The NFL injury report is always filled with some of the game’s best stars, leaving fans and fantasy football managers scrambling to find out who will play. Heading into Week 4 of the 2022 NFL season, Dallas Cowboys star QB Dak Prescott is already inching toward a return from thumb surgery.
Bookmark this page for daily injury updates and news on NFL stars from across the league, whether they will play in Week 4 and how their injuries impact fantasy football.
Here is the latest injury news for some of the NFL’s biggest stars and the impact it will have on Week 4 in Sportsnaut’s NFL injury report.
Related: NFL Week 4 power rankings
Tua Tagovailoa, quarterback, Miami Dolphins
It’s not the head injury that Tua suffered last week against the Buffalo Bills that could keep him out on Thursday Night Football. Rather, the NFL MVP candidate dealt with issues to his back and ankle in Miami’s third consecutive win to open the season.
He’s firmly questionable but is expected to play heading into Thursday night against the Bengals and will do whatever is possible to be on the field for this big game.
“I’m doing everything I can to get out there and play. I’m getting treatment, doing everything I can to get as close to 100 percent as possible.”
- Tua Tagovailoa stats (2022): 72% completion, 925 yards, 8 TD, 2 INT, 117.8 QB rating
As you can see, Tua is off to an incredible start to the season. If he’s unable to go, Teddy Bridgewater would get the start. That would have an obvious impact on star wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle (659 combined yards this season).
Christian McCaffrey, running back, Carolina Panthers
Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. Carolina Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey is on the injury report and is considered questionable for Sunday’s matchup against the Cardinals. Unfortunately, this isn’t some sick joke. CMC really is dealing with a quad injury and had to miss practice on Wednesday and Thursday.
Coach Matt Rhule indicated that the injury happened after their Week 3 win, so it’s anyone’s guess as to how serious this latest setback is. As usual, he’s been the workhorse in the Carolina offense, with 50 carries compared to backups D’Onta Foreman and Chuba Hubbard, who have just four totes apiece. If Run CMC can’t do his thing on Sunday, expect the backfield duties to be split.
D’Andre Swift, running back, Detroit Lions
One of the game’s most-explosive running backs, Swift suffered a shoulder sprain in last week’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He’s now expected to miss multiple weeks of action. This is not great news for Jared Goff and the Lions’ offense heading into a Week 4 outing against the lowly Seattle Seahawks.
- D’Andre Swift stats (2022): 231 rushing yards, 8 catches, 77 yards, 8.8 yards per touch, 2 TD
With Swift sidelined, Jamaal Williams will continue to get the bulk of the touches for Detroit out of the backfield. He’s put up 197 total yards and four touchdowns in three games. Taking on a Seahawks defense that has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to running backs, Williams becomes a solid streaming option.
Related: Sportsnaut’s Week 4 NFL defensive rankings
Mac Jones, quarterback, New England Patriots
Mac Jones will probably not suit up for this week’s game against the Baltimore Ravens. He’s dealing with a significant high-ankle sprain and is going for a second opinion about whether to undergo surgery. While he’s still acting like he’s preparing to start by participating in game-planning, no one really expects him to be able to tough an injury this serious out.
From a fantasy perspective, there’s not much to look at here. Jones heads into Week 4 leading the NFL with five interceptions. New England doesn’t have any real consistent pass-catching options. Perhaps, running back Rhamondre Stevenson could be a nice buy-low option with Brian Hoyer starting at quarterback. The second-year back from Oklahoma put up 101 total yards and a touchdown on 17 touches in last week’s loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Zach Wilson, quarterback, New York Jets
Finally, some good news on our NFL injury report. After missing the first three games of the season with a knee injury, Zach Wilson is ready to return to action. Jets head coach Robert Saleh said he has been fully cleared and will play this week against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
With Wilson sidelined through the first three games, Joe Flacco has thrown for 901 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions. His top target has been stud rookie Garrett Wilson (18 catches, 214 yards). We’ll see if Wilson has the same chemistry with his receivers.
