There are several notable injuries to keep an eye on in the days leading up to this weekend’s playoff games. The NFL’s eight remaining teams are trying to stay as healthy as possible ahead of their respective divisional-round matchups, with trips to the AFC and NFC title games at stake.
One injury that Ravens and Bills fans are specifically paying attention to involves Ravens wideout Zay Flowers, who hasn’t practiced since he injured his knee during Baltimore’s Week 18 win over the Cleveland Browns. Flowers was inactive for Baltimore’s 28-14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the wild-card round. The Ravens would surely love to his him back on the field for Sunday night’s showdown with the Buffalo Bills.
Here’s a look at each team’s latest injury report.
Saturday
Texans at Chiefs (-8.5)
4:30 p.m. ET, ABC
Texans: RB Joe Mixon (ankle), LB Azeez Al-Shaair (knee), TE Teagan Quitoriano (calf), WR Robert Woods (hip) QUESTIONABLE
Chiefs: WR Mecole Hardman (knee) DOUBTFUL; CB Jaylen Watson (ankle) QUESTIONABLE
Mixon’s designation is a surprise; he didn’t practice on Thursday and was limited on Wednesday after not having any designation on Tuesday. Dameon Pierce is in line to start if Mixon (had 106 yards and one touchdown in the team’s wild-card win against the Chargers) can’t go. Pierce ran for just 293 yards this season, but did average an impressive 7.3 yards per carry. He had 176 yards and a score in the team’s Week 18 win over the Titans.
TE Dalton Schultz (shoulder) was limited to start the week, but was not given a game designation after being a full participant on Thursday.
For the Chiefs, wideout Mecole Hardman (knee) was the only player who did not practice in a full capacity this week. Hardman was limited during each practice. Cornerback Jaylen Watson was a full participant this week after the Chiefs opened up his 21-day practice window earlier this month. Watson hasn’t played since he fractured his fibula back in Week 7.
Commanders at Lions (-9.5)
8 p.m. ET, Fox
Commanders: LB Jordan Magee (hamstring) OUT; LB Mykal Walker (illness), TE Colson Yankoff (hamstring) QUESTIONABLE
Lions: DL Pat O’Connor (calf), G Kevin Zeitler (hamstring) OUT; CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (hamstring/illness) QUESTIONABLE
Future Hall of Fame linebacker Bobby Wagner will play on Saturday despite missing two practices earlier this week with an ankle injury. Wagner scooped up a pivotal fumble during Washington’s wild-card win over Tampa Bay.