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The second round of the NFL postseason for the 2024-2025 league year is quickly approaching, with the first game set to be played tomorrow. The carousel of injuries never ends, as everyone who's watched the sport recently knows. And if you're into Daily Fantasy Sports or just want to stay updated with ailments of players on your teams, RotoBaller always has you covered.
There are quite a few key players dealing with injury issues, and many of them have highly uncertain statuses heading into the Divisional round. For reference, the Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs will face off on Saturday afternoon, the Detroit Lions and Washington Commanders will battle it out on Saturday night.
Then, the Los Angeles Rams will square off with the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday afternoon, and the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills will close out Round 2 of the playoffs. Below, we'll break down all the biggest injury news for those eight teams. These updates will focus on quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for the 2025 playoffs:- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
- Kicker fantasy football rankings
- FLEX fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Superflex fantasy football rankings
- IDP fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
Saquon Barkley, Dallas Goedert, Kenny Pickett Injury Updates
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (NIR/rest) took a much-needed rest day on Wednesday, then returned for full practices on Thursday and Friday ahead of their Sunday game. Barkley is good to go and will play. Meanwhile, Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert dealt with some kind of illness and missed Wednesday practice.
#Eagles injury report for this Sunday’s game against the Rams:
DT Byron Young (hamstring) OUT.
Everyone else, including all 53 on the active roster and Dallas Goedert (illness) is good to go.
— EJ Smith (@EJSmith94) January 17, 2025
He then practiced in a limited fashion on Thursday, and returned to full participation on Friday. He will be good to go. It can be difficult to predict how players perform after bouts with unspecified illnesses, but his full participation indicates that he's feeling much better.
Meanwhile, backup quarterback Kenny Pickett (ribs) is dealing with a rib issue, but practiced in full all week and carries no designation heading into Sunday's contest. If for any reason starting QB Jalen Hurts gets injured during the game, Pickett will be ready to step up in his place.
Joe Mixon, Dalton Schultz Injury Updates
Houston Texans running back Joe Mixon (ankle) initially practiced in full on Tuesday, then was downgraded to a limited participant on Wednesday, and eventually held out of practice altogether on Friday. However, this seems to be part of a load-management plan.
Texans running back, Joe Mixon who was listed as questionable with an ankle injury loaded the bus without any noticeable pain or limp. pic.twitter.com/47jr88viSM
— Chancellor Johnson (@ChancellorTV) January 17, 2025
There haven't been any reports that he's likely to miss time, and he was seen getting onto the team's bus without any issues. We suspect he's still having pain in the ankle he sprained much earlier in the season -- typically, high-ankle sprains don't heal fully until a player has an offseason of rehab. Even then, they can cause career and lifelong problems.
Meanwhile, Texans tight end Dalton Schultz (shoulder) was removed from the injury report for his shoulder injury. His first two practice sessions of the week were limited, but he upgraded to full thereafter.
Zay Flowers Injury Update
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (knee) is still dealing with the knee issue that he suffered in Week 18. While there was reportedly a chance that he could return this weekend, he missed practice on Friday yet again, and was officially listed as "Doubtful" on his team's injury report.
Here is the Zay Flowers Injury.
Watch RG Andrew Vorhees clip WR Zay Flowers right leg/knee as he’s tumbling over him.
This does not look good for the Baltimore Ravens first-ever Pro Bowl Wide Receiver.
Classic Baltimore Bad Luck.
We can’t have nice things. pic.twitter.com/mZfCtXSAOU
— Johnathan Doughe (@JohnDougheMD) January 4, 2025
This essentially slams the door shut on his prospects of returning. Players with this injury designation very rarely take the field. Instead, his team will hope to knock off the Bills and make it to the AFC Championship. For our money, we'd say Flowers has a solid chance of returning in that game, but that remains to be seen.
David Montgomery Injury Update
The only fantasy-relevant offensive player from the Detroit Lions, running back David Montgomery (knee), practiced in full for all three of his team's practice sessions this week, and doesn't have an injury designation heading into the matchup with the Commanders. He will return to the field for the first time since Week 15.
David Montgomery officially is off the Lions’ injury report and good to go Saturday night. pic.twitter.com/11NbCdyUXF
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 16, 2025
He might have a bit of rust to work off, and we're not 100% sure how his knee feels right now, but this is great news for Detroit, who utilizes a committee RB system to keep both their backs as fresh as possible.
Isiah Pacheco, Mecole Hardman Injury Update
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (ribs) logged his third day in a row of full practice participation on Friday. He's not carrying a designation into Saturday's game against the Texans. He hasn't missed a game since returning from his leg injury. His rib issue is clearly mild.
#Texans at #Chiefs Injury Report - Thursday pic.twitter.com/ViJ6DILHc1
— Nick Jacobs (@Jacobs71) January 16, 2025
Meanwhile, wide receiver Mecole Hardman (knee) remains on injured reserve due to a knee injury. He practiced in a limited fashion all three days of his team's practices, but was listed as "Doubtful" on the injury report, meaning he's highly unlikely to suit up.
He'll probably be watching this game from the sidelines.
Amari Cooper, Dalton Kincaid, Ray Davis Injury Updates
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Amari Cooper (back) and tight end Dalton Kincaid (knee) both played in their team's Wild Card round game. They're listed on the injury report, but both practiced in full on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and aren't expected to miss any time.
Friday injury report pic.twitter.com/MG3vt0Ral1
— Buffalo Bills PR (@BuffaloBillsPR) January 17, 2025
There is no reason to believe they will be held out of their games unless something crazy happens, and that's highly unlikely. Overall, Buffalo's offensive unit is mostly healthy. Running back Ray Davis is still progressing through the team's concussion protocol, however, and he's listed as "Questionable" for the game.
RB Ray Davis remained in a red non-contact jersey during Friday’s #Bills practice. Sean McDermott said earlier that he remains in concussion protocol #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/ZFCuzTR6O7
— alex brasky (@alexbrasky) January 17, 2025
We will have to wait for word on if he clears concussion protocol. He suffered his traumatic brain injury just last week, in the Wild Card round, though. We believe he'll need at least another few days to get back onto the field, but there have been examples of players returning from concussions in just one week this season.
Zach Ertz Injury Update
Ertz (rib) was removed from his team's injury report for the Divisional round. This was to be expected, as he also had a "rest" designation on previous reports.
Injury Report: pic.twitter.com/X2GivvAnP6
— Washington Commanders PR (@Wash_PR) January 16, 2025
He will play on Saturday, presumably without restrictions.
Tyler Higbee Injury Update
Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (chest) was removed from the injury report for the Rams ahead of Sunday's matchup with the Eagles. He was pulled from the team's contest against the Minnesota Vikings less than a week ago with the injury, but it appears that he's healed well.
Final Rams-Eagles Injury Report.
Tyler Higbee carries no designation and is good to go.
Sean McVay said he expects all four players listed as questionable to play Sunday. pic.twitter.com/52vsVPIeQa
— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) January 17, 2025
He practiced in a limited fashion on Wednesday and Thursday and was upgraded to full practice on Friday, so it's no surprise that he will suit up. The rest of the Rams key skill-position players are healthy and ready to go as well.
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