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As we head into Week 8 of the NFL season, which begins with a Thursday night game between the Tampa Bay Bucs and Buffalo Bills, the amount of injury news for the coming slate of games is significant. These are the latest notable injury updates as of Thursday, October 26, 2023.
Fantasy football stalwarts such as Tyreek Hill, Brock Purdy, Dawson Knox, and many more have been dealing with injuries ahead of Week 8. We have plenty of must-starts on this week's injury list, so 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 of fantasy football's most notable performers and see whether they may play in Week 8.
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Dawson Knox Injury Update
Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox (wrist) is not suiting up for the Thursday Night Football contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 8. Knox has a wrist injury that requires surgery. Knox was placed in Injured Reserve by the Bills earlier today. He will now be required to miss four games, holding him out until at least Week 12.
Bills roster moves ⬇️
- Elevated WR Andy Isabella & CB Josh Norman from the practice squad for tonight's game.
- Placed TE Dawson Knox on Injured Reserve.
— Buffalo Bills PR (@BuffaloBillsPR) October 26, 2023
In his absence, rookie first-rounder Dalton Kincaid should see a sizable role increase in the high-powered Bills' offense. Kincaid caught seven passes last week and is trending toward TE1 territory in fantasy football
Baker Mayfield Injury Update
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (knee) will play Thursday night against the Buffalo Bills, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. Mayfield was listed as questionable but practiced in full on Wednesday. Mayfield is currently the QB19 on the season, averaging 15.7 points per game. The former first-overall pick is throwing for 227 yards per game and has tallied eight touchdowns on the season. Mayfield is considered a low-end QB2 for Week 8.
Chris Godwin Injury Update
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (neck) appears to be ready to suit up against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football. According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Godwin will play tonight against Buffalo. The 27-year-old has disappointed fantasy managers so far this season, largely due to the lack of touchdowns. He's caught 33 passes for 398 yards in six games without finding the end zone. Still, 12.5 PPR fantasy points per game is a solid flex play. Godwin is considered a low-end WR2 for Week 8.
Tyreek Hill Injury Update
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (hip) returned to practice on Thursday after missing the previous session. On Wednesday, it was reported that the Dolphins were "preparing to possibly be without" Hill in Week 8 per beat reporter David Furones, but the speedster was seen practicing on Thursday running and doing drills.
In Miami's Week 7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Hill limped off the field under his own power after some awkward contact with a defender on one of his routes. Even with his time on the field cut short, Hill finished the night with 11 catches for 88 yards and a touchdown. If Hill is deemed healthy, he should be in store for another big game in Week 8 against the New England Patriots.
Jimmy Garoppolo Injury Update
The Las Vegas Raiders announced that quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (back) will return to practice Thursday after missing Week 7 against the Chicago Bears. It was the second game the signal-caller has missed due to injury this season. After suffering a back injury in the Raiders' Week 6 victory over the New England Patriots, Garoppolo was removed from the game and taken to a nearby medical center.
Fortunately, it was expected that the tenth-year veteran would miss minimal time and it looks like that is the case. Barring any setbacks, he will play in Week 8 against the Detroit Lions on Monday night.
Brock Purdy Injury Update
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Sam Darnold could start on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals due to Brock Purdy (concussion) being in concussion protocol. Purdy entered the NFL's protocol after the Week 7 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football. If Darnold starts, he'll have immediate fantasy football value in superflex and two-QB formats.
The past 24 hours have been crazy. Went from hearing the news about Brock Purdy being in the concussion protocol, to seeing him on the field 24 hours later! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ShgngbGPaY
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) October 26, 2023
However, the Bengals have surrendered the 13th-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season, so he's not on the fantasy radar in single-QB formats. He does have upside surrounded by Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Brandon Aiyuk, but he has failed to look like a legitimate starting signal-caller since being drafted in 2018.
David Montgomery Injury Update
Detroit Montgomery (ribs) is not practicing on Thursday, according to head coach Dan Campbell. The 26-year-old suffered a rib injury in the Week 6 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, forcing him to miss the Week 7 blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens. In his absence, Jahmyr Gibbs posted 126 yards and a touchdown. He caught nine passes.
If Montgomery does not play on Monday Night Football against the Las Vegas Raiders, Gibbs is a must-start option. However, Monday night game injuries always make things difficult for fantasy managers. It's important to monitor Montgomery's practice participation moving forward, but there's a good chance he'll be listed as questionable or doubtful for Week 8.
Daniel Jones Injury Update
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (neck) has not yet been cleared for contact, meaning he is trending toward being out in Week 8 against the New York Jets. Jones suffered a neck injury in the Week 5 loss to the Miami Dolphins and was held out of Week 6 and Week 7. Tyrod Taylor has completed 51 of his 77 passing attempts for 565 yards over the last three games in relief of Jones. If Taylor starts in Week 8, it'll be against the lockdown secondary of the Jets, so he'll have a tough time producing fantasy points.
GIANTS INJURY REPORT 10/26
Limited:
RB Saquon Barkley (Elbow)
CB Adoree’ Jackson (Neck)
QB Daniel Jones (Neck)
T Evan Neal (Ankle)
WR Wan’Dale Robinson (Knee)
C John Michael Schmitz (Shoulder)
OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux (Knee)
T Andrew Thomas (Hamstring)
TE Darren Waller (Hamstring) pic.twitter.com/Gy9o54kaAK— Dan Salomone (@Dan_Salomone) October 26, 2023
Aaron Jones Injury Update
Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (hamstring) returned to practice on Thursday after logging a DNP the day before. He was seen running and doing drills, though fantasy managers will have to wait until the team releases its injury report later today for word on Jones' official status.
Jones injured his left hamstring during his monster Week 1 performance against the Chicago Bears and then missed three of the Packers' next four games. Jones returned again in Week 7, though his snap count trailed that of AJ Dillon, who has seen the majority of touches out of the backfield with Jones out.
In Week 8, Green Bay faces the Minnesota Vikings, who trail just five other teams in the fewest points allowed to opposing running backs in PPR formats. Managers should keep a close eye on Jones' participation and health before making a decision for their lineups on Sunday.
Kareem Hunt Injury Update
Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt (thigh) was practicing with the team on Thursday. He was listed as DNP the day before, though was reportedly working on the side while managing the thigh injury responsible for his questionable tag in Week 7.
#Browns Kareem Hunt returned to practice on Thursday after missing Wednesday with a thigh injury. pic.twitter.com/9AAUXOBuWM
— Fred Greetham (@FredGreetham9) October 26, 2023
With Jerome Ford (ankle) doubtful for Week 8, Hunt will likely be the lead back against the Seattle Seahawks. Depending on his own health, Hunt could cede work to Pierre Strong Jr. who logged season highs in snaps and carries last Sunday with Ford departing early due to his injury. Hunt and Strong finished Week 7 with similar lines, though Hunt's two touchdowns pushed him well ahead of Strong in terms of fantasy production.
Hunt will likely be the primary red zone option again, and it would take another score for him to maintain fantasy relevance as the Seahawks have allowed the fewest rushing yards in the league to opposing running backs in 2023.
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