Fantasy Football Week 16 injury report: Updates on Julio Jones, James Robinson, Aaron Jones and more

A player's injury status can have a significant effect on fantasy football — it can alter draft strategy, roster construction, and, most importantly, it can determine start-or-sit decisions for your fantasy team.

Each week, I will comb through the official injury reports for each game and give updates and analysis for fantasy-relevant players. Injuries are fluid, so make sure to stay up to date by following @mario_pilato on Twitter.

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ARIZONA CARDINALS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
Chase Edmonds	RB	71.4	RB26	Ankle/Knee	Questionable
Larry Fitzgerald	WR	61.2	WR68	Groin	Questionable

Mario’s take: Edmonds and Fitzgerald were DNPs Tuesday and Wednesday but were limited participants Thursday. I believe they will be ready for their Saturday match-up.

ATLANTA FALCONS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
Julio Jones	WR	86.3	N/A	Hamstring	Out

Mario’s take: Jones did not practice on Wednesday and Thursday, and has been ruled out for Week 16.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
Dez Bryant	WR	56.5	N/A	Thigh	Questionable
Robert Griffin III	QB	52.9	N/A	Hamstring	IR
Trace McSorley	QB	57.4	N/A	Knee	IR

Mario’s take: Bryant did not practice Wednesday, was a limited participant Thursday, and a full participant Friday. I am optimistic he plays in Week 16.

Griffin injured his hamstring in the fourth quarter of Week 13. The Ravens placed Griffin on IR, and he will miss at least the next two weeks.

McSorely suffered an MCL sprain in Week 14 and was placed on IR. He will miss at least the next two weeks. 

BUFFALO BILLS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
John Brown	WR	68.4	N/A	Ankle	IR-R
Stefon Diggs	WR	86.4	WR4	Foot	(-)

Mario’s take: Brown was placed on IR in Week 12 and has not played since. He has been ruled out for Week 16.

Diggs injured his foot late in Week 15, and I believe it is a minor injury. He was a limited participant at Wednesday’s practice but a full participant Thursday,  and Diggs will be ready for Week 16.

CAROLINA PANTHERS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
Christian McCaffrey	RB	75.5	N/A	Shoulder/Quad	Out

Mario’s take: McCaffery suffered a sprained A/C joint sprain when he landed hard on his shoulder in Week 9. He did not play in the three following weeks. Coming off of the Panther’s Week 13 bye, it seemed CMC was ready to return to action until news broke that he was dealing with a new injury. McCaffery suffered a strained quad while training and reaggravated it in the middle of Week 13. He did not play in Week 14 or Week 15. CMC has not practiced all week and he will not return in Week 16.

CHICAGO BEARS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
Cordarelle Patterson	WR/RB	69.2	N/A	Knee	Questionable
Tarik Cohen	RB	62.6	N/A	Knee	IR

Mario’s take: Patterson did not practice all week and I  do not expect him to be ready for Week 16.

Cohen suffered a torn ACL in Week 3. He underwent surgery and will miss the remainder of the season.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
Auden Tate	WR	73.4	N/A	Shoulder	IR
Joe Burrow	QB	75.1	N/A	Knee	IR
John Ross III	WR	48.2	N/A	Foot	IR
Tyler Boyd	WR	77.5	N/A	Head	Out

Mario’s take: Tate underwent surgery on his torn labrum in his shoulder. He has been placed on IR, and his recovery is expected to be four to six months.

Burrow injured his left knee in Week 11. He suffered a torn ACL and possible damage to the MCL and Meniscus. Worst case scenario is also a tibial fracture. He will miss the remainder of the season, but he will be ready for next season. 

Ross injured his foot in Week 10 and was subsequently placed on IR. I do not expect him back for several weeks.

Boyd suffered a concussion during MNF in Week 15 and he has entered the five-step concussion protocol. He did not practice all week and has been ruled out for Week 16.

