Week 9 NFL Injury Report: Updates on Deshaun Watson, A.J. Brown, George Pickens & More

• Minnesota and Seattle will be without their QB1s
• Receivers Mike Evans, DeVonta Smith, and A.J. Brown are also out this week
• Continue reading for a breakdown of the Week 9 NFL injury report

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With 14 games remaining in NFL Week 9, the injury landscape is creating massive ripples across the betting markets. Shifting point spreads and fluctuating player props mean staying ahead of official game designations is your best bet for finding an edge.

The Buffalo Bills have a wild 18 players on their weekly report, while the Philadelphia Eagles have listed six players as out. I am keeping a sharp eye on high-profile playmakers with uncertain statuses. Whether you are finalizing DFS lineups or locking in your Sunday tickets, here is everything you need to know about the current slate.

Let’s dive into the most impactful updates.

NFL Week 9 Injury Reports for Star Player

Staying on top of official injury designations is the key to finding closing line value. Above is my roundup of the most-notable star players dealing with injuries ahead of Week 9. I highlighted their practice participation and official game statuses.

49ers: Deebo Samuel & Mike Evans (Hamstring / Ribs)

The 49ers enter Week 9 with their perimeter passing attack decimated, as both Deebo Samuel Sr. (hamstring) and Mike Evans (ribs) have been officially ruled out after failing to practice. The combined loss of these two star wideouts creates a staggering statistical vacuum, vacating nearly 48% of San Francisco’s total target share, over 55% of the team’s air yards, and the overwhelming majority of their manufactured touches behind the line of scrimmage and in the red zone.

From a betting perspective, this dual absence completely lowers the ceiling of San Francisco’s offense, triggering sharp movement toward the full-game under and a noticeable drop in the 49ers’ implied team total. Without Samuel’s elite yards-after-catch versatility on jet sweeps and screen concepts, and without Evans’ dominant contested-catch presence along the boundary and in goal-to-go situations, Kyle Shanahan’s play-calling will naturally contract.

In the prop market, this forces extreme volume consolidation onto the remaining pass-catchers. Tight end George Kittle and the primary pass-catching running backs project for massive bumps in route participation and third-down target share, making their receptions and receiving yards overs high-priority targets. Conversely, quarterback passing yardage and passing touchdown props become sharp fade opportunities, as San Francisco is heavily incentivized to lean into a conservative, run-heavy script to control clock and protect against negative plays.

See the latest 49ers vs Raiders odds

Browns: Deshaun Watson (Concussion)

Deshaun Watson is out of concussion protocol and officially listed as questionable but the Browns have already said that Shedeur Sanders will start on Sunday. In the betting market, sportsbooks have kept Cleveland’s spread and total relatively suppressed, pricing in the realistic probability of a backup signal-caller taking the reins in a hostile road environment.

With Watson potentially out, Cleveland’s offensive scheme shifts drastically toward a condensed, low-risk identity built on heavy 12-personnel sets, early-down runs, and short checkdowns to backs and tight ends.

Bettors should anticipate sharp money hammering the under on both Cleveland’s team total and the full-game total if Sanders does start, while wide receiver boundary props become immediate fades against a defense capable of stacking eight men in the box.

See the latest Browns vs Saints odds

Cowboys: George Pickens (Hamstring)

George Pickens carrying a questionable tag with a hamstring injury creates significant betting ripple effects for Dallas’ high-flying passing attack ahead of their matchup with Indianapolis. Pickens serves as Dak Prescott’s primary vertical boundary threat, commanding a 24.8% team target share and leading the Cowboys with an elite 38.2% share of total air yards and an average depth of target over 13.5 yards.

Even if Pickens suits up at less than 100%, hamstring soft-tissue limitations severely hinder top-end burst and perimeter separation, making his receiving yards prop (often set in the mid-to-high 60s) a prime candidate for an under. If he is declared inactive or placed on a restricted snap count, the entire distribution of the passing game shifts inward. CeeDee Lamb’s target floor skyrockets into double-digit territory, while tight end and running back underneath reception props become high-value overs against a Colts secondary that will pivot toward bracketing Lamb.

Losing Pickens’ ability to stretch the field horizontally lowers Dallas’ explosive-play rate, reducing the likelihood of quick-strike scores and favoring a more methodical, clock-draining game script.

Eagles: DeVonta Smith (Hamstring)

DeVonta Smith’s hamstring injury completely reshapes Philadelphia’s offensive target distribution in their rivalry clash with the Giants. Vacating a 22.4% target share and over 35% of the team’s air yards, Smith’s absence removes Philadelphia’s premier vertical intermediate separator on the boundary.

In the prop market, this creates immediate, high-leverage volume consolidation. Dallas Goedert sees his intermediate usage surge from 16.4% to over 24%, making Goedert’s receptions and anytime touchdown props priority targets. Furthermore, with fewer spread-out boundary concepts stretching the defense, expect Philadelphia to lean into a run-heavy, ball-control script behind Saquon Barkley, suppressing full-game passing totals.

See the latest Giants vs Eagles odds

Patriots: A.J. Brown (Ankle)

Brown being ruled out with an ankle injury strips New England of its unquestioned WR1 and primary explosive play threat. Brown accounts for a massive portion of the Patriots’ contested-catch equity and vertical passing yardage, serving as the focal point opposing defensive coordinators build their entire coverage game plans around.

Without Brown drawing bracket coverage on the boundary, opposing secondaries can comfortably drop an extra safety into the box to clog early-down rushing lanes and choke intermediate passing windows. The betting ripple effect is swift: New England’s implied team total suffers a significant downgrade, deep passing yardage props become instant under candidates, and the offense is forced into slow, methodical drive structures that strongly favor full-game unders.

See the latest Packers vs Patriots odds

Vikings: Kyler Murray (Hamstring)

Kyler Murray being ruled out with a hamstring strain removes the central engine of the Minnesota offense, completely recalibrating both the side and total markets. Minnesota will turn to Carson Wentz on Monday night as the Vikings host the Bills.

Oddsmakers immediately knocked 3.5 to 4.0 points off the full-game total, reflecting a massive dip in neutral-situation pace and scoring ceiling. Without Murray’s dynamic presence extending drives, sharp bettors should look to fade Minnesota’s team total while attacking the under on tertiary receiver yardage props, as conservative play-calling and heavy two-tight-end sets become the blueprint to protect the pocket.

See the latest Bills vs Vikings odds