Week 4 Fantasy Football Injury Recap
As The Fantasy Footballers’ lead injury analyst and sports physical therapist, I’ll be recapping the previous week’s injuries and giving a projected timeline for recovery all season long. Let’s look at the biggest injuries from Week 4 and take a look at what fantasy managers can expect heading into Week 5.
If you’re looking for more detailed injury analysis, check out JoinTheFoot.com for additional premium resources, including access to the Injury Blitz Podcast hosted by yours truly. This bonus podcast, available to all #FootClan Premier and Ultimate members, is a short, yet informative injury podcast that drops late in the week in order to provide all the injury updates you need to set your lineup each week.
QB Lamar Jackson
Hamstring Strain: Questionable for Week 5
Jackson and the Ravens had a rough day on Sunday in Arrowhead, getting blown out by the Chiefs. To make matters worse, Jackson left in the second half with a hamstring injury and did not return. There was speculation that Jackson was held out as a precaution with the game essentially already out of reach, but speaking Monday, John Harbaugh said “There was no way he could have gone back in the game.” If that’s accurate, Jackson is unlikely to play in this week’s game against the Texans, and there’s a chance the former MVP could miss multiple starts. For a dynamic player like Jackson who’s arguably the league’s most dangerous scrambler, this hamstring injury is obviously a huge deal. Baltimore, who’s struggling with several defensive injuries as well, needs their Week 7 bye week badly.
Players impacted: Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews, Cooper Rush
RB Braelon Allen
Left Knee MCL Sprain (Potentially more serious): Out multiple weeks
Allen injured his left knee on Monday night against the Dolphins during a first half kick-off return. On the play, a defender hit the outside of his left knee, resulting in that knee caving inwards (valgus), which can injure the MCL among other structures. Allen was quickly ruled out and did not return. He’s looking at a multi-week absence, depending on what his MRI shows on Tuesday. At a minimum, Allen is looking at an isolated MCL injury, but there’s a chance he suffered additional ligament and/or cartilage damage. Until we have further details from the team, consider Allen out for Weeks 5 and 6 at an absolute minimum, but there’s a good chance he’s out longer than that.
Players impacted: Breece Hall, Isaiah Davis
RB Miles Sanders
Right Ankle Injury (Specifics Unknown): Questionable for Week 5
Sanders left Sunday night’s game against the Packers with a right ankle injury and did not return. He was seen limping to the locker room without his shoe on during the broadcast, presumably heading to the X-ray room for imaging. Speaking Monday, head coach Brian Schottenheimer said Sanders has a chance to play this week, indicating he likely avoided a serious injury. For now, this is a situation to monitor ahead of Week 5 against the Jets.
Players impacted: Javonte Williams, Jaydon Blue
RB Bucky Irving
Undisclosed Injury (Awaiting more details): Questionable for Week 5
Speaking Monday, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles noted that Irving was one of several key players who were going to get an MRI to evaluate an in game injury suffered in the team’s loss to the Eagles. Bowles did not offer any details on his RB, but there were two plays where Irving appeared to get banged up. He got his left ankle twisted under an Eagles tackler on one play, and on another, he took a hard hit on a swing pass and was seen grabbing his chest/ribs after the play. For now, fantasy managers need to closely monitor news out of Tampa as it’s possible Irving misses time depending on these two injuries.
Players impacted: Rachaad White, Sean Tucker
WR Malik Nabers
Torn Right ACL: Out for the year
Nabers’ right knee buckled while planting just before jumping for a pass, leading to a torn ACL in his right knee. Sadly, an MRI on Monday confirmed the Giants’ fears as their superstar WR is now out for the year. The hope here is that this is an isolated ACL injury that does not include meniscus damage. If it’s an isolated “clean” ACL injury, the rehab and recover process is much more straightforward. Generally, players will rehab for 3-4 weeks prior to having their ACL reconstructed, which means we should expect to see Nabers undergo surgery sometime in mid-to-late October. For dynasty managers, that’s good news considering training camp will kick off roughly nine months post-surgery. Of course, he’ll be limited throughout the spring and summer, but there’s a decent chance Nabers can be cleared for Week 1 if this is indeed an isolated ACL injury.
Players impacted: Jaxson Dart, Wan’Dale Robinson
WR Tyreek Hill
Left Knee Dislocation: Out for the year
Hill suffered a serious left knee injury in Monday night’s win over the Jets. It was a scary play with Hill dislocating his left knee, which obviously ends his 2025 season. Hill was taken to a local hospital for evaluation because when you suffer a dislocation of the knee, there’s major blood vessels and nerves around the knee that can be compromised, and if that occurs, it’s an emergency situation. Fortunately, those structures were not impacted, but Hill still faces a long road of recovery ahead. He’ll undergo multiple surgeries in the coming months. Best case scenario here for Hill is that he’s able to play football again in 2026, but given the severity of this injury, he’s unlikely to ever return to his pre-injury level of play. The sad reality is that this does have a chance to be a career threatening situation.
