Week 15 Fantasy Football Injury Recap
As The Fantasy Footballers’ lead injury analyst and sports physical therapist, I’ll be recapping the previous week’s injuries and giving a projected timeline for recovery all season long. Let’s look at the biggest injuries from Week 15 and take a look at what fantasy managers can expect heading into Week 16.
If you’re looking for more detailed injury analysis, check out JoinTheFoot.com for additional premium resources, including access to the Injury Blitz Podcast hosted by yours truly. This bonus podcast, available to all #FootClan Premier and Ultimate members, is a short, yet informative injury podcast that drops late in the week in order to provide all the injury updates you need to set your lineup each week.
QB Patrick Mahomes
Torn ACL + LCL: Out for the year
It was a rough Sunday in Arrowhead for the Chiefs. Not only did they get knocked out of playoff contention, they also lost their franchise player for the rest of the year due to a torn ACL in the left knee. On Monday, Andy Reid confirmed that Mahomes was traveling to Dallas for a second opinion. The main thing to monitor here for dynasty leagues and for those looking ahead to 2026 is that this is a multi-ligament injury that involves the LCL (ligament on the outside of the knee). Given the ACL+LCL surgery, Mahomes will face a longer, slower recovery. He’s got an outside chance to be cleared for Week 1, but there’s no way he’ll be 100% to start the year. He will certainly be limited to begin the 2026 season if he is cleared, but it’s too early to know if he’ll be ready for the start of next year. He may miss a couple of games to open the season, depending on how his recovery goes. Regardless of when he takes the field, he certainly won’t be as mobile as he’s been this season. When Mahomes plays in 2026, he’ll likely play with a brace on that knee and be a pure pocket passer. For context, this ACL + LCL injury is very similar to that of Carson Wetnz when he played for the Eagles.
Players impacted: Gardner Minshew, Rashee Rice, Travis Kelce, Xavier Worthy
RB Devin Neal
Hamstring Strain: Likely out multiple weeks
Neal scored a TD early in the game but left shortly after with a hamstring strain and did not return. It’s almost impossible for a skill player to play one week after suffering a hamstring strain, so fantasy managers can expect Neal to miss Week 16 at a minimum. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Neal sit for the rest of the season. Veteran Alvin Kamara hasn’t practiced since suffering a knee injury in Week 12. Behind Neal and Kamara, New Orleans has Evan Hull and Audric Estime as the next guys up.
Players impacted: Alvin Kamara, Audric Estime
RB RJ Harvey
Rib Injury: Questionable for Week 16
Harvey picked up a rib injury late in the game Sunday against the Packers. There haven’t been many details available on Harvey’s injury, so for now, fantasy managers should consider Harvey questionable for next week. Hopefully this is just bruised ribs and not a fracture. Worth noting, the team did claim RB Cody Schrader off waivers from the Texans on Monday. Perhaps that could signal that they’re anticipating Harvey could miss time. With JK Dobbins on the shelf for the rest of the year, Denver is thin at RB if Harvey can’t go.
Players impacted: Jaleel McLaughlin, Tyler Badie
RB Woody Marks
Ankle Sprain: Questionable for Week 16
Marks left this past Sunday’s game early with an ankle injury and did not return. Word out of Houston seems to be optimistic on Marks with head coach DeMeco Ryans saying that the team held him out as a precaution. For now, I’d consider the rookie Questionable for this week’s game against the Raiders. At the very least, I expect him to be limited in practice this week. There’s a chance the Texans could also get Nick Chubb back this week after he was sidelined this past Sunday with a rib injury.
Players impacted: Nick Chubb, Jawhar Jordan, Dare Ogunbowale
RB Bam Knight
Left High Ankle Sprain: Likely out for the rest of the year
Knight left Week 15 in the first quarter with a left ankle injury after he got rolled up on while being taken to the turf. He’s already been ruled out for Week 16 after undergoing an MRI on Monday, and with only a few weeks left in what’s a completely lost season for Arizona, Knight’s 2025 campaign has likely come to an end. With James Conner and Trey Benson on IR, the Cardinals will turn to some combination of Michael Carter and Emari Demercado down the stretch.
Players impacted: Emari Demercado, Michael Carter
RB Bhayshul Tuten
Finger Surgery: Out 3-4 Weeks
Tuten left Sunday’s game against the Jets with a finger injury and will now undergo surgery that should sideline him for the remainder of the regular season. I do expect him to return in the playoffs, but given the injury, the biggest concern upon returning to the lineup is ball security. Etienne will be a workhorse for the rest of the year while fellow rookie LeQuint Allen is expected to step in as the RB2.
Players impacted: Travis Etienne, LaQuint Allen Jr.
