NFL Injury Report: Who's Hurting the Most After Week 15?

Another week, another slew of major injuries in the NFL.

At this point in the regular season, it’s safe to say that nearly every NFL player is hurting in some way or another physically. However, these players are really hurting after a particularly punishing Week 15.

Here’s who’s battered and bruised the most around the league heading into Week 16.

Torrey Smith: Concussion

The losses and injuries keep piling up for the Baltimore Ravens.

The rash of ailments on Baltimore’s defense is well documented. Now, it’s starting to carry over to the offense.

Star receiver Torrey Smith left Baltimore’s loss to Denver with a concussion. He didn’t return.

Smith suffered the concussion when he caught a deep pass down the left sideline and came down on his head out of bounds.

If Smith ends up missing next week’s critical game against the Giants, it will be another major blow to a team that simply can’t afford anymore right now.

Ryan Mathews: Broken Collarbone

Throughout his disappointing career with the San Diego Chargers, running back Ryan Mathews hasn’t been able to escape the injury bug.

The song remains the same for Mathews.

Reports are out that Mathews will miss the rest of San Diego’s miserable season with a broken left clavicle. This comes after Mathews broke his other collarbone during the preseason.

Mathews left the Chargers’ loss against the Panthers in the second quarter with the injury.

The injury prone Mathews and the Chargers may come at a crossroads this offseason. Whoever is in charge in San Diego could decide Mathews isn’t worth keeping if he can’t stay on the field in the future.

Justin Smith: Elbow

The San Francisco 49ers scored a major road victory Sunday night against the Patriots.

However, veteran defensive lineman Justin Smith missed almost the entire second half of that exciting game with an elbow injury. According to the folks at CSNBayArea.com, Smith underwent an MRI on Monday in an effort to reveal the injury’s extent.

Smith’s availability hangs in the balance until 49ers brass knows more about the injury. It’s safe to say Jim Harbaugh is hoping Smith will be available for San Fran’s upcoming NFC West showdown in Seattle.

It’s been Smith’s ability to engage interior blockers that has allowed Aldon Smith to lead the league in sacks this season.

Brian Robison: Shoulder

The Minnesota Vikings lost a key defensive player in their win over St. Louis on Sunday.

Defensive end Brian Robison had to leave the game in the first half after suffering a shoulder injury. Later on, he was seen in a sling on the sidelines.

And Chris Burke over at Sports Illustrated has reported that Minnesota diagnosed Robison with a sprained AC joint. That’s certainly a serious injury for Robison and a serious blow for a Vikings team in the thick of the NFC Wild Card race.

Stud defensive end Jared Allen will have to work that much harder to compensate for the loss of Robison’s 7.5 sacks.

Emmanuel Sanders: Rib

Back in November, Steelers wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders was fined by the league for faking an injury.

The NFL won’t be fining Sanders this time around. That’s because Sanders has a very legitimate rib injury.

Sanders suffered the injury during the early stages of Pittsburgh’s overtime loss to Dallas on Sunday. Several outlets are reporting that Sanders suffered a cracked rib.

Despite this setback, Sanders is hopeful that he’ll take the field for Pittsburgh’s critical Week 16 home clash against the Bengals. Sanders better hope it’s a mild afternoon in the Steel City on Sunday.

It doesn’t take Dr. Oz to tell fans how difficult it is to breathe in cold weather with fractured ribs.