Each and every week, players across the NFL suffer injuries. This weekly article will explore the injuries that affect your dynasty squads. We will briefly discuss the injured players themselves and those who stand to benefit or suffer as a result. To make them easier to follow, we will break down the injuries by division. Let us examine the Regular Season Week 5 injuries and the next men up without further ado.
AFC East
Devon Achane is being a evaluated for a knee injury from this play. Based on mechanism looks like
— Dr. Evan Jeffries, DPT (@GameInjuryDoc) October 9, 2023
—MCL sprain could be the issue
Healing timeframe:
Grade I: 7-10 days
Grade II: 3-6 weeks
Grade III: Full blown tear (doubtful) pic.twitter.com/Vo858ETqbU
Miami running back De’Von Achane suffered a knee injury during his team’s Week 5 victory. The impressive rookie has been on an absolute tear since he entered the lineup. He is currently second in the NFL in rushing yards. The team has been extremely tight-lipped regarding the exact nature of Achane’s knee injury. The only thing we know for certain is that team officials indicated he could miss multiple weeks. In his place, the Dolphins would turn to explosive veteran Raheem Mostert. Returning veterans Jeff Wilson Jr. and Salvon Ahmed could also factor into the backfield work until Achane gets back into action.
New England receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster and Demario Douglas suffered concussions in their team’s Week 5 loss. Both players took significant blows to the head and must progress through the league’s concussion protocols ahead of their Week 6 game. Devante Parker, Kendrick Bourne, and Kayshon Boutte will start at receiver for the Pats. The team will likely feature more 12-personnel packages involving Hunter Henry and the uber-athletic Mike Gesicki.
AFC South
Anthony Richardson injury and it doesn’t look good 😩 really want to see the rookie stay on the field he’s so fun to watch
— Sports ON Tap Brothers🎙️ (@thesportsontap) October 8, 2023
pic.twitter.com/X6LvouRYvo
Indianapolis quarterback Anthony Richardson was knocked out of Week 5 with a shoulder injury. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Richardson has dealt with multiple injuries early in his rookie campaign. The talented first-round playmaker will likely miss some time with an AC Joint sprain. In his absence, the Colts will turn to top-notch backup Gardner Minshew. His insertion into the lineup won’t be a downgrade for any of the skill players at his disposal. Fire him up as a quality QB2 in your Superflex leagues until Richardson returns.
Jacksonville receiver Zay Jones left his team’s Week 5 contest with a knee injury. The former ECU star has undergone a career resurgence since arriving in Jacksonville. He had only just returned from an injury in this game. Depending upon the severity of the injury, he could miss some time. If he cannot suit up heading forward, the Jaguars will turn to Jamal Agnew and Tim Jones.
Indianapolis tight end Mo Allie-Cox suffered a concussion during his team’s Week 5 contest. Big Mo has been somewhat of an afterthought in the Colts offense this season. His absence won’t be much of a dynasty loss, as he should be far away from your starting lineup. Kylen Granson will remain the Indianapolis tight end to own moving forward.
Houston receiver Tank Dell suffered a concussion during his team’s Week 5 loss. The up-and-coming rookie has been a quality playmaker for the Texans during his maiden season. Almost every player who has suffered a concussion this year has been forced to miss at least one game. If Dell cannot work his way through the protocols, the Texans would turn to former second-round pick John Metchie III to play alongside Nico Collins and Robert Woods. Tight end Dalton Schultz would also pick up some additional looks if Dell can’t get back ahead of Week 6.
AFC North
𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘: #Ravens WR Odell Beckham Jr has exited the game vs the #Steelers with some sort of injury. pic.twitter.com/RLOKBUalEQ
— JPAFootball (@jasrifootball) October 8, 2023
Baltimore receiver Odell Beckham briefly left with an ankle injury. The high-priced free-agent addition has had somewhat of a quiet start to his Baltimore tenure. He returned to the game and appears to have avoided any significant injury. However, if he were to miss game action, the Ravens would likely turn to Nelson Agholor and Devin Duvernay to play alongside starters Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman.
