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NFL Playoffs Wild Card Weekend Injury Reports & Inactives for All 6 Games

Robert Duff

By Robert Duff in NFL Football

Published:


In the NFL Wild Card Weekend injury reports, Lions TE Sam Laporta (knee) is unlikely to play.
Jan 7, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta (87) is carted off the field after an injury during second quarter of the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sports
  • All of the injury reports & inactives for the NFL’s Wild Card Weekend playoff games are outlined in the story below
  • See who’s in and who’s out for each of the AFC and NFC postseason games
  • Read on to find out how injuries might be affecting all of the Wild Card Weekend NFL playoff games

Some prominent NFL players are back, a few others are out and the status of some remains uncertain as we delve into this weekend’s Wild Card Playoffs injury reports.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will go to Buffalo to face the Bills without sack machine TJ Watt. The former NFL Defensive Player of the Year is out with a knee injury.

Sam LaPorta is another key absentee. The Detroit Lions rookie TE who’s scored 10 TDs this season hurt his knee last week against Minnesota.

On the other side of the coin, Cleveland will be welcoming back WR Amari Cooper. A heel injury kept him out for the last two regular-season games.

Meanwhile, there’s plenty of unknowns as the Philadelphia Eagles travel to Tampa Bay. The status of QB Jalen Hurts (finger), RB D’Andre Swift (illness) and CB Darius Slay (knee) remain up in the air.

Check out all the latest NFL Wild Card Weekend injury reports and inactives below.

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Browns’ Cooper Good to Go for NFL Playoffs

The big news for Cleveland is that WR Amari Cooper, who’s missed the past two games with a heel injury, is going to play. In his last game, he went for a franchise-record 265 yards in receptions against the Texans.

There are no positive reports coming about kicker Dustin Hopkins (hamstring). He’s expected to miss his his third straight game. Hopkins has hit 33-of-36 field goals this season and is eight-for-eight from 50+ yards. Former Detroit Lions K Riley Patterson will continue to fill in for Hopkins.

The Brown are activating S Grant Delpit (groin) for IR. He’s been out since December 10.

Browns vs Texans Injury Report

Player-Position-Team Injury Game Status
Kareem Hunt-RB (Cle) Groin Questionable
Amari Cooper-WR (Cle) Heel Questionable
Cedric Tillman-WR (Cle) Concussion Questionable
Myles Garrett-DE (Cle) Shoulder/Hamstring Questionable
Ethan Pocic-C (Cle) Stinger Questionable
Pierre Strong Jr-RB (Cle) Back Questionable
Juan Thornhill-S (Cle) Calf Questionable
Greg Newsome II-DB (Cle) Knee Questionable
Dustin Hopkins-K (Cle) Hamstring Doubtful
Noah Brown-WR (Hou) Back Questionable
Robert Woods-WR (Hou) Hip Questionable
Andrew Beck-FB (Hou) Calf Questionable
Will Anderson Jr-DE (Hou) Ankle Questionable
Maliek Collins-DT (Hou) Hip Questionable
Sheldon Rankins-DT (Hou) Shoulder Questionable
Jonathan Greenard-DE (Hou) Ankle Questionable

DE Jonathan Greenard (ankle), who leads the Texans with 12.5 sacks, is trending toward playing against Cleveland. Greenard has missed the past two games. DE Will Anderson Jr (high ankle sprain) has been held out of practice this week as a precaution. He played the last two weeks on snap counts.

WR Robert Woods (hip), who missed last week’s game at Indianapolis, was back practicing this week and is expected to play. There’s less certainty about the status of WR Noah Brown (back). He also missed last week’s game and hasn’t returned to the practice field yet this week.

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Dolphins Defensive Depth a Wild Card

Already without five LBs on IR, Miami might be going up against Kansas City QB Patrick Mahomes minus three of the club’s four starters in the secondary.

The right foot of CB Xavien Howard remains in a cast and he’s listed as doubtful. Safety Jevon Holland left last week’s loss to Buffalo with knee soreness. He and fellow S DeShon Elliott (calf) are both showing as questionable for Wild Card Weekend.

Dolphins vs Chiefs Injury Report

Player-Position Injury Game Status
Xavien Howard-CB (Mia) Foot Doubtful
Tyreek Hill-WR (Mia) Ankle/Quad Questionable
Jaylen Waddle-WR (Mia) Ankle Questionable
De’Von Achane-RB (Mia) Toe-/Ribs Questionable
Raheem Mostert-RB (Mia) Knee/Ankle Questionable
Terron Amstead-T (Mia) Knee/Ankle/Back Questionable
Liam Eichenberg-C (Mia) Calf/Ankle Questionable
Jalen Ramsey-CB (Mia) Knee Questionable
DeShon Elliott-S (Mia) Calf Questionable
Jevon Holland-S (Mia) Knee Questionable
Kadarius Toney-WR (KC) Hip/Ankle Questionable
Donovan Smith-T (KC) Neck Questionable
Wayna Morris-T (KC) Concussion Questionable
Justyn Ross-WR (KC) Hamstring Questionable

Chiefs WR Justyn Ross (hamstring) returned to limited practice on Wednesday. Starting LT Donovan Smith (neck) is expected to play. That’s important, because his backup Wayna Morris remains in NFL concussion protocol.

