NFL Week 16: Latest Injury Updates for Each Team

The last thing teams need in the second-to-last game of the regular season is more injuries. Unfortunately, there will undoubtedly be some—lots of them probably. That is just the nature of this violent business. 

It is also the nature of our business to keep you informed on the stuff that impacts the sports world, and almost any injury this close to the playoffs is going to carry some impact. 

So, consider this your home for Week 16 injuries. 

Buffalo Bills

Scott Chandler

The news does not look good for Scott Chandler. The Bills tweeted out that news. 

"

Left leg injury for TE Chandler, being carted off. #Bills (via @chrisbrownbills)

— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) December 23, 2012"

Hopefully, the cart was just precautionary. 

Da'Norris Searcy

The Bills secondary is bad enough as it is. This is not going to help. 

"

S Da'Norris Searcy has a groin injury and is questionable to return #BUFvsMIA

— Buffalo Bills (@buffalobills) December 23, 2012"

Carolina Panthers

Amini Silatolu

The Charlotte Observer's Jonathan Jones passes along the news that Silatolu injured his wrist and was doubtful to return. 

"

Amini Silatolu (wrist) will not return.

— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) December 23, 2012"

Dallas Cowboys

Ernie Sims

The fact that Ernie Sims was playing at all was not good news for the Cowboys. It meant he was already filling in for injured players. Things got worse. 

"

LB Ernie Sims' return is questionable, per press box announcement.

— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) December 23, 2012"

The Cowboys are now insanely thin at ILB. 

DeMarcus Ware

As if the above linebacker injury was not enough for the Cowboys  

"

Ware is diagnosed with right shoulder strain... questionable return.

— Nick Eatman (@nickeatman) December 23, 2012"

Looks like the x-ray room is the next stop for Ware. ESPN Dallas' Calvin Watkins hit us with that news. 

"

Demarcus ware said he's getting an x-ray on his shoulder.

— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) December 23, 2012"

Green Bay Packers

Davon House 

It appears that Packers corner Davon House may have re-aggravated an injury. 

"

Davon House (shoulder) is questionable to return. It looked like they were looking at the same side he had the subluxation on last August.

— Wes Hodkiewicz (@WesHod) December 23, 2012"

Randall Cobb

Packers weapon Randall Cobb had another scintillating performance, but it ended with a bit of bad news. 

"

Cobb heading to the locker room right now.

— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) December 23, 2012"

This injury ended his day. 

Houston Texans

Brooks Reed

Brooks Reed made his return to the field, but it did not last long. The Texans tweeted out the news. 

"

Injury update from the Texans sideline: LB Brooks Reed has a groin injury. His return is questionable. #TexansGameday

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 23, 2012"

This has to be frustrating for Reed, who was playing in his first game since Nov. 22. 

Arian Foster 

The Texans tweeted out slightly concerning news about one of their stars. 

"

Injury update from the Texans sideline: RB @arianfoster is ill. His return is questionable #TexansGameday

— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) December 23, 2012"

ESPN's Adam Schefter followed up with this. 

"

Arian Foster left Sunday's game with irregular heartbeat. He told team he's ok, prob could've played, but Texans played it safe, rested him.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 23, 2012"

Rest easy, Texans fans. Foster should be ready to go next week. 

Indianapolis Colts

Cory Redding

Defensive end Cory Redding was knocked from this game with a troublesome quad. Colts beat writer Mike Chappell tweeted it out. 

"

#colts Cory Redding questionable to return with quad strain

— Mike Chappell (@mchappell51) December 23, 2012"

Jacksonville Jaguars

Uche Nwaneri

The Jaguars just have to be hoping they can fast forward to the end of the season. The Associated Press' Mark Long tweeted out the latest reason. 

"

Jaguars RG Uche Nwaneri is out with a concussion

— Mark Long (@APMarkLong) December 23, 2012"

Kansas City Chiefs

Tyson Jackson

The Chiefs defensive front had been playing all season like it has been injured. This time, DE Tyson Jackson really was injured. 

"

Tyson Jackson questionable to return with left foot injury. #Chiefs

— Dave Skretta (@APdaveskretta) December 23, 2012"

Jackson has widely been considered a bust, but he had been showing some signs of life this season. 

