Here’s the adapted version of the article, rewritten in line with the brand voice guidelines - authoritative, accessible, analytical, and engaging, with a focus on breaking down the key injury storylines from Week 13 in the NFL:
NFL Week 13 Injury Watch: Herbert, Gardner, Jones Among Key Names to Monitor
As the playoff race heats up, health becomes just as important as talent. Week 13 delivered a fresh round of injury concerns for several teams with postseason hopes - and in some cases, Super Bowl aspirations - hanging in the balance. Here’s a closer look at five notable players dealing with injuries and what their situations could mean moving forward.
Justin Herbert, QB - Los Angeles Chargers
Justin Herbert gutted through a hand injury in the Chargers' 31-14 win over the Raiders, but the aftermath paints a more complicated picture. The fourth-year quarterback injured his left (non-throwing) hand early in the first quarter, briefly giving way to backup Trey Lance before returning with a heavily taped glove. Herbert didn’t miss another snap and finished an efficient outing: 15-of-20 passing, 151 yards, two touchdowns, one interception.
But here's the twist - head coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed postgame that Herbert fractured the hand and will undergo surgery. Whether he’ll be available for a crucial Week 14 matchup against the Eagles on Monday Night Football is still up in the air.
Herbert’s toughness isn’t in question - he played through finger injuries on the same hand last season - but this is a different level of concern. If doctors don’t clear him, the Chargers (8-4) will be turning to Lance, who’s still trying to prove he belongs.
Lance, the former No. 3 overall pick, hasn’t lived up to his draft billing yet. Between his time in San Francisco and Dallas, he’s logged a 2-3 record as a starter and carries a career passer rating of 79.6.
The talent is there, but the consistency hasn’t followed. If Herbert can’t go, Lance has a massive opportunity - and a massive challenge - ahead.
Sauce Gardner, CB - Indianapolis Colts
It looked bad when Sauce Gardner went down without contact in the first quarter of the Colts’ 20-16 loss to the Texans. Non-contact injuries always raise red flags, and Gardner was later seen on the sideline in a walking boot - not exactly a reassuring sight.
The good news? Early reports indicate it’s a calf strain, not an Achilles injury.
That’s a major sigh of relief for Indianapolis. Head coach Shane Steichen didn’t offer much detail postgame, but the Colts reportedly expect Gardner to miss a couple of weeks - not the rest of the season.
That still stings, though. Gardner has been a lockdown presence since arriving via trade from the Jets before the deadline. In his first two games with Indy, he didn’t allow a single touchdown catch - exactly what the Colts were hoping for when they made the move.
Now sitting at 8-4 and trailing the Jaguars in the AFC South, the Colts are trying to snap a two-game skid. Losing Gardner, even temporarily, puts more pressure on the rest of the secondary to step up.
Aaron Jones, RB - Minnesota Vikings
It’s been a frustrating season for Aaron Jones, and Week 13 didn’t help. The veteran back injured his left shoulder after a fumble in the third quarter of Minnesota’s 26-0 loss to the Seahawks. He finished with just six carries for three yards and added four catches for 22 more before exiting.
Jones has already missed four games this season with a hamstring issue, and now the shoulder becomes the latest concern. Head coach Kevin O’Connell said the team will evaluate the injury further before determining next steps.
For a 4-8 Vikings squad that’s already fading from the playoff picture, losing Jones again would be a tough blow. He ranks second on the team in rushing yards behind Jordan Mason, but beyond the numbers, Jones brings a veteran presence and versatility that’s hard to replace.
Minnesota’s offense has struggled to find rhythm all year - especially through the air. Coming into Week 13, they ranked 29th in passing yards per game. Without a reliable run game to lean on, things could get even tougher for O’Connell’s offense down the stretch.
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR - Arizona Cardinals
Marvin Harrison Jr. has shown flashes of the star he was at Ohio State, but injuries have kept him from fully breaking out at the NFL level. The rookie wideout left Arizona’s 20-17 loss to Tampa Bay with a heel injury and didn’t return.
Before exiting, Harrison was having a solid outing - six catches for 69 yards - but the injury adds to a growing list of setbacks. He’s already missed time this season after an appendectomy and suffered a concussion back in Week 6.
Despite the interruptions, Harrison has managed to stay productive, averaging 14.9 yards per reception through his first 10 games - a slight uptick from last year’s 14.3. He didn’t sound overly concerned about the heel postgame, but his availability moving forward will be something to watch.
The Cardinals are in rebuild mode, but Harrison is a foundational piece. Keeping him healthy is as much about development as it is about wins and losses.
Joey Bosa, DE - Buffalo Bills
Joey Bosa added yet another entry to his long injury history in the Bills’ 26-7 loss to the Steelers, exiting in the fourth quarter with a hamstring issue. He still managed to notch two tackles and a sack before leaving the game.
Head coach Sean McDermott said he’s unsure whether Bosa will miss time, but given the edge rusher’s track record - foot, groin, ankle, and now hamstring - it’s fair to be cautious.
Bosa has been a difference-maker when healthy, earning five Pro Bowl nods in his career. But availability has always been the question. If he’s sidelined again, it’s a tough blow for a Bills defense that needs all the firepower it can get as they chase down the Patriots in the AFC East.
Buffalo sits at 8-4, two games behind New England. Every week - and every healthy pass rusher - matters.
Bottom Line
December football is about survival as much as it is about execution. For contenders like the Chargers, Colts, and Bills, these injuries could shape the playoff race.
For others, like the Vikings and Cardinals, it’s about evaluating key pieces for the future. Either way, Week 13 reminded us that in the NFL, the injury report can be just as important as the scoreboard.