NFL Injury Report 2024 Ahead Of Sunday's Week 9 Games: Puka Nacua, More
There is no shortage of injuries on the NFL Injury Report Week 9 and there are multiple players that we still aren’t sure if they’ll play or not. Most notable are Jordan Love, Puka Nacua, and Brian Robinson as they’re all true questionable and all true game-time decisions. We’ll get more on injury statuses leading up to Sunday, but for now, let’s dive into all that we know for the Week 9 NFL injury report.
NFL Week 9 Injury Report: Quarterbacks
Lamar Jackson Injury Update - Knee/Back
After missing the first two days of practice this week, Lamar Jackson was back at practice on Friday in full capacity. In speaking with the media, Jackson said he was trying to rest his body and was keeping it fresh. He’s playing in Week 9.
Jordan Love Injury Update - Groin
After missing Wednesday’s practice, Jordan Love returned to the field on Thursday and Friday on a limited basis and has officially been listed as questionable. Love’s one of the biggest NFL Injury Report Week 9 players because if he can’t go, Malik Willis showed a high fantasy ceiling in his place earlier this year. Head coach Matt LaFleur said he’s a true game-time decision.
Drake Maye Injury Update - Concussion
Per Mike Reiss of ESPN, Drake Maye was QB1 at practice during the portion the media was allowed at, which is a good sign for things to come this weekend. The Patriots have officially listed him as questionable as he has the last hurdle to get over in concussion protocol before he’s officially cleared.
Derek Carr Injury Update - Oblique
Derek Carr logged limited practices all week but has been taken fully off of the Saints' injury report and will start the Saints' Week 9 game against the Panthers.
Will Levis Injury Update - Shoulder
Will Levis was able to return to practice this week, but still hasn’t officially been named the starter. It seems as if he’s healthy enough to play, he’s going to start, but head coach Brian Callahan is very reluctant to say anything official at quarterback. We’ll know more on Saturday.
NFL Week 9 Injury Report: Running Backs
Brian Robinson Injury Update - Hamstring
The Commanders lead back, Brian Robinson, has been able to practice all week but he has been limited due to a hamstring injury. The team has officially listed him as questionable despite expectations of him playing.
Josh Jacobs Injury Update - Ankle
Josh Jacobs didn’t practice on Wednesday but finished the week off with two limited participations and when asked about it, Jacobs didn’t seem all too concerned about if he was playing or not.
Tyrone Tracy Injury Update - Concussion
After suffering a concussion in Week 8, the New York Giants rookie running back, Tyrone Tracy has cleared protocol and is available in Week 9.
Travis Etienne Injury Update - Hamstring
Travis Etienne was able to practice on a limited basis this week but is still listed as questionable on the team’s official injury report and head coach Doug Pederson called him a game-time decision. Etienne has missed two consecutive games.
Tank Bigsby Injury Update - Ankle
Tank Bigsy has been limited all week of practice and is listed as questionable but nobody seems worried that he’s going to miss this game like all of his teammates may.
Tony Pollard Injury Update - Foot
It’s never a good sign when you’re not practicing all week, which is what has happened to Tony Pollard. He missed Friday’s practice again with a foot injury and despite having a dream Week 9 matchup, he’s trending towards being out.
Tyjae Spears Injury Update - Hamstring
After not practicing all week, the Titans have already gone ahead and ruled Tyjae Spears out for their Week 9 tilt with the New England Patriots.
Jonathan Brooks Injury Update - Knee
Head coach Dave Canales spoke with the media on Friday and all but confirmed that Week 9 is not the week we’ll see Jonathan Brooks make his debut. He HAS to be activated in Week 10 or he will not be eligible to play this season.
Zack Moss Injury Update - Neck
Zack Moss wasn’t on the injury report until he was. He did not practice on Friday for the first time all week due to a neck injury and it’s serious enough to where he’s listed as doubtful to play. This comes as a surprise.
Zamir White Injury Update - Quad
It’s confusing that Zamir White is once again listed as questionable, but that’s how the Raiders are handling this. He played last week and practiced in full on Friday, so you’d think he’s more likely to play than not, but here we are. It’s still Alexander Mattison’s backfield whether he plays or not, however.
Jamaal Williams Injury Update - Groin
Despite getting in three straight practices, albeit in limited fashion, Jamaal Williams is officially listed as doubtful on the Saints’ Week 9 injury report.
Kendre Miller Injury Update - Hamstring
After finally returning to action and being a part of the Saints offense, Miller immediately got hurt again with a hamstring injury and will not suit up in Week 9.
NFL Week 9 Injury Report: Wide Receivers
Puka Nacua Injury Update - Knee
Everything is confusing around Puka Nacua’s knee injury. It’s been reported that it’s the same knee that saw him sidelined earlier in the year, but it’s nothing structural, which is good. Head coach Sean McVay basically said they’re preparing as if he’s going to play, but that’s just coach speak at this point. It’s definitely something we’ll have to proceed with caution about.
DK Metcalf Injury Update - Knee
After not practicing this week, the Seahawks went ahead and ruled DK Metcalf out for a second consecutive game. They have a bye week in Week 10 and a divisional game against the 49ers after the break. He should be good to go coming out of the bye week.
Tee Higgins Injury Update - Quad
Another week in which Tee Higgins failed to practice and another week it looks like the Bengals will be without him. He’s listed as doubtful on the team’s final injury report.
Brian Thomas Injury Update - Chest
Head coach Doug Pederson has called Brian Thomas a game-time decision at this point while also pointing out that if he plays, he will not be playing at 100%. He also noted that if there’s a chance for a setback, he will not play.
