Injuries are commonplace each week in the NFL, and some have more of a significant and lasting effect on teams than others. And even more on impact on fantasy teams everywhere.
Here are Week 14’s biggest impact injuries through Sunday’s games.
1. Justin Herbert, Chargers QB
Quarterbacks keep dropping at an alarming rate, and the Los Angeles Chargers QB was among the three more who left games with injuries Sunday. But Herbert’s injury was the most serious in that he suffered a fractured right index finger on the following pass play late in the first half against the Denver Broncos and could be lost for the season.
Backup Easton Stick replaced Herbert for the rests of the game, which the Chargers, 24-7. Herbert is scheduled to get an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of the injury, but for now he is not expected to play in the Chargers’ next game, which is Thursday night in Las Vegas.
2. Justin Jefferson, Vikings WR
Sunday’s impact injuries included Jefferson, who was making his long-awaited return Sunday from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for two months.
But the Minnesota Vikings star receiver was injured on a hit by Las Vegas Raiders safety Marcus Epps after he was catching a high pass over the middle from quarterback Joshua Dobbs in the second quarter.
Jefferson suffered a chest injury and was able to leave the field under his own power, but he missed the rest of the game, which the Vikings eventually won, 3-0.
He was taken to a nearby hospital for “precautionary measures,” and he was later released and able to travel with the team. It’s unknown if he will miss any more time.
3. Nico Collins, Texans WR
One week after Houston Texans rookie receiver Tank Dell was the among the impact injuries with a season-ending injury, they suffered yet another critical blow to the receiving group when Collins left the game with a calf injury against the New York Jets.
Collins, the Texans’ leading receiver who earlier reached 1,000 receiving yards for the first time in his career, exited in the first quarter and never returned. It’s unknown whether he will be available play next week.
Without either Collins, Dell or tight end Dalton Schultz, who missed the game with a lingering hamstring injury, quarterback C.J. Stroud had his worst NFL game before he later left the game and entered the concussion protocol. Nevertheless, Stroud is not listed among the impact injuries because he is likely to return to action next week.
As Sunday’s game showed, the Collins injury will have a damaging effect if he’s forced to sit for any length of time because Stroud and the Texans will struggle without any playmakers on the outside.
4. Kyle Hamilton, Ravens S
The lone defensive player among the impact injuries was Hamilton, a second-year player who had seven tackles — one for loss — before leaving the game with a knee injury. He is scheduled to have an MRI on Monday before his status can be determined for next week.
There’s speculation that he could have suffered an ACL tear, which would be a devastating blow for the Ravens, who are currently the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Hamilton has been one of the best players on the NFL’s top-ranked scoring defense.
5. Josh Jacobs, Raiders RB
The list of impact injuries also includes Jacobs, the Los Angeles Raiders running back, who came up limping with a knee injury after a carry in the fourth quarter against the Minnesota Vikings. He never returned to the game.
The Jacobs injury was bad timing for the Raiders, who needed all the offensive help they could get. Las Vegas (5-8) lost its third straight game, 3-0, in the NFL’s lowest-scoring game in 17 years.
Jacobs, the NFL’s leading rusher a year ago, who rushed 13 times for 34 yards before departing, but he had gained more than 100 yards in two of the past three weeks.
Although Jacobs is expected to get an MRI on Monday, one early video analysis of Jacobs’ injury speculated he could have a knee hyperextension that could keep him out of the Thursday night game against the Los Angeles Chargers.