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NFL Late Games Injury Report: Updates and Betting Leans

injuBlack Monday is coming, and all the NFL teams are scrambling to either make a run for the postseason or implode their rosters. After 17 long weeks, the BetUS NFL injury report caps off the final sports betting week in which no one is unscathed.

Before heading to the sportsbook to cap off the regular season, be sure to check out our analysis of who’s playing and who’s resting in the most convoluted handicapping weeks of all the NFL matchups.

Alvin Kamara
Alvin Kamars is one of the best RBs in the NFL in a stacked division of running backs.

Jacksonville Jaguars (48½) vs Indianapolis Colts (-14)

Jaguars

By Wednesday, the gig was up. Jacksonville had pretty much locked up their overall ranking for the year, and turned an eye to which players wouldn’t be playing again this season so that others could be scouted. The two they chose to bench comprise the heart of whatever offense you can ascribe to the Jaguars, so things could get spotty.

After Wednesday’s announcement the Jags would be sticking with Mike Glennon at quarterback, they released an initial injury report that came with some ugly news. Namely that lead WR D.J. Chark would likely be unavailable due to a shin injury he sustained last week.

Sure enough, Jacksonville declared Chark inactive for Sunday. In the same position, they’ll also be without WR Collin Johnson, missing his second week in a row and now ending his season.

Also declared out for the finale, the other of their offensive weapons, RB James Robinson will miss his second consecutive week. And just to rub in a little wound salt, their backup special-teams kick-returning running back Nathan Cottrell comes in questionable with a hip injury that kept him limited throughout the practice week.

In older news, the Jaguars moved CB Sidney Jones before last Sunday’s game to the injured reserve for his Achilles’ injury.

In newer news, they also activated P Logan Cooke and special-teams’ fill-in OL Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms from the COVID-IR (IR-C). And they claimed OL Derwin Gray off waivers from the Steelers.

Colts

Going forward, the Indianapolis Colts’ postseason run will be slightly more challenging now that they’ve had to finally give up on starting left tackle Anthony Castonzo. Castonzo played through a number of injuries during the year, missing only a couple of games. In the end, an ankle injury mandating surgery brought him down. He’s been moved to the injured reserve and has already gone under the knife. (Do they still use knives?)

The difference between their O-lines with and without Castonzo is noticeable, and the team scrambled to fill the gap. Fortunately, RT Braden Smith cleared the IR-C that cost him last week’s game as a close contact. Unfortunately, his backup, Will Holden, tweaked his ankle in that substitution and now Holden is unable to play. The result, Indianapolis is bringing in players like veteran backup tackle Jared Veldheer and other practice-squad promotions like C Joey Hunt to active.

For the rest of the offense, WR Michael Pittman has cleared concussion protocol and will start on Sunday. That was enough for them to axe WR Marcus Johnson a few hours after he cleared his quad injury. And, they activated backup TE Noah Togiai from injured reserve.

On the defensive side, the primary attention-getter, DT DeForest Buckner missed practice early in the week. He’s fine and cleared from injury designation after only a limited Friday practice. Not fine is S Khari Willis, still on concussion protocol. He’s deemed out and the team elevated S Ibraheim Campbell to the active roster from the practice squad.

Also not fine, and the final scratch this week for Indianapolis, CB Rock Ya-Sin remains in concussion protocol. He’s also been declared inactive for Sunday’s game.

Finally, OLB Jordan Glasgow was activated from IR-C earlier in the week, after he missed last Sunday’s game.

Leans

Everybody knows the Jacksonville Jaguars are moving to London earned the first overall pick of the 2021 draft last week when they lost and the Jets won. What’s not so well known is that the Jags still have to earn that first-overall pick for subsequent rounds. (If they were to pull off the upset, they’d lose alternate first-overall picks to the Jets on even-numbered rounds.)

The Colts, meanwhile, claim they won’t be scoreboard watching. At least that’s what Nyheim Hines said, and the team announced they wouldn’t show scores from relevant games on their scoreboards.