Players impacted: Tua Tagovailoa, Jaylen Waddle, De’Von Achane, Darren Waller
WR Darnell Mooney
Hamstring Strain: Questionable for Week 6
The Falcons’ Week 5 bye comes at the perfect time for Mooney, who left Sunday’s win over the Commanders with a hamstring injury. Ian Rapoport reports that Mooney is not expected to miss any games, but in my opinion, it’s way too early to make that declaration. Even a Grade I injury (mild) could cause a speed WR to miss 2-3 weeks, so while I’m optimistic that Mooney can play after the team’s bye, I would not put that in stone. His status will be monitored over the next week as Atlanta comes out of their bye week. Worth noting, Mooney missed 3+ weeks of training camp with a shoulder injury, so he did not have the ‘acclimation’ phase of camp that others have had. This can certainly play a role in this injury.
Players impacted: Michael Penix, Drake London, Kyle Pitts
WR Cedric Tillman
Hamstring Strain: Out at least 2 weeks
On average, wide receivers miss 2-3 weeks with a hamstring strain, and the fact that head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters on Monday that Tillman will “miss weeks” indicates that we’re looking at a Grade II injury here for Cleveland’s wide out. I expect him to sit in Weeks 5-6 at an absolute minimum, and from there, it’s possible he misses Week 7 and/or 8. I bring that up because the Browns have a Week 9 bye. If Tillman isn’t 100% by Week 8, the team may sit him through they bye.
Players impacted: Joe Flacco, Jerry Jeudy, Isaiah Bond
WRs Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings
Pearsall: PCL Sprain, Likely Out Week 6
Jennings: Rib Injury, Questionable for Week 6
Both 49er WRs came into this week’s game Questionable with injuries. Pearsall was questionable with a knee injury and suffered another right knee injury. He tried to catch a pass on the sideline and landed on the front of his knee in a very similar mechanism to Brock Bowers. The talented TE has been playing through a mild PCL sprain, but we’ve seen his production and efficiency take a hit. Pearsall and the Niners are playing on a short week, so it’ll be very difficult for Pearsall to play through this injury on just a few days rest. I would expect him to sit this week with the chance to return in Week 6. As for Jennings, he has been battling a shoulder and ankle injury, and on Sunday, he took a huge hit to the right side of his midsection, resulting in a rib injury.
Players impacted: Brock Purdy, Demarcus Robinson, Kendrick Bourne, Christian McCaffrey
WR Calvin Austin
Shoulder Injury (Diagnosis Unknown): Questionable for Week 6
Austin left the team’s game in Ireland with a shoulder injury and did not return. By video, I do think there is a chance he suffered an SC joint sprain, which would explain why he was placed in an ambulance and taken to the hospital for evaluation. That joint is located right next to some of the major vessels of the heart, so any time there’s an injury to this joint, imaging is often needed in order to rule out a posterior (backward) dislocation of the clavicle, which would impact those major vessels. The good news here is that Austin tweeted out that “I’m all good Steelers Nation, appreciate the messages and concern!” so it seems like he avoided a serious SC joint sprain. Pittsburgh goes on bye this week, so Austin does have a chance to play in two weeks when they take on Cleveland.
Players impacted: D.K. Metcalf, Aaron Rodgers
Additional Injury Notes:
– Joe Mixon remains on NFI with a foot injury, and speaking Monday, DeMeco Ryans indicated that Mixon is not ready to return to the field. Houston beat reporter Aaron Wilson noted on Twitter: “Per sources, it will be much longer, if at all, for Mixon to get back on the field this season.” Even if Mixon can play in 2025, he’s several weeks away.
– Terry McLaurin missed Week 4 with his quad injury. He has a chance to return in Week 5, but I lean towards a Week 6 return given the complexity of the injury. He met with multiple specialists last week after his injury, but the good news here is that the Commanders did not place him on IR.
– Jayden Daniels missed Weeks 3 and 4 with his knee sprain, but I do expect him back this week. If it was a playoff game or a must-win game, Daniels would have already been on the field. It’s possible that Daniels’ mobility is impacted in his first game back, but fantasy managers will want to monitor Washington’s practice reports ahead of Week 5.
– J.J. McCarthy has missed the last two weeks with a high ankle sprain. Minnesota’s O-Line is dealing with major injuries, so I’d be shocked if they put the inexperienced QB back out there this week, regardless of his health. Minnesota has a Week 6 bye, so it makes sense logistically to bring him back in Week 7.
– Tyjae Spears will return to practice this week as his 21-day window has opened. He suffered a high ankle sprain in early August then was placed on IR just before the season. I do not expect him to play in Week 5 given that he missed the entirety of camp plus an additional month. It’ll take time before he’s back to form.
– CeeDee Lamb suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 3. He won’t play in Week 5, but he’s got a chance to get back in Week 6. The good news here is that Lamb has not been placed on IR, so the team has to feel good about his chances of returning in the next two to three weeks.
– George Kittle injured his hamstring in Week 1 and has been on IR since. He’s eligible to return to the field in Week 6. Monitor SF’s practice reports next week to see if he’s back on the field in any capacity. With the Niners dealing with so many WR injuries, he’ll need to be at 100% prior to returning to the field as he’s set to shoulder the load in both the short and long term.