Fantasy Football Injury Reports For Week 4 (Friday Updates): Austin Ekeler, Joe Burrow, Derek Carr, Jaylen Waddle, more

Fantasy football injury updates and injury reports for RB, WR, TE, QB for Week 4 (2023), as of 9/29, including Austin Ekeler, Joe Burrow, Derek Carr, Jaylen Waddle, and more

The first month of the season will be in the books after the upcoming Week 4 slate. As always, there are plenty of key injuries to monitor ahead of Sunday's kickoff. Our injury updates and reports for Week 4 as of Friday, September 29, 2023, will give you the latest updates on key guys.

As always, some players have more "real" risk of missing Week 4 than others, but things change quickly, so it's important to stay up to date. Austin Ekeler, Joe Burrow, Derek Carr, Jaylen Waddle, and more are in danger of missing Week 4. Fantasy managers should be ready to pivot should things go south.

To keep close tabs on all of the news across the NFL, make sure to favorite or bookmark the fantasy football player news page, or download the free RotoBaller fantasy football mobile app with push notification alerts on all the latest news. Let's look at the updates for some top fantasy assets at all positions and see whether they may play in Week 4.

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Austin Ekeler Injury Update

Los Angeles Chargers running back Austin Ekeler (ankle) is listed as doubtful to play against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 4. The versatile running back practiced in a limited fashion this week, but he might not be ready to return.

The team has a Week 5 bye, so there's a good chance he's held out ahead of the week off. If he starts, lock him into lineups. If he's out, Joshua Kelley is worth consideration in fantasy lineups, despite his two poor efforts as the team's primary ball carrier in Weeks 2 and 3.

Joe Burrow Injury Update

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (calf) is improving from a calf issue that had him questionable to play in Week 3. Burrow was able to practice in full all week and won't enter Sunday's game in Week 4 against the Tennessee Titans with an injury designation. The 26-year-old's calf issue is still worth keeping an eye on after he looked extremely limited with his mobility in the Monday night win over the Los Angeles Rams.

Burrow and the Bengals offense have gotten off to a slow start in the first three weeks, likely because Burrow missed all of training camp and the preseason due to his calf injury. However, he finally got top wideout Ja'Marr Chase involved on Monday, and his timing and accuracy should only improve the more he plays. Burrow should be considered a low-end QB1 in fantasy against the Titans. (Bengals.com)

Derek Carr Injury Update

New Orleans Saints head coach Dennis Allen said that quarterback Derek Carr (shoulder) will be questionable for Week 4 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this Sunday. According to NewOrleans.Football's Nick Underhill, Carr has a very real shot at playing after looking sharp while throwing passes at Friday's practice. He led the first-team offense and had good velocity on his throws despite suffering an AC joint sprain in the Week 3 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

Underhill writes he didn't see anything to suggest that Carr was limited. The 32-year-old will probably be a game-time decision on Sunday morning and won't be a suggested QB1 streamer if he does end up playing. If the Saints hold him out, veteran Jameis Winston would be making his first start of the year.

Jaylen Waddle Injury Update

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle (concussion) has been taken off the final Week 4 injury report on Friday and will play on Sunday against the division-rival Buffalo Bills. Waddle suffered a concussion in Week 2 and was forced to sit out of the 70-20 victory over the Denver Broncos last Sunday.

The 24-year-old third-year wideout returns to face the toughest defense the Dolphins have encountered this year and it's on the road, but Waddle is a must-start WR2 for fantasy managers when he's active. In his two games played, he has eight catches on 11 targets for 164 yards. Waddle will be looking to find the end zone for the first time in 2023 in a big divisional showdown in Buffalo.

Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings Injury Update

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel (ribs) is questionable to face the Arizona Cardinals in Week 4. Meanwhile, Brandon Aiyuk was taken off the injury report after missing last week's game, and Jauan Jennings (shin) is listed as doubtful.

Aiyuk is a must-start option this week, but if Jennings and Samuel miss the NFC West contest, tight end George Kittle should see additional targets. Rookie wideout Ronnie Bell, who scored a touchdown in Week 3, could be used in the flex spot for deep league fantasy managers.

