Injuries Take Toll as NFL Season Heads into Week 8

This week in New York, as we approach the halfway mark of the 2025 NFL season, teams are bracing for a busy slate of games, starting with a Thursday night clash between the Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Chargers. However, as excitement builds, the injury bug is making its rounds, leaving many teams scrambling.

In the past week, prominent players like Jayden Daniels from the Washington Commanders, Bryce Young of the Carolina Panthers, and Mike Evans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been sidelined due to injuries. These challenges push teams to rely on backups and practice squad players in critical moments.

The Vikings will see Carson Wentz starting for his fourth consecutive week, as J.J. McCarthy is still recovering from an ankle sprain. Meanwhile, the Chargers are facing their own challenges, with offensive tackle Joe Alt and his backup Austin Deculus listed as questionable for Thursday night’s game. With both first-round draft picks currently on the injured reserve, rookie Kimani Vidal is set to start at running back.

Over in Buffalo, practice reports show some key players like Curtis Samuel and Dalton Kincaid dealing with injuries. In Carolina, the status of Bryce Young is still uncertain as he recovers from an ankle issue. On the other hand, the Baltimore Ravens may soon welcome back Lamar Jackson, who returned to practice as he recovers from a hamstring injury.

The Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos had lighter injury reports than some of their rivals, with only a couple of players missing practice. In contrast, the New Orleans Saints and Tennessee Titans are dealing with injuries to multiple players, causing coaches to rethink rosters ahead of crucial matchups. In the case of the Titans, both Jeffery Simmons and L’Jarius Sneed are considered week-to-week.

As teams gear up for what promises to be an exciting week, the focus is not only on strategy but also on managing player health. Understanding which teams are facing the biggest challenges and the health status of key players will determine the outcomes in Week 8. Football fans will surely be watching closely as the story unfolds.