By Scott Kacsmar
If the NFL injuries felt worse than normal in Week 14, that’s because it was a longer list of skill players who went down, especially at quarterback. Monday night alone between the Patriots and Cardinals provided three big injuries.
Here are all the notable injuries from Week 14 that you should prepare for your fantasy teams, DFS lineups, Same Game Parlays, and other prop bets this week.
QB Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
On the third play of Monday night’s game, Kyler Murray went down with a non-contact knee injury and had to be carted off. The worst suspicions were confirmed Tuesday: Murray has a torn ACL, and his season is over.
With at least nine months usually needed to recover from such an injury, it is possible Murray won’t be ready for Week 1 of the 2023 season.
For example, Carson Wentz tore his ACL on December 10th of the 2017 season, and he did not make his debut until Week 3 of the 2018 season. But some quarterbacks are more fortunate than others. Carson Palmer infamously tore his ACL in January 2006 in a playoff game, and he was able to return by Week 1 of the 2006 season.
However, most quarterbacks who suffer this injury do not come back stronger the next season. It can take a second season to get back on track, and Murray was already someone who was statistically having the worst season of his career in 2022.
By the time he returns, Arizona could look a lot different, and he could have to learn a new coach’s system as Kliff Kingsbury’s days may be numbered. It’s a tough break for a young quarterback trying to find his way.
Colt McCoy is a serviceable starter who should take the rest of the starts this year, but at 4-9, the Cardinals can only play spoiler or hurt their draft position the rest of the way.
WR Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
Not a good week for NFC West injuries, but at least the 49ers got good news that Samuel’s MCL and ankle injury should not be season ending. In fact, they expect him back by Week 17 or before the playoffs start. This is huge news, and hopefully it’s accurate as we have already been misled this season about Von Miller’s ACL in Buffalo.
Samuel is a huge asset to the 49ers because of his versatility and how hard he is to tackle, but the offense can still function without him. How could it not when you have Brandon Aiyuk, Christian McCaffrey, and George Kittle? Don’t sleep on Jauan Jennings either.
The 49ers should be fine, and it is just great to believe Deebo will be back for the biggest games. However, they may want to dial back on the designed runs with him.
QB Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos
You can make Russell Wilson jokes all season long, but you should feel a little sorry for him to get injured in a huge moment of Sunday’s game when he was on his way to leading Denver to a season-high point total.
Wilson scrambled to convert a third-and-long in his attempt to bring the Broncos back from a 27-0 hole, but he slammed his head off the ground hard. The grass was stuck in his helmet, and he looked very confused on where he was. A big bump soon formed on his head as well from the impact. Wilson was removed from the game and placed in the concussion protocol.
With the Broncos (3-10) eliminated from the playoffs and Wilson taking a league-high 43 sacks, it may be best to just shut him down the Matthew Stafford way in Los Angeles. Why risk such a big investment for a season that has already been so disappointing and the playoffs now officially gone?
Brett Rypien finished the game for Denver. Let him finish the season next.
QB Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Steelers
For the second time this season, Kenny Pickett had to leave a home game with a concussion. He took a hard hit early in the game that looked like it could be a collarbone or knee injury, but instead it proved to be a concussion. He somehow returned for a series before coming out for good.
Pickett has already returned in time from the concussion protocol to start a game one week later once this season. It did not go well either in a 16-10 loss in Miami, so Pittsburgh may want to consider taking its time with this one.
It is unknown if Pickett will start or if it will be Mitch Trubisky again. It could even be Mason Rudolph at some point in Carolina this Sunday if Trubisky gets in there and throws three interceptions to blow the game like he did last week.
QB Tyler Huntley, Baltimore Ravens
Huntley was already starting for an injured Lamar Jackson, then he too went down with a concussion in the same game Pickett had one for Pittsburgh. This could be a dire situation with Jackson almost certainly out until Week 16 at the earliest.
With the Ravens playing Cleveland this Saturday, that gives Huntley one fewer day to get out of the protocol. It is possible he can do it as he’s already returned to limited practice, but there is a chance the Ravens could be forced to go with undrafted rookie Anthony Brown.
Brown finished the game in Pittsburgh and the Ravens were fortunate to not have to rely much on him as the run game worked so well. The Browns are struggling right now, so it could be a low-scoring game for sure this Saturday.
If Huntley plays, you can almost guarantee it will be tight. His seven major appearances have been decided by a total of 13 points.
QB Mike White, New York Jets
White showed his toughness by taking a few huge hits in the game in Buffalo, and he kept coming back for more in the wintry conditions and fighting through the pain.
But he ended up getting checked out at the hospital after the game just to be on the safe side. Reports are he’ll be fine for the Detroit game this week, and the Jets (7-6) are going to need him as they have fallen behind the Patriots in the wild card race thanks to getting swept by New England.
But no one can deny that White is tough now.
QB Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Perhaps hidden by the 35-7 win and Deebo Samuel’s injury, Brock Purdy’s first start was not flawless as he came out of it with a rib/oblique injury. He is expected to play against the Seahawks this Thursday as it is more of a pain tolerance issue than a serious injury that will keep him out weeks. But it is something to monitor for sure for a Super Bowl contender that has already lost two starting quarterbacks.
