Six games are scheduled for Super Wild Card Weekend as the NFL playoffs kick off and teams begin their quest for Super Bowl LVIII. As is the case throughout the regular season, injuries will play a significant role in determining which teams advance to the divisional round. This weekend, the focus is on the Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams, and Detroit Lions, as well as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles who will begin practice later in the week. Each team’s injury report provides insight into the key storylines for the upcoming matchups.
The Cleveland Browns had several key players return to practice on a limited basis. Myles Garrett, Kareem Hunt, Greg Newsome, David Njoku, Pierre Strong, and Juan Thornhill were all limited after missing the previous day’s practice. However, Amari Cooper, Dustin Hopkins, and Cedric Tillman did not practice. Grant Delpit has been designated to return off injured reserve.
The Houston Texans did not have several players at practice, putting their availability for the upcoming game in doubt. Will Anderson Jr., Noah Brown, Jonathan Greenard, and Jerry Hughes missed practice for the second consecutive day. Andrew Beck was held out of practice, while Maliek Collins returned on a limited basis. Michael Deiter, Robert Woods, and Sheldon Rankins were also limited.
The Miami Dolphins were without three defensive backs for the second consecutive day of practice: Xavien Howard, Jevon Holland, and DeShon Elliott. Terron Armstead returned on a limited basis. De’Von Achane, Liam Eichenberg, Tyreek Hill, Raheem Mostert, Jalen Ramsey, and Jaylen Waddle were also limited.
The Kansas City Chiefs had everyone except Wanya Morris accounted for during practice. Justyn Ross, Donovan Smith, and Kadarius Toney were limited, while L’Jarius Sneed was a full participant.
The Pittsburgh Steelers received some positive news as Minkah Fitzpatrick returned to full practice after missing the last three regular-season games. Damontae Kazee was also activated from suspension. Najee Harris, Isaac Seumalo, and T.J. Watt did not practice.
The Buffalo Bills conducted a walkthrough practice, so the injury report is an estimation. Gabe Davis, Rasul Douglas, Damar Hamlin, and Taylor Rapp did not practice. Dion Dawkins, Tyrel Dodson, and Ty Johnson were limited. Von Miller and Leonard Floyd were given rest days.
The Green Bay Packers had one notable absence in A.J Dillon. Jaire Alexander, Romeo Doubs, Elgton Jenkins, Aaron Jones, Isaiah McDuffie, Jonathan Owens, T.J. Slaton, Preston Smith, and Christian Watson were all limited.
The Dallas Cowboys were without Stephon Gilmore and Jonathan Hankins. DeMarcus Lawrence, Zack Martin, and Tyron Smith were given rest days. Brandin Cooks, Jourdan Lewis, and Tyler Smith were limited.
The Detroit Lions did not have Sam LaPorta at practice due to a knee injury. Frank Ragnow and Kalif Raymond did not practice either. Taylor Decker, Graham Glasgow, and Jerry Jacobs were given rest days.
The Los Angeles Rams had several notable injuries at the start of the week. Joe Noteboom, Jordan Fuller, Troy Reeder, and Rob Havenstein did not practice. Kevin Dotson and Tyler Higbee were limited.
The Philadelphia Eagles had three players who did not practice: A.J. Brown, Reed Blankenship, and Sydney Brown. Jalen Hurts returned to full practice after being limited the previous day. Britain Covey was limited, while Darius Slay, DeVonta Smith, and D’Andre Swift were full participants.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had only one player, Chris Godwin, who did not practice. Baker Mayfield, Tristan Wirfs, and K.J. Britt were limited participants.
As the teams prepare for Super Wild Card Weekend, the injury reports provide valuable insights into the potential impact on the upcoming games. Injuries will be a key factor in determining the outcome of these crucial matchups.