By Scott Kacsmar
Week 12 in the NFL started with Buffalo’s Von Miller getting carted off in Detroit, and Sunday night ended with Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers not finishing the game in Philadelphia.
That already sounds like a brutal week of injuries, but the news may not be as bad as things looked at the time. We could see both players back as we head into the final third of the regular season.
But there are some injury situations that could require your attention for the week. Here are all the notable injuries from Week 12 that you should acknowledge for your fantasy teams, DFS lineups, Same Game Parlays, and other prop bets this week.
QB Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
With Aaron Rodgers turning 39 on Friday and suffering a rib injury to go along with a broken thumb and 4-8 record, it was a fair question to ask if Sunday night was the last time we will see him in a Green Bay uniform, or any NFL uniform for that matter.
But some of that drama was already diffused Monday when head coach Matt LaFleur said that Rodgers will start in Chicago this Sunday if he’s able.
By Tuesday, Rodgers said on his weekly appearance with Pat McAfee that his scans were good, and he expects to play this week. So, hold off on publishing the eulogies for Rodgers’ career and getting ready for the Jordan Love era.
But it would be Love’s big chance to start in Chicago if Rodgers cannot go, and with the team so far behind at 4-8, it might be the smartest thing for the long-term success of the franchise to see if Love is capable of being the guy or not.
But if we’ve learned anything about Rodgers in recent years, it is to expect plenty more drama before the story ends.
WR Darnell Mooney, Chicago Bears
Maybe the worst injury news of the week comes from Chicago where No. 1 wide receiver Darnell Mooney’s season is over as he will need ankle surgery.
Mooney was the team’s best overall receiver and leading target with 40 catches and 493 yards. His production will have to be replaced by the likes of Chase Claypool, Byron Pringle, Equanimeous St. Brown, and tight end Cole Kmet.
The Bears are going to need to get a good look at Claypool after making the big trade for him, but this is not the way anyone wanted to see it happen. Even if the team gets Justin Fields back on the field at quarterback, they are going to be down a key receiver again.
RB Elijah Mitchell, San Francisco 49ers
The news is again not good for Mitchell, who will miss the remainder of the regular season with another knee injury. This is already his fifth injury in two years that will result in games missed as a valuable member of that San Francisco backfield.
It is another MCL sprain for Mitchell, the same injury that already cost him seven games earlier this season. It could be 6-to-8 weeks before we see Mitchell again with the team expecting a deep playoff run.
This is part of the reason why the team traded for Christian McCaffrey, but he also left Sunday’s game with some irritation in his knee that will be monitored. It does not sound like something that will keep him out of Sunday’s big showdown with Miami, but it is something to keep in mind with his injury history.
Rookie running back Jordan Mason ended up finishing the Saints game on Sunday with Mitchell and McCaffrey banged up. His two rushing first downs sealed the 13-0 victory. Mason will see more snaps going forward while Mitchell recovers.
RB Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers
Najee Harris has yet to miss a game in his NFL career, but we’ll see if that perfect attendance holds up this Sunday in Atlanta after an abdominal injury ended his night early in Indianapolis on Monday.
Harris has been banged up throughout the season, but he looked visibly worse than usual during this game before he was removed. He had scored a touchdown and was trying to put together his third solid game in a row as Pittsburgh’s offense has started to find an identity since the bye week.
If Harris cannot go in Atlanta, then Benny Snell and Anthony McFarland will likely get the main running back duties. Both played a good amount on Monday, and Snell impressed with 62 yards and the game-winning touchdown.
Harris would not be a huge loss to the Steelers right now, but an injury would be a huge blow to his chances of establishing himself as the lead back the team hoped he would be when they drafted him.
RB Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars
It’s tough being a running back in the NFL. Etienne went from three straight 100-yard games as an emerging star, then the Chiefs held him to 45 yards in Week 11, then he played five snaps before injuring his foot on Sunday against Baltimore.
But the good news is the Jaguars were just being cautious with a player who missed his entire rookie season with a Lisfranc injury. This injury is minor and not related to that, and he could be ready for the team’s next game.
On the plus side, Jacksonville still got the win over Baltimore without one of their best young players giving them meaningful snaps.
RB Michael Carter, New York Jets
Carter is technically the starting running back in New York, though we know rookie Breece Hall was the lead back there before he tore his ACL. Fortunately, Carter’s low-ankle sprain is considered minor, he is being listed as day-to-day, and we could see him back in action against Minnesota on Sunday.
Carter was a star in the team’s upset win over the Bills with 76 yards and a touchdown, but he has often been held under 40 yards and is averaging 3.7 yards per carry.
The Jets still are not short at running back despite injuries to Hall and Carter. You know they are deep at the position when James Robinson, acquired in a trade from Jacksonville, was a healthy scratch last Sunday. Zonovan Knight stepped right in and rushed for 69 yards while Ty Johnson had 62 yards and a touchdown.
Crazy as it sounds, but if this Mike White quarterback experiment continues to go well, it may not matter who the Jets plug in at running back the rest of this year. They may finally have a passer. Now just imagine if White is legit and he gets Hall back next year.
Zach Wilson, we barely knew ya.
