Fantasy Football WR Injury Reports: Week 8 Updates For Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, JuJu Smith-Schuster, DK Metcalf

Sunday came and went with a few major injuries, but it was relatively quiet compared to previous weeks. Then the avalanche came on Monday. More star receivers will be shelved for the season.

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Let's look at the updates for some wide receivers and see whether they may play in Week 8.

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Mike Evans / Chris Godwin (TB) Injury Update

Mike Evans limped off the field after his touchdown catch in the first quarter. When Baker Mayfield went back to him in the end zone later in the half, his hamstring gave out. That ended his evening and will keep him out of the lineup for several weeks. He's avoiding injured reserve because of the timing of Tampa Bay's bye week.

Todd Bowles tells reporters that Mike Evans hamstring injury is on the same leg he's had issues, but is in a different spot. He's is expected to be out until their bye week (Week 11)

— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) October 22, 2024

When Evans left, the Buccaneers offense collapsed and the Ravens blew the game open. To add injury to insult, Chris Godwin dislocated his ankle with under a minute remaining in the fourth quarter. His season is over.

Jalen McMillan, Sterling Shepard, and Trey Palmer will see the most playing time without Tampa's top wideouts. Tight end Cade Otton and running back Rachaad White will get a target bump.

Zay Flowers (BAL) Injury Update

Keep an eye on Zay Flowers' practice status this week. His ankle got pinned under a tackler on Monday night. He hobbled to the sideline in pain, only to return a few plays later.

This was Zay Flowers’ ankle injury https://t.co/jz2Yvuz1Ho pic.twitter.com/eZ3yern28w

— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) October 22, 2024

Several players this season have done the same. Once the adrenaline wears off and the ankle tightens, players miss practice and sometimes games (Khalil Shakir and Joe Mixon returned to their games and then missed time).

DK Metcalf (SEA) Injury Update

DK Metcalf is "week to week" with an MCL sprain in his right knee. He fell awkwardly and was later carted off the field.

Seahawks WR D.K. Metcalf — who left Sunday’s win over Atlanta with a knee injury — suffered a Grade 1 sprained MCL and now will be considered “week to week”, per source. pic.twitter.com/emGKx7FEJd

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 21, 2024

It's always a relief to hear a player may only miss a week or so after being carted away. Metcalf has missed one game in his professional career and will probably push to play against the Bills.

Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba will dominate targets if Metcalf can't go. Noah Fant and Jake Bobo are deeper league options.

Deebo Samuel Sr. / Brandon Aiyuk / Jauan Jennings (SF) Injury Update

Where to begin with the San Francisco wide receiver room?

Brandon Aiyuk's season is over. He tore his ACL and MCL on Sunday. Football fans likely won't see Aiyuk until midway through the 2025 season.

Deebo Samuel Sr. was hospitalized with pneumonia. He was discharged on Tuesday but there's no timetable for his return. With fluid in his lungs, conditioning and lung capacity will be issues.

Good news: #49ers WR Deebo Samuel, who left Sunday’s game with a pneumonia-like illness, has been released from the hospital.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 22, 2024

Jauan Jennings missed Week 8's loss with a hip injury. He'll be a hot waiver-wire commodity but there's a chance he misses Week 9. Fantasy managers will need to monitor practice reports. He will be in the weekly WR3/flex conversation if he's healthy. He could be the 49ers top receiver. Rookie Ricky Pearsall will also be involved.

JuJu Smith-Schuster (KC) Injury Update

JuJu Smith-Schuster suffered a hamstring injury in Thursday's practice. The expectation was that he was good to go on Sunday. He was, for all of seven snaps. The hamstring flared up and sent him to the sideline for good. He's been ruled out for Week 8.

#Chiefs coach Andy Reid tells reporters that WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (right hamstring) will be out for this week's game against the #Raiders.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 21, 2024

Kansas City, already 6-0, will play it safe with Smith-Schuster. This could linger longer than fantasy managers anticipate. The Chiefs' top wideouts are Xavier Worthy, Mecole Hardman, Skyy Moore, and Justin Watson. It wouldn't surprise anyone if they traded for reinforcements.

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