Deshaun Watson Injury Update

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (shoulder) is listed as questionable for the Week 4 game on Sunday against the division-rival Baltimore Ravens, but he said after practice on Friday that "I'm OK, I'll play." Watson said his right shoulder is sore and that there's no structural damage and that he expects to be fine moving forward. The injury occurred on one of the hard shots he took in the Week 3 win over the Tennessee Titans, but he wasn't sure which one.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski said he can mostly run the same offense with rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson if Watson can't go. Cleveland has a bye in Week 5, which will give Watson more time to rest his shoulder. The 28-year-old will look to keep things going after a strong game last Sunday. Watson should be considered a high-end QB2 against Baltimore. (Cleveland.com)

Anthony Richardson Injury Update

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson (concussion) will start in Week 4 on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. Richardson suffered a concussion in Week 2 and was held out of the Week 3 overtime win over the Baltimore Ravens.

However, the fourth overall pick in this year's draft cleared the concussion protocol this week and is good to return to a starting role, pushing Gardner Minshew back to the bench. The 21-year-old is going to need to make improvements as a passer, but he's already a high-end rusher at the QB position and will have QB1 upside most weeks, including this weekend in his return against the Rams.

Rashod Bateman, Odell Beckham Jr. Injury Update

Baltimore Ravens wide receivers Rashod Bateman (hamstring) and Odell Beckham Jr. (ankle) both missed practice all week and have been officially ruled out for Week 4 against the Cleveland Browns. It will be Beckham's second straight missed game after he injured his ankle in Week 2. Bateman, a former first-rounder, has done very little for fantasy managers through three weeks, catching seven of nine targets for 59 yards.

Both OBJ and Bateman have been overshadowed by first-round rookie Zay Flowers, who should see a heavy workload this weekend against a tough Cleveland defense. Behind Flowers and tight end Mark Andrews, both Nelson Agholor and Devin Duvernay will have bigger pass-catching roles this weekend with Bateman and Beckham sidelined.

Miles Sanders Injury Update

Carolina Panthers running back Miles Sanders (groin) didn't practice on Friday and is now questionable to play in Week 4 against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. Sanders was downgraded at Friday's practice after he was limited on both Wednesday and Thursday. The 26-year-old could be a true game-time decision, so fantasy managers will want to check the Sunday morning inactives to see if he's playing in Week 4.

If Sanders is out or limited at all, Chuba Hubbard would step in as Carolina's primary backfield option. And with rookie quarterback Bryce Young (ankle) returning from a one-game absence, the Panthers could very well lean on their ground game as much as possible if game script allows it. For what it's worth, the Panthers are optimistic that Sanders will play.

Justice Hill Injury Update

Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill (foot) is listed as questionable to play on Sunday against the Cleveland Browns in Week 4. Hill didn't practice Wednesday, was limited on Thursday, and put in a full practice on Friday, so he figures to have a good shot at returning after missing the Week 3 overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts due to turf toe.

Gus Edwards was cleared from his concussion and will play against Cleveland, so even if Hill is able to return, he'll have to share backfield work with Edwards. If he misses a second straight game, Melvin Gordon III will back up Edwards once again. Hill has two touchdowns in 2023, but he's also averaging a weak 2.6 yards per carry.

Treylon Burks Injury Update

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Treylon Burks (knee) has been ruled out for the Week 4 game on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. It's been a frustrating beginning to the 2023 season for Burks, who has six receptions on 13 targets for 99 yards and no touchdowns through three games. It remains to be seen if the 23-year-old second-year pass-catcher will be ready to play in Week 5 on the road in Indianapolis against the Colts.

With Burks out against Cincy, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Chris Moore will have bigger roles in the passing game behind top wideout DeAndre Hopkins. Tight end Chigoziem Okonwko and pass-catching running back Tajae Spears could also have bigger roles.

Tyler Higbee Injury Update

Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (Achilles) is listed as questionable to play on Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 4. The good news is that Higbee is going to do some stuff at practice on Friday, according to head coach Sean McVay.

The 30-year-old just signed a three-year extension with the Rams for $27 million on Friday, but he might have to sit out this weekend. He's been in play as a low-end TE1 in fantasy through the first three weeks of the season, but he'll probably be more volatile as a touchdown-dependent option once receiver Cooper Kupp (hamstring) returns from Injured Reserve, potentially as early as next week. If Higbee is out or limited on Sunday, Brycen Hopkins will most likely serve as the team's pass-catching tight end.

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