NFL Injuries Week 5 Report - Fantasy Football Injury Updates and Expected Return Dates for Trey Benson, Bucky Irving, Chuba Hubbard, and Lamar Jackson

Nicho's NFL injury status updates and expected return dates for key injured NFL players in Week 5 of 2025. Fantasy Football Injuries and Expected Return Dates for Trey Benson, Bucky Irving, Chuba Hubbard, and Lamar Jackson

Welcome to Week 5, RotoBallers! Here we are a quarter of the way through the fantasy season, and we are starting to see the injuries pile up. As unfortunate as it is, it's a part of the game, which is why it's essential as fantasy managers to stay up to date, proactively grab high upside handcuffs, and adjust week to week to continue to give yourself the best chance to make the playoffs and eventually win your league.

In this weekly column, I'll break down the latest injuries to key players, provide updated return timelines, and highlight the players most likely to benefit in their absence. My goal is to help you stay one step ahead of your league mates as you navigate waivers, trades, and lineup decisions throughout the season to help you win.

To stay up to date with the latest news, keep following @RotoBallerNFL and me, @NichoRoessler, on X. Let's dive in!

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Trey Benson, RB, Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals officially placed second-year running back Trey Benson (knee) from Florida State on injured reserve on Wednesday. This came as somewhat shocking news to fantasy managers, as the Cardinals played on Thursday Night Football, and reports didn't surface until Monday, September 29, that Benson was considered day-to-day in practice.

As it turns out, Benson is dealing with a meniscus tear that requires arthroscopic surgery. Because of this, Benson will be placed on the IR and will now be forced to miss at least the next four games. In Week 4, Benson stepped in as the team's lead back, with James Conner (foot) already slated to miss the rest of the season after his Week 3 injury.

It's another major blow to Arizona's backfield. The earliest that Benson can return is Week 10 against the Seahawks, with the Cardinals having a bye in Week 8. In the meantime, Emari Demercado and Michael Carter will lead the Cardinals' backfield, with Demercado slated to handle the two-minute offense and third-down reps. In contrast, Carter would presumably handle red-zone carries and early down work.

I would expect Demercado to retain third down/two-minute offense reps while Michael Carter gets the bulk of what Trey Benson was getting last week.

Go grab Michael Carter https://t.co/sP1SsUb1bQ

— Nicho Roessler (@NichoRoessler) October 1, 2025

It's a really tough situation for fantasy managers who spent a lot of FAAB on Benson heading into Week 4, as he was a top waiver wire priority and an explosive back who was in line for a lot of opportunities. On the season, Benson has averaged 5.52 YPC and has contributed in the passing game with 13 receptions for 64 yards.

Fantasy Impact:

• Short-Term: Benson lands on the IR. Demercado and Carter have flex value while he is out.

• Long-term: Considering Benson is expected to return this season, he should be held on your IR, and Demercado and Carter are priority adds on the waiver wire for short-term value.

• Estimated Return Date: Week 10 against the Seattle Seahawks.

Verdict: Put Benson on your IR. Prioritize Carter and Demercado on the waiver wire, as they now offer RB3/flex appeal.

Bucky Irving, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers second-year running back out of Oregon, Bucky Irving (foot), has been ruled out for Week 5 and is considered week-to-week. Irving was seen with a walking boot on his right foot and using crutches after the Week 4 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, and he also apparently sustained a shoulder injury. It's his foot that's a primary concern, and it could keep him out in Week 6 as well.

With Irving out, Rachaad White will see an expanded role out of the backfield for Tampa while sharing touches with Sean Tucker in a matchup against a Seahawks defense that has been around the middle of the pack in terms of fantasy points allowed to RBs through four weeks. White has a clear path to RB2 upside this week with Irving out, and Tucker remains a strong pickup in deeper leagues.

Bucky Irving is out & fantasy managers are scrambling. Don’t sleep on Sean Tucker....rostered in just 7.4% of ESPN leagues. With Rachaad White at 73.4%, Tucker’s set for at least 10 touches… and could see even more than expected. pic.twitter.com/jAVVPSkQtr

— Moody (@EricNMoody) October 3, 2025

Similar to discussing Benson above, Irving finished the game in Week 4, leaving fantasy managers surprised and frustrated when they checked the injury reports earlier this week and saw Irving listed. Irving is a top-10 running back who had second-round draft capital in most drafts leading up to the season, so this is a big blow for fantasy managers as we head into Week 5.

Irving has been a workhorse thus far in 2025, rewarding fantasy managers with his ROI based on his ADP. So far this season, he has 237 rushing yards (3.34 YPC) and 19 receptions for 193 yards and two touchdowns. While the YPC isn't great by any measure, his involvement in the pass game has been elite, and he has scored 11.9 or more fantasy points in every game this season.