Miami Dolphins

Sean Smith

The Dolphins secondary took a hit with this injury, which the club tweeted out. 

"

CB Sean Smith has a knee injury and is questionable to return. #BUFvsMIA

— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) December 23, 2012"

He did not return to the game. 

New Orleans Saints

Jabari Greer

The Times-Picayune's Jeff Duncan brought some troubling news to an already troubled Saints secondary. 

"

Saints will be without CB Jabari Greer (concussion) the rest of the way. Elbert Mack starting in his spot on the left side.

— Jeff Duncan (@JeffDuncanTP) December 23, 2012"

Greer will now have to pass the NFL's concussion protocol before taking the field again.

Oakland Raiders

Carson Palmer 

Palmer took a big shot, and his ribs appear to have taken the worst of it. The Raiders tweeted out the news. 

"

QB Carson Palmer has a rib injury, his return is questionable.

— OAKLAND RAIDERS (@RAIDERS) December 23, 2012"

That questionable status did not last long. The Raiders hit us with this update. 

"

QB Carson Palmer and S Tyvon Branch will also not return.

— OAKLAND RAIDERS (@RAIDERS) December 23, 2012"

Matt Leinart took over for Palmer, but Terrelle Pryor has seen some action on a few plays. 

Mike Brisiel

Along with the man playing right behind the offensive line, one of those linemen was also lost with an injury. 

"

G Mike Brisiel is being evaluated for a head injury, return is questionable.

— OAKLAND RAIDERS (@RAIDERS) December 23, 2012"

Philadelphia Eagles

Fletcher Cox

Not much went right for the Eagles this year, but at least Fletcher Cox was solid. Unfortunately, as EaglesInsider tweets, he sustained a concussion. 

"

DT Fletcher Cox is out for the remainder of the game with a concussion.

— Eagles Insider (@EaglesInsider) December 23, 2012"

Pittsburgh Steelers

Curtis Brown

The Steelers' injury woes just keep on rolling. Cornerback Curtis Brown is the latest victim. 

"

Curtis Brown questionable return with left ankle injury

— Tom Bradley (@TomScrapBradley) December 23, 2012"

Steelers Broadcast Network's Tom Bradley hit us with that news. 

Heath Miller

Heath Miller's wonderful season may have come to an end. The Observer-Reporter of Washington's Dale Lolley passed along this news. 

"

Miller being helped off. Not putting weight on knee. #Steelers

— Dale Lolley (@dlolleyor) December 23, 2012"

It is far too early to write off Miller for next week, but this does not sound good. 

Tampa Bay Buccaners

The Rams were picking up injuries left and right. However, the majority of them only appeared to be temporary. 

"

Rams injury report: S Craig Dahl has a shoulder injury, probable to return. For the Bucs, Leonard Johnson & Tiquan Underwood have returned.

"

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@TBBuccaneers) December 23, 2012

"
"

E.J. Biggers

The Buccaneers just keep taking on damage. They tweeted out the latest. 

"

Buccaneers injury update: CB E.J. Biggers has a groin injury and his return is questionable.

— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@TBBuccaneers) December 23, 2012"

Tennessee Titans

Chris Johnson

The up and down year for Chris Johnson continues. The Titans tweeted out this news. 

"

Chris Johnson has a right ankle injury and is questionable to return. #Titans #TENvsGB

— Tennessee Titans (@tennesseetitans) December 23, 2012"

He did not return. 

Washington Redskins

DeJon Gomes

The Washington Examiner's John Klein tweeted out this update on safety DeJon Gomes:

"

DeJon Gomes questionable return with a knee injury.

— John Keim (@john_keim) December 23, 2012"

The Redskins cannot afford to lose secondary players. 

New York Giants

Talented defensive tackle Marvin Austin has struggled to stay on the field. A torn pectoral muscle cut short his 2011 rookie campaign, and the second-round pick out of North Carolina suffered more on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.

Tom Rock of Newsday has the latest on Austin's condition:

"

Marvin Austin is back on the sideline with a brace on his knee. Canty riding a stationary bike behind the bench.

