Here’s how every team is doing from an injury standpoint
There are several notable injuries to keep an eye on in the days leading up to this weekend’s playoff games. The NFL’s eight remaining teams are trying to stay as healthy as possible ahead of their respective divisional-round matchups, with trips to the AFC and NFC title games at stake.
One injury that Ravens and Bills fans are specifically paying attention to involves Ravens wideout Zay Flowers, who hasn’t practiced since he injured his knee during Baltimore’s Week 18 win over the Cleveland Browns. Flowers was inactive for Baltimore’s 28-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild-card round, and is officially listed as doubtful for this matchup against Buffalo on Sunday.
Here’s a look at each team’s latest injury report.
Saturday
4:30 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN
- Texans: RB Joe Mixon (ankle), LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), TE Teagan Quitoriano (calf), WR Robert Woods (hip) QUESTIONABLE
- Chiefs: WR Mecole Hardman (knee) DOUBTFUL; CB Jaylen Watson (ankle) QUESTIONABLE
Mixon’s designation is a surprise; he didn’t practice on Thursday and was limited on Wednesday after not having any designation on Tuesday. Dameon Pierce is in line to start if Mixon (had 106 yards and one touchdown in the team’s wild-card win against the Chargers) can’t go. Pierce ran for just 293 yards this season, but did average an impressive 7.3 yards per carry. He had 176 yards and a score in the team’s Week 18 win over the Titans. TE Dalton Schultz (shoulder) was limited to start the week, but was not given a game designation after being a full participant on Thursday.
For the Chiefs, Hardman was the only player who did not practice in a full capacity this week. Hardman was limited during each practice. Watson was a full participant this week after the Chiefs opened up his 21-day practice window earlier this month. Watson hasn’t played since he fractured his fibula back in Week 7.
8 p.m. ET, Fox
- Commanders: LB Jordan Magee (hamstring) OUT; LB Mykal Walker (illness), TE Colson Yankoff (hamstring) QUESTIONABLE
- Lions: DL Pat O’Connor (calf), G Kevin Zeitler (hamstring) OUT; CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (hamstring/illness) QUESTIONABLE
Future Hall of Fame linebacker Bobby Wagner will play on Saturday despite missing two practices earlier this week with an ankle injury. Wagner scooped up a pivotal fumble during Washington’s wild-card win over Tampa Bay.
For the Lions, O’Connor and Zeitler did not practice this week. Rakestraw Jr. was limited on Thursday after not practicing the previous two days. Cornerback Terrion Arnold (foot) and running back David Montgomery (foot) were full participants all week. Montgomery said he feels confident in his knee after missing the Lions’ final three regular-season games.
“It’s refreshing,” Montgomery said, via ESPN. “Kind of to be back in the position to where I can help the team, yeah, I missed it, so happy to be back.”
Sunday
3 p.m. ET, NBC
- Rams: TBA
- Eagles: DT Byron Young (hamstring) OUT
After missing two-straight practices, Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (knee/rest) was a full participant during Friday’s session and carries no injury designation, so he will play on Sunday. Meanwhile, tight end Dallas Goedert (illness) was limited on Friday, but doesn’t have a game status either, meaning he’ll also play.
Ravens (-1) at Bills
6:30 p.m. ET, CBS
- Ravens: WR Zay Flowers (knee) DOUBTFUL; WR Deonte Harty (knee) QUESTIONABLE
- Bills: RB Ray Davis (concussion) QUESTIONABLE
In Baltimore, Flowers is officially listed as doubtful after not being able to practice at all this week. Despite that, head coach John Harbaugh told reporters on Friday that he believes Flowers will “have a chance” to suit up.
When speaking about Flowers’ status earlier this week, CBS Sports NFL lead sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson said she doesn’t feel that Flowers’ practice status will necessarily tell the story regarding his possible availability for Sunday, which jives with what Harbaugh noted on Friday.
“I don’t think he needs to practice this week for him to be out there,” Wolfson told CBSSports.com.
If Flowers can’t go, the Ravens offense will continue to center around the running of Derrick Henry, who is coming off his 186-yard, two-touchdown performance in last Saturday’s win over the Steelers. Henry ran for 1,921 yards during the regular season, the most rushing yards ever for a player over the age of 30.
If Flowers can’t go, Wolfson alluded to Rashod Bateman and Justice Hill as players whom Jackson can continue to lean on in the passing game. Both players caught touchdown passes in Baltimore’s win over Pittsburgh.
As for the Bills, Ray Davis is the only listed with a game status as he is questionable due to a concussion. He was limited throughout the week of practice, but will need to clear protocol in order to suit up on Sunday.
