We’re on to the divisional round of the NFL playoffs, and player injuries are of added importance now that it’s strictly survive-and-advance time.
Following are some key player injuries to track for the eight teams in action Saturday and Sunday. Having the latest updates is a must for prop bettors and those taking advantage of our top online sports betting offers, worth up to a combined $6,550 in welcome bonuses.
Texans leading rusher Mixon questionable with ankle injury
Houston, we may have a problem as a late-week injury situation has developed with Texans leading rusher Joe Mixon.
The veteran back was limited with an ankle injury in Wednesday's practice and then missed Thursday's final practice entirely, leading to a questionable designation on the team's injury report for Saturday's game in Kansas City. Mixon's fate will be decided pre-game, but various reports Friday said he suit up and play against the Chiefs.
Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery finished second on the squad with 775 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns during 14 regular season games. But he missed the team's final three regular season contests with a torn MCL in his right knee and opted to bypass season-ending surgery in favor of five weeks of rest and rehab.
It looks like it has paid off as Montgomery has been a full practice participant all week and carries no injury designation into Saturday night's matchup against the Washington Commanders.
In Kansas City, Chiefs RB Isiah Pacecho sat out Week 18 with a rib injury suffered on Christmas Day. But after some extended rest, he was able to fully participate in practice all week and carries no status designation into the matchup against the Texans.
Meanwhile, it may be trickier for Buffalo Bills rookie RB Ray Davis to play Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens after he sustained a concussion in this past Sunday’s wild card win over the Denver Broncos. Davis has been able to get in limited practice participation this week, but coach Sean McDermott said he remains in the league's concussion protocol, and his game status is officially listed as questionable.
Banged-up pass-catchers include Ravens’ Flowers, Rams’ Higbee
Ravens Pro Bowl wide receiver Zay Flowers led the team in receptions and receiving yards during the regular season but exited the team’s Week 18 finale with a knee sprain.
The injury kept Flowers out of last Saturday’s wild card victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, and coach John Harbaugh said Monday that it’s “wait-and-see mode” as to the wideout’s availability Sunday in Buffalo.
Flowers' week hasn't gone well, though, as he as been unable to practice, and he is listed as doubtful for the matchup against the Bills.
Another banged-up pass-catcher is Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee, who was hospitalized Monday night with a chest injury sustained in the first half of the team’s 27-9 win over the Minnesota Vikings in Arizona. Higbee, though, was released in time to return home with his teammates later Monday night.
The tight end was a limited practice participant Wednesday and Thursday but upgraded to a full practice Friday and was left off the Rams' final injury report.
Chiefs’ Jones, Commanders’ Wagner among key defensive injuries
All-Pro defensive lineman Chris Jones has been dealing with a calf injury that sidelined him for K.C.’s final two regular season games.
But with the Chiefs earning the wild card round bye, Jones has had four weeks of recovery time. He's followed that up with full-participation practice sessions all week and carries no status designation into Saturday.
Another ailing defensive lineman is the Washington Commanders’ Daron Payne who suffered a broken finger in Sunday night’s wild card win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Payne was listed as a limited practice participant Tuesday and Wednesday, but he upgraded to a full practice Thursday and is not listed on the team's official playoff injury report for Saturday.
The early-week outlook was even cloudier for Payne's teammate, linebacker and leading tackler Bobby Wagner, who has sat out practices Tuesday and Wednesday with an ankle injury. But Wagner upgraded to a limited practice session Thursday and was left off the game injury report.
In that same contest, Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold should play after suffering a foot contusion Week 18. He’s had two weeks to mend, and he was able to put in full practice all week.
Shifting back to Kansas City, cornerback Jaylen Watson on Friday was activated off the injured reserve list after recovering from a broken ankle/fibula suffered in October. Watson has logged full practice sessions all week and should see his fair share of snaps Saturday against the Texans.
One player who won’t be in action this weekend is Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nakobe Dean who suffered a season-ending patellar tendon tear in his left knee during Sunday wild card win over the Green Bay Packers.