See Which NFL Teams Are Resting Starters in Week 18 and Other Injuries Before Making Bets
- No NFL head coach is talking about resting starters heading into Week 18
- Several key players will be missing through injury, including QBs Justin Fields (Chicago), Lamar Jackson (Baltimore) and Tua Tagovailoa (Miami)
- All but three of 15 Week 18 games have some bearing on postseason scenarios
Apparently, the wicked aren’t the only ones for whom there will be no rest. Count NFL starters also among this group.
There’s a bit of an odd set of circumstances playing out as NFL teams are nearing completion of their preparations for Week 18, the final week of regular-season play. And we’re not talking about the NFL odds.
It goes something like this:
Rest? We don’t need no stinkin’ rest.
Not one NFL head coach was offering up a blueprint for this week that involved sitting down any of their starting players to rest them for playoff action.
Certainly, there’s sound reasoning for this fact of life. Of the 15 games on top this weekend, 12 of them could potentially impact the NFL playoff picture. However, it’s also wise to keep in mind that as game outcomes play out, it may impact who stays in the game for certain playoff-bound squads.
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The closest to coming to a conclusion that he’ll be resting some players is New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll. Locked into the #6 seed in the NFC East, he could rest anyone he wants against the Philadelphia Eagles. Philadelphia might need to win to clinch top seed in the NFC.
While admitting he was still formulating a game plan, Daboll did seem to be leaning toward sitting out at least the players with nagging physical ailments.
Let’s look at the rest and injury situations in all of the NFL Week 18 key games.
Kansas City Chiefs (-9) vs Las Vegas Raiders
Still in the hunt for the AFC’s top seed, the Chiefs are indicating no plans to be resting players for Saturday’s game with their arch-rivals. WR Mecole Hardman (pelvis) was activated off of IR. He’ll be on a strict snap count in his return to action. WR Skyy Moore (lacerated hand) is out.
Kicker Harrison Butker (back spasms) was able to return to practice on Thursday. However, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was suggesting that he might add a second kicker to the roster just to play it safe.
Minnesota Vikings (-7.5) vs Chicago Bears
It’ll be Nathan Peterman under center for the Bears. Justin Fields (hip) is out, meaning he’ll be falling just 63 yards shy of setting the NFL single-season rushing mark for a QB.
#1 overall pick in the 2023 @NFL Draft is still up for grabs.
A Texans loss to the Colts in Week 18 would lock up #1.
BUT, the Colts have lost 6 in a row. If the Texans win and the Bears lose to the Vikings…
Chicago would lock up #1.
— Andrew Siciliano (@AndrewSiciliano) January 2, 2023
As for the Vikings, the NFC North champions do still have an outside chance at grabbing the #2 seed in the conference and it’s not sounding like head coach Kevin O’Connell has any plans to sit out any starters. O’Connell did admit that situation could change as the weekend’s gameplay unfolds.
Minnesota starting right tackle Brian O’Neill (calf) is definitely out, as are the top two players on the center depth chart – Garrett Bradbury (back) and Austin Schlottman (broken leg).
Tennessee Titans (+6.5) vs Jacksonville Jaguars
QB Ryan Tannehill (ankle) remains out for the Titans. RB Derrick Henry (hip) is expected to play after missing last week’s loss to Dallas. Tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere (ankle) has been limited in practice.
On defense, CB Davontae Harris (hamstring), LB Dylan Cole (ankle), CP Kristian Fulton (groin), S Amani Hooker (knee), DT Jeffery Simmons (ankle) are uncertain starters.
Baltimore Ravens (+7.5) vs Cincinnati Bengals
In this showdown for the AFC North crown, the Ravens will again be without QB Lamar Jackson (knee). He’s the only notable absence expected for either team.
New York Jets (-1) vs Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins may be putting their slim playoff hopes in the hands of QB3 Skylar Thompson. QB1 Tua Tagovailoa remains in concussion protocol. Backup Teddy Bridgewater (knee, right finger) hasn’t been able to throw the football with his dislocated pinky.
New England Patriots (+7.5) vs Buffalo Bills
Patriots CB Marcus Jones and TE Jonnu Smith remain out with concussions.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+4) vs Atlanta Falcons
Even though the NFC South title was clinched last week and there’s nothing to play for on Sunday, Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles is insisting that all of his starters will be on the field to start against the Falcons.
However, it’s worth noting that Bowles wasn’t committing to how long any of his starters would be staying in the game. He may be treating this like a preseason game and giving them just enough snaps to ensure they maintain their game sharpness heading into the postseason.
New York Giants (+14) vs Philadelphia Eagles
Certainly, the oddest scenario of Week 18 is this game. Already assured of an NFC wild-card spot, the Giants are in a position to rest some starters. The Eagles still need a win to lock up the NFC’s top seed. That means they’re the team with something to play for in Week 18.
The Giants are locked into the NFC's 6 seed and really should be resting key players (de facto bye week) against the Eagles in Week 18.
Very curious to see how they approach the game considering their division rival needs the win to lock down the #1 seed/bye.
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) January 2, 2023
Will QB Jalen Hurts (shoulder) return for the Eagles after missing the past two games? He’s been limited in practice this week but Eagles coach Nick Sirianni says Hurts is trending in the right direction. DE Josh Sweat (neck) carted off the field in last week’s loss to the Saints, hasn’t been practicing. RB Miles Sanders (knee) has seen limited participation.
Dallas Cowboys (-7.5) vs Washington Commanders
With a minuscule chance at grabbing the NFC’s top seed, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is telling everyone who asks that his team will be playing their full roster against arch-rival Washington. RB Tony Pollard (thigh) appears to be over his ailment and has been a full practice participant this week. LB Leighton Vander Esch (neck), out last week against Tennessee, has been limited in practice.
The Commanders were listing 11 players as out of practice. they include Antonio Gibson (knee, foot) and Brian Robinson (knee), their top two players on the RB depth chart.
Arizona Cardinals (+14) vs San Francisco 49ers
Still with a chance to catch the Eagles, the 49ers will be facing David Blough, Arizona’s QB3. Both QB1 Kyler Murray (knee) and backup Colt McCoy (concussion protocol) are out. To make matters worse, WR DeAndre Hopkins (knee) is also out.
Los Angeles Chargers (+2.5) vs Denver Broncos
Chargers QB1 Justin Herbert is nursing a left shoulder injury. However, LA head coach Brandon Staley was indicating that it was nothing more than the normal bumps and bruises of a long season and Herbert will be good to go on Sunday.
Detroit Lions (+4.5) vs Green Bay Packers
The Packers have been holding QB1 Aaron Rodgers (right thumb, knee) out of practice, but that’s been standard operating procedure of the veteran this season.
Detroit All-Pro center Frank Ragnow (foot) was missing from practice this week, as was starting RG Evan Brown (ankle). Both are listed as questionable.
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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.