It was the Seattle game in Week 2 when the 49ers lost Trey Lance to a broken ankle. Now it’s a chance to win the division with a win in Seattle, and the 49ers are not healthy again at quarterback.
If Purdy cannot go, Josh Johnson has experience and was signed recently for another stint with the 49ers. He had two 300-yard passing games last season for the Jets and Ravens. He might be able to catch on quickly in this offense, but here’s hoping we get to see Purdy and a chance for one of the most remarkable quarterback stories to take off.
Remember, no rookie quarterback has ever started a Super Bowl.
WRs Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals were ready to take any victory they could get over the Browns, but Sunday’s 23-10 win was a bit of a pyrrhic one. The defense lost Trey Hendrickson to a broken wrist, but the Bengals shockingly got no more than two snaps out of two of their starting wideouts.
Tyler Body dislocated his finger, so he is going to miss at least a game or two before we see him again. Maybe more worrisome is Tee Higgins playing one snap, feeling his hamstring flare up, and he sat the rest of the game out. His status is not clear for Week 15 but it does not sound good.
Higgins has had a few injuries this year, so it has been hard to get complete games for all of the Bengals’ skill players. At least Ja’Marr Chase is back, but he is going to have to be special like he was Sunday with over 100 yards and a touchdown.
Tight end Hayden Hurst is also still out, so Joe Burrow could be playing Tampa Bay without three of his top four receivers.
RB Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots
It was such a rough game on Monday night in Arizona where the field does use natural grass. Rhamondre Stevenson was hoping for a big night with Damien Harris out, but he too went down with an ankle injury in the second quarter. He tried to return for a series but was clearly too hurt to continue and exited the game.
We’ll see what Stevenson’s status is, but the Patriots may have to go with a bigger committee approach than usual if he and Harris cannot return in time to take on Josh McDaniels’ Raiders. You know Belichick is going to want to win this one big.
Sixth-round rookie Kevin Harris came in and scored his first touchdown, finishing with 8 carries for 26 yards. But Stevenson has proven to be the best all-around back in New England, so hopefully he can come back soon.
RB Jeff Wilson, Miami Dolphins
Jeff Wilson was hoping to have a huge night against the Chargers’ lousy run defense, but a hip injury knocked him out after 4 carries for 26 yards. His status is uncertain going forward, though he has not been ruled out yet for Week 15. The Dolphins play Saturday night in Buffalo in what could be a snow game.
The 49ers have seemingly waffled a bit between going with Wilson as the lead back or Raheem Mostert. But staying healthy has been an issue for both backs going back to their San Francisco days.
WR DeVante Parker, New England Patriots
One of the wilder injury scenes came Monday night when the Patriots were about to run a play, but wide receiver Nelson Agholor got the official’s attention that teammate DeVante Parke was woozy and needed assistance off the field.
They were able to shut the play down and get Parker out of there to treat him for a concussion. It was a heads-up move by Agholor to put his teammate’s health as the top priority above everything else. Good for him to catch that.
Parker could end up missing the next game, but he should be back soon.
WR Kendall Hinton, Denver Broncos
The hits keep coming for the Denver offense. Hinton has averaged 40.6 yards per game over the last five games, emerging as a reliable target for an offense that needs them. But he left Sunday’s game late with a hamstring injury.
The Broncos were already down No. 1 wideout Courtland Sutton due to a hamstring injury, and for wide receivers, these can take a few weeks to heal. The Broncos are going to have some decisions to make now that the playoffs are no longer possible.
At least Jerry Jeudy is healthy and caught three touchdowns against the Chiefs. He has been the best offensive player this season for Denver.
WR Corey Davis, New York Jets
It was a bad week for concussions. Corey Davis was unable to follow up his big 85-yard game in Week 13 due to an early concussion in Buffalo. He will be evaluated and could return to action this Sunday in a very important game with Detroit.
RB Dameon Pierce, Houston Texans
A high ankle sprain knocked Pierce out of the fourth quarter in Houston’s near upset of the Cowboys. Wow, imagine having your best back in the game instead of trying to run quarterback Jeff Driskel at the goal line. That was just unfortunate timing for Houston.
The Texans believe Pierce could miss three games with this injury. With only four games left, there may be little sense in bringing him back this season. Just let him rest for 2023 after he was one of the best rookie backs in this draft class.
RB Mike Boone, Denver Broncos
Boone’s season is over after an ankle injury suffered against Kansas City. The team has placed him on injured reserve. He had five touches for 29 yards on Sunday. Expect more touches for Marlon Mack, who surprised everyone with a 66-yard touchdown catch on Sunday.
RB Dontrell Hilliard, Tennessee Titans
When a running back catches a touchdown in Tennessee this year, it’s usually Dontrell Hilliard (four scores) and not Derrick Henry. But you won’t see Hilliard this week, if not longer, after a neck injury knocked him out of action on Sunday.
TE Daniel Bellinger, New York Giants
Bellinger is sore with a rib injury, but he could play in the team’s huge game with Washington on Sunday night. Bellinger does not get a ton of looks in the passing game, but he has caught 24-of-26 targets this year for 195 yards and two scores. He also plays most of the snaps and blocks in the running game.
