Houston and Jacksonville are buzzing this week as the NFL gears up for Week 9. However, both cities are feeling the sting of injuries that have hit their teams hard. The Houston Texans lost standout wide receiver Stefon Diggs to a torn ACL, sidelining him for the rest of the season. Meanwhile, the Jacksonville Jaguars saw wideout Christian Kirk also go down with a collarbone injury, ruling him out for the year.
As teams hit the practice field this past Wednesday, injuries are a hot topic. In the NFC North, both the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers were without their starting quarterbacks as they missed the first practice of the week. This could play a big role in their upcoming matchups.
Among the rest of the injury updates, the Texans will miss starting safety Jimmie Ward and backup running back Dameon Pierce, both due to groin issues. The New York Jets officially placed kicker Greg Zuerlein on injured reserve with a knee injury, which means they need to look to their practice squad for a new kicker. Kicking duties could fall to either Riley Patterson or Spencer Shrader this Thursday night.
Adding to the uncertainty, the Dallas Cowboys have activated cornerback DaRon Bland from injured reserve, though he’s been limited due to a calf injury. The Los Angeles Chargers also saw some players limited in the practice session, including defensive end Joey Bosa who is dealing with a hip issue. Meanwhile, Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens was given a rest day despite being on the injury report with back and knee issues.
In overall team health, the Miami Dolphins are grappling with six players missing practice due to various injuries. Cornerback Storm Duck, tight end Julian Hill, and safety Jevon Holland are just a few names that will not see the practice field this week. The Carolina Panthers have their eyes on rookie running back Jonathon Brooks making a return this week after practicing fully, but they’ll still miss several key players.
As we head into the weekend, these injury reports could sway betting odds and outcome predictions for the games ahead. Teams are navigating the landscape of injuries as they look to secure crucial wins this week.
