2023 NFL Playoffs Injury Report: Divisional Round
What a whirlwind. Three days, six games, crazy upsets, shocking results, and exciting performance. This is why we all love the NFL so much. Now we head into perhaps the best weekend of the season as we enter the Divisional Round. We have updates on Christian McCaffrey, Mark Andrews, AJ Dillon, and more to consider. Heading into a great weekend of action, let’s take a look at the NFL Injury Report for the Divisional Round of the NFL Playoffs.
UPDATED Friday 1/19
Divisional Round NFL Injury Report for Quarterbacks
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Ankle/Ribs)
UPDATE: Throughout the week in practice, we have not seen anything to cause concern or think otherwise about Mayfield’s expected success in a great matchup.
While we will continue to see Baker Mayfield listed on the Injury Report, it hasn’t impacted his time on the field. Mayfield will likely miss some practice reps once again this week, but it shouldn’t have an effect on him come game time. That certainly was the case on Monday against Philadelphia. Mayfield showed no signs of injury in taking advantage of poor Philadelphia pass defense. The signal caller threw for 337 yards and three touchdowns heading into this week’s matchup against the Detroit Lions.
Divisional Round NFL Injury Report for Running Backs
Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers (Calf)
UPDATE: McCaffrey has gone through the week without issue and is locked and loaded for the weekend.
Thankfully, it doesn’t appear that there is anything to be concerned about here. Christian McCaffrey injured his calf in Week 17, and while he has yet to return to the field, the San Francisco 49ers had the benefit of time. Now that they are taking the field again this week in a game that matters, we will see McCaffrey back on the practice field. With that being said, there is nothing to suggest we will see anything but his best effort and full volume come game time.
AJ Dillon, Green Bay Packers (Neck)
UPDATE: Dillon did return to the practice field on Thursday so he is trending towards returning, but it won’t be as anything more than the backup running back.
AJ Dillon’s neck stinger continued to keep him out of action last week against the Dallas Cowboys. After the Packers broke off a shocking victory, their playoff journey continues this week. As we monitor the status of Dillon’s potential return, I’m not sure how relevant he will be as Aaron Jones continues to dominate the Green Bay backfield.
Chase Edmonds, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Toe)
After returning to practice on Friday, Chase Edmonds appears to be in line to take the field on Sunday. From a fantasy perspective, Edmonds continues to just be used in a supporting role (gaining 20 yards on eight carries last week), but he should be out there against Detroit.
Divisional Round NFL Injury Report for Wide Receivers
Stefon Diggs, Buffalo Bills (Foot)
While Stefon Diggs’ status for Sunday doesn’t appear to be in question, there is real cause for concern here. Diggs hurt his foot during Monday’s game and then it became an issue once again during practice on Thursday. He will be limited the rest of the week, and it is something to watch leading up to game time.
Gabe Davis, Buffalo Bills (Knee)
UPDATE: Davis will be sidelined for this week as well, so we should see more of Shakir and Trent Sherfield.
While a knee injury kept Gabe Davis out of action to begin the postseason, it remains to be seen whether he can progress enough to return this week. In his absence, Khalil Shakir caught three passes for 31 yards and a touchdown. If Davis is healthy enough to return, he will regain his role as the number two receiver in Buffalo’s offense.
Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Knee)
While we continue to see Chris Godwin limited in practice while dealing with a knee injury, there is no impact to his status come game time. Godwin has continued having success with Baker Mayfield under center, and they are in a great spot this week against Detroit.
Noah Brown, Houston Texans (Shoulder)
As the Houston Texans advance, they will be doing so without Noah Brown. The receiver is now shut down for the season with a shoulder injury. Opposite Nico Collins, Robert Woods and John Metchie will take on larger roles.
Kadarius Toney, Kansas City Chiefs (Hip/Ankle)
UPDATE: With limited work in practice this week and no setbacks, we should see Toney back on the field. However, it is hard to trust him much from a fantasy perspective. Additionally, there is the possibility that Justyn Ross returns from his hamstring injury.
Ultimately, Kadarius Toney was unable to return to action last week following missing the last three regular season games. Toney appears to be getting closer as he did return to practice last week, so it is possible we see him on the field this week. Ultimately, Rashee Rice and Justin Watson will continue to draw the attention of Patrick Mahomes as the former continues to emerge.
John Metchie, Houston Texans (Foot)
While there was never true concern regarding John Metchie’s status for this weekend, it is good news that he will not be listed on the Injury Report. With Noah Brown joining Tank Dell on the sidelines for the season, that is certainly a positive development.
Robert Woods, Houston Texans (Hip)
It was also a good sign for the Houston Texans to see Robert Woods not listed on the Injury Report heading into the weekend’s action. Woods will be sharing the additional workload created by Brown’s injury with the aforementioned Metchie.
Kalif Raymond, Detroit Lions (Knee)
UPDATE: Despite not returning to practice, there is still a possibility Raymond makes his return this week, but I wouldn’t plan on it.
