Week 10 is arriving with a long list of injury questions, and a few of them could swing fantasy lineups and game plans alike. Some teams are getting closer to having key pieces back, while others are bracing for extended absences.
One of the clearest positives came out of New York, where Cam Skattebo is trending toward a return. The running back was nearly available for Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles, but the Giants chose to keep him out.
Now, head coach John Harbaugh expects Skattebo to be a full go for Thursday night’s matchup against the Washington Commanders. For a Giants offense that had trouble getting its run game going without him, that would be a welcome lift.
Kansas City has its own situation to monitor with Patrick Mahomes. The quarterback is day-to-day after injuring his throwing elbow in Sunday’s win over the New York Jets.
Andy Reid said Mahomes’ initial evaluation was more positive than negative, and an MRI reportedly showed no major damage. Still, the Chiefs will keep watching him closely all week, and his practice reps will tell the story as Week 10 approaches.
There was also encouraging movement for A.J. Brown in New England.
Mike Vrabel said the Patriots are planning for Brown to travel with the team to Germany for Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions. Brown has missed the last two games because of a knee issue, so the trip overseas is a meaningful step, even if it does not lock in his availability.
New England will keep evaluating him before making any final call.
Seattle, meanwhile, will be without Sam Darnold in Week 10. Mike Macdonald said the quarterback will miss the week, after Darnold was already ruled out for Sunday’s game against Arizona. Drew Lock is expected to take over starting duties, though Lock is also dealing with an injury of his own.
Chicago got a different kind of update on Luther Burden III. The rookie receiver entered concussion protocol after Sunday’s win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to Ben Johnson. The Bears’ Week 10 bye gives Burden extra time to work through the process before he can return.
Green Bay’s backfield took a hit when Josh Jacobs fractured a finger in Sunday’s win over the New England Patriots, Matt LaFleur said. The injury is expected to keep Jacobs out for multiple weeks, and season-ending surgery is a possibility.
The Rams also lost Puka Nacua late in Week 9. He hurt his knee on the final offensive snap against the Seahawks, and while the injury is not reportedly season-ending, he has been placed on IR with multiple injuries.
Arizona’s Michael Wilson will not be coming back this season. The Cardinals’ number one WR suffered a neck injury in the Week 9 loss to Seattle and is out for the rest of the year.
New England has another injury concern in Rhamondre Stevenson, who is dealing with a knee tendon issue. It is not expected to require surgery, but it could keep him out for a short stretch.
A few more names are also in the mix as Week 10 gets underway: J.J. McCarthy looks likely to play Thursday, Jonathon Brooks is undergoing two days of evaluation, Xavier Worthy was deemed day-to-day, Jake Ferguson will miss multiple weeks, Gardner Minshew likely needs season-ending surgery, Ladd McConkey is considered day-to-day, David Montgomery could practice this week or next, and Mike Evans is not expected to practice Wednesday.
In Other News...
Drake Maye Faces Fresh Doubts After Costly Patriots Setback
Drake Mayes latest rough afternoon left the Patriots searching for answers after a 45-27 loss to the Packers, a game in which turnovers once again tilted the field against New England. Maye said after the game that his giveaways were a major reason the Patriots came up short, and the broader picture is getting harder to ignore for a team trying to stabilize its offense.
Through nine weeks, New Englands turnover differential sits at minus-11, tied for the worst mark in the NFL. For a young quarterback still trying to settle in, that kind of team-wide ball security problem only adds pressure, and it leaves the Patriots with more than one issue to sort through as they move on from another frustrating Sunday. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Face Big A.J. Brown Question Before Lions Game
After a frustrating loss, the Patriots are turning the page toward a trip to Germany and a matchup with the Lions that could help steady their place in the AFC East race. Mike Vrabel said the team is planning for wide receiver A.J. Brown to travel with the group, a sign that New England is at least keeping the door open as it sorts through its game-week plans.
The roster picture is not fully settled yet, though, and the Patriots will have to manage at least one notable absence along the way. Center Ben Brown will not make the trip, leaving New England to adjust its preparation as it heads overseas with a few important questions still hanging over the week. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Suddenly Have A New Problem In Front Of Drake Maye
A battered Patriots offensive line took another hit coming out of the recent loss, with head coach Mike Vrabel saying starting left guard Ben Brown is unlikely to be available for the next game after going down with a knee injury. For a team already juggling multiple absences up front, it is the latest reminder that protecting Drake Maye has become a week-to-week puzzle rather than a settled part of the operation.
Greg Van Rotens return process is at least starting to move in the right direction, but the Patriots are still sorting through their interior options with the NFL trade deadline looming. Between the injuries already on the books and the uncertainty around who can actually line up and play, New England may have to get creative fast if it wants to keep its offense from being overwhelmed by the pressure in front of Maye. [Read more 🡒]