Injuries are starting to mount for NFL players, forcing fantasy football managers to get creative and be flexible in finding production on the waiver wire. Which players are injured heading into Week 12? How will their injury impact fantasy lineups? Read below to find out.
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Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals | Questionable
Initially, there was a belief that Joe Burrow could, at the earliest, return for the Cincinnati Bengals’ Week 13 game against the Baltimore Ravens. However, Burrow was listed as a full participant in practice on Wednesday and took reps with the starters on Thursday, allowing him to return in Week 12. Burrow was downgraded to a limited participant on Friday, which does suggest the team may be willing to give him one more week before returning.
For a second straight day today, Bengals QB Joe Burrow has been taking snaps with Cincinnati’s starting offense, preparing him for the possibility that he could play Sunday vs. New England. pic.twitter.com/bJxpxvAq3C
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 20, 2025
Head coach Zac Taylor would not commit to Burrow playing or being inactive this weekend, adding further intrigue to the veteran quarterback’s availability this weekend.
At worst, fantasy managers should check their waiver wires to see if Burrow is available to pick up in case he is activated to play against the New England Patriots this weekend.
Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens
Lamar Jackson missed the Baltimore Ravens’ practice on Nov. 19. due to an ankle injury. Jackson has previously missed Wednesday practices with issues before being upgraded throughout the week. Jackson repeated that pattern on Nov. 20 by returning to the practice field.
Jackson does not appear on the team’s final injury report and is set to play in Week 12’s matchup against the New York Jets.
C.J. Stroud, QB, Houston Texans | Out
The Houston Texans have already ruled out C.J. Stroud for Week 12’s matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Stroud is expected to take part in practices throughout the week, but there just isn’t enough time for him to clear the concussion protocol before Thursday.
Davis Mills will make one more start against the Buffalo Bills, but Stroud is expected to be back under center in Week 13.
Daniel Jones, QB, Indianapolis Colts
Daniel Jones was added to the Indianapolis Colts’ injury report on Thursday with a calf injury. He did not appear in the report on Wednesday, so this is a new injury that popped up during the week.
Jones does not appear on the Colts’ final injury report, suggesting the team just wanted to give the veteran starter a break on Thursday. He will be on the field in Week 12’s matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Jordan Love, QB, Green Bay Packers
Jordan Love briefly left the Green Bay Packers’ win over the New York Giants in the first half after taking a hard hit to his shoulder. The veteran quarterback ultimately returned to the game without issue.
Love does not appear on the Packers’ final injury report and is set to play Week 12.
Jaxson Dart, QB, New York Giants | Out
Jaxson Dart missed the New York Giants’ Week 11 game against the Green Bay Packers due to the concussion protocol. Dart is expected to resume practicing on Wednesday, but will still need to progress through the concussion protocol without setbacks before he can return to the field.
Unfortunately, Dart was unable to clear concussion protocol in time for the Giants’ Week 12 matchup against the Detroit Lions. Jameis Winston is set to make his second straight start.
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers | Questionable
Aaron Rodgers suffered a small break in his non-throwing wrist in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Week 11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Head coach Mike Tomlin stated on Tuesday that Rodgers would not need surgery and did not rule out Rodgers playing against the Chicago Bears in Week 12, even if it is a long shot.
The Steelers have already stated that Rodgers will not practice on Wednesday, so his participation on Thursday and Friday will indicate how realistic it is to see him on the field this week. Rodgers was upgraded to a limited participant on Thursday and Friday.
Things are trending toward Rodgers playing against the Bears in Week 12. If he is ruled out then Mason Rudolph would make his first start of the season.
Michael Penix Jr., QB, Atlanta Falcons | Out
Michael Penix Jr. was placed on injured reserve on Monday due to a knee injury. On Wednesday, the team confirmed that Penix would require an ACL repair.
#Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr does, in fact, need surgery to repair his ACL, with 9 months of recovery, at least, coming.
He’s sought the opinion of experts, including from Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Penix has an ACL sprain, but full reconstruction is needed. pic.twitter.com/rdz34X1eAh
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 19, 2025
Kirk Cousins will return to the starting lineup for the Atlanta Falcons for the final seven games of the season. He has struggled in his time with the Falcons and will be without Drake London for at least one week.
Fantasy managers desperate for quarterback production can take a chance on him, but he should not be rostered in standard 12-team 1QB leagues.
Dillon Gabriel, QB, Cleveland Browns | Out
Dillon Gabriel suffered a concussion at the end of the first half of the Cleveland Browns’ Week 11 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. That allowed fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders to make his debut with the team.
