The Week 7 injury picture came into focus on Monday. The Carolina Panthers lost right tackle Taylor Moton for the season, Arizona Cardinals receiver Jalen Brooks said he is done after emergency wrist surgery, and MRIs showed high ankle sprains for Seattle Seahawks left tackle Charles Cross and, Green Bay believes, Packers center Sean Rhyan. There was better news for Aaron Jones Sr., Christian McCaffrey and the Detroit Lions’ Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Baltimore Ravens coach Jesse Minter sounded hopeful that Lamar Jackson can return at Buffalo.
- Out for the season: Panthers RT Taylor Moton (fibula, ankle) and Cardinals WR Jalen Brooks (wrist)
- High ankle sprains: Seahawks LT Charles Cross (one to two weeks hoped) and Packers C Sean Rhyan (believed; often four to six weeks)
- Day-to-day or better: Vikings RB Aaron Jones Sr., 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey, Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, Seahawks WR Rashid Shaheed
- Still waiting: Lamar Jackson and Vega Ioane (Ravens, Wednesday), Erick All Jr. (Bengals), Jaylen Waddle (Broncos)
- Back on the roster: Browns QB Dillon Gabriel off injured reserve; Raiders WR Jack Bech and Seahawks RB Jadarian Price open practice windows
Taylor Moton’s season ends after seven quarters
Moton was carted off in the third quarter of Sunday’s 43-13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in only his second game back after offseason treatment for blood clots. Dave Canales said on Monday that the fracture is high on the fibula, just below the knee, but that the ankle took most of the damage. “He’ll have a procedure and that’ll put him out for the rest of the year,” Canales said. The Panthers moved him to injured reserve, and first-round pick Monroe Freeling goes back to right tackle. Sunday’s first report on the injury is here.
Carolina also has a short week. Its Monday walk-through report for Thursday’s game at Green Bay listed edge rusher Jaelan Phillips (hamstring), guards Damien Lewis (knee) and Torricelli Simpkins III (ankle), defensive tackle Bobby Brown III (hand) and cornerback Akayleb Evans (triceps, knee) as non-participants. Receiver Jalen Coker (shoulder) was limited and quarterback Bryce Young (knee) was a full participant.
Packers down to their third center for Thursday
Green Bay lost Rhyan four snaps into Sunday’s 20-17 loss in Detroit when Josh Jacobs fell into the back of his legs, and backup Jacob Monk hurt his quadriceps five snaps after replacing him. Ian Rapoport reported on Monday that Rhyan is believed to have a high ankle sprain after negative X-rays, with an MRI to follow. The Packers put Monk on injured reserve and promoted Mekhi Becton Sr. from the practice squad, so John Williams, a 2025 seventh-round pick who had never played an offensive snap before Sunday, is in line to start at center against Carolina.
Linebacker Zaire Franklin, who missed the Lions game after being kicked in the shin in practice, has a hairline fracture in his leg. The Packers did not put him on injured reserve because they think he will miss only a few games, which means Isaiah McDuffie and Ty’Ron Hopper should keep starting inside. Green Bay’s estimated Monday report also had receiver Matthew Golden (shoulder, foot), defensive tackles Devonte Wyatt and Anthony Campbell (both ankle) and lineman Travis Glover (knee) not practicing, with guard Aaron Banks limited.
Charles Cross has a high ankle sprain, Rashid Shaheed looks OK
Cross limped off in the fourth quarter of Seattle’s 20-3 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, and the MRI showed a high ankle sprain. Rapoport reported that the hope is he is back in one to two weeks, depending on his rehab, so Josh Jones is in line to start against the Chicago Bears next Monday. Mike Macdonald said on his radio show that the “early returns are positive” on receiver Rashid Shaheed’s knee, and he announced that the team will open the 21-day practice window for first-round running back Jadarian Price, who has been on injured reserve with a chest injury.
Kansas City came out of the loss mostly healthy. Andy Reid said linebacker Nick Bolton had neck spasms and will work through them. L’Jarius Sneed, who flew to Seattle on his own for personal reasons, was active and played. Rashee Rice (hamstring) and right tackle Jaylon Moore (concussion) are the names to watch before the Chiefs visit the Denver Broncos.
Good news for Aaron Jones and Christian McCaffrey
Jones hurt the same knee again in the Minnesota Vikings’ 16-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Adam Schefter reported that the injury is not considered significant and that Jones is day-to-day, and Kevin O’Connell confirmed that on Monday. Sunday’s Vikings report is here.
Kyle Shanahan said McCaffrey has a mild hamstring strain, not the thigh injury first announced in Atlanta, and that the San Francisco 49ers are optimistic he will be ready for the Nov. 8 game against the Las Vegas Raiders after their bye. Shanahan also said Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel and Nick Bosa are expected back after the bye, along with three other defenders, though none of them is guaranteed. More on the 49ers’ injuries is here.