Related: Sportsnaut’s NFL Week 4 power rankings
Jameis Winston, quarterback, New Orleans Saints
Dealing with multiple fractures in his back, Jameis Winston still suited up for last week’s contest against the Carolina Panthers, but he didn’t have much success. While Winston has always been a bit erratic, coach Dennis Allen says the team has no plans to change quarterbacks.
Then again, Winston’s back may force his hand. He hasn’t practiced with the team at all this week as they prepare for an early Sunday showdown in London against the Vikings. It’s possible Andy Dalton steps back into a starting role on a temporary basis until Winston can heal. Still, coach Allen “doesn’t think” Winston will miss a start in Week 4. Either way, Dalton or Taysom Hill, are probably not good starting options, with Michael Thomas also questionable.
Michael Thomas, wide receiver, New Orleans Saints
Just when Michael Thomas finally returned to the field and was looking healthy, the All-Pro wideout suffers a toe injury. He had to leave the Week 3 loss to Carolina, though Ian Rapoport has suggested the injury “isn’t believed to be serious.” Serious or not, the Saints’ top target has missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday, and his status on Sunday is a true question mark.
If Thomas can’t go, look for rookie Chris Olave to continue being a target magnet in the Big Easy.
Dalvin Cook, running back, Minnesota Vikings
Cook exited Sunday’s win over the Detroit Lions in the third quarter with a shoulder injury and was almost immediately ruled out for the duration. The latest in our NFL injury report comes to us via Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell.
“He’s pretty sore today, but obviously something he’s familiar with. He’s tough, he’s ready to try to get back out there and go, but we’ll take it day-to-day. I’ll keep you guys updated throughout the week on where he’s at.”
Cook surprisingly took the field for Thursday’s practice but didn’t appear to be doing much in the portion open to media. He looks likely to suit up, but if Cook can’t go in the UK for Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints, Alexander Mattison would see an uptick in touches. He’s a no-go in fantasy football with 72 yards in three games.
Amon-Ra St. Brown, wide receiver, Detroit Lions
Our Week 4 NFL injury report is something to pay attention to from a fantasy perspective. That’s especially true with this productive young wide receiver limited by an ankle injury last Sunday. Reports indicate that St. Brown’s injury is not expected to be long-term. However, there’s a decent chance that he will miss Sunday’s game against Seattle with Detroit’s brass playing this close to the vest.
- Amon-Ra St. Brown stats (2022): 23 receptions, 253 yards, 3 TD, 69.7% catch rate
Having missed practice through Thursday, if St. Brown were to miss Sunday’s game, we’d expect a large target share for T.J. Hockenson and D.J. Chark. That’s especially true with D’Andre Swift already sidelined.
Hunter Renfrow, wide receiver, Las Vegas Raiders
After suffering a concussion on the final play of their Week 2 overtime loss, Hunter Renfrow missed Las Vegas’ Week 3 loss to the Tennessee Titans. The expectation is that he will be able to go this coming Sunday against the Denver Broncos.
With his top slot guy sidelined last Sunday, Derek Carr completed 26-of-44 passes for 303 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Mack Hollins put up a career-best eight-catch, 158-yard outing while tying Davante Adams for the team lead in targets with 10. Regardless of Renfrow’s status in our NFL injury report moving forward, Hollins is a waiver option in fantasy football.
Related: NFL Week 4 fantasy football rankings
Michael Gallup, wide receiver, Dallas Cowboys
Michael Gallup missed the first two contests of the season as he works his way back from a torn ACL he suffered late last season. Gallup was in line to make his season debut last week against the New York Giants. But the Cowboys decided to hold him out.
It’s looking more like this week is the return date for Gallup. Though, he’s almost certainly going to be on a pitch count. In DFS leagues, former seventh-round pick Noah Brown from Ohio State has become a decent flex option. He’s recorded five catches in each of the first two games of the season. In the two outings Cooper Rush has started for the injured Dak Prescott, Brown has caught 10-of-12 targets for 145 yards and a touchdown.
Related: Ranking NFL offenses heading into Week 4
Keenan Allen, wide receiver, Los Angeles Chargers
Allen suffered a hamstring injury in the opener against the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1. The star wide receiver has missed the two games since with Los Angeles dropping both affairs.