The Cleveland Browns have already ruled Gabriel out for Week 12’s matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. Sanders will make his first career start in Week 12.
Josh Jacobs, RB, Green Bay Packers | Questionable
There was initial concern that Josh Jacobs had suffered a significant knee injury in the Green Bay Packers’ win over the New York Giants in Week 11. Jacobs was injured in the first half and did not return to the field.
Thankfully, additional testing found that Jacobs’ knee was structurally sound and the injury was ultimately a knee bruise. On Tuesday, head coach Matt LaFleur stated that Jacobs has a chance to play in Week 12 if the team can control the swelling.
Jacobs did not practice for the Packers on Wednesday due to the knee injury. He was able to take part in individual drills on Thursday, which is a step in the right direction. He also logged a limited practice on Friday.
If Jacobs can’t play, then Emanuel Wilson would become the lead back for the Green Bay Packers. Wilson won’t provide fantasy managers the same RB1 production they expect from Josh Jacobs (RB7, 18.1 PPR points per game), but he can be a solid RB2 with the proper game script.
Bucky Irving, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Out
Bucky Irving finally returned to the practice field ahead of Week 11, logging multiple limited practices before ultimately being ruled out of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game against the Buffalo Bills. It was an encouraging sign for the young running back.
It is worth mentioning that the Buccaneers’ practices last week consisted of walkthroughs, so we really don’t know how close Irving’s shoulder is to being back on the field. Before last week, head coach Todd Bowles told reporters that Irving had not yet taken a hit to the shoulder.
Irving logged a limited practice on Thursday, but he is not expected to play in Week 12’s matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. He was officially ruled out on Friday.
Both Rachaad White and Sean Tucker will once again have a role for the Buccaneers in Week 12.
Kenneth Walker, RB, Seattle Seahawks | Questionable
Kenneth Walker was a surprising addition to the Seattle Seahawks’ injury report on Friday with a glute injury. Head coach Mike Macdonald stated that Walker would be fine for the game, but a late-week injury addition is always a concerning development.
Zach Charbonnet would see a significant increase in his role if Walker is ruled out for Week 12’s matchup against the Tennessee Titans.
Jaylen Warren, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Jaylen Warren suffered an ankle injury against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11, but after the game stated that he could have returned if needed. The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to put him through limited practices to start the week, but are “optimistic” he will be available for Week 12.
Warren did not participate in individual drills for the Steelers, which isn’t surprising given the team’s plan for his practice schedule during the week. He was upgraded to a limited participant on Thursday and removed from the injury report on Friday, signaling that he is ready for his usual workload against the Chicago Bears in Week 12.
Joe Mixon, RB, Houston Texans | Out
On Thursday, the Houston Texans finally announced what many have speculated since the summer: Joe Mixon is not expected to play in 2025 due to a foot injury.
Fantasy managers who have been stashing Mixon, hoping for a late-season surge, are now safe to drop him from their rosters. Woody Marks and Nick Chubb will continue to dominate touches in the Texans’ backfield for the remainder of 2025.
Travis Etienne Jr., RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Travis Etienne Jr. logged a limited practice on Wednesday with a shoulder injury. On Thursday, Etienne took part in the “non-contact” parts of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice.
The Jaguars removed Etienne from the injury report on Friday after listing him as a limited participant throughout the week. Expect the veteran running back to continue to split time with rookie Bhayshul Tuten in Week 12.
Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Bhayshul Tuten had the best game of his rookie season in Week 11 before suffering an ankle injury that sidelined him for the rest of the game. After the game, Tuten told reporters he was “good.”
There haven’t been any additional reports about the severity of Tuten’s injury, but there has been speculation that he suffered a high-ankle sprain. His participation in practice throughout the week will indicate the severity of his injury.
Tuten was spotted on the field for practice on Wednesday, but the Jaguars held a walkthrough. He also took part in Thursday’s practice, a positive sign for his availability in Week 12.
Tuten was officially removed from the injury report on Friday and is set to split the backfield with Travis Etienne in Week 12.
Rhamondre Stevenson, RB, New England Patriots
Rhamondre Stevenson has missed the last three games for the New England Patriots due to a toe injury. His absence has allowed rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson to shine as the lead back in the Patriots’ backfield.
Head coach Mike Vrabel told the media that Stevenson was expected to practice on Wednesday and could make his return in Week 12 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Stevenson also logged a limited practice on Thursday, setting the stage for him to return in Week 12. That was confirmed by head coach Mike Vrabel on Friday.
