5 NFL Injury Storylines To Watch In Week 17

Minshew Expected to Start Again vs. Saints

The Eagles scored 34 points and gained 355 yards through the air against the Cowboys in their loss to the Cowboys in a strong showing from Gardner Minshew, who will also reportedly start in Week 17 vs. the Saints. 

MVP candidate Jalen Hurts is expected to miss at least one more game with his right shoulder sprain, taking advantage of the multi-game lead the Eagles have for the NFC No. 1 seed.

DeVonta Smith brought in eight receptions for 113 yards and two scores and A.J. Brown had six catches for 103 yards and will now face the slim Saints secondary. 

When Will Lamar Jackson Return to Ravens?

The Ravens clinched a playoff spot on Saturday in Tyler Huntley’s third start after Lamar Jackson missed his eighth straight practice with a PCL sprain.

Baltimore ends the season with divisional games against the Steelers and the Bengals and it remains to be seen if Jackson will return after the Pro Football Docs estimated a 2-to-3 week recovery timeline. 

The Ravens offense, which has scored 14 points per game in the last four and averaged only 111.67 passing yards in the last three contests, is also without Rashod Bateman and Devin Duvernay and working with a still-diminished J.K. Dobbins. 

La’el Collins Out For Season, Bengals OL Exposed Again? 

Starting right tackle La’el Collins suffered a season-ending torn left ACL and MCL in the Bengals’ Week 16 win and third-year OL Hakeem Adeniji is likely to step in for him, with Jackson Carman next in line for snaps.

The 29-year-old Collins was 11-4 Cincinnati’s biggest free agent acquisition and one of three veterans they signed to the OL after Joe Burrow was sacked 19 times in their playoff run.

Tampa Bay LT Josh Wells Suffered Likely Patella Tendon Rupture

The Buccaneers’ offensive line lost its fifth different starter this season when fill-in left tackle Josh Wells appeared to suffer a ruptured left patella tendon in the second quarter of Sunday’s loss.

Despite the growing holes, Tampa Bay has a chance to clinch the NFC South and host a playoff game and Tom Brady has taken only 19 sacks, the fewest among qualified starting quarterbacks. 

Will Watson Be Available For Playoff-Hungry Pack?

Rookie wide receiver Christian Watson suffered a hip contusion without apparent structural damage on Sunday night, according to the Pro Football Docs, and was ruled out for the Packers’ third straight win.

After a four-game losing streak spurred by Aaron Rodgers’ fractured right thumb and a smattering of wide receiver injuries, Green Bay now controls its own destiny for the playoffs.

Since Week 10, Watson has been Rodgers’ most reliable wideout with 25 catches for 408 yards and seven touchdowns. Allen Lazard and Romeo Doubs each returned recently from absences and Rodgers completed passes to 10 different receivers against the Dolphins on Sunday.