Steelers Watt Out for Wild Card Weekend

Pittsburgh will be going up against elusive Buffalo QB Josh Allen minus the team’s elite pass rusher. Former NFL Defensive Player of the Year WLB TJ Watt has been ruled due to a knee injury.

On the flip side, S Minkah Fitzpatrick was back this week as a full participant in practice. A knee injury kept him out the last three games of the regular season.

Steelers vs Bills Injury Report

Player-Position Injury Game Status
TJ Watt-LB (Pit) Knee Out
Isaac Seumalo-G (Pit) Shoulder Questionable
Najee Harris-RB (Pit) Knee Questionable
Elandon Roberts-LB (Pit) Pectoral Questionable
Gabe Davis-WR (Buf) Knee Questionable
Dion Dawkins-T (Buf) Hand Questionable
Rasul Douglas-CB (Buf) Knee Questionable
Tyrel Dodson-LB (Buf) Shoulder Questionable
Taylor Rapp-S (Buf) Calf Out (IR)

Buffalo WR Gabe Davis, CB Rasul Douglas and S Taylor Rapp have all been held out of practice this week but all are expected to play. Allen, who’s been nursing neck soreness and a finger ailment, does not show up on the injury report and hasn’t been limited in practice this week.

Packers Getting Healthier Entering NFL Playoffs

Green Bay was among the hottest teams in the NFL over the second half of the season. As they arrive at Wild Card Weekend, the Pack is also getting back to health.

WR Christian Watson (hamstring) and Romeo Doubs (neck) were both full participants in practice this week. Watson missed the regular-season finale against Chicago, while Doubs was hurt in that game.

Packers vs Cowboys Injury Report

Player-Position Injury Game Status
Aaron Jones-RB (GB) Knee/Finger Questionable
AJ Dillon-RB (GB) Thumb/Neck Questionable
Christian Watson-WR (GB) Hamstring Questionable
Romeo Doubs-WR (GB) Ankle Questionable
Elgton Jenkins-G (GB) Thumb/Neck Questionable
TJ Slayton-NT (GB) Knee/Foot Questionable
Preston Smith-LB (GB) Ankle Questionable
Jaire Alexander-CB (GB) Knee/Ankle Questionable
Jonathan Owens-S (GB) Knee Questionable
Isaiah McDuffie-LB (GB) Concussion/Neck Questionable
Tyler Smith-G (Dal) Foot Questionable
Jonathan Hankins-DT (Dal) Ankle Questionable
Stephon Gilmore-CB (Dal) Shoulder Questionable

Cowboys CB Stephon Gilmore suffered a dislocated shoulder in their Week 18 win over Washington. Still, he’s remaining confident of playing in this game. Inactive last week, LG Tyler Smith (foot) returned to practice this week.

Rookie Sensation LaPorta Doubtful for Lions

Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell inists that there’s an outside chance that rookie TE Sam LaPorta (knee) will play against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday night. However, that seems unlikely at this point. LaPorta, scorer of 10 TDs this season, was hurt last week against Minnesota.

WR Kalif Raymond (knee), Detroit’s key return man on special teams, has also been held out of practice.

Rams vs Lions Injury Report

Player-Position Injury Game Status
Tyler Higbee-TE (LAR) Shoulder Questionable
Joe Noteboom-T (LAR) Foot Questionable
Kevin Dotson-G (LAR) Shoulder Questionable
Jordan Fuller-S (LAR) Ankle Questionable
Troy Reeder-LB (LAR) Knee Questionable
Sam LaPorta-TE (Det) Knee Questionable
Kalif Raymond-WR (Det) Knee Questionable

Rams TE Tyler Higbee (shoulder), who missed last week’s game against the 49ers, returned to practice this week. There’s concern along the OL  as tackle Joe Noteboom (foot) has been missing from practice, while G Kevin Dotson (shoulder) has seen limited practice time.

Extra Day’s Rest Beneficial to Eagles

Playing on Monday night could prove vital to the chances of the Philadelphia Eagles winning at Tampa Bay. QB Jalen Hurts (finger) left last week’s game against the Giants and is listed as day-to-day. There’s also uncertainty regarding RB D’Andre Swift (illness) and CB Darius Slay (knee). Both sat of the regular-season finale.

The Eagles confirmed that WR AJ Brown (knee), WR DeVonta Smith (ankle) and G Cam Jurgens (eye) would all be playing against the Buccaneers. Safety Sydney Brown is out for the season with an ACL injury.

Eagles vs Buccaneers Injury Report

Player-Position Injury Game Status
Jalen Hurts-QB (Phi) Finger Questionable
DeVonta Smith-WR (Phi) Illness Questionable
AJ Brown-WR (Phi) Knee Questionable
D’Andre Swift-RB (Phi) Ankle Questionable
Cam Jurgens-G (Phi) Eye Questionable
Reid Blankenship-S (Phi) Groin Questionable
Darius Slay-CB (Phi) Knee Questionable
Sydney Brown-S (Phi) Knee Out
Rakeem Jarrett-WR Quad Questionable
KJ Britt-LB Calf Questionable

Though he doesn’t show up on the Buccaneers injury report, it’s known that Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield is dealing with a rib ailment. He also hurt his ankle in last week’s 9-0 win over Carolina.

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Robert Duff
Robert Duff

Sports Writer

An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.

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