Postseason Shootout | RealTime Fantasy Sports

Injury Status: Week 9

Thu Oct 31 10:12am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

We are still dealing with our fair share of injuries but the list isn’t nearly as long as it has been in recent weeks. This is a step in the right direction. Hopefully, it is a trend that continues. We have really been hit hard by the injury bug this season. And there also are some players set to return from injury this week, which is another positive.

Here is the latest. . . . .

Jordan Love, QB, Packers. Love injured his groin last week and had to leave the game early. He seems to have avoided some too serious, though, and is not being ruled out for this week’s game although he has yet to practice this week. He is being called day-to-day. And the Packers have an important division game, so look for Love to do all he can to play We should have a better idea of his status before the week is out.

Travis Etienne, RB, Jaguars. Etienne is back practicing this week and expects to be ready for this week’s game after missing the last two. His hamstring injury is finally improving. It will be interesting to see how Etienne is used going forward with Tank Bigsby playing so well as the starter for Jacksonville.

Drake Maye, QB, Patriots. Maye was knocked out of last week’s game because of a concussion and is in the concussion protocol. He is practicing on a limited basis to start the week, which is a good sign. If Maye keeps progressing, look for him to be ready for the Week 9 game. We should know his status in the next day or two.

Will Levis, QB, Titans. Levis has missed the last two games because of a shoulder injury. He is practicing this week and is expected to make his return to the starting lineup for the Titans. He isn’t a sure thing to return, but things are trending that way right now. If Levis misses, Mason Rudolph gets another start for the Titans.

Tee Higgins, WR, Bengals. Higgins was a game-time decision last week because of a quad injury. He was unable to play and is out of practice to begin the week. He is looking really iffy to play once again. If he can practice some before the week is out, Higgins will have a chance to play. Just consider him a game-time decision once again.

DK Metcalf, WR, Seahawks. Metcalf was unable to play on his knee injury last week and is out of practice to start the week. There is some optimism he will be able to practice in the next day or two and return to the lineup, though. Keep an eye on the practice notes for the latest.

Derek Carr, QB, Saints. Carr is practicing on a limited basis but expects to start the Week 9 game. He will be eased into action but looks on track to return to the field this week. He will be a tough fantasy play because he probably won’t be 100 percent healthy, but will at least be a big plus for a struggling Saints offense.

Dallas Goedert, TE, Eagles. Goedert has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury. He remains out of practice and likely to miss another week of action. Grant Calcaterra should get another start for the Eagles in Week 9.

Adam Thielen, WR, Panthers. Thielen has been on Injured Reserve since the third week of the season because of a hamstring injury. He is back practicing on a limited basis this week. He seems a bit of a long shot to return this year but should be back sooner then later. And once he returns, Thielen could be the top pass catcher on the Panthers.

Tyrone Tracy, RB, Giants. Tracy is another player that suffered a possible concussion last week, but is practicing on a limited basis to start the week. This is a pretty good sign for Tracy. He has a chance to be cleared before the game this week. We should know in the next few days. If Tracy doesn’t get cleared, Devin Singletary should handle most of the work at running back for the Giants.

T.J. Hockenson, TE, Vikings. Hockenson is set to make his season debut this week. He has been practicing the last few weeks and is finally going to return Week 9. And the story is he won’t be limited much and could play a full amount of snaps in his first game back from a major knee injury. He will be a risky fantasy play but the potential is certainly there for him based on his track record.

Brian Thomas, WR, Jaguars. At first, it was expected Thomas would miss a few weeks of action because of a chest injury. But that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore. He is actually practicing on a limited basis and being called day-to-day. There seems to be a pretty good chance he is healthy enough for the Week 9 game. And if active, he is about a must start with Christian Kirk now done for the season.

Tyjae Spears, RB, Titans. Spears has missed the last two games because of a hamstring injury. He is practicing on a limited basis this week and seems to be nearing a return to the lineup. If he keeps progressing, look for Spears to return to his backup role in Week 9.

Jonathon Brooks, RB, Panthers. Brooks has a chance to make his NFL debut this week. The Panthers are bringing along their rookie back slowly from his torn ACL, but he is doing more and more in practice. Brooks seems to have a pretty good chance of playing Week 9. But if he plays, look for the Panthers to limit his workload out of the gate.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at [email protected]. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

Injury Status: Week 9

The Paur Report