Expect Stevenson and Henderson to return to a timeshare in the backfield, although Henderson likely earned a larger workload due to his strong play the last three weeks.
Isiah Pacheco, RB, Kansas City Chiefs | Out
There was hope that Kansas City Chiefs’ running back Isiah Pacheco would be able to return to the field after the team’s Week 10 bye, after he suffered an MCL sprain in Week 8. Unfortunately, Pacheco did not practice at all ahead of Week 11’s loss to the Denver Broncos.
Pacheco was expected to participate in Wednesday’s practice, a first step toward his returning to the field in Week 12. He logged a limited practice on Thursday as well. Pacheco was ultimately ruled out on Friday.
Kareem Hunt has operated as the Chiefs’ lead back with Pacheco sidelined and will do so again in Week 12.
Trey Benson, RB, Arizona Cardinals | Out
Trey Benson was eligible to return from the injured reserve after Week 10, but has yet to practice. Last week, head coach Jonathan Gannon stated that Benson was making progress but was still not ready to return to the field.
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The Cardinals officially opened Benson’s 21-day practice window on Wednesday, giving him a chance to return in Week 12’s matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Benson also logged a limited practice on Thursday.
Head coach Jonathan Gannon would not commit to Benson returning to the lineup in Week 12 until the conclusion of Friday’s practice. The Cardinals elevated running backs from the practice squad on Friday before ruling Benson out.
Arizona has utilized a three-headed backfield with Bam Knight, Michael Carter, and Emari Demercado in Benson’s absence. Demercado has been ruled out, so Knight and Carter would be the backfield tandem in Week 12.
Emari Demercado, RB, Arizona Cardinals | Out
Emari Demercado has seen a consistent role in the Arizona Cardinals’ backfield in recent weeks, but suffered an ankle injury in Week 11’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Additional testing confirmed that the veteran running back suffered a high-ankle sprain.
Demercado was officially ruled out on Wednesday, so Arizona’s backfield will be reduced to a two-man split between Bam Knight and Michael Carter unless Trey Benson is activated from the injured reserve.
Drake London, WR, Atlanta Falcons | Out
Drake London suffered a knee injury during the second half of the Atlanta Falcons’ loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 11. On Monday, we learned that London was going to miss at least Week 12 thanks to a PCL injury.
The Falcons haven’t provided a recovery timeline, but we have seen players like Brock Bowers and Ricky Pearsall struggle to return to the field with this injury in 2025. It is fair to expect a longer injury window than just one week for London, depending on the severity of the injury.
Darnell Mooney and Kyle Pitts will be the biggest winners of London’s target share in Week 12. Veteran receiver KhaDarel Hodge has been the backup to London so far this season and would have some boom-or-bust upside.
Brian Thomas Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars | Out
There was hope that Brian Thomas Jr. would be able to return to the field for the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 11 after the second-year receiver logged limited practices throughout the week. Ultimately, the Jaguars elected to make him inactive on Sunday.
Thomas participated in practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but was ruled out once again on Friday. It will be his third game missed with his ankle injury.
Jacksonville’s passing attack will once again be headed by Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington in Week 12.
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Emeka Egbuka was a limited participant during Thursday’s practice due to illness. There is no indication that he will miss Week 12’s matchup against the Los Angeles Rams. Egbuka does not carry an injury designation into Week 12’s game.
Jayden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers | Out
Jayden Reed has not played for the Green Bay Packers since Week 2, thanks to a broken collarbone. However, Reed is reportedly set to return to practice ahead of the Packers’ Week 12 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
Reed’s role as a slot-specific receiver for the Packers has been consistently frustrating for fantasy managers, but he’s also shown that he can be a consistent WR2 (with WR1 upside) in that role.
Green Bay opened up Reed’s practice window on Friday, allowing the veteran to return to the practice field. Unfortunately, he is trending toward making his debut in Week 13 or 14 instead of Week 12.
Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Arizona Cardinals | Out
Marvin Harrison Jr. missed the Arizona Cardinals’ Week 11 game after undergoing surgery to treat appendicitis on Nov. 12. Harrison was ruled out for Week 12’s matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Nov. 19.
Michael Wilson (15 receptions for 185 yards) and Trey McBride (10 receptions for 115 yards and a touchdown) were the big winners among the pass catchers, but the Cardinals likely won’t attempt 57 passes again. Greg Dortch (six receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown) is also worth a speculative add if Harrison is out.
Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs | Questionable
Kansas City Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid told reporters on Nov. 19 that Xavier Worthy had tweaked his ankle during a walkthrough practice. The injury is not considered significant, but it did force Worthy to miss Wednesday’s official practice.
Worthy was upgraded to a limited participant on Thursday and is trending towards playing against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12. He will be questionable heading into the game, but is expected to take on his normal role.
Matthew Golden, WR, Green Bay Packers | Questionable
Matthew Golden was a limited practice participant on Thursday with shoulder/wrist injuries. Golden had previously missed a game with a shoulder injury, but was active in Week 11.
There is no indication that he aggravated the injury, and he should be active against the Vikings in Week 12’s game. He is listed as questionable heading into the game.
Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Chris Godwin has not played since Week 5 with a fibula injury after missing the first three weeks working his way back from his 2024 ankle dislocation. Godwin logged limited practices for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 11, but as mentioned earlier, the Buccaneers had walkthroughs all week.
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Head coach Todd Bowles has said the plan is to ramp Godwin up this week, but there is no guarantee he will be active in Week 12. Godwin logged a full practice on Thursday and was removed from the team’s injury report on Friday. He’s set to return to the field in Week 12.
Romeo Doubs, WR, Green Bay Packers
Romeo Doubs was listed as a limited participant on Thursday’s practice due to a wrist injury. This is a new injury for Doubs, but there was no clear time when he picked it up during the Week 11 game.
Doubs is on track to play against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 12 and does not carry an injury designation into the week.
Xavier Legette, WR, Carolina Panthers
Xavier Legette has not been a very reliable fantasy wide receiver in his two professional seasons. Still, he’s proven that he can provide the occasional boom week for the Carolina Panthers. One of those games was in Week 11 (four receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown).
Unfortunately, Legette suffered a hip injury late in the Panthers’ win over the Atlanta Falcons. Legette does have the benefit of a long week (the Panthers play on Monday night), and he expressed after the game that he planned to be on the field in Week 12. Legette did log a limited practice on Thursday and is pacing to play this weekend. He was removed from the team’s injury report on Friday.
Kayshon Boutte, WR, New England Patriots
Kayshon Boutte has missed the last two New England Patriots’ games due to a hamstring injury. He is expected to return to practice ahead of Week 12’s matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. Boutte does not appear on the team’s final injury report and is set to return to the field in Week 12.
Darius Slayton, WR, New York Giants
Darius Slayton had his best game of the season against the Chicago Bears in Week 10 (four receptions for 89 yards), but suffered a hamstring injury. Slayton was ultimately ruled out of the New York Giants’ Week 11 matchup against the Green Bay Packers.
Slayton logged a limited practice on Thursday and is seemingly trending toward playing in Week 12. He was removed from the injury report on Friday.
Sam LaPorta, TE, Detroit Lions | Out
Sam LaPorta was placed on the injured reserve on Saturday due to a back injury, which guarantees that he will miss four games (including Week 11) for the Detroit Lions.
Brock Wright took over LaPorta’s general role in the offense but earned only four targets in the team’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Most of LaPorta’s targets will instead funnel to Jameson Williams, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Jahmyr Gibbs.
Dalton Kincaid, TE, Buffalo Bills | Out
Dalton Kincaid missed the Buffalo Bills’ Week 11 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to a hamstring injury. He has already been ruled out for Week 12’s matchup against the Houston Texans on Thursday night as well.
Seven different players had at least three targets for the Bills in Week 11, but nobody had more than five targets. The Bills also didn’t have second-year receiver Keon Coleman active for disciplinary reasons.
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Five different receivers played at least 20 snaps and ran at least 15 routes for Buffalo in Week 11. Dawson Knox (43 of 56 snaps and routes on 28 of 33 drop backs) took over Kincaid’s role on offense but had only three targets.
The Buffalo passing attack is too spread out to target, especially in a difficult matchup against the Houston Texans on a short week. Fantasy managers desperate for production may consider taking upside shots on Joshua Palmer or Tyrell Shavers, especially if Keon Coleman is out again in Week 12.
David Njoku, TE, Cleveland Browns
David Njoku did not practice on Nov. 19 or Nov. 20 due to a knee injury. Njoku missed Week 7 due to a knee injury, but has not missed time since. There is no indication that the injury has reoccurred or worsened.
Njoku returned to practice on Friday and was cleared to play Week 12. His removal from the injury report means a continued split between him and rookie tight end Harold Fannin Jr. in the passing attack.