2023 NFL Injury Report Week 17: Trevor Lawrence & Jaylen Waddle Injury Updates
The hope is that you had it through your semifinals with ease, and now, it is time to bring home the title. There is a lot to deal with this week, so, let us jump into our NFL injury update for Week 17. It features Brock Purdy, Isiah Pacheco, and Jaylen Waddle among others. As news breaks, be sure to update your Week 17 fantasy football rankings and NFL projections either way. This information can also help to focus on important Week 16 start/sit lineup decisions and fantasy football advice surrounding some injured players. The first step though is the NFL injury report as you set Week 17 fantasy football lineups.
Week 17 NFL Injury Report for Quarterbacks
Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers (Stinger)
It was not a good week for Brock Purdy, and that is an understatement. Amidst talk of Purdy being a legitimate contender for MVP, the San Francisco quarterback instead threw four interceptions while failing to throw a touchdown. The fact that Purdy left in the fourth quarter with a stinger doesn’t give me too much concern initially and he should be back with a much better matchup against Washington in Week 17.
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars (Shoulder)
At this point, it feels like we have a different injury each week for the Jacksonville quarterback. This week, it was an injury to Trevor Lawrence’s right shoulder that forced him out of action. At this point, it is considered a sprain, but we should keep an eye on how much he throws in practice this week and how he looks. Should Lawrence be unable to take the field, C.J. Beathard would get the start.
Week 17 NFL Injury Report for Running Backs
Isiah Pacheco, Kansas City Chiefs (Concussion)
Isiah Pacheco’s return from a shoulder injury didn’t last too long as he left with a concussion. Now that he is protocol, we will have to monitor his progress through the protocol. Should Pacheco failed to be cleared, Clyde Edwards-Helaire will have the Kansas City backfield to himself now that Jerick McKinnon has been placed on Injured Reserve.
Chris Rodriguez, Washington Commanders (Foot)
After picking up a combined 65 yards and scoring two touchdowns, there is concern about Chris Rodriguez’s status for Week 17 after he was seen in a walking boot. The other issue for Rodriguez is the potential return of Brian Robinson. That gives those who have been streaming Rodriguez two things to be concerned about.
Miles Sanders, Carolina Panthers (Toe)
Following the struggles of Miles Sanders and the emergence of Chuba Hubbard (even if by default), the former’s fantasy relevance has all but disappeared. For anyone still relying on Sanders, he did exit last week’s game with a toe injury, so his already tenuous hold on volume could be in jeopardy.
Week 17 NFL Injury Report for Wide Receivers
Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins (Ankle)
The words high ankle sprain is never a good thing, and that is what Jaylen Waddle is dealing with after last week’s game. After clinching a playoff berth, the Dolphins figure to be careful with Waddle, but depending on how he looks this week, they might not have a choice. If that is the case, Cedrick Wilson is someone to watch.
Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings (Ankle)
Another tough ankle in Week 16 occurred in Minnesota as Jordan Addison is now considered week-to-week. The rookie had previously had a few strong weeks and now Brandon Powell is thrust into the spotlight after having a strong game last week once Addison went down.
Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos (Concussion)
A concussion sent Courtland Sutton out of the game after just nine plays last week. Marvin Mims received the volume bump and he is someone to keep in mind should Sutton be unable to clear the concussion protocol to take the field this week.
Dontayvion Wicks, Green Bay Packers (Chest)
An already thin Green Bay wide receiving group took another hit on Sunday. After catching a touchdown pass, Dontayvion Wicks was forced out of action with a chest injury. Wicks was unable to return as he wasn’t cleared by the medical staff. We will be keeping an eye on this, along with the status of Christian Watson, heading into Week 17.
Week 17 NFL Injury Report for Tight Ends
T.J. Hockenson, Minnesota Vikings (Knee)
This was not the news anyone needed. While we don’t have any real confirmation just yet, I would have a contingency plan ready for T.J. Hockenson in Week 17 after he exited last week’s game with a knee injury.
Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears (Knee)
After he caught four passes for 107 yards to begin the game, Cole Kmet was forced out of action with a knee injury. As we deal with an already compromised and thin tight end position, this is another situation to monitor for Week 17.
Player News
Bills placed EDGE Landon Jackson on the PUP list.
Jackson will be able to be activated off the PUP list at any time during training camp, but apparently will not be ready as camp starts. If he remains on the PUP list through the 53-man roster deadline, he’ll be locked into missing a few weeks at the beginning of the season.
Falcons OC Zac Robinson said Michael Penix Jr. “opens up a different avenue within the offense.”
This is in the context of stretching the field a little more than the Falcons did in 2024, something they struggled to do at times with Kirk Cousins under center. The Athletic’s Josh Kendall also adds “The coaching staff won’t ask Penix to curtail his aggressiveness. In fact, it’s the trait they are most excited about.” A more balanced offensive approach could raise all ships in Atlanta — and it’s something that might be necessary for them as they try to stave off regression with almost no new players added to the room.
The Athletic’s Daniel Popper believes if Najee Harris misses time in training camp, the possibility of Omarion Hampton becoming the lead back is “even more likely.”
“Hampton has a chance to be an immediate difference-maker in the run game, a player with the explosiveness to score anytime he touches the ball. And he could be getting the bulk of the first-team work early in camp,” Popper continues. This is hardly an endorsement that Hampton is going to be RB1 in Los Angeles from Week 1, but Harris’ eye injury has at least complicated things early in training camp. There’s a non-zero chance that Hampton takes the baton and runs with it before Harris is ready to come back.
ESPN’s D.J. Bien-Aime reports C.J. Stroud worked on his speed to help him evade defenders in the pocket.
Stroud attributes his shoulder soreness from early OTAs and minicamps that kept him from throwing the ball to “extra work” with the Texans training staff this offseason, which is the main reason this is notable. “I’ve been working really hard on getting my body right -- losing body fat, trying to be faster, stronger,” Stroud told Bien-Aime. Stroud is an interesting QB2 this offseason, perhaps someone who could get back to QB1 status if everything clicks in Nick Caley’s new offense. The price makes him an ideal superflex investment at the moment.
The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue believes rookie second-round TE Terrance Ferguson is a potential breakout player in 2025.
“To be clear, Rams coach Sean McVay finally has to commit to a significant increase in 12 personnel for Ferguson, a rookie second-round pick, to truly emerge this season. But the offense has trended that way at times, especially last season,” Rodrigue adds. It would be surprising for Ferguson to emerge immediately, but perhaps the Rams are getting ready to zig their offense in a new direction in 2025. The rookie tight end is lightly-drafted and best-approached as a dynasty asset, but it should at least be on the radar that he produces sooner than expected.
Jets signed CB Sauce Gardner to a four-year, $120.4 million contract extension.
He will make $30.1 million per season, eclipsing the $30 million per season that Derek Stingley Jr. signed earlier this offseason by a mere $100,000 per year. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that Gardner is due $85.653 million in guarantees and that this extension will tie him to the Jets for the next six seasons. Gardner had a down 2024 after posting coverage grades of 90.8 and 90.0 in his first two years, but is generally expected to bounce back in HC Aaron Glenn’s more aggressive, man-focused system in 2025. This concludes major extensions for the Jets and they’ve done exceedingly rational things under Glenn and GM Darren Mougey.