CLEVELAND BROWNS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
Donovan Peoples-Jones	WR	71.2	WR80	COVID-19	Out
Jarvis Landry	WR	83.6	WR16	COVID-19	Out
KhaDarel Hodge	WR	67.6	N/A	COVID-19	Out
Odell Beckham Jr.	WR	75.3	N/A	Knee	IR
Rashard Higgins	WR	77.1	WR39	COVID-19	Out

Mario’s take: Peoples-Jones, Landry, Hodge, and Higgins were all placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list and will miss their Week 16 game.

Beckham tore his ACL in Week 7, and I believe he also damaged his meniscus. Beckham will undergo surgery and miss the remainder of the season.

DALLAS COWBOYS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
Dak Prescott	QB	85.2	N/A	Ankle	Out
Ezekiel Elliott	RB	62.9	N/A	Calf	Questionable
Michael Gallup	WR	64.2	WR62	Hip	(-)

Mario’s take: Prescott suffered a compound fracture in his ankle during Week 5. A compound fracture is when the bone has gone through the skin. He will miss the rest of the season. 

Elliott did not play in Week 15 due to a sore calf. He was a limited participant at practice all week and I expect him to play in Week 16.

Gallup suffered a hip strain in the second half of Week 15. I believe he is suffering from a Grade 1 strain. He practiced in full all week and will play in Week 16.

DENVER BRONCOS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
Courtland Sutton	WR	72.9	N/A	Knee	IR
Phillip Lindsay	RB	69.8	RB38	Hip	Out
Royce Freeman	RB	62.9	N/A	Hip	Questionable

Mario’s take: Sutton left the game in Week 2 due to a knee injury and cramping. He was later diagnosed with an ACL tear. Sutton will undergo surgery and miss the remainder of the season.

Lindsay did not practice all week and has been ruled out for Week 16.

Freeman was a DNP Wednesday but a limited participant Thursday and Friday. I am optimistic he plays in Week 16.

DETROIT LIONS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
Kenny Golladay	WR	81.6	N/A	Hip	Out
Matthew Stafford	QB	81.6	QB21	Ribs/Thumb	Questionable

Mario’s take: Golladay suffered a Grade II groin strain in the third quarter of Week 8 and has not played since. Golladay did not practice all week and he has been ruled out for Week 16.

Stafford has been a limited participant in practice all week and I expect him to play Saturday.

GREEN BAY PACKERS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
Allen Lazard	WR	70.9	WR49	Core/Wrist	(-)
Aaron Jones	RB	79.1	RB3	Toe	(-)
Equanimeous St. Brown	WR	58.7	N/A	Knee	(-)
Jamaal Williams	RB	73.6	N/A	Thigh	Doubtful
Jace Sternberger	TE	56.8	N/A	Head	Out
Marcedes Lewis	TE	69.0	N/A	Knee	(-)
Tyler Ervin	RB	65.9	N/A	Foot	IR

Mario’s take: Lazard, Jones, and Brown were limited participants at practice all week and will play in Week 16.

Williams injured his thigh in the third quarter of Week 15, though it does not seem to be serious. He did not practice all week and I do not believe he will play in Week 16.

Sternberger was placed in the five-step concussion protocol last week and missed Week 15. He did not practice all week and he has been ruled out for Week 16.

Lewis did not practice Wednesday, was a limited participant Thursday, and a full participant Friday. He will play in Week 16.

Ervin was placed on IR and will miss at least the next three weeks.

HOUSTON TEXANS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
Duke Johnson Jr.	RB	62.6	N/A	Neck	Out
Keke Coutee	WR	65.2	WR35	Foot	(-)
Pharaoh Brown	TE	71.7	N/A	Ankle	(-)
Randall Cobb	WR	71.6	N/A	Foot	IR
C.J. Prosise	RB	46.3	N/A	Ankle	(-)

Mario’s take: Cobb injured his foot in the first quarter of Week 11. I believe he suffered a midfoot sprain. Cobb was placed on IR and will miss may not return this season.

Johnson Jr. did not practice all week and has been ruled out for Week 16.