The reality is the Colts face a different situation coming into this game if Baltimore, Cleveland and Miami all win, in which case expect the point spread to go up. Conversely, don’t expect it to move if one of those three teams lose.

That point spread is two touchdowns, which is a bit absurd even for the Jaguars who, yes, beat these same Colts for their only win of the season. That detail isn’t lost on the Colts. Lean to the Indianapolis Colts -14, with the assumption that might notch up (or get pricey) if the Ravens, Browns and Dolphins all win earlier in the day.

The total opened at 50 and popped down to 48½ after the injury news. That seems too high considering how badly the remains of Jacksonville’s offense. Play under the total of 48½.

Green Bay Packers (-4) vs Chicago Bears (49½)

Packers

The only upside here is that starting left tackle and anchor of their O-line LT David Bakhtiari signed a monster contract at the end of this past November. Thankfully for him, he did, because on Thursday, he tore his ACL during practice and is now done for the year, playoffs and all.

Today, there’s a whole lot of hand wringing about what will happen when someone like Elgton Jenkins or Billy Turner tries to fill that role. Even rookie Simon Stepaniak is being bounced around as an option despite having just come off injured reserve with a torn ACL and has never taken a snap in the NFL.

Stepaniak, for what it’s worth, is once again back to a full practice and listed questionable. More fortunately for the Packers, a knee injury suffered by RT Rick Wagner only kept him from the first day of practice and he’s cleared from the injury report. (They also returned starting center Corey Linsley back to service last week.)

In other new injury news, DE Kingsley Keke was concussed in last week’s game and is scratched for this Sunday.

It’s not all bad news in Green Bay. They’re getting back a few players who missed at least the last week. Cleared from injury designation completely, RB Jamaal Williams and CB Will Redmond will be active. And returning from a three-week absence TE Jace Sternberger cleared concussion protocol and is good to go.

Finally, the team claimed DT Damon “Snacks” Harrison off waivers from Seattle. Snacks will have a limited but needed impact in the defensive front middle, but we report this because he still has one of the best nicknames in the league.

Bears

Meanwhile, over in Bear Land, injuries are also causing some game-losing issues. Namely, Chicago won’t have CB Jaylon Johnson, missing his third consecutive game with a shoulder injury, or CB Buster Skrine who’s been out for over a month on concussion protocol. That brings up rookie Kindle Vildor and depth corner Duke Shelley to see how they’ll cover Davante Adams.

If that weren’t enough, two more players in the secondary come into this game questionable. Having only a limited practice on Friday, S Deon Bush injured his foot last Sunday. In the same position, S Tashaun Gipson (neck) is also listed questionable but fully practiced all week. Expect to see Gipson suit up but check for Bush on the inactives list released an hour or so before kickoff.

On the other side of the ball, the Bears designated RT Bobbie Massie to return from injured reserve. He’d better hurry, the season is running out.

Otherwise, Chicago has a few players designated questionable worth checking on their game-time status. KR/RB Cordarrelle Patterson is still rehabbing from a knee injury that limited him one day in practice. Expect him to play.

Less so for two tight ends, as TE Demetrius Harris tries to work back from an ankle injury that sidelined him last week. His practice went from full to limited as the week progressed. So too did Cole Kmet’s practice week due to his shoulder problem. Expect both to play, but don’t be shocked if one or both are scratched.

Leans

Widely opening at six-points in favor of the Packers, the point spread has since come barreling down on the David Bakhtiari news. Currently, the line is now four and it’s hard to imagine it will fall much further. Play the Green Bay Packers -4 against this wounded Bears’ secondary in spite of the scheming the Packers will have to do to compensate for the loss of their star tackle. (They still, after all, hold the advantage of and are playing for the top seed.)

The total moved in both directions, opening at 50 and spiking up to 52, before moving back down again to 49½. With the same reasoning, lean to over the total of 49½ expecting the Bears to get caught in a shootout.

