This article will recap all fantasy-relevant injuries. Remember, we are operating with limited information, and as the week progresses, situations will become clearer. There are no teams on bye this week.
Cooper Kupp - Ankle
Kupp was stepped on and forced his ankle into a “low” ankle position. McVay says Kupp’s ankle “didn’t feel quite good enough,” so we assume there isn’t any structural damage. If that’s the case, Kupp will be back in Week 12. At worst, this is a multi-week absence due to a severe ankle contusion.
Bottom Line: Plan to have a limited Kupp back in Week 12, but be aware a 2-3 week absence, though unlikely, is plausible.
De’Von Achane - Knee
Achane re-injured his knee, which isn’t necessarily common but always possible. At this point, there’s no reason to believe this is a doomsday scenario, but definitely something to monitor.
Bottom Line: Given the quick turnaround, it would be surprising to see Achane back out there without risking yet another setback. If he does play, expect a snap count.
Aaron Jones - Knee
Jones went down and looked to have sprained his MCL. Matt LaFleur claims this shouldn’t be a long-term absence, but “long-term” is a subjective term. Jones does have an extensive history of MCL sprains, though, so that can complicate things.
Bottom Line: If we’re taking LaFleur’s word for it, expect Jones back in 1-2 weeks. If this is an Achane level of injury, he’ll be down 4-5 weeks, but there’s no reason to believe that for now.
Kenneth Walker - Oblique
Walker grabbed at his left lower abdomen and was ruled out with an oblique injury. In isolation, this isn’t a huge deal. But there is some nuance here that’s important. Just in 2023, Walker has already sustained a groin, calf, and now oblique strain. Combined, those soft tissue injuries add up. There’s legitimate risk in continuing to roster him without Zach Charbonnet.
Bottom Line: It’ll be an uphill battle for Walker to return for TNF, but has a good shot to be back by Week 13, as Carroll clarified he is not an IR candidate.
Geno Smith - Elbow
Smith’s arm was brutalized by Aaron Donald, resulting in him missing some time in Week 11 with an “elbow” injury. Later on the sideline, Smith was seen rubbing his biceps and triceps, and the medical staff was applying topical pain ointment to the same area. Carroll confirms Smith has a muscle contusion. Assuming no structural damage, Smith has a legitimate shot to play on Thursday night, even if he’s limited.
Bottom Line: Smith is at some risk to sit in Week 12 due to the quick turnaround. However, assuming his images and tests come back clean on Monday, he could go in Week 12. This injury is a matter of resolving pain and stiffness before Thursday. Either way, this being an extended absence would be a surprise.
D’Onta Foreman - High Ankle
Foreman suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 11 and did not return to the game. Despite the 8 days to rest, it’s not likely he’ll be “right” by the time Week 12 rolls around. Even if he’s active, he’s unusable.
Here’s a list of players I expect back in Week 12:
Dameon Pierce
Josh Downs (dependent on progress)
Kyren Williams (confirmed)
Tee Higgins
Antonio Gibson
Derek Carr (TBD)
Justin Jefferson (TBD)
Below is a table of all major injuries with projected return timeframes:
Expect updates throughout the week, and make sure to subscribe to my YouTube Channel here dedicated to up-to-the-minute updates and breakdowns.