Coutee, Brown and Prosise were limited participants at practice Wednesday but full participants Thursday and Friday. They will all play in Week 16.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
Jack Doyle	TE	64.0	TE35	Quad	(-)
Mo Alie-Cox	TE	79.9	N/A	Knee	(-)
Philip Rivers	QB	79.6	QB23	Toe	(-)
Parris Campbell	WR	72.8	N/A	Knee	IR

Mario’s take: Doyle popped up on the injury report Thursday and missed practice  but was a full participant Friday. He will play in Week 16.

Alie-Cox was a limited participant at practice Wednesday, a full participant Thursday, and a DNP Friday. He will play in Week 16.

Rivers did not practice Wednesday but was a full participant Thursday and Friday. I believe his missed practice was a maintenance issue. He will play in Week 16.

Campbell was carted off the field in Week 2 after spraining his MCL and PCL. Campbell's multi-ligament injury has ruled him out indefinitely. I do not expect him to return this season.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
Chris Thompson	RB	54.9	N/A	Back	IR
Dede Westbrook	WR	53.7	N/A	Knee	IR
James Robinson	RB	72.9	N/A	Ankle	Out
Ryquell Armstead	RB	N/A	N/A	COVID-19	Out

Mario’s take: Thompson was placed on IR in Week 13 for a back injury and is unlikely to return this season. 

Westbrook was carted off the field in Week 7 with a torn ACL. He will undergo surgery and miss the remainder of the season.

Robinson injured his ankle in the fourth quarter of Week 15. It seems he avoided a high ankle sprain and is suffering from a lateral low ankle sprain. He did not practice Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. He will not play in Week 16 and could be done for the season.

Armstead is not expected to return this season due to complications from COVID-19.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
Clyde Edwards-Helaire	RB	75.3	N/A	Ankle/Hip	Out
Tyreek Hill	WR	83.3	WR2	Hamstring	Questionable

Mario’s take: Edwards-Helaire injured his hip/leg in the fourth quarter of Week 15. X-rays were negative, but he did suffer a high ankle sprain and strained hip. He missed practice Wednesday and Thursday, and I do not expect Edwards-Helaire back until the playoffs.

Hill did not practice Wednesday but was a limited participant Thursday and Friday. I believe he will play in Week 16.

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
Derek Carr	QB	82.6	N/A	Groin	(-)
Hunter Renfrow	WR	75.8	N/A	Head	(-)
Tyrell Williams	WR	N/A	N/A	Shoulder	IR

Mario’s take: Carr injured his groin early in his Week 15 game. I believe he is suffering from a Grade I groin strain. He practiced in a limited fashion on Tuesday and was a full participant Wednesday and Thursday. This has been a pretty shocking turnaround from what looked like a serious injury. Carr will play in Week 16.

Renfrow was a  limited participant at practice Tuesday and full participant at practice Wednesday and Thursday. I expect him to play in Week 16.

Williams underwent surgery in early September for a torn labrum in his shoulder. He will miss the entire 2020 season but will be ready for the 2021 season.

LOS ANGELES CHARGERS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
Hunter Henry	TE	69.3	TE10	COVID-19	Out
Keenan Allen	WR	84.9	WR11	Hamstring	Questionable

Mario’s take: Henry has been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list and will miss Week 16.

Allen did not practice Wednesday or Thursday but was a limited participant Friday. He is expected to be a game time decision. Allen followed the same path last week and was ineffective. I would be cautious inserting him into your championship line-ups if he plays.

LOS ANGELES RAMS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
Cam Akers	RB	76.0	N/A	Ankle	Out

Mario’s take: Akers suffered a high ankle sprain during Week 15. He will not play in Week 16, and I do not expect him back until the playoffs.

MIAMI DOLPHINS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
DeVante Parker	WR	77.4	N/A	Hamstring	(-)
Jakeem Grant	WR	68.0	N/A	Back	Questionable
Mike Gesicki	TE	80.4	N/A	Shoulder	Questionable
Preston Williams	WR	65.5	N/A	Foot	IR

Mario’s take: Parker and Grant were limited participants at practice all week and I expect them to play in Week 16.

Gesicki suffered a shoulder dislocation in Week 14. He was a limited participant at practice all week and I expect him to return in Week 16.

