Our NFL injury report for Week 4 is now live with a look at some big-name players who are currently ailing. Last week saw quarterbacks Derek Carr and Jimmy Garoppolo go down to injury. Of the two, it seems less likely that Carr will be able to go in Week 4.
At running back, the statuses of stars Saquon Barkley, Aaron Jones and Austin Ekeler are completely up in the air. Speaking of Ekeler, his teammate with the Los Angeles Chargers suffered a season-ending torn ACL. How will the Chargers replace Mike Williams moving forward?
Below is our Week 4 NFL injury report. Bookmark. Save. Do your thing. It will be updated daily heading into this week’s action.
Week 4 NFL injury report: Quarterbacks
| Player | Team | Injury | Backup | Status |
| Derek Carr | Saints | Shoulder | Jameis Winston | Questionable |
| Jimmy Garoppolo | Raiders | Concussion | Aidan O’Connell | Questionable |
| Deshaun Watson | Browns | Shoulder | Dorian Thompson-Robinson | Questionable |
| Bryce Young | Panthers | Ankle | Andy Dalton | Probable |
| Anthony Richardson | Colts | Concussion | Gardner Minshew | Probable |
| Aaron Rodgers | Jets | Achilles | Zach Wilson | OUT for season |
| Kyler Murray | Cardinals | ACL | Joshua Dobbs | OUT |
Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints
Carr suffered an AC sprain to his throwing shoulder in Week 3. Saints head coach Dennis Allen called him day-to-day, indicating that there is a chance Carr can play next week. We’re not buying it. If he’s out, Jameis Winston would be an under-the-radar DFS play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Jimmy Garoppolo, Las Vegas Raiders
- Update: Jimmy Garoppolo returned to practice on Thursday, maning he’s passed through the concussion protocol and is likely to play Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels said on Monday that Garoppolo is now in the NFL concussion protocol. He seemed to have suffered a head injury late in the game after going down earlier Sunday night with an ankle issue. Garoppolo (5 TD, 6 INT) has been a disaster in his first season with the Raiders. If he can’t go next week against the Chargers, rookie Aidan O’Connell would likely get the call.
Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
While the Browns still expect Watson to play in Week 4, he sat out practice on Wednesday due to a shoulder injury. Watson was then limited on Thursday. If he’s unable to go Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens, impressive rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson would get the start.
Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers
- Update: Young returned to practice on Wednesday and seems probably to go Week 4 against the Minnesota Vikings. Head coach Frank Reich told reporters that the rookie doesn’t need to be 100% to play.
This rookie No. 1 pick missed Carolina’s Week 3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks with an ankle injury. It’s expected to be a multi-week absence for the young signal caller.
Panthers head coach Frank Reich told reporters that there is no update on when Young will be able to even return to practice. For now, Andy Dalton is QB1 in Carolina. He completed 34-of-58 passes for 361 yards with two touchdowns against Seattle. Dalton is a more fantasy relevant QB than his counterpart, making Panthers skill-position players also relevant from that perspective. Adam Thielen caught 11 passes for 145 yards in Week 3.
Anthony Richardson, Indianapolis Colts
- Update: Richardson has passed through the NFL mandated concussion protocol and should be good to go against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
Colts head coach Shane Steichen said on Monday that Richardson remains in the NFL concussion protocol. He didn’t provide much more than that. But really didn’t need to. Unless Richardson passes through the protocol he will not play next week against the Los Angeles Rams. Veteran Gardner Minshew (67% completion, 398 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT) remains a decent DFS or two-team QB option if Richardson can’t go.
Related: NFL QB rankings heading into Week 4
Week 4 NFL injury report: Running backs
| Player | Team | Injury | Backup | Status |
| Saquon Barkley | Giants | Ankle | Matt Breida | Questionable |
| Aaron Jones | Packers | Hamstring | A.J. Dillon/Patrick Taylor | Will Play |
| Austin Ekeler | Chargers | Ankle | Joshua Kelley | OUT |
| Miles Sanders | Panthers | Groin | Chuba Hubbard | Questionable |
| David Montgomery | Lions | Thigh | Jahmyr Gibbs | Will play |
| Jamaal Williams | Saints | Hamstring | Alvin Kamara | INJURED RESERVE |
| Jonathan Taylor | Colts | Ankle | Zach Moss | OUT |
| Nick Chubb | Browns | Knee | Kareem Hunt | OUT for season |
| J.K. Dobbins | Ravens | Achilles | Gus Edwards | OUT for season |
Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
- Update: Barkley took part in individual drills on Thursday after missing last week’s game. He remains questionable.
Barkley missed the Giants’ Week 3 outing with what he calls a high-ankle sprain. However, the star running back says his goal is to return Monday night against the Seattle Seahawks. He will have had more than two weeks off in between snaps. It’s all going to be about how practices go this week and his status on the NFL injury report for Week 4. Matt Breida scored a touchdown in Barkley’s stead last week, but he’s not a fantasy relevant option should the star remain sidelined.
Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers
- Update: Aaron Jones will be active Thursday against the Green Bay Packers.