Tennessee Titans (-7½) vs Houston Texans (56)

Titans

The only new additions to the Titans’ injury list this week are a couple of special-teams’ players. LB Daren Bates (hip) and RB Khari Blasingame (ankle) both list as questionable after a scattered, limited practice week.

The only scratch leading into Sunday is OLB Derick Roberson, now missing his second game in a row with a hamstring injury

Rookie second-rounder CB Kristian Fulton might finally see his re-debut after a trip to injured reserve and a couple of weeks’ anticipation.

Maybe the biggest disruption for the Titans this week comes from the kickers. Stephen Gostkowski found himself on the IR-C Thursday, which doesn’t seem like he’s going to be cleared in time to play. Plus, the team spent the second part of the week prepping Sam Sloman, so Gostkowski’s might not even be an issue. They also dodged a bullet as punter Brett Kern was also placed on the COVID reserve on Tuesday, but was cleared Saturday and will be active.

The Titans get a little gold star for having the simplest injury report to parse for the second consecutive week.🌟

Texans

Fantastic news, Houston! There is little chance this game will do anything but improve your draft position. And if you thought the team hit rock bottom, hang tight, there’s still one more slap in the face.

Last week, the right side of the offensive line collapsed, and this week it’s the other side. Starting left tackle and widely-criticized $22-million draft liability Laremy Tunsil, listed doubtful, is considered a game-time decision after a high-ankle sprain he sustained early last Sunday. It’s possible he could go, depending on the severity of the sprain, but we’d lay money at even odds that he doesn’t play half the snaps.

Also knocked out of last Sunday’s match, starting right guard Brent Qvale sustained a concussion that will end his season on injured reserve. Houston already spent most of what it had in reserve the previous week, when starting right tackle Tytus Howard was hospitalized with a concussion. Now they’ll be scrambling to dress eight.

Just in case he wants to try to run through whatever holes the new O-line will be making, running back Duke Johnson might get that opportunity after a two-week absence. Twice a game-day scratch, Johnson is in the same situation this week listed questionable after limited practice. Is there a personal incentive bonus he could achieve? Why would he want to play?

The only other questionable this week is CB Phillip Gaines (knee) who has the same practice profile he did last week when he was declared inactive at game time.

The Texans will also be without OLB Whitney Mercilus. Mercilus was moved to the IR-C on Christmas day and was later reported he tested positive, thus ending his season.

Finally, they did a little safety swapping as Eric Murray was moved to the IR-C, and they claimed Geno Stone off waivers from the Ravens.

Leans

Tennessee’s motivation to win is the right to host their opening playoff game. While they can still back into the postseason, and would know beforehand if that happened with a Baltimore or a Miami loss. Maybe for that reason or others, some NFL betting support has shown for the Texans, especially catching 7½ points.

We can only back the favorite in this spot but would only lean to the Tennessee Titans -7½ if that number holds. We’d expect it to come back down to just a touchdown, which we’d play flat.

The total has bounced in the nosebleed range of 55½ and 56½, now sitting in between. Lean over the total of 56, with little sense as to which way this number might move before kickoff.

New Orleans Saints (-6) vs Carolina Panthers (46½)

Saints

Big Sunday coming up for the New Orleans Saints’ taxi quad, as the full-time roster suffered a cluster outbreak of close COVID contacts and now everything is falling to pieces.

Saturday’s headline story reported that star running back and six-touchdown Christmas sensation Alvin Kamara tested positive for COVID-19. And, the close-contact exposure afterwards took out the entire running back corps.

At least FB Mike Burton and both other running backs Latavius Murray and Dwayne Washington have now all been moved to the IR-C and cannot play on Sunday. That leaves Ty Montgomery alone in the running backs room — at least when he’s not doing double duty as a wide receiver which is presumably why he wasn’t with the other running backs when the exposure occurred. Also, to no surprise, practice-squad back Tony Jones was promoted because he also wasn’t in the room. Fortunately for the Saints, neither was Taysom Hill, who could also see duty as a halfback on Sunday.