— Tom Rock (@TomRock_Newsday) December 23, 2012"

Rock mentions Austin's fellow DT Chris Canty, who was having a strong showing, but also has his status in question for the rest of the game:

"

Canty came off and flung his helmet. Knee.

— Tom Rock (@TomRock_Newsday) December 23, 2012"

Baltimore Ravens

Jeff Zrebic of the Baltimore Sun tweeted out some bad news for Ravens fans about standout receiver Anquan Boldin, who left Sunday's huge win against the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants:

"

Anquan Boldin's return is doubtful because of a shoulder injury.

— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiecsun) December 23, 2012"

Boldin led the team with 58 catches for 828 yards entering Week 16.

Any hopes the newly crowned AFC North champions have of a deep playoff run could be dashed if their top receiver misses extended time.

Cleveland Browns

First-round pick QB Brandon Weeden went down in the third quarter. It doesn't look like good news for the Browns, according to ESPN Cleveland's Tony Grossi:

"

Brandon Weeden walking to locker room surrounded by doctors. He's probably done for the day.

— Tony Grossi (@TonyGrossi) December 23, 2012"

Backup Colt McCoy came in on a third down play, and proceeded to be sacked. It could continue to be a long afternoon in Denver, with the Browns trailing the Broncos 21-6.

Grossi provided more specificity on Weeden's situation, and his status as to whether he will return or not:

"

Brandon Weeden (right shoulder) questionable.

"

"— Tony Grossi (@TonyGrossi) December 23, 2012"

"

Brandon Weeden now officially downgraded to out. Still no specifics on extent of right shoulder injury.

— Tony Grossi (@TonyGrossi) December 23, 2012"

Denver Broncos

Broncos CB Tracy Porter got banged up again on Sunday in a collision with Cleveland Browns WR Josh Gordon. It was not good news for the former New Orleans Saints Super Bowl hero, according to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal:

"

#Broncos CB Tracy Porter is out with a concussion. #Browns

— Nate Ulrich (@NateUlrichABJ) December 23, 2012"

Chicago Bears

Running back Matt Forte left Chicago's blowout win over the lowly Arizona Cardinals with an apparent ankle injury, according to Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times:

"

#Bears running back Matt Forte has been ruled out. He just slowly made his way into the locker room.

— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) December 23, 2012"

Arizona Cardinals

Talented tight end Rob Housler got knocked out of Sunday's home clash with the Chicago Bears' ferocious defense.

The team's official Twitter page had the latest on Housler's status:

"

INJURY Report:@azcardinals TE Rob Housler.Right Shoulder.Questionable to return.#CHIvsAZ

— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) December 23, 2012"

With his speed and hands, Housler is a key building block for the Cards' future. But the future is not today for Ken Whisenhunt's reeling team.

San Francisco 49ers

Justin Smith is such a key cog in the Niners' dynamic defense, but he will unfortunately not be on the field for Sunday night's massive NFC West showdown with the Seattle Seahawks.

Tim Kawakami of the Mercury News took to Twitter to break that news:

"

Justin Smith is inactive, 49ers announce.

— Tim Kawakami (@timkawakami) December 24, 2012"

Winning at CenturyLink field was going to be hard enough. Smith's absence makes the task that much more difficult. Helping the cause, however, will be the return of WR Mario Manningham, as reported by Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com:

"

With 49ers WR Mario Manningham back on field after missing two games with shoulder injury rookie A.J. Jenkins goes back to inactive list.

— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoCSN) December 24, 2012"

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks' official Twitter page tweeted the inactives list ahead of Sunday's epic home matchup with the division rival San Franciso 49ers:

"

SEA Inactives: CB M. Trufant, CB W. Thurmond, CB D. Shead, G R. Johnson, G J. Moffitt, T M. Person, DT J. Howard. #SFvsSEA

— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) December 24, 2012"

Seattle looks like a dangerous team, but the absence of Marcus Trufant and Walter Thurmond in the secondary make the unit very thin.

That will especially be true moving forward if they can't get on the field and shutdown CB Richard Sherman doesn't win the appeal against his four-game suspension.