Amari Cooper Injury Update - Wrist
Amari Cooper is dealing with a wrist injury and has been listed as questionable for their Week 9 outing. He had his wrist heavily taped in practice all week.
Xavier Legette Injury Update - Toe
The good news for Xavier Legette is that he practiced this week in a limited fashion and is listed as questionable. He’s been on the injury report for multiple weeks and has played through the injuries. This one should be no different barring a setback.
Adam Thielen Injury Update - Hamstring
Adam Thielen is unlikely to be activated off of IR this week as he was unable to practice on Friday and is listed as doubtful on the team’s final injury report of the week.
Gabe Davis Injury Update - Shoulder
Gabe Davis, like most of his teammates on the NFL Injury Report Week 9, practiced in limited fashion this week and is listed as questionable with a shoulder injury.
JuJu Smith-Schuster Injury Update - Hamstring
It’s highly unlikely Juju Smith-Schuster will play this week unless he returns to practice on Saturday ahead of their Monday Night Football tilt against the Bucs.
Curtis Samuel Injury Update - Pectoral
The Buffalo Bills have deemed Curtis Samuel as questionable for their Week 9 tilt against the Dolphins and that “we’ll just have to see with those guys” about Samuel, Amari Cooper, and Christian Benford.
NFL Week 9 Injury Report: Tight Ends
Dallas Goedert Injury Update - Hamstring
After not practicing this week, Dallas Goedert has been ruled out of the Eagles Week 9 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Player News
Ravens signed Derrick Henry to a two-year, $30 million contract extension.
Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Henry is the first running back over the age of 30 to make $15 million per year. Henry hit the open market at the peak of the “running backs don’t matter” discourse and signed a measly two-year, $16 million deal with the Ravens last offseason. He spent the 2025 season stuffing nerds in lockers with 1,921 yards and 16 touchdowns on 325 attempts. The monstrous season more than earned him a raise and the Ravens knew the assignment. Rapoport noted that Henry wants to finish his career in Baltimore and the extension will give him the opportunity to do so.
ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reports Packers C Elgton Jenkins is skipping offseason workouts for contract reasons.
Jenkins is being moved to center ahead of the 2025 season. He is a left guard by trade but has also spent time at both tackle spots during his six years in Green Bay. The Packers signed him to a four-year, $68 million extension in 2022 that runs through 2026. The deal initially made him a highly-paid guard. It now has him as one of the league’s most expensive centers. The Packers could save $20 million by cutting Jenkins next offseason, something they would likely do unless Jenkins is immediately one of the league’s best centers. Jenkins, in turn, is almost certainly looking to up his guarantees on the final two years of the contract. Though, as Demovsky points out, the Packers rarely adjust contracts this far from their expiration, Jenkins could be the exception to the rule.
Dak Prescott said George Pickens is “more than a 50-50 catcher.”
Prescott in a Wednesday morning radio interview was effusive in his praise of Pickens, who was traded last week from the Steelers to Dallas in exchange for draft compensation. “You put the ball anywhere in his vicinity, very strong hands,” Prescott said of Pickens. “He’s more than a 50-50 catcher. ... I’m excited for him. I know that we need some help at that position.” Pickens, 24, has 2,841 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns over three NFL seasons and is widely expected to see more single coverage in Dallas than he did as the unquestioned No. 1 wideout in Pittsburgh. Opposing coverage units won’t be able to shade safeties toward his side of the field with CeeDee Lamb threatening the middle of the field. Pickens shapes up as a volatile WR2/3 in 2025.
The Lions will play the Vikings on Christmas Day.
The Week 17 matchup between longtime NFC North rivals will be available exclusively on Netflix. Coming off a devastating Divisional Round loss to Washington last January, the Lions will be prominently featured by the league in 2025. Jared Goff and the Lions beat Minnesota twice during the 2024 regular season: A 31-29 Week 7 victory in Minnesota and a 31-9 Week 18 drubbing in Detroit. Goff combined to throw for 511 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions in those games. Justin Jefferson, meanwhile, was limited to ten catches for 131 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings’ 2024 games against Detroit.
The Eagles will face the Chiefs in Week 2.
The NFL’s trickle of 2025 schedule news includes a Super Bowl rematch in Kansas City, where Patrick Mahomes and company will look for a little revenge after getting bulldozed by the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, 40-22. Philadelphia’s elite defense held Mahomes to a mere 226 yards on 32 pass attempts, with much of that production coming in fourth quarter garbage time. Jalen Hurts threw of two scores and ran in another as Saquon Barkley was held in check to the tune of 57 scoreless yards on 23 carries. If the Chiefs are to get back at the Eagles in Week 2, they’ll have to do a far better job of protecting Mahomes.
The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo believes RB Kaleb Johnson is a “schematic fit” for the Steelers offense.
Johnson, a third-round draft pick who last month was listed as a co-starter alongside Jaylen Warren on the Pittsburgh depth chart, was a hyper-productive back in Iowa’s zone-based rushing scheme, a system used frequently in Arthur Smith’s run-first offense. Only three college running backs in 2024 logged more zone rushes than Johnson. Johnson’s goals in offseason practices, according to DeFabo, “are to learn the playbook and earn the coaching staff’s trust with the hope of becoming an ‘every-down back’ sooner rather than later.” That might require Johnson to improve his pass blocking. The rookie said he’s worked on that with Warren — one of the best blocking backs in the NFL — in recent days.