Wild Card Weekend Fantasy Football Injury Report: Jalen Hurts, Aaron Jones, Quentin Johnston, and More

The NFL Playoffs have arrived! Unfortunately, after a long season, every playoff team is coming into the tournament with injuries up and down their roster. In this article, I’ll break down the latest fantasy football injury news for each player as of Saturday morning. Let’s get started!

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Wild Card Weekend Quarterback Injury Report

Is Jalen Hurts Playing This Weekend?

Jalen Hurts is IN this weekend after missing each of the Eagles’ final two games in the concussion protocol. He cleared the protocol in time to be a full participant in Philadelphia’s Thursday practice, so I expect him to be 100% his usual self, Tush Push and all.

Is Jordan Love Playing This Weekend?

Hurts’ counterpart in the Sunday afternoon game, Love, also came into the week nursing an injury, as he exited the Packers’ Week 18 matchup early with an elbow injury. However, Love was also listed as a full participant in both Thursday and Friday’s practices, and he also heads into Sunday with no injury designation. He will be out there and serve as the Packers' QB1.

Wild Card Weekend Running Back Injury Report

Is J.K. Dobbins Playing This Weekend?

Dobbins is officially listed as questionable for this weekend after being a limited participant in each of the Chargers’ practices during the week thanks to an ankle injury. However, the former Raven is reportedly trending toward playing on Saturday. Thankfully, LA plays in the first game of the week, so we will get early notice if Dobbins is ruled out … but he’s almost certainly going to play. 

Is Gus Edwards Playing This Weekend?

Another member of the Chargers’ backfield, Edwards missed the final two games of the season with an ankle injury of his own. However, he was a full participant in Thursday’s practice and has no injury designation for today’s game. He should be out there, and he might actually lead LA in carries, depending on Dobbins’ status.

Is Justice Hill Playing This Weekend?

He certainly doesn’t draw the headlines (or score the touchdowns) like Derrick Henry, but Justice Hill plays a shockingly similar number of snaps in the Ravens’ backfield. Baltimore’s primary receiving back missed the last two weeks of the season in the concussion protocol but is ready to go and will play on Saturday. He is a risky fantasy option, as his role should be smaller with the Ravens being big favorites, but his consistent receiving usage makes him worth considering in deep PPR playoff formats. 

Is Austin Ekeler Playing This Weekend?

Ekeler missed four weeks near the end of the season with a concussion, but he returned to play in the Commanders’ Week 18 game. He is off the injury report for this week and should play a solid role in Washington’s backfield.

Is Aaron Jones Playing This Weekend?

Jones is dealing with a quad injury he suffered in Week 17. He started the Week 18 practice week as limited but worked his way back to full participation and played in the Vikings’ all-important game against the Lions. However, he is now back on the injury report with the same quad issue, and this time he was still limited in Friday’s practice. As of now, the veteran RB is listed as questionable. With that said, I would be shocked if Jones does not suit up for this playoff matchup. It’s not ideal that he doesn’t play until the final game of the week on Monday, but I would still leave him in your lineup unless you have a very comparable option.   

Wild Card Weekend Wide Receiver Injury Report

Is Quentin Johnston Playing This Weekend?

After having easily the best game of his career in Week 18 against the Raiders, QJ dealt with a thigh injury and an illness during the week. He is officially listed as questionable but is expected to play in the first game of the week against the Texans. He should serve as the Chargers’ WR2 behind rookie Ladd McConkey, especially because of what I am about to say in the next blurb.

Is Joshua Palmer Playing This Weekend?

Palmer is OUT for this Saturday’s playoff game for the Chargers. He is dealing with a foot injury that caused him to miss LA’s final game of the season and was unable to get in even a limited practice during the week. His absence will open up more routes for QJ, as well as TE Will Dissly and WR DJ Chark.

Is John Metchie Playing This Weekend?

Metchie is listed as questionable, and we have yet to receive any official confirmation of his status one way or the other. The third-year WR is dealing with a shoulder injury that caused him to miss Week 16. However, he played in both Week 17 and Week 18 and was able to practice in full for the Texans’ final practice of the week on Thursday. I expect him to suit up and serve as the Texans’ WR2 behind Nico Collins. 

Is Zay Flowers Playing This Weekend?

The Ravens’ top receiver is OUT for this week after suffering a knee injury in their Week 18 matchup. The Pro Bowl receiver did not practice all week and may not even return in weeks to come. In his absence, Rashod Bateman will serve as the Ravens’ WR1. Their WR2 will either be Tylan Wallace or Nelson Agholor, and both Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely should see some extra usage as well.

Is A.J. Brown Playing This Weekend?

The Eagles’ WR1 missed Philadelphia’s Thursday practice with a knee injury (and a rest designation) but returned to be a full participant on Friday. He is listed without an injury designation and should be fully active for this game. 

Is DeVonta Smith Playing This Weekend?

Like his teammate, Smith missed one practice this week, sitting out on Friday with a back injury. However, again like AJB, Smith is off of the injury report and expected to play this week. The Eagles simply seem to be prioritizing rest for their top weapons over practice. 

Is Christian Watson Playing This Weekend?

One of many young receivers that the Packers have relied on this season, Watson is OUT for this week and the rest of the playoffs with an ACL injury suffered in Week 18. In his absence, the Packers’ routes will be more condensed among Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed (in three-WR sets only), and Dontayvion Wicks, although both Bo Melton and Malik Heath will likely also be involved at the expense of Wicks.  

Wild Card Weekend Tight End Injury Report

Is Dallas Goedert Playing This Weekend?

Dallas Goedert was recently on IR for a knee injury, but he returned in time to feature in the Eagles’ Week 18 game. He is off the injury report and will play on Sunday.

Is Cade Otton Playing This Weekend?

Otton missed the final three weeks of the Buccaneers’ season. He was reportedly on track to play in Week 18 with full practices on Thursday and Friday, but he was then surprisingly downgraded to doubtful and missed the contest. Now, Otton is listed as questionable after once again getting in a full practice on Sunday. Last week’s surprise inactive means we should proceed with caution, but I expect Otton to suit up and serve as the Buccaneers’ TE1 this week.

Ted Chmyz is a fantasy football contributor for FantasySP. Find him on Twitter @Tchmyz for more fantasy content or to ask questions.