Fantasy Impact:

• Short-Term: White has a clear path as an RB2 this week, with Tucker being a touchdown-dependent RB3. Irving is considered week-to-week.

• Long-Term: Bucky remains a high-end RB1 once he returns. However, fantasy managers should sprint to the waiver wire and grab White or Tucker if available.

• Estimated Return Date: Potentially Week 6 against the San Francisco, but most likely Week 7 against the Detroit Lions.

Verdict: Stash Irving on your bench. Do not drop him. Immediately pick up White or Tucker. My recommendation for Week 5 is White, but Tucker could be a better long-term play if Irving misses more than a few weeks.

Chuba Hubbard, RB, Carolina Panthers

Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (calf) has been ruled out for Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins, according to Joseph Person of The Athletic. The Panthers consider Hubbard to be week-to-week but do not plan to place him on injured reserve, the source said.

The silver lining is that Hubbard's injury appears to be minor and not long-term, allowing fantasy managers to treat this situation as a bye week for Hubbard, as it seems possible he will return for Week 6 against the Cowboys.

Rico Dowdle becomes an immediate must-add in 12-team formats and becomes a plug-and-play RB2 in Week 5; meanwhile, Trevor Etienne will also be in line for additional touches but shouldn't be started in Week 5. Even with Hubbard healthy, Dowdle was earning 35.5 percent of the snaps through four weeks, making him the clear choice and a top-25 running back heading into Week 5 against a poor Dolphins defense.

Chuba Hubbard

This is the issue with calf, groin and hamstring injuries. When you play through a mild one and expect to play 7 days later, there is a chance that you end up re-injuring or worsening the original injury. That sounds like what’s happened here and as a result, I… https://t.co/PKQuJI19Dl

— Jesse Morse, M.D. (@DrJesseMorse) October 2, 2025

Hubbard has been mediocre this season, averaging 4.09 YPC and 217 rushing yards to go along with 13 receptions for 94 yards and two touchdowns. Both of his touchdowns this season have come in garbage time with the Panthers trailing by multiple scores, but in the fantasy community, it all counts the same!

Fantasy Impact:

• Short-Term: Pick up Dowdle immediately. Stash Hubbard on your bench. Etienne is a fine pickup in deeper leagues.

• Long-Term: Hubbard's injury has not been reported as long-term, so once he returns, he should continue to see 60-65% of the running back snaps.

• Estimated Return Date: Week 6 against the Dallas Cowboys.

Verdict: Dowdle becomes a plug-and-play RB2 in Week 5. Hubbard's injury does not appear to be a long-term issue, so there is no need to drop him. Etienne is a stash in deeper leagues.

Lamar Jackson, QB, Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (hamstring) has been ruled out for Week 5 against the Houston Texans. This shouldn't come as a surprise to fantasy managers, as most reports have suggested that Jackson was unlikely to suit up on Sunday. Other reports have also suggested that Jackson could potentially be out until Week 8, after the Ravens' bye in Week 7.

Now official: Ravens have ruled out QB Lamar Jackson, who strained his hamstring during Sunday’s loss at Kansas City and didn’t practice this week.

Ravens host the Rams next Sunday, before their bye week, so Jackson could get two weeks of recovery for missing one more game. pic.twitter.com/kSvbusXSUV

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 3, 2025

Jackson left in the second half of their Week 4 matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs, and speculations at first were that it was a precautionary measure because the game was out of hand with the Ravens down multiple scores. With Jackson out, Cooper Rush will be under center and will lead the (1-3) Ravens against the Texans at home.

The Texans have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, making Rush a desperate start in two-quarterback leagues. All playmakers for the Ravens, such as Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and Mark Andrews, should see a decrease in value heading into Week 5 and beyond, as long as Jackson remains sidelined.

Derrick Henry, on the other hand, may be relied upon more heavily, considering he has had a few slow weeks with only 115 rushing yards over his last three contests, but is still averaging 5.8 YPC.

Jackson's fantasy value takes a hit for now, as he has been well known to provide massive upside as a rusher, having rushed for 695 yards or more in every season during his seven-year career.

With a lower-body injury potentially hindering his rushing upside, fantasy managers may want to prefer that he waits until after the bye week to ensure the hamstring is fully healed and not run the risk of re-aggravating it by returning too early. Still, if he is healthy to play, you start him.

Fantasy Impact:

• Short-Term: All Ravens playmakers take a hit, including Flowers, Bateman, and Andrews, and their fantasy ceilings and floors are lowered. Rush steps in as the team's quarterback.

• Long-term: A hamstring injury could hinder Jackson's long-term upside; however, once he returns, he is a must-start in all formats.

• Estimated Return Date: Possibly Week 6 against the Los Angeles Rams, but likely Week 8 against the Chicago Bears.

Verdict: Do not drop Jackson. Consider benching Flowers for other playmakers if possible. Bateman and Andrews should sit, and Henry remains a must-start.

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