Week 6 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 6 and take a look at what fantasy managers can expect heading into Week 7.
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 Jalen Hurts
Blood Clots: Out for the year
Hurts’ 2026 season is over. News broke on Monday that his blood clot in his leg did travel to the deep veinous system and into his lungs. Obviously, this is a scary medical situation that requires immediate attention in the form of blood thinners. While on blood thinners, Hurts is not medically cleared to play football and given that the clots did move to the lungs, he’ll need to be on anti-coagulants for a few months. We’re already entering Week 7, so that means that his 2026 season is over. Long-term this shouldn’t have implications on Hurts’ ability to play in 2027 and beyond, but obviously this is an eye-opening development. Tanner McKee will have the starting job for the rest of the season with 5th round rookie Cole Payton serving as the backup.
Players impacted: Tanner McKee, DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert
WR Davante Adams
Hamstring Tendon Avulsion: Out 2-3 months
Adams is set to miss multiple months after suffering an injury to his hamstring tendon. More specifically, Adams suffered an avulsion injury to his semitendinosus muscle, which actually attached on the inside/front of the knee. If you saw the game, Adams reached for the front side of his knee, which now makes sense in hindsight given the anatomy of this specific hamstring muscle. He’ll have surgery this week for the injury and now faces a lengthy rehab process that will extend into December.
Players impacted: Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua
WR Terry McLaurin
Left Knee Patellar Tendon Rupture: Out for the year
McLaurin’s 2026 season came to an end Monday night against the 49ers when he exited the game with a serious left knee injury. McLaurin’s left leg gave out from underneath him while he was running a route, and he had to be taken off the field on a cart with his left leg in an airsplint. He’ll have an MRI Tuesday to confirm the diagnosis. This procedure and recovery is cumbersome and usually results in reduced efficiency compared to pre-injury levels of play, which is really unfortunate considering McLaurin is already 31 years old. Worth noting, Treylon Burks also got banged up late in the game and was assisted by trainers to the locker room just before the end of the game. As of this writing Tuesday morning, details on Burks’ status aren’t known, so be sure you’re tracking that news closely throughout the week. Washington does get a bye this week to determine how they’re going to game plan without McLaurin. Hopefully, Treylon can return in Week 8 after a week off, but that is TBD at this moment.
Players impacted: Jayden Daniels, Stefon Diggs, Antonio Williams, Chig Okonkwo
WR Ladd McConkey
Concussion Protocol: Likely to return in Week 8
The brutal season for Ladd and the Chargers continues…his head slammed into the ground while being tackled in the first half Sunday against the Chiefs and did not return after being evaluated for a concussion. Previously, McConkey had been dealing with a rib injury and then a foot injury, so he hasn’t been healthy all season. Fortunately for Ladd, the Chargers get a bye in Week 7, which will be much needed. With the extra week of recovery to progress through the protocol, I don’t anticipate him missing a game. He should return in Week 8 after the bye.
Players impacted: Justin Herbert, Quentin Johnston
WR Romeo Doubs
Right Shoulder AC Joint Sprain: Placed on IR
Doubs injured his right shoulder on his long TD reception against the Jets. He had to lay out for the ball and in the process, landed on his right shoulder, which is the mechanism for an AC joint sprain. The Patriots put Doubs on IR on Monday, signaling this is likely a Grade II sprain. The Patriots have a bye in Week 11, so getting him back in Week 12 makes a lot of sense from a timing perspective.
Players impacted: Drake Maye, AJ Brown
WR Rashod Bateman
Shoulder Injury (Specific Diagnosis Unknown): Questionable for Week 7
Bateman has been on the injury report with a shoulder injury for the last two weeks, and on Sunday, he appeared to aggravate his shoulder late in the second quarter against the Browns. Speaking Monday, Jesse Minter said Bateman “should be okay” but failed to provide any specific details. I don’t think it’s a guarantee that Bateman plays this week given that he’s already been dealing with this injury for a few weeks.
Players impacted: Tyler Huntley/Lamar Jackson, Zay Flowers, Ja’Kobi Lane
TE Dalton Kincaid
Rib Injury: Likely to play in Week 8
Kincaid took a shot to the ribs on Sunday against the Raiders but did return to the game despite being listed as Questionable. Given that he was able to return, this is likely bruised ribs as opposed to any fracture. He did exit to the locker room before returning, which could have been for a rib block injection. Like McConkey, the bye week for Kincaid comes at the perfect time with Buffalo getting the week off in Week 7. I expect him to get treatment over the next two weeks and have a great chance to return in Week 8, though he might be limited in practice.
Players impacted: Josh Allen, DJ Moore, Dawson Knox