AFC West
#Chiefs TE Travis Kelce appeared to go down with a non-contact injury on this play
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 8, 2023
pic.twitter.com/lRxBc7r8Df
Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce briefly exited his team’s Week 5 victory with an ankle injury. The injury initially had the look of something serious when Kelce went down without being touched. He came back and was a big factor down the stretch for Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs. As of now, it appears Kelce has avoided anything of a serious nature. However, if he were to miss time, Kansas City would be forced to turn to Noah Grey.
NFC East
Josh Ezeudu looked like he was stuck in quick sand trying to block Andrew Van Ginkel on that Daniel Jones injury pic.twitter.com/8oJdTUzhbn
— EJ Stewart (@EJ_Stewart) October 8, 2023
New York quarterback Daniel Jones suffered a neck injury while taking a hit in his team’s Week 5 loss. The embattled Giants starter has been going through a rough patch to start the 2023 season. His receivers have had a difficult time making an impact, and with All-Pro Saquon Barkley out with injury, teams need only to key in on talented tight end Darren Waller. Jones has indicated he will be good to go for next week. However, if he can’t manage to suit up, the Giants would turn to former Virginia Tech star Tyrod Taylor. The veteran signal-caller wouldn’t be that big of a downgrade for the Gaint’s weapons.
New York receiver WanDale Robinson suffered a concussion in his team’s loss. The second-year playmaker has taken on a substantial target load within the Giants system over the last couple of weeks. He may not yet be back to his full self after his rookie season ACL tear, but he is clearly a big part of the Giants’ game plan. If he is unable to progress through the league’s concussion protocol, New York will likely turn to rookie Jalin Hyatt to play alongside Darius Slayton and Parris Campbell.
NFC South
The NFC South escaped Week 5 without any fantasy-relevant injuries.
NFC North
Vikings Justin Jefferson has left the game with a hamstring injury and his return is questionable. Very unfortunate.
— NFL Highs (@frito_paw) October 8, 2023
pic.twitter.com/JqmO64to1b
Minnesota receiver Justin Jefferson sustained a significant hamstring injury in his team’s Week 5 loss. The superstar playmaker is in a contract year and has already been placed on short-term injured reserve. This means that Jefferson will be out for a minimum of four weeks. His absence will leave an enormous hole in the Viking’s offense. Rookie Jordan Addison will move up into the WR1 spot, and K.J. Osbourn and Brandon Powell will support him. Addison and Osbourn will be playable every week for the duration of Jefferson’s absence. Pro Bowl tight end T.J. Hockenson will surely pick up some additional looks in the passing game.
Chicago Bears lost their top three running backs in their Week 5 victory. Starter Khalil Herbert suffered a high ankle sprain and will likely miss a few weeks. Behind him, promising rookie Roschon Johnson sustained a concussion, and special team ace Travis Homer went down with a hamstring injury. Nobody can guess how long the top rushers will be out in Chicago. To cover all their bases, the Bears went out and brought Darrynton Evans back into the fold. D’Onta Foreman will now be active on gameday and should be a plug-and-play RB2 for as long as Herbert and Johnson are out.
NFC West
#JamesConner knee
— David J. Chao – ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) October 8, 2023
Hopeful he can returnhttps://t.co/5uq5lHhvJY pic.twitter.com/Y3k1JgsVxc
Arizona running back James Conner went down with a knee injury during his team’s Week 5 loss. The veteran runner has been a major part of the Cardinal’s offense to this point of the year. The team hasn’t revealed the extent of the injury, but it was enough that they placed the former Pitt star on short-term IR. The Cardinals are extremely thin at the running back position behind Conner. Regular RB2 Keaontay Ingram has been out with a neck injury of his own. That leaves undrafted rookie Emari Demercado and newly signed Tony Jones to carry the load. Demercado is the immediate pickup, with he and Ingram splitting the load until Conner returns to reclaim his workhorse job.
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