The exposures weren’t limited to the offense. Last Wednesday, S C.J. Gardner-Johnson was placed on the IR-C. On Saturday, the same thing happened to S D.J. Swearinger, now leaving them without a rostered backup at the safety position.

In traditional injuries, things aren’t much better. On Monday, New Orleans moved OLB Kwon Alexander to the injured reserve after he tore his Achilles’ last game. He’s done for the year.

What was apparently a minor, low-ankle sprain for S Marcus Williams now has him benched for a third-straight week. And even though they had designated CB Patrick Robinson to return from injured reserve, they declined to activate him Saturday, so he also won’t be available.

The final casualty this week, TE Josh Hill (hand), is new to the list, didn’t practice this week and was declared out after the final Friday report. (That’s a player down this week for each one of Drew Brees’ broken ribs.)

Some good returns for the Saints though, in that two of their offensive linemen are cleared from injury designation. LG Andrus Peat (ankle) missed the last game and C Nick Easton was absent for the last two with a concussion. Both fully practiced and should be around for when the Saints need to again shuffle their O-line.

Also, the team should have DT Malcom Brown available so that he can injure a new body part this week, having healed up from three previous ones so far this season. They also activated WR Jake Kumerow, who they claimed from the Bills off waivers, from the exempt list.

Panthers

If there was any justice left, Panthers’ coach Matt Rhule would activate RB Christian McCaffrey, tell the media he didn’t and have McCaffery run roughshod gaining 250 yards in a win over the Saints. But that’s not going to happen. Instead of simply being ruled out, McCaffrey is listed doubtful, instead of out, for… reasons, and the team also deemed his backup Mike Davis inactive for this game.

So, what is going to happen is Rhule will rotate an undrafted free agent (Rodney Smith), a fullback (Alex Armah), a wide receiver (Curtis Samuel) and Trenton Cannon in the role of running back. What could possibly go wrong?

Glad you asked. Because the O-line in front of them now has another gaping hole with starting left tackle Trent Scott dispatched to the injured reserve. That leaves Michael Schofield as the fourth player to fill the left tackle role this season, having already gone through Russell Okung, Trenton Scott and Greg Little. (And that’s just the tackles.)

On the defensive side, all of the defensive ends make an appearance on the injury report. Foremost among them, Brian Burns pushed through an MCL sprain that could have sidelined him, only to injure his shoulder. Now he’s listed doubtful and very unlikely to suit up on Sunday.

Three other defensive ends carry questionable designations, as Yetur Gross-Matos (shoulder), Efe Obada (shoulder) and backup Austin Larkin (shoulder) all practiced fully at week’s end and will be expected to play. (Though Larkin missed the last couple of weeks, so he is suspect.)

Lastly, the only player able to practice through their limited designation during the practice week was CB Troy Pride. Pride was rewarded for his efforts by being placed on injured reserve. If the Panthers weren’t so strapped in their secondary, this might otherwise have helped.

Leans

This should be fun. A game without running backs.

New Orleans’ motivation to win clinches them second seed with an outside crack at first if somehow the Bears upset the Packers. The Saints can’t finish worse than third seed. At first that narrative drove the Saints’ point spread as 5½-point chalk up to 6½, but after the big NFL news of the week about Kamara and the loss of the running backs broke, it dropped back to 5½. It’s since notched back up to six.

Against a tougher defense, the Saints wouldn’t be able to scheme their way out of this on such short notice, but against the Panthers we’ll wager they can win by margin and mess up a division-rival’s defensive strategy by having to get creative in their game plan. Play the New Orleans Saints -6.

The total in this game crashed from an opening of 51 down to 48 in a matter of hours. It’s since sunk lower to the current 46½. We agree with the move, but now that it’s dropped below 47 it’s not playable. Slight lean to under the total of 46½ and could consider it if it rises back up a point before kickoff.