As for an update in our most-recent NFL injury report, Allen was able to practice on Wednesday. It means that he has a darn good chance to suit up against the Houston Texans on Sunday.
Obviously, this is big news for Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert. He’s lacked consistent weapons in the passing game with Allen sidelined. That included high-priced wide receiver Mike Williams hauling in just 1-of-6 targets for 15 yards in Los Angeles’ ugly Week 3 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Julio Jones, wide receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Here we go again. Tom Brady‘s newest go-to option could be looking at missing more time after a strong debut with the Buccaneers. After being unable to suit up in Week 2 against New Orleans, Jones was quickly ruled out once again in Week 3 as he works his way back from a knee injury.
The seven-time Pro Bowl receiver was clocked as the seventh-faster ballcarrier in Week 1, so prior to the knee ailment he’s dealing with, Jones had been feeling pretty good. The better news for a struggling Brady is that Jones looks like he’s ready to return Week 4 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Tom Terrific will need that.
Chris Godwin, wide receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Able to go Week 1 after suffering a torn ACL last season, Godwin went down with a strained hamstring in Tampa Bay’s season opener. Initially, the expectation was that Godwin would miss some time. He’s now been sidelined for the past two weeks.
Godwin was able to get in a limited practice session on Wednesday, but being that he’s coming back from a hamstring issue, it’s possible he misses this week’s outing against the Chiefs. Expect Mike Evans (return from suspension) and the aforementioned Julio Jones to see a large target share come Sunday night.
Related: Young fantasy football stars to target in 2022
Dalton Schultz, tight end, Dallas Cowboys
A surprise addition to the Week 3 NFL injury report, Schultz is dealing with a PCL sprain to his right knee. He missed Dallas’ Week 3 win over the New York Giants. With Schultz able to get a full practice in on Thursday, his status is trending in the right direction for Sunday. But it’s not yet known whether the tight end will for sure be able to return to the mix for their upcoming outing against the Washington Commanders. Young tight ends Peyton Hendershot and Jake Ferguson are not fantasy-relevant options with Schultz questionable to go.
Dak Prescott, quarterback, Dallas Cowboys
Dak Prescott has missed each of the past two games after undergoing surgery on his throwing hand. It looks like he is still at least a week away from returning, according to Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. In his stead, Cooper Rush has played at a high level.
- Cooper Rush stats (2022): 63% completion, 514 yards, 2 TD, 0 INT, 91.7 QB rating
With Prescott ruled out for Week 4 as he targets a Week 6 return, Rush becomes an under-the-radar DFS play. As noted above, Noah Brown also becomes an option, given how he’s connected with Rush over the past couple weeks.
NFL injury report: Players likely inactive for Week 4
- Dak Prescott, quarterback, Dallas Cowboys
- Trey Lance, quarterback, San Francisco 49ers (injured reserve, out for the season)
- Sam Darnold, quarterback, Carolina Panthers
- Elijah Mitchell, running back, San Francisco 49ers
- Gus Edwards, running back, Baltimore Ravens
- Brian Robinson, running back, Washington Commanders (non-football list, out through Week 4)
- Drew Sample, tight end, Cincinnati Bengals
- A.J. Green, wide receiver, Arizona Cardinals
- Van Jefferson, wide receiver, Los Angeles Rams (injured reserve, out through Week 7)
- Chris Godwin, wide receiver, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Sterling Shepard, wide receiver, New York Giants (injured reserve, out for the season)
- Sammy Watkins, wide receiver, Green Bay Packers (injured reserve, out through Week 6)
- Byron Pringle, wide receiver, Chicago Bears (injured reserve, out through Week 7)
NFL injury report: Players expected to play in Week 4
- David Montgomery, running back, Chicago Bears
- Joe Mixon, running back, Cincinnati Bengals
- Rondale Moore, wide receiver, Arizona Cardinals
- Michael Thomas, wide receiver, New Orleans Saints
- Jarvis Landry, wide receiver, New Orleans Saints
- Jaylen Waddle, wide receiver, Miami Dolphins
- Stefon Diggs, wide receiver, Buffalo Bills
This article was originally published on Sportsnaut.com and is republished here with permission.