Lamar Jackson in a “decent spot” for Buffalo
Jackson missed a third straight game with his high ankle sprain on Sunday, and the Ravens lost 35-13 to the Cincinnati Bengals. “I think he was able to get in a little bit of work obviously towards the end of last week,” Minter said Monday. “And so I think he’ll be in a decent spot, but we’ll know a lot more on Wednesday.” He added that Jackson will play only if he is healthy enough to play the way the team needs. Minter also said the Ravens are still evaluating rookie guard Vega Ioane’s knee and will have more on Wednesday. Sunday’s Ravens report is here.
In Cincinnati, Zac Taylor said the Bengals were still gathering information on tight end Erick All Jr.’s twice-repaired right knee and could know more within a day. The team signed tight end Cam Grandy. Sunday’s Bengals report is here.
Lions, Broncos and Cardinals
Dan Campbell said St. Brown, who caught nine passes for 153 yards against Green Bay, and cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. both have ankle injuries and will probably sit out Wednesday’s practice. “The plan is to get them going Thursday, and I think that they’ll be fine,” Campbell said. Detroit hosts the unbeaten Vikings on Sunday.
Denver has not given an update on Jaylen Waddle, who hurt his chest when he fell on his own fumble on a late reverse in the 30-16 win at Arizona. Sean Payton called his own play “awful” after the game. Defensive lineman Zach Allen also limped off late with what looked like a hamstring problem. In Arizona, Mike LaFleur said Brooks hurt his wrist in the first quarter and kept playing without telling anyone. Rookie running back Jeremiyah Love is expected to practice on Wednesday after missing two games with an ankle injury, and cornerback Max Melton and safety Andrew Wingard should return to practice too. Defensive tackle Walter Nolen III is not expected to practice.
Back on the field
The Cleveland Browns activated quarterback Dillon Gabriel from injured reserve and waived tight end Carsen Ryan, so they now carry four quarterbacks with Deshaun Watson, Shedeur Sanders and Taylen Green. The Raiders designated receiver Jack Bech, who broke his forearm in Week 3, to return to practice, and Klint Kubiak said Kirk Cousins stays the starter at the New York Jets.
Week 8 injury tracker
Times are ET and Cairo. The United States moves its clocks back on Sunday, Nov. 1 and Egypt ends summer time this week, so Sunday’s early games kick off at 8:00 p.m. in Cairo. Saquon Barkley’s Monday night injury is covered here, and our Week 7 inactives watch is here.
| Player | Team | Injury | Latest | Week 8 game (ET / Cairo) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taylor Moton, RT | Panthers | Fractured left fibula, ankle ligament damage | Injured reserve; season-ending ankle surgery | Thu at Packers, 8:15 p.m. / 2:15 a.m. Fri |
| Jalen Brooks, WR | Cardinals | Wrist | Emergency surgery; out for the season | Sun at Cowboys, 1:00 / 8:00 p.m. |
| Charles Cross, LT | Seahawks | High ankle sprain (MRI) | Hope is one to two weeks | Mon vs. Bears, 8:15 p.m. / 3:15 a.m. Tue |
| Sean Rhyan, C | Packers | Believed high ankle sprain | Often four to six weeks; not on IR | Thu vs. Panthers |
| Jacob Monk, C | Packers | Quadriceps | Injured reserve | Out at least four games |
| Zaire Franklin, LB | Packers | Hairline fracture in leg | Not on IR; expected to miss minimal time | Thu vs. Panthers |
| Aaron Jones Sr., RB | Vikings | Knee, aggravated | Not significant; day-to-day | Sun at Lions, 1:00 / 8:00 p.m. |
| Christian McCaffrey, RB | 49ers | Mild hamstring strain | Optimistic for Nov. 8 vs. Raiders | Bye |
| Lamar Jackson, QB | Ravens | High ankle sprain | “Decent spot”; more on Wednesday | Sun at Bills, 1:00 / 8:00 p.m. |
| Vega Ioane, G | Ravens | Knee | Still being evaluated; update Wednesday | Sun at Bills |
| Erick All Jr., TE | Bengals | Right knee | No diagnosis yet | Sun vs. Titans, 1:00 / 8:00 p.m. |
| Rashid Shaheed, WR | Seahawks | Knee | “Early returns are positive” | Mon vs. Bears |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR / Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB | Lions | Ankle | Likely sit Wednesday, plan to practice Thursday | Sun vs. Vikings |
| Jaylen Waddle, WR | Broncos | Chest | Did not return; no update yet | Sun vs. Chiefs, 4:25 / 11:25 p.m. |
| Saquon Barkley, RB | Eagles | Back, hamstring | Hurt again Monday night | Sun at Commanders, 8:20 p.m. / 3:20 a.m. Mon |
No published comments yet. Start the conversation.