Our Week 5 NFL injury report focuses on skill-position players who could end up sitting out this coming week. From Kenny Pickett and Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback to running backs Jonathan Taylor and Saquon Barkley, there is a lot to look at here.
Meanwhile, some big-name wide receivers such as Cooper Kupp and Tee Higgins are major stories heading into Week 5.
Below is our Week 5 NFL injury report. Bookmark. Save. Do your thing. It will be updated daily heading into this week’s action.
Week 5 NFL injury report: Quarterbacks
| Player | Team | Injury | Backup | Status |
| Kenny Pickett | Steelers | Knee | Mitchell Trubisky | Probable |
| Deshaun Watson | Browns | Shoulder | Dorian Thompson-Robinson | Bye Week |
| Jimmy Garoppolo | Raiders | Concussion | Aidan O’Connell | Questionable |
| Aaron Rodgers | Jets | Achilles | Zach Wilson | OUT for season |
| Kyler Murray | Cardinals | ACL | Joshua Dobbs | OUT |
Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Update: Kenny Pickett told reporters that he’ll be good to go Sunday against the Ravens.
Pickett suffered a bone bruise and strain to his knee in last week’s blowout loss to the Houston Texans. It came after a questionable fourth down call from Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada. The good news is that this second-year quarterback did not suffer a more serious injury.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is not ruling Pickett out for this week’s game against the Ravens. Even if the sophomore signal caller is able to go, he’s not relevant in the fantasy football world. Pickett has thrown four touchdowns and four interceptions in as many starts this season. If he’s sidelined, veteran journeyman Mitchell Trubisky will get the nod.
Jimmy Garoppolo, Las Vegas Raiders
Update: Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels told reporters on Thursday that Garoppolo remains in the final stages of the NFL concussion protocol. His status for Monday against Green Bay remains very much up in the air.
Garoppolo missed last week’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers as he was not able to pass through the NFL concussion protocol. As of Monday, Garoppolo was still in the concussion protocol. It’s going to be all about whether he’s able to be cleared for practice ahead of Monday night’s game against the Green Bay Packers.
Garoppolo (5 TD, 6 INT) has been a disaster in his first season with the Raiders. If he can’t go this week against the Packers, rookie Aidan O’Connell will likely get the call for a second consecutive game. The fourth-round pick out of Purdue turned the ball over three times last week.
Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
Watson was a surprise inactive last week against the Baltimore Ravens with a shoulder injury. He seemed to be trending in the direction of playing before ultimately being ruled out. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski noted that Watson was cleared to play, but opted not to suit up in the game. “He was trying very hard to play. He was hopeful that he’d feel good today. He didn’t,” Stefanski told reporters.
Rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson struggled big time in Watson’s stead, throwing three interceptions in a 28-3 loss to Baltimore. With Cleveland headed into a Week 5 bye, the assumption is that Watson will be able to go in the team’s next outing against the undefeated San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 15.
Related: Week 5 fantasy football rankings
Week 5 NFL injury report: Running backs
| Player | Team | Injury | Backup | Status |
| Jonathan Taylor | Colts | Ankle | Zack Moss | Probable |
| Saquon Barkley | Giants | Ankle | Matt Breida | Questionable |
| Austin Ekeler | Chargers | Ankle | Joshua Kelley | Bye Week |
| Javonte Williams | Broncos | Hip | Samaje Perine | Questionble |
| Kyren Williams | Rams | Hip | Ronnie Rivers | Questionable |
| Elijah Mitchell | 49ers | Knee | Jordan Mason | Questionable |
| Jamaal Williams | Saints | Hamstring | Alvin Kamara | INJURED RESERVE |
| Nick Chubb | Browns | Knee | Kareem Hunt | OUT for season |
| J.K. Dobbins | Ravens | Achilles | Gus Edwards | OUT for season |
Jonathan Taylor, Indianapolis Colts
- Update: Jonathan Taylor was a full participant in practice on Wednesday, meaning he should make his season debut Week 5 against the Titans
Taylor is rejoining his team for practice this week after missing the first four weeks with an ankle injury that dogged him last season. The 2021 NFL rushing champion had requested a trade ahead of Week 1 with the Colts giving him permission to seek out a trade partner. But nothing came to fruition on that end.
As for Taylor’s availability Week 5 against the Tennessee Titans, everything is up in the air. Colts head coach Shane Steichen revealed on Monday that Taylor will take part in their first practice of the week on Wednesday. In no way does this mean he’ll be on the field in Week 5. If not, Zack Moss remains a solid bottom-end fantasy and DFS play. The veteran has put up 322 total yards and two touchdowns at a clip of 4.5 yards per touch in three games this season.
Saquon Barkley, New York Giants
- Update: Barkley was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday and Thursday. But did take part in team drills for the first time since suffering high-ankle sprain in Week 2.
Barkley missed his second consecutive game in New York’s blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football to conclude Week 4. He’s dealing with a high-ankle sprain, which tends to lead to a more lengthy absence than a typical ankle sprain.
