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 17’s biggest impact injuries through Sunday’s games.
1. Bradley Chubb, Dolphins OLB
The Miami Dolphins lost much more than a game Sunday. Among the impact injuries in Week 17, none was bigger than Chubb, their Dolphins’ leading pass rusher, who suffered what is feared to be a significant knee injury in their 56-19 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Chubb, a two-time Pro Bowler who leads the Dolphins in sacks with 11 and forced fumbles with six, will have an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of injury.
The non-contact injury occurred late in the game when he was chasing Ravens back Melvin Gordon, and his right knee buckled, sending him to the turf. He was eventually carted off the field.
Losing a player of Chubb’s magnitude is potentially devastating for Miami, the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. The Dolphins host the Buffalo Bills in Week 18.
Related: NFL defense rankings
2. DeVonta Smith, Eagles WR
The impact injuries include Smith, who was lost to an apparent lower leg injury late in their 35-31 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Smith, who had three catches for 30 yards in the game, was seen using crutches and wearing a walking boot after the game, and the severity of the injury is unclear.
Smith, the former Heisman Trophy winner, is one of the Eagles’ key offensive weapons, surpassing 1,000-yard receiving for the second straight season. He has 81 receptions for 1,066 yards and seven touchdowns for the Eagles, who have lost four of their past five games to drop to the No. 5 seed in the NFC.
Losing Smith for anything beyond next week’s final regular-season game against the New York Giants would be a huge blows to the Philadelphia offense.
Related: NFL offense rankings
3. Alvin Kamara, Saints RB
There have been many hip-drop casualties among those who’ve appeared on the list of impact injuries each week, and Kamara, the Saints’ all-purpose running back, is the latest one. He injured his ankle on a hip-drop tackle in the first half of the Saints’ key 23-13 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Kamara, who had 12 total touches for 49 yards, was ruled out in the fourth quarter. He’s the team’s leading rusher with 649 yards and second-leading receiver with 73 catches and has scored a team-high six touchdowns.
Not having a five-time Pro Bowl performer like Kamara would hurt the Saints (8-8), who are still in pursuit of a playoff berth and the NFC South title heading into their season finale against Atlanta next Sunday.
4. Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins QB
Tagovailoa is included among the impact injuries after hurting his throwing shoulder late in the Dolphins’ lopsided defeat to Baltimore and was replaced with backup Mike White.
But after the game, Tagovailoa downplayed the severity of the injury to his left shoulder, saying it was “just sore.” Nevertheless, any kind of injury to a quarterback of Tagovailoa’s importance bears watching this week.
The Dolphins (11-5), the No. 2 seed in the AFC, can’t afford to lose Tagovailoa, the NFL leader in passing yards with 4,451 yards, especially since the Dolphins play the biggest game of Week 18 against Buffalo, with the AFC East title on the line.
Related: NFL QB rankings
5. Laremy Tunsil, Texans LT
When the highest-paid left tackle in the NFL gets hurt, he automatically qualifies for the list of impact injuries. Tunsil, the Texans’ Pro Bowl left tackle, suffered a groin injury in the first quarter of Houston’s 26-3 victory over Tennessee.
It’s unclear how severe the injury might be, but Tunsil is one of the Texans’ top offensive players, along with rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, whose back side he’s responsible for protecting.
Tunsil’s status will be critical for the Texans (9-7), who are currently the No. 8 seed in the AFC and have a 47-percent chance of making the playoffs heading into their Week 18 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.