Los Angeles Chargers (-4½) vs Kansas City Chiefs (42½)

Chargers

The Chargers made a number of final-week roster moves befitting a losing team. Like shipping a couple of players off to the injured reserve, putting an end to their season a little early. On the defense, that happened to CB Casey Hayward and special-teams’ LB Malik Jefferson.

It’s unclear why they were moved to the IR rather than being declared out, because a scratch at this point would also end the player’s season. Like with DE Joey Bosa and the concussion which will keep him sidelined this Sunday. Or the pair of safeties Rayshawn Jenkins and Jahleel Addae, declared out this week and done for the season.

On the offense, WR Keenan Allen was working his way through a hamstring injury when he got moved to the COVID-IR, and now he won’t be around for the finale. Same goes for TE Hunter Henry, who also has yet to clear protocol.

And neither will starting RT Bryan Bulaga who fought back from a concussion in order to return to injure his foot. Bulaga is the fourth (and last) player declared out for Sunday. In terms of O-line depth, the Chargers also likely won’t be able to turn to OG Ryan Groy as he’s still on the injured reserve or possibly LT Sam Tevi, listed questionable with a knee issue and practiced only limited on Friday.

Poor Chargers, you can’t even tank properly. (PS: Please, just one more season, keep Anthony Lynn.)

Chiefs

Chiefs’ coach Andy Reid was kind enough to tell everyone he’s benching starters on Sunday, starting with Patrick Mahomes. So get ready for the Kansas City Backups led by Chad Henne. Reid wasn’t forthcoming with a list of the other players who will only see limited snaps, but he did scratch a number of the already injured ones in advance.

In a season-finale bye-week situation for the Chiefs, they’ve already declared WR Tyreek Hill (hamstring), WR Sammy Watkins (calf) and starting RT Mike Remmers all out after Friday’s report.

While it’s possible these three might have played under different circumstances, that’s not the case for RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, still rehabbing his ankle. Same applies to OLB Ben Niemann who showed up on the injury report with a hamstring and missed the practice week.

The Chiefs even list a couple of questionable players leading into Sunday. Cited as having knee issues, RB Le’Veon Bell and DT Derrick Nnadi (knee) both missed practice this week and are questionable. Bell should be expected to play as he’ll be taking on some of the backup work. Nnadi missed Friday’s practice as a precaution after banging his knee during Thursday’s practice.

Finally, and whether or not they use them remains to be seen, but a trio of linebackers are looking to return to action. Having missed nearly a month, OLB Damien Wilson (knee) is now clear of an injury designation. They also activated OLB Dorian O’Daniel to return from the injured reserve. And MLB Anthony Hitchens is improving and hopes to return from the IR-C (hopefully well in time during the postseason bye week).

Leans

This game didn’t get posted among the NFL odds until late in the week. When it opened with the Chargers laying 3½, bettors jumped on it and moved it to 4½. At the same time, the total crashed from an opening of 44 down to 42, then notched back up a half point.

Sure the Chargers should be favored here, but the Chiefs are still fielding 45 guys who play on their team. And, yes, it’s Chad Henne but it’s still the majority of starters who will see the game through. While a team might not care from a playoff perspective if they win, the same doesn’t apply as to individuals on the field putting their plays on tape. Lean to the Kansas City Chiefs +4½ with no idea if this line’s going up or down because we’re not sure what anyone was doing laying over a field goal with the Chargers. (For all we know, Andy Reid is planning on letting Anthony Lynn win by 30 because they’re both just swell people.)

The total, and its move, make just about as much sense. Lean over the total of 42½, but cautiously because maybe Andy is planning on losing by an exact score of 35 to 6.

Seattle Seahawks (-7) vs San Francisco 49ers (46)

Seahawks

Apparently saving their shortest injury report for their last, the Seahawks list a mere 19 players this week. As usual, only a handful have an injury designation but this time it might be a little more straightforward than usual.

