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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
David Dorey

Tunnel Vision – Injuries, free agents and Sunday stars

SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks Pass-Rush TD
 Joe Flacco 368-1 3
 Josh Allen 237-15 3
 Derek Carr 319-2 3
 Justin Fields 170-97 2
 Nick Mullens 411-1 2
Running Backs Yards TD
Breece Hall 20-95
12-96
2
Jahmyr Gibbs 15-80
4-20
2
James Conner 12-45
5-67
1
Derrick Henry 19-88
1-11
2
Rachaad White 20-39
6-38
1
Wide Receivers Yards TD
Amari Cooper 11-265 2
George Pickens 4-195 2
Puka Nacua 9-164 1
Amon-Ra St. .Brown 12-106 1
D.J. Chark 6-98 2
Tight Ends Yards TD
Evan Engram 10-95 0
Chigoziem Okonkwo 6-63 1
David Njoku 6-44 1
Juwan Johnson 4-48 1
Cole Kmet 4-107 0
Placekickers XP FG
Younghoe Koo 2 5
Jason Sanders 1 5
Cameron Dicker 1 5
Lucas Havrisik 3 3
Greg Zuerlein 3 3
Defense Sack – TO TD
Atlanta 6-1 0
Tampa Bay 4-3 0
Detroit 4-4 0
Pittsburgh 3-3 0
Houston 3-2 1

Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts

PK Dustin Hopkins – Hamstring
QB Trevor Lawrence – Shoulder
WR Jaylen Waddle – Shin
WR DJ Moore – Leg
WR Dontayvion Wicks – Chest
WR Jordan Addison – Ankle
WR Courtland Sutton – Head
TE T.J. Hockenson – Knee
TE Tucker Kraft –
TE Cole Kmet – Knee

Chasing Ambulances

QB Trevor Lawrence – The Jaguars quarterback was questionable last week, returning from a concussion and ankle injury but was active and did not appear limited. Until he injured his shoulder and missed the rest of the game. He’ll get tests on Monday to determine the extent of the injury but he took himself out of the game because of the pain. He has never missed a game, but will be replaced by C.J. Beathard.

WR Jaylen Waddle – Injured his shin on an end-around against the Cowboys and never returned to the field. He was limping significantly at the time but the diagnosis will happen on Monday. The Fins play at the Ravens this week and need all hands on deck for a game that likely determines the No. 1 seed.

WR DJ Moore –  He said that he aggravated the ankle injury from a few weeks ago. He did return to the game and caught three of his six targets for only 18 yards in the win over the Cardinals. He’ll need to be tracked in practice this week to make sure he won’t be limited this week in Philly.

WR Jordan Addison –  Injured his ankle when he collided with a teammate after an interception.

TE T.J. Hockenson – Injured his knee when a defender tackled him low. Both Viking receivers will be examined more on Monday to determine the extent of their injuries but HC Kevin O’Connell was asked if any of them were serious and he said, “I believe so.” We’ll see what their status is later in the week but the Vikings can ill afford to lose either.

WR Courtland Sutton – The Broncos star wideout has entered the concussion protocol after a hard hit against the Patriots. He left before he caught a pass and never returned. He’s been their difference-maker this year, so his health will be closely tracked to see if he can play against the Chargers this week.

TE Cole Kmet – He was already in the middle of a career-best game with 107 yards in the first half, when the Bears tight end left the game in the second quarter with a knee injury and was downgraded to out. HC Matt Eberflus reported that Kmet’s injury  “looks positive.” More news should be known later this week.

Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables

QB Nick Mullens – First start was 303 yards and two scores at the Bengals, then this week he threw for 411 yards and two touchdowns. He’ll be an option next week against the Packers but he also threw four interceptions and both Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson were injured, so make sure of their status before grabbing Mullens for the week.

RB Najee Harris – The usage of Harris has always varied and Jaylen Warren has often been talked up as the better back and more deserving of a primary role. But Week 16 saw Harris with a season-high 19 carries for 78 yards and a score in the win over the Bengals. Warren only carried eight times for 24 yards but added five catches for the second straight week. Both are signed through next year.

WR George Pickens – The Steelers No. 1 wideout has disappointed for the last two months while Kenny Pickett and Mitchell Trubisky took turns not throwing the ball well or in the area of Pickens. First week with Mason Rudolph and Pickens responds with a season-best four catches for 195 yards and two touchdowns. He was criticized last week for apparently giving up on plays. Something clicked because his previous meeting with the Bengals was only a month prior and he only managed three catches for 58 yards in it.

QB Josh Allen – The Bills have won their last three games, but Allen threw for just 94 yards and a score against the Cowboys, then 237 yards and one score versus the Chargers and their paper doll defense.  He runs in a score weekly, but the offense is changing in Buffalo – just ask the player formerly known as Stefon Diggs.

TE Kyle Pitts – He’s been a shell of what he was as a rookie, but he is turning in around 50 yards per week and scored in two of the last three games. The Falcons may undergo change in the offseason that will impact Pitts, but he is improving just enough to end the season on a higher note.

RB Aaron Jones – He’s signed through next year when he turns 30, so it is notable that he’s finally healthy this season and just ran for a season-best 127 yards on 21 carries. He’s not done much as a receiver with Jordan Love, but he just had far more carries than his other 2023 games.

QB Bryce Young – His rookie season hasn’t been impressive and he’s been compared to C.J. Stroud in an unflattering light this year. But, he’s just thrown his first 300-yard game with 312 yards and two scores in the close loss to the Packers. D.J. Chark (6-98, 2 TD) and Adam Thielen (6-94) both were fantasy-relevant this week.

WR Amari Cooper – He just set a personal record with 265 yards on 11 catches with two scores versus the Texans. Not sure what is more impressive – that monster game or the fact that 16 other players have gained even more in a game. Six had 300 yards, and I do remember when Flipper Anderson set the record with 15 receptions for 336 yards in 1989 against the Saints in overtime.

Huddle player of the week

Syndication: The Record

Breece Hall  –  He’s suffered behind a terrible offensive line that has worsened. And he plays with the worst passing offense in the NFL. So he’s more than remarkable this week with 20 carries for 95 yards and two touchdowns, plus 12 catches for 96 yards in the win over the Commanders.

Salute!

Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry

Comedy Yards TDs Tragedy Yards TDs
QB Joe Flacco 368 3 QB Trevor Lawrence 211-29 1
RB Chris Rodriguez 10-58
1-7
2 RB De’Von Achane 7-24
1-7
0
RB Khalil Herbert 20-112

1-9

1 RB Tony Pollard 12-38
1-5
0
WR D.J. Chark 6-98 2 WR Jordan Addison 1-2 0
WR K.J. Osborn 5-95 1 WR DJ Moore 3-18 0
WR Demarcus Robinson 6-82 1 WR DeAndre Hopkins 2-20 0
TE C. Okonkwo 6-63 1 TE Sam LaPorta 3-18 0
PK Younghoe Koo   2 XP   5 FG PK Brandon McManus   0 XP
Huddle Fantasy Points = 177 Huddle Fantasy Points = 38

Now get back to work…

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