WR Davante Adams
Hamstring Strain: Likely out 2-3 weeks
Adams came into this week’s game questionable with a hamstring injury and unfortunately, what happened on Sunday is the risk when players try to play through soft tissue injuries. He left this past week’s game after aggravating his hamstring injury and is now likely to miss the rest of the regular season. The Rams play on Thursday night, so he’ll be out for this one, at least, but I’d be surprised if he’s able to go in Week 17. Adams and the Rams obviously have a big post-season aspirations of hoisting the Lombardi, so I do expect them to be conservative down the stretch to ensure he’s available for the playoffs. LA is fighting for the #1 seed in the NFC, and if they’re able to secure that top seed, that will gave Adams enough time to fully rehab the injury. In his absence, guys like Tutu Atwell, Colby Parkinson and Jordan Whittington should all contribute to pick up the slack behind Puka.
Players impacted: Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, Tutu Atwell, Colby Parkinson
WR Christian Watson
Left Shoulder SC Joint Sprain: Doubtful for Week 16
Watson landed hard on left elbow/shoulder while trying to make a catch on a deep pass from Jordan Love Sunday against the Broncos. He was taken to a local hospital for evaluation as this type of injury can compromise the major vessels and lung field behind the collarbone. Fortunately, all of that came back clean, and Watson was cleared to fly back to Green Bay with his team following the game. Moving forward, fantasy managers should consider Watson week-to-week with this injury. The major thing the medical staff will consider is the stability of the joint as they’ll need to ensure safety of the aforementioned vessels and lung field just behind the joint. I expect Watson to practice in a non-contact jersey at the very least, and the other thing to consider this week is that the Packers play Saturday, so it’s a short week for Watson and the Packers. Even a mild sprain would be risky to play through on just six days rest.
Players impacted: Jordan Love, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden
WR Ricky Pearsall
PCL Aggravation & Ankle Sprain: Likely Out Week 16
It’s been a frustrating season for Pearsall due to his lingering PCL injury that he suffered back in Week 4. The second-year WR missed six weeks with that same injury earlier this year, and on Sunday, he aggravated the PCL sprain. On top of that, Pearsall also got taken to the ground on a hip drop tackle, and suffering a left ankle sprain early on. Fortunately, he was able to shake it off and return to the game. Speaking Monday, Kyle Shanahan confirmed Pearsall is battling both injuries but didn’t rule him out for Week 16. For me, it’s really tough to see him getting in a full week of practice, so this is going to come down to how the ankle and knee respond to treatment/rest throughout the week. If he plays, he’s unlikely to be as dynamic as usual given these two injuries, making him a somewhat risky start.
Players impacted: Brock Purdy, Jauan Jennings, George Kittle
WRs Rome Odunze & Luther Burden
Odunze: Foot Injury, Burden: Ankle injury
Caleb Williams‘ WR room is suddenly thin after Week 15. Odunze is reportedly dealing with a stress fracture in his foot (likely fifth metatarsal), and despite this injury, he attempted to play this past Sunday despite coming into the game questionable after missing Week 14. Unfortunately, he aggravated his injury during pre-game warm ups and didn’t play a snap. Now with just a few weeks left in the regular season and Chicago with their eyes set on the post-season, the Bears need to consider shutting him down for about a month to give his foot a chance to heal. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Odunze miss the rest of the regular season with a chance to return in the Wild Card round as the only way to allow this injury to heal is rest. As for Burden, he left this past week’s game early with an ankle injury and on Monday, Ben Johnson called the rookie “day to day.” At the very least, expect Burden to miss some practice time. Working against Burden is that Chicago is on a short week with the team taking on Green Bay Saturday night. That tight timeline will make it tricky for Burden to be cleared, and if he does play, I do not expect him to be 100%.
Players impacted: Caleb Williams, DJ Moore, Colston Loveland
WR DeVaughn Vele
Left Shoulder Injury: Questionable for Week 16
Vele left Sunday’s game against the Panthers with a left shoulder injury and did not return. He was evaluated in the medical tent and when he came out of the tent to head to the locker room, he was not wearing his shoulder pads. Presumably, he was evaluated for an AC joint injury and/or a clavicle injury. Per Mike Triplett, Vele was wearing a sling on his left arm after the game, which would be consistent with a more severe AC joint injury. This has not been confirmed, so fantasy managers will want to monitor news out of New Orleans closely ahead of Week 16. For now, I’d consider him on the wrong side of questionable until we get more info.
Players impacted: Tyler Shough, Chris Olave, Juwan Johnson, Mason Tipton
Additional injuries to monitor:
- RB Samaje Perine – Left early with an ankle injury
- WR Noah Brown – Left early with a rib injury
- WR Tyler Lockett – Suffered a wrist injury in Sunday’s loss to the Eagles