They expected to see RT Brandon Shell return from a high-ankle sprain this week. But on Saturday, both he and S Damarious Randall were moved to the IR-C, presumably as close contacts. Neither will be travelling with the team.

They will also be down two running backs this game, as Carlos Hyde experienced flu-like symptoms this week. Also, backup RB DeeJay Dallas will have an extra week to rehab his ankle that sidelined him last Sunday. New to the injury list, CB Jayson Stanley (hammy) also missed the practice week. Seattle declared all three players preemptively out for Sunday.

Listed as questionable, starting LG Mike Iupati might have hoped for this week off. He missed practice and is listed questionable, but it remains to be seen if he’ll be pressed into action (or even able to be). Check his name on the inactives list about an hour or so before kickoff as a game-time decision.

Questionable in designation only, TE Greg Olsen struggled back from a month-long absence only to agitate the foot injury that kept him out. While he’s listed questionable, coach Pete Carroll suggests he’ll be resting this Sunday.

Looking to work back from injured reserve, CB Tre Flowers has finally been activated to the roster on Saturday and it’s likely he’ll be working back into shape.

49ers

Are you joking, San Francisco? What even is this? Shut it down. Set it on fire. Salt the earth. This is nonsense.

The poster child this season for injuries among the franchises, the Niners are going out with a bang and dumping about ten players off for the final week while trying to rehab a bunch of others in their place. Work in some COVID reserves and questionables and the list is stupidly overwhelming.

Who’s out on offense: LT Trent Williams sent to injured reserve. WRs Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel, both declared out. Backup C Hroniss Grasu still lost on the IR-C.

Who’s out on defense: (lots) DE Jordan Willis was sent to the IR. Cornerbacks Richard Sherman and his backup K’Waun Williams both declared out. Starting defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw (who didn’t play last week) and his backup Kevin Givens, both out. Starting linebacker Dre Greenlaw, apparently blew his calf in practice, out.

Only eight of what would constitute their starters are actually starting.

A couple of players cleared the injury report after missing at least last week, but good luck assessing whether or not they’ll see “normal” playing time: SS Jimmie Ward cleared his concussion and DE Dion Jordan rehabbed his knee.

The Niners also fully moved OG Tom Compton from injured reserve to active roster and it’s believed he’ll be playing out of necessity. (There is a rule you have to have at least five linemen on every snap.)

Then there’s a bunch of depth players who cleared the IR-C this week: rookie TE Charlie Woerner, RB Austin Walter and WR Kevin White.

They even have the nerve to list three players questionable, all of whom played last week and come out this time with completely different injuries: CB Emmanuel Moseley (hammy), S Tarvarius Moore (knee) and LB Mark Nzeocha (illness). Expect all three to play, unless defensive coordinator Robert Saleh is going to show off a new ten-man defensive look in his vye for a head-coaching position.

Wait — we saved the best for last. Just after rewarding their veteran kicker Robbie Gould with a generous contract extension, he lands on the IR-C. While they made a panic signing in poaching Tristan Vizcaino, the Vikings’ practice squad kicker. But no one’s quite sure who’s going to snap the ball to the holder because LS Taybor Pepper was moved to the IR-C. They also panic-signed Colin Holba from the Rams’ practice squad, but it’s unclear if he’ll clear protocol in time.

Shed a tear for quarterback C.J. Beathard who has to try to work with this in his second week of starting. At least this week he has a backup in Josh Rosen who’s played in an NFL game before.

Leans

The early narrative to this game held that the Seahawks had only a slim path to the top NFC seed and would take it easy this game. Certainly their injury profile reflects that, but whatever the dumpster fire that currently calls Scottsdale, Arizona home is doing has left bettors with little choice but to back Seattle.