There is a decent chance that Barkley will be able to go this coming week against the Miami Dolphins after returning to practice on a limited basis heading into Week 4. The Giants will need him. They scored three points against Seattle in their last outing. Quarterback Daniel Jones has been a disaster class throughout the season, compiling two touchdowns with seven giveaways. Stay tuned for our NFL injury report for more updates on Barkley’s Week 5 status.
Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers
Ekeler has missed each of the past three games with an ankle injury. He was questionable heading into Week 4 against the Raiders before ultimately being ruled out. With the Chargers headed to a Week 5 bye, we won’t have an update on our NFL injury report until they return to practice following next week’s action.
Week 5 NFL injury report: Wide receivers
| Player | Team | Injury | Backup | Status |
| Cooper Kupp | Rams | Hamstring | Tutu Atwell | Questionable |
| Mike Evans | Buccaneers | Hamstring | Rakim Jarrett | Bye Week |
| Tee Higgins | Bengals | Ribs | Trenton Irwin | Doubtful |
| Rashod Bateman | Ravens | Hamstring | Devin Duvernay | Questionable |
| Zay Jones | Jaguars | Knee | Tim Jones | Questionable |
| Odell Beckham Jr. | Ravens | Ankle | Devin Duvernay | Questionable |
| Jahan Dotson | Commanders | Ankle | Dyami Brown | Questionable |
| Mike Williams | Chargers | ACL | Quentin Johnston | INJURED RESERVE |
| Treylon Burks | Titans | Knee | Chris Moore | Questionable |
| Diontae Johnson | Steelers | Hamstring | Calvin Austin | INJURED RESERVE |
Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams
Update: Cooper Kupp was officially listed as limited on Wednesday. But head coach Sean McVay indicated he was a full participant. He remaisn questionable for Week 5.
Kupp is slated to return to practice this week as the Rams deal with a 21-day activation window from IR that cost the record-breaking receiver the first four games of the season. It’s not yet known whether he’ll be able to go against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 5. Practice reports and our NFL injury report will tell us this story moving forward on the week.
In Kupp’s stead, rookie Puka Nacua has been off to an historic start to his career for the surprising 2-2 Rams. The fifth-round pick has hauled in 39 passes for 501 yards from Matthew Stafford in four games. If Kupp does return, Nacua’s target shares will go down.
Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Evans exited last week’s win over the New Orleans Saints with a hamstring injury and did not return to action. Given that the Buccaneers have a Week 5 bye, there is not going to be any update on our NFL injury report until after this coming week’s slate of games.
Through four games, Evans has hauled in 20 passes for 337 yards and three touchdowns from Baker Mayfield. He’s clearly a WR1 option in fantasy leagues. This is something to keep an eye on moving forward. That’s for sure.
Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals
Update: Tee Higgins missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday. It still seems to be trending in the direction of him sitting out Week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals.
Higgins suffered a rib injury in last week’s loss to the Tennessee Titans. While it was initially expected that he’d miss multiple weeks of action, Higgins said recently that he could suit up next week against the Arizona Cardinals. We’re just not buying it.
If Higgins is unable to go for the struggling Bengals, Ja’Marr Chase will continue to see a large portion of Joe Burrow’s targets. Over the past two games, the Pro Bowler has caught 19-of-24 passes thrown in his direction for 214 yards. Tyler Boyd could also be an under-the-rader DFS add.
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.
Odell Beckham Jr., Baltimore Ravens
- Update: Odell Beckham Jr. returned to practice on Wednesday, and seems to be trending towards playing in Week 5.
Beckham Jr. has missed each of the past two games with an ankle injury. He has not been at practice since last suiting up. The good news here is that there’s an expectation OBJ should be able to go against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 5. The bad news? He has not been a fantasy relevant option all season. The veteran has caught five passes for 66 yards in parts of two games. Continue to roll with Zay Flowers (24 receptions in four games) as a PPR stud for Baltimore.
Week 5 NFL injury report: Tight ends
| Player | Team | Injury | Backup | Status |
| Luke Musgrave | Packers | Concussion | Josiah Deguara | Probable |
| Pat Freiermuth | Steelers | Hamstring | Darnell Washington | OUT |
| Donald Parham | Chargers | Wrist | Stone Smartt | Bye Week |
| Irv Smith | Bengals | Hamstring | Drew Sample | Questionable |
| Greg Dulcich | Broncos | Leg | Adam Trautman | INJURED RESERVE |
Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers
Update: Musgrave returned to practice on Tuesday and was on the field for Wednesday’s session, meaning that he passes through the NFL concussion protocol.
Musgrave was evaluated for a concussion during Green Bay’s Week 4 loss to the Lions and did not return to action. He’s still in the NFL concussion protocol, meaning that the tight end remains very much questionable to go Monday against the Raiders. Josiah Deguara assumed TE1 duties last week, catching four passes for 34 yards.
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers
Freiermuth is expected to miss multiple weeks of action after suffering a hamstring injury Sunday against the Houston Texans. He is not going to go this coming week against the Baltimore Ravens. This means that rookie Darnell Washington will be TE1. He’s not an option, especially considering quarterback Kenny Pickett’s questionable status.