Week 18-NFL Playoffs |
| Davante Adams | WR | LAR | Hamstring Strain Reinjury | Moderate | Week 18-NFL Playoffs |
| Luther Burden | WR | CHI | Left Ankle, High Ankle or Midfoot | Moderate | Week 17-NFL Playoffs |
| Ricky Pearsall | WR | SF | PCL Reinjury | Mild-Moderate | Week 17-NFL Playoffs |
| Tyler Higbee | TE | LAR | High Ankle Sprain | Moderate | Week 17-18 |
| Alvin Kamara | RB | NO | Right MCL Sprain | Moderate | Week 17-2026 |
| JJ McCarthy | QB | MIN | Right Hand Injury | Moderate | Week 18-2026 |
| Marcus Mariota | QB | WAS | Right Hand Injury, Quad | Moderate | Week 18-2026 |
| Jordan Love | QB | GB | Concussion | Mild | Week 18 |
| Malik Willis | QB | GB | Right AC Sprain | Mild | Week 17-18 |
| Lamar Jackson | QB | BAL | Back, Ribs, Organ? | Mild-Moderate | Week 17-2026 |
| Josh Allen | QB | BUF | Right Foot | Mild | Week 17 |
| Shedeur Sanders | QB | CLE | Right Pinky Injury | Mild-Moderate | Week 17-18 |
| Jordan Mason | RB | MIN | High Ankle | Moderate-High | 2026 |
| Aaron Jones | RB | MIN | Low Ankle | Mild | Week 17 |
| Kimani Vidal | RB | LAC | Neck | Mild-Moderate | Week 17-NFL Playoffs |
| Pat Bryant | WR | DEN | Neck, Chest, TBD | Moderate-High | Week 18-NFL Playoffs |
| Ryan Flournoy | WR | DAL | Knee | Moderate-High | 2026 |
| TreVeyon Henderson | RB | NE | Concussion | Mild | Week 18 |