To no surprise, this line opened at about four and has steadily climbed up to the current touchdown. We couldn’t bet the Niners right now with counterfeit money, and would only lay the points. Lean to the Seattle Seahawks -7 but would chance that number might come down, maybe? It’s moved an entire field goal so it wouldn’t be shocking if some take back happened closer to game time in the interest of establishing a middle. We’d play it at less than a touchdown.

The total opened at 47½ and has since sunk to 46. We agree with the move, but not under 47. Slight lean to under the total of 46 with the hope it floats up a point before thinking about it.

Las Vegas Raiders (-2½) vs Denver Broncos (50½)

Raiders

The lame-duck team with the long-term coach starts making some roster adjustments to play out the remaining game, and a number of keepers are headed to the bench.

On Wednesday, the Raiders put DE Clelin Ferrell on injured reserve for a shoulder injury he sustained the week before. His season is done.

Same goes for LG Denzelle Good (ankle) and RT Trent Brown (body), both of whom have named replacements this week in John Simpson and Sam Young respectively. They will be placed on ice until next season.

Two more are listed questionable, as DT Maurice Hurst was limited in practice with a calf strain. And S Lamarcus Joyner is questionable because it’s the last week and it’s Lamarcus Joyner, and it wouldn’t be right if he didn’t get to spend one more week leading into a game with that designation. Any of them might start, but will just as likely be sitting in place of some younger talent in need of scouting.

Las Vegas moved S Jeff Heath from the injured reserve to the active roster after he took that long to recover from a concussion, and it’s expected he’ll be back to a normal workload.

Finally, the Raiders lost RB Jalen Richard to the IR-C this week. They will return four players that missed last week due to close-contact exposure in OLB Nicholas Morrow, S Erik Harris, DT David Irving and CB Daryl Worley.

Broncos

Last week, RB Phillip Lindsay never made it to the inactives list, as the Broncos shuffled him off to the injured reserve before last Sunday’s game. He’d had enough different injury designations throughout the year that they’re shutting him down.

This week it’s DL Shelby Harris’ turn. And the same goes for WR K.J. Hamler. Harris sustained a knee injury in the last game and Hamlet is in concussion protocol. Both are now really done for the year, even if they announce tomorrow that all the teams make the playoffs.

Coming back from injured reserve so they can get some tape on him, TE Jake Butt was activated Thursday and is expected to play.

And, so they seem like a respectable franchise whose coaches aren’t in shock no one got fired, they put a handful of players up as questionable this week. The main one being OLB Bradley Chubb (ankle) who figures he’s a coin flip to play but is actually eager to do so. The same probably goes for recent promotion RB LeVante Bellamy who worked through an ankle injury from last week’s elevation.

Three others did limited practice during the week and, depending on what the coaching staff have in mind, could be active despite being questionable. RG Graham Glasgow (shoulder), OLB Anthony Chickillo (ribs) and S Trey Marshall (quadriceps) are all new to the injury report and played last week.

Leans

The 2020 Denver Broncos, a team with the distinction of never having been favored in a single game this season. And with everyone at Dove Valley reassured their jobs are safe for next year, it’s easy to assume they’ll torch this game as well.

At least that’s what the betting markets seem to agree with, swiftly moving the opening number of the Raiders as a short underdog all the way to a field-goal favorite. For some reason, there’s some take back at +3 on the Broncos that’s kept the current number at 2½.

With either team happy to take a loss to improve draft position, there couldn’t be a worse side to want in a game like this, but we’ll take a slight lean to the Las Vegas Raiders at -2½ expecting it to close at a field goal (though maybe cheap).

If NFL picks for meaningless, volatile games at the end of the season bring you pleasure, we’d suggest playing under the total of 50½ with the hopes you could catch a 51 instead.

Arizona Cardinals (-3) vs Los Angeles Rams (41)

Cardinals

No one’s sure how injured Kyler Murray is after getting leg whipped last Saturday. Possibly enough to limit his rushing abilities, but not enough to introduce the world to backup Chris Streveler. (Your loss, World.) After the usual hype, it’s been established Murray is starting.