We will have to keep an eye on Kalif Raymond’s status this week after he missed last week’s game. Should he return, Raymond will do so in a complementary role.
Divisional Round NFL Injury Report for Tight Ends
Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens (Ankle)
UPDATE: Despite practicing in full on Wednesday and Thursday, the Ravens are playing things cautiously with Andrews. That means we will have to wait another week to see him return to the field while Isiah Likely continues his play atop the depth chart.
Mark Andrews has been out the last two months with an ankle injury, but he did return to practice last week on a limited basis. We will have to keep a close eye on him in practice this week, but things are trending in the right direction for him to make his way back to the field.
Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions (Knee)
Seeing Sam LaPorta as limited in practice this week should not be a surprise as the Detroit Lions are handling things cautiously with the rookie. He played the majority of the snaps last week, and caught a touchdown pass, so there doesn’t appear to be anything to worry about regarding his status for this weekend.
Player News
Trevor Lawrence and head coach Liam Coen complimented Dyami Brown for finding “voids” in zone coverage and his improved intermediate-depth route running this spring.
Per ESPN’s Michael DiRocco, Lawrence “was impressed with Brown during the spring and said the two seemed to click pretty quickly.” The veteran quarterback specifically praised Brown for picking up “the system really quickly,” saying, Brown has “gotten the ball a lot because it seems like he’s always in the right spot.” Coen, meanwhile, believes Brown has “validated” the team’s $9.5 million investment by improving his play on “those intermediate in-breakers, curls, maybe outcuts,” an area where “you didn’t really see him work” that much with the Commanders. Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter will reliably command larger target shares than Brown, but if Brown can develop into more than a field stretcher and part-time screen weapon, he should yield flex value this season.
Sauce Gardner’s goals for 2025 include intercepting more passes and assuming a leadership role in the huddle and in the Jets’ locker room.
Gardner has just three career interceptions and, as ESPN’s Rich Cimini notes, Gardner is not expected to have the benefit of a zone-heavy scheme this season. Serving as the Lions’ defensive coordinator last year, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn used zone and man coverage at a near even split, which qualifies as being extremely man-heavy given the NFL’s current zone coverage rates. Gardner’s focus on increasing his interception total is a positive for fantasy managers who are smartly targeting turnovers and sacks when selecting defense/special teams units, though. Glenn is also notably mentoring Gardner in both on- and off-field leadership qualities, telling Gardner to let his “influence do all the talking” rather than taking on a phony “rah-rah guy” persona.
CBS News Texas reports Cowboys WR KaVontae Turpin was arrested on two misdemeanor charges.
According to Collin County court records, the Cowboys’ wide receiver and special teams ace was arrested early Sunday on misdemeanor charges for marijuana and unlawfully carrying a weapon. We don’t know much more about his arrest at this time other than his bond was listed at $500. The 28-year-old receiver could face disciplinary action from the league once the legal process plays out, but for now, things remain wait-and-see. Turpin caught 31 passes for 420 yards and two touchdowns last season and also led the league with 904 kick return yards and an average of 33.5 yards per return.
Free agent WR Chase Claypool revealed the severity of the toe injury he suffered in July 2024.
In a social media post, the 26-year-old receiver explains that he “tore a ligament and tendon” in his second toe on his left foot and has “been rehabbing, working out, and recovering everyday for the past year.” This explains his extended absence. Following the injury, Claypool was briefly placed on injured reserve in August 2024 before being released with an injury settlement. He is “back to being the strongest and fastest” he’s ever been and is “excited to step back out on the field.”
Free agent LB Jason Pierre-Paul hopes to sign with an NFL team, ideally the Giants, in “a full-circle moment.”
Per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, “Pierre-Paul still believes he can help a team, that he can be a veteran closer.” The 36-year-old has continued training to remain NFL-ready despite failing to find a suitor for the 2024 season. He logged 22 defensive snaps, playing for both the Saints and Dolphins in 2023. His last sack occurred as a Raven, in a Wild Card Weekend loss to the Bengals in the prior season. Sitting at 94.5 career sacks, Pierre-Paul hopes to reach 100 as a part-time player in 2025.
The CFL’s Toronto Argonauts claimed Shedeur Sanders’ negotiating rights in case Sanders one day chooses to leave the NFL for the CFL.
There is no indication that Sanders is in contact with the Argonauts and we do not expect Sanders to leave the NFL for the CFL at this time. Every year in early July, just before NFL training camps begin, the CFL allows its teams to claim NFL players’ negotiating rights, on the off chance that the player is released or waived by his team and decides to pursue a career in Canada. Per the CFL’s Marshall Ferguson, “the CFL began releasing a few names here and there periodically, but now the full list is available for all to see from each of the nine teams.” Fans can rest assured that their high-profile, fifth-round rookie remains a Cleveland Brown.