Williams injured his foot in Week 9 and was placed on IR. It is possible he does not return this season.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
Alexander Mattison	RB	71.6	RB48	Head	Out
Kyle Rudolph	TE	67.6	N/A	Foot	Out

Mario’s take: Mattison missed Week 13, Week 14 and Week 15. He has been ruled out for Week 16.

Rudolph has been ruled out for Week 16.

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
Damien Harris	RB	90.3	N/A	Ankle	Questionable
Julian Edelman	WR	68.8	N/A	Knee	IR
Rex Burkhead	RB	78.2	N/A	Knee	IR

Mario’s take: Harris was a limited participant at practice Thursday and Friday, so I expect him to play in Week 16.

Edelman underwent surgery in Week 8 and will miss at least three weeks after being placed on IR.

Burkhead injured his right knee in Week 12. I believe he tore his ACL and possibly damaged his MCL as well. He will miss the remainder of the season but will be ready for next year.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
Michael Thomas	WR	85.2	N/A	Ankle	IR
Tre-Quan Smith	WR	59.9	N/A	Ankle	Out

Mario’s take: Thomas was placed on IR and will miss at least the rest of the regular season.

Smith injured his ankle in Week 15’s game. He has not practiced this week and he has been ruled out for Week 16.

NEW YORK GIANTS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
Daniel Jones	QB	78.4	N/A	Ankle/Hamstring	Questionable
Evan Engram	TE	61.0	TE12	Calf	(-)
Golden Tate	WR	66.0	N/A	Calf	Out
Saquon Barkley	RB	60.2	N/A	Knee	IR

Mario’s take: Jones injured his hamstring in the third quarter of Week 12. I believe he is suffering from a Grade II hamstring strain.  He did not play in Week 13 but returned in Week 14 where he injured his ankle. Jones ended up missing Week 15 and was a limited participant at practice all week. I believe he will return to action in Week 16.

Engram was a limited participant at practice Wednesday and Thursday, but was a full participant Friday. He will play in Week 16.

Tate was a limited participant at practice Wednesday but a DNP Thursday and Friday. He has been ruled out for Week 16.

Barkley sprained his MCL and tore both his ACL and meniscus in Week 2. He underwent surgery and will miss the remainder of the season.

NEW YORK JETS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
Chris Hogan	WR	56.1	N/A	Knee	IR
Denzel Mims	WR	73.8	WR57	Foot	(-)
Jamison Crowder	WR	72.1	WR44	Calf	(-)
Jeff Smith	WR	53.1	N/A	Shoulder	Questionable

Mario’s take: Hogan was injured in Week 5 and was put on IR. He underwent arthroscopic surgery and will miss at least eight weeks.

Crowder and Mims did not practice Wednesday but were full participants Thursday and Friday. They will play in Week 16.

Smith injured his shoulder in the second half of Week 15. He has been a limited participant in practice all week and I expect him to play in Week 16.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
DeSean Jackson	WR	64.1	N/A	Ankle	IR-Ret
Jalen Reagor	WR	64.4	WR43	Ankle	(-)
Richard Rodgers	TE	88.6	N/A	Shin	Out

Mario’s take: Jackson was placed on IR during Week 7. He has been activated and will return to action in Week 16.

Reagor injured his ankle in the fourth quarter of Week 15. He was a limited participant at practice Wednesday and Thursday but a full participant Friday. He will play in Week 16.

Rodgers injured his shin in the third quarter of his Week 15 game. He has not practiced all week and has been ruled out for Week 16.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
Eric Ebron	TE	54.9	TE15	Back/Side	(-)
James Conner	RB	67.3	N/A	Quad	(-)

Mario’s take: Ebron got hit hard in the back in the second quarter of MNF in Week 15. Tests showed he did not suffer any internal damage, but he did not practice Wednesday but was a full go Thursday and Friday. Ebron will play in Week 16.