The real loss this week for the Cardinals comes from a close-contact exposure to WR Christian Kirk who’s been placed on the IR-C. Same goes for S Chris Banjo put there a few days before, but neither player will clear protocol in time to play on Sunday.

The Cardinals also lost backup OLB Kylie Fitts to a hand injury, placing him on injured reserve and ending his season.

Arizona listed a handful of players questionable for Sunday. Foremost among them, stand-out S Budda Baker added to the midweek injury report for a neck issue. Also listed for a new injury this week, RB Chase Edmonds traded his ankle problem for hip issue. And WR Larry Fitzgerald didn’t practice this week to tend to his groin. All three are considered game-time decisions, and are names worth checking both on the inactives list and in news leading up to the game.

Another couple of questionables are of lesser impact and less likely to be active. TE Maxx Williams is still rehabbing his ankle and TE Darrell Daniels is back on the injury report again for the hamstring that landed him on injured reserve.

On the plus side, a couple of defenders in the secondary should be good to go. After more than a month off, S Jalen Thompson no longer carries an injury designation. Also, CB Dre Kirkpatrick is clear from the hamstring strain that kept him sidelined last week.

Finally, they activated C Lamont Gaillard from the Exempt List, now that he’s back from the birth of his child. Gotta have some good news.

Rams

In the movies, the Rams’ starting quarterback gets knocked out and replaced by Warren Beatty. Unfortunately, in reality, Jared Goff broke his thumb, already had surgery and he’s being replaced by John Wolford. Reality, in this case, also gives the Rams Blake Bortles as backup, poached from the Broncos’ practice squad, and their own elevation, Bryce Perkins as the emergency QB. Not ideal for a game that could clinch a playoff spot.

Also suboptimal is lead RB Cam Akers coming into the game questionable with the ankle injury that landed him inactive last week. He’s considered a game-time decision, in which you won’t have to look for the inactives list because his name will be lit large among the news talking heads. The Rams also placed backup RB Darrell Henderson on injured reserve earlier in the week with a high-ankle sprain.

Add to their problems, the loss of two more players to the IR-C as both WR Cooper Kupp and NT Michael Brockers won’t be cleared in time to be activated Sunday.

Los Angeles isn’t completely devoid of good news. On Friday, before practice, OLB Leonard Floyd was taken to hospital to examine his abdominal pain. He’s listed questionable, naturally, but says he’s ok on the Twitters:

Finally, they designated a few players to return from injured reserve. Backup OT Bobby Evans has already been activated, but the two big names aren’t and won’t be playing Sunday. LT Andrew Whitworth and LB Micah Kiser would be ready to go for the postseason provided, you know, the Rams get in.

Leans

It would be awesome if Rams’ coach Sean McVay just stared at the in-house scoreboards for the entire three hours of this game to see if the Packers beat the Bears. Then, once that was established, he’d just leave the field.

The Rams are well aware their playoff hopes really ride with the Packers. They could even possibly get the fifth seed with a win (and play the NFC East title winner) but that would also require the Falcons upset the Bucs. So in short, fighting tooth and nail for a win here is the difference between the sixth and seventh seed.

And while the conventional wisdom is to not bet the “must-win” team, that’s exactly the situation the Cardinals find themselves in. Their playoffs start here with a play-in game for that sixth or seventh seed.

The very early line for this game set the Rams as a short favorite, but took little time to flip that favorite and now the Cardinals are laying 2½. (Some buy back on the Rams came when they were catching the full field goal.) We could only lean to the Arizona Cardinals -2½ but might hope (against reason) that it would drop another half point.

The total opened in rare sub-40 territory, but took money to the over and has since risen to 41. We like the total more than the side in this game and would hope it goes up just another half point before we’d play the under. At the current number, lean to under the total of 41.

And pray we don’t see Chris Streveler.

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