The NFL Playoff race is heating up and these remaining 4 or 5 video games will finally decide who has a possibility to compete for the Tremendous Bowl. Some groups are getting wholesome on the proper time whereas others are hanging on by a thread. Scouring damage studies, injured reserve and extra, right here is essentially the most urgent want for every contender — except for the Packers and Lions, who performed on “Thursday Evening Soccer” — getting into Week 14:
AFC
Payments: Defensive deal with
Large receivers Amari Cooper and Keon Coleman had been combating accidents in latest weeks, however they need to be obtainable this week. Linebacker Matt Milano is again. The staff is getting wholesome on the proper time. Rookie defensive deal with DeWayne Carter is on the injured reserve and the Payments have been searching for avenue assist at that place all through the season.
Broncos: Offensive guard
Denver is likely one of the healthiest and hottest groups within the league proper now. Quarterback Bo Nix is coming off the very best stretch of video games in his younger profession and the large receivers are coming alongside as nicely. The Broncos have 22 drops this season, which is fifth-most within the league. Cornerback Riley Moss had been coping with an damage however maybe that’s resolved in the course of the Bye week.
Chargers: Linebacker
One cannot have a look at Los Angeles’ roster and make judgements on their wants solely on the names listed, as a result of they’re getting essentially the most out of gamers new and previous. Rookie linebacker Junior Colson is working his approach again from an damage that landed him on reserve. Daiyan Henley didn’t apply Wednesday and Denzel Perryman, who has been their rock within the center, has been restricted with a nagging groin damage.
Chiefs: Large receiver
Outdoors of the large receiver place, Kansas Metropolis is in fairly good well being. Hollywood Brown, Skyy Moore and Rashee Rice are all on injured reserve. Kicker Harrison Butker was added to injured reserve final month.
Colts: Offensive line
The Colts offensive line has been working by way of accidents for fairly a while. The Bye this week serves as a possibility for them to get more healthy. 4 offensive linemen are on the injured reserve, together with guard Will Fries and heart Ryan Kelly. Tanor Bortolini, Braden Smith and Bernhard Raimann have all been restricted recently.
Dolphins: Secondary
Offensive tackles Terron Armstead and Kendall Lamm have been held out of form with completely different accidents. Depth is challenged if neither is ready to go towards the Jets.
Edge rusher Jaelan Phillips is on injured reserve and Bradley Chubb has not but made his 2024 debut. Rookie Chop Robinson has been explosive, however making little impression on the general panorama.
Ravens: Secondary
Baltimore is comparatively wholesome, however ought to solely develop stronger on the Bye week. Cornerbacks T.J. Tampa, Arthur Maulet and Trayvon Mullen stay on injured reserve. The Ravens have been prone to explosive performs within the cross recreation this season.
Steelers: Offensive line
Russell Wilson has given the offense a little bit of life, however the offensive line has taken a couple of hits as Troy Fautanu, James Daniels and Nate Herbig are coping with accidents. Rookies Zach Frazier and Mason McCormick have come up massive. The Steelers’ stress fee has improved (38.2%) however stays the sixth-worst within the league, in response to TruMedia.
Large receiver just isn’t a bunch that conjures up loads of confidence outdoors of George Pickens.
Texans: Offensive line
The inside offensive line has been leaky and that’s the reason they have been linked to the place on the commerce deadline. Their 37.1% stress allowed is the league’s ninth-highest, in response to TruMedia. Offensive guard Kenyon Inexperienced has discovered his approach onto the injured reserve.
NFC
49ers: Working again
Christian McCaffrey is on the injured reserve and the participant that stepped in for him when injured, Jordan Mason, is probably not far behind him. The bottom recreation can be turned over to rookie Isaac Guerendo and whoever they log off the road any given week.
The offensive and defensive strains are battered within the Bay Space as nicely. San Francisco is already with out defensive tackles Javon Hargrave and Kevin Givens. Offensive guard Aaron Banks, edge rusher Nick Bosa and offensive deal with Trent Williams missed apply Wednesday.
Buccaneers: Secondary
Tampa Bay is banged up proper now. Security Jordan Whitehead is on the injured reserve. Tykee Smith was restricted and Mike Edwards didn’t apply. Elsewhere, large receiver Mike Evans missed apply and Chris Godwin is completed for the season.
Offensive deal with Tristan Wirfs and operating again Bucky Irving are a couple of different notable gamers held out of form.
Cardinals: Edge rusher
The Cardinals have the eighth-lowest staff stress fee utilized (30.4%), in response to TruMedia, however their dominant efficiency towards the Bears is doing loads of the work. Rookie defensive lineman Darius Robinson has but to make his season debut. Defensive tackles Bilal Nichols and Justin Jones are on injured reserve. Baron Browning was acquired from Denver, however time will inform what sort of an impression he makes on the roster.
Commanders: Working again
Austin Ekeler is on the injured reserve and Brian Robinson Jr. has been restricted. They did get good manufacturing out of Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Robinson final week.
Opposing passers have had a 100.9 score towards Washington this season, which is the fourth-highest within the league, in response to TruMedia. They did purchase cornerback Marshon Lattimore on the commerce deadline, however he has but to go well with up because of a hamstring damage; that’s anticipated to alter after the Bye.
Cowboys: Quarterback
As soon as Dak Prescott was added to the injured reserve, a quarterback competitors between Cooper Rush and Trey Lance ensued. Rush was named the starter and that has led to lackluster performances. There may be little to be accomplished concerning the quarterback place at this stage of the season and the Cowboys have fallen far off tempo within the NFC.
Edge rushers Demarcus Lawrence and Sam Williams stay on injured reserve however Micah Parsons and Marshawn Kneeland have returned.
Eagles: Inside offensive line
The lack of heart Jason Kelce to retirement has taken a toll on the Philadelphia offensive line. It has the very best stress fee allowed (41.2%), in response to TruMedia. Landon Dickerson and Mekhi Becton are beginning at guard with Cam Jurgens sandwiched between them.
Tight finish Dallas Goedert and safeties Reed Blankenship, Sydney Brown missed apply Wednesday.
Falcons: Edge rusher
Atlanta has the second-lowest stress fee this season (27.7%), in response to TruMedia. Matt Judon was introduced in to be the answer, however it’s truly Arnold Ebiketie main the staff in pass-rush win fee (10.3%) at No. 70 within the league amongst gamers with at the least 200 pass-rush snaps. The three.6% sack fee is by far the worst within the league; nearly half of the league common (7.1%).
Rams: Offensive deal with
Los Angeles is as wholesome as they’ve been this season. Offensive deal with Alaric Jackson popped up on the damage report final week and was once more absent Wednesday. Proper deal with Rob Havenstein was a full participant however has been slowed by an ankle damage.
Seahawks: Offensive line
Injured large receivers are constructing their pace again up, however the offensive line continues to hamper the entire unit. Abe Lucas missed apply Wednesday as he continues to cope with a knee damage. Olu Oluwatimi was thrust into the combo as the middle when Connor Williams abruptly retired. Offensive guard has continued to be a sore spot.
Vikings: Linebacker
Linebacker Ivan Tempo Jr. was added to injured reserve this week. Defensive deal with has limitations as nicely. The Vikings run protection is extra weak than ever.
Minnesota is permitting stress on 37.9% of dropbacks, which is the eighth-worst fee within the NFL, in response to TruMedia. Commerce acquisition Cam Robinson has changed the injured Christian Darrisaw.