Connor is dealing with a quadriceps injury and missed Week 15. He was a full participant at practice all week and he will play in Week 16.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
Deebo Samuel	WR	79.8	N/A	Hamstring	IR
Jimmy Garoppolo	QB	67.5	N/A	Ankle	IR
George Kittle	TE	79.7	N/A	Foot	Questionable
Nick Mullens	QB	56.9	N/A	Elbow	Out
Raheem Mostert	RB	79.4	N/A	Ankle	IR

Mario’s take: Samuel reinjured his hamstring in Week 14 and has been shut down for the rest of the season.

Garoppolo reinjured his high ankle sprain in Week 8. This is a tough injury to deal with because if you come back too early you will be ineffective. He missed multiple games the first time around with this injury and is expected to miss six to eight weeks.

Kittle left the game late in Week 8. It looked as if he suffered a mild inversion ankle sprain, but x-rays revealed a small fracture in his foot. Kittle is set to return in Week 16.

Mullens injured his elbow in the fourth quarter of Week 15. I believe he injured his UCL and may need Tommy Johns surgery. He will miss the rest of the season.

Mostert aggravated his high ankle sprain for the second straight game in Week 15. He has been put on IR and his season is over.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
Bo Scarbrough	RB	73.0	N/A	Hamstring	IR
DeeJay Dallas	RB	72.1	N/A	Ankle	Doubtful
Greg Olsen	TE	61.5	N/A	Foot	IR-R
Rashaad Penny	RB	58.3	N/A	Knee	Questionable
Travis Homer	RB	58.0	N/A	Wrist/Thumb/Knee	Questionable

Mario’s take: Scarbrough tore his hamstring and will miss the remainder of the season.

Dallas was carted off of the field in the second quarter. X-rays revealed no fractures. He is suffering from a Grade 3 ankle sprain and I don’t believe he will be back during the regular season.

Olsen left Week 11 after injuring his foot. Coach Carroll said Olsen ruptured his plantar fascia. He started to practice last week and I believe he has a shot at returning in Week 16.

Homer did not practice on Wednesday and needs to be monitored as the week progresses.

Penny has missed all season due to an ACL tear that he suffered last year. He has been practicing and he has a shot of making his season debut in Week 16.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
O.J. Howard	TE	80.1	N/A	Ankle	IR
Ronald Jones II	RB	71.8	N/A	Finger/COVID-19	Out

Mario’s take: Howard tore his Achilles in Week 11. He underwent surgery and will miss the remainder of the season.

Jones underwent surgery on his finger and was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. He did not play in Week 15 and he has been ruled out for Week 16.

TENNESSEE TITANS

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
Adam Humphries	WR	69.9	N/A	Head	IR
A.J. Brown	WR	85.2	WR7	Ankle	(-)
Jonnu Smith	TE	75.4	TE11	Knee	(-)

Mario’s take: Humphries was placed on IR due to a concussion. He will miss at least three weeks.

Brown was a limited participant at practice Wednesday, didn't practice Thursday, and was a full participant Friday. He will play in Week 16.

Smith did not practice Thursday but was a a full participant Friday, and he will play in Week 16.

WASHINGTON FOOTBALL TEAM

Player	Pos	PFF grade	Consensus Rank	Injury	Status
Alex Smith	QB	65.8	N/A	Calf	Questionable
Antonio Gibson	RB	78.8	N/A	Toe	Questionable
Kyle Allen	QB	68.5	N/A	Ankle	IR
Terry McLaurin	WR	77.9	WR15	Ankle	Out

Mario’s take: Smith strained his calf in Week 14. He did not practice Wednesday, was a limited participant Thursday, and was a full participant Friday. I believe he will not be able to return to action in Week 16.

Gibson suffered a serious turf toe injury in Week 13 and did not play in Week 14 or Week 15. He was a limited participant at practice all week and I expect him to return to action in Week 16.

Allen is undergoing surgery to repair his fractured dislocated ankle. He will miss the remainder of the season.

McLaurin missed practice all week and he has been ruled out for Week 16.

Mario Pilato has a master's degree in Kinesiology and a bachelor's degree in Exercise Sports Science, along with eight years of experience in the strength and conditioning industry, including at the collegiate and NFL levels. His injury analysis articles will appear weekly.