After missing the past two weeks with a hamstring injury, Jones was listed as a limited participant during Monday’s practice report estimate. That should be a relatively decent sign that he’ll be able to suit up next week against the Detroit Lions. A.J. Dillon (96 total yards on 27 touches in two games with Jones sidelined) remains a buy-low option.
Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers
- Update: Austin Ekeler has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
After missing the past two games with an ankle injury, Ekeler is hopeful he’ll be able to go Week 4 against the Las Vegas Raiders. At 1-2, the Chargers would love to get their RB1 back on the field. Though, a Week 5 bye could force Brandon Staley and Co. to play it safe. Joshua Kelley has put up just 51 yards on 24 attempts in the two games Ekeler has been sidelined. Stay tuned to our Week 4 NFL injury report for further updates on the running back’s status.
David Montgomery, Detroit Lions
- Update: David Montgomery will play Thursday night against the Green Bay Packers.
Montomgery was listed as limited in the Lions’ practice report estimate on Monday after missing last week’s game against the Chicago Bears. In his stead, rookie running back Jayhmyr Gibbs went for 82 total yards on 18 touches in Week 3. Stay tuned to our NFL injury report for more updates. But for now, Gibbs is someone to keep an eye on in DFS contests.
Week 4 NFL injury report: Wide receivers
| Player | Team | Injury | Backup | Status |
| Mike Williams | Chargers | ACL | Quentin Johnston | INJURED RESERVE |
| Deebo Samuel | 49ers | Ribs | Ronnie Bell | Questionable |
| Jaylen Waddle | Dolphins | Concussion | River Cracraft | Probable |
| Brandon Aiyuk | 49ers | Shoulder | Jauan Jennings | Will Play |
| Odell Beckham Jr. | Ravens | Ankle | Devin Duvernay | Questionable |
| Treylon Burks | Titans | Knee | Chris Moore | OUT |
| Christian Watson | Packers | Hamstring | Jayden Reed | Will Play |
| Cooper Kupp | Rams | Hamstring | Tutu Atwell | INJURED RESERVE |
| Diontae Johnson | Steelers | Hamstring | Calvin Austin | INJURED RESERVE |
Mike Williams, Los Angeles Chargers
Williams suffered a torn ACL in Los Angeles’ Week 3 win over the Minnesota Vikings and is lost for the remainder of the season. It’s a major blow for Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and Co. The hope is that rookie first-round pick Quentin Johnston can step up into a more important role. For now, expect Keenan Allen’s target shares to skyrocket moving forward.
Jaylen Waddle, Miami Dolphins
Update: Jaylen Waddle returned to practice on Wednesday and is likely good to go for Sunday’s big game against the Buffalo Bills.
Following their 70-point onslaught against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, head coach Mike McDaniel noted that Waddle remains in the concussion protocol. He missed last week’s game and will have to pass through the league’s mandated protocol to play Week 4 against the Buffalo Bills. With Waddle out this past Sunday, running backs Devon Achane (four receptions) and Raheem Mostert (seven receptions) stepped into a large role in the passing game.
Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers
- Update: Brandon Aiyuk practiced with the 49ers in a limited capacity on Wednesday. He will play Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.
Aiyuk returned to practice on Monday in a limited capacity. This seems to suggest that he should be good to go for Week 4 against the Arizona Cardinals. We’ll have to see more on his practice participation to draw an ultimate conclusion. Prior to missing last week, Aiyuk put up 11 receptions for 172 yards and two touchdowns while catching 79% of his targets from Brock Purdy in two games. He’s obviously a fantasy option should he play against Arizona.
Odell Beckham Jr., Baltimore Ravens
- Update: Odell Beckham did not practice with the Ravens on Wednesday after missing last week’s game. He’s very much questionable for Week 4.
Beckham Jr. missed last week’s loss to the Indianapolis Colts with an ankle injury. It’s not yet known what his status is going to be for Week 4. In his first two games as a member of the Ravens, OBJ caught just five passes for 66 yards. Regardless of status, he’s not a fantasy football option moving forward.
Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
- Update: Deebo Samuel did not practice with the 49ers on Wednesday. He’s very much questionable for Sunday against Arizona.
We saw Samuel pull up lame after an amazing catch-and-run last week against the New York Giants. He finished out the game. However, the former All-Pro is showing up on the NFL injury report as questionable moving forward. Samuel is dealing with sore ribs. It’ll be interesting to see his participation in practice heading into Sunday’s game against the Cardinals.
Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers
- Update: Christian Watson will play and make his season debut Thursday against the Detroit Lions.
Watson has missed each of the first three games with a hamstring injury. Unlike Jones, he was listed as a non participant during the Packers’ practice estimate on Monday. Things still seem to be trending against Watson being able to go in Week 4. If not, Romeo Doubs continues to remain a fantasy stud. He’s put up 11 receptions for 129 yards and three touchdowns, including the game-winner over New Orleans in Week 3.
Related: NFL defense rankings heading into Week 4
Week 4 NFL injury report: Tight ends
| Player | Team | Injury | Backup | Status |
| Irv Smith | Bengals | Hamstring | Drew Sample | Questionable |
| Greg Dulcich | Broncos | Leg | Adam Trautman | INJURED RESERVE |