NFL injury report: Tee Higgins on the shelf again, checking up on Isiah Pacheco and more

Greg Scholz of Inside Injuries runs through some of the most pressing injury concerns for Week 9 of fantasy football 2024.

Before we dive in, here’s a quick glossary of terms commonly used by Inside Injuries:

• IRC = Injury Risk Category (three designations: “Low,” “Elevated,” “High”) — the overall likelihood a player will get injured
• HPF = Health Performance Factor (Peak, Above Average, Below Average, Poor) — our metric to predict player performance
• ORT = Optimal Recovery Time — the amount of time a player needs to fully recover from an injury (not the same as how much time they will actually miss).

Jordan Love, QB, GB (groin)

Love exited Sunday’s Week 8 win over Jacksonville in the third quarter and didn’t return. The injury occurred early in Green Bay’s opening drive, but Love managed to play the remainder of the first half. Then, in the third quarter, he appeared to aggravate the injury, forcing him to the sideline.

Testing revealed Love is dealing with a groin strain, which isn’t the worst news given the circumstances. The primary limitation of this sort of injury is mobility. Love can move around the pocket and scramble well, but he doesn’t require the mobility of other positions like running back or wide receiver, where this sort of injury would have a greater impact on performance.

Despite not practicing yet this week, Love has a “realistic” shot at playing in Week 9, according to head coach Matt LaFleur. If he does, his Injury Risk will be High, and his Health Performance Factor will be Above Average. Our Optimal Recovery Time for him is 14 days.

Lamar Jackson, QB, BAL (back, knee)

Another year, another MVP-caliber season from Jackson. The downside of his stellar game is the effect it can have on his body. Heading into Week 9, he’s been a non-participant at practice, thanks to a combination of knee and back issues.

As of right now, there is no indication that either of these injuries is serious, but we’re keeping a close eye on it. Back injuries can linger, and knee injuries can quickly go from bad to worse.

The Ravens don’t seem too concerned right now. Head coach John Harbaugh called the absence a “rest day,” indicating that these are likely Grade 1 injuries at the most. We anticipate Jackson will suit up in Week 9, but there could be a slight impact to his mobility or propensity to run. His Injury Risk will be Elevated, and his Health Performance Factor is Above Average.

Tony Pollard, RB, TEN (foot)

Pollard has performed admirably so far in Tennessee. In his first year with the team, he’s put up over 100 total yards in three of the team’s seven games. His production hasn’t been reflected in the team’s overall record, but his absence from the lineup would have a tangible impact on the offense.

Pollard missed both Wednesday and Thursday practices this week with a foot injury. There are no specifics on the injury right now, and it’s unclear if he’s undergone any testing, meaning we don’t have much to go on. Additionally, there is no clear play where an injury occurred.

Right now, we are in a wait-and-see mode. His status on Friday will say more about his availability for Week 9. If he can’t practice, it’s unlikely he plays. If he’s limited or more, things would be trending in the right direction.

Calvin Ridley, WR, TEN (shoulder)

While on the topic of injured Titans, Ridley logged a full practice session on Thursday after sitting out Wednesday with a shoulder injury. This development should ease Titans fans and fantasy managers alike, especially after Ridley’s stellar Week 8 performance.

We expect he will play in Week 9, but we’ll be watching along to see if the injury is aggravated. His Injury Risk is Elevated, and his Health Performance Factor is Peak, but that doesn’t mean he’s out of the woods. One big hit or hard fall can take a minor shoulder issue and turn it into a serious injury.

Tee Higgins, WR, CIN (quad)

It’s been an up-and-down season for Higgins. After missing the first two weeks of the season with a hamstring strain, he returned in Week 3 with a quiet performance. He went on to average six receptions and 68 yards from Week 4 through Week 7.

The ramp up in production was halted in Week 8 after Higgins suffered a quad injury during that week’s Friday practice. He ultimately missed Cincinnati’s contest against Philadelphia, and we expect he will also miss Week 9 against Las Vegas.

The quadriceps do a lot. They are the main muscles responsible for extending the knee and play a role in acceleration, stopping and cutting – a lot of the movements required for effective route running.

Higgins’ Injury Risk is High, and his Health Performance Factor is Below Average. We believe he is still 14 days away from Optimal Recovery. 

Brian Thomas Jr., WR, JAC (chest)

Thomas Jr. has been everything the Jaguars could want out of a rookie receiver, with 33 receptions, 573 yards and five touchdowns on the year. It was on his most recent touchdown in Week 8 that he suffered a chest contusion that has kept him limited at practice heading into Week 9.

A chest contusion is essentially a bruise to any of the muscles in the chest. For Thomas, we predict the injury is likely to the intercostal muscles that run along the ribs, connecting one rib to the other.

Thomas’ Injury Risk is going to be on the edge between Elevated and High, but we do expect him to play. A lot of players dealing with these sorts of injuries can suit up, utilizing either additional padding, a pain-numbing injection, or a combination of the two to minimize pain and mitigate risk. His Health Performance Factor will be Above Average.

Checking up on… Isiah Pacheco, RB, KC (leg)

All reports indicate that Pacheco is recovering well from the repair surgery he underwent in Week 3 to address his fractured fibula. There was a recent video showing him speed-walking on a treadmill, which – while not a guarantee of health – is a good sign that recovery is going well thus far.

Pacheco still has a ways to go before he can return. The ramp-up period for this sort of injury is 5-6 weeks, and if he’s already started ramping up, he could return around Week 12 or 13.

When he does return, his Injury Risk should be in Elevated territory, but it is still early for that prediction. With that, his Health Performance Factor should be Above Average. We’ll be keeping a close eye on his recovery and will provide updates accordingly.

(Top photo of Tee Higgins: Nick Cammett / Getty Images)